role="main" class="main-container container js-quickedit-main-content" id="main-content">

November 30, 2021

42nd Parliament, 2nd Session

< Previous sitting day

Next sitting day >

Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2021-Nov-30 vol. A (PDF)

L026A - Tue 30 Nov 2021 / Mar 30 nov 2021

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Tuesday 30 November 2021 Mardi 30 novembre 2021

Orders of the Day

Supporting People and Businesses Act, 2021 / Loi de 2021 visant à soutenir la population et les entreprises

Members’ Statements

Insurance rates

Wiarton Willie

Affordable housing

Long-term care

Injured workers

Explosion in Chatham-Kent–Leamington

Flooding in British Columbia

Season’s greetings

Road safety

Visitors

Harry Craig Parrott

Question Period

COVID-19 response

Minimum wage

Government’s record

Nurses

Autism treatment

COVID-19 immunization

COVID-19 immunization

Mental health and addiction services / Homelessness

Land use planning

Affordable housing

Winter highway maintenance

COVID-19 immunization

Paramedic services

Employment standards / Public safety

Deferred Votes

Working for Workers Act, 2021 / Loi de 2021 visant à oeuvrer pour les travailleurs

Throne speech debate

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Government Agencies

Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly

Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills

Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills

Introduction of Bills

Endometriosis Awareness Month Act, 2021 / Loi de 2021 sur le mois de sensibilisation à l’endométriose

Petitions

Services d’optométrie

Community planning

Nurses

Orders of the Day

Supporting People and Businesses Act, 2021 / Loi de 2021 visant à soutenir la population et les entreprises

The House met at 0900.

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

Prayers.

Orders of the Day

Supporting People and Businesses Act, 2021 / Loi de 2021 visant à soutenir la population et les entreprises

Mrs. Tangri moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 13,

An Act to amend various Acts / Projet de loi 13, Loi modifiant diverses lois.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Would the minister care to lead off the debate.

Hon. Nina Tangri: Good morning, Speaker, and everyone in the House today. I’m honoured to rise today to speak to third reading of the proposed Supporting People and Businesses Act.

Today, I will be sharing my time with the Minister of Energy, the member for Bay of Quinte, Todd Smith. I’d like to thank him in advance for his ministry’s pieces in this important legislation.

In 2018, one of the most important promises our government made to the people of Ontario was to work hard every day to cut red tape, and that’s what we have been doing. When we took office, it cost Ontario companies an average of $33,000 per year to comply with regulations. That was the highest of any province or territory in the country. Since then, we’ve been working hard to bring that cost down.

Speaker, first, I’d like to provide some context for this proposed legislation. The pandemic has shown us that our work to reduce unnecessary red tape and regulatory burdens is more important than ever. Ontario is the manufacturing engine of Canada, and the pandemic has made it very clear that we are a supply chain economy. Ontario supplies components to businesses across Canada and right across North America, and it’s for that reason we must keep operating costs for Ontario businesses as low as possible while strengthening standards that are essential in keeping people healthy and protecting the environment.

The biggest single lever we have to support Ontario businesses is to make regulations easier, faster and less costly to comply with, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. As we confront COVID-19 for the second straight year, people and businesses continue to be faced with new and ongoing pandemic-related challenges. But we’ve learned along the way.

We’ve gained some valuable lessons about how government can work better for communities, for people and for businesses, and we are working diligently to ensure the people of Ontario have continued access to critical services while we are discovering new ways to connect people to them. Some of the most promising solutions are coming from secure digital technology, which will meet the public’s needs with unprecedented speed and convenience.

While much of the work is under way, there is still more to do, which brings us here today, Speaker. The bill we’re discussing is designed to further meet the needs of people and businesses in forward-thinking and responsible ways, ones that would maintain or enhance health, safety and environmental protections.

We know you can’t have a strong economy without strong people. Through sensible red tape reduction, this bill would lighten the load for people and businesses weighed down by the pandemic’s demands. That’s why we are working to make Ontario’s programs and front-line services more convenient, reliable and accessible. With hard work, we’ll achieve a modern, efficient and customer-focused government.

We are a people who want to get going, get moving and not waste our time and energy with unnecessary, outdated and repetitive compliance measures. It’s hard to manage a business, advance your work or simply get through the day when you are spending countless hours filling out paper forms, repeating the same requirements that have to be fulfilled multiple times or completing other time-intensive administrative work.

The same could be said if you are trying to update important information like your address, bring your pet on the patio with you at a restaurant in the summer or get a police record check done to volunteer. That’s how regulatory burden takes up our time and money today, while making it less attractive for people and businesses to invest their energy right here in the long-term.

Cutting red tape frees people and businesses from spending unproductive energy complying with rules that go beyond what’s necessary to achieve desired regulatory outcomes. Less red tape will minimize frustration, save money and give us more time—things we could all use more of right now.

But we are making progress. For example, as documented in this year’s burden reduction report, we’re automating and introducing electronic submissions to get life-saving drugs and devices to Ontarians faster. We’re deploying state-of-the-art technology, including drones, to transform inspections. And we’re switching to a digital reporting service to ensure hazardous waste is properly stored, transported, processed and managed.

These actions are strengthening our province’s status as one of the pillars of the North American supply chain, and we’re helping communities, businesses and workers as we continue to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of course, this bill proposes to do more than eliminate needless regulatory compliance requirements. It also goes a long way to modernizing Ontario’s regulatory system. Through this bill, we would introduce changes to digitize, streamline and expedite how people and business interact with government. Smarter, modern regulations that use digital pathways where possible are easier and faster to adhere to, so people and business owners can focus on what matters most: our families, our communities and our economy.

Modernizing Ontario’s regulatory system to keep pace with current challenges is, in fact, a strategic way we can help more people and businesses get back on track. There’s proof in what we’ve already achieved. Since 2020, we’ve passed four high-impact regulatory modernization bills and their corresponding packages of regulatory changes and policy announcements.

While our government has been working to reduce red tape since 2018, the pandemic has made this work even more critical. We need to do all we can to support economic recovery and growth. There is neither time nor money to waste.

Through the following acts, we’ve intensified our work to modernize regulations so businesses can stay open and grow. The acts are: the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act; the Main Street Recovery Act; the Better for People, Smarter for Business Act; and the Supporting Recovery and Competitiveness Act.

I want to commend and thank the President of the Treasury Board, former Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction and member for Brampton South for bringing these bills forward. The bill before us today is a continuation of the incredible work done before us. I would like to now review some of the tangible changes introduced by those acts.

Speaker, it is clear that we have an infrastructure deficit and need to get many important projects built—projects to build the much-needed homes and the transit around them. With the province growing each year, we need to have proper housing, transit and roads for these individuals. We also need better access to broadband so everyone can access the Internet in an ever-increasing digital world, and I would like to commend the Minister of Infrastructure for the great work that she is doing to ensure everyone across this province will have great broadband.

That’s why the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act focused on speeding up the ability to fund this critical infrastructure. This act was the first step in our plan for growth, renewal and recovery. It was designed to get infrastructure projects built faster while positioning Ontario as a modern regulator in response to an evolving pandemic.

To help address infrastructure backlogs for businesses and communities, the act has modernized and streamlined environmental assessment processes. This was accomplished by updating the almost 50-year-old environmental assessment program to focus resources on projects with the highest impact on the environment. Through this change, the approval timelines for some projects have been reduced from six years to three. By matching the level of assessment requirements with the environmental impact of a proposed project, important infrastructure projects can move forward without unnecessary delays. And as mentioned in the recent fall economic statement, our government is ready to rebuild.

One way we are speeding up timelines is by providing a single consolidated environmental compliance approvals process for low-impact municipal sewage collection and stormwater management projects. This gets rid of separate approvals for each project, especially for simple routine changes by municipalities, including alterations, extensions, enlargements or replacement projects. It’s about making sensible changes that make doing business easier without compromising the strong standards currently in place.

Finally, to help people and businesses in the construction sector, this act is making it easier and faster to update the building code. Streamlining the building code development process, supporting harmonization with national construction codes and allowing Ontario to respond faster to the needs of the construction sector is helping to keep more people working and communities operating smoothly across the province while reducing interprovincial trade barriers. One thing we can all agree on is the need to speed up construction projects so people can get back to work safely in the province.

As mentioned earlier, we have an infrastructure deficit and we need to use the tools available to us to build as quickly as we can. Infrastructure deficits slow down the economy and make investors look elsewhere.

We followed up this bill with the Main Street Recovery Act in November 2020. The purpose of this bill was to support the small and main-street businesses that fuel our economy and bring life to our communities. Small and main-street businesses all over Ontario have dealt with urgent and unexpected pressures related to cash-flow problems, customer limits and physical distancing since the onset of the pandemic. The last thing they need as they navigate a profoundly disruptive time are outdated and unnecessary rules that slow them down and cost them money.

Consider, Speaker, the impact of flexible delivery options on stressed retailers, suppliers and consumers. The changes we made to the Municipal Act and the City of Toronto Act paved the way to enable off-peak deliveries to retailers, restaurants and distribution centres to keep store shelves full through the first wave of the pandemic while many retailers were experiencing low supplies.

As part of the fall 2020 red tape reduction package, we have made these changes permanent. This will support main-street rebuilding efforts by helping much-needed goods reach businesses as efficiently as possible. Off-peak delivery helps build consumer confidence and alleviates business owners’ concerns. And it also helps keep supply chains moving by getting goods delivered when they are needed and where they are needed. The changes also have the potential to reduce rush-hour traffic, lower fuel costs for businesses and reduce greenhouse gas and other emissions.

Another example from the Main Street Recovery Act was increasing the diversity of products sold at the Ontario Food Terminal. This change helped support main-street retailers, restaurants and shoppers by giving them greater access to the products they need. Thousands of small businesses, including independent shops and restaurants, rely on the terminal for their supplies. Amendments to the act expanded the terminal’s mandate, allowing it to promote local food. This not only helps support the growth of Ontario’s agri-food economy, it also gives the terminal a hand up to compete in a crowded marketplace.

These changes allow buyers and small businesses to keep existing customers coming back while attracting new ones. I do want to thank the Minister of Agriculture for all the work that she put in to make sure that that happened.

This legislation, together with its comprehensive package of financial and wraparound supports, contains amendments that are modernizing regulations and making smart changes to help us to continue to enjoy vibrant main streets. This includes helping to offset personal protective equipment for employers with two to 19 employees, with a one-time grant of up to $1,000; creating single-window access for small businesses supports online; and providing mental health supports for families, front-line workers, young people, children and Indigenous communities.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank our Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions for the immense work that he has been doing to support employers and employees, workers and people across the province.

The Better for People, Smarter for Business Act, 2020, passed in December 2020. Changes in this act, along with other measures, included:

—requiring gas and electric utilities to adopt Green Button technology. This new capability allows utility consumers to automate the secure transfer of their energy uses so they can understand their energy consumption and reduce costs;

—supporting renewable and alternative fuels and emissions-reduction technology;

—allowing single-traffic studies for an entire specified highway corridor or area to reduce duplication and enable developers to get shovels in the ground faster;

—protecting the environment and the health of Ontarians by improving hazardous waste tracking;

—making it easier for property developers to get the environmental information they need by moving from a manual, paper-based process to a much faster digital delivery platform;

—requiring water bottling companies to receive support from the host municipality prior to applying for a new or increased permit to take groundwater; and

—cutting red tape for intercommunity bus carriers to improve transportation options in rural and northern Ontario, making it easier for workers and families to access more transportation options.

The focal point of the Supporting Recovery and Competitiveness Act that passed in June 2021 was about laying the foundation for a strong recovery and an even stronger future in the years ahead. This comprehensive package of 90 legislative and regulatory actions and announcements is helping to position businesses for new opportunities as vaccinations rise and the competition ramps back up.

Changes in this act, along with other measures in the package, include:

—helping to ensure Ontario remains a global leader in the connected- and automated-vehicle industry by supporting innovative pilot programs;

—modernizing Ontario by bringing more processes and services online, like sticker renewal for heavy commercial vehicle licence plates;

—enhancing protections for workers by strengthening policies that keep them safe, like reviewing the working at heights training program to improve standards for training content and delivery;

—supporting the not-for-profit sector and other corporations by allowing them to continue to hold virtual meetings during the pandemic.

Speaker, consider how this act is helping to strengthen Ontario’s mining industry while supporting electric-vehicle and battery manufacturing to promote sustainable growth. Northern Ontario’s rich mineral resources position our province to become an international supplier, producer and manufacturer of critical minerals that facilitate electric-vehicle and battery manufacturing. That’s why our Critical Minerals Strategy lays out a bold vision, one where we can generate increased investment while supporting the transition to a low-carbon global economy.

By amending the Mining Act, this legislation is supporting Ontario’s growing critical minerals sector. The amendment allows claim holders to sell the end product of a bulk sample and keep the proceeds without the province’s permission. This helps create business certainty and improves timelines for mining projects, making Ontario companies more competitive on the world stage. Speaker, we’re so proud to support these Ontario job creators and their work to strengthen next-generation industries, and we want to assure the House that, through these proposals, the government is committed to balancing a competitive mining sector with environmental protection and sustainability.

Speaker, we’re proud to report that, thanks in large part to the aforementioned acts and packages, Ontario has reduced needless regulatory compliance requirements by 6.5% over the three years ending in June 2021. This rate of burden reduction compares favourably with other leading jurisdictions and is a significant achievement, and it’s getting quantifiable results. Since June 2018, businesses, not-for-profits, municipalities, universities and colleges, school boards and hospitals have benefited from $373 million in net annual compliance cost savings.

This is money Ontario businesses and public-serving organizations can put to better use, year after year. Doing this amid a pandemic was not easy. However, it demonstrates our commitment to minimizing burdens and doing whatever it takes to protect people’s health and safety during a global pandemic.

Speaker, although the 2021 Burden Reduction Report quantified compliance cost savings for businesses and organizations, it’s important to note that these changes have also had an impact on our number one priority: people. Smart, modern regulations can improve how people go about their lives, making it easier for them to interact with important public services. That’s why we continue to update regulations and reduce burdens in ways that save people time and money, like removing the requirement for high school students to submit paper-based forms on community involvement activities.

By allowing students to submit this important diploma requirement online, we’re saving time and frustration for students and administrators alike. It’s a simple fix that makes sense, and it shows how regulatory modernization and burden reduction can benefit Ontarians from all walks of life.

Speaker, we’ve taken a team Ontario approach to larger pieces of legislation, working across ministries to identify opportunities to ease burdens while prioritizing fundamental protections. Part of that team approach, as reflected in the legislation being reviewed today, involves protecting what Ontarians value most. The proposed regulatory modernization initiatives in the Supporting People and Businesses Act have been designed to uphold these protections, and in many cases improve them.

A few weeks ago, the Minister of Finance stood in this House and delivered the fall economic statement. Outlined in that statement were the three pillars on which Ontario’s plan is based:

—building Ontario by getting shovels in the ground for highways, hospitals, housing and high-speed Internet;

—protecting Ontario’s progress and the hard-fought gains Ontario has made in fighting COVID-19 by continuing to build a health and long-term-care system that delivers the quality of care that our loved ones deserve, while continuing to protect communities and families; and

—working for workers by focusing on the workers of Ontario, because Ontario workers should be in a race to the top, not a race to the bottom.

Speaker, these pillars are just what we are supporting with this proposed legislation and the full fall package.

As I stated earlier, the pandemic has shone a light on red tape and burdens that previously we may never have noticed. This has included the delivery of alcohol with the purchase of food, off-peak delivery for businesses to keep the supply chain moving and more.

Another important change we are proposing is to make permanent the delivery and curbside pickup of cannabis across the province. This change was introduced during the pandemic to allow individuals, including those in need of medical cannabis, to purchase and receive their orders in a safe and quick manner. This helped reduce mobility when COVID cases were high and everyone was encouraged to stay home. It was also a huge step in combatting the illicit market, where delivery is a common feature.

Omar Khan, senior vice-president for corporate and public affairs with High Tide Inc., had this to say about the change: “The ability for legal retailers to permanently offer delivery, in particular, will eliminate a competitive advantage which illicit retailers previously enjoyed.” This “drew some consumers to remain committed to purchasing from the illicit market.”

He went on further to state that, according to research from Deloitte, location and convenience are amongst the most important factors which can keep consumers attached to the illicit market, unless legal retailers have the necessary tools to compete on these measures. The same research has also found that the ability to order cannabis products online and have them delivered to a customer’s home is one of the top reasons why consumers who currently purchase from the illicit market would choose to convert to the legal regulated market.

Here’s another quote, from Chris Beals, CEO of WM Technology: “If you’re not sold on the potential of the licensed industry, know that there are a number of unlicensed alternatives waiting to fill the gap. Ontario, like most jurisdictions that have legalized cannabis, has struggled to displace the illicit market and replace it with legal alternatives. But according to Ontario Cannabis Store’s last quarterly report, legal cannabis sales make up 47% of the recreational market as of June 2021. There are some who would say this percentage is even lower. While this represents meaningful progress year over year, it’s not enough.”

Legislators and policy-makers have to ask themselves why consumers are choosing to purchase cannabis from unlicensed sources. One of the main factors is a lack of reliable access to delivery services on the licensed market. This isn’t just an anecdote. Public polling provided by Navigator this past January reveals that Canadians and Ontarians are not only receptive to retail delivery, but see it as the single most important step that could be taken to combat the unlicensed, illegal market.

By passing Bill 13, Ontario’s legislators can permanently remove this structural imbalance between licensed and non-licensed retailers and create a fair playing field that compels consumers to move to licensed channels.

One of the favoured items in this legislation would permanently allow licensed restaurants, bars and other hospitality businesses to extend their licensed outdoor patio spaces. We made this temporary change earlier in the pandemic to help businesses adapt to restrictions due to COVID-19. Since then, I’ve had countless conversations with restaurant and bar owners while touring the province, and I’ve heard from so many of them about how this change has had a positive impact on their establishments. To make this temporary measure permanent is a step in the right direction for these hard-hit businesses.

I’m so happy we were able to make good use of this temporary measure, and I’m pleased it’s being proposed as a permanent change.

I’m also grateful to the municipalities, such as the city of Toronto, which has already stated they would keep up CaféTO. This initiative would create new opportunities for how restaurants and bars serve patrons beyond the pandemic and well into the future. And just last week, Speaker, the city of Mississauga has chosen to extend that to the end of 2023. So it’s a great, great addition.

Another proposal in this legislation would help streamline the planning system, with the ability to shorten approval timelines. This item would give municipal councils greater authority to determine which decisions could be made by committees of council or staff.

Beyond shortening approval timelines and streamlining the planning system, this change would provide municipal councils with additional flexibility to focus their time on strategic items for the benefit of their communities. This is critical, especially given the housing crisis we are experiencing right across the province. By allowing councils to give decision-making authority to staff on minor planning changes, housing could be built that much quicker and more affordably, instead of getting caught up in time-consuming approvals.

The benefit for businesses could include lower costs, an incentive to move forward with innovative plans, and reduced frustration thanks to shorter approval timelines.

In fact, we heard at committee from Mike Collins-Williams, CEO of the West End Home Builders’ Association, that, “On an issue-by-issue basis, those items could save months in the approvals process for individual applications. Municipalities across Ontario have professional planning staff in place who are well situated and knowledgeable to deliver on these measures and free up council’s focus for more significant decisions, instead of being overwhelmed with minor administrative ones.”

With the need for more housing growing every year, saving any length of time can be game-changing, because two months on one issue and another four months on another can end up saving half a year in timelines.

The following proposal, Speaker, puts the emphasis on consumer protections for electrical safety. It would introduce legislative amendments to broadly enable the Electrical Safety Authority to issue administrative monetary penalties. These changes would equip the authority with a more efficient and effective compliance framework, allowing the organization to redirect resources to public safety and education efforts.

In addition, it would help address the underground economy of unlicensed contractors and boost the competitiveness of licensed contractors who are compliant with the regulations. Minimizing the prevalence of illegal electrical installations is a strategic step we can take to improve public safety all over Ontario.

Our next item, Speaker, is intended to modernize courtroom proceedings. We propose to repeal a

section of the Barristers Act to remove an outdated courtroom procedure that prioritizes the cases of senior lawyers and does not recognize licensed paralegals. By doing so, we would eliminate a provision that is inconsistently applied. This change is intended to help improve efficiency in the courtroom.

As the Attorney General stated when we debated this legislation in second reading, this

section of the act inadvertently discriminates against our youngest lawyers and our more diverse lawyers, since many of them would not have the seniority to go first.

We also heard at committee from Marian Lippa of Fleet Street Law. Marian is a paralegal and has been advocating for this change for many years. As many in this House would have heard, she explained how this

section creates an access-to-justice issue as it impacts the cost of representation. Because paralegals act as advocates, they’re a great alternative to lawyer representation. By making the changes proposed today, it will allow paralegals to do more advocacy work for their clients and get through their workload faster. This is a great initiative and just one of the many fantastic changes that the Attorney General has brought forward to accelerate our justice system and modernize an important government service.

I really want to thank our Attorney General for the immense work that he has put into making these changes to keep our courtrooms open throughout the pandemic and beyond.

As part of Ontario’s ongoing work to modernize the environmental assessment, or EA, program, our government is proposing a minor amendment to the Environmental Assessment Act. The idea is to clarify the minister’s authority to make changes to the types of projects that can follow a class EA, helping to increase transparency. In fact, projects that follow the class EA process would still require consultation with the public, stakeholders and Indigenous communities to develop mitigation measures and document findings in a report, as we remain committed to seeking input before allowing other project types to begin following this new process.

Our next two proposals would benefit Ontarians by helping to keep public lands for public use. Amendments to both the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act and the Public Lands Act would prevent people from claiming ownership of public lands by unlawfully occupying a space in a provincial park or conservation reserve. This would help ensure that lands remain available for public use and outdoor recreation. It would support our ongoing work to safeguard the environment—and provide Ontarians with more opportunity to enjoy our provincial parks, get outside and boost their health and wellness.

In addition, through changes to the Public Lands Act, we would remove barriers to transferring lands to First Nations and other levels of government. The goal is to help ensure public lands can be used for future resource-based economic development opportunities, especially in northern Ontario.

Speaker, to continue boosting northern Ontario’s communities and economy, our next item would amend the Northern Services Boards Act to keep pace with our times. The amendment would allow local services boards to post public notices of meetings and minutes online, allowing them more flexibility and autonomy to communicate with their residents the best way that they see fit.

The physical distancing requirements of the COVID-19 pandemic have reinforced the urgency with which Ontario is digitizing public services. Accordingly, this proposal is aligned with Ontario’s Digital First Strategy, making it easier for people and companies to do business in these communities and meet the demands of the future.

The following proposal I’d like to discuss would further Ontario’s Critical Minerals Strategy and, at the same time, minimize its environmental impact. It’s a great way and a great example of how regulatory modernization and red tape reduction can create sustainable economic growth that serves or, in this case, enhances the public interest.

Through proposed changes to the Mining Act, we would make it easier for mining companies to recover minerals at mine sites while creating economic opportunities through the extraction of critical minerals. Reprocessing mine waste and tailings to extract minerals will help strengthen the mining industry and our environment by providing companies with an economic alternative to opening a new mine. Rest assured, Speaker, we continue to be committed to the rehabilitation of closed and abandoned mine sites to protect public health, safety and the environment.

We see this proposed amendment as an innovative way to increase Ontario’s competitiveness in our global market, attract investment, create jobs and build much stronger communities.

This bill would help rebuild our economy by better supporting the workers behind it. With the following proposal, we would make changes to the Professional Foresters Act to improve the delivery of professional forestry in Ontario. Amendments would modify the act’s scope of practice to more clearly define professional forestry and reduce overlap with other natural resource professionals, like arborists. The goal is to support professional foresters in the province with improved oversight by the Ontario Professional Foresters Association.

We also want to thank the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects for their support of this proposed legislation.

Speaker, to help keep more workers safe and more employers aware of their responsibilities, our next item would amend the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Changes would clarify and streamline employers’ obligations, as well as the processes for when a serious injury occurs in the workplace. The government is also proposing changes to the act to provide for future opportunities to tailor elements of workplace programs, such as responding to serious injuries in the workplace. This proposal would help support businesses and enhance the role of workplace parties following injuries at work by modernizing rules, obligations and processes.

Our next item would help keep a major Ontario economic hub running and a vibrant community moving faster. We know that investing in better, faster transit can unlock sustainable growth, so we’re working in partnership with York region to expand the subway network in keeping with our commitment to build the Yonge North subway extension. Through this bill, we’re proposing changes to the Development Charges Act to help York region funds its portion of the subway. These changes would enable York region to recover more of the eligible growth-related costs of the extension through development charges while also protecting taxpayers’ best interests.

The next item would save people time while improving government services. Currently, people who wish to harvest trees on crown land for personal use, like firewood, must undergo the same process as businesses applying for industrial or commercial use, like a logging operation. The government would change the Crown Forest Sustainability Act to distinguish authorization requirements for wood harvested from crown lands for personal use from those harvested for industrial or commercial use. This proposal would scale the approval process to fit the request, saving time and effort for people and government, and it’s another way that we’re cutting red tape in line with appropriate requirements.

Speaker, our final item would save people money, reduce administrative burdens and promote richer, stronger communities across Ontario. We’re proposing to reduce barriers to police record checks for volunteers to boost a valuable source of talent for our communities and to save money for people looking to volunteer. This change means that volunteers requesting certain types of police record checks will no longer have to pay for them, reducing administrative time for police services and costs for prospective volunteers.

The desire to volunteer in Ontario is great. It’s part of what we call our Ontario spirit. This spirit is one of Ontario’s greatest resources. That’s why in the fall economic statement we’ve committed a $1.6-million investment over three years to create a database of diverse, skilled volunteers that can be called upon to better assist in times of need.

What I’ve outlined are just some of the proposals in the Supporting People and Businesses Act. Through the 25 schedules, the act, if passed, will modernize significant statutes to remove unnecessary, outdated and duplicative regulations that get in the way of people and businesses in their everyday lives, and they’ll deliver clear and effective rules that will protect public health and safety and the environment—without sacrificing innovation, growth and economic opportunity.

By modernizing and streamlining rules and moving more processes and services online, we can help people and businesses while they manage this next phase of the pandemic. We look forward to working together with members of this House to make life easier for people and businesses while upholding what Ontarians value most and prepare them for brighter days ahead.

I would now like to turn over the remainder of my time to the Minister of Energy to speak about some of the incredible initiatives he has proposed in this legislation and how they will help Ontarians far and wide.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): The associate minister did say at the beginning that she would be sharing her time with the Minister of Energy, and I see he is in his chair and has risen, so we turn the floor over to the Minister of Energy.

Hon. Todd Smith: He is risen, Speaker, yes. It’s great to be with you all this morning and great to continue on the comments made by my colleague who has worked so hard on Bill 13. I want to congratulate her on bringing that bill to the floor of the Legislature here at third reading.

As a former Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, I had the opportunity to marshal a couple of these red tape bills through the Legislature back in 2018-19. I know how difficult it can be, but I know how easy it can be to do a one-hour leadoff, because they’re packed full of all kinds of great things to talk about.

There are a lot of people that do a lot of work to make these types of bills happen. It’s an all-of-government approach. I want to congratulate, first of all, Minister Tangri for this bill, Bill 13, but her predecessor, who is the President of the Treasury Board, the member from Brampton South, who did a great job as well, and the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Minister Fedeli. The parliamentary assistants, Parsa and Skelly, did a great job of hosting all kinds of round tables across the province, just hearing from businesses on how we could reduce red tape in their business and make the cost of doing business a little less oppressive for them.

So I had the opportunity to bring in a couple of bills in the past, Bill 47 and Bill 66, all aimed at restoring Ontario’s competitiveness after years of decline under the previous Liberal government that saw 300,000 manufacturing jobs leaving Ontario for other jurisdictions. Part of that was because of the high cost of electricity, which I’m happy to talk about now, but also the red tape that became so abundant during the Wynne-Del Duca-McGuinty years.

I don’t know if you caught this this morning. I was driving in, listening to Newstalk 1010, Moore in the Morning. Sabrina Nanji, who does a great job reporting here from Queen’s Park every day, had a little “baby scoop,” as she called it on the radio this morning, talking about the fact that Del Duca is out there today, about to introduce more red tape if he was ever to become the Premier of the province. You know what they say: A leopard never changes its spots, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. Catherine Fife: Well, we know that now, especially with this Premier.

Hon. Todd Smith: Hear, hear.

All right, so let’s get to down business here. I’m going to be speaking particularly about the energy pieces in Bill 13, as outlined a bit by my colleague. As the Minister of Energy and a former energy critic here in the Legislature, I can tell you that before we came to government—and I know you know this well, Mr. Speaker—I constantly heard from families about the skyrocketing hydro prices under the Liberal government.

Under their long-term energy plan, the Liberals’ electricity rates were set to rise 7%, year over year, until the end of this decade. We’ve been able to hold those increases flat, and we’re going to talk about why in the bill. I’m not going to get to that part first.

Our first order of business was addressing the skyrocketing electricity prices here in the province in a manner that improved transparency and accountability. We implemented the Ontario Electricity Rebate, which now provides a 17% rebate for residential and small business customers. We also provided essential support to ratepayers that needed assistance during the COVID pandemic, up to three quarters of a billion dollars in relief.

Just over a year ago, we introduced customer choice. In just that short amount of time, almost 300,000 families and businesses have taken advantage of that choice and switched their pricing plan to one that better fits their energy usage, helping them save money, from time-of-use to tiered pricing. We’re not done there; there’s more to come.

We also took specific actions to assist commercial and industrial electricity consumers. Through the comprehensive electricity plan, we’ve reduced prices for these businesses by up to 17%, making Ontario’s industrial electricity rates comparable to or lower than US competitor states and making our province more attractive for new investment, including those in electric-vehicle assembly and parts manufacturing.

You’ve seen this over the last number of months, where some of the OEMs, those automakers in our province, have made investments here, all as a result of the driving prosperity plan that was put forward through the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, but also the fact that we’re starting to get our electricity prices, our energy prices, under control here, making it a more desirable and predictable place to do business.

Bill 13 represents the next steps in our work to make Ontario the best place to live and do business, and I’m pleased to be able to speak to three key parts of the plan.

We’ll start with providing more certainty to families and businesses, and we’re updating the way that the regulated price plan—RPP—rates are set in Ontario.

Second, we’re providing more choice. We’re enabling competition in electricity suite metering so condo boards and landlords can change providers and reduce costs that would otherwise be passed on to consumers.

And, finally, we’re increasing transparency. We’ve introduced the Green Button standard across Ontario so consumers can access their hourly energy-use data and save money on their electricity bills—up to 18%.

With respect to increasing certainty, I think many of my colleagues would be aware that under the current practice the Ontario Energy Board has historically adjusted its rates under the RPP twice annually—November and May—to reflect changes in the cost of electricity generation. This has been the practice in the past. I think we can all agree that when it comes to household bills, we want as much certainty as possible on what we’re going to have to pay.

That’s why, beginning November 1, about a month ago, the Ontario Energy Board has said that they’ll be setting RPP prices only once per year instead of twice, if the necessary regulatory amendments are approved. That’s what we’re here talking about today. I think that’s really, really important because, as I mentioned, we’re holding the rates flat, and the rates will remain flat right through until November 2022, which is important for people across the province to do their own planning and take control of their bills.

It’s a big step forward in providing the additional certainty that families and small businesses in our province are looking for.

Next, I want to talk about how we’re making further enhancements to customer choice by enabling more competition in electricity suite metering in Ontario. Our government has launched a regulatory registry consultation to explore opportunities to make it easier for multi-unit buildings to choose among suite-metering services, allowing residents to benefit from potential cost savings on their electricity bills. It’s good news for some 325,000 individual residential and business customers who pay for their electricity through a unit sub-metering company.

Prior to sub-metering, which was introduced during the 1990s, condos and apartments were bulk-metered by local distribution companies. This often meant higher condo fees or higher rent because there was no accountability for energy use. In other words, there was no way to tell how much electricity was used, and higher-energy users were being subsidized by lower-energy users.

In contrast, sub-metering allows unit owners or tenants to install suite meters in their homes which allow them to track how much electricity they consume and to control how much they spend on electricity. It also gives them more reasons to conserve and save on their monthly bills. That’s the key. We’re always looking at new opportunities for consumer choice in the energy and electricity sector.

Right now, we’re looking for feedback from stakeholders on cutting red tape to allow these condo buildings to choose their energy provider. Our efforts have the support of those in the industry, including the Sub-metering Council of Ontario, who have said to us that we’re doing the right thing: “It is estimated that there are 155,000 families in condos and apartment units in Ontario that are caught by this issue which is forcing them to pay $1.5 million in higher costs for every month that this red tape remains in place.

Cutting this red tape is the right thing to do, and would allow all impacted buildings to save as much as $18.5 million a year for residents, at no cost to taxpayers, or the province. Fast provincial action to cut this red tape will allow buildings to choose their metering providers, and save money for residents.” That’s from Christopher Holtz of the Sub-metering Council of Ontario. So great news is on the way.

As well, the Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario, or FRPO, as we call them here in the Legislature, also support our efforts to reduce red tape and help residents save more money on their monthly bills. I’ll quote Tony Irwin from FRPO: “Cutting red tape will allow apartment buildings across Ontario to choose among licensed electricity metering providers and save money for residents. Once implemented, rental housing providers will be able to choose the metering arrangement that meets their needs, and residents will be able to save about $120 per year, on average, in electricity costs. That’s good news for Ontarians.”

Suneel Gupta, senior director with FirstService Residential, also agrees: “The current red tape basically overrides the authority of condo boards to make decisions around electricity metering, and is inconsistent with long-standing policy enshrined in the province’s Condominium Act. The Ford government’s decision to cut this red tape ensures that condo boards and property managers across Ontario can fulfill our duties, manage the affairs of our buildings and make decisions that will save residents money.”

Through our consultations, we aim to enhance the competitive utility metering market, lower costs for consumers, encourage ongoing investment in new technology and deliver conservation benefits across Ontario. As part of these consultations, we want to hear back from all stakeholders about the implications of making it easier for multi-unit buildings to choose among suite-metering services. We’ll explore options to remove barriers and harmonize rules so they are the same for switches between all suite-meter providers.

This has been our focus since day one: cutting red tape, reducing the cost of electricity and empowering Ontario’s families and businesses. We’re making sure everybody in this province can take control of their energy bills, of their electricity consumption, and save money.

We watched the Liberals squander Ontario’s energy advantage by burdening customers and businesses with out-of-control energy rates, and knew we had to take a different approach. Since coming to government, we’ve put customers first. Building on our introduction of the customer choice initiative that I mentioned earlier, at the beginning of this November I announced that our government is implementing the Green Button standard province-wide. I had a great event about six weeks ago down in London, at London Hydro, and made the announcement that Green Button is going to be required at local distribution companies across Ontario.

Simply put, Green Button is a data standard that lets customers download information about their energy usage from their utility. It means that customers can access real-time data in a user-friendly format on their computer or their smart phone. It doesn’t matter if you’re at the office, if you’re sitting in the Speaker’s chair or if you’re on a GO train, or maybe you’re on a beach in Mexico—you can actually take control of your energy bills from the palm of your hand in your smart phone.

You can see what your energy usage is going to be hour by hour by using the apps that will be created as a result of Green Button being the standard right across the province of Ontario. It puts customers in the driver’s seat and empowers them to make decisions that can help them save on their energy bills, and it stands to benefit both electricity and natural gas customers.

Speaker, I want to thank the Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction for recognizing the importance of the Green Button standard and including it in this bill. We know Ontarians are glad to see this government introducing yet another way that we can reduce burdensome red tape.

I’d like to share a quote from Katherine Hamilton. Katherine is the executive director of the Advanced Energy Management Alliance. She said, “The Advanced Energy Management Alliance is delighted that the Ministry of Energy has included the Green Button initiative in this legislation. When customers and their solutions providers are able to see the energy they use, everyone benefits by enabling reduced costs, increased efficiency and a more stable and flexible grid.”

I want to take a moment here to acknowledge the hard work of our local distribution companies, Speaker, right across Ontario. Since becoming the Minister of Energy, I’ve had the opportunity to get out there and meet a lot of our LDCs. I think of people like Jenny at Westario, and the great folks up at Lakeland Power in MPP Norm Miller’s riding in the Muskoka region, and the good work that they’re doing up there. Our local utilities really are the face of the energy sector to so many customers across the province. Depending on which community you’re in, you would probably have a different LDC.

With electricity and natural gas utilities across the province working to implement the Green Button standard by November 1, 2023, I’d also like to recognize some of the first adopters of Green Button technology: London Hydro, where I made the announcement; Festival Hydro in Stratford; and ENWIN Utilities in the Windsor region—I know you know them well, Mr. Speaker; you probably pay them a bill every month—and I know that other utilities like Newmarket-Tay Power Distribution are already making great progress towards implementing Green Button.

I’d like to quote from my friend Vinay Sharma, who’s the CEO of London Hydro, again, where we made this announcement. Vinay says, “The Green Button standard ushers utilities into the modern technology era of open utilities, increased customer choice and uniform energy management services for the benefit of customers. Indeed, Green Button will manifest the true benefits of smart meter systems for customers.” That comes from Vinay Sharma at London Hydro.

By working hand in hand with our LDCs and giving them the time and support needed to provide access to this cost-saving technology to their customers, Ontario is becoming the first province in Canada to implement Green Button across the board. This is putting customers first. Green Button technology enables customers to have quick and easy access to their energy use data through their smart phone or computer apps, and studies have found that easy access to energy data, along with smart home devices, can help consumers make informed decisions, achieving energy savings up to 18%.

This means that customers can pinpoint opportunities to reduce unnecessary energy consumption, saving them money over time.

One more quote for you: This one comes from Aaron Berndt, head of energy industry partnerships. Aaron says, “Green Button will make it easier for Ontario residential customers to access information about their energy consumption. The program will also allow partners to help consumers be mindful of and ultimately decrease their energy usage.”

Speaker, our policies are carefully considered and integrated. For instance, upon reviewing energy consumption data through a Green Button app, a customer may decide that it’s more cost-effective to switch from time-of-use to tiered pricing or vice versa. Knowledge really is power in this scenario, and we’re making sure that customers have that power in their hands to make these critical cost-saving decisions.

I mentioned earlier that Green Button puts the customer in the driver’s seat. In addition to driving cost savings, Green Button also allows customers to drive conservation and environmental benefits, which we know are important. Green Button apps can analyze energy data and provide customers with helpful energy savings tips to reduce their energy bills, and personalized retrofit options to achieve long-lasting savings. Green Button is quite literally a piece of the clean-tech innovation that’s happening right here in Ontario, and it has the ability to show users in real time how their choices help reduce their bills and reduce emissions.

One more quote, Speaker: Julia Langer is CEO of the Atmospheric Fund. She says, “Secure and automated access to energy data through Ontario’s Green Button program will empower consumers to make affordable, climate-friendly decisions for their homes and businesses.”

A critical part of Ontario’s energy mission is achieving low costs, more customer choice and a cleaner grid. The Green Button standard is one way that our government is achieving all three objectives. As we consider new policies, we’re always going to put customers first, and this proposed legislation, the Supporting People and Businesses Act, does just that.

I encourage all members of the House to support this bill, and again, I want to thank the minister for bringing this comprehensive bill forward, with all that it contains, and thank those who have worked so hard on it, including my old friend the deputy minister, Giles Gherson. It can be a bit like herding cats when you’re trying to put a bill like this together, so congratulations to my colleague for herding all the cats and bringing forward a substantial piece of legislation to the House.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): We have time for questions and responses.

Ms. Catherine Fife: We went through delegations on this bill, and I want to quote Karen Littlewood, who’s the president of OSSTF. She had issues with

Schedule 17 in particular. She said:

“But one of the most concerning features is the fact that members who are actively involved in the federation will be barred from representing on the College of Teachers. I want people to just consider the fact that, as a federation, we have people who are involved in many different aspects, who might be involved on human rights committees, who might be involved in excellence in education committees. Because of the virtue of their involvement in those federation activities, they would not be able to be part of the College of Teachers or that governing body. It seems to me to be quite restrictive”—it actually creates red tape—“If we’re looking at

an act that is going to reduce red tape, I think we’re actually causing more problems than anything here, and it makes me just question why this change has been done.”

Hon. Nina Tangri: I would like to thank the member for the question. The primary purpose of the Ontario College of Teachers is to protect and promote the public interest by governing and regulating members registered with the college in accordance with the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996.

The OCT protects the public interest by assuring that only individuals with the necessary qualifications can register with and be certified by the college; that the members comply with the highest professional and ethical standards set by the college—I don’t think we want anything less anywhere in this House; and that complaints against members are dealt with in an objective, transparent and timely manner.

We’re proud to recognize Ontario certified teachers by allowing them to use the OCT designation. At the same time, we must protect the integrity of that designation by ensuring only members in good standing are permitted to use it. And it’s important; this change was requested by the Ontario College of Teachers.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): The next question.

Ms. Donna Skelly: I want to commend the Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction for all the work she has done on this file, but my question is actually for the Minister of Energy.

Speaker, as you know, when we were first elected, we inherited an absolute mess from the previous Liberal Del Duca government, especially when it comes to the Green Energy Act. It was disastrous, it drove up prices and it rewarded Liberal-friendly companies with billion-dollar contracts and left the homeowner, the ratepayer, the business owner paying these exorbitant rates.

Can the Minister of Energy speak to what our government is doing to address this mess that we inherited and how ratepayers and small businesses can benefit?

Hon. Todd Smith: As a matter of fact, I can, Mr. Speaker. I’m not sure I can do it in a minute, but I’ll do my best.

It was a Liberal hydro mess—we all know that—so the first thing that the previous minister did was to stop the madness, to stop putting up the over-market generators of electricity that we didn’t need when we already had an oversupply, which were driving up the cost of electricity by 7% year over year over year. We had to stop that madness.

We brought in the Ontario Electricity Rebate, which is saving small businesses and residential customers 17% on their electricity bills. We’ve made the change in this bill, when it comes to the RPP, the rate protection plan, to make sure that we’re holding rates flat over the next year, which is going to give those businesses the certainty that they need, and taking those over-market renewable costs in our comprehensive energy/electricity plan and moving them to the tax base, so they’re no longer on the backs of businesses. I had a meeting the other day where a business said that it’s saving them $2.2 million a year by making that change.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): The next question.

Mr. Jeff Burch: Speaker, through you to the Minister of Energy: It’s a fact that it was the Conservatives who set up the sale of hydro by changing the regulations, around the same time that they were selling Highway 407, and the Liberals followed through with those plans and actually sold Hydro. I realize he wasn’t there at the time, but I’d like to know his opinion: Has the sale and privatization of public utilities and infrastructure like Highway 407 and our publicly owned hydro been a success? And if so, why are customers paying so much more?

Hon. Todd Smith: It was the previous Liberal government, under the former Premier, who still sits in this House today, that sold Hydro One. I was actually the critic for the Hydro One sale before I became the critic for energy, so I’ve been on this file for about three years.

Mr. Speaker, what’s driving up the cost of electricity in Ontario and what continues to drive up the cost of electricity wasn’t the fact that there were private entities in the electricity sector; it was the fact that this government gave over-market prices to generation that was unreliable and was creating an oversupply of electricity, particularly at times when we didn’t need it. So we’ve taken those costs off of the rate base, off of those electricity customers, and moved them to the tax base, because those were political decisions.

Those weren’t good energy decisions that were being made, and anybody that works in the energy or electricity sector will back me up on that one. Those were political decisions, Mr. Speaker.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): The member for Brantford–Brant has a question.

Mr. Will Bouma: Speaker, through you to the minister: I’ve been so constantly amazed by the good work being done by the Ministry of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction. I believe that they’re just a powerhouse, and their consistent bills coming through year over year, spring and fall, are just making such a difference to the people of Ontario.

I was wondering if I could ask the minister: As she looked over this bill, what was something that stuck out to her, that was just like, “Wow, that’s a really good idea that’s going to make a big difference for the people of Ontario”?

Hon. Nina Tangri: Thank you to the member from Brantford–Brant for the question.

If I had to choose one thing, it would be extremely difficult. This piece of legislation crosses 13 ministries, and I want to thank all of the ministers, the parliamentary assistants and our entire caucus for the work that they put in.

I think if I had to speak about one particular piece, it would be extending the patios. Throughout the pandemic, we had to look for ways to support our businesses. The restaurant industry had suffered significantly, and it was something that we could do—to allow them to extend or have an outdoor patio for licensed restaurants, and to be able to do that through the pandemic, and to hear from the owners on how well it worked and how it saved their businesses. I think that one thing alone has had a massive impact on consumers and business owners.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): The member for Toronto Centre has a question.

Ms. Suze Morrison: When we look at this bill, we see that there are some amendments to the cannabis act that affect how folks can purchase cannabis in our communities. Unfortunately, the real issue that we’re seeing with cannabis stores in my community, in Toronto Centre, is actually the proliferation of them. We don’t see anything in this bill to address the fact that municipalities can’t currently limit the location and number of cannabis shops in their cities.

What we are seeing in communities like Toronto Centre, in neighbourhoods like the Church-Wellesley Village and in Corktown, is four, five, six, seven pot shops on a block completely eliminating the diversity of a healthy local economy on our main streets.

And worse, I heard from a constituent in my community, Nelson, who has serious concerns about how close some of these shops are to schools and about the blatant advertising that is present right in front of our schools for young children.

So what commitment is your government willing to make today to ensure that municipalities have more local control over the proliferation of cannabis retail locations in our municipalities to ensure the viability of our main streets?

Hon. Nina Tangri: I want to thank the member for the question.

I think everyone in this House understands our government is very committed to protecting children and keeping our communities safe by combatting the illegal market through a tightly regulated retail market that provides choice and provides convenience.

Just a few days ago, we heard about fentanyl-laced drugs that are being sold on the illegal market.

What we need to do here—when we announce statutory amendments to include it in Bill 13, the Supporting People and Businesses Act, it allows authorized cannabis retailers to provide curbside pickup and delivery on a permanent basis.

Just imagine, Speaker, that we have somebody at home who potentially could already be smoking or having cannabis and they want more. Isn’t it better that they purchase it online and have it delivered, as opposed to getting in a car, driving to a facility and picking it up, potentially endangering many lives on the way? This is one of the reasons that we have stepped up with this legislation.

We are saying yes to supporting the people of this province, and we are making sure that we have safe cannabis stores, and we are getting rid of the illicit market.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): There really isn’t enough time to kick off further debate, so I think it’s time that we just move into members’ statements.

Third reading debate deemed adjourned.

Members’ Statements

Insurance rates

Mr. Tom Rakocevic: Do you know what has been missing from this government’s throne speech? Any leadership on the growing crisis in insurance in Ontario. Cars were parked during the lockdown and accidents were down over 70% across the province, but rather than making sure to share their savings with Ontario drivers—who, by the way, pay the highest rates in North America—this government allowed them to keep all $3.6 billion in profits they made in 2020 while everyone else struggled. Even worse, auto insurance rates continue to climb. Any leadership by the government here? No.

They were busy doing PR for the insurers. While restaurants and other small businesses had their doors closed and struggled to keep their businesses afloat, insurers jacked up premiums by 200% or 300%.

Think about it. Businesses were closed and nobody was there, but their rates tripled, further adding to insurer profits. After all our small businesses have gone through, was there any leadership from the government on rising commercial insurance? No, just silence.

Condominium insurance continues to rise, affecting the cost of housing, but is the government taking any action? No.

Entire industries are on the point of collapse, because insurers, after all the profits they are making, are pulling out of some sectors.

After 50 years of service, Burlington Taxi has closed its doors forever because of insurance costs. Truck drivers are facing similar treatment. Music venues are facing a whopping 4,000% increase, meaning live music could go silent, just like this government when it comes to holding insurers to account.

Speaker, day after day during the afternoons in this chamber, I raise the issue of insurance to government members, and all I get is dodgeball or silence. There is a growing crisis in insurance, and this government needs to step up or step aside.

Wiarton Willie

Mr. Bill Walker: Without a shadow of a doubt, I rise today in this House to acknowledge the unfortunate passing of world-famous weather prognosticator Wiarton Willie. He passed away after almost five years of best-of-the-burrow service.

I want to extend my sincere condolences to the municipality of South Bruce Peninsula, the people of Wiarton and people across the country for their loss of our Canadian icon.

I spent a lot of my life in Wiarton and have fond memories of Groundhog Day celebrations. I was even the event director in 1999, the year of the first official demise of Willie. For many years, community builder R. Keith Davidson has jokingly referred to me as Wiarton Billy, a name I wear, without a shadow of a doubt, with pride and honour.

Wiarton Willie is a beloved figure in my riding and across the globe. Every year, people across the world gather to celebrate Groundhog Day to see and hear Willie’s prognostication: whether he will see his shadow, heralding six more weeks of winter, or if he does not, indicating an early spring. “Willie” or won’t he, Mr. Speaker?

While there are other groundhog prognosticators, such as Punxsutawney Phil, Shubenacadie Sam, Jimmy the Groundhog, Dunkirk Dave, Staten Island Chuck and Balzac Billy, Wiarton Willie is a special one, because he is the world’s only albino prognosticating groundhog.

Groundhog Day began in 1957 when a Wiarton local named Mac McKenzie decided that his community could use a winter wake-up, and Mac put us on the map. With a group of friends and a Toronto journalist, McKenzie went looking for a groundhog, but instead found a white fur hat and threw it into the hole. The rest, as they say, is history.

Today, more than 60 years later, Wiarton continues to celebrate with a live event that is broadcast around the world and has become one of Ontario’s largest winter festivals. The event is a testament so the great people of Wiarton and the festive spirit of small-town Ontario.

Premier Ford has attended the festival twice—the only sitting Premier to ever attend—and I know he was impressed with people’s friendliness, the community spirit and the great riding of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound.

I look forward to attending the upcoming festivities, and I invite all members and everyone listening to visit our little piece of paradise on February 2 for Groundhog Day and to see if Willie won’t or Willie will see his shadow.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): Thank you, Wiarton Willie.

Affordable housing

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: Londoners are finding it increasingly difficult to find somewhere they can afford to live. The average price of rent has increased by 7%, home ownership is out of reach for 80% of renters and homeless Londoners are dying at an unprecedented rate of one person per week this year. We are in a housing crisis. There are real-life consequences if we don’t act quickly to address the unsustainable rising cost of housing.

One constituent wrote me, saying, “I am a senior, who collects OAS. I cannot afford the high cost of renting an apartment in London because I am collecting a monthly pension.

“Supportive housing is not applicable for me because of the long wait-lists.

“I am afraid I will be pushed into” homelessness “with no place to live.”

It’s not only renters but also homeowners on fixed incomes like pensions and ODSP and OW who can’t keep up with home repairs or upgrades but also can’t afford to sell or downsize, either, because the cost of both is too high. With a shortage of at least 3,000 affordable units, there are also few affordable places for the lowest-income Londoners to live. Recent Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. data shows that there are only 30 units per 1,000 renters earning less than $36,000.

We need a provincial housing and homeless strategy. Housing is a human right. So I ask this government: What is this government’s plan to help folks like my constituent keep a roof over their head?

Long-term care

Mr. Billy Pang: Protecting our loved ones and ensuring our seniors receive the care they deserve is at the centre of everything our government does. In March, our government made an historic investment in 80 new long-term-care projects across Ontario, including one in my riding of Markham–Unionville.

Mr. Speaker, we are getting shovels in the ground. Our government will continue to work towards our commitment to deliver 30,000 much-needed long-term-care spaces by 2028. After decades of inaction by previous governments, it will be this government, Mr. Speaker, that will be the one to fix long-term care and ensure our seniors get the quality of care they need and deserve, now and in the future.

Injured workers

Ms. Jessica Bell: There are many injured workers who have spent many years fighting for their right to receive WSIB compensation. One of these people is Donald. Donald is a 64-year-old man who has laryngeal cancer, skin cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease—and these are illnesses he got on the job.

Donald was a hard-working and eager employee who began working in the concrete and construction industry at 15. At his job, he was exposed to silica dust, muriatic acid, asbestos and many other chemicals. In 2009, he was diagnosed with cancer and forced to stop working. He now uses a stoma and electric larynx to speak. It has taken WSIB 11 years to accept Donald’s claim for benefits for an injury he clearly got on the job. During that time, he lost his home.

Still, the fight is not over. WSIB “deemed” Donald and cut his payments in half on the basis that he could have been working as a school bus driver. If you’re not familiar with the WSIB’s practice of deeming, it is when the WSIB pretends a worker has a job that they actually do not have and oftentimes aren’t able to get, in order to reduce or eliminate their benefits. This government has designed WSIB to protect the employer, and not to help injured workers. This government is making WSIB worse with Bill 27, by channelling money back to employers instead of providing it to injured workers who are eligible for the program.

I’m calling on this government to change that and to help people like Donald and injured workers across the province.

Explosion in Chatham-Kent–Leamington

Mr. Rick Nicholls: On August 26 in my riding of Chatham-Kent–Leamington in the town of Wheatley, a gas explosion destroyed the downtown area and some residential homes. The explosion is believed to have been caused by the buildup of hydrogen sulfide, which could have been a buildup from the numerous abandoned wells in the community.

Some 2,800-plus residents of the community, now known as Wheatley Strong, had significant financial and emotional damages from the explosion. Fortunately, no one was killed. But 38 businesses and 68 residential homes were affected. Gas monitoring equipment has been installed to identify any future issues and has since discovered three additional gas leaks. This monitoring provides comfort to those remaining residents who have not yet had to be evacuated but are on standby.

The government continues to apply a collaborative, multi-ministry approach to supporting the municipality of Chatham-Kent with the ongoing situation. Wheatley is a strong community, coming together, and has held fundraisers to help those businesses and residents currently displaced.

In times of tragedy and greater need, I am grateful for the reinforcement from Premier Ford, Minister Rickford and the helpful staff from the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry. Premier Ford provided immediate assistance of $2 million, and on a weekly basis remains in touch with the municipality. And, on November 17, Minister Rickford announced an additional $3.8 million in financial support, bringing the total funding thus far to $5.8 million.

Flooding in British Columbia

Mr. Amarjot Sandhu: I would like to begin by sending my thoughts and prayers to the families impacted by the catastrophic flooding in the province of British Columbia. The province is currently dealing with an incredible amount of flooding and, just recently, there was an evacuation notice ordered in the Abbotsford area. The Canadian Armed Forces have been deployed to help thousands of stranded residents in the region. On November 17, BC declared a state of emergency in the province due to mudslides, closures and crashes happening at an alarming rate. This is devastating news, and I pray for the safety and well-being of the many British Columbians impacted by the flooding.

During these unprecedented times, it is important that we stand together in solidarity to support our fellow Canadians. If you have friends or family living in the region, I recommend checking up on loved ones and, if possible, donating to charitable organizations that are providing relief for those affected.

Once again, this natural disaster has caused pain and suffering for so many Canadians, yet it is truly heartwarming to see humanity come together to help one another.

Season’s greetings

Mr. Percy Hatfield: Twenty-six days until Christmas and the Speaker says to me

“How about a poem—yes, you, the member for Windsor–Tecumseh?”

“Well,” I said, “Maybe a member’s statement for you—I could do it, I reckon

“And all I’d need for that is just another 90 seconds.”

“Oh, no,” said the Clerk and officers at the table

“We have an agenda that’s timed and keeps us on track and the Legislature stable

“So sorry, but we have absolutely no extra time

“For Christmas poems and Christmas rhymes.”

“But,” I say, “Why are we so punctilious?

“Why not some time for fun and a bit of poetic silliness?

“After all, we, in this chamber, introduced our first poet laureate, a young man named Randell

“So maybe, just maybe, more poetry we should always find time to handle.”

“Hark!” the Hansard angels sing, “See, he snuck in a poem and the table didn’t even seem to notice

“So perhaps if he had time to put it to music, it could have been a bit of a minor opus.”

So, my friends, rewind that clock and try to remember

That magical time as children each and every December

When all of our Christmas dreams were possible

Our imaginations back then really were unstoppable.

Just a short trip back in time, and, if you listen now, you may hear it

Poetry may have just lifted our Christmas spirits.

See, Speaker, there are chuckles and smiles and, for a moment, we’ve laid down our verbal weapons

And, colleagues, we did it all in just about 90 seconds.

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you to the member from Windsor–Tecumseh / His statement, as always, was very Christmassy.

Road safety

Mr. John Yakabuski: This past week has been a stark reminder that while fall was beautiful, winter weather is inevitable. Likely all across the province, but certainly in my riding of Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke, people will be navigating in winter conditions for the next several months.

I’ve been around long enough to remember when winter road maintenance was nowhere near the standard we enjoy today, when snowfalls meant that countless vehicles would be stuck, unable to move because the snowplows hadn’t been there yet. While our maintenance continues to improve, there are far more vehicles on the road today than when I was a young boy. More vehicles means more opportunities for accidents.

One thing hasn’t changed: the importance of preparation. The more prepared we are for winter weather, the safer we will be. Improvements in tire technology have allowed us to be safer than ever when the rubber meets the road, as they say. I would encourage everyone, as I have for many years, to make sure that your winter tires are in good shape and ready to face the elements.

In addition to properly equipping your vehicle, remember that there is no substitute for driving according to the conditions. The old adage of, “When it’s winter, drive like it’s winter,” is advice that we all need to take very seriously. Also, keep an emergency kit on board, as breakdowns are more common in the winter months.

Let’s all work together to make sure that we do everything possible to make our highways as safe as they can be this winter.

Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m very pleased to inform the House that one of today’s page captains—page Athisha Surees from the riding of Markham–Unionville. We have with us at Queen’s Park her grandmother, Padmini Nadarajah, and her grandfather, Nadarajah Thamotharampillai.

We are also joined today by the mother of page captain Claire An, from the riding of Don Valley West, Miao Zhou.

Welcome to Queen’s Park. We’re delighted to have you here today.

Harry Craig Parrott

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I understand the government House leader has a point of order.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Mr. Speaker, if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent to allow members to make statements in remembrance for the late Mr. Harry Craig Parrott, with five minutes allotted to Her Majesty’s loyal opposition, five minutes allotted to the independent members as a group and five minutes allotted to Her Majesty’s government.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Agreed? Agreed.

I’ll recognize the member for Windsor–Tecumseh.

Mr. Percy Hatfield: I am honoured today, on behalf of Andrea Horwath and my NDP colleagues, to speak about Harry Parrott. He grew up in a modest home in the small town of Mitchell. He wasn’t the only son of Mitchell to go on to become an MPP; Liberal Hugh Edighoffer, a former Speaker, came from there as well. While Harry grew up on a farm, Hugh’s family was quite well off. They owned a clothing store in Mitchell. In fact, Harry’s son, Craig, who lives in Windsor, told me Dr.

Parrott could never have afforded to go to school and become a dentist and an orthodontist had it not been for a loan he received from the Edighoffer family. Harry once joked, “How Hugh got his politics mixed up, I’m not quite sure.”

I’m jumping ahead of myself, Speaker. Harry Parrot and Hugh Edighoffer passed away on the same day: July 2, 2019.

Harry Parrott married Isobel, his high school sweetheart, and that marriage lasted 56 years, until she passed away in 2003.

I first met Harry when I was a reporter with CBC in Windsor. I interviewed him when he was the environment minister back in the days of Premier Bill Davis. His assistant at that time was Janet Ecker, who later would become a Conservative MPP and a very powerful cabinet minister. When Harry passed away, Janet wrote that he was one of the finest ministers of the crown she ever had the privilege to work for or serve with, saying “a finer gentleman and human being, I have yet to meet.”

Ms. Ecker says many politicians pay lip service to the concept of public service, but Harry was the “real deal.” She told me Bill Davis took notice of Harry’s real potential when, as the Minister of Colleges and Universities, he stood up to a group of protesting students here on the grounds at Queen’s Park. That’s when Premier Davis decided that Harry had what it would take to handle the more demanding role of Minister of the Environment.

The environment was emerging as a very hot topic at the time. The government was trying to locate sites to dispose of liquid industrial waste. Former Liberal leader Dr. Stuart Smith was frequently lambasting the government in question period and in committee. Craig Parrott says no one could push his father’s buttons more so than Stuart Smith.

Craig may not have known, but David Warner, Harry’s NDP critic at colleges and universities, really got under his skin as well. One time—and David tells me he takes full blame for this—he needled him so much at a night sitting that Harry actually came around the back, came over and politely offered David the opportunity to step outside to settle their differences, an offer David very wisely declined.

In those days, as you know, Speaker, night sittings were commonplace, and if you finished your House duty, you might go up to the press lounge, put the politics aside, have a beer and watch a hockey game together.

Janet Ecker told me of the time when the Liberals called a late show, a debate on an environmental issue, and Harry Parrott questioned the value of even attending. He did, but he argued with Janet about the value of such debates for the average citizen. He saw the late shows as little more than time-consuming political games. Afterwards, on his way to his apartment about 11 o’clock that night, Harry stopped passersby at Wellesley and Bay asking if they knew who the environment minister was, what environmental issues the Legislature had been debating and whether they even cared. No one did, Speaker; no one did.

Harry decided not to seek re-election in 1981, much to the disappointment of Bill Davis. When I asked Sean Conway, a former Liberal deputy leader, to describe Harry Parrott, he said he was distinguished, thoughtful, results-oriented and always well-briefed, but Mr. Conway says Harry did not enjoy the cut and thrust, the rough and tumble of politics where at times a minister had to defend the indefensible. Janet Ecker agrees, saying Harry got into politics for all the right reasons and remained true to his principles, knowing he wouldn’t be able to serve another term with the passion and integrity that would be required of him.

Harry Parrott came here because he believed in good, ethical government, true public service and working for the best of his community and his province. He once told fellow dentists that he took a two-thirds pay cut to become an MPP. Members only earned $18,000 a year back in those days, Speaker, as you know.

Harry Parrott was a principled man, and he never took himself too seriously. In fact, he was really quite touched back in 2017 when they named a pumping station in his honour back in his hometown of Mitchell. It wasn’t glamorous by any means, but it meant a lot to him as it was a really important piece of municipal infrastructure.

Dennis Timbrell was elected in 1971 along with Harry and 27 other brand new PC members. He remembers Harry brushing his teeth six or seven times a day, as any good dentist was prone to do. Yes, Janet Ecker says, “Try prepping him for question period while he’s more intent on brushing his teeth.” Later in cabinet and in the House, Dennis and Harry sat alongside each other, and any time there was an election at any level, or a by-election, they would each put up $2, make a bet, and they’d stash their betting money beneath the statuette of Sir John A. MacDonald in the cabinet meeting room.

When Harry retired, he started dabbling with standardbred horses, his brood mares, and nine years after Isobel died, he eventually moved from Woodstock to Clinton, remarried and bought racehorses with local trainer Jim Watt. One of those horses stands out, Speaker. Sportsline, or Sporty, is exceptional. They had really good offers to sell him, but Harry said, “Jim, it would change my life significantly if we sold him. Other than my family, it’s the thing that keeps me going.”

Four days after Harry died, Sporty was racing at Mohawk. He came from behind and he won his ninth race in a row, and that brought his total in purse winnings at that time to $90,000. The racing gods were smiling on Harry Parrott that day, and they continue to do so. Since then, Sportsline has earned more than $210,000 in prize money.

Harry Parrott died in his 94th year. He had three children, eight grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews. Our thoughts are with his wife, Donna Wood, and the entire Parrott family. Speaker, I’m told they’re all tuning in virtually today across Ontario and as far away as North Carolina.

When he passed, William Rowe wrote, “The world could use more Harry Parrotts.” Who among us could disagree?

Speaker, thank you for this time today to remember an outstanding former Conservative MPP, Harry Parrott.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Next we have the member for Orléans.

Mr. Stephen Blais: I’m honoured to stand today to say a few words about Harry Parrott, member of provincial Parliament for Oxford.

Born on this day in 1925, Mr. Parrott spent his childhood in Mitchell, Ontario. After high school, he started a new

chapter in life by attending the University of Toronto’s faculty of dentistry where his passion for the profession would lead him to post-graduate studies in orthodontics.

Although Harry was an orthodontist by profession, he was always deeply rooted in community, volunteering on many boards and committees to help his neighbours. His love for his community ultimately fuelled his desire to run for public office. Harry was elected to the Woodstock Public Utility Commission, the Woodstock Board of Education, and served on Woodstock city council for five years. In 1971, Harry would be elected to this place for the constituency of Oxford in the newly formed Davis government.

Early on, Harry would describe himself as an idealistic rookie, who occasionally liked to rebel. After sending some “really tough letters” to ministers, Harry said he learned how to temper his advocacy for his residents of Oxford: “Changes occur slowly,” he said. “You need a lot of patience.” And as a golfer, Harry would learn that lesson inside and outside of this place.

Harry would never stop advocating for the residents of Oxford, and within a few years of taking office, had written some 6,000 letters on behalf of his constituents. Despite his early rebellion, after being re-elected in 1975, Premier Davis would ask Harry to join the cabinet as Minister of Colleges and Universities. He would win again in 1977 and would later be named Minister of the Environment.

But Harry wasn’t one to stay in one place too often; even a personal appeal from Premier Davis couldn’t get Harry to run again in 1981. His loving wife and high school sweetheart, Isobel, was said to be beaming at the prospect of having Harry home more often. Upon his retirement, Harry was eager to return to his love of horses and intended to cultivate the life of a Kentucky colonel, he said.

In his 94th year, Harry passed away peacefully, in 2019. But even in his death, Harry continued to contribute to his community. In October of that year, led by his wife, Donna, the family presented a cheque for $5,000 to the Clinton Public Hospital in memory of Harry. The donation was used towards an accessible shower in the in-patient unit at the hospital. His son, Craig, explained how important the hospital had become to his dad because of the care and nurturing that he had received. He just felt comfortable there, Craig said.

We all know, Mr. Speaker, how much time it takes to represent one’s neighbours here in this place: time away from family, away from friends, away from the hobbies and the passions of our lives. It has long been said that the most valuable gift you can give outside of your love is your time. And it’s clear that Harry loved his community.

To his loving wife, Donna; his children, Craig, Nancy and Lori; his eight grandkids and 18 great-grandchildren, thank you for sharing Harry with us.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Guelph.

Mr. Mike Schreiner: I’m honoured today to rise and pay tribute to Harry Craig Parrott, former Conservative MPP and cabinet minister, for his distinguished public service. And I want to welcome his many family members tuning in today.

Harry was elected to the Legislature as an MPP from Oxford in 1971 and served until 1981. In 1975, he was appointed cabinet minister as Minister of Colleges and Universities, and in August 1978, he was appointed as Ontario’s sixth Minister of the Environment.

As Minister of the Environment, he led the charge in helping tackle acid rain in the late 1970s, including imposing control orders on Inco as a result of acid rain from coal-fired plants in Sudbury. His waste bill was known as the spills bill and established one of the first principles of polluter pays from the Ministry of the Environment.

I was reading through the Hansard, and shortly after he was appointed Minister of the Environment, he reported back to the House on signing an update to the International Joint Commission protecting the Great Lakes. During debate, an opposition member interjected and said, “Oh, you all said this 10 years ago. Why are you still talking about pollution in the Great Lakes?” And like a great Canadian, Harry said, “It’s all because of the United States and the pollution they’re putting into the Great Lakes. We’re doing great things here in Canada.”

According to the London Free Press, they described him as someone who believed that one person can effect change in society. And without a doubt, Harry Parrott affected change in society. He’s left a lasting legacy for Ontarians to be proud of, and I want to thank his family for sharing Harry with us.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Next, I’ll recognize the member for Oxford.

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: Mr. Speaker, I’m honoured to have the opportunity to pay tribute to the public service of Dr. Harry C. Parrott. He represented Oxford here in the Ontario Legislature from 1971 to 1981. Harry passed away July 2, 2019, at the age of 93.

It’s my pleasure to share a bit of the selfless contributions Harry made to his local community and our province. It’s my hope that members of Harry’s family understand what an important role he played.

Every politician’s family faces a period of adjustment when their loved one is elected to public office. They’re often gone for periods of time, and when they are home, there are calls and correspondence, as we heard about the thousands of letters that Harry wrote. We want Harry’s family to know that what they sacrificed in order that he might serve the public is not forgotten.

When he was elected, Harry committed to 10 years. He wanted to be in government long enough to be able to make a difference. Harry did make a difference, not only at Queen’s Park but also in a variety of positions over the years.

After graduating from the University of Toronto in 1947, Harry married his high school sweetheart, Isobel Walker, from their hometown of Mitchell. They settled in Woodstock and together, through 56 years of marriage, they raised three children: Craig, Nancy and Lori. It was their hard work and support as a family at home that allowed Harry to give his full attention to his provincial duties. As their children had families of their own, Harry and Isobel were blessed with eight grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Harry practised dentistry and later orthodontics in Woodstock. During this time, he was very involved in the community and began his legacy of public service. Harry was elected as a member of the Woodstock city council for five years, the Woodstock Board of Education for three years and the Woodstock Public Utility Commission for three years. He also served as president of Oxford county Red Cross and was campaign chair for the Woodstock United Appeal Association. He served on several local committees and supported many initiatives and charities. As busy as Harry was, Harry always made time to enjoy his family, play a round of golf and work his standardbred horses.

Harry was down-to-earth and well liked. I believe that’s a large part of why the people elected him as MPP in the 1971 provincial election. He’s been described as a thoroughly decent fellow who had a distinguished manner about him, and he certainly had a presence.

You could tell Harry was proud of Oxford and humbled to be a representative at Queen’s Park. During one budget debate, he wandered a little bit off script and put in a word for the riding. He said, “It is an excellent county. It probably represents, as well as any riding, the backbone of the history of this province. It has a great heritage in the agricultural community and I think it has justifiably earned that reputation over these many years.”

Harry was our MPP when the government passed the act to restructure Oxford county from 11 municipalities to eight in order to simplify the structure of local government. He held many roles during his time serving the province. He was a member of several committees and was appointed Minister of Colleges and Universities from 1975 to 1978.

Harry was also very pro-environment, so it was ideal that Harry was appointed Minister of the Environment from 1978 to 1981. It was during that time that Harry’s environmental policies guided Oxford county’s search for a new municipal landfill site—not a popular thing at home. He was the driver of the development of the province’s first liquid industrial waste treatment and disposal complex and felt that these projects were important parts of his contribution to the relatively new ministry.

His legacy as Minister of the Environment came up during the debate in 1983, when it was said that in 1978, Dr. Harry Parrott was very proud to release a small blue book under his name called Water Management. That booklet revised and expanded on guidelines and criteria for water quality management. This booklet is still available in digital form in the legislative library collection.

His hometown, Mitchell, recognized Harry in 2017 by naming a municipal pumping station after him. Harry was proud to attend that naming ceremony with the members of his family.

In the many wonderful tributes posted on Harry’s obituary, Janet Ecker wrote that she worked on Harry’s staff when he was the Minister of the Environment. She wrote, “A finer gentleman and human being I have yet to meet. I learned a great deal from him, not just about life, but about how to truly be a public servant.”

Former MPP Norm Sterling also left his remarks on Harry’s obituary. He had the utmost respect for Harry, describing him as kind, intelligent and a pleasure to work with. Throughout Norm’s 34 years in the Legislature, he often thought of Harry’s honesty and his respect for others. Harry was an example that Norm tried to follow, as did many others in the Legislature.

I, myself, was fortunate to benefit from Harry’s counsel. When I was preparing to run for the provincial election in 1995, I went to talk to Harry to get his advice. After all, he was the expert. Harry told me there were two women I had to meet that would be able to help me win the election, and he even offered to introduce me to them. That’s when Harry introduced his two daughters, Nancy and Lori, who helped me in my first campaign, or you might say they directed my first campaign.

Their hard work and the experience they had in getting their father elected was much appreciated as I started my career in provincial government. Harry was always supportive and could be counted on to provide sound advice when asked.

When Isobel passed away in 2003, Harry moved on. He moved on so far that he ended up in Clinton, where he married Donna Wood. They met through their shared interest in horse racing and continued to enjoy the sport for many years.

Shortly after Harry’s death, his family made a donation in his name to the Clinton Public Hospital. They were all on hand for the presentation, which was a cause dear to Donna, who was very involved in keeping the hospital in the community, and to Harry, because of the great care he received there.

He was raised in Perth–Wellington and retired in Huron–Bruce, but we are proud to have had Dr. Harry Parrott serve Oxford for as long as he did. We thank his family for supporting him along the way. Oxford is a better place because Harry Parrott made it that way.

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): We give thanks to the family of Harry Parrott. We’re grateful for his life and his public service.

Question Period

COVID-19 response

Ms. Sara Singh: Good morning. My question is to the Premier. Health experts confirmed more cases of the Omicron variant yesterday here in Ontario, and four public health units have new restrictions to prevent further COVID-19 spread in their communities.

This government has promised to use every tool to help contain the spread of this virus, but that simply hasn’t happened. We need better testing, tracing and isolation of cases. But the government must also mandate vaccinations for health and education workers so that our hospitals and schools are safer for patients, students and staff.

Why won’t the Premier do what’s right to keep people safe, starting with mandatory vaccinations for health and education workers?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply on behalf of the government, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.

Hon. Christine Elliott: Thank you to the member opposite for the question. We have taken every precaution possible. We are working with the federal government in order to prevent people from travelling from several south African countries right now. There may be other countries that will be added to this list.

We’re also asking the federal government to initiate point-of-arrival testing for all people arriving in Canada, regardless of where they come from, because we know that there is some spread of the Omicron variant. However, we are ready for whatever might happen. We have a very robust testing strategy. We have expanded our locations. We have 230 assessment centres that are open and over 500 pharmacies, with more coming online.

We also have boots on the ground for case and contact management. There are 375 people that have been identified as having been in those south African countries within the last 14 days. We are following up with all of them and doing the proper gene sequencing to make sure that we understand what we’re dealing with, whether it’s Omicron or another variety, so Ontario is ready for whatever might happen.

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

Ms. Sara Singh: What we’ve learned from this pandemic is that being cautious has helped reduce the spread of the virus. The government should be adapting their plan and make paid sick days actually permanent instead of taking them away from workers at the end of this year. That would give certainty to workers and workplaces in Brampton, for example, to know that if those workers get sick, the government has their back.

Most experts in this province, including the Premier’s own science table, have called for permanent paid sick days. Why isn’t the Premier doing what’s right for Ontario and ensuring that workers in this province have paid sick days before they expire on December 31?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Of course, the Premier has led on this issue, frankly, right from the very beginning. We knew how important it was to ensure that the people of the province of Ontario, especially those front-line workers, were supported. That’s why the Premier negotiated with our federal partners an over $1-billion program to bring 23 paid sick days to the people of the province of Ontario. We understand, of course, how important it is to continue to support Ontario front-line workers. That is why there continues to be a program in place for workers, and we will always be there for workers as we battle our way through this pandemic.

Mr. Speaker, there is a lot of work yet to do, but we are well on our way as a province, really, to doing fabulous things. We have 90% of our population with two vaccine doses, and I’m told that a significant number of those between five and 11 have registered for or are getting their vaccines. So we’re well on our way, and it’s because of the hard work of the people of the province of Ontario.

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

Ms. Sara Singh: Speaker, in addition to taking away sick days, the government plans on stopping the use of vaccine certificates that Ontarians have been using to help support our local businesses. All of this comes to an end on January 17 because the government isn’t taking the fourth wave and this new variant seriously enough.

The ICUs are filling up, public health units are bringing back restrictions and 10,000 people have lost their lives in Ontario due to COVID-19. People have suffered enough, and the last thing this province needs or anybody wants is another lockdown. We can prevent that. Why is the Premier scrapping vaccine certificates when we could use them to prevent another province-wide lockdown here in Ontario?

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

Hon. Christine Elliott: Thank you again to the member for the question. The loss of any life is extremely sad, and our condolences go to the families of those who have lost family members. However, we are ready. We are taking this situation very seriously with this new sequence, this new variant.

When we first announced our plan to reopen Ontario, Dr. Moore, our Chief Medical Officer of Health, was very adamant in saying that this is the plan. However, if there is a dramatic change in circumstances, such as what might be presented by this new variant—we still don’t know enough about it to be able to make that determination, even though we are proceeding very cautiously. We don’t know what we’re dealing with, but we will be ready for it. Dr. Moore did indicate that if there is that change in circumstances, we will have to modify that plan. But it’s too soon to say right now.

We are taking the necessary precautions, but if we have to move those dates out again, we will certainly do that to protect the health and safety of all Ontarians.

Minimum wage

Ms. Sara Singh: My question again is to the Premier. The Premier knows that $15 an hour just doesn’t cut it. Last week he said, “Let’s face it. That’s a beginning wage. It’s tough for anyone to survive on $15.” But his own low-wage policies don’t help. Ontarians know it’s getting harder and harder to make ends meet. Housing costs have skyrocketed; hydro and gas and insurance are all up; and food banks are experiencing the highest usage since 2009 because people are struggling to put food on their table for their families. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Will the Premier support our call to increase the minimum wage to $20 by 2026?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Speaker, it is really difficult to know where the NDP is on this. They seem to, on a daily basis, change their position with respect to that. In fact, on the day that we made that announcement, if I’m not mistaken, members of the NDP were still presenting petitions to the House calling for a $15-an-hour minimum wage. So what we have done is we’ve made sure that the economy is in a position where we can support a $15-an-hour minimum wage.

The NDP will, of course, know the devastation that was left behind in the province of Ontario: 300,000 manufacturing jobs left the province. The member, in her own question, talked about the high hydro rates. The Minister of Education has talked about the over 400% increase in child care. There were so many things that were discouraging jobs and investments in the province of Ontario. We had to turn that around; we have, Mr. Speaker. The climate is there where we can support our workers, and this economy will begin to thrive like it has never done before, and it is thanks—

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

And the supplementary question?

Ms. Sara Singh: Speaker, I think it’s important to note that the minimum wage would be actually higher than $15 right now if the Premier hadn’t cancelled the planned increase when it was slated to happen. But he made things even worse for workers and froze the minimum wage and kept it low for three years. The Premier himself has said that he and his family could not make ends meet on $15 an hour. So why is he forcing working families in Ontario to live on $15 an hour?

People shouldn’t have to turn to the food banks or worry about how they’re going to pay their bills. Will the Premier do the right thing and support our plan to get workers a $20 minimum wage in a stable, steady and predictable way?

Hon. Paul Calandra: There is so much to unpack in that question. We brought forward a $15 minimum wage because the timing was right to do that, because we are starting to see the economy change, principally because of the policies of this Premier. The NDP could have helped us on that. When we were first brought into office, they could have voted for those tax reductions that we brought in place to help the lowest-income earners in the province of Ontario. They chose to vote against that.

They could have helped us and voted with the initiatives brought forward by the Minister of Labour to ensure that there are more people in the trades—these are good, high-paying jobs that will lead to thousands of people having the dignity of a well-paying job. The NDP voted against that. They could have voted in favour of what the Minister of Education was doing to make child care more affordable after 15 years of supporting the Liberals which saw increases to child care of over 400%. They voted against that.

Affordability and making life affordable for Ontarians is something that we’re proud—

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

The final supplementary?

Ms. Sara Singh: Whether a worker is stocking grocery store shelves, cleaning a hospital or any other important front-line work, they deserve respect. But as the Premier has admitted, $15 an hour as a minimum wage simply isn’t going to cut it. Respect is not just saying thank you to these workers at press conferences, but it’s actually about paying these workers a wage that pays their bills.

Everyone is feeling the squeeze right now, Speaker. A steady, stable path to a $20 minimum wage will help workers make ends meet and will help end the Premier’s low-wage policies. Will the Premier do the right thing and support our plan that respects workers with a $20-an-hour minimum wage increase and recognize them for their hard work?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To respond, the Premier.

Hon. Doug Ford: Thank you to my colleague across the aisle. Mr. Speaker, I want to remind the people of Ontario that under their leadership or with their buddies, the Liberals, again, as my colleague said, we lost 300,000 jobs. That’s 300,000 people that couldn’t pay rent. That’s 300,000 people that couldn’t put food on the table because of their policies.

We took a different approach. We made sure we created an environment that companies can come here and thrive and grow. We saw 307,000 more people gain employment that they could put towards rent, that they could put down on a deposit to buy a home.

Under the NDP and the Liberals’ policies, they destroyed this province for 15 years—for 15 years, Mr. Speaker. They always focus on how they want the people of Ontario to rely on the government. That’s your policy: Rely on the government and have a nanny state. We don’t believe in that.

Government’s record

Ms. Marit Stiles: Good morning, Mr. Speaker. This question is for the Premier.

A lot has been asked of Ontarians during this very long and lingering pandemic. People across the province have made enormous sacrifices to keep each other safe and our economy moving. There was an understanding, I think, that the government would have their back. In fact, I remember the Premier said he’d do whatever it takes to protect our communities and help us recover. Imagine, then, what a shock it was for Ontarians to learn, in the latest FAO report, that over the first two quarters of this year, this government spent $4.3 billion less than it planned.

How can the Premier possibly justify short-changing Ontarians at such a fragile point in our province’s recovery?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the President of the Treasury Board.

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: Since the beginning of this pandemic, the government has been committed to leveraging the province’s fiscal firepower to support the people and businesses of this province. This was front and centre during the public estimates, where they showed that this province spent $19.1 billion supporting the pandemic response to COVID in the province. In fact, this represented the largest year-over-year dollar increase in program spending on record.

In addition to this, this year, our government continues to invest in our critical health care infrastructure by supporting those investments through the fall economic statement, which was revealed this past month as well. That committed to supporting and expanding home and community care, committed to supporting and increasing our health care investments across the province.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: Fiscal firepower? That sure fizzled out.

I’m not sure the minister understands the seriousness of this. At a time when the success or failure of reopening depended on keeping transmission down, this government underspent on public health by $600 million. While parents were preparing for their children’s return to school and demanding a safe September, this government spent $700 million less than planned on education. And while the government was making deals with their developer buddies to pave over the greenbelt, the budget for municipal transit projects was left untouched.

Speaker, through you to the Premier: Why on earth would he withhold funding at a time when the people of this province need it most?

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: As the member opposite knows, the Expenditure Monitor is a point-in-time estimate based on specific data requested by the FAO. It also doesn’t take into full consideration the government’s investments, as it excludes consolidated entities such as school boards, hospitals and agencies.

But our government committed to the largest expenditure in this province’s history, and supporting our front-line health care workers, supporting our education sector, supporting our hospitals, Mr. Speaker. That was over $16.7 million last year. That was the largest year-over-year dollar increase in program spending in the history books of this province. That included investing in mental health, included 3,100 new beds to support the province’s response to COVID-19.

Mr. Speaker, we will continue to unleash the province’s fiscal firepower to support people, our health care system and businesses across this province.

Nurses

Ms. Laurie Scott: My question is for the Minister of Colleges and Universities. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of health care workers. Unfortunately, there is currently a shortage of nurses here in Ontario.

The combination of the pandemic and an aging population has increased the urgency to address health care shortages; and with such a clear shortage, we must work to fill the gaps. Can the minister tell us what substantial action she has taken to address the nursing shortage in Ontario? And will the minister pledge to create more nursing spots and programs by the 2022 academic year?

Hon. Jill Dunlop: Thank you to the member from Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock for highlighting such an important and key issue. This past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown all of us how critical nurses are to our health care system.

In fact, our government has gone above and beyond to address the nursing shortage in Ontario. Specifically, in my ministry, we have worked closely with colleges and universities to create programs in order to maintain excellence in nursing education while expanding choices for students.

This past month, our government said yes to new stand-alone four-year bachelor of science in nursing degree programs at Seneca College’s King campus and York University. These new programs are in addition to the 16 universities and 23 colleges offering baccalaureate nursing programs in collaborative partnerships. Through allowing colleges and universities to have stand-alone degrees, our government is increasing choice and reducing barriers to accessing high-quality, local education for students.

This is a bold and progressive move under our government that will provide students with more choices for nursing education, further strengthening our health care workforce as more Ontarians pursue this important career path.

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

Ms. Laurie Scott: Thank you to the minister for that answer. I am delighted to hear that the government is currently taking steps to address the nursing shortage and respond to the needs of our current health care system.

When we consider a problem as important as the nursing shortage, we must also consider regional differences and needs of varying health care units. In a province as large as Ontario, different communities have drastically different local health care needs. Additionally, one problem that many students encounter when trying to get a nursing education is having a lack of local options. This causes barriers and further accentuates the gap between nursing shortages in communities across Ontario.

Can the minister please tell me what she has done to address the regional barriers that students face to access nursing education close to home in order to address nursing shortages across the province?

Hon. Jill Dunlop: Thanks again to the member for that question. I’m proud to say that our government understands that we must address the nursing shortage through increasing both spots and creating more accessible local programs.

We are a government for the students, and we have worked hard, increasing choices and reducing barriers to high-quality, local education for Ontario students. I believe that students in small towns and students in big cities should have the same opportunities and choice when starting post-secondary education.

That is why, in recent months, our announcements of new stand-alone nursing degree programs at Georgian College, St. Lawrence, York and Seneca will add to the existing 36 nursing programs at colleges and universities across Ontario, having nursing programs available in Kingston, Belleville, Barrie, Owen Sound and King City.

Ontario’s nurses go above and beyond to provide exceptional care to patients, and it is my job to ensure we make life easier for students in all regions who choose such an important career path.

Autism treatment

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: My question is to the Premier. By now, families and kids across the province are used to this government’s doublespeak regarding the Ontario Autism Program—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m going to caution the member on her use of language.

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: By now, families and kids across this province are used to this government’s confusing talk around the Ontario Autism Program. This is a Premier that promised to clear the wait-list on the campaign trail only to have it balloon to 50,000 kids after taking power. This is a government that dismantled an existing, functioning program to build one it calls a “gold standard.” Nearly every parent and advocate will tell you that it is far from it.

This is a government that repeatedly bragged about doubling the budget for the Ontario Autism Program, but yesterday’s Financial Accountability Office’s report shows that you’ve actually underspent on the program by over $100 million.

How do you think it feels to be a child who has been without necessary therapies for over 1,000 days? How do you think it feels to be a parent and find out that this government has been underspending on the program while you go further and further into debt to provide care for your kid? Can the Premier explain why they underspent on the budget and what they plan to do to rectify it?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To respond on behalf of the government, the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: I appreciate the question from the member opposite and the opportunity to give the facts.

Our government has doubled the funding for the Ontario Autism Program from $300 million to $600 million. We have almost five times as many children receiving services right now—40,000 children are receiving services. That is, as I said, five times as many more children as previously.

The previous government promised a program and only delivered services to 25% of eligible children, leaving 23,000 children without care. Some 33,000 invitations have been put out for children to come into the program; 11,000 invitations have bee