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May 26, 2025

44th Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2025-May-26 vol. A (PDF)

L016A - Mon 26 May 2025 / Lun 26 mai 2025

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 26 May 2025 Lundi 26 mai 2025

Orders of the Day

Plan to Protect Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2025 / Loi de 2025 sur le plan pour protéger l’Ontario (mesures budgétaires)

Member for Hastings–Lennox and Addington

Members’ Statements

Quinte Health

Good Neighbour Awards

Children and Youth in Care Day

Jewish Heritage Month

Airport noise management

Member for Hastings–Lennox and Addington

Indigenous affairs

Veterans

Riding of Mississauga–Erin Mills

House sittings

Introduction of Visitors

Tragedy in Etobicoke

Sign-language

interpretation

Question Period

Government accountability

Government advertising

Government spending

Government spending

Indigenous affairs

Ontario Science Centre

Ontario budget

Landfill

Public transit

Housing

Labour dispute

Post-secondary education

Ontario economy

Infrastructure funding

Notice of dissatisfaction

Armenian Heritage Month

Introduction of Visitors

Sign-language

interpretation

Introduction of Government Bills

Emergency Management Modernization Act, 2025 / Loi de 2025 sur la modernisation de la gestion des situations d’urgence

Introduction of Bills

Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Amendment Act, 2025 / Loi de 2025 modifiant la

Loi sur les parcs provinciaux et les réserves de conservation

Petitions

Environmental protection

Tuition

Cycling infrastructure

Social assistance

Transportation infrastructure

Lupus

Land use planning

Social assistance

Emergency services

Social assistance

Health care

Personnel de première ligne

Visitors

Orders of the Day

Plan to Protect Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2025 / Loi de 2025 sur le plan pour protéger l’Ontario (mesures budgétaires)

The House met at 0900.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Good morning, everyone. Let’s stop and take a moment of silence for inner thought and personal reflection.

Prayers.

Orders of the Day

Plan to Protect Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2025 / Loi de 2025 sur le plan pour protéger l’Ontario (mesures budgétaires)

Mr. Sarkaria, on behalf of Mr. Bethlenfalvy, moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill 24,

An Act to implement Budget measures and to enact and amend various statutes / Projet de loi 24, Loi visant à mettre en oeuvre les mesures budgétaires et à édicter et à modifier diverses lois.

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

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: Good morning, Madam Speaker. I want to start off by saying that I will be sharing my time with the member for Peterborough–Kawartha and the member for Eglinton–Lawrence.

I am pleased to lead off the second reading debate for the Plan to Protect Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2025. Nearly two weeks ago, our government introduced in this House the Plan to Protect Ontario, when the Minister of Finance tabled the 2025 Ontario budget. Today, I stand before you to lead off the bill’s second reading debate. Let me start by saying that I am proud of our government’s work, despite the economic challenges we are facing today—challenges that our country and province have never faced before.

For many years, Ontario and Canada have valued our relationship with the United States—a relationship which has benefited the growth of both economies. We supported each other not only as friends but as family. However, the country that we once considered our greatest ally and trading partner has started a trade war against us. The recent actions taken by the United States revealed that we can no longer rely on them as a partner, as their trade policies seek to put our industries and economy at risk.

On February 27, 2025, the people of Ontario elected our government with a mandate to protect Ontario, and that’s exactly what we will do. No matter what challenges or threats that we face as an economy and as a province, we will do whatever it takes to protect Ontario and the people that reside here. That is why we titled this year’s budget A Plan to Protect Ontario. This is a plan that will help businesses, will help workers, will help them weather the storm caused by US tariffs. This is a plan that will build more infrastructure in every corner of our province.

This is a plan that will keep costs down for individuals and families while supporting our world-class workforce. This is a plan for everyone living in our province today and for generations to come.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to stand before you today to state that we are delivering on this plan. It is thanks to the success of this government’s fiscally responsible plan for a path to balance the budget that we are in a strong position to protect this province, all while being able to build our economy. Since we took office in 2018, our government has helped create nearly one million more jobs and bigger paycheques. We have attracted nearly $70 billion in new investments across manufacturing, life sciences, technology. Our GDP has grown to over $1 trillion.

We have reversed the trend of credit downgrades, improving our province’s credit rating profile. Madam Speaker, there is no denying that our economy is growing, all while responsibly managing our province’s finances. Our key debt metrics remain some of the best seen in the province in over a decade, and we are doing this while retaining a path to balance by 2027-28 and doing so without raising a single tax.

With all of this in mind, we are well positioned to protect our workers, businesses and families for the foreseeable future. As I stated earlier, it is because of our responsible approach to managing the province’s finances that we can do more to build our economy. To help build a stronger economy, we have a strong capital plan. This capital plan of over $200 billion over the next decade is the most ambitious of its kind in our province’s history. It will help accelerate the building of highways, hospitals, schools and other public infrastructure that the people of this province depend on.

Our plan includes investing $2.4 billion in the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program and Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund to support the construction of more homes that our communities need. To help deliver priority infrastructure projects that would otherwise not get built faster, we are proposing to provide an additional $5 billion in funding to the Building Ontario Fund.

Our plan includes investments of nearly $56 billion in health infrastructure. And so far, we’re delivering on building and enhancing 50 major hospital projects, from Campbellford to Kenora, to ensure that everyone in our province has access to the health care they need when they need it.

Our plan includes nearly $61 billion for public transit to make commuting more accessible and more affordable. Through this investment, we’re upgrading our GO train and bus service, making it easier and faster for people across the province to get where they need to go. We’ve made progress in advancing GO 2.0, which will deliver the next generation of passenger train service to get more people moving in the greater Golden Horseshoe.

Our plan also includes how we aim to alleviate gridlock. Simply put, gridlock is problematic to everyone. Gridlock not only costs substantial time to our people’s daily lives, keeping people away from their families and delaying movement of goods for businesses, but it also costs our economy, costing Ontario nearly $56 billion every year. Change needs to be made. It needs to be made now. That is why we are moving forward with major highway projects—projects such as Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass, as well as expanding existing highways, like the widening of Highway 69 to four lanes.

But we are thinking bigger than that, Madam Speaker. I would like to share with this House a statistic: By 2051, the population in the greater Golden Horseshoe is expected to reach 15 million, growing by approximately 800,000 new residents every five years. This stat demonstrates the pressing need for critical infrastructure investment to prepare for this growth and to help alleviate gridlock, particularly on Highway 401, a highway that is one of the busiest corridors in all of North America.

Our government is thinking about this. We are thinking about how we can improve the effectiveness of existing highway infrastructure, including moving forward on the feasibility study for a Highway 401 tunnel expressway—a tunnel expressway to address the most congested area of the 401. Our government is committed to alleviating gridlock, saving commuters time and keeping goods moving.

Madam Speaker, our plan to meet the province’s growing needs does not end there, because we recognize that our growing province does not only need more infrastructure, but more power. Another statistic: The province’s electricity demand is expected to grow by 75% by 2050. Our province’s energy policy will play a huge role in the success of Ontario’s economic future, and our government is prepared with a plan to launch us into the economy of tomorrow by transforming Ontario into an energy superpower.

Whether it’s hydro, nuclear, natural gas, wind or solar, we are investing in new energy production, transmission and storage to ensure that families are connected to reliable and affordable power. This includes leading the largest expansion of electricity generation in more than three decades.

Since 2020, we have attracted more than $46 billion in new investments from global automakers, parts suppliers, and manufacturer of EV batteries and battery materials. We are also refurbishing hydroelectric stations across the province, which will secure more energy power generation to power five million homes and create more than 2,000 good-paying jobs.

Likewise, we’re making major strides in powering Ontario’s economic growth with clean, affordable, Ontario-made nuclear energy. We are advancing four small modular reactors at Darlington nuclear, the first in the G7, and refurbishing the Darlington, Bruce and Pickering nuclear generating stations. This is the work that we are doing and we will continue to do as part of our plan to position Ontario as a leader in the clean energy economy.

Our great province is also home to the critical minerals that the rest of the world needs. Copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and graphite are just some of the resources that we have in the north and that are needed to build electric vehicles, clean energy and other advanced technologies the world depends on. The resources that we have in our northern communities are key to the competitive advantage we have as a province, and we want to make sure that we work alongside Indigenous communities in these efforts to ensure they can reap the benefits of critical mineral development.

That’s why as part of our Plan to Protect Ontario we are proposing to invest $500 million for the creation of a new Critical Minerals Processing Fund. But we are going to need all hands on deck to unleash the economic potential of these critical minerals, and we will work alongside Indigenous partners in the north to do it. Madam Speaker, as our government announced last week, we are starting now. Our plan includes tripling the total amount of loan guarantees through the Indigenous Opportunities Financing Program—formerly the Aboriginal Loan Guarantee Program—to $3 billion.

This expansion will support Indigenous participation beyond the electricity sector by including eligible projects in critical minerals, offering generational economic opportunities for Indigenous peoples in Ontario.

We are also investing $70 million over four years in the Indigenous Participation Fund to support Indigenous communities and organizations in areas of high mineral activity to improve their participation capacity in the regulatory processes related to mineral exploration and mine development. And we are supporting First Nations post-secondary students who are interested in pursuing careers in resource development by investing $10 million to create new scholarship opportunities.

These investments are key to our vision for Ontario—a vision that sees a stronger skilled workforce and supply chain, increased economic independence, and unlocking the full potential of our supply of critical minerals. This will all be done right here in Ontario, and we are going to work alongside our Indigenous partners to do it.

Madam Speaker, while we are working to build up Ontario through our infrastructure investments and unlocking the potential of our northern and Indigenous communities with expanded investments and critical mineral processing, we are also doing as much as we can to help businesses weather the storm caused by the economic uncertainty of the US trade policies and tariff war. Last month, this government took immediate action with $11 billion in relief and support for workers and businesses to protect the province against economic uncertainty, which is being influenced by US tariffs.

We have deferred provincial taxes until October, providing up to $9 billion in liquidity to about 80,000 businesses.

To support employers and help keep workers on the payroll as they weather the storm, we issued a new $2-billion rebate for safe employers through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, and we are doubling down on our commitment to protect workers and businesses by proposing to create the Protecting Ontario Account, which will make available $1 billion in liquidity relief for businesses affected by US tariffs, with critical support to protect jobs, transform businesses and grow strategic sectors of the economy.

Our government is taking the necessary steps to support businesses and protect workers amid the current economic uncertainty. By taking these steps, we are protecting Ontario and our economy, but that is not all. Our government will build on the work being done to protect Ontario and our economy by supporting our local economy by all means possible. Our government is committed to continuing to promote and prioritize small producers, including Ontario-made products.

As part of our plan, we will soon be implementing several changes to foster a more dynamic and competitive alcohol marketplace while creating conditions to support affordability for consumers—changes that, if passed, would provide tax relief by lowering the basic beer tax rates for beer produced by Ontario microbrewers and enhancing the Small Beer Manufacturers’ Tax Credit. Together, these measures would bolster supports to the province’s dynamic beverage sector and will protect jobs, workers and the economy in the province’s expanded marketplace in the face of US tariffs for years to come.

I will finish off by emphasizing once more that, without a doubt, we are facing one of the single-greatest economic challenges in our modern history. Tariffs and threats to our economy and sovereignty from the United States risk undoing all the progress we’ve made to revitalize our economy and make life more affordable for the people of Ontario, but our province has been challenged before, and we have always emerged stronger and more united as a result, and the same is true today.

A stronger future for Ontario is ours for the taking—a future where we can harness our economic resources, clean energy, infrastructure, technology, advanced manufacturing and skilled workforce to become the most competitive economy in the G7. This is why our government’s 2025 Ontario budget and this bill, a Plan to Protect Ontario Act, is the foundation to turn the vision of our future into a reality. Our government is ready to do its part. But it cannot be achieved by our efforts alone.

As a united province, as a united country, we’ve done it before, and Ontario is ready to do it again. Madam Speaker, I urge all members of this Legislature to support these budget measures, whether it’s the $70 billion in public transit, the $28 billion in building highways, the $500 million in the critical minerals fund or many of the other projects—over 50 hospital projects that are being put forward in this budget. I urge the members of the opposition to take a careful look, be united and support this very important piece of legislation as we continue to weather the storm of US tariffs.

With that, Madam Speaker, thank you very much, and I will turn it over to the member from Eglinton–Lawrence.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Eglington–Lawrence.

Mrs. Michelle Cooper: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today I have the honour to rise before you to speak as part of the second reading of the Plan to Protect Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2025, in follow-up to the Minister of Finance, Peter Bethlenfalvy, who began second reading of this crucial bill for our province and its people.

We are most certainly at the doorsteps of a new era. Today, our province and our country are going through unprecedented times. We face new and complex challenges like we have never done before. The United States, our neighbour, our closest ally and our most cherished friend, has overturned one of the most successful economic relationships the world has ever seen. These unwarranted and unjust tariffs critically threaten our economy at its heart. These measures have targeted some of the most critical industries. Canadian steel and aluminum got 25% tariffs; our potash and energy got 10% levies.

The automobile industry, one of the central pillars of our economic activity, was attacked with 25% on Canadian content in vehicles, too. And as if this wasn’t enough: 25% tariffs on everything else not covered by the CUSMA trade agreement.

In the face of economic uncertainty created by the United States through this trade war, one thing emerges clearly: The status quo is no longer an option. The last few months have proven that we should no longer assume the benefits of our economic partnership with our southern neighbour. The future of Ontario’s economy can no longer depend on a partner that has proven itself to be fundamentally unreliable.

Naturally, Madam Speaker, this trade war has taken a toll on our businesses, our workers and our families. Ontarians are worried and concerned. Business expansion plans got replaced in the minds of business owners by worries about making payroll; career progress and growth gave place to job stability concerns, next week’s paycheque and making ends meet, in the case of workers; and dreams about their children’s future are now uncertain and worry parents. This is why our government is taking immediate action.

These are the stories we hear every day and that are top of mind when delivering on our promise to protect Ontario. As Ontario families, workers and businesses go through this storm, they can rest assured that our government will go through these bumps with them, too. Together, we will come out stronger.

Over the last seven years since our government was first elected, we accomplished so many things. Our province has come so far. Under the leadership of Premier Doug Ford, we put shovels in the ground and got things done. To echo what Minister Bethlenfalvy mentioned, almost one million more jobs have been created since 2018, Ontario’s GDP grew to over a trillion dollars and we attracted nearly $70 billion in new investments in key sectors.

Madam Speaker, these accomplishments are nothing but the result of relentless and purposeful work. These is no chance or luck here: They are results of our government’s focus on reducing costs for businesses and creating the conditions for them to grow and thrive. But above all else, they are the results of the hard work of millions of Ontarians across the province in the various industries and sectors that build the economic engine Ontario is.

Unfortunately, we find ourselves now in a very tough position. All this work we have secured for our province and our people is now at risk. As Minister Bethlenfalvy put it, Ontario is at a crossroads, and we must take serious steps to make sure we don’t find ourselves anywhere near the bottom. We all know that the people of Ontario are particularly exposed to these tariffs and the widespread economic uncertainty. Across the province, 285,000 jobs depend on exporting goods to the United States, which represents almost 3.5% of our total employment. On top of that, many more jobs—thousands of them—rely on US exports across domestic supply chains.

This is why our government’s 2025 budget includes measures to protect the livelihoods and paycheques of hard-working Ontarians. We are taking action to help workers, businesses and communities weather the storm by providing urgent relief and support. What our Plan to Protect Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2025, does, first and foremost, is take immediate and urgent action in response to the impacts of tariffs, to defend our economy, to protect our industries, to protect our businesses, to protect our workers. In one word, a plan to protect Ontario and its future.

These are the reasons why our government, as a first measure, took action to support about 80,000 Ontario businesses and job creators impacted by US tariffs. We are providing a six-month deferral on interest and penalties on select provincial taxes. From April 1 to October 1 of 2025, all businesses who pay taxes under 10 of Ontario’s business-focused tax programs can defer payments for taxes owed, without incurring interest nor penalties. This measure, Madam Speaker, provides them with up to $9 billion in cash flow, giving them more flexibility to deal with any challenges resulting from US tariffs and put their money where it’s most needed for them.

Secondly, there is a new and added $2-billion rebate through the WSIB that is being distributed directly to safe employers, so that employers can weather the storm and use their money in protecting their businesses and keeping their employees on the job. Our government has taken significant steps to help businesses over the past years. WSIB rates have been reduced to the lowest in half a century. These premium rate reductions will save businesses in Ontario about $150 million annually. We were able to do this, to give their money back to our businesses, because we have a surplus in the fund.

Keeping costs down for businesses and giving money back to them are not the only tools at our disposal to help job creators optimize their resources. Cutting red tape and simplifying cumbersome bureaucratic and unnecessary processes to prompt economic development is in our agenda, too. In Bill 24, Plan to Protect Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2025, we’re taking another step in that direction, in this opportunity on the Employer Health Tax Act.

The government is proposing some amendments to the act that would expand how notices of assessment under the act may be sent, including electronic means, getting rid this way of unnecessary rules and benefiting employers. Because when prudence and responsibility is exercised in fiscal and public management, as our government has done, taxpayers benefit from this. All these measures reflect nothing else but this government’s strong commitment to fostering a robust and resilient business environment for Ontario’s economy to thrive.

To continue to put forward measures designed to promote capital formation, enhance access to investment opportunities, and maintain market integrity and investor protection, Bill 24, Plan to Protect Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2025, includes some legislative amendments to favour a nurturing business environment. Through this bill, the government is proposing several amendments to both the Commodity Futures Act and the Securities Act that would expand the enforcement powers of our key partners in the local capital market: the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization and the Ontario Securities Commission.

We are confident these measures will reassure investors, not in Canada, but across the globe, that Ontario is open for business, and that it is the best place in the G7 to invest in.

Madam Speaker, these are only the first and immediate measures taken by Ontario in response to uncertainty and global instability. To protect the province’s local economy, the Ontario-based businesses forced to reconsider their US trading dependencies, we are creating the new Protecting Ontario Account, a fund of up to $5 billion designed to provide businesses with critical support to protect jobs, transform businesses and grow strategic sectors of the economy. The Protecting Ontario Account will work in tandem with federal government supports to make immediately available up to $1 billion in liquidity relief.

That is $1 billion readily available for Ontario businesses and workers facing significant tariff-related business disruptions. This liquidity relief will build on top of the existing supports, and it operates as an emergency backstop for those businesses who have exhausted available funding. Our team is committed to protecting Ontario.

When thinking of our businesses and industries, it would be remiss of us not to specifically protect the accomplishments we have achieved in the auto and electric vehicle battery sector. With President Trump’s tariffs aiming at our auto industry, there is no doubt that we must stand firmly behind the industry and the tens of thousands of auto workers in Ontario. To do that, our government is extending its investment in the Ontario Automotive Modernization Program and the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network through a total envelope of $85 million.

Ontario will be providing an additional $73 million over the next four years to continue the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network program. This funding will continue to support regional technology development sites, research and development partnerships, and incubator project for automotive and mobility small and medium-sized enterprises. To date, the program has leveraged over $850 million in private-sector investments, supported over 600 Ontario small and medium-sized enterprises and helped secure more than 6,000 jobs.

But that is not all. In addition, the province will be investing another $12 million in the next three years to continue the Ontario Automotive Modernization Program. The program is designed to support our automotive parts suppliers by helping small and medium businesses upgrade their equipment and adopt new tools and technologies.

The numbers on this program are also amazing. Since inception, the program has supported a total of 215 projects, creating over 1,000 jobs and retaining nearly another 16,000 jobs, and has leveraged over $59 million in private sector investments. We have come a long way. That is why now, more than ever, we must protect the progress our manufacturing sector has seen since 2018.

Madam Speaker, I have mentioned workers several times so far. The hard-working people of this great province are the backbone and true motor of Ontario’s success. Nobody knows that better than us, and nobody is more aware of the worries, concerns and instability with which they are faced today. To provide immediate transition supports for laid-off workers in these uncertain economic times, the government is investing $20 million to mobilize new training and support centres. The centres provide temporary places for affected workers to receive services, including referrals to in-demand training, job search assistance, upskilling and Employment Ontario programs.

Because our communities are also hurting and may face major disruptions as well, our government is taking actions to be there for them too. Through the new Trade-Impacted Communities Program, we are proposing to allocate $40 million to respond in a tailored manner to the unique and unprecedented needs of individual communities and local industries.

This funding would provide tailored and flexible grants to help communities respond to trade disruptions and pivot to procure more from domestic and local suppliers. Municipalities, economic development organizations, business accelerators and incubators, among other eligible industry associations, would also receive the funding to support large-scale strategic initiatives to help businesses grow, find new markets and investments, and diversify their supply chains.

Our plan to protect Ontario is about more than just ensuring our businesses, workers and communities have the necessary tools to weather the storm. This is about much more than just tariffs. This has been a wake-up call for all of us, not only across Ontario but across Canada. Business as usual and the status quo are no longer an option. It is imperative that we reflect and acknowledge that we are in the face of a new paradigm, and that we face a more profound and much larger problem. Our overreliance on our ties and trading relationship with the United States has made us vulnerable.

On top of that, we must recognize the fact that our country has some long-standing issues that are capping our productivity and growth. This is why our government is putting forward this plan to protect Ontario. We must take bold action to ensure we make Ontario the best place to do business in all the G7. Our government’s commitment with fiscal responsibility and prudent financial management put our province in a strong position to respond to these challenges and to do more.

Our plan to protect Ontario is a road map that looks into the future. It is a plan to take action today to make the necessary changes to protect Ontario in the years and decades to come. It is a plan to build a more competitive, more resilient and more self-reliant economy that can withstand whatever comes our way. Our government is putting forward a plan to secure that our children do better than we did, that our real GDP grows in the years to come, that there are better opportunities for our workers with bigger paycheques and more money in their pockets.

Our government got a strong and clear mandate to do whatever is necessary to protect Ontario workers, businesses and communities. We will leave no stone unturned. Together, with Ontario workers, municipalities, union leaders and Indigenous communities, we will unleash Ontario’s enormous potential, we will continue to put shovels in the ground and build infrastructure, we will put more money back in people’s pockets and we will continue delivering better services Ontarians can rely on.

In one word, Madam Speaker, we will protect Ontario—today and for the generations to come. And so I call on all members to vote in favour of the Plan to Protect Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2025.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): I recognize the member for Peterborough–Kawartha.

Mr. Dave Smith: Thank you, Madam Speaker. It’s good to see you in the chair and it’s even better to see that boot has been removed from your leg, so congratulations on that.

Bill 24, Plan to Protect Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2025, is more than just a collection of budgetary measures. It represents the foundation of a forward-looking, comprehensive plan. I rise to speak about a plan—a plan that puts Ontario first; our government’s plan; a plan that protects what matters most to the people of this province: good jobs, affordable living, strong communities and a secure future. This is the 2025 plan as laid out in the 2025 Ontario budget, A Plan to Protect Ontario. It’s built around one mission: to protect our great province and everyone who calls it home.

Ontario families are working harder than ever. They’re facing higher costs. They’re dealing with global uncertainty and they’re asking us—their provincial government, their elected representatives, every one of us—to do the same thing that they are doing every day: That is, to make smart decisions, responsible choices that protect what we’ve built for ourselves here and secure it against what may come next. That’s exactly what the measures in this bill do.

Seen as a whole, they’re not just a response to today’s challenges—they’re an investment in tomorrow’s stability and in tomorrow’s opportunities. They protect workers. They protect jobs. They protect our energy supply, our roads and our hospitals. And also protected is our innovation economy and our local communities. The investments support our small businesses that are getting established and trying to grow, and they further strengthen protections for investors and increase confidence in Ontario’s capital markets.

At a time when US tariffs and trade barriers threaten so many of our province’s key industries, from manufacturing to agriculture, we’ve taken bold action to shield Ontario’s economy. The disruptive trade measures thrust on us by the Trump administration hurt our workers, raise costs and undermine growth. As a government, we will stand up for Ontario and fight for fair access to markets, whether they are Canadian markets or global ones. Open markets underpin our way of life. Open markets help ensure our children inherit a province that’s not just surviving but thriving—one where opportunity is shared and hard work is rewarded.

That was the vision that Ronald Reagan and Brian Mulroney had when they first signed a free trade agreement in 1988 between Canada and the United States, removing tariffs. Those are the ideas and promises that are at the core of open markets: opportunity and reward. It’s about making Ontario not just the economic engine of Canada, as laudable as that goal may be. It’s what made Ontario the number one trading partner with 17 US states. It’s about making Ontario a place where every person, regardless of background or postal code, can succeed.

Because, Madam Speaker, in a world where so much is changing, one thing must remain constant: our commitment to protecting the people of Ontario. And it’s not just about those who call Ontario home today. It’s for the generations yet to come.

While external pressures are mounting, we must turn our attention inward to the barriers that still exist within our own country. Right now, it can be easier to trade with another country than to trade with another Canadian province or territory. That’s not just an inconvenience; it’s a serious obstacle to growth. Ontario producers, farmers, manufacturers and service providers too often face a patchwork of rules and restrictions that vary from province to province to province. These outdated barriers limit our competitiveness. They drive up costs and prevent businesses from scaling across Canadian borders.

This government has always said that these types of regulatory barriers create burden, obstacles and hurdles for Ontario businesses that do not make sense—not for today’s economy and definitely not for our future. And that’s why our government introduced legislation to unlock free trade across all of Canada. We’re dedicated to tearing down barriers and reducing red tape.

And we’re dedicated to easing tax burdens. In fact, Bill 24, Plan to Protect Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2025, contains a number of measures aimed at addressing Ontario’s tax landscape. One of the changes in this bill that, if passed, would make the biggest difference for everyday people is our plan to make gas and fuel cuts permanent. We know families are feeling the pinch, and this is one of the ways that we can help lower costs for hard-working families, support local businesses and put more money back into people’s pockets. This change, if approved, would save households, on average, $115 per year moving forward.

But that’s not all: We’re saving daily commuters even more and helping to address traffic gridlock in the GTHA region by proposing to remove the tolls from Highway 407 east. We’re proposing to remove tolls from the last stretch of provincially owned tolled highway in Ontario, and if passed, it’s expected to save some daily commuters almost $7,200 a year. By removing the tolls from the stretch of the 407 from Brock Road to Highway 35/115, we would deliver on our commitment to remove tolls from provincial highways, just like we did on Highways 412 and 418.

Speaker, for my own community, this opens up economic opportunities for all of the people that I represent in Peterborough–Kawartha. And that’s why I’m adamant that the city and the county of Peterborough need to work together to solve our employment land challenges. We have an opportunity, with the 407 not being tolled, to move more product. Our government is taking action to make travel more affordable for thousands of Ontarians who rely on this route every single day. It’s part of the commitment to ease gridlock and ensure drivers keep more money in their pockets.

Madam Speaker, lowering costs is just one part of the plan. We know that investing in infrastructure is essential to support economic growth, supporting the needs of today, but also preparing for the needs of the future. Our government continues to invest in building infrastructure like no provincial government has before, building the roads, hospitals, schools and transit the people of Ontario need today and will need in the future. Hospitals like the one just announced in Campbellford that will ease pressure on my own PRHC.

Just as we’re building roads and hospitals, we’re also building the energy systems that will power them and power our economy in the years ahead—not just electricity, but clean power. We’re expanding it across all of Ontario, because we all know that electricity demand is set to increase with the increased connectivity and technology that the economy of tomorrow will run on. For example, our plan sees the province investing $4.7 billion to upgrade and expand hydroelectric stations, creating over 2,000 jobs and producing enough clean energy to power up to five million homes.

As part of our plan, we’re supporting the Ontario Pumped Storage project. Once completed, this project would store electricity when demand is low and release it when it’s needed the most, helping to keep power reliable and affordable. Speaker, it could power up to a million homes for 11 hours. It would be the biggest project of its kind in Canada. These investments will help lower bills, create jobs and make sure these are the building blocks of long-term prosperity, a goal that drives every decision in our plan.

But to keep pace with growth and changing demands we must continue investing wisely—and we are. As explained in the 2025 budget, we’re moving forward with the most ambitious infrastructure plan in Ontario’s history, over $200 billion dedicated to building roads, transit, hospitals and schools. Our plan isn’t just about big infrastructure investments. It’s a plan about real, visible change for the people of Ontario. Our plan is about improved commutes, shorter ER wait times, better access to schools and stronger connections between communities. These are public goods and public services.

Our plan, and the measures contained in this bill, gets its meaning from the knowledge that we’re not only investing in roads and buildings, these physical things; our plan is about investing in people, in their jobs, in their communities and in our collective long-term prosperity.

From the biggest dollar item in the 2025 budget to the smallest technical amendment in Bill 24, they all have one thing in common: Ontario’s long-term prosperity. Long-term prosperity is why we’re moving ahead with projects such as critical transportation corridors like Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass, projects that will reduce gridlock, unlock housing, and move goods and people more efficiently across the province. These aren’t just highways; they’re economic lifelines and the foundations of long-term prosperity.

Long-term prosperity is why, with our plan, we’re improving access to modern care, adding more hospital beds and ensuring front-line health care workers have the tools that they need to care for our growing communities.

Madam Speaker, while I discuss long-term prosperity, let me be clear that our government isn’t waiting for the future to sort itself out. We’re not waiting years to make changes or break ground. Our plan will get shovels into the ground faster, giving Ontarians access and use of this critical infrastructure when they need it. This is the plan to protect Ontario’s economy, not just with words in budgets or measures in proposed legislation, but with cranes in the sky and boots on the ground.

Our plan is about how we keep workers employed, how we keep attracting investment and how we keep ensuring families can count on the services they rely on every single day. We’re building faster, smarter and stronger, because that’s how you protect Ontario.

As explained in the 2025 budget, as part of making the Ontario economy faster, smarter and stronger, we’re also providing an additional $5 billion to the Building Ontario Fund. Partnering with trusted institutions to bring even more priority projects to life, especially in areas like housing, Indigenous community infrastructure and long-term care, is what the Building Ontario Fund is focused on. Investments made through these partnerships will ensure that critical projects are not delayed due to a lack of funding.

Funding these investments will also ensure that communities across our province receive the support they need to grow sustainably, equitably. From new affordable housing developments in Elliot Lake to modernizing long-term-care homes in Peterborough, it all comes down to vision. As a government, we aren’t shy about that. Our vision is optimistic. Our vision is ambitious. Our vision provides hope.

Perhaps nowhere is our vision more ambitious, or arguably, more necessary, than in northern Ontario. It’s a unique region with a unique way of life and with that, unique challenges. Far too long, the region has been faced with underdeveloped infrastructure, limited access to essential services and barriers to economic opportunity. That’s why we’re doubling down on our commitment to northern and Indigenous communities. Our plan is focused on bringing to the region better roads, expanded rail networks and high-speed broadband that connects people and businesses to the global economy.

At the same time, from north to south and east to west, we’re working to keep Ontario competitive on the world stage. That’s why, as part of our plan, we’re increasing our support for Invest Ontario, our province’s investment attraction agency. With another $600 million added to the Invest Ontario fund, we’re giving global companies another reason to choose Ontario. We’re sending a clear message: Ontario is a place where businesses can grow. Ontario is a place where businesses can innovate. And most importantly, Ontario is the place where businesses will succeed.

In just a few short years, Invest Ontario has helped announce over $7.5 billion in new investments. Those investments are expected to create nearly 9,500 jobs. That’s 9,500 new jobs in sectors like life sciences, advanced manufacturing and technology. And these aren’t just numbers; they represent high-quality careers with futures to help Ontarians build better lives for themselves and for their families. And the reality is, this is all about Ontario families. I’ve said many times there is no such thing as luck. Luck is simply the intersection where opportunity meets preparation.

As a government, from day one, we haven’t waited, hoping that opportunity would knock. We’ve been opening the door and ensuring Ontario is prepared: We’re rolling out the welcome mat to clearly say Ontario is open for business.

I’ll begin to conclude my remarks on Bill 24, Madam Speaker, by saying this: As the global economy shifts, we’re focused on future-proofing our provincial economy. With our plan, we’re laying the foundation for a more resilient, innovative, and prosperous Ontario for generations to come, because it’s not just about today. Today is important. But what is more important is being prepared for tomorrow and all of the tomorrows to come, by expanding Ontario’s clean energy capacity and by securing critical minerals and the supply chains that will drive the future of mobility, medicine and manufacturing.

Ontario has an opportunity to be the world leader in so many things. And this budget sets the groundwork for us to do that by investing in people, through skilled trades programs, through education and training, that connects people to new opportunities, and by partnering with First Nations, with municipalities, with industry, with businesses and with individuals—because no matter where you live, whether it’s in downtown Toronto or a fly-in community in northern Ontario, our plan is about protecting your future.

As the 2025 budget measures in this bill demonstrate, our plan is not just a list of programs and policies. It’s a vision. It’s a strategy. And most importantly, it’s a commitment—a commitment to Ontario workers, a commitment to businesses that want to grow, a commitment to Indigenous communities seeking a better path forward and a commitment to families that want stability and security in uncertain times. Our plan is about protecting the foundations of what makes Ontario strong: our people and our potential, our province and its unique place in Canada and the entire world.

Madam Speaker, I call on every member of this Legislature to join us. Let’s choose action over delay. Let’s pass Bill 24. Let’s send a clear message that Ontario is ready, united and moving forward, and we will protect Ontario.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Questions and responses?

Mr. John Vanthof: I listened intently to the members, particularly to the Minister of Transportation and others, talk about northern Ontario and our resources and how we are going to drive the economy, which we have for years. But the words sound a bit hollow because what we’ve always noticed is, as soon as the resources are a little bit depleted, we move someplace else and the government lets the infrastructure deteriorate and decline.

One example right now is the Gardiner Ferry, north of Cochrane. It’s on part of a provincial highway system. The sawmill on the other side of the Gardiner Ferry closed, but there are many people still living there. And now there’s great concern that the Gardiner Ferry is going to be closed and there will no longer be highway service to that community. Could the Minister of Transportation commit to look at that situation and work together on the Gardiner Ferry?

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: Thank you very much to member. Absolutely, we will continue to work with the member and the community there in some of these challenging times, but one thing is for sure: This government remains committed to supporting northern Ontario and all regions and cities and towns that are so important and going to be so important to the prosperity of this province, especially as we develop the Ring of Fire. I look forward to continuing to engage, have that dialogue and ensure that we protect not only Ontario but the north, because we know there is enormous potential there. There is a lot of work to be done.

We’re making historic investments in the north, whether it comes to building infrastructure like highways, bringing back the Northlander as well. These are generational projects that we will bring back to the people of the north that deserve it and something that our government will support and do.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Question?

Mr. Brian Saunderson: I want to thank my colleagues this morning for their comments on this important budget.

In my riding of Simcoe–Grey, I think we have seen the hard work of this government in terms of, as my friend from Peterborough–Kawartha mentioned, the intersection between opportunity and preparation. I have a number of manufacturers. I have Honda in the south end of my riding, Pilkington Glass in Collingwood, and VOA, all of which are very connected with the automotive sector.

We’ve seen incredible growth in that sector since 2018 with this government, $46-billion in foreign investment, creation at Honda of 1,000 new jobs. We know that the spinoff from those jobs is somewhere between six and seven jobs, so those are huge economic drivers.

My question is to the member from Peterborough–Kawartha about the Protecting Ontario Account, and I’m wondering if he could explain to the House how this critical funding will help to sustain these industries in the immediate threat.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Response? I recognize the member for Peterborough–Kawartha.

Mr. Dave Smith: Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I recognize you as the member for Oshawa.

To address the question that has come from my colleague from the seat beside me, the Invest Ontario Fund is one of those funds that we have set up specifically to deal with these challenges. We know that right now, the Trump administration is doing everything possible to take jobs from Ontario and bring them down to the United States. We know that this is going to create challenges for us as we move forward.

But Ontario, in the last four years, has added more jobs than all 50 US states combined. The reason that we’ve done that is because we have a plan to put businesses back to work, opening Ontario up. This fund is designed specifically to protect those industries, to make sure that they know that we have their back, because we want to make sure that the people of Ontario continue having opportunities for those long-term jobs and the long-term prosperity.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Further questions?

MPP Alexa Gilmour: In my riding, there’s a wonderful little boy named Rowan who’s been waiting since 2022 for autism support. So my question is to the minister today—because there’s another family member that I’m meeting with on Friday who’s been waiting for about four years. They are relieved to see the additional $175 million that is being proposed in this budget for the Ontario Autism Program.

However, with 60,000 children on the wait-list and the rate of registration that is higher than the rate of entry into the services, we still don’t have the funds we need to make sure that children are going to get cared for. With a five-year wait-list, early intervention is now just a pipe dream for these children.

So my question to the minister at this point is, how is this funding going to meet the promise that this government made in 2018 to end the wait-list for children with autism?

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: I thank the member for that question. As she mentioned in her question, this government, in this budget, has introduced additional funding to support children in the community as well. This is because our government, under the leadership of not only Premier Ford but the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, has increased investment almost every single year to support the community, and also the challenges that present themselves.

We are going to work tirelessly with the advocates. The minister has been meeting very regularly and engaged in dialogue with parents and others. That is why, in this budget, we have increased the funding, as the member has mentioned as well. We’ll continue to work very, very closely, not only with children but also with the community as we continue to work on this.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Further questions?

Mr. Deepak Anand: My question is to the member from God’s country. At the time when US tariffs are creating economic uncertainty, and we’re talking about protecting the workers, what is this government doing to protect the workers through the Skills Development Fund? That’s my question, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Response? I recognize the member for Peterborough–Kawartha.

Mr. Dave Smith: Or God’s country, as the member for Malton just said.

What we’re doing in the budget is expanding the Skills Development Fund. We’ve added to it; it’s over two and a half billion dollars now that we have in the Skills Development Fund, specifically to help retrain people, to upskill people.

But not only that, we recognize that we have to have more training facilities available. So there’s additional funding in there to support the uprising, so to speak, of more training facilities to make sure that those individuals who want to upskill, those individuals who want to have a higher paying job, have the opportunity to get the training for it and those individuals who might find themselves in the position where their industry is being affected by the tariffs have the opportunity then to be retrained to get into industries that are less dependent or less challenged by what the tariffs are causing for us.

Ultimately, we want to make sure that we put Ontario in a position where we have the greatest resilience to counter all of the measures that the Americans are putting on us.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): Further questions?

Mr.

Chris Glover: I would like to ask the members opposite—I heard their comments on the budget this morning, but I’m really going to ask them honestly how they can expect the opposition to support a budget when this government is squandering $2.2 billion of taxpayer dollars on a private spa at Ontario Place, $38 million for a private hotel in Wasaga Beach, and we just found out this morning that they squandered $40 million on partisan ads in the lead-up to the last election, but at the same time, they’re cutting $1.2 billion from our colleges, $140 million from our public and Catholic schools in the city of Toronto.

Our public colleges, hospitals, universities and schools are all being driven to bankruptcy while this government spends our tax dollars on private vanity projects.

Why doesn’t this government spend our tax dollars on the public services that Ontarians depend on?

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: Here are the facts: This budget introduced by the Minister of Finance will see over 54 new hospitals being built in this province. Will that member stand up and vote and support those 54-plus new hospital developments that are happening?

This budget will invest over $70 billion in public transit. I hope that member’s residents will benefit from many of those public transit projects, whether it be GO trains or subways. I hope that member stands up and invests and supports his community and the enhancements of quality of life that these transit projects and investments will bring with them.

When it comes to highways, the economy, the north, the Ring of Fire, we are making historic investments within this budget. I hope that member will support the largest investment in health care in this province’s history that has been tabled before this Legislature when it comes time to do so on both second reading and third reading of this piece of legislation.

Second reading debate deemed adjourned.

Member for Hastings–Lennox and Addington

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Jennifer K. French): I beg to inform the House that, pursuant to standing order 2, the member for Hastings–Lennox and Addington is authorized to indicate his desire to be recognized by the chair to speak by raising his hand. He is authorized to signify during any proceeding relating to voting and divisions by raising his hand, to signify by raising his hand in any proceeding that requires members to stand in their places, and to similarly signify by raising his hand in any relevant proceedings in any committee of the Assembly.

Additionally, upon being recognized to speak, the member is authorized to do so while seated in his assigned place. This arrangement will remain in effect until the member notifies the Speaker that it is no longer required.

Also, welcome back.

Members’ Statements

Quinte Health

Mr. Tyler Allsopp: Thank you, all my colleagues. Happy Monday. It was an emotional morning at Belleville General Hospital this Friday. Just over a year earlier, on May 21, our community tragically lost a respected, vivacious and bright colleague, registered nurse Shannan Hickey, to intimate partner violence. Before Shannan’s co-workers from Quinte 6 and her aunt and uncle, Michelle and Joe, I had the privilege of announcing an additional $140,000 in base funding and $96,000 for a clinical nurse team leader in 2024-25 for the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Response Program team at Quinte Health’s four hospitals. It’s part of a $9 million increase to 14 response centres across Ontario.

While we strive for change that ensures survivors and families no longer experience the horrors of this violence, it is comforting to know that we are supporting strong, talented teams in Quinte and across the province, ready to provide compassionate care when it is needed most.

Thank you very much and thank you to those workers on Quinte 6 and to Shannan’s family for keeping her light bright and spreading her message as we all move forward to make sure that we end the scourge of intimate partner violence. Thank you very much.

Good Neighbour Awards

Ms. Chandra Pasma: On May 9, I was pleased to host the third annual Ottawa West–Nepean Good Neighbour Awards. Nominated by community members, these awards celebrate the individuals in our community who brighten the lives of their neighbours every day in both big and small ways.

Some of them, including Elvira, Gemma, Elizabeth and Lynda, lend neighbours a helping hand, from delivering baked goods to helping seniors transition between homes.

Kathy is the president of the Queensway Terrace North Community Association; Bob supports his community of Copeland Park; and Glenis and Len are long-time contributors to the Ambleside Two community.

Michael, Cathy, Patric, Rodrigo and Doris are known for their warmth and generosity, as well as Alan, who built a new wheelchair ramp for his community.

Darlene and Gail ran the local Dairy Queen, where they mentored many young employees, helping them develop strong work ethics, confidence and teamwork.

Mark, Curtis and Gilles play a crucial role in maintaining community infrastructure: a garden, a rink and Knox United Church.

Carson, Sue, Yves and Cathy are exceptional community builders.

Andrea works hard for environmental education and sustainability efforts, and Susan advocates for development-related issues.

Abi and Grace have created impactful community initiatives, such as food programs for those experiencing food insecurity and support for seniors.

These compassionate and dedicated individuals remind us of the importance of community. Congratulations to all the winners and thank you, each one of you, for being a good neighbour.

Children and Youth in Care Day

Mr. Deepak Anand: Speaker, it is our shared responsibility to ensure that every child grows up in a safe, supportive and nurturing environment. When we invest in the well-being of our children, including those in care, we build the foundation for a more just and compassionate society.

May 14 is Children and Youth in Care Day, a time to recognize their courage, celebrate their voices and reaffirm our collective duty to support their well-being and success. Children and youth in care show remarkable strength and resilience. They deserve our admiration and our action.

This year, Peel Children’s Aid Society marked the day with a vibrant celebration and ongoing wellness-focused activities through its Trailblazers Youth Centre, a youth-led, empowering space in Mississauga–Malton designed to foster belongingness, build leadership and support youth in shaping their futures. To the youth, staff and partners, and the leaders, Mary Beth and Prasad Nair: Thank you for your vision and leadership.

Peel CAS also proudly co-leads Ontario’s first youth wellness hub, led by our CAS, offering integrated mental health support for our youth.

Let’s stand together every day to uplift, invest and empower youth in care. Their future is our future. Let’s build a stronger, prosperous Ontario together.

Jewish Heritage Month

MPP Stephanie Smyth: Good morning, everyone. As we near the end of May, I am proud to rise in this House to recognize and celebrate Jewish Heritage Month, a time to honour the enduring contributions of Jewish Canadians in Toronto–St. Paul’s and across Ontario.

Jewish culture is an essential thread in Toronto’s rich tapestry. In Toronto–St. Paul’s, we are proud to be home to one of Canada’s largest reform congregations at Holy Blossom Temple, as well as many synagogues, schools, cultural centres and vibrant Jewish-owned small businesses. These businesses are not only vital to our local economy; they help shape the character of our neighbourhoods. Many have been in our community for generations, each with a story rooted in hard work, resilience and in compassion.

Jewish Heritage Month is a time to celebrate but also reflect and recognize the strength and perseverance of Jewish communities throughout history, especially in the face of rising anti-Semitism. It’s a time to stand firmly against hate and recommit to the values of inclusion and mutual respect. This month also invites us to learn—to deepen our understanding of Jewish history, faith and culture, and to recognize the profound impact Jewish Ontarians have had in every aspect of our society.

I’ve been honoured to attend local events that uplift Jewish voices, celebrate cultural pride and foster meaningful connections. Jewish Heritage Month reminds us that Ontario’s diversity is its greatest strength. To the Jewish community in Toronto–St. Paul’s and across the province—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I apologize. Members’ statements time is allotted to 1:30.

Airport noise management

Mr. Tom Rakocevic: Pearson international is our country’s largest airport, with almost 50 million yearly passengers, and growing. For communities who live close to Pearson, airplane noise has an effect on their quality of life. Although airports and airplane travel are a federally regulated matter, many residents continue to reach out to all levels of government, hoping for some relief from loud planes running at all hours of the day and night.

I’ve shared the concerns of my residents with officials from Nav Canada and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, and I’ve reached out to officials in other countries to learn their best practices in dealing with airplane noise. I learned that there are countries around the world that have strong airplane noise mitigation programs that provide full grants for home sound insulation retrofits and more.

That’s why I tabled motion 9. It calls on the federal government to protect near-airport communities by establishing a strong airport noise mitigation program to provide our communities the same level of protection that many others receive around the world. If they can do it, so can we. I hope my colleagues here at Queen’s Park will join me in asking the federal government to make it happen, because our communities deserve better.

Member for Hastings–Lennox and Addington

Mr. Ric Bresee: Good morning. I am so very glad to be here in the House this morning. As the members of this House will recognize, I missed some time in the assembly recently. Over the Easter weekend, I had the unfortunate incident of breaking my left knee—to be technical, a tibial plateau fracture. I’ve been very fortunate; the orthopedic specialist is telling me that I’m healing very well and I should be able to return to weight-bearing on it within a couple of weeks. As my father would have said, it’s a long way from the heart.

But it has been impactful, and I would not have made it through this so quickly and so comfortably if it wasn’t for the people around me. So I need to thank the people: the health care teams at the Lennox and Addington county emergency department, the specialists at Kingston General Hospital and, specifically, the amazing team here at the Legislature who have bent over backwards to make sure that I’m able to be in this seat today.

I need to thank my colleagues here in the chamber. So many of you have reached out, expressed your concern and encouragement to get better and get back to work. I have to thank my incredible constituency team who have worked way beyond the call of duty to ensure that I can still meet with my constituencies and my stakeholders either in person or virtually.

But most especially, Speaker, and I’m going to beg your indulgence a little bit, I have to thank the most important person who has been through absolute terror through this, and that is my absolutely amazing wife, who has supported me, driven me everywhere, even helped me dress. She’s been absolutely amazing. I love you. Thank you, Heidi Galloway Bourgoin.

Indigenous affairs

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: A classroom of grade 8 students from Pikangikum First Nation emailed me to share how they’re feeling about Bill 5. They have some issues with it and are asking the Premier and the House to reconsider because their actions are not in good faith with First Nations.

One student said: “I think that it is not a great thing to do for First Nations communities and land. I also think that it’s wrong how Doug Ford thinks he can do whatever he wants with”—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I have to interrupt the member. We do not refer to members by their first name.

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Withdraw.

“I ... think it’s wrong how” the Premier “thinks he can do whatever he wants with Ontario land and is trying to change the law to have an excuse to do whatever in First Nations territory. I think he doesn’t have the right to touch these lands without proper permission.”

Another student said: “It made me feel a bit concerned and I got chills because of how it talked about nature and how the government will be putting it in danger.”

Lastly, a student said Bill 5 sucks and, “The one thing I want you to say in the House is, don’t think about the present generation. Think about the future generations.”

Meegwetch.

Veterans

Mr. Steve Clark: On Saturday, I was honoured to attend Charter Night at the Royal Canadian Legion, Fort Wellington Branch 97 in Prescott. It was a privilege to join MP Michael Barrett and Prescott Mayor Gauri Shankar in presenting five lifetime membership awards. Recognized for their years of dedicated service were Terri-Lynn Beach, Veronica Burchell, John Martineau and Linda Wing, and we presented one posthumously to Bev Kirkland that was accepted by her husband, Eric Place. It was an emotional moment for everyone to honour Bev’s legacy of service.

Speaker, the commitment to service above self is what motivates volunteers in the 14 Legion branches in my riding of Leeds–Grenville–Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. They provide invaluable services to our veterans, foster the spirit of remembrance in our youth and host celebrations that bring communities together.

For years I’ve championed provincial recognition for our veterans whose service we can never fully repay, so I’m proud that our government has launched the Ontario Veterans Award for Community Service Excellence to recognize the contributions our veterans make to make a stronger Ontario. We’re the first province to establish an award specifically dedicated to honouring veterans for their community service. I’ve written to all the Legions in my riding to advise them of the award and its August 31 nomination deadline, and I look forward to presenting these awards in ceremonies to recognize the recipients.

Riding of Mississauga–Erin Mills

Mr. Sheref Sabawy: Speaker, I had the honour last week of visiting the University of Toronto Mississauga alongside the Minister of Colleges and Universities for the one-year anniversary celebration of SpinUp. SpinUp is an innovative partnership, allowing startups and entrepreneurs access to the scientific resources they will need to get started with their life science innovations. I am thankful to SpinUp, UTM and AbbVie for making this project so successful.

As I have often said, Mississauga is becoming a world-leading hub of life science, the Silicon Valley of pharmaceuticals in Canada. Our government is supporting innovation, fostering the conditions for prosperity in this sector. This project is a boost for life science innovation in Mississauga, and we are happy to see more attention and investment from the industry leaders.

Last week, I also visited a number of schools as part of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association’s Take Your MPP to School Week. I met principals, trustees, teachers and students at Garthwood Park Public School, Erin Mills Middle School and Erindale Secondary School. It is always lovely to see our schools in action, meet students and see the future generation flourish.

Last week, the long weekend, was the seventh annual Discover Egypt Festival in Mississauga. It was an incredible experience, with over 100,000 attendees in Celebration Square. Thank you to the Canadian Egyptian Heritage Association—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): It is now time for introduction of visitors.

House sittings

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Actually, before we get to that, I beg to inform the House that, pursuant to standing order 9(g), the Clerk has received written notice from the government House leader indicating that a temporary change in the weekly meeting

schedule of the House is required. Therefore, the afternoon routine on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, shall commence at 1 p.m.

Introduction of Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): We have in the House, in the Speaker’s Gallery today, His Excellency Abdulrahman Alneyadi, the ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Canada. Please join me in warmly welcoming our guest to the Legislature. Welcome.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: I’m very pleased to welcome Alia Mufti, who is my new legislative assistant starting today with team Ottawa West–Nepean, along with Megan Ryan-Lloyd, my OLIP intern for the past few months, who has been doing amazing work on behalf of the constituents of Ottawa West–Nepean already. Thank you both very much for being here.

Hon. Nolan Quinn: I’d like to welcome from my beautiful riding of Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry Adrian Bugelli, who’s my new chief of staff out of my constituency office. Welcome, Adrian.

Mr. Andrew Dowie: I want to give a warm welcome to my EA Brianna Robinson and my past EA Rachel Haddad, who are in the gallery today.

MPP Robin Lennox: I’d like to welcome from my riding of Hamilton Centre Ashley Fry-O’Rourke, a registered nurse with the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario and her partner, Anthony, who is a family physician in training looking to start his practice in Ontario very soon.

MPP Lisa Gretzky: My guests in the gallery today will be CUPE Ontario Local 2073, with Andrea Zackary, president Fred Hahn, Mara Waern, Marriott Otchere, Kelly Belbin, Jesse Mintz, Kelly Gawman, DJ Kohli, Sonya Yalda, Christina Gilligan and about 70 other workers that I know I do not have time to name specifically. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Mike Schreiner: I’d like to welcome friends, community volunteers and community leaders from my riding of Guelph who are here today: Kris Sturgeon, Irene Szabo, Adam Heap and Abdullah Al-Jabji. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Kevin Holland: I’d like to welcome to Queen’s Park His Worship Mayor Ken Boshcoff from the city of Thunder Bay.

Hon. Graydon Smith: I’m pleased to introduce a former colleague from my town of Bracebridge days, a councillor with me, Liam Cragg. Liam, welcome to your House.

Mr. Chris Glover: It’s my great pleasure to celebrate that Vishantak Rai from the riding of Spadina–Fort York is our page captain today. His parents Sonia and Anjani Rai and his brother Vishvanabh Rai are in the House today as well. I’m looking forward to meeting you for lunch today. Welcome to the House, everybody.

MPP George Darouze: I’d like to welcome from my Carleton riding page Emilie’s mother, Rochelle Trainor, attending today to see her in the Speaker’s procession as a page captain. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Todd J. McCarthy: It’s Durham advocacy day here at Queen’s Park. From the region of Durham, I’d like to welcome regional chair John Henry and Oshawa mayor Dan Carter. We also have Bob Chapman, Oshawa councillor. We have mayor Kevin Ashe, the mayor of Pickering. We also have: Dave Barton, mayor of Uxbridge; Marilyn Crawford, Ajax councillor; Willie Woo, Clarington councillor; and also, from the city of Mississauga, senior legal counsel Joseph Fudge. Welcome.

Mr. Steve Pinsonneault: I’d like to introduce some folks from my riding: Brian and Beth Smith, and Larry and Joan Morley from Lucan. They managed my sign campaign for both elections. I’d like to thank them for their help and welcome them to Queen’s Park.

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: I’d like us to welcome into the House and back to the House Cait Alexander, a profound gender-based-violence advocate and founder of End Violence Everywhere.

Mr. Sheref Sabawy: I am honoured to introduce members from the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario and Ontario Building and Construction Tradeswomen organizations. The Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario serves as a voice for 150,000 construction workers across the province. Ontario Building and Construction Tradeswomen is a committee within the PBCTCO focusing on increasing the recruitment and retention of women and under-represented gender identities in the skilled trades. We thank them for being with us here today.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Unfortunately, we are out of time for introduction of visitors. I apologize to those who are in the gallery. They all wanted to introduce you, but I’m a really tough person when it comes to our five-minute limit, so I apologize. On their behalf, welcome, everyone.

Tragedy in Etobicoke

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Beaches–East York on a point of order.

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to seek unanimous consent for a moment of silence for the three beautiful children who tragically lost their lives last week in Etobicoke. My heart goes out to the family, the friends and the whole Canadian Martyrs Catholic School community.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The member for Beaches–East York is seeking unanimous consent for a moment of silence. Agreed? Agreed.

The House observed a moment’s silence.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): You may sit down.

Sign-language

interpretation

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the opposition House leader on a point of order.

Mr. John Vanthof: I seek unanimous consent to move a motion without notice regarding ASL services during question period.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The opposition House leader is seeking unanimous consent to move a motion without notice regarding ASL services during question period. Agreed? Agreed.

I recognize the opposition House leader.

Mr. John Vanthof: I move that two sign-language interpreters may be present on the floor of the chamber today to interpret question period, and that broadcasting and recording services be permitted to incorporate the interpreters into the camera shot where possible.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The opposition House leader has moved that two sign-language interpreters may be present on the floor of the chamber today to interpret question period, and that broadcasting and recording services be permitted to incorporate the interpreter into the camera shot where possible. Agreed? Agreed.

Motion agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): It’s now time for questions. I recognize His Majesty’s loyal opposition—one moment, please. Would the interpreters like to come on the floor?

Turn the clock off. Please stop the clock.

Welcome.

I recognize the leader of His Majesty’s loyal opposition.

Question Period

Government accountability

Ms. Marit Stiles: Good morning, Speaker. This question is for the Premier. Last week, at our request, the Cabinet Office was ordered to turn over more records related to the greenbelt scandal from former staff in the Premier’s office. Those 17 records, heavily redacted, didn’t come from official government accounts; they came from the staffers’ personal accounts, where they were communicating with developers looking to have their land removed from the greenbelt. One of the developers emailed the Premier’s top staff to thank them for helping solve “his greenbelt glitch.”

Was the Premier aware that his top staff were communicating with developers about directly removing land from the greenbelt and hiding it in their personal accounts?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Rob Flack: As I’ve said before, I share the Premier’s expectations that we expect everyone to fully co-operate, and that’s exactly what’s taking place.

Our government made it clear: The people of Ontario have a fully restored and protected greenbelt. The decision was made, it’s final, and, yes, Speaker, our position remains that way and all accommodation, all co-operation, will take place.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: All right, I’m going to try again. Back to the Premier: Not only did that developer thank the Premier’s staff for helping him out, he actually sent over maps of the very areas that he wanted removed from the greenbelt. And you know what? It worked. It worked because those lands were removed from the greenbelt as he requested.

So we’ve got the Premier’s top staff taking directions directly from a developer who is set to make windfall profits from a change in government policy and then using their personal email to keep this from scrutiny. Did the Premier instruct his top staff to meet with this developer, Sergio Manchia, to discuss the greenbelt land removals? Yes or no?

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

Hon. Rob Flack: As we have said consistently, we have zero tolerance—I repeat, zero tolerance—for any wrongdoing and expect anyone involved in the decision-making about the greenbelt to have followed the law to the letter. That remains the same. We continue to follow that consistently. Again, I share with the Premier and expect everyone to fully co-operate with the investigation going forward. That being said, Speaker, on this side of the House, we are focused on the economy, protecting Ontario. That is what this government will do and continue to do in the months and years ahead.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Once again: nothing to see here. Well, do you know what? We are not going to stop until we get to the truth. We know the Toronto Star did some investigation of this. They’ve reported that at least a dozen current and former staffers in the Premier’s office have already been interviewed by the RCMP. But while this criminal investigation is still under way into that whole scheme, the government is continuing to give themselves extraordinary new powers under Bill 5. That’s why this matters. And they’re setting up the potential for new schemes that, frankly, are going to make the greenbelt look like small potatoes.

At a time when billions of new public dollars are about to go out the door, will the Premier finally course-correct and take some accountability, or is he going to keep handing over unchecked powers to his ministers to cook up new deals?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Rob Flack: Well again, Speaker, let us be very clear. We are protecting our economy, protecting our jobs, protecting our families, protecting our communities. The region of Durham is here. We are going to support that community, like every other one in the province. We’ve been clear about the greenbelt from the very beginning. It’s being protected; it’s enshrined; the decision was made; the decision is final. Let’s get on with building Ontario. That’s what we’re here to do.

Government advertising

Ms. Marit Stiles: Well, Speaker, the greenbelt scandal was certainly an egregious abuse of power, and Ontarians deserve the truth. But this government has never seemed to worry about respecting the people that they serve. How else could you explain the audacity of spending $40 million of public money on a massive advertising blitz designed to promote their party, the party in power, just before the provincial election?

To the Premier, how can he justify this clear abuse of the taxpayers?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Treasury Board president.

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: Obviously, I understand why the Leader of the Opposition is upset about us telling the story of the great work that we’re doing on behalf of Ontarians under the leadership of Premier Ford. It is more critical than ever for us to tell the story about what we are doing to build Ontario up.

Thanks to the leadership of this Premier and this government, we’ve attracted over $47 billion of new investment to this province for EV manufacturing; we are building $50 billion worth of hospitals and renovating them; we are building $70 billion worth of new transit—measures that the Leader of the Opposition and her party and members opposite consistently vote against. It is important to let taxpayers know how we are spending their dollars, and we will continue to be transparent with Ontarians and let them know what their government is doing on their behalf.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, it’s laughable, right? The PC Party’s own campaign director talked about this like it was a firehose that they just turned on before the election. In fact, he said that the party’s advantage in the polls wouldn’t be possible, and I want to quote him here, without “telling its own story in a positive way using government advertising.” He admitted it. Could this be any more clear? PC insiders are taking a victory lap after wasting $40 million of taxpayers’ money to buy an election at the time when we have the highest unemployment rates in the country.

My question to the Premier is, will he finally admit that his government used taxpayer dollars for pre-election, partisan puff pieces?

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

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: I can’t believe my ears. What’s the opposition got against non-partisan ads promoting Ontario?

Interjections.

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

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: We have that side over there—minus that side there—not promoting Ontario. I’m not ashamed of Ontario; in fact, I’m proud of Ontario. When we took over the economy, it was $850 billion. In this budget that I just tabled a few weeks ago, we’re up to $1.2 trillion. That’s what the economic engine of Ontario is, and I’ll never apologize to anybody for promoting the $1.2-trillion economy in Ontario.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, I want you to imagine for a moment that you’re sitting in an emergency room in Ontario for 12 hours, and up there on the screen in the emergency room you’re forced to watch the Hollywood-style ads telling you how darn good you have it. You can’t get the care that you need in that emergency room, but you can sure hear the government ad that tells you that everything is fine. It’s all happening here.

The Liberals watered down the rules—we remember that—to make it easier to use these tax dollars for partisan ads. And guess what? The Conservatives have taken full advantage of it. They spent $40 million—$40 million—on ads that didn’t offer a service, didn’t give you a number to call to find out something, information. No, no—$40 million to buy a campaign.

Will the Premier do the right thing and have the PC Party refund the taxpayers of Ontario—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I’ll ask the opposition leader to withdraw.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Withdraw.

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

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Now, Madam Speaker—

Ms. Marit Stiles: Send the money back. Send the money back. $40 million—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The opposition leader will come to order.

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Now, let’s for a second think about this: Imagine an Ontario where one million jobs were created since we took power in 2018. Imagine an Ontario where our economy has grown to $1.2 trillion. Imagine an Ontario where our economy has created wealth for everybody in Ontario: families, workers, the great businesses in Ontario. That’s the Ontario that we imagine. That’s the Ontario of today.

Madam Speaker, it is my hope that the opposition and all those over there will vote for the budget to move Ontario forward.

Government spending

Mr. John Fraser: Imagine an Ontario that’s half a trillion dollars in debt. I don’t actually have to imagine, because we’re there. And while the Premier has been busy setting that record, he’s been even busier on another record, and that’s the amount of money his government has spent since 2018 on self-serving, taxpayer-funded, partisan ads. That’s hundreds of millions of dollars. I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her help.

Speaker, through you: Will the government pay back the money they’ve wasted on taxpayer-funded, partisan ads?

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

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Through you, Madam Speaker, thank you for the question from the independent party, the Liberal Party, the party opposite.

Let’s think about this in context: We inherited deficits—year after year after year of deficits—from the Liberal Party, supported by the NDP. What have we done since then? We’ve actually lowered the debt-to-GDP because our debt is much smaller relative to our economy. What a concept.

Our economy is growing. That’s the way you dig yourself out of a hole that we inherited from those parties over there. As I mentioned, interest costs are the lowest since the 1980s, spending fewer dollars on interest so that we can fund world-class health care, world-class education, world-class social services. That’s what a responsible Conservative government does.

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

Mr. John Fraser: Never has the government spent so much, borrowed so much, incurred so much debt to do so little in the history of Ontario.

The Premier’s “It’s All Happening Here” ads cost $40 million. Well, for the government, for the Premier, here’s what’s happening here: It’s the highest unemployment rate in a decade—in a decade. We have the highest youth unemployment rate in Canada. And 2.5 million Ontarians don’t have a family doctor.

So, given all these things and more—because I only have a minute—do you think that the right thing to do is for the Premier and his party to refund this money that they’ve spent on this self-serving ad?

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: I don’t think math is perhaps their strong suit because I just highlighted that what the credit rating agencies look at, as everybody knows, is debt-to-GDP. In fact, the party opposite, they increased taxes and they got their credit ratings downgraded. We reduced taxes and fees, grew the economy, and got credit rating upgrades—what a concept.

But you know what else we inherited from that party over there is an infrastructure deficit. The majority of the debt that this party has incurred is to build the infrastructure that they didn’t build because our population is growing and because the people of Ontario, the families of Ontario deserve world-class health care, world-class education and an economy that works for everybody.

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

Mr. John Fraser: Well, the finance minister and I agree on one thing: They deserve the best schools in the world and they deserve the best health care in the world, and they’re not getting it. That’s the point.

So does the Premier think we were all born yesterday? You know, here’s what Kory Teneycke, the Premier’s campaign manager, had to say: “The fire hose is what governments can do.... I don’t think you’d see the Ontario PC Party where it is in the polls if it wasn’t out telling its own story in a positive way using government advertising.” But the Ontario taxpayer is not the personal piggy bank for the Premier’s party.

So once again, back to the minister: Will the PC Party, the Premier’s party, pay back the money they’ve spent on this self-serving taxpayer-funded ad?

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: I think one thing that differentiates is very clear. On this side of the House and there, we are very proud of Ontario, and on that side, from the member opposite, he’s not very proud of Ontario.

Ontario is leading the way, whether it’s attaching individuals to family care, to a family doctor. We’ve got Dr. Jane Philpott, under the great leadership of the Minister of Health—a plan and a vision to make sure every person in this province has a family doctor.

And under the leadership of the Minister of Education, we’re making sure we hold every school board accountable to make sure the billions that we’ve invested in students and teachers—make sure that that money gets funded directly to the people who matter in this province.

This side of the House will never tire of promoting Ontario. Why don’t you join us?

Government spending

Mr. John Fraser: On what planet does a minister of the government stand up and crow eloquent about 2.5 million Ontarians not having a family doctor? It is totally unbelievable.

So $40 million for a single ad campaign is more than most Ontario governments have spent in a single year. All this, while our schools are crumbling and our kids aren’t getting what they need in schools.

Does the Premier not think that all this wasted taxpayer money could have been better spent supporting our children?

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

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I apologize to the minister. Will the House please come to order?

Minister.

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: As my budget really outlined, we’re protecting Ontario, we’re battling the tariffs, we’re meeting the moment, and we have a vision for the future.

But let me quickly address, Madam Speaker, what the member opposite just said about health care. Do you know under their watch they cut 1,600 nurses? They didn’t build any hospitals—very few hospitals. As the Minister of Health just mentioned, they cut medical seats. If you’re not thinking about building for the future, how can you take care of the people today?

That’s why this government is putting a record amount of investments into our economy to grow our economy, support our workers, boost the prosperity for everybody so that we can afford world-class health care and education in this province.

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

Mr. John Fraser: Speaker, this ad could have bought 495 teachers, 820 educational assistants to help students with special needs. It could have gone towards badly needed repairs for our crumbling schools. Does the Premier really think that all this wasted money could not have been better spent on our children?

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Well, I’m going to walk over a copy of the budget to the member opposite because obviously he hasn’t read it. We’ve got 2,600 new teaching positions funded in this budget that support our teachers and our students. We’ve got $30 billion of immediate tariff supports to support businesses and workers in this province. And, Madam Speaker, we put in $750 million to increase the number of science, technology, engineering and math students at universities through this minister of education, colleges, universities and a few other things.

This budget is meeting the moment, and I call upon the member opposite to show some leadership and vote for this budget to support Ontarian workers, families and businesses.

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

Mr. John Fraser: It looks like the minister is tripping back to that alternate universe.

Speaker, it’s clear that the government is spending $1,500 less per student in our public school system since 2018 and that our college system, our once proud college system, is on its knees.

At Algonquin College, they cut 37 courses over the last year, and they’re not finished. They’re not finished. These are our kids. Our kids depend on the college system—37 courses. I don’t know how the minister can crow about education when that’s happening here in Ontario, and it’s not just happening at Algonquin College.

So I just think—and I hope everybody around here does, including people on the other side—that we would have been better off spending that money on our children, our colleges and our schools than we would on ads that promote the Premier because he wants to win a damn election.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I’m going to ask the member to withdraw the last word.

Mr. John Fraser: I withdraw.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: A lot of withdrawing going on on that side of the House, Madam Speaker.

Again, I refer—maybe we need to help the member opposite. I’m willing to give you a briefing on the budget. The budget increased the core funding for education by 3.3%—greater than inflation. The budget increased the funding per pupil by 2.6%—greater than inflation again.

It’s under the leadership of this Minister of Education, who’s going to make sure the billions of extra dollars that are going into our world-class education system get to the students and get to the teachers so that they continue to have the best education in the world right here in Ontario.

Madam Speaker, we have a plan to protect Ontario. We’re investing to protect workers, to protect families and to protect businesses. Again, I call on the opposition to vote for this budget and support families, to support the workers and to support moving Ontario forward.

Indigenous affairs

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Speaker, First Nations are not stakeholders and our treaties are not red tape. In public hearings on Thursday, First Nations leadership and rights holders made their position very clear: Bill 5 is an assault on First Nations, our treaties and the future of our children.

Speaker, at the end of question period today, we will be seeking unanimous consent of the House to direct the committee to travel hearings of Bill 5 to Thunder Bay.

Better yet, will the Premier listen to these voices and withdraw Bill 5?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation.

Hon. Greg Rickford: The member is in fact correct: First Nations are partners, not stakeholders. But I can assure the member opposite that there is nothing in Bill 5 that takes away from the treaty rights in Treaty 9 and Treaty 5 in the NAN territory. In fact, this is an extraordinary opportunity for this government and for those communities to converge on long overdue pieces of critical infrastructure that will fundamentally change the lives and the hope for prosperity in those communities and in that region.

After all, these are communities with diesel-generation power. These are communities without road access and shrinking winter roads. These are communities where young people have very few options, if any, for meaningful employment in their community, and that’s why they’re leaving in serious numbers. We hope to work with First Nations communities across northern Ontario and throughout the province to make sure that economic prosperity means—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Question?

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Speaker, there’s no way this government can perambulate their way out of this Bill 5.

In 2008, the chief and council of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug were unjustly imprisoned for defending their land from unwanted mining. In the end, Ontario paid a heavy price for approving that exploration. Developments fast-tracked without consent under Bill 5 will be opposed in court and, most importantly, on the lands.

Is the Premier prepared for what will happen if he goes forward with Bill 5?

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

Hon. Stephen Lecce: We appreciate the feedback that has been received from First Nation leaders, and we look forward to working with them to improve the bill over the coming days. But I want members opposite not to lose sight of what we are trying to achieve with this bill. We have an opportunity to achieve economic self-reliance, and if we want to achieve that, if you want that to be more than a talking point, we need an action plan to accelerate responsible resource development.

We are the 10th out of 10 jurisdictions in the country on mining investment. We are the second-slowest in the OECD. At what point do we say now is our moment as Canadians to step up with a responsible policy that respects rights, that respects the environment, that improves the compliance and even toughens the penalties but sends a signal? We will, as Canadians, chart our course as economically sovereign by using our resources for good, not allowing the Chinese or authoritarian regimes abroad to win the day. We need to stand up for Canada. This is how we do it.

Ontario Science Centre

Mr. Adil Shamji: For the Premier: Just last week, freedom of information documents revealed that Infrastructure Ontario officials colluding with the Premier’s office pressured an engineering firm to massage their report about the science centre, forcing them to produce three versions of it before it finally said what they wanted it to: that the science centre roof might be unsafe under hypothetical circumstances. The firm was pressured so hard that the CEO of Infrastructure Ontario actually joked that its executives looked like “survivors of the apocalypse.” The engineers didn’t even feel comfortable enough with the report—they didn’t even stamp it and assume professional liability for it.

To the Premier: Instead of listening to the engineers, why did he reverse-engineer the report, and was the engineering report always just for show?

Hon. Doug Ford: I love hearing the opposition complain about the science centre, Ontario Place, that sat derelict for 15 years. Only here—only here will the special-interest, left-wing crazies complain about a $600-million investment. I can go anywhere in the world—anywhere—anywhere in the world, Madam Speaker, and say, “We’re closing down an old, antiquated Ontario Science Centre. We’re going to spend $600 million, put it in a spot that people actually attend and go to, and make it a destination, second-to-none, anywhere in the world.

We’re going to have more exhibit space, it’s going to be modern, it’s going to be up-to-date and the place is going to be packed, and we won’t have to subsidize it, which we’ve been doing every single year by tens of millions of dollars.” Only their radical thinking—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back the member for Don Valley East.

Mr. Adil Shamji: Madam Speaker, the Premier spoke about dereliction, and I’d be more than happy to expand on his dereliction of duty in the province of Ontario: unprecedented traffic and congestion; record homelessness and encampments; home building that has fallen so far behind that even the budget’s projections for home starts this year have already been proven wrong by the CMHC.

This Premier has failed our province so badly that everything he touches falls apart—except for the science centre, which is the only thing he promised us would fall apart.

To the Premier, Madam Speaker: The Premier has proven under his watch Ford Nation really only means stagnation. Will he shed that reputation in Don Valley East and reopen the science centre?

Hon. Doug Ford: Let’s talk about what they did for 15 years: They destroyed the province, bankrupted the province, chased 600,000 jobs out of our province, didn’t build hospitals, didn’t build a road, didn’t build a subway, didn’t build bridges, didn’t build highways.

Let’s look what we did, Madam Speaker. We’re building highways and roads. We’re building the 413, Bradford Bypass, Highway 3, Highway 11/17, expanding 401 west and east, QEW, 400-series. We’re spending $222 billion: building 50 new additions to hospitals; $60 billion of infrastructure into hospitals.

They talk about long-term care. They created 600 homes in 15 years. We’re targeting 30,000 new homes for long-term care. As they were closing 600 schools, we’re building $16 billion of schools. That’s what we’re doing. And by the way, Madam Speaker, we did it without ever raising a tax, ever. We saw—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Question? I recognize the member for Carleton.

Ontario budget

MPP George Darouze: My question is for the Minister of Finance. The United States is becoming less stable and more hostile. Their leaders are talking about tariffs, trade wars and closing their borders to Canadian goods. That’s a real threat to Ontario’s jobs and future. But our government is not waiting and watching. We’re building a strong Ontario that can stand on its own.

The 2025 budget is our plan to protect our economy and protect our people. It supports mining to the Ring of Fire, new energy projects and job-creating infrastructure. It helps us grow here at home—so we’re less tied up to what’s happening down there.

Speaker, can the minister please share how our budget protects Ontario from the risks we face abroad?

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Thank you to the member for that question.

You know, Madam Speaker, in the face of tariffs, our government is responding to that challenge, and as we just talked about, promoting Ontario, advertising that Ontario is a robust economy in the face of that tariff challenge. That’s what we do, and that’s why we’ve introduced $30 billion of immediate tariff support to support our workers, our families, our communities, our businesses. That’s why we introduced another billion dollars for the Skills Development Fund to support our workers so they have the skills and the training necessary for the jobs.

That’s why we announced $11 billion in immediate relief: $9 billion for tax referrals, $2 billion for WSIB, $200 billion for infrastructure, as the Premier just said.

Madam Speaker, I think this is a real opportunity to go across party lines in unity. Vote for the budget.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Question?

MPP George Darouze: I want to thank the minister for his response and leadership.

The threat from the US is growing. Their economy is shifting. Their politics are becoming more economically unstable. That means Ontario must be ready, because if we don’t act, we could fall behind.

But our government has a plan. The 2025 budget makes smart, serious investments to keep Ontario strong. It supports the workers and industry that will carry us through tough times. It helps us build the roads, mines and energy systems we need to grow, right here in Ontario. It’s a budget that says we won’t back down. We’ll protect our economy, and we’ll protect our future.

Speaker, can the minister tell us more about how our budget will keep Ontario strong in a time of global risk?

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Thank you again—Madam Speaker, through you to the member—for that question. I think it’s very clear to all Ontarians, to all Canadians that the status quo is no longer an option, and we have the means and we have the plan here in Ontario to move ourselves forward.

In fact, we’re joined by some of the Durham mayors here. I see Mayor Carter right there. I see Regional Chair Henry there. And I’m sure, if I could see him, the mayor of Uxbridge, Dave Barton—there he is—and the mayor of Pickering, Kevin Ashe.

Because when we build together, municipally, provincially, federally, we can get more done, like in the Ring of Fire, like interprovincial trade under the leadership of Premier Doug Ford—to make our economy the most competitive in the G7. We have the means. We have the talent. We have the ambition. We have the plan. Protect Ontario.

Landfill

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Speaker, my question to the Premier: Last year, there was a by-election in Lambton–Kent–Middlesex. A key issue was the proposed reopening of the Dresden landfill. For the by-election, the Premier put in place a requirement for a full environmental assessment for that reopening. The election is over. His Trump-style Bill 5 overturns that environmental assessment requirement. Why isn’t it important to him to protect the people of that community and the environment?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Response? I recognize the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Hon. Todd J. McCarthy: The member opposite will no doubt recall history. It’s because of a failed Liberal government, propped up by the NDP, that we were put in the position that we are today, where we are exporting 40% of our waste to Michigan and New York.

And so we took action. On the very day before this government received its third majority mandate, Michigan, through its governor, announced that over 1,000% fee increases would be put in place when it comes to receiving waste from Canada. That, in addition to the Trump tariff and trade war, has put us in a position where we must be self-reliant. That’s what Bill 5 is about. It’s about protecting Ontario by unleashing our economy act. It’s about being self-reliant when it comes to waste management and all matters economic.

Mr. Peter Tabuns: That was an extraordinary response.

Interjections.

Mr. Peter Tabuns: That was not a compliment, my friends. That was not a compliment.

Again, to the Premier: In 2021, the Auditor General reported Ontario was facing a landfill crunch. This is not news. And the government did nothing about it from 2021—ignored the Auditor General’s recommendations. The Premier knew about the landfill shortfall long before the by-election.

Media reports that the Dresden landfill proponents have been very generous to his party. From the greenbelt to the Dresden dump, why is it that when the Premier has to choose between the public good and the interests of generous party donors, the public loses every time?

Hon. Todd J. McCarthy: Well, I am very pleased to confirm to this House that this government stands for balance based upon the third consecutive mandate we’ve received from the people of Ontario. That balance includes, specifically with respect to the expansion of the Dresden landfill site, strong environmental oversight. And of course, like every project, particularly landfill expansions, this Dresden project will face strict environmental scrutiny under the environmental compliance approval process. That will be part and parcel of moving forward in a balanced way, building the Ontario of tomorrow, protecting Ontario while ensuring strong environmental oversight.

Public transit

Mr. Rob Cerjanec: Electrified passenger rail systems are the gold standard around the world for regional transit, but Ontario is falling behind. Now we’re hearing that ONxpress, the company awarded contracts for GO electrification, is no longer working for Metrolinx. My constituents are already concerned that there’s no express train from Durham region. They’re wondering when they can experience service improvements instead of delays, delays and delays.

Electrifying GO service will mean more trains faster, reducing pollution and taking cars off the road. Can the Minister of Transportation provide this House with a deadline of when Lakeshore East line will be electrified and express GO train service from Durham region to Union Station will be restored?

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: We’ve made great progress on the Lakeshore East line. Just in the past year, we increased service by over 33 trains. In fact, that investment was due to our investments in public transit, $70 billion that we are putting forward on behalf of this province to invest and get a better public transit.

I’ll ask that member—before you today, you have a bill, the budget act, that will enhance and continue to enable the delivery of more GO train service, of more investments on electrification. I urge that member, and I urge members of the opposition, to support the $70-billion investment into public transit, into electrification, into improving service and to support this government’s budget so we can continue to get it done.

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

Mr. Rob Cerjanec: Look, if we were able to take the budget and take out different clauses and different things, there might very well be things that I’d be happy to support. I appreciate the 407 east, for example, in Durham.

In 2018 and earlier, Speaker, a previous Liberal government started the process to electrify the GO train service, and they even committed to expanding service to Bowmanville, something that we’re only seeing this government formally commit to in this year’s budget.

But today, we continue to see the goalposts move further and further away. This work isn’t new; 2025 has now turned into 2032. It’s getting harder for my constituents to get to work, school and appointments reliably and conveniently. They’re concerned that they cannot take an express train to Union Station and back to Ajax.

Can the Minister promise to this House today that, at a minimum—when can we expect GO train service from Durham to downtown, coming back, the express GO train?

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: We have 100 trains each weekday on the Lakeshore East line. We are delivering for the people of Durham. We are building the Bowmanville extension, Madam Speaker. And in fact, we’ve done even more for the residents of Durham.

Just two weeks ago, we announced that we were removing the tolls off the 407 east portion. That represents the last Liberal toll in this province’s history. Under this government, under Premier Ford, there will be no tolls on any publicly owned highways. That’s because we put more money into the pockets of hard-working Ontarians. The 412, 418, the 407 east—all tolls imposed by the Liberals that impacted the residents of Durham: We’ve removed them. We’ve put that money back into their pocket.

We’re investing $70 billion in supporting public transit in Durham region by adding and using over a hundred trains a week, and we’ll continue to get it done. I hope that member and the Liberals vote to support this budget.

Housing

MPP Chris Scott: Today I rise to ask a question to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. We recently introduced some new legislation to get homes and infrastructure built faster and built smarter. This new legislation cuts down on pointless delays and removes overlap in the planning system. It means fewer roadblocks and more results.

This is because Ontario is growing fast, because people need homes and because families need more roads, schools and hospitals. Today, many good projects are stuck in delays. There’s just too much red tape. There are too many rules that sound great but just don’t make sense in practice.

Can the minister please explain to this House how this bill is going to help protect Ontario’s future by making it easier to build the homes, services and infrastructure that people need?

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

Ms. Laura Smith: Thank you to the member for Sault Ste. Marie for his question and for the awesome work that he does for his community.

Speaker, our government is protecting Ontario by making sure the homes, infrastructure and essential services we rely on can be built fast, not bogged down by unnecessary obstacles. With our newly proposed legislation, we’re taking action to ensure Ontario can reach its full potential.

This legislation brings long-overdue clarity and efficiency to a planning system that has, for far too long, rewarded paperwork over progress. We’re eliminating redundant requirements like overlapping studies, and setting clear, consistent timelines so housing applications don’t languish for months or even years. We’re aligning local rules with the Ontario building code, cutting down on the contradictory red tape that slows down projects. By making these practical, common-sense changes, we’re creating an environment where shovels hit the ground faster, and you and your new neighbour can move in sooner.

MPP Chris Scott: I want to thank the parliamentary assistant for that great, great answer.

Building on that, we all know that under the previous Liberal government, the dream of owning a home slipped away for too many people—young couples, seniors, newcomers. Everybody wants a safe, affordable place to call home, but delays and high costs have held these projects back. That’s why our government is acting now.

Our new bill will help builders manage costs and keep projects on track. It means more homes get built and fewer get cancelled. It means more affordable housing, more long-term care and support for people who need it most.

Speaker, can the parliamentary assistant please tell us how these changes will make it easier for people to find a home and help more families put down roots here in Ontario?

Ms. Laura Smith: We are protecting the dream of home ownership here in Ontario. We’re protecting the ability of families, newcomers, seniors and young people to afford a home, and that starts with tackling the costs that are driving the costs up and the prices higher.

With Bill 17, we’re addressing the costs head-on. We’re giving home builders the ability to defer development charges until occupancy, providing greater financial certainty and improving project viability. That is critical for keeping projects moving and avoiding cancellations that only deepen the supply shortage.

We’re taking steps to make it easier and faster to build affordable housing, long-term care and supportive housing by eliminating or reducing the unnecessary charges and standardizing the processes across Ontario. That means more beds, more units and more support for our most vulnerable, and we’re going to get them delivered sooner and at a lower cost.

When we talk about protecting Ontario, we mean protecting Ontario’s and people’s futures, ensuring that housing is within reach and that our province remains—

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

Labour dispute

MPP Lisa Gretzky: To the Premier: CHS workers support deaf, deaf-blind and hard-of-hearing Ontarians, yet their wages have fallen 16% behind inflation. Staffing has been cut by over half, and workloads have doubled. The government’s unconstitutional Bill 124 capped their raises at 1% over three years; now CHS offers just 2%, pushing workers to strike for fair wages. While some workers rely on food banks, management got double-digit raises. CEO Julia Dumanian earns $340,000 a year, a 122% increase over her predecessor. Audit requests in 2022 and last month were ignored.

Will the Premier look at the people in the gallery today—the workers and the community members—and commit to an audit to explain why workers are offered scraps while executive salaries soar?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Response? I recognize the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Hon. Michael Parsa: While it would be inappropriate for me to comment on a contract negotiation between the employer and the union, I will say that our primary concern is and will always be on the people that our partners serve in the communities, Madam Speaker. It’s why we provide supports to all our partners.

In this case here, we have increased our support to the CHS to $9.5 million, an increase of more than $440,000. Unfortunately, the opposition voted against that raise last year.

Now, Madam Speaker, we will continue to provide supports to our partners, all agencies, that are delivering vital services to people who rely on them. It’s why the funding of the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services has increased every single year under the leadership of Premier Ford, because we want to make sure those services are readily available to people who need them in our communities.

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

MPP Jamie West: Workers at Canadian Hearing Services love the jobs that they do and the people who they help, but they cannot afford to make ends meet. Instead of negotiating a fair contract, CHS forced a strike, and instead of trying to end the strike they created, CHS came back to the table with a list of demands. CHS didn’t invent this appalling behaviour; they learned it from the Conservative government, who steamrolled workers’ rights with Bill 124, Bill 28 and, right now, with Bill 5.

My question is, what is the Premier doing to ensure that the CEOs like Julia Dumanian from Canadian Hearing Services respect workers and collective bargaining?

Hon. Michael Parsa: We’re very clear: We want to make sure that all the supports and services that are being rendered in the province are done to the highest standard that we expect, which is why we continue to increase support to all our partners, to all these services and the programs that are being provided.

Madam Speaker, as I mentioned, when there are negotiations between an employer and a union, we don’t interfere, but we will make sure that there are contingency plans in place to make sure those supports that people rely on are there when they need them. We will never waver from the commitment of protecting every single Ontarian in this province. That’s a fact, and I hope the opposition will support us in that front.

Post-secondary education

MPP Tyler Watt: This question is for the Premier.

It’s tough to sit here and listen to this government brag about world-class health care, world-class education and world-class post-secondary education when that is just not the reality. Ask any Ontarian, and they know. Seven years, and I continue to be surprised that this government can spend so much yet deliver so little.

Many constituents in my riding of Nepean are students of Algonquin College, and it was announced this year that over 37 programs alone are being cut this fall. Meanwhile, we seem to have an unlimited amount of taxpayer dollars for the government’s self-congratulating ads, a fantasy tunnel under the 401 and a luxury spa here in Toronto.

With unemployment continuing to increase under this government and training programs critical to filling the gaps in our labour market defunded and shutting down, we need to reverse course and invest in our colleges and universities. Speaker, through you to the Premier: What is this government doing to address the crumbling post-secondary education system?

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

Hon. Nolan Quinn: What this government is doing is we’ve invested over $2 billion in the last 14 months into our post-secondary education sector. That’s on top of the $5 billion we give on an annual basis.

On top of that, in this budget, we just announced another $75 million for construction seats, another $55 million for 2,600 teaching seats, another $10 million for First Nations grants as well as almost $57 millio