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June 1, 2026

44th Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2026-Jun-01 (PDF)

L080 - Mon 1 Jun 2026 / Lun 1er jun 2026

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 1 June 2026 Lundi 1 er juin 2026

Wearing of pins

Members’ Statements

Lois James

Pride Month / Events in Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas

Seniors Month

Government’s agenda

Legislative session / Session législative

Seniors Month / Brain injury and ALS awareness month

Hospital funding

Climate change

Owen Sound Salmon Spectacular

Introduction of Visitors

Remarkable Women at Queen’s Park

Deborah Teng / Sandra Craig

Independent members

Local Food Week

National Indigenous History Month / ᒥᓯᐍᑲᒥᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᐦᐘᐠ ᑲᑭᐱᐊᐃᑎᐘᐨ ᒋᒥᑲᐏᓇᓄᐘᐠ ᐘᐦᐊᐍ ᐱᓯᒼ

Question Period

Government accountability

Health care

Government accountability

Government accountability

Manufacturing jobs

Freedom of information

Mining industry / Nuclear energy

Tenant protection

Conditions in Scarborough

Post-secondary education and skills training

Government accountability

Cost of living

Forest industry

Land use planning

House sittings

Notice of dissatisfaction

Dan Newman

Introduction of Visitors

Introduction of Bills

London Hydro Holdings Inc. Act, 2026

Health Care Honours, Employment, Retention, Optimization and Empowerment Strategy Act, 2026 / Loi de 2026 sur la stratégie en matière de distinctions, d’emploi, de rétention, d’optimisation et du développement de l’autonomie dans le secteur de la santé

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

Seniors Month

Petitions

Land use planning

Personal mobile devices in schools

Highways 11 and 17

Social assistance

Health care workers

Firearms control

Women’s pelvic health

Social assistance

Education funding

Personal mobile devices in schools

Billy Bishop airport

Health care workers

Ontario economy

Orders of the Day

Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities Act, 2026 / Loi de 2026 visant à protéger les rues et les collectivités de l’Ontario

The House met at 1015.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Good morning, everyone. Let us pray.

Prayers.

Wearing of pins

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Essex.

Mr. Anthony Leardi: Madam Speaker, if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for members to wear pins in the House in recognition of ALS.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The member for Essex is seeking unanimous consent to wear pins in recognition of ALS. Agreed? Agreed.

I recognize the associate minister.

Hon. Michael A. Tibollo: Good morning, Madam Speaker. If you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for members to wear pins in the House in recognition of Italian Heritage Month.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The associate minister for the Attorney General is seeking unanimous consent to wear pins to commemorate Italian Heritage Month. Agreed? Agreed.

Members’ Statements

Lois James

Mr. John Jordan: My riding of Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston is rich with family-run farms that have shaped its landscapes, supported local economies and created strong, rural connections. One amazing woman who not only made farming an industry in Lanark county but a cornerstone of daily life was Lois James who, along with her husband, Mack, established Spring Valley Farms, a 100-head purebred Hereford cattle operation near Carleton Place, Ontario.

Some of her accolades included representing Canada at the 1980 World Hereford Conference in Uruguay. In 2001, she and Mack received the Canadian Hereford Association Honour Roll—the highest recognition of the breed in Canada. Lois was a 4-H leader and was acknowledged by Minister of Agriculture Bill Goodfellow in 1957 when he thanked Lois for the contributions she had made in furthering the development of programs of interest to the girls and women of rural Ontario. Lois was a proven beef breeder, a leader within the Women’s Institute and a mentor to youth through 4-H.

Before Lois passed away in December she was inducted into the 2025 agricultural hall of fame. Lois is clearly missed by her family, friends, her colleagues and peers within Beef Farmers of Ontario and the entire agricultural community.

My sincere condolence to her daughter, Sheila, an award-winning beef farmer herself, who has joined us here today along with friends and family.

Pride Month / Events in Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas

Ms. Sandy Shaw: Today is the first day of Pride Month, and I’m really excited to speak proudly about some of the great events happening in my riding and across Ontario. As you will know, Pride Hamilton and other Pride groups across Ontario are facing financial difficulties. Pride organizers reached out to the province to help support this important cultural tradition, which also brings revenue to local businesses and local tourism. I certainly hope the province will step up and support these inclusive and vibrant celebrations.

In Hamilton, we celebrate our Pride festival a little late, and that means that you don’t have to choose. I encourage everyone across Ontario to attend their local Pride celebrations, and then come to visit us in Hamilton.

It’s also rumoured that August is when season 2 of Heated Rivalry is supposed to start filming in Hamilton. Consider this an official invitation to the cast, crew, producers and everyone else involved: Please come celebrate with us.

Speaker, lots of great things are happening in Hamilton this summer:

—Dundas Live and Local on June 6;

—Ancaster Heritage Days, June 13;

—FrancoFEST, du 19 au 21 juin;

—Beer fest, which you can’t miss, July 10 and 11;

—Route 905 Country Festival, July 24 and 25; and

—the infamous Festival of Friends, celebrating over 50 years of providing great music in Hamilton.

Come on, visit us in the Hammer and see why Hamilton is the best city in Ontario.

Seniors Month

Mr. Jonathan Tsao: I rise to recognize June as Seniors Month in Ontario and to celebrate the remarkable contributions of seniors in Don Valley North and across our province. Last Friday, May 29, I was pleased to host our first annual seniors’ tea at Pleasantview Community Centre, which welcomed approximately 300 seniors. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made the time and effort to join us and to all our incredible volunteers and community partners who helped make the tea a resounding success.

The tremendous turnout exceeded expectations and reflected something deeply encouraging: Our seniors are vibrant, engaged and eager to connect. Events like these are more than just gatherings, Speaker. They are strengthening belonging, wellness and community. The demand we saw reflects not only the growth of our senior population but also the vitality and enthusiasm that seniors continue to bring to Don Valley North and the need for government to do more for seniors.

Let us thank our seniors for their wisdom, leadership and service, and let this Seniors Month be more than a celebration. It should be a renewed commitment to honour the seniors who built our communities by ensuring they can age with dignity, respect, opportunity and the supports they have earned through a lifetime of hard work.

To every senior in Ontario, know that you are valued, you are respected and you are appreciated. Happy Seniors Month.

Government’s agenda

Mr. Joseph Racinsky: Protecting our farmland is incredibly important to my community. Through Protecting Ontario’s Food Independence Act, our government is proposing to stop or limit foreign ownership of Ontario farmland. Our farmland should be used to produce world-class food, not just be an asset for a foreign company.

Something else that is a priority for the people in my community is pushing back against the rapid increase in illegal truck parking lots. Through the Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities Act, our government has been delivering additional tools to municipalities to go after these rule breakers.

This government was elected on a mandate to protect Ontario from the hostile actions of an erratic President south of the border. The way we do that is by building roads, long-term-care homes and schools, all of which is happening in my riding. We protect Ontario by stopping the illegal use of illegal drugs in our communities. We protect Ontario by going after carjacking and retail theft. We protect Ontario by building nuclear energy, pipelines and mines.

Speaker, the way we protect Ontario is by unleashing the incredible and unmatched economic potential of this province and its people. By God’s grace, I am privileged to be able to play a role in this important project.

Legislative session / Session législative

Mr. Stéphane Sarrazin: As we conclude the spring session at Queen’s Park, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the important work undertaken over the past weeks. This has been a productive session for Ontario, highlighted by a budget that delivers real, tangible measures to support families, workers and communities across the province.

I’m particularly pleased to see positive steps on housing affordability, including the expansion of the HST rebate for new housing. These measures will make home ownership more accessible and support continued housing development at a time when it is urgently needed.

Le budget de l’Ontario comprend également d’importants investissements dans les infrastructures, les soins de santé et la croissance économique, contribuant à faire en sorte que les communautés comme Glengarry–Prescott–Russell continuent de bénéficier d’une économie provinciale forte et durable.

Alors que l’Assemblée législative s’ajourne pour l’été, la période estivale offre une excellente occasion de renouer avec les citoyens, les entreprises locales, les municipalités et les organismes communautaires. Ces échanges sont essentiels pour bien comprendre les priorités locales et veiller à ce qu’elles soient représentées ici à Queen’s Park.

I look forward to attending local events, community celebrations and announcements throughout Glengarry–Prescott–Russell in the weeks ahead. Our region is strong, active and full of dedicated people, and it’s always a privilege to be present in the community. Even while the Legislature is adjourned, the work continues in our community every day, and I remain committed to serving the people of Glengarry–Prescott–Russell.

Seniors Month / Brain injury and ALS awareness month

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: I rise today to recognize a jam-packed June, a time when we commemorate Seniors Month, Brain Injury Awareness Month and ALS Awareness Month in Ontario. These observances remind us of not only of the challenges many people and families face, but also the strength, the resilience and the contributions of older adults in our communities.

As the MPP for St. Catharines, the riding with one of the largest senior populations in the province, I see every day the importance of ensuring that older adults can age with dignity, independence and the support they deserve.

Brain injuries, ALS, Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related health challenges have profound impacts on individuals and their loved ones. That is why I want to recognize a few of the incredible organizations working tirelessly across Niagara to support residents—groups such as the Brain Injury Association of Niagara, ALS Canada, Alzheimer Society of Niagara Region, Age-Friendly Niagara, our local older adult centre, Happy in my Home Community Support Services of Niagara and many, many others that provide essential services, advocacy, education, respite and compassion to those who need it the most.

Their work helps people remain connected, supported and empowered, while giving families the resources they need to navigate difficult situations.

This month, I encourage all members of this House to join me in thanking the staff, volunteers, caregivers and advocates who dedicate themselves to improving the lives of others—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Simcoe–Grey.

Hospital funding

Mr. Brian Saunderson: It’s a privilege to rise in the House this morning to speak about some very exciting health care news for the residents of Simcoe–Grey. This past March 9, the Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston broke ground on a critical and long-awaited redevelopment supported by a provincial investment of more than $174 million, to make it one of the 17 capital builds under way across this great province.

It was an honour to welcome Premier Ford and Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones to Simcoe–Grey to mark this important milestone. This redevelopment will build a state-of-the-art facility that is twice the size of the existing hospital, expand in-patient capacity and surgical services and deliver a new emergency department that would triple its current size to meet the health care needs for generations to come.

Madam Speaker, moments like this only happen when people work together over many years with a shared vision for their community, and I want to recognize the dedication of the current and past hospital leadership, physicians and staff, volunteers, foundation supporters and the many donors and community members who made this happen.

While we celebrate this important milestone for Stevenson Memorial Hospital, I know the residents of South Georgian Bay are anxiously watching the progress of the redevelopment of the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital, the other community hospital in my riding. That redevelopment journey began over 10 years ago, and I’m very proud to say that our government has committed over $110 million in planning grants and approved the move to a new 32-acre brownfield site generously donated by Mr. John Di Poce and his family in support of this important project.

The work continues, Madam Speaker, so stay tuned.

Climate change

Mr. Peter Tabuns: As you are well aware, the world is getting hotter and it’s getting hotter faster, and this government is regularly contributing to that heating.

In 2003, in the provincial election, all parties pledged to shut down coal-fired electricity to fight local air pollution and climate change. That was done, completed by 2016. But since 2018, the government has been ramping up gas-fired generation and has wiped out two thirds of that pollution cut.

A hotter world means higher food prices, higher insurance costs, more illness and greater risk of wildfires in our forests and our city. The Premier been fundamentally irresponsible, and we will all pay for it.

Owen Sound Salmon Spectacular

MPP Paul Vickers: Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of the great traditions in my riding, the annual Owen Sound Salmon Spectacular. Each year, this incredible event brings together anglers, families, volunteers, local businesses and visitors from across Ontario to celebrate our region’s proud fishing heritage and the natural beauty of the Georgian Bay shoreline.

The salmon spectacular is about far more than fishing. It’s a great example of community spirit. It supports local tourism, showcases our small businesses and brings in close to $3 million that is reinvested back into our community. It’s a testament to what can be accomplished when volunteers come together with passion and dedication.

I also want to recognize the support shown by members of the House, including the minister of MNR, Mr. Harris, who joined us last year and even managed to catch a fish of his own. His visit highlighted the significance of this event not only to our local community but to Ontario as a whole.

I want to thank the organizers, the volunteers, the sponsors and the participants, whose hard work makes the salmon spectacular such a tremendous success year after year.

Speaker, I invite you and all the members of this House to experience this outstanding Ontario tradition this year, from August 21 to September 6, and to see first-hand the pride, hospitality and community spirit.

Introduction of Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Members, joining us in the Speaker’s gallery this morning we have the former member for Kitchener–Conestoga in the 40th and 41st Parliaments, Michael Harris.

Also in the Speaker’s gallery is a person who we describe as the hardest-working artist in the city of Hamilton. Tom Wilson is a Juno Award-winning musician. He is an author, a playwright, an artist. He is an Order of Canada recipient. He’s a very long-, long-, long-time friend of mine, but most importantly, he is the grandfather to page Levon Dore.

Welcome, Tom and Madeline.

M me Dawn Gallagher Murphy: I would like to welcome my son, Robert Murphy, to the chamber today—the very first time.

Hon. Nina Tangri: I would like to welcome Dr. Ajay Mishra and the delegation from India visiting here, together with the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce, Prashant Srivastava and the Indo-American business chamber, here to have business-to-business meetings, increasing trade with India, US and Canada.

Welcome to your House.

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: Speaker, if you will indulge me, I have several introductions, including introducing Ruben Le Pichon, who is the page from Toronto Centre. He was also our page captain last week. His mother, Lisette Kozikila, and his father, Sylvain Le Pichon, as well as his siblings, Elias and Jonah, were here. Thank you so much.

We have also today University–Rosedale page captain, Finn Mowder. His mom, Noreen Flaherty; father, Jeff Mowder; his aunt, Ginette Harquail; and Maureen Harquail, his cousin, are all here today.

And then finally, Speaker—the very last one, I promise—I want to say a big thank you to my high school placement student. They come from Etobicoke and they attend the school Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School. Give it up for Artemis Dalakouras.

Mr. Logan Kanapathi: I am happy to welcome Rumjhum Gupta. She’s a global sustainability expert and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a certified chief sustainability officer. She’s a co-founder of UHealT Solutions, which is a Canadian health e-education start-up. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Today, on the second official anniversary of Injured Workers’ Day, we’re honoured to be joined by representatives of the Ontario Federation of Labour, the Ontario Compensation Employees’ Union, CUPE, the Ontario workers’ compensation legal clinic, and other unions and injured worker support groups. We will always stand with you in the fight for justice and dignity for all workers.

Hon. Nolan Quinn: I’d like to welcome the grandparents of page captain Norah Quinn, Frank and Karen Quinn—also my parents. Welcome to the House today.

Hon. Graydon Smith: I want to welcome representatives of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities, here today advocating for the unique needs of northern Ontario, and especially Mayor Lynda Carleton from Machar township in my riding.

Mr. Matthew Rae: On behalf of the Minister of Education, I’d like to introduce Nadia and Stefan Lewkowicz, the parents of Justine, who works in his office. It’s great to see you here today.

Hon. Todd J. McCarthy: I’d like to supplement the introduction of the member for Toronto Centre: page Finn Flaherty Mowder, one of our four captains today, along with his family members Noreen Flaherty, Jeff Mowder, Ginette Harquail and Maureen Harquail, are members of the extended family of the late Honourable Jim Flaherty.

Mr. Guy Bourgouin: We are joined today by land defenders who are standing up for their treaty rights for First Nations in Treaty 9 territory. Welcome to Jeronimo Kataquapit, founder of the Here We Stand movement; Ramon Kataquapit, founder of the Okiniwak youth-led movement; and Kerrie Blaise, founder of Legal Advocates for Nature’s Defence.

MPP Stephanie Smyth: I’m glad to welcome, from the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities, Maggie Horsfield, first VP; Lynn Watson, mayor of Echo Bay and second VP; and Danny Whalen, deputy mayor of Temiskaming Shores and past president.

Hon. Ernie Hardeman: I’d like to introduce for her first visit Colleen Van Brugge, who is an intern in my Woodstock office for the summer. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Jess Dixon: In addition to welcoming former member Michael Harris, I’m also delighted to welcome his son, our page Lincoln Harris, as well as his mom, Sarah Harris; his brother Murphy Harris, joining us again from being a page before; his sister Rosy Harris; and friends Nolan Knaap, Nate Briscoe and Avneet Verma. Thank you so much for coming.

Hon. Zee Hamid: I’d like to introduce to you my remarkable constit office staff from Milton: Maya Pervaiz, Linda Al-Kishawi and Lisa Fernandes. Welcome.

Hon. Sylvia Jones: Welcome to Abbott Diabetes Care Canada.

Mr. Jeff Burch: I’d like to welcome the Gervais family. I look forward to lunch with page Ian and his family.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I’m going to add an extra minute just because we’ve got a lot of introductions.

Hon. Andrea Khanjin: I want to introduce Alexandra Milner, Lana Barkan and Katharine Chabot. Welcome.

Mr. Joseph Racinsky: I’d like to welcome my constit staff, Sandi, Karen and Ashton, as well my three summer interns, Emily, Jackson and Miguel.

Ms. Laura Smith: I’d like to introduce and welcome Alan Simpson to the House.

Hon. Todd J. McCarthy: I want to welcome to the House this morning three interns from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks: Simon Da Silva, Thomas Zuber and Amelia Markson.

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: I’d like to welcome marvellous McKenna Lumley, a dynamic young woman who is shadowing me today, and sensational Siobhan O’Flynn, one of U of T’s best professors. Welcome to your House.

Hon. George Pirie: Members, I would like to welcome Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities president David Ploudre, mayor of Kapuskasing; past president Danny Whalen of Temiskaming Shores; and Timmins councillor Lorne Feldman. Welcome.

Hon. Doug Downey: I would like to welcome Peter Wardle, the president of the Law Society of Ontario, accompanied by Taryn Bratz of my office.

Hon. David Piccini: I’d like to give a warm welcome to Martin Sonne and Justin de Groot, who are here visiting Queen’s Park today. I’d also like to welcome interns with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development: Julie, Madi, Nicholas and Andrea, welcome to your House. Thank you—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Okay, we are out of time. A reminder and an apology to our guests if you haven’t been mentioned—I try to stick to a hard and fast rule, but there is a time to introduce guests again at 1 o’clock this afternoon.

This morning, in the members’ gallery, we are joined by Joanna Majoko, a vocalist, composer and bandleader from the riding of University–Rosedale, who will perform O Canada and God Save the King. Please stand and join her in the singing of our national and royal anthems.

Singing of the national anthem / Chant de l’hymne national.

Singing of the royal anthem / Chant de l’hymne royal.

Remarkable Women at Queen’s Park

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Colleagues, the Remarkable Women in the Workplace initiative is a monthly recognition program celebrating the outstanding women who work for the Office of the Assembly. This initiative is a small but meaningful way to recognize individuals who exemplify dedication, professionalism and leadership in their roles, and who contribute daily to the work of the Legislature.

Today, I’m pleased to announce our newest honouree: Cavelle Barnes, training and development specialist with the human resources branch. Ms. Barnes’s creativity, leadership and commitment to professional development have transformed training and onboarding across the assembly. Through the implementation of the assembly’s learning management system and mentorship initiatives, she has created meaningful opportunities for staff growth, collaboration and connection. Her innovative approach, professionalism and dedication to supporting colleagues exemplify the assembly’s values and make her highly deserving of this recognition.

On behalf of all members and staff, I extend our heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to Cavelle. Thank you for your remarkable service to Ontario’s Parliament.

Applause.

Deborah Teng / Sandra Craig

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Colleagues, I am pleased to draw your attention to the Speaker’s gallery to recognize two valued employees of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario who are retiring after many years of dedicated service: Deborah Teng, senior systems analyst and developer from the information services branch; and Sandra Craig, supervisor for metadata services from the legislative library branch.

Deborah retired on May 22, following 24 years of service. Throughout her career, she made significant contributions through her expertise, dedication and deep institutional knowledge, strengthening key systems that continue to serve members and staff right across the assembly. She was widely respected for her professionalism, her reliability and her collaborative spirit.

Sandra will retire June 19, following an exceptional 40-year career. She played a key role in preserving and improving access to legislative and government information through her work with the legislative library and metadata services. She is equally recognized for her leadership, knowledge, professionalism and commitment to public service.

On behalf of all members and staff of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, I extend my heartfelt thanks to Deborah and Sandra for their many, many years of service and wish them every happiness in retirement.

Please join me in congratulating them and wishing them all the very best.

Applause.

Independent members

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I believe we have a number of people who are going to rise on a point of order.

I recognize the member for Guelph.

Mr. Mike Schreiner: I’m seeking unanimous consent of the House that, notwithstanding standing order 40(e), two minutes be allotted to the independent members as a group to speak on the ministerial statement on Seniors Month.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): MPP Schreiner is seeking unanimous consent of the House that, notwithstanding standing order 40(e), two minutes be allotted to the independent members as a group to speak on the ministerial statement on Seniors Month. Agreed? Agreed.

Local Food Week

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Minister of Agriculture.

Hon. Trevor Jones: Good morning, colleagues. Today marks the beginning of Local Food Week. To help celebrate, my team at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, also known as “farming, food and fun,” have assembled some nutritious treats and promotional Foodland materials for everyone to enjoy. So please pick up your packages—customized—in the east and west lobbies, directly after question period.

National Indigenous History Month / ᒥᓯᐍᑲᒥᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᐦᐘᐠ ᑲᑭᐱᐊᐃᑎᐘᐨ ᒋᒥᑲᐏᓇᓄᐘᐠ ᐘᐦᐊᐍ ᐱᓯᒼ

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member Timiskaming–Cochrane.

Mr. John Vanthof: Speaker, if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent of the House for the member for Kiiwetinoong to make a five-minute statement about Indigenous history month.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The member for Timiskaming–Cochrane is seeking unanimous consent of the House for the member for Kiiwetinoong to give a five-minute statement about Indigenous history month. Agreed? Agreed.

I recognize the member for Kiiwetinoong.

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: ᒥᑵᐨ

ᐅᐦᐅᐍ ᑲᑭᔑᑲᐠ ᐊᐸᐣ ᐁᒪᒋᓭᐠ ᐅᐦᐅᐍ ᐅᑌᐦᐃᒥᐣ ᐱᓯᒼ ᒥᓯᐍᑲᒥᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᐦ ᑲᑭᐊᐃᑎᐨ ᒋᒪᒥᑎᓀᐣᑕᑿᐠ.

ᐁᑿ ᐦᐅᐍ ᐊᐱᐣ ᒥᓇ ᑲᑭᔑᑲᐠ ᒋᒪᒋ ᒪᒥᑐᓀᐣᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐁᑿ ᒥᓇ ᒋᒥᑲᐏᔭᐠ ᑲᑭᒪᒫᑕᐏᐊᐃᓯᐦᓭᐘᐨ ᐅᑵᓂᐘᐠ ᐁᐦᐊᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᐘᐠ.

ᐁᑿ ᑫᔦᐦ ᓂᐱᒫᑎᓯᐏᓇᐣ ᐅᑵᓂᐘᐣ ᒪᐘᐨ ᐘᐍᓄᑕᐣ ᐦᐅᒫ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᐤ ᑐᑕᒧᓇᐣ, ᐁᑿ ᒥᓇ ᑭᑭᓇᐦᐊᒪᑫᐏᓇᐣ ᑳᑭᒥᓂᑯᔮᐠ ᓂᐦᒥᔓᒥᓇᓇᐠ, ᐊᓂᐣ ᑫᑐᑕᒪᐠ ᒋᑭᑌᐣᑕᒪᐠ ᐅᑯᐍᓂᐘᐣ ᐊᑭᐣ, ᐅᑯᐍᓂᐘᐣ ᑲᔦ ᓂᐱᐣ ᐁᑿ ᑲᔦ ᑲᑭᒥᓂᑯᔮᐠ ᐅᑵᓂᐘᐣ ᒋᑲᓇᐍᐣᑕᒪᐠ.

ᐁᑿ ᐅᑵᓂᐘᐣ ᒥᓇ, ᐅᑵᓂᐘᐣ ᓂᐘᐍᓄᑎᓱᐏᐣᓂᓇᐣ, ᐃᔑᓇᑿᓄᐣ, ᐅᒋᓈᑿᓄᐣ ᐦᐃᒫ ᓂᐦᐱᑲᐠ, ᐁᑿ ᒥᓇ ᐅᑵᓂᐘᐣ ᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᐣ, ᑭᒋᐦ ᓯᐱᐣ, ᐁᑿ ᒥᓇ ᓯᐱᓴᐣ.

ᒫᐘᐨ ᒥᓇ ᐅᒋ”ᓇᑿᐣ ᐅᑵᓂᐘᐣ ᐁᐅᒋᐦ ᑲᓇᐘᐸᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐅᑵᓂᐘᐣ ᐊᑮᐤ ᑫᑯᓇᐣ ᐃᑵᓂᐘᐣ ᐁᒥᓂᑯᓯᔭᐠ, ᒪᐘᐨ ᐊᐘᔑᒣ ᒋᐊᓄᐱᐦᑲᐸᐏᔭᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᐦᓂᐏᓈᐠ, ᐊᐘᔑᒣ ᐱᑯ ᐊᐱᐣ ᒋᐊᓂᐊᔭᔮᐠ.

ᐁᑿ ᐅᑵᓂᐦᐘᐣ, ᐅᑵᓂᐘᐣ ᒥᓇ ᐘᐍᓄᑎᓱᓇᐣ, ᐅᑵᓂᐘᐣ ᐣᑎᐦᔑᐘᐸᑖᒥᐣ ᐅᒫ ᓀᑫ ᑲᐃᔑᐦ ᑲᓑᑭᐦᐅᔮᐠ, ᒥᓇᐚ ᐁᓂ ᐅᐱᑲᐸᐏᔭᐠ, ᒋᐸᔑᒋᓑᑲᒫᐠ ᒥᐦᔑᐣ ᑫᑯᓇᐣ, ᑯᑕᐠᑕᐏᓇᐣ, ᒪᒋᐦᓭᐏᓇᐣ, ᐃᑵᓂᐘᐣ ᑲᐃᔑᓇᑭᓑᑲᒪᐠ ᓂᓇᐏᐟ ᑳᔭᓂᔑᓂᐏᔭᐠ.

ᐅᒫᔑᓂᑯ ᓂᑲᔦᑭᐟ ᑲᐏᓂᐣ ᑕᑲᐨ ᑲᑭᐏᑕᒪᐏᓇᐚᓯᓄᐣ ᐅᓂᐍᓂᐦᐘᐣ, ᑲᑭᓇ ᑲᔭᔦᐠ ᐅᒫ, ᐅᑵᓂᐘᐣ ᐃᓑᒋᐦᑫᐏᓇᐣ ᐁᑿ ᒥᓇ ᑐᑕᒧᐏᓇᐣ. ᐅᐦᐅᐍᓂᐦ ᑲᑭᑲᑵᑐᑕᒧᐘᐨ, ᑲᑭᑐᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐦᐁᐍ ᐁᑳᐅᐦᐅᒫ ᒋᐊᔮᔭᐠ ᐦᐅᒫ ᒣᑿᐨ ᐦᐅᒫ. ᔖᑯᐨ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᐦᐅᒫ ᑭᔮᐱᐨ ᐣᑕᔭᒥᐣ. ᐊᒥᐱᑯ ᐊᐘᔑᐦᒣ ᐱᐦᑯ ᐣᑲᐊᓂᔮᒥᐣ ᐦᐅᒫ.

ᐍᑎᐦᓀᑫ ᑭᐍᑎᓄᐣᐠ, ᑕᓱᑭᔑᑳ ᓂᐦᓄᑖᒥᐣ ᐁᑲᑿᑕᑭᐏᑐᐘᐨ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᐘᐠ. ᓇᐣᑕ ᐁᐢᑲᒼ ᑲᐊᐃᓯᓭᐠ ᐏᓂᑯ ᐱᒪᑎᓱᐏᐣ ᐁᑿᒥᓇ ᐁᓑᑲᒼ ᓇᐣᑕ ᐁᔭᐘᑳᓈᑲᓄᐨ ᐁᓑᑲᒼ ᐁᐃᔑᓇᑿᐠ ᐅᑵᓂᐘᐠ ᐁᑲ ᒋᒥᓄᓭᐘᐨ ᐅᑵᓂᐘᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᐦᐘᐠ.

ᐅᑵᓂᐘᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᐘᐠ ᒫᐘᐨ ᐅᐦᐅᐍᐱᑯ ᐊᔕ ᐍᓑᑲᐨ ᐱᐦᑯ ᐊᔕ ᐅᑭ ᒧᓀᐢᑲᑯᓇᐘ ᐅᑵᓂᐘᐣ, ᐦᐅᒪᐱᑯ ᓄᑯᒼ ᒥᓇ ᐍᓑᑲᐨ ᐅᑕᓇᐣᐠ ᐁᑿ ᓄᑯᒥᑫ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᐘᐸᒋᐦᑳᑌᐘᐣ.

ᔕᑯᐨ ᒪᐘᐨ ᑭᒋᓀᐣᑕᑿᐣ ᐃᐍ ᒋᑭᒋᓀᐣᒋᑳᑌᑭᐣ ᐁᑿ ᒥᓇ ᒋᑲᓇᐘᐸᑕᒫᑭᐣ ᐅᑵᓂᐦᐘᐣ ᑭᑭᓇᐊᒪᑫᐏᐦᓄᐣ ᑭᒋᔦᐦᐊᐠ ᑲᑭᒥᓂᑯᔭᐠ, ᑲᑭᐅᓇᑐᐘᐨ ᑫᔑᒪᓑᑲᐏᑲᐸᐏᔭᐠ ᐃᐦᐃᐍ ᐃᔑᓂᑲᐣ ᐊᐱᐣ ᐊᐘᔑᒣ ᐱᑯ ᒋᐊᓂᒪᒐᔭᐠ ᒋᐊᓂᔕᔮᐠ ᐦᐃᐍᑎᐦ.

ᐃᐍᔕᑕᓑ ᒪᓑᑲᐏᐦᓯᐏᐣ ᓂᑭᒥᓂᑯᒥᐣ, ᑌᐻᐏᐣ ᑭᒥᓂᑯᒥᐣ, ᐁᑿ ᒥᓇ ᐦᐃᐍ ᑭᑌᐣᑕᑯᓯᐏᐣ ᐣᑭᒥᓂᐦᑯᒥᐣ.

ᐁᐦᐊᐠᔕ ᑲᐃᓇᑿ ᐅᓑᑲᑎᓴᐠ, ᒥᐦᒋᒥᓇᒧᐠ ᑭᑎᔑᑭᔑᐍᐏᐦᓂᐚ. ᒥᐦᒋᒥᓇᒧᐠ ᐦᐃᐍ ᑭᑕᓂᔑᓇᐯᐘᑎᓯᐏᓂᐚ.

ᐁᑿ ᒥᓇ ᑲᐃᓇᑲᓀᓯᔦᐠ, ᐊᐘᓀᓄᔦᐠ. ᐁᑿᒥᓇ ᑲᐃᔑᐱᒪᑎᓯᔦᐠ, ᑭᐦᒍᓇᒧᐠ. ᐁᑿ ᐃᓊᓂᐘᐣ ᐊᑭᐣ, ᓂᐦᐱᐣ, ᐁᑿ ᒥᓇ ᐊᐏᔭᔑᔕᐠ ᑳᑲᐯᔑᐘᐨ ᐃᒫ.

ᑭᐍ ᑭᑫᐣᑕᒧᐠ ᑭᑎᔑᑭᔑᐍᐏᓂᐚ, ᐁᑿ ᒥᓇ ᑭᑕᓂᐦᔑᓂᐘᑎᓱᐏᓂᐚ ᐁᑿ ᒥᓇ ᐦᐃᐍ ᑲᐃᔑᐱᒪᑎᓯᐨ ᐊᐣᔑᓂᓂᐦ.

ᐁᑿ ᑭᓇᐘ ᐦᐅᒪ ᒥᐦᓯᐍ ᐊᐣᑌᕒᔪ ᑲᔭᔦᐠ, ᐁᑿ ᒥᐦᓯᐍ ᑲᓇᑕ ᑲᔭᐘᐨ, ᒥᐍ ᐦᐅᐍ ᑲᑭᔑᑲᐠ ᒋᒪᒋ ᒪᒥᑐᓀᐣᑕᒣᐠ ᐁᑿ ᒥᓇ ᒋᑭᒋᐦ ᒪᒥᑐᓀᐣᓂᒪᔦᐠ ᐅᑵᓂᐘᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓂᐘᐠ ᒥᓯᐍ ᑳᑲᐯᔑᐘᐨ ᐦᐅᒫ, ᑲᑲᐯᔑᔭᐣᐠ ᒪᐏᐣ ᐣᑲᐃᑭᐟ. ᐁᑿ ᒋᑲᓇᐘᐸᑕᒣᐠ, ᒋᓂᓯᑕᐏᓇᒣᐠ ᐃᐍ ᒋᐘᐸᑕᒣᐠ ᑫᓂᓇᐏᐟ ᑲᑭᔑᒥᓂᐍᔭᐣᐠᐃᐦᐃᐍ ᐦᐅᒪ ᑲᔑᐱᐦᒪᑎᓯᔭᐠ. ᒥᑵᐨ ᑲᑭᓇ ᑭᑎᓂᓇᐘ ᑲᓇᑐᑕᒣᐠ, ᒥᑵᐨ.

Question Period

Government accountability

Ms. Marit Stiles: Before I start, Speaker, I just want to thank the member from Kiiwetinoong for that extraordinary statement in Anishininiimowin and for giving us an opportunity to all reflect, to honour and to recognize the contributions of Indigenous people of today and always.

Speaker, this is a question to the Premier. After spending millions of tax dollars on “Protect Ontario” ads and selling himself as Captain Canada, it turns out the only thing the Premier is protecting is the bottom line for American financial interests. Last week, the Toronto Star exposed that his latest vanity project of landing luxury jets on Toronto’s waterfront is actually being driven, yes, by American companies including JPMorgan Chase. Yes, Speaker, Captain Canada is selling our province’s assets to the highest American bidder.

I want to ask the Premier: Has this been a scheme to enrich American bankers all along?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Minister of Transportation.

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: The ridiculousness of that question—Premier Ford has been at the forefront of fighting for Canadian interests, Ontario interests, whether it’s the auto sector or whether it’s building transformational projects like the Billy Bishop airport.

Leaders across this country are talking about nation-building projects. How do we make ourselves more competitive in the face of US tariffs and the challenges that we have, that we are being faced with because of those challenging circumstances? We are putting forward projects like the Billy Bishop airport that are going to transform the way we compete against the world.

Look at any jurisdiction, Madam Speaker, whether it’s New York, it’s Houston, other jurisdictions across North America. Toronto is one of the largest financial capital centres in the entire world. Billy Bishop will help support that and continue to improve our competitiveness across the world.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the Leader of the Opposition.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, this is shameful, really. It is a massive betrayal of the people’s trust. On camera, sure, the Premier wears his “Canada is not for sale” hat, right? But behind closed doors, he’s busy selling out our province to American investment bankers. That’s the truth.

In fact, it turns out that absolutely everything is up for sale under this Premier. He is supposed to be running our province, but he can’t help himself when the billionaires come a-knocking.

So I want the Premier to stand up and admit he has betrayed the people of Ontario.

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: Madam Speaker, what is shameful is the NDP’s record on Canadian jobs. When you look at a project like the Ontario Line—a project that they have voted against—4,300 jobs were supported by that project. When you look at a project like Highway 413, over 3,000 jobs supported by that project, which the members opposite refused to support. When you look at the Scarborough subway extension, 3,000 jobs supported by that subway extension; the members opposite opposed that.

Now, Billy Bishop: 4,000 people rely on Billy Bishop for a paycheque. If it was up to the opposition, they would shut it down and turn it into a park. That’s why they will never be government, Madam Speaker. We got elected on a mandate to build this province for the future, a mandate to make Ontario more competitive against the world. And that is exactly what we are delivering on: more jobs, better opportunity for Ontarians and making sure that we’re more resilient as a province.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The Leader of the Opposition.

Ms. Marit Stiles: This government, this Premier, changed the laws of the province of Ontario so that a big American corporation could make more billions. That’s the truth of it.

Nobody here in Ontario—nobody—asked for these changes to that airport. It was closed-door meetings with big American corporations, big American bankers, that influenced this government’s decision. He is just interested, always, in helping American billionaires land private luxury jets in Toronto’s downtown, and I bet you that Ross Perot Jr. is at the top of the list; no surprise there.

Speaker, who is the Premier of this province working for? Is it the people of Ontario, or is it the billionaire bankers of America?

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: The Premier is working for the people every single day, despite the opposition, whether it’s making sure that we put forward programs, like One Fare, which is going to save commuters over $1,600 every single year; whether it’s making sure that we reduce gas tax by over 10 cents; or whether it’s about making sure that we take licence plate sticker fees off vehicles forever. Those are the types of results that we are delivering for the people of this province, Madam Speaker, and making sure that we are creating the conditions with thousands of new jobs and thousands of companies to invest in Ontario.

Billy Bishop is a key part of that, something that is going to financed by the private sector, because we have created the conditions to support investment and growth. It is the vision that the Premier and our government have put forward to ensure that we remain more competitive. Billy Bishop supports over 4,900 people—paycheques for 4,900 people—every single day. We’re going to continue to make sure it’s a world-class transportation asset.

Health care

Ms. Marit Stiles: Back to the Premier: I’ll tell you, the people of Ontario are not buying this, because they are paying more for absolutely everything under this government’s watch, including health care.

Private, for-profit clinics taken in under this Premier, they are raking it in. The people are paying more for surgeries through their tax dollars. More money is going into those private clinics than is going into our public hospitals. These clinics are then turning around and they are upselling patients every single day, and if you can pay more, you’re going to get treated faster.

Public health care is the cornerstone of our Canadian identity. Why is the Premier privatizing health care in the province of Ontario?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Minister of Health.

Hon. Sylvia Jones: Only the NDP would think that a $1.1-billion increase annually for the last four years to our publicly funded hospitals is in any way anything other than an investment that Premier Ford has made and our government has made since we took government.

Philosophically, the NDP are opposed to any type of innovation—even innovation, Speaker, that means people could have access in their communities, that people could have a choice so that they can make that decision: whether their local community hospital is best able to provide their diagnostic imaging or, in fact, a community centre that could be closer to where they live and work.

We have done this in Ontario for decades. We’ll continue to make sure that through your OHIP card, you will get access. But we absolutely will drive forward to make sure that people can get access—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Leader of the Opposition.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, the truth is that under this Minister of Health and that Premier, Ontario is creating two classes of patients: those who can pay and those who cannot.

They are Americanizing our health care system, 100%. Instead of showing your OHIP card, yes, indeed, you have to bring your credit card now with you when you show up for care. Eighty-dollar fees for one-off visits, $400 membership fees—can you believe that? I mean, I have got to tell you: a membership fee for health care in Ontario—is this Planet Fitness or is this our hospital system, right?

They are turning our health care system into a members-only club, and the American, for-profit health care corporations are making billions off it already. So when people cannot even afford groceries, I would like the Premier to explain why he is charging them for health care that they have already paid for.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Minister of Health.

Hon. Sylvia Jones: I think it would be helpful to get some facts on the table. The facts are that since Premier Ford took government, we have actually expanded by 50 MRIs across Ontario, in Ontario hospitals, many of those in communities that have never had an MRI before. What does that mean? It means that we have more access. It means that patients are not having to move from hospital to hospital to get those MRIs and critical diagnostic surgeries. It means that treatment can come faster.

In fact, with radiation therapy, Ontario has the shortest wait time nationally. With MRI and CT, in 2025, Ontario performed 2.9 million MRIs and CT scans, the most ever and a 7% increase. That’s what a publicly funded system gets you in the province of Ontario: world-class conditions, world-class capital, world-class staff who are doing this important work.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Final—the Leader of the Opposition.

Ms. Marit Stiles: The Minister of Health needs to get out there and listen to regular people, okay?

The people in their hospitals are fundraising to buy those MRIs. I don’t know what planet she’s on. This is a government that claims to be investing in health care but is only investing in health care for those who can afford it, and that is the truth.

We are seeing it everywhere: upselling, the Americanization of our health care system, the pay-to-play schemes. They are leaving everyday people behind and meanwhile, we have a Premier who always ensures that his wealthy insider friends get the care when they need it while nobody else gets the care when they need it, like the rest of us.

Will the Premier crack down on these pay-to-play clinics and ensure that all patients get the care they need when and where they need it?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Minister of Health.

Hon. Sylvia Jones: I will never downgrade the important work that our donors do across Ontario. Absolutely, they are the foundation of these new MRIs. But, of course, there are annual operating dollars that come from the Ministry of Health.

I’m going to tell the member opposite a story, because when I made an announcement about a new MRI in a hospital that never had one before, the emergency room physician pulled me aside and said, “Sylvia, I need you to know what this means. This means I’m not going to spend hours trying to find an MRI for my patient. Sylvia, I’m not going to then have to spend hours trying to find a paramedic and an ambulance that is available at that particular time to transport that patient. It means that that patient’s family is not stressing about where that patient is going to be.” Those are the real-world impacts when we invest in diagnostic, in people, in hospitals.

Government accountability

Mr. John Fraser: Isn’t it funny how things always happen in threes? This session, we’ve had airplanes, airports and now we have the air rights scandal. Finally, the Premier’s getting straight As—in scandal, waste and mismanagement.

How is it that the Premier’s close friend and associate Carmine Nigro can sue the government for $500 million—that’s right, $500 million—and then the taxpayers are on the hook for a secret settlement? Speaker, will the Premier release the amount of money that Carmine Nigro’s company was paid in this air rights scandal?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Minister of Transportation.

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: As that member knows and as I’ve answered many times before, we don’t get involved in that process, nor do I, nor does the Premier. Metrolinx has a legal process that they independently run.

But what I can talk about is our historic transportation expansion plan, Madam Speaker. We haven’t seen anything like this, not just in the province of Ontario and all of Canada, but all of North America. We’ve got shovels in the ground on projects like the Yonge North subway extension, the Scarborough subway extension—a place that the previous Liberal government abandoned for 15 years. They robbed the people of Scarborough of rapid transit, refused to build in that part of the city because they forgot about it.

That’s why, when we were elected, one of the first projects we moved forward on was the Scarborough subway extension. Over 100,000 people will move on that line every single day once it is open. We’re going to continue to deliver on our mandate to build public transit.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The leader of third party.

Mr. John Fraser: All the money that Metrolinx comes has comes from the taxpayer, either through taxes or through their transit fares. The minister knows the number and he’s not saying.

The Premier treats taxpayers’ money as if it was his personal piggy bank—a piggy bank that he uses to buy ultra-rich friends. While most Ontarians are struggling to pay for groceries, for gas, the rent, kids’ clothes, the Premier is doling out millions to his friends. I just double-checked—he is a billionaire, right?

Mr. Stephen Blais: Yes.

Mr. John Fraser: Okay, we’ve got that. So how is it that the Premier can allow for a secret payout to his close, personal friend Carmine Nigro’s company? How does he justify doing that?

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: Once again, Madam Speaker, the Premier nor anyone in this government has any involvement in that process. But what is a shame is the record of 15 years the previous Liberal government had to build anything in this province. They did absolutely nothing.

Interjection.

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: As my colleague just pointed out, their record was upside-down bridges.

We’re moving forward on historic investments like the Bradford Bypass, the 413—projects that they have opposed. We’re moving forward on the Hurontario LRT that is going to run through Mississauga and Brampton, the Hamilton LRT that is going to bring so many people and connect so many people from work to transit to housing, Madam Speaker. Our plan continues to build on the progress that we’ve made since we were elected in 2018: $70 billion of investment into public transit, something that the previous Liberal government, in 15 years, did absolutely nothing to improve.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the leader of the third party.

Mr. John Fraser: Metrolinx has more VPs than we have members in this House. They’re like a shadow government, okay?

We know that Carmine Nigro’s company turned down $78 million. He turned it down—$78 million for something that he didn’t actually ever own and couldn’t build on; $78 million for air that you couldn’t build on because there’s nothing to anchor it to on either side. But he got money anyway—$78 million—and he wanted more. He probably got more but we’ll never, ever know, not with this minister and not with this Premier. It really pays to have a Premier who really wants you to be his friend.

So I’ll ask the minister one more time: Will the Premier release the amount of money paid to Carmine Nigro’s company today?

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: Madam Speaker, the member can ask that question a thousand more times, the answer will be the exact same. We do not get involved in that process—not the Premier, not anyone in this government.

What we can talk about is what we’re doing to continue to build transit and make it more affordable. That is why we put forward the One Fare program, a program that saves transit users $1,600 every single year.

I can remind this House that, when that program was put forward, the Liberals and the NDP voted against that—a program that is going to support thousands of people as they get to work, get their kids to work; as they continue to move around the city, doing what they love to do. Someone coming in from Mississauga, going on the GO Transit, taking the TTC, does not have to pay two fares anymore.

Those are the transformational changes we are making to transit across this province to make it more affordable, to ensure that more people can take public transit. Those are the investments we’ll keep making, and we’ll continue to expand upon our plan to build transit—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the leader of the third party.

Government accountability

Mr. John Fraser: This all just stinks. It smells like a rotting fish, and like I said last week, we can smell it here; maybe you guys have been sitting in it too long over there.

Let’s go over Mr. Nigro’s qualifications: He’s a billionaire. He’s the chair of the LCBO. He was the Premier’s appointee as chair of Ontario Place. He was appointed to the board of Invest Ontario. He’s a big fundraiser for the Premier and the PC Party. And you know what? He sat at the family table at the family wedding. So these are all the qualifications, Ontario, you need to get a secret payout from this Premier.

So, Speaker, how does the Premier justify giving out millions of dollars, doling it out to his friend, while families in Ontario are just struggling to pay the bills, to buy groceries, to pay their rent?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Minister of Transportation.

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: Madam Speaker, the Premier nor anyone in this government gets involved in that process. That member knows it, and the answer won’t change, because we don’t get involved in those processes.

The member is not familiar with the expropriation process because, once again, for 15 years, they built absolutely nothing. Whether it’s Scarborough, whether it’s places like Brampton, Mississauga, Durham region, they have nothing to show for 15 years in government. All they can show is 300,000 jobs leaving this province because of their disastrous policies that drove away thousands of jobs and opportunities from this province.

We have been focused on making Ontario more competitive. We have been focused on building this province, whether it’s the 413, the Bradford Bypass or our subway lines, the Ontario Line, a project that will move 400,000 people every single day.

Madam Speaker, we’re going to continue to deliver on our third historic majority mandate, and that is to build Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Leader of the third party.

Mr. John Fraser: Last time I checked, I don’t think we’ve ever expropriated something from somebody who doesn’t own it. Come one, guys. He didn’t own it. He hadn’t closed a deal. And he turned down $78 million. I don’t know how you justify it over there.

As I said earlier, the Premier has got straight As in scandal, waste and mismanagement, and today he got a D minus in poverty from Canada’s food banks. One in four Ontarians who use a food bank have a full-time job, yet the Premier has millions of dollars for his close, personal, ultra-rich friend. The people who need to use food banks who have full-time jobs have almost doubled since this Premier has come to office.

This Premier has lost his way. He doesn’t know where he is. He is allowing families to struggle, and he’s hiding a secret payout to his close, personal friend. How can he justify that?

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: Madam Speaker, this coming from a party that, over 15 years, imposed carbon taxes, cap-and-trade policies, that made food more expensive for people across this province, that employed the highest energy prices that residents across this province saw, policies that drove out over 300,000 manufacturing jobs and a party that saw absolutely nothing built in Ontario. From highways to transit, they neglected their duty to build for this province.

That is why, for a third time, this government and this Premier was elected on a majority mandate to continue building on our progress. What is that progress? Getting shovels in the ground on the Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass; getting shovels in the ground on the Ontario Line, the Scarborough subway extension, the Eglinton West extension; and getting lines like the Finch West and the Crosstown open so millions of people can use them every single year.

We’re going to continue to focus on building this province, and we’re continuing to make it more competitive.

Manufacturing jobs

MPP Lisa Gretzky: To the Premier: Locked-out workers at Titan Tool and Die in Windsor saw their good-paying manufacturing jobs disappear to the US while the Premier cosplays as a realtor for the American elite with Toronto’s waterfront. Families in Windsor-Essex are losing their jobs, young people can’t find work, and more workers are relying on food banks. Yet, the Premier is focused on billionaire insiders, American developers and bankers and giving away Toronto’s waterfront. Every lost factory job is met with another backroom deal to benefit the Premier’s wealthy, well-connected friends.

Can the Premier explain why he is more interested in giving away Ontario to wealthy foreign insiders than he is in fighting for Ontario workers and their jobs?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Minister of Labour.

Hon. David Piccini: Speaker, we’ve spoken with workers at Titan Tool and Die and we hope to reach a deal that can support a closure agreement, because those workers deserve that and we understand.

The majority of deals in this province are landed at the table.

We support workers through training. We support injured workers. And we are working to expand supports for workers in every corner of this province.

But what is best for workers is when our economy thrives. That’s why we’re making record investments into public transit. That’s why we’ve created the conditions for economic growth that are seeing a complete resurgence of the energy sector in this province—so much more in public transit, hospitals, roads and bridges. When we build these things, workers benefit, and we’ll work hard each and every day to make sure they’re supported.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the member for Windsor West.

MPP Lisa Gretzky: To the minister: You should have been there before all the equipment was taken out of that plant.

The Premier’s legacy is scandals, strip clubs, luxury spas, his own private jet, and an RCMP criminal investigation hanging over his Conservative government.

While the Premier is focused on fantasy islands and multi-billion-dollar Toronto waterfront schemes, workers in Windsor, Amherstburg and across Essex county are watching their jobs disappear to the US.

Workers at Diageo gave decades to that company, and the Premier didn’t fight for their jobs or their pensions. He wouldn’t even meet with them.

When will the Premier stop acting like a full-time luxury real estate broker for American developers, luxury spa owners and billionaire insiders, and focus on fighting for our workers and their jobs?

Hon. David Piccini: Speaker, the Premier does fight for our workers and their jobs.

If those members had it—they would be clinging to a tree instead of building the Ontario Line.

We’re building the Ontario Line, which is putting single parents to work each and every day, taking 400,000 workers to a job faster.

They have no plan.

You build a school; you might have to build a new road, God forbid.

That’s what they would do—they would stop everything. That’s why we built nothing when they held the balance of power.

Speaker, critical minerals, mining in the north—no. They’d rather we be dependent on dictators on the other side of the world.

This Premier recognizes that when our economy flourishes, so too do the lives of workers, who collect a bigger paycheque each and every time they go to work. That’s why we’re working with Indigenous partners in the north to unlock the Ring of Fire. That’s why we’re working with unionized workers in our world-class energy sector to build new nuclear, instead of giving them pink slips, which is what they would have done, shuttering the entire nuclear sector.

We’ll take no lessons from that member on workers.

Freedom of information

Mr. Stephen Blais: My question is for the Premier.

Madam Speaker, what do these three things have in common: the Premier’s luxury private jet, the secret Metrolinx air rights deal and the government’s attempt to hide records from freedom-of-information requests? Well, I’ll tell you. In every case, the public is being told to stop asking questions. So my question is, what exactly is this government so afraid Ontarians will discover?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement.

Hon. Stephen Crawford: We brought changes to Ontario’s privacy and access-to-information laws to bring them in line with jurisdictions across Canada. We’ve talked about that here for quite a few months in the Legislature. But what I’m hearing people want to talk about, Speaker, is about building an economy that works for generations to come. That’s what we are squarely focused on. We’re focused on bringing jobs to the province of Ontario. We’re focused on bringing investment to the province of Ontario, and we are seeing that in multiple sectors.

While the opposition talks down our great province, we’re talking it up. We’re out there meeting people, meeting companies, talking about the investments, talking to different industries, Speaker, and we’re seeing record investments. In fact, since 2018, $222 billion in the private sector has been invested in this province to keep Ontario strong and keep growing. We’re proud of that record, Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the member for Orléans.

Mr. Stephen Blais: Back to the Premier: Taxpayers paid for the jet. Taxpayers paid for the Carmine Nigro settlement. Taxpayers paid for this government’s record debt. Madam Speaker, why does the Premier think taxpayers deserve the bill but not the information?

Hon. Stephen Crawford: Again, Speaker, I want to reiterate what Ontarians are focused on. They want to ensure, in the threat of tariffs—we’ve got CUSMA coming up for negotiation on July 1. People are worried. They’re worried about their jobs. They’re worried about the economy. We understand that.

That’s why we’re focused on building these strong tenets to our economy, Speaker. We’re doing it in the energy sector, with the Minister of Energy, with the largest nuclear build in the province’s history, the first small modular reactor in the G7. We’re proud of that, and we thank Minister Lecce and his team for putting this at the forefront of the people of Ontario.

Secondly, we’re building a resilient tech sector. We know AI is changing the world. We are the second-largest tech cluster in North America, Speaker. We’re seeing record investments into this space in the province. We’re proud of that.

Third, Speaker, we’re seeing record investments in manufacturing. In fact, in the month of April, 8,200 manufacturing jobs were created in the province of Ontario, 44,000 in aggregate. While Canada lost jobs, Ontario’s growing.

We’re going to continue focusing on what the people care about, and that’s creating a healthy economy and getting jobs for the people.

Mining industry / Nuclear energy

Mr. Deepak Anand: My question is for the Minister of Energy and Mines. As we all know, under the Liberals, Ontario was lagging in the world when it came to opening mines. It was this Premier, this government who relentlessly pursued changes and took action to get it done.

We reduced red tape, reduced permitting timelines by half, announced a plan to build the roads to the Ring of Fire starting this month of June. We are building new transmission to the mines in Red Lake, Greenstone, from Sudbury to Sault Ste. Marie, creating thousands of jobs along the way. This is the plan that is working for the people of Ontario.

Speaker, could the minister outline for the people of Ontario, business leaders from Indo-American business chamber and other job creators, where we stand today and the direction in which we are headed to ensure Ontario is not just the number one destination for mining in Canada but number one in the world.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Scarborough Centre.

Mr. David Smith: I thank the member from Mississauga–Malton for the question. I’m happy to break down our plan of growth. Our plan is to cut permit timelines in half.

Ontario emerged as the number one jurisdiction in Canada and number two in the world for mining investment. While that is a tremendous achievement, we are not stopping there. Our plan to protect Ontario workers, business and community is delivering results by making our province a more competitive place to invest, create jobs and build new projects. After years of red tape and delay under the previous Liberal government, we introduced One Project, One Process to speed up the approval while maintaining high standards. We have already fast-tracked three projects that will create 5,000 jobs and add $75 billion to Canada’s economy.

We are also investing the infrastructure to unlock the Ring of Fire years ahead of schedule. Mining projects in this region could add $22 billion in economic activity and 70,000 jobs—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the member for Mississauga–Malton.

Mr. Deepak Anand: Through you, Madam Speaker, thank you to the parliamentary assistant for that important update.

As we all know, only a decade ago, Liberal policies led to 71% higher energy rates from 2008 to 2016—talk about a decade of darkness. In the words of the former executive director of the Consumer Policy Institute, the Liberals knew that those careless, ideologically driven policies “were going to be costly, ineffective and inefficient.” Clearly, we can’t go back.

That is why, under our government, we are leading the world’s largest nuclear build, and we are making progress on the first small modular reactor in the G7. We have leaders like Pamela Bielak at Queen’s Park from Crafting for a Cure, serving the kids in hospitals and other members of Ontario.

Speaker, can the parliamentary assistant outline the plan to get people working and keep Ontario’s energy reliable and affordable as we keep building and expanding Ontario’s nuclear advantage?

Mr. Rudy Cuzzetto: The previous Liberal government promised lower costs and a stronger energy future. Instead, they recklessly hiked hydro rates by 400%, making families pay $9.2 billion in higher electricity bills.

Under Premier Ford, we are building the first SMR in the G7, and we’re investing in the world’s largest nuclear generation facility at Wesleyville, with over 90% of the large-scale nuclear spend staying here in the province of Ontario. We have partnered with Bruce Power to support Canada’s first large-scale nuclear build in more than 30 years, backed by 95% Canadian suppliers. These are generational opportunities, projects that will provide good-paying jobs for local communities and clean, reliable power for decades, reinforcing our position as a global nuclear leader.

Ontario’s nuclear sector already supports roughly 80,000 jobs across more than 200 companies, with over 90% of the project spend staying right here in Canada. Together, we’re unlocking the critical minerals in the Ring of Fire. This approach is helping secure Ontario—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Ottawa Centre.

Tenant protection

MPP Catherine McKenney: This summer, renters across Ontario will experience heat in their homes that could reach 30, 35, even 40 degrees. In Ontario, the law says a landlord must heat your home in the winter. But in a deadly heat wave, there is no protection. Every year, people die from extreme heat in their homes. They are often elderly people, people with disabilities, people living alone in hot apartments with nowhere to go.

Last week, I tabled the Hot Days, Cool Homes Act to make cooling an essential service. My question is to the Premier: Will your government support this bill and protect renters from deadly heat?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Graydon Smith: I appreciate the question from the member from Ottawa Centre. I always appreciate the opportunity we have to have conversations about those that require support and help in our province.

When we look at the opportunity to do just that and supportive housing projects that we have, including all those things that make living comfortable—we have a number of projects across Ontario, including in Ottawa, that we’re very, very proud of and more projects to come, Madam Speaker, including new housing for projects in Belleville and Dutton; more affordable housing units in Woodstock, as well as operational funding at Dunn House here in Parkdale; support for affordable housing projects in Newmarket, Oakville, Hamilton, Peel region and Guelph.

Speaker, we continue to work on behalf of renters and people throughout Ontario to ensure that they have what they need to have a roof over their head here in our great province.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the member for Ottawa Centre.

MPP Catherine McKenney: Speaker, this government just had a chance to stand up and say, “Yes, renters deserve to be safe in their own homes,” and they didn’t. This government has had years of warnings from public health officials, and they have failed.

Heating your home in the winter is protected by law. Dying of heat in your apartment in August—well, apparently, that is your problem.

So I’ll ask it plainly: Does this government believe that renters deserve the same protection from deadly summer heat as they get from winter cold? Yes or no?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Attorney General.

Hon. Doug Downey: We are standing up for renters at every turn, Madam Speaker. Here’s the opposition asking us to do things to help renters when they vote against the 45 new full-time members of the Landlord and Tenant Board. We are now up to over 90 full-time members—we started at 40—to make sure that renters have the chance to have their matters heard on a timely basis just like everybody else.

Madam Speaker, we have made so many changes over the last several years to make sure the system is functioning both for renters and for landlords. The opposition has supported absolutely none of it. We welcome any new ideas, but we know they won’t support them even if we do put them forward.

Conditions in Scarborough

MPP Andrea Hazell: Speaker, my question is to the Premier. Scarborough is home to stunning parks and vibrant communities, but this government has made it almost impossible for families to enjoy them.

This government’s transit failure in Scarborough has turned our roads into parking lots—a nightmare of gridlock where parents lose precious hours with their children—and turned our communities into islands, plagued by horrible connectivity that isolates families and kills opportunities for local businesses. This forces our young people to dig deeper in their pockets just to get to a job interview, a training program or to their schools. They’re forced to use an Uber or Lyft to get to their destinations on time.

Through you, Speaker, to the Premier: After eight years of broken promises, what do you say to the thousands of Scarborough commuters who have lost faith in your ability to fix this crisis?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Scarborough–Agincourt.

Mr. Aris Babikian: The people of Scarborough know that, for too long, our community was left behind by the Liberals. For over 15 years, they refused to build, allowing our hospitals and transit to crumble.

I am proud to stand in this House today and say that, under this Premier, Scarborough is no longer to be a forgotten part of the city of Toronto.

We were quick to announce, after 30 years of inaction, that we would finally expand the subway into Scarborough, and tunnelling continues as we speak.

We announced the first-ever medical school in Scarborough, which is opening this year, training doctors from Scarborough, for Scarborough. We are welcoming the first batch of students this fall.

Last but certainly—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the member for Scarborough–Guildwood.

MPP Andrea Hazell: Speaker, to the member, he has no recollection of his riding, because his riding is populated with immigrants, who have the highest—the highest—slowdown in ridership in his community.

Let me try again: This is about the daily congestion, the delayed or the overcrowded buses and the impossible connectivity issues that Scarborough residents face every single day. It’s about the mother in my riding who told me she has to take two buses, wasting hours of her day, just to get her groceries for her family. It’s about the students who told me they have to choose between bus fare and a meal. It’s about the workers taking three to four buses to get to their final destinations. You have failed them.

Through you, Speaker, I ask the Premier, will he commit to urgently fixing Scarborough’s gridlock?

Mr. Aris Babikian: The opposite member is grandstanding. I think I know my riding better than her after three elections and eight years of service.

In my riding, we are building the Birchmount Hospital, with an over $1-billion budget allocated. We are building the Bridletowne neighbourhood community centre. We are building a dialysis centre in Scarborough with 50 beds. We built the Northpine diagnostic centre in Scarborough.

I think these projects, under the leadership of Premier Ford, answer the question—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Order. Order. The government side will come to order. The opposition side will come to order.

I recognize the member for Scarborough–Agincourt.

Post-secondary education and skills training

Mr. Aris Babikian: My question is for the Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security.

In the face of growing global economic uncertainty and rapidly changing employer demand, it has never been more important to ensure Ontario students are receiving the relevant education and training they need to succeed in an ever-evolving workforce.

We know that our colleges, universities and Indigenous institutions play a critical role in preparing the next generation of workers.

That is why our government is continuing to make historic investments in post-secondary education, including a recent announcement to expand space in high-demand programs across Ontario.

Speaker, can the minister explain how this targeted investment will help prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow while protecting Ontario’s long-term economic competitiveness?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Minister of Colleges and Universities.

Hon. Nolan Quinn: Thank you to the member for that important question and thank you for those amazing answers as well. Our government knows there is one thing our students want—that is, a good-paying, in-demand job after graduation. And our government is proud to be making the investments to ensure our students get the hands-on skills they need to thrive in their future careers.

Just last week, we announced an investment of $1.7 billion to fund 70,000 more seats in key, economy-driving programs at colleges and universities across the province.

This investment is part of our government’s new long-term funding model that will bring $6.4 billion into the post-secondary sector—the largest investment in the history of both Ontario and Canada.

Since announcing the funding model in February, we funded an additional 30,000 more seats and, last Wednesday, announced a call for proposals to fund 40,000 brand new seats in STEM, health care, teaching and the skilled trades.

This investment means more mechanical engineers for North Bay, more teachers for Windsor, more welders for Ottawa and more nurses for Toronto, Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the member for Scarborough–Agincourt.

Mr. Aris Babikian: I thank the minister for his response. It is great to hear about the actions our government is taking to strengthen Ontario’s workforce, protect our economy and create new, rewarding opportunities for students across our province.

Speaker, Ontario’s colleges, universities and Indigenous institutions are essential to building the skilled workforce of our province which we need to remain competitive.

But we know that if we want Ontario to truly prosper, we must ensure that communities across Ontario have the skilled talents they need to thrive.

Can the minister explain how this investment now in new student seats will build a strong workforce throughout our province?

Hon. Nolan Quinn: We know that protecting Ontario’s economy starts with strengthening our communities, and our colleges and universities play a critical role in ensuring every part of Ontario has access to a highly skilled talent pipeline.

That’s why our $1.7-billion investment requires our institutions to work with their local communities, the businesses and students to identify the workforce that their region needs. Once they’ve done this important work, they will submit a proposal to our government to fund brand new seats to meet that need.

While the NDP and Liberals demand blind investments of taxpayer dollars, it is this government who has ushered in an era of strategic, responsible growth at our colleges and universities that is laser-focused on Ontario’s economic prosperity.

Our colleges and universities are the windows into Ontario’s future, and with this investment, we’re safeguarding that future to ensure that it is one where our communities are prosperous, our industries are thriving and our economy is self-reliant.

Government accountability

Ms. Marit Stiles: I’m going to go back to the Premier. I hope he will answer this question.

Speaker, what we’ve learned in the last few days is that there has been a massive betrayal of the people’s trust.

The Premier likes to put on his “Canada is not for sale” hat, but then when he’s behind closed doors, what he’s doing is hatching deals with big American corporations, American billionaires like J.P. Morgan.

We’ve learned over the last week that that is actually who is behind and who is going to benefit from the expansion of Billy Bishop airport, something that no Ontarian, no Torontonian has asked for ever—and this Premier is selling it off. He has even gone so far as to change the laws of the province of Ontario so that he could railroad over the people of this province.

I want to know: Will the Premier admit that he has betrayed the people of Ontario?

Hon. Doug Ford: Only the NDP and Liberals would say, “We don’t want any foreign investment. We don’t want you to invest in Ontario.” And by the way, I’ve never talked to J.P. Morgan in my life.

But you know something? I welcome investment from all over the world—over $222 billion of investment right here in Ontario. I welcome American investment; I welcome Korean investment that I just met with, and German investment. I welcome all the investors, and that’s why there are a million more people working today than there was when they were in power. If you looked at the job numbers, as a whole country—lost jobs, only one place stood out in North America. We led North America with 42,400 jobs in April alone.

Again, in North America—we kick the Americans’ butt by 641% per capita. We’re going to kick their butts next month, next month and next month.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the Leader of the Opposition.

Ms. Marit Stiles: To the Premier: News flash, 700,000 Ontarians right now cannot find work in this province. We have the highest youth unemployment rate in the country. That is nothing to be proud of.

And guess what? Another news flash: We don’t work for Americans; we work for the people of Ontario. This Premier is going to give away $5 billion—Ontario taxpayer dollars—to a big American corporation. That’s what this is.

This Premier is off to the States to hobnob again with billionaires like Ross Perot Jr. who are going to benefit from this sale, but yet, what do we get? We get jets over downtown Toronto. We get nothing. The people of Ontario end up having to foot a $5-billion bill for his latest vanity project. So I would say, who is the Premier working for? Is it for the people of Ontario, or is it for the billionaire bankers of America?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Order. I’ll ask the Minister of Colleges and Universities to withdraw.

Minister of Energy.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I have asked the opposition to come to order. I will start warning people.

Hon. Stephen Lecce: Madam Speaker, the ultimate abdication of responsibilities is when the Leader of the Opposition mocks the Premier for attracting job-creating investment to the province. That is the core function of the Premier’s job: to get out there and to defend the interests of Ontario, to attract investment, to create jobs. That will be a radical departure from the NDP and the Liberals, who have created barriers to investment.

The Leader of the Opposition, the Liberals seem to be searching for a jobs plan that’s made in Canada. And yet, in all these days of this session, neither of you have uttered the word “nuclear” in this House. We have a 150,000 jobs plan, an $800-billion gain to the Canadian economy, and the Liberal party and NDP are missing in action. They don’t have a clue how to create jobs in this sector.

We’ve refurbished Darlington ahead of

schedule and under budget. We’re committing to renewing the Pickering asset, which Liberals would have closed, turning their backs on 30,000 jobs. This Premier and this government are creating the conditions for growth and, yes, attracting investments. It’s going to give jobs to our kids for another 80 years.

Cost of living

MPP Tyler Watt: Speaker, through you to the Premier: This session, the Premier has been spending more time managing scandals, crashing out in front of the media and howling at coyotes than actually addressing the cost-of-living crisis that is haunting Ontarians. Let’s recap:

—$30 million for a luxury private jet toy for the Premier;

—a potential $500-million settlement over an air rights lawsuit;

—the greenbelt scandal, $8.3 billion in land for PC insiders;

—a $500-million taxpayer-funded parking lot next to a private spa;

—hiding the Premier’s cell phone records and changing the law to do so; and

—$10 million to strip clubs through the Skills Development Fund.

All of this while this government is trying to figure out how to protect this Premier, themselves and PC insiders, while Ontarians are struggling with cost of living.

So, Speaker, through you to the Premier: How can you say that you are fighting for Ontarians when the people cashing in are your friends and Conservative insiders, while people can’t afford to put food on their table?

Hon. Doug Ford: You know, Madam Speaker, I’ve got to teach that rookie a few lessons, first of all, about cutting taxes for people that you don’t believe in.

You voted against the HST. You voted against getting rid of development charges, saving families over $200,000. They voted against the tax cut that we did—10.7 cents a litre. They voted against the sticker licence renewal that we got rid of, saving over $1 billion. They voted against getting rid of the tolls that they created on the 412, 418 and 407.

There is no government that has cut $12 billion off the backs of the people and businesses that create more opportunities, more jobs. We have been tilling the soil. That’s why we’re leading North America in economic development. We are a—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the member for Nepean.

MPP Tyler Watt: By the way, Premier, I voted for the HST. It’s amazing to me how we can just say whatever we want here, but I actually can’t call it out—a lie.

Mr. Jonathan Tsao: Facts matter.

MPP Tyler Watt: Facts matter, Premier.

Speaker, for the past eight years, this government has repeated the same talking points, but the reality facing families tells a completely different story. Every week, I hear from constituents in Nepean who are exhausted by this government’s failure to address the cost-of-living crisis.

One constituent wrote to me, saying, “The pressure just to survive is taking a severe toll on our physical and mental well-being. Choosing between paying rent or buying groceries has created constant stress, anxiety, exhaustion and sleepless nights”—something that this Premier clearly doesn’t care about because he doesn’t actually listen to the people of Ontario anymore. It’s all about him. It’s all about getting him his jet, his friends money. It’s totally out of control.

So, Speaker, through you to the Premier: When Ontarians are struggling to make ends meet, why does this government continue to prioritize the interests of Conservative insiders and the Premier’s friends over—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Associate Minister of Small Business.

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

But let’s talk about some numbers that they keep asking for: 600—the number of schools that the Liberals closed when they were in government; 1,600—the number of nurses that they fired when they were in government, including in my hospital; $620,000—the cost to install a wind turbine at Lisgar GO station in my riding. It’s supposed to produce 80% of needed electricity for that, and you know what? Nine per cent is all it did; $400,000 it cost to take it down.

In contrast, Speaker: 31.25%—the reduction in corporate income taxes for our small business; 375,000—the number of small businesses that will realize those savings; $222 billion of investment brought into Canada by this Premier and this government—2018, 2022—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Question? I recognize the member for Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): When your time is over, your mike is killed, so please.

I recognize the member for Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke.

Forest industry

MPP Billy Denault: My question is for the Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products.

Ontario’s forest sector continues to face enormous pressure from President Trump’s unfair duties and tariffs, rising global uncertainty and years of underinvestment from the previous Liberal government. But despite those challenges, we continue to move forward with strategic investments that strengthen competitiveness, modernize operations and support long-term growth across the sector.

Just last week in Sault Ste. Marie, the associate minister announced a major investment to modernize Ontario’s Forest Resources Inventory system, a critical tool that supports sustainable forest management and planning across the province.

Speaker, can the associate minister explain how this investment will strengthen Ontario’s forest sector and support forestry workers, businesses and communities like those in the Ottawa Valley and across our province?

Hon. Kevin Holland: Thank you to the member for that question and for all the great work he’s doing in his riding to support the forestry sector.

Speaker, our government understands that protecting Ontario’s forest sector means investing in modern tools and technology needed to keep the industry competitive for decades to come. That is why we are investing more than $14 million to modernize Ontario’s Forest Resources Inventory system using advanced data collection, digital mapping and cutting-edge information technology. The system manages more than 3,700 terabytes of forestry data—more than what the Hubble Space Telescope has collected—and it plays a critical role in helping forestry operators make faster, smarter and more efficient decisions.

Speaker, this investment will help improve forest planning, support responsible resource management and strengthen the long-term competitiveness of Ontario’s forest sector.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the member for Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke.

MPP Billy Denault: Thank you to the associate minister for that response. While the opposition continues to focus on rhetoric, our government continues delivering real investments and a long-term plan to protect and grow Ontario’s forest sector.

In April, our government launched Ontario’s forestry road map—defend, adapt, grow—a comprehensive strategy focused on protecting jobs, strengthening competitiveness and positioning the sector for long-term success. Since then, we’ve already seen a series of major announcements and investments across our province that demonstrate this road map is being put into action.

Speaker, can the associate minister provide an update on how Ontario’s forestry road map is already supporting the sector and what forestry workers and communities like those in my riding can expect moving forward?

Hon. Kevin Holland: Thanks again to the member for that question.

Speaker, our government launched the forestry road map because we know Ontario’s forest sector needs a clear long-term plan to respond to tariffs, defend jobs and adapt the industry for future growth.

Since launching the road map just a few weeks ago, our government has already announced nearly $30 million in strategic forestry investment across Ontario, including support for Greenwater Technology in Thunder Bay, Georgia-Pacific in Englehart and the Forest Resources Inventory modernization project announced last week in Sault Ste. Marie.

Speaker, these announcements are only the beginning, and I look forward to sharing more about how our government will continue to defend, adapt and grow Ontario’s forest sector in the weeks and months ahead.

Land use planning

MPP Wayne Gates: My question is to the Premier. Speaker, Queen Victoria Park has been public land for 140 years. In fact, Niagara Parks says so themselves. In their own annual report published last year, their mandate since 1885 has never changed: Preserve the natural beauty of these lands for the public.

Now, this Premier has directed them to hand that public green space to a private company for a second Ferris wheel through 2080—behind closed doors, no public vote, no consultation, when the people of Niagara don’t want it. The Premier directed the board to approve an RFP, and they met behind closed doors—no public vote on record. And when the local paper asked the government who they consulted with, your minister refused to answer. Nobody asked Niagara. You’re breaking a 140-year mandate.

Premier, why did you direct Niagara Parks to put in a second Ferris wheel before talking to anyone from Niagara Falls and the province of Ontario?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Minister of Tourism.

Hon. Stan Cho: Oh, Speaker, just when you think you’ve heard it all from the NDP—we’re making investments in that member’s riding, and he doesn’t want it? Is that what he’s saying this morning? This is a member, Speaker, who, when we’re opening a new long-term-care home, he will show up to it. When we’re widening the highways in Niagara region, he will go to that. When we’re opening a new hospital, thanks to the member from Niagara West, he will show up.

Speaker, that member would show up to a letter opening, but the reality is we are investing in Niagara in a big way, despite that member’s best efforts. Who doesn’t want to see attractions? Who doesn’t want to see amusement parks in a natural wonder of the world? It has taken the leadership of this Premier to say this can be more. We’re going to triple the visitation to Niagara, despite that member’s best efforts.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Nepean on a point of order.

MPP Tyler Watt: My point of order is that I would like the Premier to correct his incorrect statement about my voting record on the housing—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): That is not a point of order.

House sittings

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the government House leader.

Hon. Steve Clark: I just want to advise members of the House that the night sitting scheduled for this evening is cancelled.

Notice of dissatisfaction

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Pursuant to standing order 36(a), the member for Orléans has given notice of dissatisfaction with the answer to the question given by the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery regarding government accountability. This matter will be debated tomorrow following private members’ public business.

Dan Newman

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Minister of Red Tape Reduction on a point of order.

Hon. Andrea Khanjin: It’s with a heavy heart that I rise to acknowledge the passing this past weekend—we laid to rest the Honourable Dan Victor Newman, who’s going to be joining his wife of 35 years in heaven now. He served as Minister of the Environment, Minister of Northern Development and Mines, and Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Speaker, I would ask for unanimous consent to commemorate the life that he led. He’s leaving behind a daughter, grandchildren and many family members who will miss him greatly, but he will live on in their memories.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The member is asking for a moment of silence to recognize the passing of a member. Agreed? Agreed.

The House observed a moment’s silence.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): There being no further business, this House stands in recess until 1 p.m.

The House recessed from 1157 to 1300.

Introduction of Visitors

MPP Jamie West: Speaker, I have introductions of 14 people. It will take a little bit of time. But today we’re being joined by members of the Governor General’s Canadian leadership program. These are members who are part of the northern Ontario tour, who are in Toronto, at Queen’s Park, this afternoon before they head back to Ottawa to meet with the Governor General and report back.

From Nova Scotia, we have Amber Froese; from Manitoba, Lisha Hassanali; from Quebec, Harvin Hilaire; from BC, Ry Bresser Moran; from Manitoba, Mathieu Roy; from Quebec, Youssef Belgana; from Alberta, Omer Hussein; from BC, Kiran Kooner; from Alberta, Ofodile Emmanuel Onah; from Saskatchewan, Carly Romanow; from Quebec, Carolyne Villeneuve; from the Northwest Territories, Kathleen Mansfield; from Quebec, Julie Hébert; and Tamara Centis, from Ontario. I know they’re looking forward to meeting you shortly after this, Speaker.

Welcome to Queen’s Park, everybody.

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: This morning, I was honoured to meet with representatives from Abbott diabetes care: Katie Fretz, Vivian Ng and Chris Chapin.

I’d also like to extend a warm welcome to the type 1 diabetes parent advocates, including Alana Diening, Emily Drmay, Jamie and Neal Iles and daughter Ellie Iles, as well as T1D—or type 1 diabetic—Olympic athlete and founder of the not-for-profit I Challenge Diabetes, Chris Jarvis.

Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Natalia Kusendova-Bashta: I’d like to welcome the Girl Guides of Canada. We have many wonderful members today—they’re just coming in—Aakshi, Ri, Leila, Lily, Sarah, Yoshita, Mariam, Hillary, Ava, Victoria, Kiara, Liana, Taylor, Teagan, Alia, Scarlett, Mackenzie, Hope, Adelaide, Mia-Noor, Madeleine and Serina.

They have put together a petition about pelvic health for women, which will be tabled later on today.

Welcome to the House, girls.

Mr. Deepak Anand: I’d like to welcome Pamela Bielak for her 25 years of leadership and commitment, supporting children and families through Crafting for a Cure by providing 750,000 kits to over 120 hospitals.

Welcome to Queen’s Park, Pamela.

Mr. Brian Saunderson: It’s a pleasure to rise to welcome a constituent of mine to the House today, Shawna Knight, and Angie Clark, who is the executive director of Phone-Free Schools Movement, Canada, who have come to watch the proceedings today and to see their petition be read in this afternoon.

Mr. Tyler Allsopp: I rise today to welcome Mayor Ferguson from Prince Edward county.

Mayor, thank you for coming. Welcome to your House.

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: It’s always a pleasure to rise in this House and represent the fine people of beautiful Beaches–East York, especially some members who are here today with Unplugged Canada and RAADD, trying to ensure kids’ safety online. And I have Margot, Taryn, Dave, Cleo and many more up there.

Welcome to your House.

Introduction of Bills

London Hydro Holdings Inc. Act, 2026

Mr. Rae moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr55,

An Act to revive London Hydro Holdings Inc.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

First reading agreed to.

Health Care Honours, Employment, Retention, Optimization and Empowerment Strategy Act, 2026 / Loi de 2026 sur la stratégie en matière de distinctions, d’emploi, de rétention, d’optimisation et du développement de l’autonomie dans le secteur de la santé

Mr. Shamji moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 133,

An Act to provide for the development of a health care worker support strategy respecting honours, employment, retention, optimization and empowerment and to make related amendments / Projet de loi 133, Loi prévoyant l’élaboration d’une stratégie d’appui aux travailleurs de la santé à l’égard des distinctions, de l’emploi, de la rétention, de l’optimisation et du développement de l’autonomie et apportant des modifications connexes.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Does the member wish to explain the bill?

Mr. Adil Shamji: The bill enacts the Health Care Honours, Employment, Retention, Optimization and Empowerment Strategy Act, 2026. The act requires the Minister of Health to develop and publish a health care worker support strategy. The necessary elements of the strategy are set out. Provisions respecting reviews and reporting on the strategy are included. A financial penalty is set out if the Minister of Health fails to meet a deadline under this act. Related regulation-making powers are provided.

The act also amends the Public Hospitals Act to increase the maximum term of appointments to the medical staff of a hospital from one year to three years.

Madam Speaker, the conditions of work are the conditions of care, and it’s time to treat Ontario’s health care workers as the heroes that they are.

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

Seniors Month

Hon. Raymond Sung Joon Cho: Hello, everyone. Happy Seniors Month. June is Seniors Month in Ontario, and I’m calling on everyone in the Legislature to celebrate our seniors like never before. Seniors are the most important people. We are the ones who have raised the families. We are the ones who have built the best of the province, Ontario, in the best country, Canada, and our seniors deserve our dignity and respect.

This year’s Seniors Month theme is “Let’s Get Moving.” We want to have our seniors moving so that they can get fit, stay active, healthy, socially connected, close to their homes and in their communities.

As a super senior, the best way for our seniors to get moving is to come together. Seniors love to be together. We are happiest when we are with other seniors. We enjoy each other’s company, whether we are sharing our time with our old friends or making new friends. People are our energy. When we are together, we are making sure we don’t experience social isolation. Social isolation is public enemy number one for seniors.

Madam Speaker, that is why I’m so proud to inform this Legislature that under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is making historic investments to make sure our seniors stay connected, come together and get moving. One way we are supporting our seniors is through the Seniors Community Grant Program. Since 2018, our government has doubled the funding of this program. We have now funded over 2,100 local and community projects that bring our seniors together, and we look to do more this year. We will announce the seniors community grants towards the end of June.

But that is not all we are doing this Seniors Month. We are continuing the celebration with our annual senior achievement awards ceremony with the Lieutenant Governor. We are honouring some very well-deserving seniors who have made outstanding contributions to their communities and province.

One of the ways we can celebrate our seniors is by promoting our investments in our seniors active living centres. This year is an extraordinary one for our seniors active living centre programs. We are investing close to $23 million to support 416 seniors active living centre programs across the province, including 100 new programs. We are also proudly celebrating the 16th anniversary of our elderly persons centres, now known as seniors active living centre programs. These were created under the Elderly Persons Centres Act in 1966.

Last week, I had the honour of celebrating this milestone at Life After Fifty in Windsor. This is one of the first centres that was designed with seniors programming in mind. Sixty years ago, the PC government of John Robarts began this great initiative, and I’m proud to say that under the leadership of Premier Ford, this PC government continues that legacy to support our seniors like never before.

That is why we also continue to support our seniors active living fairs. This past year, there were over 100 seniors active living fairs all over Ontario. These fairs brought seniors together and highlighted the many programs and activities available in their communities. These fairs are a huge success, and, come the fall, we’ll see them start up again.

We are committed to supporting our seniors like never before. That is why we continue to invest in the Ontario Health atHome program. This gives medical support services to our seniors in their own homes.

We are also supporting our seniors with the seniors care at home tax credit. This tax credit supports a wide range of supports for our seniors so that they can continue to live in their homes. Our One Fare program, along with our seniors’ public transit tax credit, helps our seniors save money so they can get to the appointments they need to get to or meet up with friends and family.

I would like to take this time to ask each and every one of you to reach out to a senior this month. Take the time to call, go for a walk, go to a movie, go for lunch or dinner and spend some time with the seniors in your family and community.

As well, there are many veterans who are seniors. We have dedicated funding for veterans under the Seniors Community Grant Program in my ministry, but that is not enough. Take some time to visit with a veteran. Enjoy their company. They have sacrificed for our freedom, and that is something that we should honour during this Seniors Month and throughout the year.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos): Response?

MPP Lise Vaugeois: It’s an honour to rise in the House and talk about the issues facing older adults in the province of Ontario. There are many issues facing seniors, from the ever-rising cost of living, creating a sense of desperation for those on fixed incomes—like most seniors. There are years-long wait-lists for the not-for-profit seniors’ residences, and there are challenges in most communities getting the level of home care needed to allow seniors to age at home.

Active living programs are lovely, but once a person enters a managed home, seniors are experiencing the loss of their basic rights, and this is unacceptable. Today, I want to focus on two issues: the abuse of the Trespass to Property Act in seniors’ residences and long-term-care homes, and the terrible effects of Bill 7 that forces families to put their loved ones in poorly maintained long-term-care homes that do not meet basic needs.

First, the Trespass to Property Act: The Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021, has a Residents’ Bill of Rights embedded in the act: “Every resident has the right to communicate in confidence, receive visitors of their choice and consult in private with any person without interference.” Yet homes continue to abuse the Trespass to Property Act to banish family members from visiting with their loved ones. If a person is a genuine risk to staff or residents, there are legal remedies that require evidence and due process. But managers continue to misuse the Trespass to Property Act because there are no consequences for abusing the rights of their residents.

Now, you might think that this would be resolved by now. We’ve got the Residents’ Bill of Rights. In 2021, this House unanimously supported motion 129, which was intended to end the abuse of the Trespass to Property Act. In 2022, the then-Minister of Long-Term Care said to me in this House that it’s done and dusted, that we don’t need to worry about this anymore because it’s embedded in the Residents’ Bill of Rights—wrong.

Law Enforcement Agencies and Partners Protecting Seniors, known as LEAPPS, also know it’s wrong to use the Trespass to Property Act. It was also recognized just a few days ago by the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services that it is not acceptable to use the Trespass to Property Act. This is recognized in ruling after ruling in the courts. It’s recognized by the Solicitor General, who has ordered the update of training on the Trespass to Property Act for new police officers. It’s recognized as abuse by inspectors working for the Ministry of Long-Term Care.

Yet other members of the long-term-care ministry are telling homes that they can use the Trespass to Property Act. The member from the Bay of Quinte, while parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Long-Term Care, made the same claim. And the Ontario Patient Ombudsman—shamefully, because he does know better—keeps telling managers that they can use the Trespass to Property Act.

So let me be absolutely clear: As promised in 2021, and as guaranteed in the Residents’ Bill of Rights, the government needs to stop the illegal use of the Trespass to Property Act and cease charter right infringements of seniors and disabled persons residing in long-term care and seniors’ residences.

Next, I want to talk about the effects of Bill 7, which this government forced through in 2023. I’ve recently heard from a constituent who received an $18,000 bill from Ontario Health after declining a long-term-care bed for her 83-year-old mother. This bill is actually going to come to $30,000 for two and a half months of care in the hospital. What is the crime of this family that they’re being billed for? They declined a bed because the home was not acceptable. The external view of the home is decrepit and, in the view of the family, it was not safe, dignified or a reasonable placement for an older adult unable to be cared for at home.

They’ve now received another offer of a bed in Milton, Ontario. That is a 15-hour drive from Thunder Bay. It would require moving their mother from northwestern Ontario to southern Ontario, to a community where she has never lived and where there is no family. This is not a meaningful solution for someone who needs continuity, familiarity and family support. It is a forced displacement.

Families are being financially penalized for refusing an unacceptable placement, then told that the alternative is to move an 83-year-old woman, who falls regularly and is unable to get out of bed independently, hundreds of kilometres away from her community and the family members who know and support her. This is not person-centred care; it is coercive, punitive and harmful.

Changing both of these policies is well within the control and mandate of this Conservative government to treat seniors with dignity and respect. As long as these abuses continue to take place, seniors will be robbed of their charter rights and robbed of the safety and dignity in their final years that we all hope for and deserve.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos): I recognize the member from Toronto–St. Paul’s.

I also want to recognize caregivers, personal support workers, nurses, front-line staff who support seniors every day. Their dedication is extraordinary, and Ontario seniors depend on their compassion and on their professionalism.

While I appreciate the minister’s remarks earlier, the reality is that too many seniors and their families continue to face significant challenges accessing the care and the supports that they need. The government frequently highlights investments and announcements in the seniors sector. Those investments are very important, but the question Ontarians are asking is not how much has been announced, but the question is whether seniors are seeing the results in their day-to-day lives.

Today, more than 50,000 Ontarians are waiting for a long-term-care bed. Ontario Health reports that the median wait time for admission to long-term care is now approximately 200 days for someone waiting in the community and 72 days for someone waiting in a hospital bed. This means that seniors are waiting months for the care that they need, and it means that their families are also navigating uncertainty and a lot of stress. And they mean hospital beds occupied by patients who should be receiving care in a more appropriate setting.

Every senior waiting for a long-term-care placement is not just a long-term-care issue; it is a hospital capacity issue, which we know so well of at these times. It affects emergency wait times, surgical backlogs and the ability of our entire health care system to function effectively.

The government often speaks about helping seniors age at home, and I think every member of this House supports this goal. We would all love to have that privilege. But aging at home requires more than good intentions. It requires access to home care, personal support workers, transport services, community supports and respite care for family caregivers.

For too many families, those supports remain really difficult to access. As a result, family members are filling the gaps themselves. Sons and daughters are balancing careers while caring for aging parents. Spouses are taking on increasingly demanding caregiving responsibilities while managing their own health concerns. Behind every statistic is a family doing its best just to hold things together.

The needs of Ontario seniors are also becoming more complex. More than 60% of long-term-care residents are living with dementia. The average resident is now in their mid-eighties, and the vast majority are living with some sort of cognitive impairment. That means demands on staff, caregivers and the broader health care system are only increasing.

While the government has spoken about recruiting more health care workers, recruitment alone is not enough. We have to also retain the workers that we already have. Personal support workers, nurses, long-term-care staff: They need working conditions that allow them to remain in the profession. Otherwise, we’re just going to be continuing to chase shortages instead of solving them.

Madam Speaker, the challenge before us is only growing. Ontario’s own projections show that the senior population is going to increase dramatically in the decades ahead. By 2051, in fact, there are going to be more than 1.8 million additional seniors living in this province. That reality should concern all of us here today. Because if our system is struggling today, with more than 50,000 people waiting for long-term care and families facing ongoing challenges with that, imagine how it’s going to cope when there’s another 1.8 million seniors added to Ontario’s population. That’s the question we have to answer.

Ontario seniors have spent their lives investing in this province and they have earned more than announcements. They’ve earned health care systems that work and they’ve earned timely access to care. They’ve earned support for their families and caregivers and the peace of mind that comes from knowing that they won’t be left behind.

As legislators, our responsibility is not simply to recognize seniors; it’s to ensure the systems they depend on are ready for the future, because a demographic wave is coming and, in many respects, it is already here.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos): I recognize the member from Haldimand–Norfolk.

Ms. Bobbi Ann Brady: I’m heartened to rise this afternoon in tribute to Seniors Month here in Ontario, a time to recognize and celebrate the generations who helped build this province we call home.

Our seniors are more than valued members of our communities; they are our institutional knowledge. They built our towns and cities, raised families, started businesses, served their neighbours and laid the foundation for the quality of life we now enjoy. Yet too many seniors tell me they feel their past and continued contributions are not being respected.

At a time in their lives when they should feel secure and supported, many are struggling to access vital services, whether it is community care difficult to access, long-term-care homes facing ongoing shortages or a health care system burdened by wait times and staffing shortages, too many seniors are being asked to navigate systems that are falling short of their needs.

As we celebrate Seniors Month, let us, as policy-makers, do more than offer our gratitude. Let us renew our commitment to ensuring that every senior can age with dignity, respect and the confidence that the services they depend upon will be there when they need them.

To all Ontario seniors, thank you for your contributions, your wisdom and your continued service to our communities.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos): I recognize the member from Kitchener Centre.

Ms. Aislinn Clancy: I’m proud to rise today to recognize Seniors Month. Our seniors have built this province and make such a rich contribution to all of our society.

I want to applaud the investment in our seniors active living centre and a big shout-out to Rockway community centre and Breithaupt community centre. The staff and volunteers here ensure that seniors can be included and active at all stages of life.

We know that seniors need a roof and food. It’s through the work of Supportive Housing of Waterloo that I learned that seniors are the largest growing number of folks facing homelessness right now. Our seniors need access to a roof and food, and they face homelessness more than ever. So let’s invest in affordable and supportive housing so seniors can age with dignity and in place.

Petitions

Land use planning

MPP Wayne Gates: Niagara deserves a say in a second Ferris wheel in Queen Victoria Park. Queen Victoria Park is public green space beside the world’s greatest natural attraction. Niagara Falls already has a successful observation wheel as part of the tourist sector. A second observation wheel could involve a long-term lease of 50—I’ll repeat this—50 years.

Major decisions about public park space should include meaningful, local consultation, which has never been done to this day—never.

They petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to stop any long-term lease or approval of a second observation wheel in Queen Victoria Park until the Niagara residents, the businesses, the tourist workers and the local leaders have been fully consulted.

The reason why I’m saying that—we already have a Ferris wheel. This would be about a block and a half away, and it’s going to be in the best green space in all of Niagara Falls. Nobody comes to Niagara Falls—nobody in Pennsylvania or Ontario or northern Ontario is saying, “Let’s go to Niagara Falls; we get to see a second Ferris wheel.” It’s absolutely ridiculous. And this park that they’re going to try to destroy was named after the Queen in the early 1800s.

What are we doing? What are we thinking? I’m saying, we need to make sure that this gets stopped and gets proper consultation, because there is nobody—nobody in Niagara Falls or Ontario that wants a second Ferris wheel in Niagara Falls.

Personal mobile devices in schools

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos): I recognize the member from Don Valley West.

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: She’s not here.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos): Oh, sorry; apologies—Beaches–East York.

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: Beautiful Beaches–East York, of course.

I’m proud to rise with a petition from my radiant residents and more Ontarians: the petition for the implementation of a bell-to-bell phone-free schools policy.

We want to ensure our kids are in school to learn and learn without distractions, and so the undersigned petition the government to create a bell-to-bell phone-free school policy.

I will sign that proudly and send it with page Philip.

Highways 11 and 17

MPP Billy Denault: I have this petition regarding Highways 11 and 17, and it states:

“Whereas Highways 11 and 17 are vital highways in supporting nationwide trade, they are key corridors to strengthening supply chains and enabling critical mineral development and are critical to ensuring reliable movement of goods and people across Canada.”

This petition calls on the federal government to partner with the government of Ontario to help achieve the expansion and modernization of Highways 11 and 17 as a project of national significance. In my riding, it is the lifeline of my community, and its importance cannot be overstated. We need a partner at the table to get this project going forward.

I wholeheartedly support this petition, and I will affix my signature to it and give it to Simon to bring to the table.

Social assistance

MPP Lisa Gretzky: I have a petition here to raise the social assistance rates.

Speaker, under this government’s watch, over eight years, we have a historic number of people experiencing homelessness, a historic number of people—that is families, that is young children, that is seniors, that is people with disabilities, that is workers—who are accessing food banks. That is a record number of people living in poverty under this Conservative government.

This petition is highlighting the people that are most deeply and negatively impacted by this Conservative government’s policies, and that is people living on social assistance.

Speaker, Ontario’s social assistance rates are well, well below Canada’s official Market Basket Measure poverty line and far from adequate—not even close to covering the rising costs of food and rent.

For those people on the government side who aren’t aware—although they should be—the Ontario Works rate for an individual is $733 a month. For someone living on the Ontario Disability Support Program, or ODSP, it’s $1,408. I would like to see anyone in this House try and keep a roof over their head and food on the table and—potentially, for those that can work—hold down a job.

Speaker, there was an open letter sent to the Premier and two cabinet ministers signed by over 230 organizations which recommended that social assistance rates be doubled for both Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program.

While it’s a small increase to the province’s budget, it would make a huge impact to the people that this government is leaving in legislated poverty. If they can afford to buy a $30-million private luxury jet for the Premier, spend a couple billion dollars on a foreign-owned luxury spa and give away Toronto’s waterfront to J.P. Morgan, an American company, certainly they could take care of the people in this province that have disabilities by doubling social assistance rates.

I will sign the petition and send it to the Clerk.

Health care workers

Mrs. Karen McCrimmon: I have a petition here that calls on the government to stop privatization and support health care staffing ratios by mandating staffing ratios for nurses and health care professionals across the Ontario health care system; develop staffing ratios in consultation with nurses and health care professionals through unions; and use health care funding to ensure the Ontarians can access the care they need within the public system rather than privatizing health care through outsourcing services to private, for-profit corporations.

I’m happy to sign my name and send it to the table with page Alex.

Firearms control

Ms. Bobbi Ann Brady: I have a petition here entitled, “Time Ontario Protects Law-Abiding Gun Owners like Saskatchewan and Alberta.”

We all know about the federal confiscation program for firearms. We also know the program is encountering minimal compliance from various law enforcement agencies across the province, and there continues to be a patchwork of protection right across the province. We also know that Ontario’s Chief Firearms Office refuses to answer the question of whether or not they will revoke firearms licences of those who fail to participate in the confiscation.

I have hundreds of signatures here, adding to last week’s that were also tabled, asking the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to direct the Ontario Chief Firearms Office to answer the very simple question that has been posed to them with respect to revoking licences and asking for the government to enact policy that will protect law-abiding gun owners, just like Saskatchewan and Alberta are doing.

I wholeheartedly support this petition, will affix my signature to it and send it to the Clerks’ table with page Finn.

Women’s pelvic health

Mr. Matthew Rae: I’ll be brief because I know there are lots of petitions today.

I just want to thank the Girl Guides of Canada; the Minister of Long-Term Care introduced them earlier. They are the ones I have the pleasure of presenting this petition to this assembly on post-pregnancy in women for, specifically around their pelvic floor.

One in four women in Canada struggle with pelvic floor damage due to childbirth. This petition highlights the importance of supporting those women. All women should not have their needs be determined by their income, and more women deserve to know how to take care of their bodies.

I wholeheartedly support this petition, and I will be giving it to page Julia for the table.

Social assistance

Ms. Peggy Sattler: I have a petition that calls on the Legislative Assembly to double social assistance rates for Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program.

We are living through a time in this province of unprecedented affordability challenges for all Ontarians, but the financial pressures are felt most acutely by those who are relying on social assistance to try to put food on the table and keep themselves housed. The current amounts that people receive are woefully inadequate to enable them to support themselves.

There has been extensive advocacy calling on the Premier and the cabinet, signed by over 230 organizations in this province, to urge the government to double social assistance rates. It would make a huge difference for those who are struggling to live on social assistance, who are continually trying to get by below the poverty line.

The petition, as I said, calls for a doubling of social assistance rates. I fully support the petition, affix my signature and will send it to the table with page Naya.

Education funding

MPP Stephanie Smyth: I have before me hundreds of signatures calling on the Legislative Assembly to reduce the class sizes in our public elementary schools. Some $6.35 billion has been cut from public education since 2018, and it has resulted in larger class sizes, increased violence, inadequate special education and mental health supports for students. The petitioners want the assembly to commit to making the necessary investments in public education to lower class sizes, increase student supports and ensure students have the schools they need.

I wholeheartedly support this petition, I affix my signature to it, and I give it to page Vedha to take to the table.

Personal mobile devices in schools

We know that smart phones used during school hours disrupt learning and social connection, with growing evidence in Canada and internationally linking heavy device use to lower academic performance, higher anxiety and depression for students, and strained interactions between teachers and students. National surveys in Canada indicate that a strong majority of parents support stronger limits for full-day restrictions on smart phones, and there is the need for a clear, consistent bell-to-bell policy to help support equitable and consistent expectations for students.

In my riding, on take your MPP to school day, I heard directly from the vice-principal at a local school, Our Lady of the Bay, so I support this wholeheartedly, I will sign it and give it to page Philip.

Billy Bishop airport

MPP Alexa Gilmour: In a matter of hours this weekend, people from my riding fanned out across the riding to collect signatures on a petition called “Stop Ford’s Takeover of Billy Bishop.” They were horrified to read in the Toronto Star that four lobbyist companies hired by Nieuport Aviation had been lobbying every single level of the government. They were distraught to know that the Premier had said that the government was in relationship with the federal government, and they were very upset to know that the city’s voice was being taken out of the equation.

They want the airport to remain an environmental landscape. They want Billy Bishop to remain a small airport and not have 900 metres of infill concrete poured into a lake, which seems ridiculous to all of us, I know, except for, apparently, the Premier.

I will sign my name to this and bring it down with page Anika.

Health care workers

Mr. Adil Shamji: I’m pleased to present this petition on behalf of the Ontario Nurses’ Association. It’s titled, “Stop Privatization and Support Staffing Ratios,” and it recognizes the growing challenges that we’re facing in health care and elevates health care workers as the backbone of our health care system. It calls for staffing ratios to be implemented between patients and providers, and to ensure that funds that go into health care actually go towards supporting our public system.

This is a very important petition that I’m pleased to present and to hand to page Simon.

Ontario economy

Mr. Anthony Leardi: I’d like to thank Denise Ghanem of Belle River for sending me in this petition. It talks about our trade relationship with the United Stat