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March 9, 2020

42nd Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2020-Mar-09 vol. Array (PDF)

L153 - Mon 9 Mar 2020 / Lun 9 mar 2020

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 9 March 2020 Lundi 9 mars 2020

Members’ Statements

Education funding

Job creation

Insurance rates

Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital

Women’s issues

International Women’s Day

Hellenic Heritage Month

Fred Arsenault

Mental health and addiction services

Skilled trades

Introduction of Visitors

Wearing of pins

Question Period

Public health

Public health

Education funding

Mining industry

Licence plates

Sexual assault crisis centres

Human trafficking

Government appointments

Public health

Ontario economy

Public transit

Employment services

Affordable housing

Municipal development

Tenant protection

Natural gas

Government contracts

Introduction of Visitors

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

International Women’s Day / Journée internationale de la femme

Motions

Committee sittings

Consideration of Bill 156

Private members’ public business

Petitions

Education funding

Food safety

Education funding

Public transit

Education funding

Multiple sclerosis

Agri-food industry

Toronto Transit Commission

Access to justice

Education funding

Fish and wildlife management

Opposition Day

Public transit

Orders of the Day

Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act, 2020 / Loi de 2020 pour connecter la population aux services de soins à domicile et en milieu communautaire

The House met at 1015.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Good morning. Let us pray.

Prayers.

Members’ Statements

Education funding

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: I want to talk today about the education system. Specifically, I want to bring the voice of a student in my riding, Kristen. She wrote me a letter. She said:

“I am a grade 7 student at Evelyn Harrison Public School in London, Ontario.

“I have a few concerns addressing all the new cuts possibly being made to the education system.

“My first concern is with what might be happening with the special needs classes.

“This concerns me because I have a friend that is in grade 6 and he has very severe autism.

“He needs all the help he can get every day because his mood can change very fast. For example, he could be happy one minute and sad the other.

“My heart breaks knowing that next year he might not get the help he needs.

“My second concern is addressing cutting teachers’ jobs. This concerns me because my aunt and uncle are both teachers and I would hate to see them lose their jobs.

“If the government does decide to cut ... more jobs” for teachers, “their families will go hungry or worse—go homeless.

“My teacher” and her husband “are both teachers as well. They have two kids, and if they” have these cuts, “they might not have enough money to keep their house.

“Finally, if” these “classes are bigger, there will be less focus towards teachers and students.

“I hope you take into consideration the lives you may be affecting.”

Speaker, here we are: students like Kristen in grade 7, emailing and sending us letters asking this government to stop the cuts to education, for the better of our schools.

Job creation

Mr. Vijay Thanigasalam: I have the immense privilege to represent the great riding of Scarborough–Rouge Park. It is home to great institutions, such as the University of Toronto Scarborough campus, the Toronto Zoo, and of course, the Rouge National Urban Park.

As beautiful and vibrant as Scarborough is, it has lagged behind the rest of Toronto in job creation and economic growth. Youth unemployment in Scarborough–Rouge Park is among the highest in the province, and people have found it hard to find employment.

That is why I am hosting my first Scarborough job fair on March 14 at the Malvern Family Resource Centre, where my constituents will have the opportunity to directly connect with local businesses and larger companies, such as Amazon, RBC, the Toronto Zoo, Scarborough Health Network and so much more.

I want to thank the Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development for his support on this initiative.

I’m also proud of the work our government continues to do to address unemployment. Since we got elected, over 300,000 new jobs have been created here in Ontario.

And, Mr. Speaker, I’ll continue to fight for the residents of Scarborough–Rouge Park.

Insurance rates

Mr. John Vanthof: This statement is for the Ministry of Finance. Small businesses throughout the province, but certainly in my riding, are being choked and are almost closing—or are closing—because of the cost of insurance.

I’ll give you some examples: JPL Storage in Haileybury—the son wants to take the business over. He’s fully trained to drive an AZ truck, but he can’t get insurance—only facility.

We’ve got Alex Forrest, Gradall business—same thing.

Yves Renson contracting and DJ and Sons Construction: Both are threatening to close their snow removal businesses. Why? The cost of insurance—the cost of liability insurance, the cost of insurance to drive a commercial vehicle—is shutting rural Ontario down.

Insurance is provincially regulated and the government has the power to help these small businesses. There is a budget coming up where this government, with a majority—and they are saying that they’re open for business. It’s time that they helped small businesses, like JPL—so they can actually afford the insurance so Earl can take over that business. Because if Earl can’t take that business over, that business is going to close. And that’s going to happen across rural Ontario. This government has the power to stop it. It’s time to step up for small business.

Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital

Mrs. Gila Martow: I’m very pleased to share with the House that there was a celebration on March 2 in my riding of Thornhill at the Promenade shopping centre. It was a big celebration to celebrate a commitment that was made to health care in York region. The Promenade group, the Serruya family, the Darvish family and Liberty Development generously gifted $5 million to support the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital.

The new hospital will be the first hospital in Canada to feature fully integrated smart technology systems and medical devices that speak to one another to maximize information exchange. Scheduled to open later this year, this hospital will be groundbreaking for both health care in Ontario and for the York region community.

The new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital will feature the newest technology in diagnostic imaging, surgical services, ambulatory clinics and many other subfields of medicine.

Innovation and efficiency have been a centre focus of this government since taking office, and I am proud that York region is able to exemplify these values through projects like this hospital.

I truly commend the Promenade group, the Serruya family, the Darvish family and Liberty Development on their generous donation and their commitment to helping Ontario continue to flourish and to set examples for the entire world.

Thank you to all the families involved. Thank you to everybody at—we call it the Promenade Mall, not the Promenade shopping centre. Thank you to everybody, to the customers and the people who work there.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I remind all the members as they’re coming into the chamber, we are in members’ statements. I’d ask them to keep the banter to a minimum.

Women’s issues

Ms. Marit Stiles: In recognition of International Women’s Day, I rise today to salute the work of women’s advocacy organizations in my community of Davenport. Organizations like the South Asian Women’s Centre, Working Women Community Centre, Abrigo Centre and Sistering provide essential services to women when they need it the most, often operating on very limited budgets and forced to continually apply for grants to sustain their operations.

Despite the wealth generated in Ontario, poverty persists, especially in our urban communities. That poverty is gendered and it is racialized. The YWCA has estimated that 450,000 Ontario women live on low incomes. But instead of acting meaningfully to address this gendered poverty, this government has made things much worse, with cuts to child care, to social services, to rape crisis centres. They’ve targeted the earnings of women in the public sector, taking us backward, not forward, in the fight for pay equity, while offering tax giveaways to the wealthiest.

Our community agencies are working overtime to keep women safe, housed and employed. They deserve a government that works with them to lift women up, instead of one that works to hold them down. Indeed, don’t all women deserve that?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): One more time, I will ask the members to be quiet. We are in members’ statements. I need to be able to hear the member who has the floor.

International Women’s Day

Ms. Kathleen O. Wynne: Yesterday, I hosted my annual Don Valley West International Women’s Day celebration. I want to thank all of the 100 men and women who came to mark this important day. The theme of this year’s IWD was “#EachforEqual.” The movement to equality for women around the world comprises organizational change, coordinated action, but, as importantly, the actions of millions of individuals in their lives every day.

We talked about the expectations and social norms that create barriers for women in business and their communities and in politics. We talked about the times in all of our lives as women when we’ve challenged those expectations and pushed through, over or around those barriers.

One young woman told us about her experience as the youngest woman member of the Afghan Parliament. It was her mother who encouraged her and helped her find the strength to defy the expectation that what she should have been doing was getting married and having a family.

Another young woman who aspired to make a contribution by joining a corporate board was discouraged by her friends that she didn’t have the experience and that she should give up on the idea. She heard the advice, but moved ahead and has been successful.

What we know for sure, Mr. Speaker, is that we’re nowhere close to equal representation of women in positions of authority and power. Thank you to each individual who is working for true equality for women here and around the world.

Hellenic Heritage Month

Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos: March this year is the inaugural Hellenic Heritage Month in Ontario. I’m very honoured that this Legislature passed my bill last year to establish this month, and I thank all my colleagues in this House who gave unanimous support to the bill.

March 25 is the day that Greece declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire, which is why the month of March was chosen for this commemoration. Hellenic Heritage Month celebrates the contributions of Hellenes and Hellenic culture to our great province of Ontario, to Canada and to the world.

Greeks gave us the first democracy in ancient Athens. Greek philosophy, medicine, science, history and much more are a vital part of the cultural foundation of Western countries, the Islamic world and many other nations.

The month also honours the many Canadians of Hellenic descent whose families came to Canada seeking a better life. Mothers and fathers and grandparents who worked hard building a new life for themselves and their children. Hellenic Canadians today—their children—excel in every field: business, sport, culture, politics, education and many more.

I invite all MPPs to join today with the dignitaries who are with us for a picture on the grand staircase after question period.

Fred Arsenault

Ms. Doly Begum: On March 6, a very special constituent of Scarborough Southwest celebrated his 100th birthday. Fred Arsenault, a decorated Second World War veteran who served our country valiantly in Italy and the Netherlands as a private in the infantry, celebrated this milestone last Friday.

Mr. Arsenault enjoys receiving mail. It is what has gotten him through the past years. He remembers reading the letters from his mom at night in the trenches of Italy. Since then, he has always enjoyed going through the mail.

I’ve had the chance to meet Fred at Remembrance Day events in Scarborough the last couple of years, and it has always been a tremendous honour to meet him and listen to his stories. Fred’s honours include: a 1939-1945 Star, an Italy Star, a France and Germany Star, a Defence Medal, a Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with an overseas bar and a War Medal. We thank you for your service to this country.

Fred, from all of us at the Ontario Legislature, we wish you a very happy birthday.

Mental health and addiction services

Mr. Lorne Coe: Last Tuesday, the Honourable Christine Elliott, the Minister of Health, and the Honourable Michael Tibollo, the Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, were at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences in my riding to launch Roadmap to Wellness: A Plan to Build Ontario’s Mental Health and Addictions System, which provides a clear path toward offering Ontarians easier access to higher-quality care and supports in their communities.

By improving the availability and quality of mental health and addictions supports and by better connecting Ontarians with these services, this new plan will help us build healthier communities by alleviating growing pressures on our hospitals and, in doing so, significantly support our goal of ending hallway health care.

Speaker, the government continues to fulfill our promise of making health and addictions our priority. The Roadmap to Wellness moves us in the right direction toward building a comprehensive and connected mental health and addictions system that works for all Ontarians across the lifespan. This is a plan that is client-centred, data-driven and evidence-based. Most of all, it is a plan that will ensure that all Ontarians are able to access high-quality services and supports where and when they need them.

Skilled trades

Ms. Andrea Khanjin: Our government has an ambitious agenda. Over the next 10 years, we will be investing well over $100 billion in new schools, hospitals, transportation projects and more. Yet, if the workforce is not available, these projects cannot happen.

In the industrial, electrical and construction trades, the job vacancy rates in the third quarter of 2019 were 51% higher than they were four years ago, according to the job site Indeed.

The skilled trades are meaningful and often lucrative careers, especially for young women, yet they make up only 17% of registered apprentices. Yesterday was International Women’s Day. I am proud of the work our government is doing to end the stigma and to make the skilled trades a first choice for our young women. This includes running ads that feature two female journeypersons—an arborist and a crane operator—working in careers that, dare I say, they wouldn’t trade.

Another challenge is encouraging female students to take STEM-related courses. Our government is working with organizations like Skills Ontario to break down the barriers.

And there’s plenty more. Our government is working with businesses and working with labour. Ontario is open to opportunities for everyone.

Introduction of Visitors

Ms. Jill Andrew: It is my pleasure to welcome Jay Douglas, a world-renowned reggae artist, here to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. He’s also a Juno-nominee artist for 2020—

Applause

Ms. Jill Andrew: —yes, and a Harry Jerome Award winner.

Mr. John Fraser: I’d like to introduce the member for Vaughan for the 40th and 41st Parliaments and the new leader of the Ontario Liberal Party: my friend Steven Del Duca.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Welcome back.

Mr. Mike Harris: It’s an absolute honour to welcome my mother, Janet Harris, here to the Legislature today and my aunt Patti Harrison, all the way from North Bay.

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: I’d like to welcome autism self-advocates and their families: Michau van Speyk, Amy Moledzki, Faith Munoz, Amanda Mooyer, Elyecia Homer and her son Noah Homer. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Doug Downey: I’d like to welcome a delegation from the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects to Queen’s Park today. Welcome.

Ms. Catherine Fife: I’d like to welcome [inaudible] naturopathic doctors in Waterloo today.

Hon. Monte McNaughton: On behalf of MPP Bob Bailey from Sarnia–Lambton, I’d like to introduce Jennifer Smith-Ray, the mother of page Michael Ray. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Joel Harden: I’d like to offer a very special welcome to anybody in this House with links to Carleton University, because our men’s team won the national championship last night for the fifteenth time.

Mr. Percy Hatfield: The chamber of commerce is lobbying today. I’d like to welcome Rakesh Naidu, the president of the Windsor Chamber of Commerce, to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Lindsey Park: The Attorney General mentioned that the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects is here today: president Jane Welsh, executive director Aina Budrevics, past president Glenn O’Connor, councillor Cynthia Graham, and members Tim Dobson, David Wright, Thevishka Kanishkan and Raj Mohabeer.

Hon. Jill Dunlop: I would like to introduce two Western students who are shadowing with me today: Tina Joseph and Victoria Barroso. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

M me Marit Stiles: Je veux souhaiter la bienvenue aux étudiants de l’École secondaire Toronto Ouest, and also welcome my good friends and volunteers on my campaign, Barney Savage and Margaret Savage, to the members’ gallery.

Hon. Christine Elliott: I’d like to introduce, from my riding of Newmarket–Aurora, Ms. Sandra Ferri, president and CEO, and Mr. Al Wilson, board co-chair, from the Aurora Chamber of Commerce.

I’d also like to introduce John Wellner, CEO, and Vivienne Guy, board chair, from the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors.

Welcome, everyone, to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Jill Andrew: I’d like to also welcome to the Legislature my constituency assistant Anyika Mark.

Mr. Mike Schreiner: I too would like to welcome members of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce to Queen’s Park today, especially Shakiba Shayani, the president of the Guelph chamber.

Hon. Victor Fedeli: I’d like to welcome Peter Chirico, the president of the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Stephen Crawford: I have three members from the Oakville Chamber of Commerce: Mr. Tim Caddigan, chair of the board; Mr. Drew Redden, president and CEO; and Faye Lyons, vice-president of government relations and advocacy. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Sara Singh: I’d like to extend a big welcome to the landscape architects who are visiting us here today on behalf of our critic, Gurratan Singh.

Hon. Todd Smith: I’d like to welcome a couple of guests from the Belleville and district chamber of commerce. We have Lisa Grills and Anthony Callaghan. Welcome.

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: I’d like to welcome anybody from Brock University. Our girls’ basketball team won silver last night, on International Women’s Day. Way to go, girls.

Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos: It’s my pleasure to introduce some distinguished members of the Greek community, who are with us to commemorate Hellenic Heritage Month: Victor Maligoudis, consul general for Greece; Andonis Artemakis, president of the Greek Community of Toronto, and Michael Tsouroupakis, chair of the department of education; Tony Lourakis, chair of the Hellenic Heritage Foundation, and his son Yianni; George Keroglidis, executive director of the Hellenic Heritage Foundation; John Sotos, co-president of the Hellenic Initiative; Georgina Blanas, executive director of the Private Capital Markets Association of Canada; and George Hatzis.

Wearing of pins

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I understand the member for Oakville North–Burlington has a point of order.

Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos: I seek unanimous consent of the House for members to be permitted to wear pins in recognition of Hellenic Heritage Month.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Ms. Triantafilopoulos is seeking unanimous consent of the House for members to be permitted to wear pins in recognition of Hellenic Heritage Month. Agreed? Agreed.

Question Period

Public health

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My first question is to the Premier. The COVID-19 virus is posing a serious challenge to public health all over the world. Ontario’s public health professionals are rising to the challenge, and we thank them for their hard work. They’re working incredibly hard to keep people safe and informed. At this crucial time, what they need from us is resources and unwavering support.

Why is the government moving ahead with consultations on eliminating health units and implementing budget cuts at exactly the time when our public health units should be focused on the important work that they have to do here for the people of Ontario?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.

Hon. Christine Elliott: Thank you very much for the question, but the health and well-being of all Ontarians is our government’s top priority, and we are putting all of the necessary resources into making sure that the people of Ontario are safe. We do thank our front-line service providers, who are doing an excellent job under difficult circumstances, for their timely response and their commitment to making sure that people remain healthy. We are implementing an enhanced pandemic response that formally brings together a wide range of service providers.

Our goal is to make sure that we have comprehensive response planning that includes effective surveillance, prompt laboratory testing, appropriate care and treatment, evidence-based public health measures and transparent communications.

But I will have more to say in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: We’ve now learned that last week, public health agencies wrote to the Ford government asking them to stop their plan for cuts and forced amalgamation of public health units.

In a letter, the president of the Association of Local Public Health Agencies asked the government to “provide official direction to pause the modernization process at least until the COVID-19 emergency is declared over, a full analysis of the response has been conducted and the lessons learned have been applied.”

In fact, this letter went to the Minister of Health—in case she hasn’t seen it, I’ll send it over to her via a page so she can have a look at it. My question is: Will the government do exactly as they’ve asked?

Hon. Christine Elliott: We certainly appreciate the work that our public health units are doing across the province. They are doing a remarkable job. They are working in concert with what we are doing provincially and what we are working on with our federal partners as well. It’s really important with COVID-19 that we have that collective, comprehensive response to make sure that our system continues to work. If it does not, we have enhanced planning, as I indicated before, to make sure that we can take it to the next step.

But as you will know, Speaker, speaking through you to the leader of the official opposition, Mr. Jim Pine is conducting his consultations with our public health units. And recognizing the extra work that they’re under right now in response to the coronavirus, we are ensuring that Mr. Pine’s consultations are stepped back to allow those public health units to be able to do their work.

So yes, we are responding to their concerns. We are taking a longer period of time with those consultations, because this is a higher priority right now for the people of Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I think what they’ve asked for is a formal directive to ensure that those consultations are completely stopped during this time and a reversal of the cuts that the government has already made to public health units.

Now more than ever we know that our public health officials need to focus on that incredible work that they are doing, not spend time fending off the Ford government’s latest cuts. In their letter, public health agencies note: “The chronic inadequacy of resources to meet our daily obligations is regrettably brought into stark relief when they need to be diverted to emergency response duties.”

They implore the government to reverse their funding cuts, at least until this crisis is over. Will the Premier and the Minister of Health listen to public health units, reverse the cuts and merger plans, and just give them the support they need as they work overtime to keep Ontarians safe?

Hon. Christine Elliott: Speaker, very regrettably, I have to say, through you to the leader of the official opposition, that it is very unfortunate that you would choose to raise these political considerations at a time when it really is important for all of the people of Ontario, for the health of the people of Ontario, that we remain a strong, cohesive unit.

We are working in concert with our public health units. We are working with our federal counterparts. Our goal, as I would say through you, Speaker, again to the leader of the official opposition, should be your goal as well to make sure that the people of Ontario are protected.

Public health

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is also to the Premier, but I have to assure the Minister of Health that that’s why I’m doing my job here, asking her to do her job and listen to the public health units, because that’s who is telling her to do exactly what I’m suggesting.

As health professionals work overtime to confront the challenges of COVID-19, they have consistently asked people who think they might be ill to stay home. We’ve all heard them imploring people to stay home if they’re feeling sick.

Last week, I asked the Premier whether the government would reverse the move to limit sick days in the province of Ontario and his new requirements that make it mandatory to produce a doctor’s sick note if an employer demands it. We are in a very serious situation. People need to know that they can stay home and need to know that they’re not going to be raked over the coals to get a sick note produced. I didn’t get an answer to this question last week, so I’m asking it again this week. Will the Premier do this?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Health.

Hon. Christine Elliott: I would say, Speaker, that the people of Ontario are being extremely responsible in self-monitoring if they need to. We have very few people that need to be treated in hospital. Of course they’re often being tested there, but we’re looking at expanding our testing facilities. Right now, there is no indication that we need to change that.

With respect to sick notes, as the leader of the official opposition will know, they are not required. Employers are being understanding. We all know that we’re in an unprecedented time, and everyone is taking those measures voluntarily as we expect that they would, and they are.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Health professionals have been consistently clear: Cutting available sick days and making sick notes mandatory is bad policy that puts public health at risk. Doctors, nurses and public health professionals have implored the government to reverse their plans.

We’re ready and able to work with the government on legislation. Something like that could be done easily this week. We could get that done. Will the government do it?

Hon. Christine Elliott: I would say to the leader of the official opposition: We are in daily contact with health professionals across the province. They are working very hard. We thank them very much for their hard work. But also, the people of Ontario are being very responsible and employers are being very responsible. It’s not necessary to raise that legislation and to bring that back. People are voluntarily doing that because they all know that this is important to everyone in Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Being in contact with health officials isn’t good enough. You have to actually listen to their advice. That’s what you have to do. Doctors, nurses and public health officials have been very clear with this government: Laws that discourage people from taking sick days are going to put public health at risk.

Forcing public health units to plan for mergers when they’re trying to contain the spread of COVID-19 puts public health at risk. Cuts to public health budgets put public health at risk. So why is the government determined to plow ahead with all of these policies when it is so clear that this is not the way to respond to the threat of COVID-19?

Hon. Christine Elliott: Several things here: First of all, we are working with our public health units. They understand that any changes that were made last year will be mitigated financially by this government. We have been listening to them.

That being said, we are working on a daily basis with our public health officials, as well as with our Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Williams, as well as Dr. Yaffe, and as well as Dr. de Villa, who, in the city of Toronto, is doing a fantastic job, as well as all of our public health units across this province.

We all understand that this is a very difficult health situation that we’re facing right now, but we do have a system in place that is working. We need to make sure that we continue to rely on the medical evidence, the scientific evidence that we’ve received. That is what I am relying on, and we are receiving very good advice.

Education funding

Ms. Marit Stiles: My question is to the Acting Premier. The increase in class sizes the government imposed this year had real consequences for students in the form of hundreds of cancelled classes, and layoffs for teachers and education workers.

The latest version of the Ford Conservative plan means class sizes are set to go up again next year, something the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives said could mean 4,000 teaching positions gone by 2023-24.

Speaker, there were 7,000 responses and over 10,000 pages of submissions to this government’s consultation that cost them $1 million. Overwhelmingly, parents, students, teachers, education workers and experts said no to higher class sizes.

Why does the government continue to ignore them?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Education.

Hon. Stephen Lecce: We are negotiating with one aim, and that is to get a deal that keeps every child in this province in class. That is our obligation, it is our commitment, and that’s why we’re working hard at the table. We invite all of our federation partners to work with us over the coming days to provide the stability that children in this province deserve, after 300-plus days of negotiating.

In our announcement, we’ve been clear: We’re going to freeze classroom sizes at 23 in high school and 24.5 in elementary school. We’re going to ensure that 100% of special education funding flows to those with the greatest needs, and we’re going to protect all-day kindergarten.

This is a balanced plan. While we ensure that merit guides hiring, it is a prudent plan, a positive plan for students, and the time is now to get this done.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Ms. Marit Stiles: Back to the Acting Premier: This government wasted $7 million trying to sell a plan that no one is buying. This government needs to stop treating the future of our children’s education as a public relations exercise and stop treating our kids like bargaining chips.

While they continue to ignore the will of Ontarians, we’re going to help bring those voices back to the conversation. Last week, we posted the

summary of their million-dollar consultation that they had completely buried. Today, we’re posting the 7,000 individual submissions online, to once again show that Ontarians do not want crowded classrooms with fewer supports for their kids.

Will the Minister of Education stop this game of bait and switch and listen this time?

Hon. Stephen Lecce: I think what Ontarians clearly want is a deal that keeps kids in class, and this government is absolutely committed to doing that.

In the public discourse, there is a variety of polling that I think demonstrates a momentum towards getting a deal, but not just any deal—a good deal, the one that this government has tabled that freezes classroom sizes, that ensures investments in special education continue to flow to the greatest need. It ensures that merit guides hiring. It ensures a reasonable and fair enhancement for benefits and for wages.

Speaker, our aim is to get a deal, to work in good faith with our partners. Parents have waited long enough. The time is now. Let’s get a deal done for workers, for students and for parents of this province.

Mining industry

Mr. Mike Harris: Last week, the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines and Indigenous Affairs attended the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference, better known as PDAC, here in Toronto.

Jobs in the mining sector are good-quality jobs, many of which are in the skilled trades, that offer young people exploring a career path an incredible quality of life.

Can the minister please tell us more about what our government is doing to support Ontario’s mining sector?

Hon. Greg Rickford: What a great week we had at PDAC. My colleague from Nipissing and I announced more than $10.5 million in 28 companies that supply products and services to the mining industry, to create and retain over 180 jobs.

North Bay, Timmins and Sudbury have been elevated to world-class mining service and supply cities, in addition to the mining activities that go in and around there.

Companies like Coloured Aggregates in Warren got resources to increase production, to purchase upgrading equipment; Red Pocket Fertilizer, to build a fertilizer granulation facility at the former Hedman plant in Matheson; $309,000 for Itec 2000 Equipment Inc. in Rosslyn to expand its operations and build a warehouse; and, of course, resources for Shyft in Sudbury to create a computer simulation tool that will help mining clients understand the supply chain and identify areas for improvement and get those three places ready for the next level in mining.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question.

Mr. Mike Harris: Thank you to the minister for that answer. It’s fantastic news for people not just in Ontario but in northern Ontario.

In addition to meeting with industry and Indigenous leaders, he signed a historic agreement to finally move forward on a corridor that will help connect the Ring of Fire region to the provincial highway system. Can the minister please tell us more about the announcement he made alongside Premier Ford?

Hon. Greg Rickford: As a government, we were very pleased to partner with Marten Falls First Nation, Webequie First Nation and, actually, Aroland First Nation late last fall. This was a historic agreement. For the first time ever, we have a road map from Aroland First Nation to Webequie First Nation. That has not been in place at any point in time prior to the agreement that we signed on Monday. That is a matter of fact.

But listen to Chief Achneepineskum from Marten Falls First Nation: “We are moving ahead with this agreement so all communities in the region can connect to the next phase, which is to secure and bring good-paying jobs in mining, construction and other skilled trades to our communities.”

Chief Wabasse of Webequie: “We are looking forward ... to prosperity.... So that we can make change for our communities up there because we are living in poverty.”

We’re pleased to move forward with this. We’re going to work with other communities in the area and develop the Ring of Fire once and for all.

Licence plates

Ms. Jennifer K. French: My question is to Minister of Government and Consumer Services. Not even a year ago, the Premier proudly unveiled his new Tory-blue licence plate design and bragged that the new plates would be better, more durable and longer lasting. Nope.

Since then, they have ignored safety experts and front-line officers, the official opposition, the media and folks with eyes, and have strangely defended their plates just to end up recalling them, wasting time and money. It has been a long road to get back to where we started, with white plates. We know this Premier wants this all to go away, and with so many different muck-ups, this government has a lot of damage control on its plate.

The minister says that Ontarians don’t understand business. Well, we all can see this government had no business spending public dollars on a vanity project that “blue” up in its face.

We couldn’t see the plates, but we can see the mess. Why won’t this government let us see the truth behind this plategate fiasco?

Hon. Lisa M. Thompson: I rise in the House this week to remind everyone that we’ve listened to the concerns. I’m very pleased at the manner in which our government is focused on delivering an enhanced plate in a timely, secure and efficient way. As we’re working with our stakeholders and vendors to deliver this product—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.

Hon. Lisa M. Thompson: We’re working and testing the advanced plate with our law enforcement as well as our key stakeholders.

Again, I reinforce the fact to the member opposite that we’ve listened to concerns and we’re taking action. That is good news for all of Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question.

Ms. Jennifer K. French: This government refuses to be straight about the disastrous plate redesign and is hiding behind a non-disclosure agreement with 3M. This government has made licence plates into a political circus.

What is clear is that we are back where we started, with, hopefully, visible white plates. But we won’t be relieved until we see them—and actually can see them. Imagine wondering if we will be able to read licence plates. What a mess.

Speaker, do you know what else folks want to be able to see? The details and the testing and the plan and the costs of this vanity exercise. The official opposition asked last week, and we’re asking again today, for this government to let the people have a look and let the Auditor General behind the curtain. Stop hiding these invisible plates behind a non-disclosure agreement.

Will the government do the right thing and actively bring in the Auditor General to look at the numbers and the secrets so Ontarians can finally see the truth behind these licence plates?

Hon. Lisa M. Thompson: Again, Speaker, I am very, very fortunate to be in a position whereby we have teams, both with the vendor and with the ministry, and we’re working diligently around the clock on our enhanced plate, because we listen to the concerns of Ontario, unlike the previous Liberal government.

That said, I look forward to keeping this House and Ontario drivers up to date as we make progress. Thank you very much to the member opposite for the question.

Sexual assault crisis centres

Ms. Mitzie Hunter: My question is to the Deputy Premier. Yesterday we celebrated International Women’s Day. It’s a time to recognize the achievements of the women’s rights movement and the barriers that still remain for women’s equality.

Women still face gender-based violence in Ontario. When survivors of sexual violence seek help, they need to access high-quality services as soon as possible. By flip-flopping between cancelling funding and then announcing funding the next day, this creates more chaos and confusion. This government is compromising rape crisis centres’ ability to plan and to lower wait-lists.

Speaker, can the Deputy Premier explain why the Attorney General cut this funding only for, the next day, another minister to announce funding without any details? On behalf of vulnerable women and girls in this province, will this government provide stable, predictable funding to Ontario’s 42 rape crisis centres in the upcoming budget? And will you put your budget through—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much.

The Associate Minister of Children and Women’s Issues.

Hon. Jill Dunlop: Thank you to the member for the question. I’d like to remind the member that despite the failure to protect women by your government, this government is stepping up. I was proud to announce last week that our government is annualizing $2 million for sexual assault centres across Ontario. This funding will go to support the important work that we are doing for victims and survivors of sexual assaults and human trafficking with trauma-informed care. We are restructuring to provide better services that truly serve the needs of victims across Ontario. For the first time, victims are being heard.

It is the work of sexual assault centres like these that make a real impact for those seeking services. And there has been a steady rise in the usage of shelters and other forms of those, impacted by sexual assaults and other forms of violence. This is not news.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.

Ms. Mitzie Hunter: Speaker, I get that it was a 24-hour turnaround, but this is a circus without a ringmaster, and this has to stop. Time and time again, we see this government creating more chaos, needlessly, for vulnerable people—children with autism, students in classrooms in terms of class sizes and mandatory online learning. This is not acceptable.

The government is reactionary, cutting first and consulting later. The uncertainty that Ontario’s 42 rape crisis centres are still experiencing, while wait-lists grow, could have been avoided if the government hadn’t axed the round table on gender-based violence. Will you, as you have said, Minister, listen to the advice of experts and re-establish the round table on gender-based violence so that we can have information that informs your decisions?

Hon. Jill Dunlop: Thank you to the member for the question. For 15 years, this Liberal government ran deficit after deficit, yet could not find any money for our most vulnerable women and children. In 2013, the Auditor General tabled her annual report on violence-against-women services, which found that the previous government had failed to implement recommendations stemming from a 2001 report. That’s 12 years. Right before the election—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order. Order.

Hon. Jill Dunlop: —the government also made empty promises to increase funding, knowing that they could not afford to do so.

Mr. Speaker, this government is committed to women and children across this province. That’s why I was honoured to announce our annualized funding of $2 million for sexual assault centres across this province. Women are being heard, and we’ll continue to do so.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m going to ask the government members to stop heckling when one of the government ministers is answering a question.

Restart the clock. Next question.

Human trafficking

Mr. Sam Oosterhoff: My question is for the Associate Minister of Children and Women’s Issues. Speaker, human trafficking is a heinous crime, and it is happening in communities and neighbourhoods right across Ontario. It predominantly occurs to young women and girls and largely happens in the form of sex trafficking. The average age of recruitment into sex trafficking is just 13 years old.

Last Friday, I had the opportunity and the privilege of hosting the minister as well as the Premier and Solicitor General in the Niagara region to make an important announcement about human trafficking in Ontario. Could the minister please explain to this House what our government is doing to combat this terrible crime?

Hon. Jill Dunlop: Thank you to the member from Niagara West for the question and for hosting us on Friday.

Speaker, the member is right. We cannot pretend that human trafficking isn’t happening in Ontario. We cannot pretend that it doesn’t happen in our communities. We must do something about it.

That is why our government announced our new comprehensive anti-human trafficking strategy. This strategy will invest $307 million over five years to raise awareness, work on prevention and early intervention, support survivors and hold criminals accountable. Our government has zero tolerance for trafficking and is determined to support survivors and fight this crime head-on.

I would like to thank the Minister of Infrastructure for her tireless work on this file for many years, as well as the member from Mississauga Centre and the member from Cambridge for their work this past summer in hosting round tables with those on the front lines.

Our plan was created from the feedback we heard from those that this crime impacts. I will have more to say in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question.

Mr. Sam Oosterhoff: I’d like to thank the minister for her leadership and also acknowledge the work of the Minister of Infrastructure as well as the Solicitor General on this important file.

The minister mentioned round tables and listening to those on the front lines. Last summer, I had the opportunity of hosting the minister as well as many different organizations in a round table to deal specifically with human trafficking. I know we heard from many of those who have worked on the front lines in fighting against traffickers and those who were providing care to survivors, such as mental health supports, as well as survivors’ voices. At this table, we heard about the devastating impacts of this crime on Indigenous and marginalized women in the Niagara region and across the province. These stories were real, they were personal and they were gut-wrenching.

Could the minister tell this House what she learned from the round tables and how this was implemented in our strategy?

Hon. Jill Dunlop: Thank you again to the member for that question and for the work he is doing to bring awareness to his region.

Last summer, we held 13 round tables across the province. One of the most common things we heard was the need to increase awareness about sex trafficking, because it is happening more often than we think. Many do not even realize it is happening right in our neighbourhoods and could be happening to our children, cousins or friends.

That is why we want to raise awareness amongst children, parents and the general public on what exactly trafficking is, how to see the signs and where to go for help.

I want to thank the Minister of Education for adding human trafficking into the curriculum so that children will know what a healthy relationship looks like, and the Minister of Transportation for her work to inform those driving on our highways on how to spot trafficking and how to help.

Speaker, this is not a partisan issue. We need to work across the aisle, work across sectors and work across the country to take a meaningful stand against trafficking.

Government appointments

Ms. Laura Mae Lindo: My question is to the Attorney General. This Friday, the Integrity Commissioner wrote in response to concerns raised by the Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission as well as other community organizations that this government’s decision to appoint Toronto police officer Randall Arsenault to the OHRC was, in fact, a conflict of interest.

Concerns were raised because this appointment comes at exactly the same that the OHRC is finalizing their report into racial profiling at the Toronto Police Service and working to help rebuild trust between police and racialized communities.

The Integrity Commissioner directed Officer Arsenault to “recuse ... himself from any OHRC discussions or decision-making related to the TPS ... inquiry or other policing services matters,” but according to the OHRC, policing matters make up over 70% of their work.

Can the Attorney General please explain why he would put Officer Arsenault or any other officer into this difficult position?

Hon. Doug Downey: Mr. Arsenault was appointed to the OHRC to support and advance the commission’s mandate. They provide promotion, protection and advancement of human rights. The code states that every person appointed to the commission shall have knowledge, experience or training with respect to human rights law and issues, and he has all three.

The Integrity Commissioner determined that to avoid potential conflicts of interest, Mr. Arsenault should recuse himself from cases involving his employer or the criminal justice system. Any member of any commission or any tribunal is subject to the same restrictions regarding their employer when they’re there on a part-time basis. I want to be absolutely clear: This type of limitation is common and standard and basic advice that the Integrity Commissioner would give.

Mr. Arsenault has dedicated the past 20 years of his life to protecting the vulnerable in our communities as a Toronto police officer, and he was the first-ever front-line officer to hold the position of community engagement officer. He is also an Aboriginal liaison officer. These positions underscore Mr. Arsenault’s deep commitment to breaking down barriers between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

Our government is proud that Mr. Arsenault has agreed—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much. The supplementary question?

Ms. Laura Mae Lindo: It’s unfortunate that for 70% of the job, he will not be able to do it.

The work of the OHRC is invaluable to this province, and its independence is what allows it to hold government to account. The OHRC ensures that each one of us in this chamber makes decisions that protect the human rights of all Ontarians. That’s why a transparent and systemic appointment process is so crucial, and yet this government has ignored the agreed-upon process and violated the independence of the OHRC.

This government is showing, time and again, that it does not respect the rights of all Ontarians. This government will not ban the illegal practice of carding, and it refuses to take seriously racism in law enforcement, education, social services or health care.

Will the Attorney General rescind this disturbing appointment today and demonstrate to Ontarians that they are done meddling with the Ontario Human Rights Commission?

Hon. Doug Downey: Mr. Speaker, it’s very disappointing that the opposition would reject the kind of individual who has experience and knowledge—front-line experience—in exactly the issues that the commission is dealing with. Unfortunately, he will be unable to participate in some of those because he will follow the rules. To reject that he has anything to contribute to the body of the commission is just ludicrous.

We do not draw lines either/or, Mr. Speaker; we draw on the knowledge of all Ontarians to help all Ontarians.

Public health

Mr. John Fraser: I just have to say: Just like the old white-and-blue licence plates, it’s good to be back in my place.

My question is for the Minister of Health. Minister, vision is an important part of learning and brain development. Most children do not receive a routine eye examination before the age of six, even though vision accounts for 80% of learning.

In September 2019, public health units became responsible for a vision screening program. Every child should have their vision screened before the age of six.

Speaker, I understand that the government’s cuts to public health and lack of dedicated funding to this vision screening program have led some health units to not implement this, or not implement it fully. Can the minister explain why the government is moving forward with cuts to public health?

Hon. Christine Elliott: I thank the member very much for the question. As I’ve indicated in previous responses, there has been a change as of January 1 this year. But the change has been mitigated and the economic impacts have been mitigated so that there is an opportunity for all public health units to continue in their basic operations. That is what they are able to do.

They are working extra right now, I understand, in dealing with COVID-19. But it is very important for every child to have an eye screening done before they start school. That is something that we would expect our public health units to participate in, and they are.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question?

Mr. John Fraser: I thank the minister for that answer, but it’s actually not happening evenly across the province. That’s not good for kids. It’s just one example of why public health is important to families.

Right now, we’ve just talked about, and I’ve heard the members opposite talking about, the most important thing in public health right now: COVID-19. It’s not on our doorstep anymore; it’s here.

Cuts and proposed changes to cost-share in public health risk diminishing capacity. I know that the minister is talking about mitigating things right now. That’s fine. But when you talk about cutting, people make decisions. They make decisions just as happened in education, where the class sizes grew because boards felt they had to make a decision.

So I’m asking you today, through you, Speaker: Will the minister commit today not to cut base funding for public health units and not to change the cost-sharing of municipalities in the next budget?

Hon. Christine Elliott: Thank you very much for the question. The changes were made, of course, before the coronavirus hit Ontario. That said, our public health units are responding very capably to this. If there are issues where they are not able to provide their basic funding, then I urge them to be in contact with us. We want to work with them to make sure that they can.

The changes were made so that every public health unit should be able to conduct their basic activities with respect to children’s vision and the other issues. They are dealing with COVID-19 right now. As I indicated in a previous response, Mr. Pine, with the consultations that he is doing, is slowing down on those or holding them in abeyance while the public health units deal with COVID-19.

We need to make sure that we deal with the most pressing issues. COVID-19 is the most pressing issue in Ontario right now, and the public health units are responding very appropriately to that.

Ontario economy

Mr. Parm Gill: My question is for the Minister of Finance. Our government has continued to respond quickly and appropriately to the developing situation around COVID-19. We learned this morning that trading was halted on the TSX after stock prices fell at opening.

As our government continues to prioritize health and public safety, we are also well aware of the potential economic impact of this situation as it continues to unfold. Could the minister please inform the House what led to the temporary halt on trading this morning?

Hon. Rod Phillips: Thank you to the member from Milton for that question. What we saw this morning was the systems that support our capital markets working. Trading on major North American exchanges, including the TSX, was temporarily halted this morning. At 9:46, a level 1 market-wide circuit breaker was triggered on the TSX, as on several other markets, and that triggering halted, temporarily, the trading of stocks.

We continue to monitor this situation closely. COVID-19 is having an impact on the economy. Be assured that we are working diligently to be aware of its impacts and respond to them as required.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question.

Mr. Parm Gill: I want to thank the minister for his response.

Our government is aware of the uncertainty that currently exists, but understands the importance of managing these risks. Could the minister please explain the steps our government is taking to ensure we’re prepared to respond to the potential economic impact as the situation continues to unfold?

Hon. Rod Phillips: Thank you again to the member. First and foremost, I know all of us in this Legislature, our thoughts are with those who are directly affected and those families.

Again, I want to commend the work of the Deputy Premier and the Minister of Health and all of the front-line health professionals who are making a difference right now to make sure that Ontario’s response is the proper response.

When it comes to the economy, I have been in regular contact with senior members of the business community and my finance minister colleagues across the country to ensure that we are coordinating our response and that we are aware of the economic impacts.

This province will make sure that the resources that are necessary to respond to this health emergency are in place. We will also make sure that we monitor the economic impacts and are diligent about ensuring that not only the health and safety of Ontarians is protected, but the economy is protected as well.

Public transit

Ms. Jessica Bell: My question is to the Premier. Over 50,000 transit riders in the GTA take both GO Transit and the TTC on their daily commute. Metrolinx currently has a discounted double fare program that saves these riders up to $720 a year, but at the end of this month, March 31, the discounted double fare program is ending.

Residents of the GTA are already paying hundreds of dollars a month to commute using public transit. Instead of forcing 50,000 transit riders to pay an extra $720 a year, will the Premier reverse his cuts and keep the discounted double fare program?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Associate Minister of Transportation (GTA).

Hon. Kinga Surma: Our ministry is aware that the contract is nearing its end on March 31, and that’s thanks to the Kathleen Wynne and Del Duca government that did not budget appropriately to keep this program going.

That being said, our Minister of Transportation has taken concrete action. A number of months ago, she instructed and directed Metrolinx to work very closely with the TTC to come up with solutions and recommendations. Those recommendations have now been submitted to the Ministry of Transportation for the minister’s review, and she will have more to say in the upcoming days.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock for a minute, please. I’m going to remind the members that when we refer to each other, we’re going to refer to each other by our riding name or our ministry title—correct ministry title, by the way—as appropriate.

Start the clock. Supplementary question.

Ms. Jessica Bell: This cut is on this government. The Liberal government had their own cuts; this cut is on this government. In the last budget, the Premier cut Metrolinx’s annual funding by $184 million. This government cancelled hundreds of millions of dollars in planned annual gas tax funding that municipal transit systems were counting on.

It is this government that is forcing transit riders to pay an extra $1,200 a year to park their car at GO stations, and it is this government—this government—that is forcing over 50,000 GO riders to pay $720 a year starting March 31.

Will the Premier stop making life more unaffordable for people and reverse these transit cuts?

Hon. Kinga Surma: I want to remind everybody in the House that it was that party that supported the previous Liberal administration 97% of the time.

While that previous administration ignored the transit needs of the people in Toronto and in the greater Toronto area, we are not. That’s why we’ve made a historic investment of $28.5 billion. Do you know what that means? That means that hundreds of thousands of people are going to have access to subways. That’s going to bring relief to hundreds thousands of families, and I am extremely proud of the work that our minister is doing.

Employment services

Ms. Donna Skelly: My question is to the Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. We know that the previous Liberal government members sit here happy to defend the status quo. But in 2016, the Auditor General discovered that under their watch, only 1% of people on social assistance found work. The Liberals did absolutely nothing to fix this.

In the last election, people across Ontario, including in my riding of Flamborough–Glanbrook, voted for change. They voted for a government that would put people first. And our government is taking action. In my community, a new system manager was recently selected to improve results and help more people find and keep quality jobs. Can the minister please tell us more about the selection of service managers and how this will help people find good jobs?

Hon. Monte McNaughton: Thank you to our outstanding member from Flamborough–Glanbrook for that great question this morning.

Our priority is to ensure that people find and keep quality jobs in Ontario. In a highly competitive, open and fair process, 16 qualified bidders competed to improve our employment services. The technical strengths of a proposal—finding the managers best suited to deliver results—were weighed approximately three times more than the cost of the proposal.

Non-profit consortium Fedcap won in the region of Hamilton-Niagara. Michael Bosket, deputy commissioner of social services in New York City, has worked with them for eight years. He described them as thorough and—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Member for Niagara Falls will withdraw the unparliamentary comment that he just made.

Mr. Wayne Gates: I withdraw.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister, wind up your answer, please.

Hon. Monte McNaughton: He described them as thorough and comprehensive. He said that they help people with medical or mental health conditions attain their maximum level of self-sufficiency.

Mr. Speaker, that’s what we want for the people of Ontario: better employment outcomes.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.

Ms. Donna Skelly: Clearly our government is looking for the best and most qualified candidates to manage our employment services.

I’m pleased that Fedcap was selected in Hamilton-Niagara. The consortium also includes current leaders in our system, like Community Living. Fedcap has 85 years of experience helping those with disabilities find work. In fact, they often serve even more clients with barriers than they are required to do.

While the opposition continues to defend a failing system that is leaving people behind, our government is putting people at the centre of every decision that we make. Can the minister please tell us more about the system managers that were selected?

Hon. Monte McNaughton: I want to thank the MPP, who is clearly the strongest voice in this House for Hamilton and area. Thank you very much for that.

I am also pleased that we have selected Sir Sandford Fleming College in the Muskoka-Kawarthas and APM Group in Peel region.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order. Stop the clock. The member for Hamilton East–Stoney Creek, come to order. Order.

Restart the clock. Minister, please conclude your answer.

Hon. Monte McNaughton: I’m pleased, Mr. Speaker, that we have selected Sir Sandford Fleming College in Muskoka-Kawarthas and APM Group in Peel region. Fleming College has over 50 years of community experience. Each year, they serve 3,000 job seekers. APM Group has been serving people with disabilities for over 25 years. Last year alone they served 350,000 people across 670 locations in 10 countries.

Mr. Speaker, our government will also stand with the most vulnerable people in this province. We’ll give them a hand up and we’ll work with them every single day to find meaningful employment right across the province.

Affordable housing

Mr. Faisal Hassan: My question is for the Deputy Premier. We are in the midst of a housing crisis. After 15 years of Liberal inaction, the Conservatives continue to turn a blind eye to skyrocketing housing costs.

In my riding, they are losing the few affordable rental units still available. My constituents recently came to me upset that their non-profit housing provider, New Spadina Garment Industry Corp., located at 3561 Eglinton Avenue West, is changing their rent-geared-to-income units to market-rent units, resulting in some tenants seeing $1,000-a-month rent increases. People are being priced out of their own homes. That is wrong, Mr. Speaker.

Why has this government done nothing to protect tenants during this housing crisis?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Steve Clark: Speaker, through you to the member for York South–Weston: I want to thank you very much for the question. I know how crucial a home is. It basically is a pivotal port in anyone’s life, so I hear what you’re saying, and I understand the stress that some of your constituents are going through, based on the little bit of example that you’ve given me.

Rental housing is a very important part of our Housing Supply Action Plan. It’s something that was one of the five pillars of that plan. I’ve said in this House many times that part of our consultation, as part of the Housing Supply Action Plan, was to look at potential changes to the Residential Tenancies Act. We are still reviewing what we heard as part of the Housing Supply Action Plan, and I’ll have more to say in the coming days.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.

Mr. Faisal Hassan: Again, my question is to the Deputy Premier. I don’t think I heard an answer there.

It is bad enough that I have vulnerable constituents being evicted, but it gets worse. This housing provider, New Spadina Garment Industry Corp., isn’t even following proper procedures when notifying tenants of massive rent increases.

It is this government’s responsibility to stand up for tenants and enforce the lax rules that are on the books now, but these Conservatives can’t even do that. I’ll keep fighting for my constituents because I know everyone deserves an affordable, safe place to call home.

Again, to the Deputy Premier, Mr. Speaker: When will your government stand up for Ontarians, enforce the legislation, and make housing providers stop turning folks out into the streets?

Hon. Steve Clark: Speaker, again, through you to the honourable member: We are reviewing changes to the Residential Tenancies Act. We heard loud and clear from both landlords and tenants, as part of the Housing Supply Action Plan, on the need for change.

The Attorney General is well aware of some of the changes that are being proposed for the Landlord and Tenant Board. That was something, again, as part of our Housing Supply Action Plan, that was a priority of this government moving forward.

But, Speaker, I do want to correct the honourable member’s record, because when the New Democrats and the Liberals and the Green Party voted against the Housing Supply Action Plan, they voted against 17,802 new purpose-built rental applications in the GTA. They voted against a high of new rental starts in Toronto, a new high that goes back to 1992. It’s a quarter-century increase in terms of rental—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. The next question.

Municipal development

Mr. Dave Smith: Recently, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing was in Quinte West to announce a new consultation. From day one, our government has been focused on making life more affordable for the people of Ontario, and we know that housing is a big part of that.

Through you, Mr. Speaker, could the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing please explain how the proposed community benefits charge will help more Ontarians find a place to call home?

Hon. Steve Clark: Thank you very much to the honourable member for that excellent question. We know that to tackle Ontario’s housing crisis, we need to build more homes in this province. We consulted. We heard loud and clear that home builders want more certainty around this. That’s why we introduced a new proposed community benefits charge framework.

The charge gives, as I said, more certainty to home builders, while at the same time giving municipalities more flexibility to fund important community services through a community benefits charge. Municipalities are going to be able to raise revenues through both development charges and the community benefits charge to support complete communities.

I’ll be pleased to answer more in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.

Mr. Dave Smith: Mr. Speaker, I’m happy to hear that the minister is taking decisive action to help fix the housing crisis that was worsened by 15 years of Liberal inaction. As communities grow and more homes are built, we know that they need community services like parks, libraries, recreation centres and more.

I thank the minister for taking the politics out of planning by replacing

section 37 agreements. Through you, Mr. Speaker, can the minister please explain how this will help ensure that growth pays for growth?

Hon. Steve Clark: Thank you to the member. I want to say unequivocally to that last point that our government maintains the concept of growth paying for growth. That’s what we wanted to do with our new community benefits charge.

That’s why, as part of our consultation on community services, we heard that things like parkland, affordable housing and child care facilities could be funded from this charge. We’re also proposing making public libraries, recreation facilities, parks development, public health and long-term care all 100% recoverable for municipalities, and that’s on top of waste diversion and ambulance services being 100% recoverable. This was part of More Homes, More Choice, our government’s Housing Supply Action Plan.

Mr. Speaker, again, we support growth paying for growth and giving municipalities the resources to support complete communities. Thank you very much for the question.

Tenant protection

Ms. Suze Morrison: My question is to the Acting Premier. One of my constituents, Kaleigh, lives in a secondary rental unit—a condo that is leased from a private landlord. Kaleigh is a young professional who just moved to Toronto. She’s a mental health worker.

The unit that Kaleigh lives in is new, and so is the building. Last month, Kaleigh’s landlord served her with a notice that her rent would be going up 10%. Everyday people in this province have not seen their salaries go up by 10%. Kaleigh has not seen her salary go up by 10%, but somehow this Conservative government thinks that it’s fair that Kaleigh’s rent should be going up by 10%.

How can the Premier justify gutting rent control for new buildings and driving tenants to the edge of eviction?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Steve Clark: Speaker, through you to the member opposite: Thank you for the question. I’m going to guess that Kaleigh’s building is a newer building that was opened after November 15, when, as part of our fall economic statement, we made the change regarding rent control. Again, I’d be more than happy to provide information about the Landlord and Tenant Board and information around the actual lease agreement, which would have had that. There’s a way that I can help in making sure that information is given. I would be more than happy to work with the member to ensure that.

Purpose-built rentals are very necessary for increasing the affordability of accommodations. Again, from the very first time that member stood in her place and asked me about housing, I indicated that housing supply was something that our government was going to put as a priority. Again, we’ve seen historic investments in purpose-built rental in this province because of that policy.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.

Ms. Suze Morrison: Speaker, respectfully, through you back to the minister: We don’t need more information about your rent control loopholes; we need you to close the rent control loopholes in this province. It is outrageous that rents can be raised by any amount a landlord thinks that they can get away with.

My riding of Toronto Centre has the highest per capita use of food banks. It also has the largest concentration of community housing units in all of Canada. Speaker, the residents of my riding can’t afford 10% rent increases every year without being literally driven out onto the street and into homelessness.

Will the Acting Premier commit today, right now, to reverse the rent control loophole created by this Conservative government and provide real rent control that will protect the tenants of Ontario?

Hon. Steve Clark: Again, back to the member: The short answer is no. Since our decision to protect existing tenants under rental control but at the same time allow for new purpose-built rental, we’ve seen a huge uptake in purpose-built rental. It doesn’t matter what numbers I use. I could use CMHC, Urbanation, RBC Economics. Every one of those reports—and there are more coming every month—show that we are going back to historic levels of purpose-built rental; in some cases, Speaker, back to 1992 levels, when her party was on the government side.

We’re going to continue to work with every partner in the system to provide more housing choice. That’s the pillar of our Housing Supply Action Plan: to provide more housing and more choice and more purpose-built rental. That’s what we were elected to do.

Natural gas

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: My question is to the Associate Minister of Energy. Natural gas is Ontario’s most common heating source and is much more affordable than other home heating sources, such as electricity, oil or propane. Through our government’s Natural Gas Expansion Support Program, we’re taking action to expand access to natural gas to rural, remote and Indigenous communities across our province.

Could the associate minister please update this House on the first phase of the Natural Gas Expansion Support Program and the benefits that Ontarians are seeing from expanded access to natural gas?

Hon. Bill Walker: I thank the honourable member from Perth–Wellington for the great question and the excellent work that he does on behalf of his constituents.

Through the first phase of this program, unserved areas in communities like Chatham-Kent, South Bruce, the Chippewas of the Thames and Scugog Island are seeing the benefits of this program. Residents in these communities will save between $800 and $2,500 on home heating costs, and in Chatham-Kent, the additional rural natural gas capacity could create up to 1,400 jobs in the greenhouse industry alone.

In Scugog, where I had the honour of travelling to with the great member for Durham last Friday, we announced that the actual pipeline was under construction on Scugog Island, and residents are eagerly awaiting the completion of the project and are excited to get connected.

Mr. Speaker, we know that expanding access to natural gas to rural, northern and Indigenous communities creates a more competitive business environment and makes life more affordable for Ontarians.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: Thank you to the associate minister for his response. I’m very pleased to hear the success of the first phase of this important program. It is great to see that our government is encouraging partnerships between communities and distributors to deliver projects to communities that need and want them.

Could the associate minister please tell this House about what our government plans to do to build on the success of phase 1 of the Natural Gas Expansion Support Program?

Hon. Bill Walker: Again, a great question from the honourable member from Perth–Wellington.

In December, the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines and I wrote to the Ontario Energy Board to direct them to begin the process of collecting information about new natural gas expansion opportunities across Ontario and to develop a report on eligible projects.

Last Friday, I was pleased to announce that the OEB is now accepting applications for the projects to be considered for the funding for phase 2. The second phase of this program will allocate approximately $130 million to support new expansion projects across our province. I’ve already heard from numerous municipalities that are keen to partner with the natural gas utility and submit projects for consideration.

I was also happy to host a natural gas round table at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association’s 2020 conference, where all attendees told me how excited they were for the next phase of this important program.

Mr. Speaker, we’re continuing to move forward to expand access to safe, reliable and low-cost heating fuel, which will lead to more affordable home heating for families and more investment for businesses across our great province.

Government contracts

Mr. Kevin Yarde: My question is to the Premier. At the recent Canada 360° Economic Summit, the Premier said, “Buy American policies are hurting Ontario businesses and workers.”

D&R Electronics, a proud Ontario business with headquarters in Bolton, Ontario, has twice written to the Premier to express their concern that the Ontario Provincial Police continues to purchase and equip OPP enforcement vehicles with US-manufactured vehicle equipment.

D&R manufactures similar vehicle equipment to that purchased by the OPP in the United States. They already sell this equipment to other police forces in Ontario, such as Durham, Waterloo and York region, to name a few. They employ local people throughout Peel region. A contract of this type can create 75 to 100 good-paying jobs.

Why won’t the Premier answer the concerns of an Ontario manufacturer—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much.

Responding on behalf of the government, the Minister of Economic Development.

Hon. Victor Fedeli: As free traders, we have a fundamental obligation to ensure that Ontario companies have the greatest market access possible. We’ll continue to push for two-way free and fair trade with all of our partners. We do this by combatting protectionist policies, policies that hurt workers on both sides of the border. That’s why we continue to strengthen our economic ties.

Amongst all of the global uncertainty, we found that StatsCan, last week, talked about the fact that Ontario is, indeed, a sea of tranquility. Our government will continue to be focused on the economy and continue with our plan for job creation.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): That concludes the time we have this morning for question period.

There being no further business, this House stands in recess until 1 p.m.

The House recessed from 1142 to 1300.

Introduction of Visitors

Mr. Gurratan Singh: It is with great pleasure that I introduce members of the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects today, including executive director Aina Budrevics, past president Glenn O’Connor, and members Tim Dobson, David Wright, Thevishka Kanishkan and Raj Mohabeer.

Mr. Michael Parsa: I have the pleasure of introducing today’s page captain Rachel John, from the great riding of Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill, who is joined by her family: Alexander, Sunita, Joshua, Jessy, Chris, Lynn, Siju and P.T. Joseph. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Monte McNaughton: I know they’re not in the House yet, but they’re going to be joining us shortly—there’s a delegation from the Strathroy and District Chamber of Commerce as well as the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce. I want to welcome all of them to Queen’s Park today.

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs

Mr. Amarjot Sandhu: I beg leave to present a report on the pre-budget consultations 2020 from the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs and move the adoption of its recommendations.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Mr. Sandhu presents the committee’s report and moves the adoption of its recommendations.

Does the member wish to make a brief statement?

Mr. Amarjot Sandhu: Yes, sir.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I recognize the member for Brampton West.

Mr. Amarjot Sandhu: The Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs conducted its pre-budget consultations from January 17 to January 24. Public hearings were held in Toronto, Sioux Lookout, Thunder Bay, Belleville, Kitchener-Waterloo and Niagara.

The committee heard from a total of 149 witnesses and received approximately 146 written submissions from associations, organizations, businesses, community groups, municipalities, service agencies, trade unions and individuals. On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank each and every one of them for taking the time to share their views with us.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the committee, the Clerk of the Committee and the committee staff for their commitment, hard work and co-operation.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I move adjournment of the debate.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Mr. Sandhu moves the adjournment of the debate. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry?

Debate adjourned.

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

International Women’s Day / Journée internationale de la femme

Hon. Jill Dunlop: Yesterday, Sunday, March 8, was International Women’s Day. On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the wonderful achievements of women around the world and right here in Ontario. It’s a day to look back on how far women have come and to look ahead to how far we can go.

This year’s Canadian theme was “#BecauseOfYou." This theme recognizes that we all have a role to play in bringing women’s economic, social and political issues to the forefront of mainstream discourse. It recognizes that within our own communities and networks there are remarkable women paving the way for the next generation of strong, determined and passionate female leaders.

I want to take a moment to highlight and recognize a few of the women I’ve met throughout the years who have inspired not only myself, but each and every person they’ve encountered.

I want to begin by recognizing Kathleen Wynne, Ontario’s first woman Premier. Because of you, when little girls visit Queen’s Park and see your portrait in the hallway, they know that the job of Premier is no longer off limits to them because of their gender. They can aspire to hold the highest office in this province because of the path you’ve laid for them.

I also want to recognize a great woman who we lost this year, a true giant of this place before any of us ever got here, and that is Dr. Bette Stephenson. She may not have been the first woman to sit at the cabinet table, but she certainly changed it forever. She was the first woman to run the Ministries of Education, Finance and Labour, the first woman to serve as Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet, the first female Deputy Premier and the first woman to serve as the province’s Treasurer.

Bette Stephenson was a lifelong advocate for women’s health services and the first woman to serve as the president of both the Ontario Medical Association and the Canadian Medical Association. Bette spent decades of her life breaking barriers for women and she will be truly missed.

Speaker, as you know, one of my goals as minister of women’s issues is to work with my colleague the Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development to encourage more women and girls to take

part in the skilled trades sector. Over the last few months, I’ve had the opportunity to meet many wonderful women who have made this their mission. One of those women is Jamie McMillan from Kickass Careers. Jamie is a journeyman ironworker and boilermaker who travels across Canada and the US, educating and encouraging people about the joys of working in the skilled trades. Because of you, Jamie, our next generation of tradespeople will have more than 4.5% representation of women in the trades.

Those of you in the House will know the amazing young woman I’m about to mention, Jane Kovarikova. Jane has used her personal experience with Ontario’s child welfare system to became one of the biggest child advocates in this province. Whenever I think of Jane’s experience and the accomplishments she has made today—graduating from the London School of Economics, working to complete her PhD at Western University and founding the Child Welfare PAC—I am in awe. Because of you, Jane, young girls who have had encounters with the child welfare system know this experience does not define them; and that it doesn’t matter where their journey begins, it’s where it ends that makes all the difference.

Finally, to my biggest role model, my mom, Jane Dunlop, and my greatest inspirations, Rachel, Karley and Madison: Because of you, Mom, I have always had a strong woman in my life who let me know I could be anything I wanted to be and achieve whatever I set my mind to. And because of you, Rachel, Karley and Madison, I’ve been able to experience one of the biggest joys in being a mother, and watching you grow up into the beautiful, hard-working women you are.

Mr. Speaker, these are just a few examples of women who inspire me every day—not to mention the women in this House on both sides of the aisle who serve as inspirations to young women and girls in all of our communities. Whether it’s as the first elected woman in the history of their respective riding, like myself, the first openly LGBTQ+ woman elected in the Legislature or so on, International Women’s Day is for all of us.

Trailblazers and change-makers from past generations have fought for the equality that some of us are now so lucky to enjoy. I say “some of us,” because while on paper we are all equal, we now know that this does not always account for the experience of marginalized women, such as Black women, Indigenous women, women with disabilities, women in the LGBTQ+ communities and countless others. We know barriers still exist for women with intersectionalities and we have some work to do to correct this. It is the job of all women to work together to make sure we achieve this equality we are all proud of, not just on paper but in practice.

I also want to address another barrier that prevents all women from achieving success and living up to our full potential. I want to talk about the economic barriers and the glass ceilings that affect women’s equal participation in the workforce.

We know for our economy to continue to grow and thrive, we need to build conditions that will allow women to succeed in all workplaces. Countless studies show that workplaces are more productive and innovative when they have gender diversity. There is no reason why a society as diverse and equal as our own still has huge gender gaps in major sectors of employment and in the salaries paid to women.

The gender wage gap in Ontario is 30%. In 2017, women’s average employment earnings were $39,100 while men’s average employment earnings were $55,800.

We know that more than half of degrees or post-secondary degrees are obtained by women. However, if you look at the companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, approximately 3.5% of them—24 companies—are run by women CEOs, and there are 158 publicly traded companies on the TSX with boards comprised entirely of men.

We know that women make up only 4% of all skilled trade workers in Canada and 23% of science and technology workers. For women who do choose to get into non-traditional roles, they disproportionately end up in the lower-paying technical roles in the STEM sector and not the more highly paid professional ones.

There is no acceptable explanation for this. We need to deepen the talent pool in the trades, and the quickest way to do so is to kick the gender door open and keep it that way. Getting more women into positions of leadership in the workforce and into sectors where women have been under-represented is not just an ideal; it’s an imperative for our province. It’s foundational to everything we are trying to do to raise up our women and girls.

The torch of progress has been passed to a new generation, and we see this new generation of women not waiting for anyone to give them permission to break the glass ceiling; they are taking a hammer, stepping up and shattering it for themselves. From the boiler room to the boardroom, the House floor to the showroom, women are paving the way not only for themselves, but for the next generation of women to thrive in areas of the workforce where they’ve been historically under-represented.

But, Speaker, while we talk about the important topic of equality and representation, we must also acknowledge a different type of inequality, a social and gender inequality that lingers from past generations and hangs on tenaciously even as we celebrate personal freedom and diversity in other areas of our society.

We are talking about the violence against women and girls that is still pervasive in our societies: domestic violence; sexual violence; sex trafficking; the murder and disappearance of Indigenous women and girls; and the fact that, in 2018, there were over 99,000 victims of intimate partner violence in Canada—this represented close to one third of all victims of police-reported violent crime.

As women in this House, we know none of the things I just mentioned are partisan issues. We know violence against women doesn’t care if you’re Conservative, Liberal, New Democrat or independent, which is why it is imperative that we stand together and speak out against this horrific practice in all of our communities and networks.

Let me speak to this House about another topic that goes beyond partisan lines, and that is human trafficking. Child and youth sexual exploitation is occurring in Ontario and it is devastating young people, families and communities across this province and across our country. While sex trafficking isn’t limited to just females, victims are predominantly young women and girls, especially those from Indigenous communities and youth in care, with over 70% under the age of 25—and even more shocking, the average age of recruitment is just 13 years old. This is simply unacceptable.

Our government has zero tolerance for human trafficking. No adult or child should live in fear that they might be sexually exploited, and no person who has been trafficked should feel that it is their fault or they cannot get help.

We cannot pretend that it isn’t happening in our province. We cannot pretend it’s not happening in our neighbourhoods. To make real progress, all Ontarians need to realize this crime is happening in every community.

Speaker, after lengthy consultations on this issue, we stepped up the fight against human trafficking. Last week, I was proud to stand with our government to announce a new and comprehensive strategy to combat human trafficking in our province. We are making the largest investment in this country to fight human trafficking: $307 million over the next five years.

We need to work across the aisle, across sectors and across this country to take a meaningful stand against trafficking. All children and youth deserve to live free from exploitation, and we owe it to them to step up and fight.

Speaker, we are making progress, but the promise of full economic, social and political equality remains an elusive goal. But this is no time, and there is no room, for pessimism. Now is when we must forge ahead, breaking barriers, shattering glass ceilings and levelling playing field on behalf of Generation Equality. This we pledge to do.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Responses?

Ms. Jill Andrew: Yesterday we acknowledged International Women’s Day. It started with me giving my mother the biggest hug and thanking her for her strength and perseverance against every odd. I then marched proudly alongside feminist giants like Canadian social activist, folk and jazz singer-songwriter Faith Nolan, who describes her music as her political work, and who has worked tirelessly advocating for women prisoners; and Canadian writer, journalist and political activist Judy Rebick, who in the 1980s served as the spokesperson for the Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics, a pro-choice group, and is the author of the 2018 memoir Heroes in My Head.

I got to stand on the same stage as Patty Coates, the first woman president of the Ontario Federation of Labour.

I attended the Jamaican Canadian Association’s 20th annual Women Recognizing Women lunch and awards, where I presented awards to tech trailblazer, philanthropist and one of Women’s Executive Network’s top 100 most powerful women in Canada, Claudette McGowan; and Dr. Eugenia Addy, scientist and CEO of Visions of Science, whose words on the significance to her of International Women’s Day will last with me forever: Recognize, elevate and protect women.

I got to kneel down beside community stalwart Lillie Johnson, who in 1981 founded the Sickle Cell Association of Ontario, and I got to thank her for her steadfast commitment to Black community health. Lillie will celebrate her 98th birthday in a few short days.

At the 519, we talked about women and power, and the way in which even in certain women’s groups, trans women, Indigenous women, Black women are still left out and not at the table.

I ended my day surrounded by an intimate group of community leaders, elders and seniors in our riding of Toronto–St. Paul’s, who generously shared their IWD with me at my community round table on gender equity.

I thank all of these women and countless others for helping me be here today. I stand on many of their shoulders.

But, Speaker, I also heard from my community member Sue around her disappointment in that we’re still here struggling, as she has done for decades, for the basic human rights that women and girls still need to achieve their fullest potential. One of those rights that Sue outlined is the right to pay equity.

At this point, I have to give a shout-out to our colleague the MPP for London West, Peggy Sattler, who has been working tirelessly on the issue of pay equity.

Equal Pay Coalition, founded in 1976, has a clear mandate to end gender wage discrimination and to close the gender pay gap through public education, research, organization and litigation.

According to the 2016 census data, women with disabilities have a 56% gender wage gap; immigrant women, a 55% gender wage gap; Indigenous women, a 45% gender wage gap; and racialized women, a 40% gender wage gap.

According to this research, this gap hasn’t closed in 30 years. Some have argued that across the world, it will take 200 years or more for the global wage gap between men and women to close. The current gap here amounts to $18 billion of forgone income per year for all working women in Ontario, which translates to about 2.5% of Ontario’s gross domestic product.

There are many benefits to giving women the salaries that they deserve. This would increase revenues from personal and sales tax by $2.6 billion and decrease government expenditures on social assistance, tax credits and child benefits by $103 million. Instead, what we see is a government that has refused to put the Pay Transparency Act into law. They refuse to really pay attention to women who are struggling in the cycle of the gig economy—unemployed for indefinite amounts of time; overemployed at a string of low-paying, non-unionized jobs with no security, experiencing harassment and discrimination.

We must do better. Child care wait-lists that don’t allow women to participate in the workforce—we must do better. For our senior women, we must ensure that they can live in place, just like the Older Women’s Network of Ontario are fighting for.

I urge this government to recognize the rights of women. I urge you to recognize the social, cultural and economic contributions of women to Ontario. Help us create the conditions so all of us can one day, possibly, be here as members of provincial Parliament.

M lle Amanda Simard: C’est un honneur de prendre la parole au nom du caucus libéral pour dire quelques mots au sujet de la Journée internationale de la femme. Today we recognize the many social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women around the world.

Au cours des 100 dernières années, nous avons fait d’énormes progrès pour parvenir à l’égalité des sexes. Yet, we also know that there is more work to be done. Progress requires an ongoing, everyday commitment to shift perspectives and influence policies.

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is “An equal world is an enabled world.” It’s a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Ceci ne sera possible que si nous choisissons de défier les stéréotypes, de démolir les préjugés, d’élargir les perceptions et de célébrer les réalisations des femmes.

Collectively, we all play a role in creating a gender-equal world. Ce travail se produit ici en Ontario, où les femmes et les filles doivent avoir des chances égales. We know that women in Canada and around the world continue to face barriers to achieving their full potential—from discrimination, harassment and gender-based violence, just to name a few. Indigenous women in particular have been historically marginalized and face disproportionate obstacles. As legislators, we have a responsibility to create environments where women and girls feel safe and are included in decision-making.

It’s important that the development of government policies and programs is made with a gender lens. Ça concerne la réduction de l’écart salarial entre les sexes, l’appui aux femmes entrepreneures et aux propriétaires d’entreprises, l’encouragement d’un plus grand nombre de femmes à se lancer dans les métiers non traditionnels, et l’élimination de la violence sexiste. Nos actions individuelles, nos conversations, nos comportements et nos mentalités peuvent avoir un impact significatif sur notre société en général.

We’ve come a long way since women were first granted the right to vote 103 years ago, but let’s make sure the change that still needs to happen doesn’t take another 100 years to come about.

Mr. Mike Schreiner: Yesterday, we celebrated International Women’s Day. Today, as I stand up and look around this House at the many accomplished women here at Queen’s Park today—and I especially want to acknowledge the member from Don Valley West, the 25th Premier of Ontario, whose portrait downstairs inspires my daughter and many young women to be active in politics. It shows how far we’ve come, Speaker.

But in saying that, I also want to acknowledge the many barriers and discrimination women face today, especially Indigenous women and women of colour.

That’s why I want to take a moment—while I appreciate the minister’s words—to challenge some of the government’s policies and spending decisions: cancelling the Roundtable on Violence Against Women; first cutting funding for rape crisis centres, then doing a flip-flop and adding that funding back a day later after public outcry against it. I want to call out how the 1% cap on public sector wage increases disproportionally affects women.

I want to talk about the looming job action by Ontario nurses and the ongoing job action by teachers and education workers, or this government’s refusal to pay Ontario midwives the equitable compensation they deserve and that the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal says they deserve.

What do all these professionals have in common? They are historically and predominantly held by women.

So when we talk about equity, we need to talk about pay equity and ensuring that all workers, regardless of their gender, have equitable pay for an honest day’s work in this province.

Speaker, the government’s words on International Women’s Day will ring hollow if not backed up with action, including funding action in the March 25 budget.

Today, we celebrate and we affirm our commitment to empower and lift women in Ontario up every single day, and that means supporting policies and programs that benefit women.

Motions

Committee sittings

Hon. Paul Calandra: I move that the Standing Committee on Justice Policy be authorized to meet on Monday, March 23, 2020; Tuesday, March 24, 2020; and Friday, April 3, 2020.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Mr. Calandra has moved that the Standing Committee on Justice Policy be authorized to meet on Monday, March 23, 2020; Tuesday, March 24, 2020; and Friday, April 3, 2020.

Are we going to debate this? I recognize the member for Brampton East.

Mr. Gurratan Singh: First, I’m just going to start by describing the importance of the

schedule as it stands right now. The importance of the

schedule is that it allows for members of the public to engage with this House in a manner that they have a process to plan—this House is open and transparent. There’s a

schedule so stakeholders have the appropriate means and the prior knowledge of how to engage with our Legislative Assembly and what’s supposed to be an open, transparent and democratic House. What we see right now are changes being made to the

schedule that are effectively going to truncate the dates of hearings. In a democracy which is open and a democracy which has these pillars of transparency, the

schedule is important because it allows for the public to engage, and then allows for time in between to reflect, to research further, and ultimately come back to the table with thoughtful and important feedback for the government.

Our position as lawmakers is to make the best sorts of laws, and we cannot do it without the support of stakeholders, we cannot do it without the support of people who are engaged in the very laws that we’re putting forth. We ourselves are but mouthpieces. We are but representatives of stakeholders, of communities, of the people of Ontario.

The problem with this motion is that the truncating of the current

schedule into a week’s time does not allow for proper engagement by these stakeholders. It actually rushes the process forward, and I ask, to what end? This is not to the end of creating greater engagement by the public. This is not to the end of creating a more transparent and open House. Ultimately, it is to further the agenda of the Conservative government, as opposed to actually hearing the thoughts and feedback of the people of Ontario.

Ultimately, this will have a negative impact upon our democracy. This will have a negative impact upon our ability to create good laws. It is another example of haste makes waste. The purpose of our House is not to make efficiency at the expense of our legal system, at the expense of making laws that are well thought out. Instead, we should be making laws that have the utmost and highest degree of feedback, of knowledge, of input from a variety of different stakeholders.

When we talk about making good laws, making laws that will actually have a positive impact, it comes to the age-old saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If we hope to put forward legislation that is actually going to have an impact on assisting Ontarians, then at the forefront we have an obligation as lawmakers, we have an obligation as elected officials, to ensure that we’re putting forth the best checks and balances to allow for that input, to allow for that kind of feedback. Ultimately, when we don’t do that, we run into issues later on.

The impact of this is going to be, actually, hurt and waste upon the taxpayer. Because if legislation is put forward that does not have the appropriate kinds of feedback, if we don’t have those extra eyes ensuring that the legislation we’re putting forward is thoughtful, is within the boundaries of the charter, is within the boundaries of our legal system, then the result is challenges to these very laws.

What is the negative impact of challenges to these laws? Well, we have seen the impact of challenges to these laws. It results in money being wasted in court challenges. It results in money being wasted in the hiring of crown counsel to represent the side of the government. It requires money being wasted with respect to court time. We know we’re struggling right now in a system in which court time is really impeding people’s ability to access justice because of all the backlog which is preventing cases from being heard.

The reality is that the government is going to be contributing to the further backlog of an already backlogged legal system by not doing their homework. Ultimately, this is what this comes down to. This comes down to a system in which the government needs to adequately allow for homework to be done with respect to this piece of legislation, and that is only possible if we ensure that the systems are respected. These systems have been developed for this very process.

What we are opposing right now is changes to the status quo which are going to truncate the

schedule of hearing dates for the committee, which are going to shorten their times, which are going to put their times within—just to clarify that point, Speaker: shorten the time frame in which these committee hearings will be held—and ultimately, changes that are still resulting in people being unable to access this legislative House.

Once again, these are not suggestions that are being made for the benefit of people to access justice; these are being made for the benefit of the Conservative government to rush forward legislation. We have seen the impact of rushing forward legislation. The impact of this has been, time and time again, charter cases being brought against government legislation, challenges within the courts, and all the backlog that results from this accordingly.

So I would say, respectfully, that if we want to uphold the standards of this House, the sacred duty we have as lawmakers, the sacred duty we have as legislators, then we must, irrespective of our partisan backgrounds, continue along with the path as it is. We must continue to uphold the institutions, the processes, that exist prior to us.

When we take these steps—and this is a pattern we see from the Conservative government, where time and time again we are seeing steps being put forward to shorten the ability for discussions to happen, for debate to occur. These changes have a negative impact on our democracy, on our ability to create law, and are going to ultimately hurt those who we are meant to represent: Ontarians. When we fail at our job, the impact we have is on every single person in this province.

We have a really important duty that rests upon our shoulders. Our duty is, to the best of our ability, to ensure that we’re doing what our job is. We are lawmakers. If you want good bread, you wouldn’t go to a bad baker. If you want a good house, you wouldn’t go to a bad builder. In that same way, if the government is continually putting in place schedules and processes and changes to schedules that will result in less impact, well, ultimately, it will be pie on the government’s face, because you will have a situation in which your legislation will be challenged.

But ultimately, who suffers? The Ontarian, the everyday individual, the person we are supposed to uphold, protect and support. This is what our job is, and this is what we are supposed to do and hold to it.

So I respectfully say that the changes to the

schedule are something that do not advance the transparency of this House. I respectfully say that the changes being purported do not allow for greater input, they do not allow for greater access to justice and they actually give rise to the opposite: They truncate the time available for input and ultimately do a disservice to the rules, regulations and schedules of this House.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Any further debate on the motion? The government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: I appreciate the opportunity to just very briefly talk about the motion. The motion before us doesn’t do what the member just said. It actually provides for more debate—

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Stop the clock, please. My apologies. The government House leader has moved the motion, so he’s not able to speak to it at this time. Anyone else to the motion?

Mr. Calandra has moved that the Standing Committee on Justice Policy be authorized to meet on Monday, March 23, 2020; Tuesday, March 24, 2020; and Friday, April 3, 2020. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry?

I heard a no.

All those in favour will please say “aye.”

All those in favour will please say “nay.”

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: On division.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Carried, on division.

Motion agreed to.

Consideration of Bill 156

Hon. Paul Calandra: I move that the order of the House dated Wednesday, March 4, 2020, referring Bill 156,

An Act to protect Ontario’s farms and farm animals from trespassers and other forms of interference and to prevent contamination of Ontario’s food supply, to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy be discharged and the bill be referred to the Standing Committee on General Government.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Mr. Calandra has moved a motion to refer Bill 156 to the Standing Committee on General Government. He has moved that the order of the House dated Wednesday, March 4, 2020, referring Bill 156,

An Act to protect Ontario’s farms and farm animals from trespassers and other forms of interference and to prevent contamination of Ontario’s food supply, to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy be discharged and the bill be referred to the Standing Committee on General Government.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? The motion is carried.

Motion agreed to.

Private members’ public business

Hon. Paul Calandra: I am seeking unanimous consent to move a motion without notice regarding notice for private members’ public business.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Mr. Calandra is seeking unanimous consent to move a motion without notice regarding notice for private members’ public business. Agreed? Agreed.

Government House leader?

Hon. Paul Calandra: I move that notice be waived for ballot item number 10, standing in the name of Mr. Kanapathi; ballot item number 11, standing in the name of Mr. Anand; ballot item number 12, standing in the name of Ms. Bell; and ballot item number 13, standing in the name of Mrs. Gretzky.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Lisa Gretzky): Mr. Calandra has moved that notice be waived for ballot item number 10, standing in the name of Mr. Kanapathi; ballot item number 11, standing in the name of Mr. Anand; ballot item number 12, standing in the name of Ms. Bell; and ballot item number 13, standing in the name of Mrs. Gretzky.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

Petitions

Education funding

Mr. Tom Rakocevic: I’m very proud to read an education-based petition. In fact, I’ll be participating on a panel for education tonight. This petition is entitled, “Don’t Increase Class Sizes: Preserve the Kindergarten Teaching Model and KIP.”

“Whereas Ontario’s model for kindergarten, which includes a teacher and designated early childhood educator, is based on international research and created by experts, educators and partners in the field, and has been shown to provide lasting benefits for children’s reading, writing, numeracy, self-regulation and social skills; and

“Whereas larger class sizes negatively impact the quality of education, reduce access to teaching resources and supports and significantly diminishes teacher-student interactions; and

“Whereas the vast majority of parents, students and educators support smaller class sizes and the current teaching model of kindergarten and want the best education possible for their children; and

“Whereas the Kindergarten Intervention Program has been recently cancelled in the TDSB for 2019-2020 as a result of the budget cuts introduced by the Ministry of Education, leaving vulnerable young students without adequate supports;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and the Ministry of Education to commit at the central bargaining table to reduce class sizes, maintain the current teaching model of kindergarten, and reverse all budget cuts to the TDSB.”

I certainly support this petition, will be signing it and giving it to page Abbey.

Food safety

Mr. Will Bouma: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas people who are on a farm without consent may not be aware that they can actually spread diseases and contaminants which can cause stress and harm to the animals;

“Whereas many farmers across Ontario are worried about trespassers putting their animals and the farmers’ families at risk. For many farmers their home and their work is the same place and everyone has a right to feel safe in their own home;

“Whereas despite the right of people to participate in legal protests, it does not include the right to trespass on private property, to make farmers feel unsafe in their homes or to risk introducing disease or contaminants to our animals or food supply;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“Proceed as effectively as possible to protect farmers, their animals, livestock transporters, and the integrity of Ontario’s food supply, while also ensuring that farmers feel safe in their homes and at the workplace by maintaining animal health and safety by immediately passing Bill 156, the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, so that:

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(1) Persons are prohibited from entering in or on the animal protection zones without the prior consent of the owner or occupier of the farm, facility or premises;

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(2) Persons are prohibited from interfering or interacting with farm animals in or on the animal protection zones or from carrying out prescribed activities in or on the animal protection zones without the prior consent of the owner or occupier of the farm, facility or premises;

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(3) Persons are prohibited from interfering with a motor vehicle that is transporting farm animals and from interfering or interacting with the farm animals in the motor vehicle without the prior consent of the driver of the motor vehicle.”

I fully endorse this petition, will be affixing my name thereon and giving it to page Daniel.

Education funding

Ms. Marit Stiles: I’m very pleased to present this very large number of petitions that have been presented to me. I’m going to do it on behalf of Maryam Nasri. It reads as follows: “Petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly:

“Don’t Increase Class Sizes in Our Public Schools.

“Whereas the vast majority of parents, students, and educators support smaller class sizes and the current model of full-day kindergarten and want the best education possible for the students of Ontario; and

“Whereas larger class sizes negatively impacts the quality of education; reduces access to teaching resources and significantly diminishes teacher-student interactions; and

“Whereas the impact of larger class sizes will be particularly detrimental to students who need additional support; and

“Whereas Ontario has an internationally recognized public education system that requires careful attention and the investment to ensure all of our students can succeed;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to commit to reducing class sizes, maintain the current model of full-day kindergarten, and make the necessary investments in public education to build the schools our students deserve.”

It gives me great pleasure to fully support this petition. I’ll sign it and hand it over to page Hamza to table with the Clerks.

Public transit

Mr. Rick Nicholls: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas many Ontarians are looking to their government to demonstrate a real commitment to delivering transit faster for the people in the greater Toronto area, reducing congestion, and connecting people to places and jobs; and

“Whereas everyone can recognize that there is an increasing demand for safe and reliable transportation options; and

“Whereas the city of Toronto has agreed to partner with Ontario to remain committed to removing roadblocks, engage local residents and businesses, as well as Indigenous communities; and

“Whereas Ontario deserves public transit that is more attractive, safe, affordable, and low-stress;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“Help deliver Ontario’s four priority subway projects on time and on budget ... so that:

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(1) Hearings of necessity for expropriations of property along the transit corridors if the expropriations are for the purpose of the transit are eliminated;

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(2) A mechanism is created by which utility companies may be required to remove utility infrastructure, if necessary for the transit;

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(3) Municipal service and right of way access may be required to be provided for the transit, with the process being based around negotiation, with the possibility for an order if negotiation fails.”

I wholeheartedly support this petition, will sign my name to it, and give it to page Juliana.

Education funding

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: I am going to present this petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly on behalf of Patricia Scott.

“Don’t Increase Class Sizes in Our Public Schools.

“Whereas the vast majority of parents, students, and educators support smaller class sizes and the current model of full-day kindergarten and want the best education possible for the students of Ontario; and

“Whereas larger class sizes negatively impacts the quality of education; reduces access to teaching resources and significantly diminishes teacher-student interactions; and

“Whereas the impact of larger class sizes will be particularly detrimental to students who need additional support; and

“Whereas Ontario has an internationally recognized public education system that requires careful attention and the investment to ensure all of our students can succeed;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to commit to reducing class sizes, maintain the current model of full-day kindergarten, and make the necessary investments in public education to build the schools our students deserve.”

I happily affix my name to it and give it to page Finnegan to submit.

Multiple sclerosis

M me France Gélinas: I would like to thank Angel and Michel Amyotte from Azilda in my riding for the petition. It reads as follows:

“MS Specialized Clinic in Sudbury.

“Whereas northeastern Ontario has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Ontario; and

“Whereas specialized MS clinics provide essential health care services to those living with multiple sclerosis, their caregiver and their family; and

“Whereas the city of Greater Sudbury is recognized as a hub for health care in northeastern Ontario;”

They petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“Immediately set up a specialized MS clinic in the Sudbury area that is staffed by a neurologist who specializes in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, a physiotherapist and a social worker at a minimum.”

I fully support this petition, will affix my name to it, and ask page Daniel to bring it to the Clerk.

Agri-food industry

Mrs. Gila Martow: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the agri-food industry employs over 2.3 m