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October 25, 2022

43rd Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2022-Oct-25 vol. A (PDF)

L019A - Tue 25 Oct 2022 / Mar 25 oct 2022

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Tuesday 25 October 2022 Mardi 25 octobre 2022

Tabling of sessional papers

Members’ Statements

Employment standards

Municipal elections

Doctor shortage

Municipal elections

Hunting and fishing

Six Nations remembrance ceremony

Education funding

Hungarian Heritage Month

Infectious disease control

Death of police constables

Introduction of Visitors

Death of police constables

Question Period

Health care funding

Public Order Emergency Commission

Health care funding

International trade

Long-term care

Public transit

Education funding

Consumer protection

Indigenous economic development

Long-term care

Health care post-secondary education

Supportive housing

Hunting and fishing

Health care funding

Long-term care

Employment standards

Cynthia Lai

Official members’ photograph

Introduction of Visitors

Introduction of Government Bills

More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 / Loi de 2022 visant à accélérer la construction de plus de logements

Introduction of Bills

1204755 Ontario Limited Act, 2022

Quadcard Entertainment Ltd. Act, 2022

Welberne Holding Corp. Act, 2022

H.B. Arndt & Associates Ltd. Act, 2022

Petitions

Alzheimer’s disease

Access to health care

Optometry service

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

Health care

Skills training

Orders of the Day

Jim Henderson

Joe Dickson

Gordon Irvin Miller

Douglas Jack Wiseman

Lily Oddie Munro

Richard Patten

Julian Alexander Arnott Reed

William Grenville Davis

The House met at 1015.

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

Prayers.

Tabling of sessional papers

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Before I ask for members’ statements, I beg to inform the House that, during the adjournment, the following documents were tabled:

—a report entitled, Expenditure Monitor 2022-23: Q1, from the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario;

—a report entitled, Costing Climate Change Impacts to Public Infrastructure, from the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario; and

—a report entitled, Ontario Public Sector Employment and Compensation: Historical Trends, Projections and Risks, from the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario.

Members’ Statements

Employment standards

Mr. Michael Mantha: I heard that cry at the beginning of the session today, and I want to welcome back our friend Bruno. Welcome back, Bruno.

Speaker, on October 5, I wrote to the Minister of Education about the closure of child care centres in Dubreuilville and Assiginack due to staff shortages. These closures left parents to come up with new arrangements for their children’s care at a moment’s notice.

A constituent in Dubreuilville informed me that one parent travels an hour every day with her child from Dubreuilville to Wawa for child care and then has to make the same trek back home every single day. With the winter months coming, you can imagine how stressful and dangerous this will be.

In Assiginack, the wait-list has grown to 26 individuals. Staff there say “operating on a skeleton crew” is a regular thing and have had to transfer workers from another location just to keep their doors open. This is unacceptable in Ontario. Young families are under enough stress with the skyrocketing cost of living as it is.

This staffing crisis is the result of this government’s low-wage policies and lack of funding to child care centres to hire and retain qualified individuals. The government must end this crisis and give early childhood education workers fair pay so that children can thrive and parents can have peace of mind. This cannot wait. The government needs to step up to the plate and recognize that child care workers and Ontario families deserve better.

Municipal elections

Mr. Robert Bailey: As always, it’s an honour to rise in the House today.

Mr. Speaker, I felt it very important today to take this opportunity to acknowledge the commitment to community demonstrated by all those candidates who put their name forward for municipal council and school board elections throughout Sarnia–Lambton and, of course, the province of Ontario.

I don’t have to tell anyone in this House that putting your name on the ballot is not an easy decision to make. By putting forward your platform and ideas you open yourself up to scrutiny and criticism from the public and our friends in the press. However, the debate of those ideas is fundamental to our democracy, and without a variety of candidates and a diversity of opinions—whether they finished on top of the polls or somewhere farther down the list—I want to congratulate every candidate in Sarnia–Lambton on their campaign and let them know just how much their participation mattered to their community.

I look forward to working with all the returning and newly elected mayors and members of council in Sarnia–Lambton. I want to say congratulations to newly elected mayors Gary Atkinson in Plympton-Wyoming, and Jeff Agar in St. Clair township. I also applaud mayors Kevin Marriott in Enniskillen township; Ian Veen in Oil Springs; Brad Loosley in Petrolia; and Bev Hand in Point Edward on their re-election. And, of course, Mr. Speaker, special congratulations to Mayor Mike Bradley in Sarnia, who was just elected to his 11th term as mayor of “The Imperial City.”

Doctor shortage

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Family physicians are an essential part of our health care system, but far too many Ontarians currently do not have a family doctor. According to a recent study, 1.8 million Ontarians do not have access to a regular family physician. This includes many residents of Ottawa West–Nepean. I have heard from many constituents who are desperately searching for access to a primary care physician, but to no avail. One local doctor wrote to me that her office has no less than 10 people walking in every day hoping to find a family doctor taking on new patients.

Family physicians, meanwhile, are experiencing burnout, and too many of them are currently closing their practices. They are contacting my office to ask for help in finding additional resources that will allow them to keep serving patients. These family doctor shortages have serious implications. Erin Bain, one of my constituents, was recently informed that her doctor is closing her practice. Her doctor is under 40, but she has experienced so much stress over the past few years that she is walking away from the profession of medicine.

Erin and her parents, who are in their seventies and live with chronic health concerns, are now frantically searching for a new doctor, hoping they won’t be forced to go to the emergency room for routine care.

Wait times at Ottawa hospitals are already over 12 hours. We can’t afford patients who need non-emergency care ending up in the ER because of a doctor shortage. We need this government to take the crisis in health care seriously, invest in all parts of our public health care system and make sure everyone gets the health care they deserve.

Municipal elections

Mr. Kevin Holland: As yesterday was the municipal elections in Ontario, I want to start off today by thanking everyone that put their names forward in the municipal and school board elections across Ontario. Participating in our democratic process by putting your names on a ballot to represent your communities is something that you should all be proud of.

To those that were elected yesterday, I offer you my sincere congratulations. Each of you have been entrusted with a responsibility to serve your communities. Having served on council in my community for 31 years, I can tell you that the experience can be a very rewarding one.

To those that have been elected for the first time, you will soon find out that your responsibilities will demand a considerable amount of your time, and that will impact not only on you but your family as well. Please recognize the sacrifices that your family will be making while they support you.

In my role as PA to the Minister of Municipal Affairs, I look forward to working with all of you toward our mutual goal of continuing to make Ontario and our communities the best they can be. As with all elections, we will see change at council tables across the province. I want to thank all members that are not returning for their service and commitment to their communities.

In my riding of Thunder Bay–Atikokan, there are several members of council that are not returning, but I’d like to mention one in particular, and that is Atikokan mayor Dennis Brown. Mayor Brown decided to retire after an incredible 38 years of service. Throughout his time on council, Mayor Brown has worked tirelessly to make Atikokan a better place to live, work and play, and the word “impossible” was not in his vocabulary. It has been a pleasure for me to work with Mayor Brown over the years, and I want to offer him my gratitude and sincerest best wishes in his retirement.

Hunting and fishing

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Remarks in Oji-Cree.

Fall is hunting season across Ontario. In Kiiwetinoong, in far northern Ontario, it’s something that we all do and practise. We have to understand that hunting is a way of life for all of us in the north. It brings families together; it brings communities together. And it’s important to acknowledge that. I see all the pictures, all the stories from all the hunters up north, whether it’s moose, whether it’s the fishing that happens in the north.

For me, hunting is a way of life, as I said. Hunting is part of who I am as a First Nations person. I will continue these ways of life, to pass down to the children and the grandchildren that are forthcoming.

Sometimes people ask me, “What is ‘land back’?” “Land back,” to us in the north, is going back to the land. “Land back” is building a cabin in these forests, in these lands. “Land back” is relearning your language. It’s a gift that we have from our ancestors and one I am proud of and that I will pass on for generations to come. Meegwetch.

Six Nations remembrance ceremony

Mr. Will Bouma: On Sunday, October 16, I had the honour of attending the Six Nations Veterans Association annual Remembrance Day parade and service in Ohsweken. The beautiful, sunny, fall day did not mask the seriousness of the occasion honouring First Nations veterans that fought in every major conflict that Canada has ever been in.

Speaker, the Six Nations Remembrance Day ceremony is very personal to me. The liberation of the Netherlands, from September 1944 to April 1945, played a key role in the culmination of the Second World War, as the Allied Forces closed in on Germany from all sides. The First Canadian Army played a major role in the liberation of the Dutch people, who had suffered terrible hunger and hardship under the increasingly desperate German occupiers. Six Nations soldiers were among Allied soldiers that fought town to town, canal by canal, pushing back the occupying German forces from the country of my birth, the Netherlands.

The First Canadian Army also played a leading role in opening Belgium and the Netherlands’ Scheldt estuary gateway to the port of Antwerp, a key city in the region. More than 7,600 Canadians died in the eight-month campaign to liberate the Netherlands, a tremendous sacrifice in the cause for freedom.

And, Speaker, I will wear a poppy with a deep sense of pride, lovingly made in my riding of Brantford–Brant by Tuscarora hands that remind me of the sacrifices made by First Nations, Canadians and Allied troops in Europe.

Education funding

Ms. Mitzie Hunter: Thank you, Speaker, for the opportunity to visit Yellowknife as part of the Canadian parliamentary association. Their Parliament in the Northwest Territories is driven by consensus, and I think that all members of this House will agree that public education is one of our most important responsibilities as a Legislature.

Our public education system was the hardest hit in the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The harsh reality is that our students have missed more school days than any other jurisdiction in North America. As a result, our public education faces an urgent race to catch up, but, again, this challenge represents a steeper climb for some more than others.

Added to this, we have entered the flu season and we’re continuing to manage the latest COVID variants. This means that more disruption is likely. More supports are needed in our public education system, not less. And yet, alarmingly, the government continues to underspend when it comes to public education.

Speaker, while families during this time need support to manage the inflation crisis, direct payments to parents while taking away those precious resources from the classroom are not addressing the gaps in learning that students currently face. I see that in my own riding in Scarborough–Guildwood where many students are struggling to reach grade level in reading.

All students do not require the same level of supports to catch up, and that is why it is critical that solutions are put forward by the government that are equitably designed to meet the needs of all Ontario’s learners. The best place for this investment is in our public education system.

Hungarian Heritage Month

Mr. Rudy Cuzzetto: I’m proud to rise today to celebrate the first annual Hungarian Heritage Month in Ontario. This past Friday, I was proud to join the Ministers of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, and Mental Health and Addictions, and the MPP from Flamborough–Glanbrook here at Queen’s Park to help raise the Hungarian flag, together with officials from the Hungarian consulate and Hungarian Canadian community leaders.

On Sunday, we celebrated Hungarian Republic Day, which marks two important events: 66 years ago, the Hungarian people revolted against Soviet tyranny and oppression, and exactly 33 years later—and 33 years ago—Hungary became a democratic parliamentary republic.

Again, Speaker, on behalf of Hungarian Canadians in Mississauga and across Ontario, I just want to thank members from both sides of this House for supporting my private member’s bill earlier this year to create the first Hungarian Heritage Month in Canada and to recognize a community that has contributed so much to Ontario.

Later this week, the President of Hungary, Katalin Novák, will visit Ontario. She is the first woman elected President of Hungary and also the youngest president in the history of Hungary. I look forward to celebrating Hungarian Heritage Month together with her, and I know that all members will join me in welcoming her to Ontario.

Infectious disease control

Mr. Vincent Ke: With the fall and winter season upon us, a potential resurgence of COVID-19 and flu season is fast approaching. In addition to the province’s strong vaccine program to help protect Ontarians, it is important to remind the public that practising handwashing and good home hygiene help to provide an additional layer of defence against the risk of contracting COVID-19 and the seasonal flu.

Speaker, I want to thank American Hygienics Corp. for their generous donation of sanitizing wet wipes to help further protect our vulnerable citizens and seniors in the community of Don Valley North. I sincerely thank them for their care and kindness. These wet wipes are being distributed by a team of dedicated volunteers who work diligently to support seniors and marginalized people in our community who don’t always have the resources to access wet wipes.

Speaker, I’m proud to recognize the compassionate members of my community who so often put the needs of others ahead of their own. I am thankful for the constituents of Don Valley North who consistently demonstrate that their priorities are in the right order.

Death of police constables

Ms. Andrea Khanjin: I rise with a heavy heart to honour and give my deepest condolences to the families of Constable Morgan Russell—or Mo, as he was known by close friends—and Constable Devon Northrup. They paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty and embodied the South Simcoe values of teamwork, integrity, respect, compassion and so much more. These professionals in their field served in the emergency response unit and touched the lives of countless individuals.

I had the honour to know Constable Northrup and had an opportunity to do a ride-along with him where I learned about all his work in the mental health field. Both Constables Northrup and Russell were passionate and devoted to serving those facing mental health challenges and finding ways to better support youth in our region. Constable Russell could have retired years ago, but insisted on serving his community for many more years.

As Staff Sergeant Chalmers reminded us, the greatest contribution that we can give to these heroes in life, and their families, is to take responsibility for the youth in our community and to connect with the children and young adults in our lives—not just via text message, but a call to check in and let them know that they are loved and supported. A simple call, hug or kind word can change a day in the life of someone who is experiencing difficult times and sadness. Do not let it go unnoticed, and do not be afraid to ask for help. If we don’t change the ways that we do things, more people will get hurt.

As Madelaine, the daughter of Constable Russell, reminded us, our police officers, our first responders, our men and women in uniform who serve are not just those who serve our community but they are beloved by their beloved spouses, parents, family members and friends.

To the Northrup family, to the Russell family: I want to let you know that Constables Northrup and Russell will not be forgotten. They will remain as heroes in our hearts and throughout our community for years to come. Our government, our community and the South Simcoe police have your back.

I want to ask everyone to join me here in this Legislature to pay gratitude to Constable Russell and Constable Northrup.

Introduction of Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): We have with us in the Speaker’s gallery today a delegation of ambassadors and chargés de mission representing the following countries with francophone populations: Belgium, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Rwanda, Senegal, Serbia, Togo and Vietnam. Please join me in warmly welcoming our guests to the Legislature today.

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Good morning, Speaker, and everyone. From Anishinabek Nation, we have Deputy Grand Council Chief Travis Boissoneau and Jackie Lombardi. From Sachigo Lake First Nation, we have Dean Beardy and also Robert Barkman. We have Chief Lorraine Crane from Slate Falls First Nation; Chief Lefty Kam from Bearskin Lake First Nation; Councillor Cynthia Fiddler from Sandy Lake First Nation; also, Allen Tate, Freddie Shakakeesic, Mike Loon; Anne Chabot and also Frank McKay from Windigo First Nations Council.

Also, I have some guests visiting all the way from Vienna, Austria: Lucia Huemer and Gerald Wolf. Thank you for being here.

Mr. Graham McGregor: I’m really excited. We have a very special guest here in the Legislature. He is the perennial host of my family Christmas, a father to three children, a wonderful brother to my mother. Please join me in welcoming my uncle Dave.

Mr. Jeff Burch: I would like to welcome Michau van Speyk and Bruce McIntosh from the Ontario Autism Coalition. Thank you for joining us.

Ms. Laurie Scott: I’d like to introduce the members from Merit Ontario who are at Queen’s Park with us today: Dan Gueguen, Gordon Sproule, Mark Rintoul, Ron Worrall, Terrance Oakey, Cam Besseling, Domenic Mattina, Steve Stecho, and Merit Ontario president and CEO Michael Gallardo. And, of course, who keeps him in line? His executive assistant, Mary Farrell. Please welcome them to Queen’s Park. Remember the reception tonight in rooms 228 and 230.

Ms. Doly Begum: Good morning, everyone. I would also like to welcome Susy Whiskeyjack from Slate Falls First Nation. Welcome.

Mr. Nolan Quinn: I’m excited today to introduce—not only because he shares the same name as myself—Nolan Stoqua. He is here from Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry as a member of the page program. Nolan attends school with my children at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Ingleside and was just elected prime minister of the student council. I’d also like to introduce Earl McBean, who is here to support Nolan today.

Ms. Peggy Sattler: I am delighted to welcome Dr. Collin Clarke, who is here today from London West. He is the proud father of today’s page captain, Pearl Clarke. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Anthony Leardi: From the beautiful riding of Essex, please welcome Mr. Daniel Allen, who just yesterday was invested with the Order of Ontario, and his wife, Pamela Allen.

Mr. Andrew Dowie: I want to wish a warm welcome to my nephew Marshall, who is part of our current page contingent. Thank you for being here, Marshall. I also want to acknowledge his mom, Sarah, and brother Bryce, who are watching from the gallery upstairs.

Ms. Jess Dixon: I want to acknowledge that we have a number of members from the Association of Major Power Consumers in Ontario. They are present today for their annual advocacy day. I also want to extend an invitation to join us this evening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the legislative dining room. Welcome to Queen’s Park, and I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: My guests are not here yet but I’m going to introduce them anyways because they are on their way. I want to welcome Chief Mary Duckworth of Caldwell First Nation, Larry Sault and Ian Duckworth and Doug Heil, who are councillors with Caldwell First Nation. When they come, welcome to Queen’s Park.

Death of police constables

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Barrie–Innisfil has informed me she has a point of order.

Ms. Andrea Khanjin: If you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for the House to observe a moment of silence in remembrance of Morgan Russell and Devon Northrup of the South Simcoe Police Service, who were tragically killed in the line of duty on October 11.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Barrie–Innisfil is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to observe a moment of silence in remembrance of Morgan Russell and Devon Northrup of the South Simcoe Police Service, who were tragically killed in the line of duty on October 11. Agreed? Agreed.

I’ll ask members to please rise.

The House observed a moment’s silence.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members will please take their seats.

Question Period

Health care funding

Mr. Peter Tabuns: I will take one second, as a member of the class of 2006, to welcome back the member from Nepean. Welcome back, sister—courage.

Speaker, since the beginning of this year, Ontario’s ERs have been closed more than 100 times. Those closures are happening in rural areas, places like Chesley. Their ER is closed until the end of November because of a shortage of nurses. Just a few weeks ago, most of Chesley’s residents packed into a meeting to fight for their community hospital. This government has left Ontarians with no credible plan of action to address the crisis in our health care system.

For the Premier: Why has the Minister of Health neglected her duty during this difficult period?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Health.

Mrs. Robin Martin: After decades of underfunding, this government has made unprecedented investments in our health care system. Health care funding has increased 6.2% year over year, the largest increase on record, including over $5 billion in base funding, which is an 8.9% increase. No previous government has increased base funding by such a high amount year over year.

We have added over 3,500 new hospital beds, and we are adding an additional 3,000. We’re in the process of building and upgrading 58,000 long-term-care beds. And we’ve got a $40-billion investment in 52 new hospitals and additions, and $1 billion for home and community care expansions.

We’re investing in our health care system. We’re going to make sure that Ontarians have the resources they need in hospitals and other health care facilities so Ontarians get the care that they deserve.

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

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Well, Speaker, I hear the announcements, but I don’t see the results.

There are consequences when health care isn’t there when people need it. Recently, Eleanor wrote to me about the passing of her daughter, Amelia. Amelia was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, and she was diagnosed late, with her screening pushed from November to February. By then, her cancer was so advanced, the only thing doctors could do was palliative chemotherapy.

Eleanor is a retired nurse. She knew that Amelia’s diagnosis was likely fatal, but with earlier screening and better access to care, Eleanor believes Amelia would have lived more than the five short months from diagnosis.

Speaker, these are real-life impacts of the government’s inaction on health care. Will the Premier and minister commit to meaningfully invest in our health care workers so there are no more stories like Amelia’s?

Mrs. Robin Martin: If you want to talk about real results, I just want to mention that the College of Nurses of Ontario has registered more nurses—because of programs that we’ve put in place—in one year than ever in history: a record 12,800 new nurses have been registered, and there’s still two months left to go this year. So that is a record improvement.

Our government has been focused on ensuring that Ontarians have the care that they need, where they need it. Ontario Health—Cancer Care Ontario is the government’s adviser on cancer and the renal system and flows more than $2 billion to hospitals to support direct patient care every year.

We’re working very hard with Ontario Health, which oversees our overall cancer strategy, to make sure that we have the critical programs we need and the services we need to make sure that Ontarians, like Amelia, get the care that they need in a timely way.

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

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Again, I hear the announcements; people don’t see the results.

In September, a four-year-old child with a broken arm was left waiting more than four days for minor surgery at McMaster Children’s Hospital. These types of delays can have dramatic impacts on growing kids.

Speaker, these tragic stories are driven by staffing shortages that are now commonplace. How much worse does the crisis in our health care system have to get before the minister and the Premier give nurses and front-line health care workers the support that they need?

Mrs. Robin Martin: Thank you to the member opposite. Nothing is more important than protecting the health and well-being of Ontarians, especially our children. I saw the interview with the mother. I understand that the young man had to wait a few days for an operation on his elbow, which is not fair. We would like to change that and make sure that it doesn’t happen again. However, the mother did say in the interview that once the child got care, the care provided was exceptional and that the child is now recovering.

Certainly, we’re making significant investments to address the province’s surgical backlog. We’ve also dedicated $6.5 million to pediatric hospitals to support them to ramp up surgeries. We’ve also provided $4.6 million in more funding for hospitals to add additional acute care beds: nine at CHEO—10 acute care beds there as well—and three ICU beds at Sick Children’s Hospital.

Public Order Emergency Commission

Mr. Joel Harden: My question is for the Premier. Good morning, Premier.

On September 19, the federal Public Order Emergency Commission requested an interview with the Premier and Minister Jones on the use of the federal Emergencies Act this past winter. But the Premier and minister have refused this request, and all subsequent requests, to be interviewed or testify before the commission. Speaker, why did the Premier and minister refuse the commission’s request?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: I think the member opposite would agree that this is certainly a policing matter and not a political matter. This is a federal commission which is looking into the federal government’s invocation of the federal Emergencies Act. We are providing assistance to the commission by submitting key cabinet documents and of course ensuring that witnesses are available to the commission.

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

Mr. Joel Harden: Speaker, back to the Premier—I hope at least.

That’s not leadership. We had a crisis in our community, the federal Emergencies Act was declared, and this government is content to shunt this as a policing matter or put forward its senior public officials to testify. The Premier and the minister responsible—then-Solicitor General—are absent.

So, left with no other choice, yesterday the commission issued the Premier and the health minister an official summons to testify. I’m going to quote from the summons: The commission believes that “Premier Ford and Minister Jones would have evidence, particularly within their knowledge, that would be relevant to the commission’s mandate.” That’s the end of the quote, Speaker. But this Premier and that minister are intent instead on refusing to testify before the commission, calling instead for a judicial review of their summons. I have a simple question, through you: What are you trying to hide?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I ask the members to make their comments and questions through the Chair.

Government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Again, as I just said—I guess we disagree—this is a policing matter; it’s not a political one. This is a federal commission which is reviewing the federal government’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act. At the same time, we are assisting by providing key cabinet documents and ensuring that key witnesses who can answer specifics are made available to the commission.

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

Mr. Joel Harden: Well, Speaker, there we have it: The government apparently knows how this matter is more than the commission’s lawyers. Oh, what a tangled web we weave.

I want to remind this House that this House is responsible, and they need to be aware of what happened to people in our community in Ottawa—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I caution the member on his language. Please continue with your question.

Mr. Joel Harden: —we were subjected to weeks of unrelenting harassment by convoy organizers and opportunistic hate groups. And in our time of need, this Premier and that minister made promises that were not honoured. In fact, it took them three weeks to seize and tow 39 trucks, and they gave those trucks and the keys back to those truck owners without a fine a week later.

So it is in the public interest for this Premier and that minister to appear before the commission. We have a lot of healing to do as a country to make sure we can prevent anything like this from ever happening again. But accountability starts at the top. Will the Premier and minister stop hiding, come to Ottawa, and testify before the commission?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members will please take their seats.

Government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Again, I suppose it’s a difference of opinion on this, Mr. Speaker. We believe this is a policing matter and not a political matter. Again, to the member opposite, this of course is a federal commission of inquiry into the federal government’s decision to invoke the federal Emergencies Act. At the same time, we are providing assistance to the inquiry by providing key cabinet documents and ensuring that witnesses are available to speak to certain specifics.

Health care funding

Ms. Jessica Bell: My question is to the Minister of Health. In August, I asked your government to help SickKids hospital address their staffing shortages, their $45-million funding shortfall and their growing surgery wait-list. SickKids has a surgery wait-list that has over 3,400 children waiting beyond the clinically acceptable time for their necessary surgery, putting their long-term health at risk.

Minister, three months later, the crisis is getting worse. On Thanksgiving weekend, SickKids ICUs were at full capacity. My question is, why is your government failing to help SickKids meet the demand for care?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Again, I’ll ask the members to make their comments through the Chair.

The parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Health to reply.

Mrs. Robin Martin: Thank you to the member opposite for the question. As I said before, nothing is more important than protecting the health and well-being of all Ontarians, especially our children. That’s why, as part of our significant investment to address the province’s surgical backlog of $880 million, we also dedicated $6.5 million to pediatric hospitals to support them in the ramp-up of surgeries. We’ve also provided $4.6 million more in funding to hospitals to add nine additional acute-care beds at CHEO and 10 acute-care beds, as well as three ICU beds, at Sick Children’s Hospital.

This government will spare no expense to make sure the people of this province, especially our children, continue to have access to the high-quality care that they need and expect.

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

Ms. Jessica Bell: Minister, whatever it is that you’re doing, it’s not good enough. SickKids is reporting that they have not been able to accept some children in the Toronto region into their ICU wards, forcing them to other pediatric hospitals farther from home. This shouldn’t be happening in Ontario and it certainly shouldn’t be happening at one of the top children’s hospitals in the world.

Minister, this is my question: What is your government going to do—concretely do—to ensure that all departments, including the ER and the ICUs, have the funding to fully staff their departments so that the health care needs of children can be met?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Again, I’ll ask the members to make their comments through the Chair, not directly across the floor.

The member for Eglinton–Lawrence to reply.

Mrs. Robin Martin: While the volumes in our pediatric ICUs are high, we continue to mobilize all resources to meet the critical clinical needs of these very ill patients.

And I just want to quote from a Toronto Star

article by Megan Ogilvie. Dr. Ronald Cohn, the CEO of Sick Children’s Hospital said that the “hospital will always have capacity for the most critically ill children in the province who need the specialized care” that only Sick Children’s Hospital can offer.

So, according to Dr. Cohn, the resources are there. We’re going to make sure the resources are there because we want to make sure that our children in Ontario and all other Ontarians have the support they need.

International trade

Mr. Brian Saunderson: My question is for the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. The minister was recently in Japan and South Korea to meet with international investors in the automotive and EV battery sector. Ontario already has a number of Japanese and Korean manufacturers employing thousands of people across the province. Speaker, two of these manufacturers are in the riding of Simcoe–Grey—Honda and Nippon Sheet Glass—employing hundreds of residents.

Can the minister please provide us with an update on those business meetings?

Hon. Victor Fedeli: This mission was an opportunity to re-engage with trusted partners in South Korea and Japan. It was great to meet with LG Energy Solution in Korea to personally thank them for their $5-billion investment in Windsor. In fact, we were in Windsor last week and saw the massive site, as their 4.5-million-square-foot building is under way. Thousands are working there during construction, and 2,500 men and women will go to work there for the very first time at that plant.

We also used the opportunity to engage with a number of other Korean suppliers for the historic LG investment in Japan. We met with Toyota and Honda where we personally thanked Honda for their $1.4-billion investment in Alliston.

We’re continuing to build on the $16 billion of Ontario auto investments in the last 20 months, and now even more companies know that if they’re in the EV business, they need to be in Ontario.

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

Mr. Brian Saunderson: Thanks to the minister for that update on his recent trade mission to Japan and South Korea. During this time of global uncertainty and while the world shifts towards electrification, Ontario needs to secure further investments to support and further the future of auto and EV battery manufacturing in this province.

Can the minister please tell us more about what these Japanese and South Korean companies had to say about investing in Ontario?

Hon. Victor Fedeli: Here’s what we heard from the EV sector in Japan and South Korea: They told us that in this world filled with turmoil, they view Ontario as a sea of calm—a stable, a reliable, a trusted jurisdiction. They also said Ontario is viewed as a safe place—safe for their employees, safe for their families. They know that Ontario has everything they need for success: a full EV value chain. That includes critical minerals and refining, resources traditionally they rely on from China and Russia; 94% clean energy, very different from making a battery in Kentucky, where there is 6% clean energy.

We have skilled trades, 65,000 STEM grads, AI and quantum computing, and public health—end to end, everything an EV company needs to be successful. That’s the reputation Ontario now has around the world.

Long-term care

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: My question is to the Premier. We learned on September 30 that the council of the municipality of Sioux Lookout unanimously passed a resolution to support the petitioning of this government to suspend Bill 7 within Sioux Lookout’s catchment boundaries. This was done because the reality is that this bill does not work for the people served by the health care system in the Sioux Lookout area.

Will this government undertake a meaningful consultation on this bill with health care providers in Sioux Lookout?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the Minister of Long-Term Care.

Hon. Paul Calandra: I appreciate the question from the member. The member will know, in particular with respect to Bill 7, we had had acute-care facilities across this country for many, many, many years asking that in particular long-term care become a partner in helping to address ALC issues. For many years we could not do that because the investments were not made in long-term care. But that changed in 2018 when the government made significant investments—over $13 billion—in long-term care. We’re doing them across the province, in urban, rural and remote communities.

I was up in Kenora with the Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Northern Development. We were reviewing the potential allocation of a new long-term-care home there.

But at the same time, Bill 7 helps ensure better care for people closer to home. I think that the honourable member would agree that it is in our best interest to work to ensure that people who are in hospital get the best quality of care possible—

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

The supplementary question.

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: In First Nation country, Bill 7 is colonial. I ask this government to stop your colonizing ways.

Last week I attended a gathering of Indian residential school survivors from the north, and they shared their worries about Bill 7. They say that Bill 7 traumatizes residential institution survivors again. Survivors will again be moved forcefully because of the lack of long-term-care facilities in our communities. They do not want to be forced to leave, to spend their last years far away from home. They are asking for more home care and long-term care closer to home. When will this government finally get around to honouring this request from Kiiwetinoong?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Health.

Mrs. Robin Martin: Thank you to the member opposite. We remain committed to working collaboratively with Indigenous partners and communities to co-develop programs that will improve access to safe and effective health services. We acknowledge that programs and services must be designed, delivered and evaluated in collaboration with Indigenous partners to effectively meet the needs of Indigenous peoples, families and communities.

For example, All Nations Health Partners is an Ontario health team with Indigenous leadership that serves people living in and around Kenora and Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls in northwestern Ontario, including Indigenous and First Nations peoples. Similarly, the Rainy River District Ontario Health Team has Indigenous leadership that will serve people living in and around that area and, most recently, the Maamwesying Ontario Health Team has Indigenous leadership that will serve Indigenous peoples living in 11 nearby First Nations.

We’re also providing $41 million in base funding to Indigenous organizations and communities to support culturally safe mental health and wellness services. We’ll continue to work with Indigenous partners and communities to make sure we have the right services.

Public transit

Ms. Donna Skelly: Good morning, Speaker. People in my riding of Flamborough–Glanbrook rely on transit to get where they need to go every single day, and it’s not uncommon for me to hear about their frustrations with the lack of reliable transit options available in our community. The members opposite had over a decade to address the transit gap that exists in Hamilton, and while they talked a lot about building, they never got it done.

Speaker, can the Minister of Transportation please tell this House what our government is doing to build the transit connections the people of Hamilton deserve?

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: Thank you to the member from Flamborough–Glanbrook for the question. Under Premier Ford’s leadership, our government is getting shovels in the ground to build more transit in Hamilton and across the province.

Just a few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of joining the Premier and my colleagues from Hamilton to announce that we are moving ahead with building the new Confederation GO station. The new station will connect Hamilton with the GO train network, eventually offering two-way, all-day GO service along the Lakeshore West line to Toronto and Niagara Falls. It will also provide better connections to existing transit and GO bus services in these communities.

Speaker, with projects like the Confederation GO station and the Hamilton LRT already under way, our PC government has a plan to get the people of Hamilton connected, and we are getting it done.

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

Ms. Donna Skelly: Thank you, Minister, for the work that you are doing to improve transit right across the GTHA.

Hamilton has seen significant growth as a destination to live, work and play. By 2046, the city of Hamilton could see its population grow by up to 35%. If you consider this growth, the need to invest in and build public transit is clear. But it’s not just about accommodating this growth; it’s also about protecting our economy.

Speaker, could the Minister of Transportation please speak about the economic significance of this project?

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: Thank you again to the member for the question.

Speaker, this government is focused on an agenda of prosperity, and we are moving full steam ahead with our historic plans to build and expand public transit, because now is not the time for inaction. Our unprecedented investments to get critical infrastructure projects like the Confederation GO station built will stimulate future growth and job creation. By 2041, over 100,000 people and 63,000 jobs will be located within five kilometres of this new station. Under Premier Ford’s leadership, we are connecting more people to jobs, housing and transit in one of the fastest-growing regions of the province.

This will unlock access to Ontario’s full potential and set the foundation for long-term economic growth in our province.

Education funding

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Ontario’s students are struggling, but this government’s cuts to public education mean they aren’t getting the support they need: classrooms with more than 30 kids, EAs trying to support six kids at once, not enough mental health supports or public health nurses. And, now, instead of investing in our schools, this government is abdicating its responsibilities, telling parents it’s up to them to try to track down an hour or two of tutoring.

Why is this government refusing to invest in public education so that our kids get the support they deserve in the classroom?

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

Hon. Stephen Lecce: I want to thank the member opposite and welcome her as the new education critic for the official opposition.

Mr. Speaker, our government will not waver from keeping kids in class. We believe that is the most consequential action we can take to support the very children the member opposite speaks of today. How we do that, Speaker, is through Ontario’s Plan to Catch Up, a $600-million net investment this year, compared to last year, of increased spending to support publicly funded schools; the largest tutoring expansion of its kind, which our government just extended into the next year of $175 million, benefiting over 170,000 students in this province as we speak.

We recognize, as every parent knows, that there has been real learning loss, a phenomenon that has been seen in every region of the western world. That’s why we feel so strongly that we need to increase investments in public education, part of that with the hiring of 5,000 more staff this year, in addition to helping parents through this economic difficulty. Our Premier and our government will do both: invest in families and invest in our publicly funded education system.

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

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Parents are stressed, Speaker. They’re already having to leave work to pick up their kids because of bus shortages. They don’t want to also have to hunt for an hour or two of support outside the classroom. They want those supports in schools.

With $365 million, the government could have added one more EA to every single school in Ontario. They could have put public health nurses and social workers in every school to address mental health challenges. They could have paid education workers a living wage so they can stop using food banks, and we could fill worker shortages.

Why is this government pushing ahead with its poorly designed voucher system, instead of giving our schools the resources they need to help our kids?

Hon. Stephen Lecce: Mr. Speaker, at a time of historic high inflation and economic challenge affecting all of our constituents, I find it incredibly offensive that the NDP and Liberals would oppose an investment directly into the pockets of parents, because only a New Democrat and Liberal would believe they know better—a politician, a union president or a public servant—than a parent of this province. There is a reason, Speaker, why our government has an enhanced mandate from the people of Ontario: because they can count on us to invest in them, to provide direct support in parents of this province to support their kids, because we know they play a critical role in the life of their child.

But in addition to providing $200 for every child and $250 for every child with special education needs—now I can confirm 800,000 applicants, as of this morning—we know we can also step up support for our publicly funded schools: 5,000 more staff, including 1,000 more educators in our classroom; better training of our staff; and a modern curriculum focused on skills. This is going to get kids back on track.

Consumer protection

Mr. Stephen Blais: Speaker, good morning. My question is for the Premier. Ontario families are facing rising prices on every front: rising housing prices, rising energy prices and, perhaps most challenging, rising food prices. We can all agree that eating is no luxury. Ensuring your children have breakfast before school is no luxury. But for many families—families right across this province—the grocery bill at the end of the week is becoming harder and harder to afford.

In these challenging times, instead of competing for customers, Ontario’s largest grocery chains all but admitted that they collude and plan to keep prices at these inflated rates through the holidays. This is unacceptable at any time, Mr. Speaker, but as we consider rising inflation, as we consider the approaching holidays, this becomes that much harder to bear. With rising food prices, what is this Premier’s government going to do to ensure that Ontario consumers—our friends and family and neighbours—are not taken advantage of by some of the biggest companies in this province—

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

To reply, the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Thank you to the member opposite for that question. Of course, the federal government and all parties have launched the committee and the process for that. We’ll let them do their work.

But while we’re at it, Mr. Speaker, what about that carbon tax that the federal government, which this party supports, put on the backs of the people of Ontario? That is causing rising costs and food prices in Ontario.

Mr. Speaker, let me tell you what Ontario has done. Let me take you back to when we reduced the gas tax by 5.7 cents a litre. Let me take you back to when we took licence plate fees off the backs of Ontario drivers. Let me take you to today, when we just increased the minimum wage to the second-highest in the country. Let me tell you what we’re doing tomorrow: We have the staycation tax credit, the seniors tax credit, the job training tax credit, the child care tax credit—Mr. Speaker, we recalled the Legislature this summer to get things going for the people of Ontario. Support us.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Again, I’ll ask the members to make their comments through the Chair.

The supplementary question.

Mr. Stephen Blais: My supplementary is for the Premier again. Food prices are on the rise and we’ve just heard that this government has no plan to protect Ontario consumers from price gouging. While major grocers collude to keep food prices artificially high during the holidays, they are considering charging their loyal customers just to use their credit card. Grocery stores, some of whom offer credit card-based loyalty programs, want to now charge their customers for the privilege of using their credit card to buy food.

Ontario consumers will be paying higher food prices—prices fixed in part by collusion—they’re going to be paying credit card fees, and now the grocers and other businesses want to take a little bit of skim off the credit card purchase. I suppose everyone needs to wet their beak a little bit, but that’s going a little bit too far.

My question: Quebec has passed legislation to prohibit charging consumers a fee to use their credit cards. Will Ontario do the same?

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Again, I don’t know if the member opposite was actually listening. In fact, when we recalled the Legislature this past summer, the members opposite had an opportunity to vote to bring costs down for the people of Ontario. What did the members opposite do? They voted against the measures that we put in the budget bill. They had an opportunity.

Let me tell you, Mr. Speaker, we have a plan for Ontarians. We have a plan to build Ontario. We took that plan to the people of Ontario. It was roundly endorsed by the people of Ontario, as witnessed by all the people on both sides. That plan is to get shovels in the ground to build hospitals, to build highways, to build long-term care, to support labour, to get more workers, retrain workers for the jobs of today and for tomorrow and to help keep costs down for the people of Ontario. We are delivering for the people of Ontario.

Indigenous economic development

Mr. Kevin Holland: This government is committed to unlocking Ontario’s full economic potential by bringing jobs back to this province. Ontarians need opportunities to participate in our growing economy and ensure a prosperous future for themselves and their families. We know that Indigenous businesses have a lot to offer and can support critical supply chains across different sectors.

Can the Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Northern Development please inform the House on how our government plans to increase economic prosperity for Indigenous people in Ontario?

Hon. Greg Rickford: I want to thank the member from Thunder Bay–Atikokan. He makes one heck of a neighbour out there in northwestern Ontario, advocating for the people of Thunder Bay.

He’s right: Indigenous businesses have an incredible opportunity. This is an Indigenous-led and -inspired fund through the Chiefs of Ontario and our wealth creation and prosperity table.

I had a chance to be with the member from Durham—also a fantastic advocate for his riding and the Indigenous communities there—as we attended, at the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, our announcement to commit $25 million to this Indigenous Economic Development Fund that creates access to business capital—much needed—through loans and grants, supports digitization and e-commerce, supply chain mapping, building on the existing opportunities and understanding where the new opportunities are, economic development training for business capacity, and, finally and most importantly, perhaps, focusing on access to Indigenous apprentices.

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

Mr. Kevin Holland: Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare called this investment “an opportunity to create long-term solutions rooted in mutual respect and collaboration.” It is imperative that the provincial government recognize the unique challenges that Indigenous communities in Ontario face. We should be partnering with these communities as they are vital to our government’s economic growth agenda.

Can the minister please explain to this House why it is so important for the rollout of this critical funding to be an Indigenous-led process?

Hon. Greg Rickford: In fact, the member for Kiiwetinoong introduced a group of people from northern Ontario, some of my friends, most notably Frank McKay. I’m not sure if he’s still here, but he and a couple of other folks I work with closely started the Watay Power project, which will electrify remote Indigenous communities across northwestern Ontario.

Now, I can’t help but think that there is an opportunity, as those businesses and those Indigenous people finish the work there, to start contracting businesses. Mining, forestry and energy infrastructure are all on the table, and do you know what they have in common? They cannot succeed unless we have a robust Indigenous business economic opportunity, trained skilled workers and apprentices getting out there, getting the work done.

We’re proud of the work we’re doing with the Chiefs of Ontario, our Indigenous businesses. We’re going to get this done, and Indigenous communities are going to be the benefit of it.

Long-term care

Ms. Jennifer K. French: My question is to the Premier. It has been a heavy and long journey for the families of those who died at Orchard Villa long-term-care home. Ontario remembers the horrors exposed when the military had to be called to the home. Seventy lives were lost. Families are still forced to fight for justice, and now, instead of grieving and healing, they are fighting to keep Orchard Villa and the for-profit operator Southbridge from being awarded an unfathomable 30-year licence extension and more beds.

Does the Premier think this long-term-care home with such a terrible record deserves a free pass and a generation-long reward?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the Minister of Long-Term Care.

Hon. Paul Calandra: I appreciate the question from the member opposite. The member will know, of course, that the licence extension was up for review. Consultations and community input closed—I believe it was on October 18. The ministry is currently undertaking a review of those comments, and we will come back to the House when a decision has been made.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question? The member for Niagara Falls.

Mr. Wayne Gates: My question is to the Premier. This government is fully aware of the horrific and, in many cases, deadly failures of Orchard Villa during the COVID-19 pandemic because it’s public knowledge. But they’re happy to issue another 30-year licence to this private for-profit long-term-care home. The willingness of this government to grant such a long-term-care-home owner-operator another 30-year licence is unjust, disturbing and, frankly, dismissive and disrespectful to the residents and families who continue to suffer.

Mr. Speaker, 70 people lost their lives at Orchard Villa, some because of dehydration, starvation and neglect. Will this government tell the grieving families of Orchard Villa today that they will not issue a 30-year licence?

Hon. Paul Calandra: Mr. Speaker, I will do what the legislation requires me to do. I’m certainly hoping that the member opposite isn’t suggesting that, should they ever get the opportunity to form government, which we all know is unlikely, he himself and his government itself would decide, in the absence of any public consultation, any regulation, any oversight, what should be the status of licences: that they should be for his friends—no, Mr. Speaker, instead, for the families, because that is what matters in long-term care. For the families and the residents, we are going to review the comments that came in through October 18 through the extended public consultation period.

Ultimately, what we’re doing is building a long-term-care system in the province of Ontario that we can be proud of. That is why we have North America-leading levels of care, four hours of care per resident per day, the highest number of inspectors-per-home ratio in the country and over 58,000 new and upgraded beds across the province, so that we can be proud of our long-term-care system. We’re getting it done.

Health care post-secondary education

Ms. Laurie Scott: My question is to the Minister of Colleges and Universities. Our health care workforce faces challenges after a difficult few years, starting with the policies of the past Liberal government and now due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The health care system, neglected by the previous Liberal government, was stretched to the limit. This resulted in many nurses unfortunately leaving the profession when we needed them the most.

Speaker, we need additional health care professionals now more than ever to support the workforce and ensure patients continue receiving the care they need. Can the Minister of Colleges and Universities explain how our government plans to address the nursing shortage and alleviate pressure on our health care system?

Hon. Jill Dunlop: Thank you to the member for Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock for raising this important question. This government understands that investments in college and university hospital research not only strengthen Ontario’s existing innovation and commercialization capacity but also grow our province’s skilled workforce and positions us as a global leader. That is why our government is committed to supporting research and innovation that leads to the discoveries and advancements that make a real impact on people’s lives.

Whether our researchers are developing new techniques to detect illnesses faster, finding new ways to understand the human brain or working on the latest AI technology, Ontario’s colleges and universities and research institutes are at the forefront.

To help further the great work being done in this sector, our government has invested more than $198 million in 2022 into research projects at colleges, universities and research hospitals across the province. This funding supports 241 research projects across the province and will be integral in building, renovating and equipping research facilities with updated technology as well as attracting new research talent. We will continue to work hard to strengthen Ontario’s college and university hospital research initiatives and thus provide them with the ability to adopt advanced technologies to remain competitive and continue moving Ontario forward.

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

Ms. Laurie Scott: Thank you to the minister for that update. While it’s good to hear more nurses are enrolling, Ontario still has a major discrepancy in where those nurses are located. We know that Toronto, Peel and Ottawa have a nursing shortage but smaller regions and those in the north are often in desperate need of health care staff. We’ve all heard our government talk about the importance of the people of Ontario being able to receive health care in their home communities, and yet, these sorts of disparities still exist across the province.

Speaker, can the minister explain how our government will start addressing the regional gaps in our health care system and not just open up more seats at schools?

Hon. Jill Dunlop: Thank you again to the member from Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock for raising this important issue. Ontario has incredible research potential, and we are working to realize this through investments in organizations like the Ontario Health Data Platform and our new agency, Intellectual Property Ontario. Just last week, I announced that the esteemed Peter Cowan has joined IPON as the CEO and will be working hand in hand with our chair, Karima Bawa, and the board to strengthen intellectual property development and commercialization within Ontario.

Ontario has always been a leader in research and cultivation of life-changing and enhancing products. From the latest in technology to life-saving medication, our researchers are at the forefront. With Peter and IPON, Ontario will take the next step and ensure the benefits of this research go on to support future Ontario-based research and that Ontario is the first to benefit. When tax dollars help fund research, taxpayers deserve to see the benefits from it.

Supportive housing

Mr. Jeff Burch: Speaker, through you to the Premier: Since 2018, I’ve been sounding the alarm about the horrific conditions faced by so many of our most vulnerable citizens living in supportive living accommodations.

Last week, the Toronto Star released an investigative report into SLA homes. They found food with black mould, soiled mattresses and furniture, bedbugs and rats the size of footballs. Residents and former employees report that senior management refused to address these issues, instead telling residents with nowhere else to go to “feel free to move out.”

I appreciate the fact this government supported my private member’s bill to regulate these homes back in 2020, but it was not prioritized and it was never passed.

Through you, Speaker, what action has this government taken since then to protect these vulnerable residents?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Long-Term Care.

Hon. Paul Calandra: I thank the member for that question. Of course, as reported recently by the media, what we saw was completely and absolutely unacceptable. We make investments into the community with the anticipation that our partners will work closely with us. When that is not the case, we of course will take action to ensure that the health and safety of those residents in all of our institutions are at the height of what Ontarians expect.

The ultimate goal of our systems, whether it is in long-term care, whether it is in community and congregate care settings, is to provide the utmost level of care to ensure that people who are committed into our care are treated respectfully. When that is not the case, like we do in long-term care, we take action, and we will do that. Again, I thank the honourable member for that very important question.

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

Mr. Jeff Burch: Many people who have complex needs, but who don’t qualify for and can’t get into long-term care, end up in these supportive living homes. These homes claim to offer supportive services and amenities typically provided in full-service retirement care. Many of them have dementia, suffer severe mental health and addiction challenges and are disabled.

At Walnut Manor in St. Thomas, health inspectors went into a supportive living accommodation that reeked of urine and had piles of garbage and rotting food everywhere. The conditions were so horrifying that these seasoned inspectors gagged.

Members of this Premier’s current cabinet have supported this bill in the past, including the current Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. Will the government commit today to support, prioritize and, as quickly as possible, pass my private member’s bill to protect vulnerable residents of supportive living accommodations in Ontario?

Hon. Paul Calandra: Again, I thank the member for the question. Look, as I’ve said on a number of occasions, and I’m not going to stray from that, private members’ business is the domain of the members of this House, and the members will make the decision and determination on whether they will support a bill or not.

Having said that, Mr. Speaker, I think we have been very clear in everything that we are doing, whether it is the Minister of Labour ensuring safe workplaces, whether it is long-term care having the highest inspector-to-home ratio in North America. Frankly, whether it is the Minister of Health, the Minister of Education, we are putting the people that we serve, the people of Ontario, first in all instances. And when people let us down, let the people of the province of Ontario down, we will take action to ensure that, ultimately, the people of Ontario and the people that we are charged to care for are put first.

In the instances that the member raised, I think we can all agree on all sides of the House that it is particularly unacceptable. It is not what the people of the province of Ontario expect, and we will take action to ensure that the people under our care are taken care of in an appropriate manner.

Hunting and fishing

Mr. Rick Byers: When it comes to experiencing the great outdoors, we know that Ontarians from all walks of life enjoy various activities in our province’s forests and wilderness. There’s plenty to enjoy, such as fishing, hiking, birdwatching, biking and camping. In particular, hunting is a much-beloved pastime in Ontario, and continues countless years of tradition. With hunting season occurring now, the safety of all participants must be properly addressed.

Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. What is our government doing to ensure that all Ontarians can experience our great outdoors safely?

Hon. Graydon Smith: Thank you to the member from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound for that important question. The safety of Ontarians is something our government takes very seriously. Ontario’s forests provide a world-class backdrop for many outdoor activities. At the same time, we know hunting plays an important role in the cultural and economic fabric of our province, and that’s why hunters need to make sure safety is their top priority every hunting season. All hunters must wear solid orange clothing and a hunter orange head cover during seasons for deer, moose and elk.

Hunters must handle firearms responsibly and never shoot unless they’re absolutely sure of their target and what lies beyond it. It’s illegal to shoot from a vehicle or carry a loaded firearm in or on a vehicle.

Mr. Speaker, we’re fortunate to have highly trained and dedicated conservation officers all across the province, and we made good on our promise to hire 25 additional officers across Ontario.

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

Mr. Rick Byers: I want to thank the minister for that answer. Hiring more conservation officers across the province is important. But this comes at a time when taxpayers want certainty regarding how programs are funded. I know that the province collects revenues generated through fees and licences to support fish and wildlife management.

Can the minister explain what is being done to ensure that funds collected through fishing and hunting licence fees, fines and royalties are protecting our ecosystems and supporting our communities?

Hon. Graydon Smith: I want to again thank the member for the thoughtful question.

Speaker, my ministry is ensuring the responsible management of fish and wildlife in Ontario. Through the province’s fish and wildlife special purpose account, the province spends 100% of hunting and fishing revenue on fish and wildlife management programs. The funds collected are used for programs like fish culture stocking, wildlife population studies, research and enforcement.

Our government has also made life more affordable by putting a stop to hunting licence fee increases for all Ontario residents and removing the $2 service fee. Government also waived fees for resource-based tourism operators during the tough times that we’ve seen in the last couple of years—bait fish operator fees, commercial outpost camp land use fees for 2020 and 2021 waived. And we know the people of Ontario have seen relief by making it easier and faster to buy and print licences online.

Mr. Speaker, there’s more work ahead, but the people of Ontario can rest assured knowing we’re getting it done.

Health care funding

MPP Jamie West: My question is for the Premier. Speaker, Zoe Rivet is an eight-year-old girl from Sudbury. She has Kabuki syndrome; it’s a rare congenital disorder. Zoe has a dislocated knee and has been on a wait-list at CHEO for three years. Waiting for three years has caused Zoe’s condition to worsen. She struggles to walk and, because she’s unable to bear the weight on her dislocated knee, she relies heavily on her wheelchair. This is causing stress on the rest of her body, and Zoe’s quality of life has been steadily declining. Her mother, Danielle, tells me that Zoe spends many days in tears because of the pain, Speaker.

My question to the Premier is, can the Premier tell Danielle why her eight-year-old daughter Zoe has been waiting three years for this necessary surgery?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Health.

Mrs. Robin Martin: Thank you to the member opposite for telling us about Zoe and her mother. As the member opposite knows, we’ve made significant investments to try to clear the surgical backlog across the board as part of our $3.3-billion investment in the hospital sector. We’ve also dedicated $300 million to reduce surgical backlogs, part of the broader investment of $880 million to reduce surgical backlogs, and specifically we’ve made investments at pediatric hospitals like CHEO, as I’ve said before, because nothing is more important than the well-being of our children.

So I’m sorry to hear about Zoe’s wait and certainly we should make sure that Zoe gets care as quickly as possible. But that’s why we’re investing significantly to address the backlog that has come out as a result of COVID and why we’ve also had dedicated funding of $6.5 billion for pediatric hospitals specifically to address these types of concerns.

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

MPP Jamie West: Back to the Premier: Stats don’t mean anything if you’re a mother waiting with a five-year-old for three years. Having to wait three years for surgery is causing other medical problems for Zoe, and Danielle, her mother, says Zoe is gaining weight at an alarming speed due to her inability to walk. It’s causing worry of diabetes.

Zoe has been waiting far too long already, and she continues to be bumped farther and farther back. Speaker, what eight-year-old girl do you know wishing for knee surgery? Zoe does every single day for the last three years.

My question: When will the Premier finally admit that his government is failing to properly address wait times and surgery backlogs in our health care system?

Mrs. Robin Martin: As I said before, we know that the volumes in our ICUs in pediatric hospitals are high, and we’re continuing to mobilize resources to meet critical needs of very ill patients. The Premier, myself and others were at CHEO just recently to look at the children’s treatment centres there and to meet with some of the providers to learn more about the needs of CHEO and other pediatric hospitals.

But as I said before, we’ve provided $4.6 million more in funding for those hospitals to add an additional nine acute-care beds at CHEO and 10 acute-care beds and three ICU beds at SickKids Hospital. Our government, as we work on addressing short-term stressors on the system, continues to advance meaningful reforms to build a more resilient, patient-centred and integrated system, and we really want to make sure that patients like Zoe do not have to wait in the future.

Long-term care

Mr. Billy Pang: The long-term-care sector is facing increased capacity pressures. As of April 2022, there were approximately 39,000 people on the wait-list for a long-term-care bed. While seniors wait to be placed in a long-term-care home, their health care needs often fall to their spouses, children and other loved ones.

Speaker, families and friends are excellent at providing love and support, but most are not health care practitioners, and they cannot provide the same level of care as one.

Speaker, what is the Minister of Long-Term care doing to ensure our seniors receive the care they need right now?

Hon. Paul Calandra: I want to thank the member for Markham–Unionville for this question. It’s actually a very important one. He raises a good point: There are still a number of people who are on the long-term-care wait-list.

While it is a very positive step that we are building 58,000 new and upgraded beds across every part of the province—urban, rural and remote communities—it is also very true that a lot of people want to stay in their home as long as possible, and they need assistance in order to do that. And so do the family members who care for them. That is why I was very happy that we returned the respite care program to our long-term-care homes.

But also the community paramedicine program, which was launched by my predecessor, which is available throughout the province of Ontario, is a very significant way—it leverages the resources of paramedics, who we all thank for the incredible service that they do. It leverages their services when not on an emergency call to assist our seniors in their homes, and it has proven to be a very popular and very effective way of keeping our seniors in their homes as long as we possibly can.

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

Mr. Billy Pang: Speaker, as Ontarians age, their health care needs grow, and the impact of these needs has ripple effects that can be felt throughout the community. When families reach a point where they can no longer provide the full care needed for a loved one, they turn to hospitals, long-term care and emergency services.

Globally, health care systems are facing unprecedented challenges, due in large part to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and ours is no exception. The minister mentioned that community paramedicine is a collaborative effort with the Ministry of Health to address cross-sectoral challenges. Speaker, could the Minister of Long-Term Care please explain how community paramedicine addresses the strain on these sectors?

Hon. Paul Calandra: Again, it’s a really good question from the member. The community paramedicine program, as I referenced in the first question, is now available—I’m very happy to say—throughout the province of Ontario with our partners. It’s not just about visiting homes or visiting individuals and seniors in their homes. It also allows us the ability to partner with our seniors who need the extra care to monitor them.

Often, through electronic monitoring, we’re able to see if a senior is in distress, or a whole host of issues that the paramedics can monitor, which helps avoid 911 calls and emergency runs to the hospitals. Because the paramedics are engaged, they understand, in advance, what is happening to a senior that they’ve been helping to stay in their home and avoid early admittance into long-term care or unnecessarily going to a hospital emergency room. So it is a program that is working very well.

I’m very pleased with our municipal partners across the province of Ontario, and of course, it’s just another great reason why we all support our front-line workers, like paramedics, across the province of Ontario, who are helping seniors stay in their home longer.

Employment standards

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: My question is to the Premier. Recently, Sam wrote to me to share that her father, who was admitted to St. Joseph’s Health Centre in my riding, had no room from Monday evening to Friday night. He had to stay in a hallway for four days straight because there was no staffed room available. Sam said that the workers at St. Joe’s were professional and pleasant, but they were short-staffed.

Speaker, front-line staff have been very clear. They have asked the Premier to repeal Bill 124 and urgently recognize the credentials of tens of thousands of internationally trained health care workers. Why does the Premier continue to say no to our health care workers and leave Ontarians in hospital hallways?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the member for Eglinton–Lawrence.

Mrs. Robin Martin: Mr. Speaker, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our government has been making unprecedented investments into the largest health human resource recruitment initiative and training initiative in Ontario’s history. We’ve already added 11,700 new health care workers since March 2020, and we’ve invested $4.9 billion to hire 27,000 long-term-care staff.

We’ve also got the largest enrolment of new medical students in 10 years, and two new medical schools in Brampton and Scarborough.

We’re working, as I said, on short-term stressors, while also trying to plan for the future and fix the system long-term. We’ve made significant investments in our health care workers. You’ve heard about some of the nursing investments we’ve made already today, but let me give you a couple more: $35 million to increase enrolment in nursing education in publicly assisted colleges and universities—these new spaces will add 1,130 new practical nurses and 870 registered nurses—and up to $100 million to add 2,000 nurses and personal support workers who want to advance their careers in long-term care.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): That concludes our question period for this morning.

Cynthia Lai

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Scarborough–Guildwood has informed me she has a point of order.

Ms. Mitzie Hunter: I seek unanimous consent for a moment of silence in memory of Cynthia Lai, city of Toronto councillor for ward 23, Scarborough North. Cynthia sadly passed away suddenly on Friday, October 21, while seeking re-election. We offer our sincere condolences to her family and her constituents at this time.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Scarborough–Guildwood is seeking the unanimous consent of the House for a moment of silence in memory of Toronto city councillor Cynthia Lai. Agreed? Agreed.

Members will please rise.

The House observed a moment’s silence.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much. Members may take their seats.

Official members’ photograph

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Before I recess the House, I want to remind members of a memo that was sent to all of you on September 20 to inform you that tomorrow we are planning to have a group photograph of all the members in the chamber, right after question period. It’s a tradition that we’ve had over a number of years, and I hope that you will all be able to hang around for a few minutes after question period so that we can do this and have that record of the 43rd provincial Parliament. Thank you.

This House stands in recess until 3 p.m.

The House recessed from 1148 to 1500.

Introduction of Visitors

Mr. Michael Mantha: On behalf of the good member of Nickel Belt, who is stuck—I mean, happily in committee right now, I’d like to introduce Madame Monique Farrell, who is the mother of our page captain today, Molly Farrell.

Mr. John Vanthof: Since I hardly ever get visitors, I’d like to introduce Dennis Messenger and Barbara Knauth from Timiskaming. They’re here for a private bill today.

Mr. Tom Rakocevic: I’d like to welcome Karen, James, Chris and Kevin Henderson, as well as Kathy Borzecka and Iris and Emma.

MPP Jill Andrew: I understand that there is a fantastic page here, whose name I have yet to learn, from Toronto–St. Paul’s, the best riding in our province. So can we all give them a round of applause and welcome them to Queen’s Park?

Come check me out and say hello.

Mr. Joel Harden: I want to take this opportunity to welcome people who will be coming today for a memorial for MPP Richard Patten: Barbara Jordan, Allan Morrison, and a former Speaker of this House, David Warner. Penny Patten will be watching from home.

MPP Jill Andrew: I would like to welcome the family and loved ones of MPP Lily Oddie Munro. I have the honour of offering a tribute about her this afternoon. I will be welcoming Mr. John Oddie, her son; Ms. Mara Fabrizio, her former daughter-in-law; Mr. Finn Munro, her grandson; Ms. Lynn Larson, her cousin; Mr. Robert Bailey, her friend; Mr. Doug, her friend; and Mr. David Warner, former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

Welcome. It’s an honour to say a few words on MPP Lily Oddie Munro.

Ms. Bobbi Ann Brady: I’d like to welcome the family of the late MPP Gord Miller: son Doug Miller, along with his wife, Flora; grandsons Jamie Miller and Geoff Addis; granddaughter Meghan Haughton and her husband, David, as well as their children, Brynn and Mason. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Introduction of Government Bills

More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 / Loi de 2022 visant à accélérer la construction de plus de logements

Mr. Clark moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 23,

An Act to amend various statutes, to revoke various regulations and to enact the Supporting Growth and Housing in York and Durham Regions Act, 2022 / Projet de loi 23, Loi modifiant diverses lois, abrogeant divers règlements et édictant la Loi de 2022 visant à soutenir la croissance et la construction de logements dans les régions de York et de Durham.

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

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Would the minister care to briefly explain his bill by reading the explanatory note?

Hon. Steve Clark: I’ll paraphrase the explanatory note because it’s quite large, Speaker.

The proposed More Homes Built Faster Act would amend the Planning Act, the Development Charges Act and other legislation. The proposed changes are intended to be the next phase in our bold and transformative plan to get 1.5 million homes built in the next 10 years.

The bill and proposed regulations would, if passed, help unlock more housing by streamlining development approvals, removing barriers, reducing government fees, accelerating planning and further supporting and protecting homebuyers. The bill would also allow the use of government financial tools to help reduce housing costs for Ontarians.

Introduction of Bills

1204755 Ontario Limited Act, 2022

Mr. Vanthof moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr3,

An Act to revive 1204755 Ontario Limited.

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

First reading agreed to.

Quadcard Entertainment Ltd. Act, 2022

Ms. French moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr4,

An Act to revive Quadcard Entertainment Ltd.

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

First reading agreed to.

Welberne Holding Corp. Act, 2022

Mr. Kernaghan moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr7,

An Act to revive Welberne Holding Corp.

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

First reading agreed to.

H.B. Arndt & Associates Ltd. Act, 2022

Ms. Sattler moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr5,

An Act to revive H.B. Arndt & Associates Ltd.

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

First reading agreed to.

Petitions

Alzheimer’s disease

Ms. Catherine Fife: It is my pleasure to introduce this petition for the first time, with thanks to the Alzheimer Society of Ontario in Waterloo region. It’s entitled “Develop an Ontario Dementia Strategy.”

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas it currently takes on average 18 months for people in Ontario to get an official dementia diagnosis, with some patients often waiting years to complete diagnostic testing;

“Whereas more than half of patients suspected of having dementia in Ontario never get a full diagnosis; research confirms that early diagnosis saves lives and reduces care-partner stress;

“Whereas a PET scan test approved in Ontario in 2017 which can be key to detecting Alzheimer’s early, is still not covered under OHIP in 2022;

“Whereas the Ontario government must work together with the federal government to prepare for the approval and rollout of future disease-modifying therapies and research;

“Whereas the Alzheimer Society projects that one million Canadians will be caregivers for people with dementia, with families providing approximately 1.4 billion hours of care per year by 2050;

“Whereas research findings show that Ontario will spend $27.8 billion between 2023 and 2043 on alternate-level-of-care (ALC) and long-term-care ... costs associated with people living with dementia;

“Whereas the government must follow through with its commitment to ensure Ontario’s health care system has the capacity to meet the current and future needs of people living with dementia and their care partners;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, call on the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to develop, commit and fund a comprehensive Ontario dementia strategy.”

It is my pleasure to sign this and affix my signature to this petition on behalf of the good people of Waterloo region. Thank you very much.

Access to health care

Mr. Joel Harden: I’d like to introduce the following petition, brought to us from folks participating in the Capital Pride festival this summer. It reads:

“Support Gender-Affirming Health Care

“Whereas two-spirit, transgender, non-binary, gender-diverse and intersex communities face significant challenges to accessing health care services that are friendly, competent and affirming in Ontario;

“Whereas everyone deserves access to health care, and they shouldn’t have to fight for it, shouldn’t have to wait for it and should never receive less care or support because of who they are;

“Whereas gender-affirming care is life-saving care;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to support the reintroduction of a private member’s bill to create an inclusive and representative committee to advise the Ministry of Health on how to realize accessible and equitable access to and coverage for gender-affirming health care in Ontario.”

I want to thank Isabelle Coxworth for signing this petition as well as many others. I’ll send it to the Clerk’s table with page Malini.

Optometry service

Ms. Jennifer K. French: I have a stack of petitions here signed by Rick and Robin Kosteczko from Oshawa and many others. It is a petition to save eye care in Ontario.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the Ontario government has underfunded optometric eye care for 30 years; and

“Whereas the government only pays on average $44.65 for an OHIP-insured visit—the lowest rate in Canada; and

“Whereas optometrists are being forced to pay substantially out of their own pocket to provide over four million services each year to Ontarians under OHIP; and

“Whereas optometrists have never been given a formal negotiation process with the government; and

“Whereas the government’s continued neglect resulted in 96% of Ontario optometrists voting to withdraw OHIP services beginning September 1, 2021;

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

“To instruct the Ontario government to immediately commit to legally binding, formal negotiations to ensure any future OHIP-insured optometry services are, at a minimum, funded at the cost of delivery.”

I will continue to sign petitions like this till this is resolved, and I will send it to the table with page Amy.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

MPP Jill Andrew: I’d like to thank the ILC Foundation and my local constituent Liza Butcher, along with hundreds of other folks across Ontario for their staunch advocacy for the EDS community. I’m glad to join them in amplifying their call to action. This petition is to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the Canada Health Act requires provinces to fund medically necessary treatment for Canadians; and

“Whereas a growing number of people in Ontario suffering from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome ... have to seek out-of-country treatment at their own expense because doctors in Ontario don’t have the knowledge or skills to understand EDS symptoms and perform the required delicate and complicated surgeries; and

“Whereas those EDS victims who can’t afford the expensive treatment outside of Ontario are forced to suffer a deteriorating existence and risk irreversible tissue and nerve damage; and

“Whereas EDS victims suffer severe dislocations, chronic pain, blackouts, nausea, migraines, lost vision, tremors, bowel and bladder issues, heart problems, mobility issues, digestive disorders, severe fatigue and many others resulting in little or very poor quality of life; and

“Whereas despite Ontario Ministry of Health claims that there are neurosurgeon doctors in Ontario who can perform surgeries on EDS patients when surgery is recommended, the Ontario referring physicians fail to identify any Ontario neurosurgeon willing or able to see and treat the patient;

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

“Require the Minister of Health to provide funding to hire one neurosurgeon who can and will perform neurosurgeries on EDS patients with equivalent or identical skills to the international EDS neurosurgeon specialists, including funding for a state-of-the-art operating room with diagnostic equipment for treatments for EDS patients; and meet the Canada Health Act’s requirement to afford equal access to medical treatment for patients, regardless of their ability to pay for out-of-country services.

Thank you to the EDS advocates in St. Paul’s and across Ontario. I sign this petition and will hand it to Julien for tabling with the Clerks.

Health care

Mr. Joel Harden: I would like to introduce the following petition:

“Stop Ford’s Health Care Privatization Plan.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontarians should get health care based on need—not the size of your wallet;

“Whereas Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones say they’re planning to privatize parts of health care;

“Whereas privatization will bleed nurses, doctors and PSWs out of our public hospitals, making the health care crisis worse;

“Whereas privatization always ends with patients getting a bill;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to immediately stop all plans to further privatize Ontario’s health care system, and fix the crisis in health care by:

“—repealing Bill 124 and recruiting, retaining and respecting doctors, nurses and PSWs with better pay and better working conditions;

“—licensing tens of thousands of internationally educated nurses and other health care professionals already in Ontario, who wait years and pay thousands to have their credentials certified;

“—making education and training free or low-cost for nurses, doctors and other health care professionals;

“—incentivizing doctors and nurses to choose to live and work in northern Ontario;

“—funding hospitals to have enough nurses on every shift, on every ward.”

I’m happy to sign this petition and will send it with page Rachel to the Clerks’ table.

Skills training

MPP Jill Andrew: This is entitled “Protect Our Crowns: Update the Hairstyling Program Standard to Include Black Natural and Textured Hair and Reflect Black, Indigenous and Racialized Communities.

“Petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Black, Indigenous, and racialized people are often subject to race-based hair discrimination, including experiencing racism in schools and the workplace—resulting in negative impacts on their lives such as school-based bullying and harassment which impacts academic performance and economic impacts such as job discrimination and reprisal in the workplace for so-called ‘unprofessional’ hair styles or texture;

“Whereas physical presentation, which includes textured hair maintenance and protective styles, is directly linked to physical safety, mental health and sense of identity, self-esteem and confidence;

“Whereas Black, Indigenous and racialized performers with natural textured hair often arrive in their workplace of film/TV and theatre sets with professional hair stylists who have received insufficient training for working with their hair type—risking permanent damage to their physical appearance and therefore earning potential;

“Whereas hairstyling training in Ontario currently only focuses on cutting, designing, permanent waving, chemically relaxing, straightening and colouring hair, but does not have any instruction or practice to ensure every hair stylist can service Black people’s natural hair or the textured hair of many Indigenous and/or racialized community members, whether performers or otherwise;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to immediately pass MPP Andrew’s motion ... calling for the government of Ontario and Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development which regulates the hairstyling trade profession in Ontario to amend the hairstyling program standard to mandate culturally responsive training, specific to Black and textured hair in hairstyling education and practice across Ontario.”

I 100% support this petition and thank the folks of St. Paul’s, the folks of ACTRA, and many performers and otherwise across Ontario who have signed this. I’m tabling it with Karma.

Orders of the Day

Jim Henderson

Ms. Andrea Khanjin: Mr. Speaker, if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent to allow members to make statements in remembrance of the late Mr. Jim Henderson, with five minutes allotted to His Majesty’s government, five minutes allotted to His Majesty’s loyal opposition, and five minutes allotted to the independent members as a group.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Barrie–Innisfil is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to allow members to make statements in remembrance of the late Mr. Jim Henderson, with five minutes allotted to His Majesty’s government, five minutes allotted to His Majesty’s loyal opposition, and five minutes allotted to the independent members as a group. Agreed? Agreed.

Today we are honoured to remember and pay tribute to a former member of our provincial Legislature, the late Mr. Jim Henderson, who was the MPP for Humber during the 33rd Parliament and for Etobicoke–Humber during the 34th and 35th Parliaments.

Joining us in the Speaker’s gallery are Mr. Henderson’s family and friends: his wife, Karen Henderson; his sons, James Henderson, Christopher Henderson and Kevin Henderson; his son’s partner, Kathy Borzecka; and his grandchildren, Iris Henderson and Emma Mackay. Also with us in the Speaker’s gallery this afternoon is Mr. David Warner, Speaker during the 35th Parliament.

I recognize the member for Etobicoke–Lakeshore.

Ms. Christine Hogarth: Thank you very much, Speaker. What an honour it is to speak today.

I rise and pay tribute to the former member of provincial Parliament for Etobicoke–Humber, Dr. D. James Henderson, someone whose dedication to his constituents and to Ontario was manifest in the three terms he served in this place, from 1985 to 1995.

Let’s all once again acknowledge Jim’s wife, Karen; his three sons, James, Christopher and Kevin; his two granddaughters, Iris and Emma; and Kevin’s partner, Kathy. Let’s also give a warm welcome to David Warner, former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, who is here with us today. Welcome.

A long time ago, George Bernard Shaw committed these words to posterity: “Some see things as they are, and say, ‘Why?’ I dream things that never were, and say, ‘Why not?’” This could equally be a commemoration of Jim Henderson. He didn’t need politics as a vocation—not for ego, not for acclaim, not for power. He had too many other talents and accomplishments for that. No, he sought a time in politics because he thought he could serve Ontario in a different and equally constructive and imaginative way.

And that may be the one reason why Jim was legendary in our business—one which is noted for our high staff turnover—for loyalty and continuity. Many served Jim for years, and they served him well.

D. James Henderson was born in Sudbury on August 7, 1940. His family moved to Toronto in the early 1940s, where he resided for most of his life.

I imagine he was what we would call today a polymath, defined as someone of wide-ranging knowledge and interests. He was a physician, a psychiatrist, a psychoanalyst and an associate professor of these disciplines, all before he entered politics, after which he became a parliamentary assistant in multiple portfolios, an opposition critic and a crusading reformer on issues related to public health, culture and communications, and the welfare of children.

Dr. Henderson’s contributions to academia included the authoring of more than 50 papers and textbook contributions. He was fluent in Spanish too. Dr. Henderson’s passion for his work led him to lecture at the University of Havana, where he assisted with the reintroduction of the study and practice of psychoanalysis in Cuba. No wonder Jim spoke with such eloquence and thoughtfulness in this place.

To highlight, I’d like to share a small portion of his remarks, spoken here on November 19, 1987, in relation to the North American Free Trade Agreement: “We can preserve our culture and our sovereignty, for Canadians have never shown a deficit of patriotism. Our patriotic fervour, though strong, is of a quieter sort, that we reach down for and find with little difficulty when occasions warrant.”

As noted, Jim cultivated a special interest in developing countries in the Caribbean, organizing and leading trade and medical delegations there.

He enjoyed a love of wilderness and outdoors, serving for several years in his teens and twenties as an outdoor trip canoe guide at Camp Ahmek in Algonquin Park and at Camp Temagami in northern Ontario.

Jim was an MPP of conviction. He drew strength from his strong Catholic faith, and he believed in liberty and championed the principles of democracy. He faithfully and consistently spoke up for his constituents, as we are all called to do. But he always did it with complete independence of thought. He defied his own government on both extra-billing for physicians—an incendiary issue of the day—and on the Meech Lake Accord, which he felt in his bones was wrong for Canada. Maybe that’s why I’m told on good authority that, when he won his seat against all odds in 1985, he was overheard to say, “Well, there goes my” blank “life.”

On behalf of the PC caucus, we thank his family and his friends for sharing him with the people of Ontario for so many years, and we give thanks for the life of Dr. D. James Henderson. Thank you.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Humber River–Black Creek.

Mr. Tom Rakocevic: I am honoured to rise today and pay tribute to the late Dr. Donald James Henderson, better known as Jim Henderson, who served as the Liberal MPP for the riding of Humber, later renamed Etobicoke–Humber, for three terms ranging from 1985 to 1995. He served as the parliamentary assistant to the Ministers of Community and Social Services, Colleges and Universities and for the province’s anti-drug strategy, and then as the official opposition critic for culture and communications.

As a medical doctor and psychiatrist, he worked in the medical field before and after his terms in office, holding various positions, ranging from being a director to an associate professor, to organizing and leading trade and medical delegations in developing countries. In fact, when you see his name formally written, it is buried in a sea of degrees and designations.

Born in Sudbury in 1940, he spent the majority of his life in Etobicoke. However, he never lost his love and affinity for northern Ontario. It is impossible to summarize the life of anyone, much less someone as accomplished as Dr. Henderson, within a few minutes. So all I can do is merely scratch the surface here today. And while I never had the honour to know him, it is an honour to have learned about his life and to speak about him here.

Dr. Henderson was an academic and medical doctor with a conviction and an adventurous spirit which never dimmed but, I would argue, only grew stronger in the later part of his life. He had an active and brilliant mind. A medically trained doctor and psychiatrist, Dr. Henderson had a natural talent and understanding of human behaviour, which he drew upon throughout his political career.

He often relied on his knowledge of human behaviour and used this frequently in debate. “If psychology teaches us nothing else in politics, it teaches us that no group in society is likely to contribute to its fullest if it feels its collective needs, feelings, views and expertise to be unattended or ignored.” He spoke about the importance of the parent-child bond on a biological and psychological level and went on to quote an interesting study that showed that “nurturance and bonding are as fundamental ingredients to human growth and development as are any physical, nutritional or other amenities that we can offer to our children.”

Another interesting debate centred on whether to televise the House proceedings, and Dr. Henderson spoke strongly in favour of televising our proceedings in the Legislature because he believed that it “is in line with our philosophy of democratic government and will strengthen and promote a sense of participation by the people in the affairs of the state” and that “it is desirable for the health and responsiveness of good government....”

He was innovative. For instance, he diverted used public transit buses that were at the end of their service life and headed to the scrapyard and ensured that they were donated and sent abroad, where they continued to run for years in places like the streets of Havana. As well, he arranged for hundreds of boxes of prescription drugs that Ontario hospitals had no use for to be donated and sent abroad, and much more.

After his career in politics ended, he maintained his interest in international development, including teaching himself Spanish to such a high degree of fluency that he became a guest lecturer at the University of Havana, where he reintroduced the country to psychoanalysis.

Dr. Henderson loved the outdoors. He had a love of the outdoors and wrote about his deep and long-standing attachment to Ontario’s north. He recalled visiting the Sleeping Giant and Silver Islet.

His father was a general manager of a hardware store and would occasionally take him along on business trips in northern Ontario, including Thunder Bay. He once shared details of a fishing trip near Red Rock, where he didn’t catch a single fish, but the “majesty of North Superior was forever imprinted on his mind.”

Dr. Henderson was a man of conviction. He believed that MPPs should have more freedom to vote their conscience as opposed to always falling in line with their party. He was quoted as saying that MPPs’ “first role is to represent the views of their constituents,” even if those views sometimes violate party policies. Best summarized in his own words, he said, “Personal liberty is not just a slogan. I speak of personal liberty because it means a lot to me.

As a practising physician and counsellor I devoted myself to helping people liberate themselves from a tyranny from within—the tyranny of neurotic conflict and suffering. I cannot support legislative measures that compromise personal liberty from without. To me freedom is not negotiable.”

Dr. Henderson had the respect of all sides of the House and developed lifelong friendships such as that with NDP MPP and Speaker David Warner, who is here with us today.

Jim was truly a loving family man and dear friend to many.

He is survived by his wife, Karen; his children, James, Chris and Kevin; his grandchildren, Iris and Emma; his sister, Carol; and his nieces and nephews, Bob, Jane, Ann, Bill, Sandy and Tracey.

Again, I welcome and thank his wonderful family and friends who are here with us today.

I had the pleasure to speak with Chris, who spoke of Jim as a young father when he entered politics, having sons aged two to six years old. I can certainly relate to this. In 1985, when his father, Jim, was the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Community and Social Services, Chris remembered being brought to his dad’s office. As a five-year-old, he joyfully ran up and down the halls and unfortunately discovered a bunch of ink stamps and pads. I will not relay the chaos that ensued at that time. Almost 20 years later, in 2004, Chris returned to Queen’s Park as an intern in that very same office, where he walked rather than ran the halls and was much more subdued in his use of ink.

Jim lives on in his immortalized words in the Hansard and the results of his work under the many hats he wore throughout his life. But most of all, he lives on in the lives and memories of his loving and proud family and all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Don Valley West.

Ms. Stephanie Bowman: It is truly a privilege to stand here today to say a few words of tribute to Jim Henderson, the Liberal MPP for Etobicoke–Humber from 1985 to 1995, who died on May 2, 2020, at the age of 79. I know you will feel his loss still today.

I would like to extend a personal welcome to his family here today: as has been mentioned, his wife, Karen; his sons, James, Christopher and Kevin; his daughter-in-law, Kathy; and his young granddaughters, Iris and Emma. David Warner, Mr. Henderson’s friend and former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, is also present here today. Thank you all for coming today, and for the earlier visit in September when this event was postponed out of respect for the passing of the Queen.

While I did not know Dr. Henderson personally, I recall reading about the stir he caused on several occasions when he stood up for what he believed in this House.

Between 1985 and 1995, Dr. Henderson served as a Liberal member of provincial Parliament for Etobicoke–Humber for three terms. In addition to being the official opposition critic for culture and communications, he was the parliamentary assistant to the Ministers of Community and Social Services, Colleges and Universities, as well as for the province’s anti-drug strategy.

Jim was a strong leader who understood his community and was a supportive colleague to his team in the Ontario Liberal Party. Jim’s kindness and devotion to his colleagues and constituents was evident in all his work.

As has been mentioned, Jim was known for standing true to his values. He was a man who did not shy away from asking the tough questions in search of what he believed to be right. He notably took a position that was not supported by his party, because he believed in upholding his own principles and values. As many of us in this House know, that can be a difficult decision to make, but that kind of open conversation is the kind we need in order to ensure that we as representatives of our constituents are making the best decisions on their behalf, and Jim understood that well.

Jim moved from Sudbury to Toronto in the 1940s, where he spent a majority of his life and brought a remarkable amount of value to the House and the community of Toronto.

During and after his political career, Jim was a medical doctor who worked as a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst. He was the director of psychiatry at the former Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital, then the director of psychiatric services at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie. Jim was also an associate professor at the University of Toronto department of psychiatry and psychiatrist-in-chief at the University of Toronto student health service. I’m not sure how he found time for any of his other hobbies.

Jim authored and published over 50 professional papers and textbook contributions.

He was also an outdoorsman and an avid fan of the canoe. He served several years as a canoe guide at Camp Ahmek in Algonquin Park and then Camp Temagami in northern Ontario.

Much like his medical career, his devotion to public service stemmed from a core value: Jim cared about people. He cared about his friends, his family, his constituents, his patients, his neighbours and indeed his province. A career in medicine requires dedication, focus and hard work. When you add in the responsibility of representing those around you with that same dedication, you know that Jim Henderson was a very special person indeed.

In addition to a remarkable career as a physician, politician and canoeist, Dr. Henderson was also an avid jogger, sailor, traveller and photographer.

There is no doubt that Dr. Henderson lived a life of commitment to his family, his values, his constituency, his province and his country, and with this, his well-earned legacy will continue to live on.

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): We give thanks for the life and public service of Mr. Jim Henderson.

Joe Dickson

Ms. Andrea Khanjin: Mr. Speaker, if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent to allow members to make statements in remembrance of the late Mr. Joe Dickson, with five minutes allotted to His Majesty’s government, five minutes allotted to His Majesty’s loyal opposition, and five minutes allotted to the independent members as a group.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Barrie–Innisfil is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to allow members to make statements in remembrance of the late Mr. Joe Dickson, with five minutes allotted to His Majesty’s government, five minutes allotted to His Majesty’s loyal opposition, and five minutes allotted to the independent members as a group. Agreed? Agreed.

Today, we are honoured to remember and pay tribute to a former member of our provincial Legislature, the late Mr. Joe Dickson, who was the MPP for Ajax–Pickering during the 39th, 40th and 41st Parliaments.

Joining us in the Speaker’s gallery are Mr. Dickson’s family: his wife, Donna Dickson; his son, Jim Dickson; and his sisters-in-law Sandrae Haslam and Debbie Allen.

I recognize the member for Oshawa.

Ms. Jennifer K. French: It is always an honour to stand in this proud Legislature, and today, it is my honour, on behalf of Ontario’s New Democrats, to pay tribute to Joe Dickson.

Joe was a loving husband and dear father and grandfather. He leaves behind his wife, friend and partner of 56 years, Donna Dickson; his two grown children, Jim Dickson and Joanna Dickson-Jones; their spouses, Elaine Dickson and David Jones; his five adoring grandchildren, Madeline, Grace, Carys, Audrey and Fynn—I’m sure they’re watching today—and his brothers and sisters, Ellen Spence, Ed Dickson, Marg Osborne, Judy Reid, Mary Westlake, Christine Dickson, Paul Dickson and Veronica Brown; and loving extended family, friends and former colleagues who miss him greatly and are assuredly watching today.

We are pleased to be joined by his wife, Donna Dickson; son, Jim Dickson; sisters-in-law Sandrae Haslam and Debbie Allen; and, of course, his friend and former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, David Warner.

Hi, Donna.

Louis Joseph Dickson, or Joe, was born March 26, 1940, into a large Catholic family in Ajax and grew up to serve Ajax and be its biggest fan. Joe’s mother, Mary, had grown up in Pickering Village and his father, Lou, was an RCAF World War II veteran who set down roots in Ajax. Joe was raised and educated there and loved sports growing up, a love that led him to establish Ajax minor basketball at age 16, and he later helped establish the Ajax senior hockey league.

He started his own printing business, Dickson Printing, at age 18, and never stopped sponsoring and supporting local sports teams from when it opened its doors in 1969. President of Dickson Printing for 48 years, Joe was a committed and successful small business owner through the ups and downs and many changes across his community, and often spoke from experience with a local business perspective.

Joe began his career of public service in 1970, when he served as a Catholic school board trustee for two terms and kept his faith and family close during his many years of public service. He was first elected to Ajax council in 1983, serving until 1990, and returned to council chambers from 1992 to 2006. He loved serving ward 2 but was known well beyond his ward. He once described his story and success like this: “It all comes down to being the oldest of 10 children and having two wonderful parents. We were always helping one another—that’s what it was all about.”

Joe was a volunteer and community man. Ajax Civic Award winner and committed town enthusiast, Joe Dickson was fondly called “Mr. Ajax” and is well remembered by generations of Ajax neighbours. Joe founded and chaired many charitable organizations and initiatives and loved volunteering. From when he first started Ajax minor basketball at 16 all the way through the annual charity golf tournament that he and his wife, Donna, organized and sponsored for 25 years, Joe never stopped giving back to his hometown community.

On a personal note, I served as one of Durham region’s seven MPPs with Joe Dickson from 2014 to 2018, and when MPPs from across Durham region came together at the provincial volunteer service awards night, it was very special to see how many of the long-time volunteers in Ajax and Pickering knew Joe personally.

It wasn’t only his constituents who recognized Joe for his work, however. In 2002, he had been awarded the Queen Elizabeth 50th anniversary medal for service to his community and Canada. It was just part of who Joe was: kind, generous and connected.

Nearly everyone in his hometown had a connection to Joe, whether through sports or one of his many volunteering endeavours, whether they were featured in his magazine, or from his apples. Children who remember that Joe Dickson gave them apples around town grew up to vote for Joe as adults. They knew him and they knew where to find him, and they elected him.

Joe won a provincial seat on the McGuinty Liberals’ ticket to serve Ajax–Pickering in 2007 and held the seat until 2018. When Joe was asked why he was running, he said it was “to become the town’s best communicator with Ajax residents and to continue to focus on my residents, just as I have done the last eight elections.”

Joe Dickson served this Legislature in many roles, from deputy government whip early on to various portfolios as parliamentary assistant. One of the things that Joe was most proud of was the expansion of the Ajax Pickering Hospital, which he worked for many years to see happen, to better serve his community.

On a personal note, before I was elected, the very first protest I ever organized was outside Joe Dickson’s office, to protest Bill 115. True to form, Joe Dickson came out to talk with us and was disappointed he hadn’t known we were coming because, as he told us, he would have had hot chocolate for us.

He was an excellent connector. He was a strong and committed bridge between his home community and his place here in the provincial Legislature. When so many get caught up in the sparkle of Queen’s Park, Joe stayed firmly rooted in his community.

Joe Dickson passed away on April 7, 2022, surrounded by those he loved and who dearly loved him. Friends from across the community shared their remembrances and memories. They remember him as one-of-a-kind, hard-working and thoughtful, and one of the finest people you could ever meet. Messages online highlight that Joe truly cared about his community and was extremely well thought of.

As Joe’s children shared after his passing, “Joe was a lover of life, family, friends and mostly Donna. Safety was always first with Joe, although anything with a fast engine made Dad happiest: boats, racing cars, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and his prized 1969 Dodge RT Charger he ordered new so that he had a ‘safe ride’ for wife and kids as he started his own family. Fish and chips on Fridays, a daily coffee, and a refreshing Crown-and-Coke after a long week’s work helped him keep grounded.”

Joe Dickson has left behind his family, a long community career and a legacy of neighbourhood connections and warm, sincere relationships. Ajax, Pickering and Ontario are grateful to Joe Dickson for his life of service, invested heart and commitment to the town and people he loved.

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

Ms. Patrice Barnes: Louis Joseph Dickson was a well-loved member of the Ajax community. He was known as Joe, Mr. Ajax or Joe Everywhere by his friends and constituents.

Joe was the oldest of 10 children. He was born in Ajax and lived and worked there his whole life. Joe Dickson, a businessman and dedicated member of the community, started Dickson Printing in 1960, and it stayed in business until 2020. He was a representative for Ajax who cared deeply about his community and what it needed.

His wife Donna, his son Jim Dickson, his two sisters-in-law—and we’re also joined by David Warner, former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. We’re glad you’re here today.

Joe was known for his great sense of humour, friendly smile, a willingness to listen and a love to weave a story. I think he may have figured out what every po