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December 5, 2024

43rd Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2024-Dec-05 (PDF)

L192 - Thu 5 Dec 2024 / Jeu 5 déc 2024

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Thursday 5 December 2024 Jeudi 5 décembre 2024

Annual report, French Language Services Commissioner

Orders of the Day

Support for Seniors and Caregivers Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 sur le soutien aux personnes âgées et aux fournisseurs de soins

Members’ Statements

Santa Claus parades in Newmarket–Aurora / Shelter services

Winter highway safety

Non-profit organizations

Long-term care

University and college funding

Riding of Windsor West

Public safety

Energy policies

Seniors

Perth–Wellington athletes

Introduction of Visitors

Wearing of ribbons

House sittings

Question Period

Government accountability

Government contracts

Government contracts

Taxation

Public safety

Environmental protection

School facilities

Health care

Seniors’ services

Long-term care

Public safety

Hospital funding

Small business

Taxation

Tobacco control

Business of the House

Correction of record

Visitor

Deferred Votes

More Convenient Care Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 pour plus de soins commodes

Arts and cultural funding

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Government Agencies

Standing Committee on Public Accounts

Introduction of Bills

Robbie’s Legacy Act (Honouring Beloved Organ and Tissue Donors), 2024 / Loi de 2024 sur le legs de Robbie (hommage à nos chers donneurs d’organes et de tissus)

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Visitors

Petitions

Missing persons

Services for the developmentally disabled

Social assistance

Addiction services

Arts and cultural funding

Environmental protection

Labour legislation

Renewable energy

Renewable energy

Public safety

School safety

Environmental protection

Orders of the Day

Resource Management and Safety Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 sur la gestion des ressources et la sécurité

Private Members’ Public Business

Affordable Home Heating Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 sur le chauffage domestique abordable

The House met at 0900.

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

Prières / Prayers.

Annual report, French Language Services Commissioner

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I beg to inform the House that the following document was tabled: the 2023-24 annual report of the French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario, from the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario.

Orders of the Day

Support for Seniors and Caregivers Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 sur le soutien aux personnes âgées et aux fournisseurs de soins

Ms. Kusendova-Bashta moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill 235,

An Act to amend the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021 and the Retirement Homes Act, 2010 / Projet de loi 235, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2021 sur le redressement des soins de longue durée et la Loi de 2010 sur les maisons de retraite.

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

Before I begin I would like to welcome the many stakeholders who are present with us today. Many of them have been friends, supporters and advocates, and I’m so, so proud of the collective work that we have all done together.

We have the Alzheimer Society of Ontario, the Ontario Long Term Care Home Association, AdvantAge Ontario, Community Care Durham, the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario, the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario and the Ontario Brain Institute. We also have representatives from some long-term-care homes: Wellbrook Place. We have Copernicus Lodge. We have Peel Manor, Kipling Acres and Villa Colombo. And last but not least we also have the Ontario Association of Residents’ Councils as well as Family Councils of Ontario. Thank you so much for your presence here today.

Speaker, this morning as I was driving to Queen’s Park, I was reminded of my maiden speech that I made six years ago as a newly elected, 29-year-old, young and energetic MPP. That day represented an incredible milestone for me as I spoke about my upbringing, my father’s medical background, our family’s immigration journey to Canada from Europe and my mom’s incredible courage, perseverance and hard work when she became a single mom to two children in a foreign country, as well as my early nursing career, which was full of challenges, opportunities, dreams and hopes.

I reflected in that speech on how all those lived experiences and circumstances have shaped me into who I was as a 29-year-old, young female MPP, and how they shaped my desire to dedicate my life to serving others, to caring for others and to making a positive impact on the lives of those who surround me. I reflect on that time six years ago, Speaker, because, in many ways, today is an incredible milestone for me.

Today, I’m a little bit older, I like to think wiser—definitely wider—with some experience of what public service means, with its rewards and sacrifices, having lived through a once-in-a-generation global pandemic and having navigated those incredibly challenging times in both of my vocations, as a registered to nurse and as an MPP.

I’d like to share very briefly my experience as an RN working in the COVID unit during the pandemic, because it has left a mark on me and has informed so much of my work, my world views and who I am today. One particular experience comes to mind: I worked a 12-hour shift at Etobicoke General Hospital in the early months of the pandemic. Our hospital established a 16-bed unit in the area which used to be the old emergency room prior to the renovation. This was a small unit, staffed by only four registered nurses, which was serving the sole purpose of offloading long-term-care residents from surrounding homes, because homes, as we remember, were struggling to cope.

What we as nurses did not know at the time was that all the patients who were being transferred to us were severely ill with COVID, with multiple comorbidities and had only a few days or hours to live. We were to provide comfort measures and palliative care, and this is not what we as emergency room nurses were trained to do.

On my first day after getting a report from the night nurse on the four patients in my care, I reviewed their medical history, their medications for the day and planned the nursing interventions. It dawned upon me: “My main job today is to keep my patients comfortable,” coordinate the last family calls through the iPads that we were given for families to say goodbye, and to ensure that no one dies alone.

I remember one moment particularly, etched forever in my memory: There I was, standing in my full PPE, sweating and itching under my N95 mask and my face shield, holding my personal phone because the hospital-issued iPads were not working, to give the family of a long-term-care resident who was in his last hours the chance to say goodbye. In this most intimate moment that family was having, saying, “We love you so much, Nonno,” I felt like an intruder, like I should not be there. I reassured the family that Nonno was not in pain and had all the comfort measures he needed, like oxygen therapy.

The family begged me for a few more minutes on the call, and I obliged, knowing very well that every extra minute I spent in that room I was increasing my own risk of catching COVID.

When it was time to say goodbye to the family, because I had three other patients to attend to, the granddaughter asked me if I could please play his favourite song when the time comes, in his last moment when he is leaving this earth. Do you know what that song was, Speaker? It was Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door. I said that I would do my best.

So for the remainder of that day, I had my phone in my pocket with the song loaded on YouTube. As I was clustering my care around all the other patients, I was nervously monitoring his vital signs to make sure I did not miss that moment. Lo and behold, that moment came towards the end of my shift, at 6 p.m. The blood pressure started dropping, the heart became first fast, then faint, then irregular. Breathing was slowing down, oxygen saturation was dropping. I knew it was time.

I quickly donned my PPE and went into his room with my phone in a Ziploc bag, ready for my mission. I struggled for a minute to get the phone to work, so I took off one glove and got the phone to play. As soon as the song started playing, he opened his eyes and smiled at me. I tried to smile through my mask and instinctively grabbed his hand with my bare hand. We looked at each other for maybe 10 seconds and listened to, “Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door.” His breathing became even more shallow and heartbeat was fainting.

From his eyes, I knew that he knew what was happening. It was like the whole universe froze in time and no one else existed, just me and this patient. And then he closed his eyes, took his last breath and was gone: flat line on the monitor, no pulse, no breathing, his warm hand still in mine.

I wanted to start my speech today by sharing this story because I wanted to honour the memory of all the lives we have lost in the pandemic, especially in long-term care, but also because I wanted to celebrate the thousands of lives that we saved and the hundreds of thousands of our incredible health care workers, who went through very similar and much more difficult experiences to provide the best care we possibly could with the resources that were available to us at the time. These nurses, these PSWs, these health care workers, truly are our health care heroes.

The experience of the pandemic has shaped me and has shaped all of us collectively as a community, as a province. I can proudly say that the many lessons learned and the policy changes our government put in place, like closing ward 3 and ward 4 beds, hiring IPAC leads in every home, robust vaccination practices and made-in-Canada PPE—steady supply—are having the desired effect, such that our COVID infections today in long-term care are the lowest they have ever been.

Let’s fast-forward to today. Today, I still pinch myself when I get introduced as the Honourable Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Ontario’s Minister of Long-Term Care. This truly is a privilege of a lifetime. This truly is my dream job.

So today, as I lead debate on the Support for Seniors and Caregivers Act, I want to thank the Premier, Premier Ford, for putting his trust in me.

I want to thank my mom, Anna Kusendova, who is here in the gallery who has sacrificed so much of herself and her own dreams to give me and my brother the best possible circumstances to grow up into decent human beings; my husband, Mina, who is watching, who is my rock and gives me the wings to fly as high as I choose to; and my incredible team at the Ministry of Long-Term Care, who have worked day in and day out since I became minister six months ago leading up to today, including Deputy Minister Thomson, as well as my deputy policy director Fizza Mirza, who led the file on our political team.

We know that as Ontario is growing at an unprecedented rate, it is also aging at an unprecedented rate. While this provides opportunities, it also provides challenges that must be addressed today. This is why we are here now: to provide the supports our seniors deserve and need, no matter where they call home. While I am the Minister of Long-Term Care, I am also a nurse, and I know care is not provided in only one place. The investments and changes we are proposing today will help connect Ontario seniors to care wherever they may be.

We know that over the next 20 years, Canada’s seniors’ population is expected to grow by 68%. Here in Ontario, seniors—those aged 65 years or older—are the fastest-growing group in the province. In 2016, 16.4% of Ontario’s population was 65 years or older. By 2041, it is projected that 25% of Ontario’s population will be 65 years or older, growing from three million seniors in 2016 to 4.6 million seniors. That’s a lot of seniors, Speaker.

As a nurse, I know that as people age, they need more support. This bill will continue to build on our government’s support for seniors. As we plan for care and support needs of our seniors, we know that we cannot deploy a one-size-fits-all approach. Not everyone requires the same level of support. Some need social supports to stay engaged and promote mental health and well-being. Others need caregivers to help manage their medications and help with activities of daily living, like dressing, bathing and grooming, while others require increasingly complex around-the-clock medical and nursing care, such that is provided in our long-term-care homes.

This is not some group of other people—these are our parents, our grandparents, our aunts, our uncles, our families. These are the same people who built Ontario, who raised us, who contributed to our economy and our growth. And these are the same people who now rely on us for care, love and support. We owe them nothing less than the love and care they gave to us. Supporting our seniors wherever they choose to age is a core principle of this comprehensive plan.

Now, with Ontario’s senior population growing so rapidly, we must act now, we must act today, to ensure they lead healthy, independent and engaged lives for as long as possible, while providing them with the care that they deserve, which is exactly what this proposed legislation and suite of initiatives and investments endeavour to do.

These proposed changes are part of a broader plan being implemented by the province to better support seniors and those who care for them, by improving and expanding supports for seniors living in long-term care, retirement homes and the community. This is why our government has introduced the Support for Seniors and Caregivers Act, and this is also why this act makes targeted investments of $114 million to various programs to address the needs of our seniors and caregivers from every angle possible.

This comprehensive legislation will amend acts and regulations, contains new investments and policy initiatives, all in an evidence-based approach that is built on the needs and priorities of Ontario seniors. The legislation is comprised of three pillars: improving dementia care and supports; supporting seniors, their families and caregivers; and protecting seniors and enhancing social connections.

Madam Speaker, the Support for Seniors and Caregivers Act, 2024, proposes legislative amendments to the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021, and the Retirement Homes Act, 2010. I would like to now review those amendments along with our related initiatives in each of these pillars.

The first pillar, as I mentioned, is improving dementia care and supports. I will call this the purple pillar, because purple is the colour for Alzheimer’s and dementia, as well as the colour of those flowers, the forget-me-nots, that we wear during our advocacy days. Some of the initiatives contained in this purple pillar are related to the work that the member for Thornhill and I did on Bill 121, Improving Dementia Care in Ontario Act, and I would like to thank some key stakeholders who are here in the gallery today, like the Alzheimer Society of Ontario and the Ontario Brain Institute.

Back on September 24, just a few days after World Alzheimer’s Day, I had the opportunity to speak at the Alzheimer Society of Peel’s second annual dementia day conference. At that conference, I spoke some hard truths, which is the same information I’d like to share with you today. Right now, in Ontario, around 250,000 are living with dementia, although I have seen numbers as high as 320,000 in some reports. And according to the Alzheimer Society, Ontario will see dementia cases rise by 202% over the next 20 years.

The truth is every single person in this room, or every single person watching, either has a loved one suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s or knows someone who has a loved one. As many of you know, a dementia diagnosis does not impact just one individual; it impacts the entire community, circle of friends and the family. Simply put, Alzheimer’s and dementia impact us all.

But I will tell you what I told the Alzheimer Society of Peel: I have hope. There is light at the end of the tunnel. It is that light that we must shine and bring into focus.

Speaker, we know that Alzheimer’s and dementia are not a normal part of aging, and since it is not a normal part of the aging process, then with time we may find a cure and a way to prevent and treat this disease. The good news is that there is something that each and every one of us can do to lower our risk of developing dementia. There are 12 modifiable risk factors found by the Lancet Commission and published in their 2020 report.

I’d like to name some of them: for example, hearing loss, acquiring a traumatic brain injury, hypertension, alcohol consumption, obesity, smoking, social isolation, physical inactivity, diabetes—all of these are modifiable risk factors. These 12 factors could theoretically delay or prevent around 40% of dementia cases worldwide.

So let’s pause for a moment and let that sink in. We all have the power to potentially reduce our risk of dementia by 40%. Why don’t we do it? Why don’t we eat healthier, exercise more, meditate, seek social connection, check our vision and hearing, quit smoking and practise self-care?

I would like to share something that is an area of vulnerability for me, with the hope to inspire others. About two years ago, I started noticing my hearing was getting worse, and for a politician, hearing is an important part of our job and being able to communicate with our stakeholders and constituents. Even yesterday, I was at a reception and people were talking to me, and you know how receptions get loud and rowdy. So I got used to just nodding and smiling and pretending like I knew what they were saying. Actually, I didn’t understand what that particular person was saying to me yesterday. How many of you have been in similar situations?

I know—and I have seen the studies. I have seen actual brain scans in studies that show that hearing loss over time actually causes our brains to shrink. So why haven’t I found time in the last two years to go and get my hearing checked? Because I’m busy, just like every single one of you. There is always something more important, always a bigger priority.

So today I commit to all of you, as my New Year’s resolution, after I have my baby, I will go and get my hearing checked. And you know what? If it results in me having to wear a hearing aid, well, I’m going to start a new trend and make hearing aids very cool.

I would love to inspire each and every one of you to look at those 12 risk-modifiable factors. Pick one that is of concern for you, whether that’s healthy eating, whether that’s exercising more, getting your eyes checked or your hearing checked, and do it as part of your New Year’s resolution. Because if we all do that and if we all raise awareness and talk to our family and friends about these factors, then collectively we will be contributing to lowering our collective risk of developing dementia.

For now, today, we must do everything we can to support people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and their families. From awareness, prevention and diagnosis to treatment and care, our proposed legislation and related initiatives aim to improve the care and supports that people living with dementia receive.

Speaker, this legislation, if passed, would amend the Fixing Long-Term Care Act and require all long-term-care homes to have an organized program for dementia care and services—and we have many representatives of our long-term-care homes present here today. This requirement would be similar in nature to other programs in long-term-care homes such as palliative care.

This proposed amendment would build upon our previous investments in dementia supports such as Behavioural Supports Ontario services, which provide person-centred, evidence-informed supports and services for older adults who have, or at risk for, responsive behaviours associated with dementia, complex mental health, substance use and other neurological conditions. In fact, we just grew the base funding for this program by $11 million this year to bring the annual funding total to $95 million. This proposed amendment would help improve the quality of care for 60% of long-term-care residents living with dementia.

To support this, Madam Speaker, our government plans to make targeted investments to develop a new program to train long-term-care staff in emotion-based models of care, which are designed to improve outcomes for residents living with dementia.

So when we think of emotion-based models of care, one model that comes to mind is the butterfly model, and we have representatives from Peel Manor here today who have implemented the butterfly model. Many of you have probably visited homes that have the butterfly model. Basically, we’re using colours and we’re creating experiences for our seniors. For example, we can design every door to a resident’s room that will trigger a memory.

So, if someone was a firefighter in their past life, we would actually paint the room to make it look like a fire station, because seniors living with dementia, if they live in a home that does not respond to these needs, they might wander, they might get lost, they might not know which room is actually theirs. By having these personalized experiences that trigger those positive memories, we’re truly centring the care around the person. In short, Madam Speaker, it humanizes the care residents receive at a time when empathy and compassion are needed the most.

But that’s not all we are proposing. The Ministry of Long-Term Care will also work with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities to incorporate additional dementia elements into personal support worker education standards—this is something I heard about a lot in my work as a nurse but also as an MPP—that our PSWs, when they graduate and start working in long-term care, might not necessarily be prepared for the realities of working with someone with dementia. So by strengthening the standard we’re going to empower PSWs who work not only in long-term care but also in home care and in the community, to provide better supports for those living with dementia.

Madam Speaker, other steps that we are taking: We are continuing the support for the Alzheimer Society of Ontario’s First Link program and the Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County dementia coaches. Crucially important programs for dementia care, First Link and dementia coaches assist those newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia and their families with where to turn to for help in their time of need.

The First Link program is a program that the member for Thornhill talked about a lot. She didn’t know that that program existed when she was going through caregiving experiences for her aunt and another family member.

First Link is a navigation program where families who are newly diagnosed with dementia—or have loved ones newly diagnosed—can access supports and be linked to services. That is why it is extremely important that we are continuing and supporting that vital work.

Madam Speaker, families want to know that their loved ones are getting the most up-to-date treatment and medication which is also why in this proposed legislation we will continue our government’s supports of the made-in- Ontario program GeriMedRisk. GeriMedRisk is a service run by Ontario clinicians for Ontario clinicians. It provides physicians, nurse practitioners and pharmacists with a central hub for specialist information regarding optimizing medications, mental health and comorbidities in older adult patients.

Speaker, the second pillar of our plan focuses on supporting seniors, their families and caregivers across the health care system. I call this the blue pillar, the colour of the caregiver scrubs. A number of initiatives fall under this pillar. This bill, if passed, would amend the Retirement Homes Act—specifically the retirement home Residents’ Bill of Rights—to reinforce residents’ rights to ongoing support from caregivers such as family members and friends who provide physical, mental, social and emotional supports.

It also aligns with amendments to the Fixing Long-Term Care Act to acknowledge the importance of caregivers in the health care sector. We know that caregivers do so much of the additional support and additional work that our loved ones and our residents require, so by having this embedded in our legislation we are celebrating the hundreds of thousands of hours of work that our caregivers provide.

And for long-term-care homes, this proposed legislation includes measures to enhance recognition and respect for the diversity of residents. The expanded program would ensure residents are given reasonable opportunities to practise their religious and spiritual beliefs and to observe the requirements of those beliefs and develop and implement initiatives that recognize the cultural diversity of residents and communities. These changes would result in improved recognition and respect for the experiences, histories, beliefs and needs of our residents. Speaker, we know that diversity is our strength, and we are celebrating that strength through these acts.

On top of the regulatory and legislative changes and amendments, several initiatives proposed under this pillar will complement the legislation. We are investing $20 million in adult day programs like the one that I visited in Whitby—Durham—which offer social programming and peer connections, helping reduce social isolation and serve a range of seniors, including those with dementia. Speaker, it’s always fun to watch our seniors as they gather together with their friends, play bingo or a game of cards or simply share a coffee, and that’s exactly what we are supporting today.

Adult day programming, as you know, also benefits caregivers by providing them with much-needed time and resources to simply take a break, to take a breath, to run some errands or to practise self-care.

We are also preparing to launch a pilot project, community access to long-term care, inspired by someone who is in the audience today. This pilot project will give seniors still living in their own homes access to certain services that are currently only available to those living in long-term care, such as recreational and social programming, dementia cafés, clinical services, podiatry—all kinds of personal care. So instead of having long-term-care homes be closed and isolated away from the community, through this pilot project we want to open up long-term-care homes, invite the community in and see the magic that can happen.

This legislation will also support the caregivers and families of people living with dementia through expanded access to respite services, and most caregivers are loved ones with personal connections to those they are looking after. As we know, respite services give those caregivers a well-deserved break so they can also take care of their health, so I’m very happy that we are investing into respite services as part of this pillar.

Madam Speaker, this brings us to our last and final pillar, which focuses on protections and social connections for our seniors that will help reduce all forms of senior abuse and decrease social isolation, address staffing challenges to ensure consistent quality of care in long-term-care homes and support the prevention and management of infectious diseases in retirement homes.

I’d like to once again thank everybody who has contributed to this bill being introduced. I look forward to hearing debate from my colleagues in opposition. I hope that collectively we can build better supports for our seniors, wherever they may live.

Hon. Raymond Sung Joon Cho: It is an honour to rise today and speak to the Support for Seniors and Caregivers Act. This is a bill which recognizes the importance of seniors in our province.

Seniors helped build Ontario, the best province in the best country in the world. They have given their time, energy and effort to build this marvellous province that we call home. Our seniors deserve to live their lives with dignity and respect. As a super senior myself, I understand how our seniors continue to contribute to our communities in their seventies, eighties, nineties and beyond.

It is incumbent upon us to honour the contributions of our seniors all across this province by helping to ensure that they are able to stay connected in our communities, and it is important for us to recognize the diversity of our seniors, who started out from all corners of the world and now call Ontario home.

Under the leadership of our Premier, Doug Ford, this is a government that believes in an important mandate for our seniors: that they should be able to live in their homes and communities for as long as they wish. This is core to how our government is delivering services and supports for our seniors: providing them with choice. When we provide choice, Madam Speaker, we are meeting seniors how they want to be met. We are giving those who want digital options a wider array of digital services.

For those who want to engage in their language of choice, we have expanded access through 211 Ontario and the seniors safety line to over 200 languages. We are breaking down barriers for seniors, providing them supports in the language of and at the time of their choosing, because seniors matter to our government and to this Premier.

Our government has made considerable investments to support helping our seniors to stay active, safe and connected in our communities. We have expanded community-based care for seniors. We have introduced new refundable tax credits to support aging at home. My ministry has doubled the size of our Seniors Community Grant Program, now providing up to $6 million to local community groups through our grants of up to $25,000. These grants matter, Madam Speaker, because our government believes in the importance of empowering local communities to know the best ways to help their seniors stay connected.

Our government believes that as we provide them with the tools and resources they need, each community is also to offer the right programs and activities that our seniors will find tailored to their needs.

One of my favourite programs which our government offers is the Seniors Active Living Centres Program. Last year, our government expanded the number of SALCs by 17, helping to address the geographic gaps in coverage from the existing network. This year, through the leadership of our Premier and the Minister of Finance, we are adding 100 more SALCs. Madam Speaker, this is incredible.

Our SALCs play a critical role as hubs for our seniors to stay healthy, active and connected in our communities. They help seniors access information from local health partners. They work with organizations like the Ontario Securities Commission to provide information on how seniors can stay safe and not fall victim to financial fraud. They are places where seniors can have fun, strengthen existing—and make new—friendships.

This came home to me last year when I was travelling to visit one of our SALCs in northern Ontario. I had a 92-year-old woman come up to me. She said, “Minister Cho, this centre saved my life.” I was understandably curious. So I said, “How?” I asked, “How did the centre save your life?” She shared with me that her husband had passed away a few years ago. She lived a little outside of the local town. She found herself becoming isolated from everyone who had been in her social circle. She felt her health starting to take a turn for the worse.

Thankfully, two of her friends had come to her house and nearly forced her to leave the house and come to the local seniors centre. At the centre, she was able to have fun, learning new skills and making new friends.

It was these new social connections which she made that helped her to feel reinvigorated. New friends, new connections and new skills that she learned helped to give her an extra reason to get out of bed in the morning. Her health got better, and now, she was able to help other new members feel welcome and connected into the local senior community. This is just one of many examples I could give about how our SALCs are actively making a difference in our province today. There are hundreds of thousands of seniors who are involved in these programs today and whose examples I could have offered instead.

We are changing lives for the better with this program. We know that social isolation is enemy number one for our seniors. When our seniors are isolated, their mental health suffers. Their physical health suffers. Studies show that when our seniors are socially connected, they are less likely to need acute care help. The quality of their life is vastly improved. They are able to live the lives of dignity and respect that they deserve.

This is why the expansion of this program is so important; it is a game-changer for seniors in Ontario. We are adding nearly 33% more SALCs in Ontario over the next year. These SALCs will fill in areas where geography, culture or language could be a barrier for seniors to access local programs.

We know that the number of seniors is growing in Ontario. Each day, we have approximately 400 more seniors in Ontario and the cultural and linguistic make-up of our seniors has changed over the past 30 years in our province. It is so much more important now to have choices that are culturally and linguistically appropriate to help seniors feel safe and connected. I am proud to be part of a government that offers access through 211 Ontario and the seniors safety line to services in over 200 languages. As Ontarians age, they often feel most comfortable in their first language.

By expanding the number of cultural and linguistic options available to seniors, we are mirroring the successes of 211 Ontario and the seniors safety line in expansion of our seniors active living centres. We are making sure that language doesn’t create barriers for our seniors, in the same way we have been expanding our SALC network in the past year to help address geographic gaps.

We know how hard winters can be in Ontario; it can make travelling far difficult for many Ontarians. This is why it is important that we are adding more locations across the province to help provide those living in rural Ontario with a similar level of access to those services, as those living in urban Ontario. This continues the strategy of our government to ensure that all Ontarians can access the supports and services they need, accessible in the manner of their preference. Our government is one for all the people of our amazing province.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): I recognize the member from Essex.

Mr. Anthony Leardi: I’m pleased to address Bill 235 this morning and in my opening remarks, I’d like to say that, as usual, we don’t take enough time in the Legislature to recognize the accomplishments of our colleagues and fellow members. I would like to take a moment to recognize some of the accomplishments of the Minister of Long-Term Care, who’s also the MPP for Mississauga Centre.

Madam Speaker, the record of building long-term care and supportive care in the province of Ontario has been discussed many times in this Legislature, and I want to discuss it a little bit again.

Under the previous government, for 15 years, they managed to build and supply fewer than 700 new spots for care in the province of Ontario.

However, under the leadership of the Premier, since 2018, this government has embarked on a massive expansion of facilities in the province of Ontario. And literally as we speak, thousands of new spots are under construction—and have been constructed—which are going to provide excellent care and a home for people who need one in the province of Ontario.

I want to talk about one example that’s specific to me, and I think it’s illustrative of the type of thing that’s going on in the province of Ontario. I want to make specific reference to two towns that are in the area of Essex county.

There is the town of Belle River, which is actually situated in Essex county, and then also the town of Tilbury, which is just slightly outside the border of Essex county. In the town of Tilbury, there was a long-term-care home that was getting on in years, and the operator of that home wanted to build a new one. The old one could only handle 75 residents, and as I said, it was getting on in years. So the proponent, which is Arch Long Term Care, wanted to build a brand new facility in Belle River, Ontario.

It would be twice the size, it would handle 150 residents, and it would be a brand new, state-of-the-art facility. That proposal needed a licence from the province of Ontario. Of course, they applied for a licence and then advertised publicly that they had applied for a licence.

After Arch Long Term Care applied for the licence, that application was opposed by the NDP, who called on this government to deny the application. Some reasons were given for that—but Tilbury and Belle River are only 15 minutes apart. Well, the call for denial was in itself denied. The government did not follow the advice of the NDP, but rather the government granted a new licence to Arch Long Term Care.

And as we speak, today, in the town of Belle River, a brand new facility is under construction, which will provide 150 residents with a new, state-of-the-art facility, where they can move and stay within the community they grew up in. That’s great news, not only for Belle River, but also for Tilbury. It’s going to be a brand new facility. It’s going to provide 150 modern spots for residents. It’s going to have the butterfly-style environment. This government is proud to have approved and supported that expansion.

That means families in Belle River and in Tilbury will be able to stay close to their loved ones and enjoy continuing their relationship with them into their golden years. And after all, isn’t that what we all want? We want to stay close to our loved ones and enjoy them in their golden years.

I thought I would offer that explanation and short story as an illustration of the type of support and the type of programs that this government supports in this sector.

Turning my attention to Bill 235 itself, I thought that I would address what I will call the enforcement provisions of this bill because I think the enforcement provisions are rather important. Although the much-qualified Minister of Long-Term Care would talk about the support and the care that we give to residents, people like myself would actually draw our attention to other portions of the bill, which will involve enforcement and investigation.

Let me make reference to some of these paragraphs. It might surprise members of this Legislature that there is something called a “warrant” mentioned in this bill. Usually, when you talk about a warrant, you think of a police officer knocking on your door. Actually, there are all sorts of enforcement officers who might exercise a warrant to enforce the law.

What this particular

section says is, “Upon application made without notice by an inspector, a provincial judge or justice of the peace may issue a warrant authorizing an inspector named in the warrant to enter premises specified in the warrant and to exercise any of the powers mentioned in

section 150, if the provincial judge or justice of the peace is satisfied on information under oath....” That’s a rather strong enforcement provision. It’s very strong, in my opinion. It actually authorizes an inspector to enter a home and do an investigation and seize evidence just like a police officer would.

In fact, if we continue on reading Bill 235, there are a series of enforcement provisions. I want to list them before I start delving into the specifics of them. There are investigations with warrant, powers under the warrant and conditions on warrant. There is a provision for assistance. There is a provision for a time of execution of the warrant. There’s even a provision for use of force. There’s a provision dealing with copies of seized items, admissibility of evidence, obtaining further warrants, seizure of things not specified, searches in what we call “exigent circumstances,” and again, the use of force. Now, I’m going to delve a little bit into detail into some of these.

We already learned that an inspector can apply for and obtain a warrant, and here are some of the powers after obtaining the warrant that the inspector can exercise:

“1. To enter or access the building, dwelling, receptacle or place specified in the warrant and seize, examine and remove anything described in the warrant.

“2. To make reasonable inquiries of any person, orally or in writing, with respect to anything relevant to the investigation.

“3. To use any data storage, processing or retrieval device or system located at the premises in order to produce a record, information or evidence described in the warrant, in readable form.

“4. To require a person to produce the information or evidence described in the warrant and to provide whatever assistance is reasonably necessary, including using any data storage, processing or retrieval device or system to produce, in any form, the information or evidence described in the warrant.

“5. To use any investigative technique or procedure described in the warrant or do anything described in the warrant.”

That’s a pretty standard phrase that you might see, for example, in the Criminal Code of Canada. In other words, this is an investigative technique and a technique where an investigator can enter a premises, in this case a residence, and seize evidence—and seize evidence that’s even computerized—and produce a copy of that evidence.

These are very serious powers and that’s why you need to obtain a warrant from a provincial court judge, and that is set out in this legislation.

Let’s read a little bit more about the enforcement provisions in this: “A provincial offences officer may call upon police officers for assistance in executing the warrant and may use whatever force is reasonably necessary to execute the warrant.” That would be highly unusual that force would be used in circumstances of a residence that’s contemplated under this legislation. But it’s more common that an inspector might in advance contact a local police force and say, “Listen, I’m going to conduct an investigation at this particular spot. I don’t know what’s going to happen when I get there.

Would you kindly escort me in the front door just so everybody knows that this is serious business and nobody should try to suppress evidence and nobody should try to, perhaps, be uncooperative?” These are very strong enforcement measures in this legislation.

Here’s another

section that I want to talk about: “A provincial offences officer who is lawfully present in a place pursuant to a warrant or otherwise in the execution of their duties may, without a warrant, seize anything in plain view....” Sometimes something is described in a warrant, and sometimes it’s not. If it’s relevant evidence and it’s not described in the warrant, the inspector can still enter that residence and take into possession that evidence if it is relevant to the investigation.

Those are three of the provisions that I’ve just spoken about, and why they’re important is because this is legislation that is meant to have teeth, and the teeth are in the legislation. This is legislation that empowers investigators to carry out the investigations they need to make sure that this legislation is in place. I thought that that was worth referring to.

Another great piece of this legislation specifically says the following: “Without restricting the generality of subsection (1), every licensee shall ensure that residents are given reasonable opportunity to practise their religious and spiritual beliefs, and to observe the requirements of those beliefs.” And that’s an excellent provision to be in this bill because these religious practices—you can call them cultural practices if you don’t want to call them religious practices—are important to people.

They’re important to people as they enter their golden years, and they’re important to people throughout their life. People need to rely on these practices. These practices give people inspiration and condolence. These practices help people deal with everyday activities. These practices are assistive practices that are meaningful for people, and they should be allowed to continue these practices just as they practised them at home. Switching homes doesn’t mean you should discontinue your previous practices.

You should be allowed to continue your practices and to continue them in your new home, wherever that might be. I think that is a spectacular addition to this bill, and it was worth specifically being mentioned.

Finally, I’d like to refer to one more thing in this bill. It refers to encouraging licensees, essentially, to do what they’re required to do, and it makes an offence of what we call abuse or neglect. That is outlined very early, and it requires, essentially, licensees to comply. That was worth mentioning as well, because those could constitute offences under this act, and, as I said in my earlier comments, there are strong enforcement provisions in this act to make people comply.

I want to congratulate the minister on this act and thank the Legislative Assembly for this opportunity.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): Questions?

MPP Wayne Gates: Well, first of all, I’d like to welcome the groups here to Queen’s Park. Welcome.

But I’d like to let this group know that, yesterday, this bill was dropped at 1:31—1:31. No discussion with the opposition, no discussion with the critic—which I am for long-term care, as everybody knows. No discussion at all.

I haven’t forgot that this government was in charge when we lost 6,000 of our seniors during COVID. I haven’t forgot that in the private organizations—78% of them—died during COVID. I haven’t forgotten about Bill 7.

But it’s absolutely shameful that this government drops a bill as important as this, and as important as our seniors are—not only in long-term care and the retirement homes and home care—with absolutely no discussion and asking me to provide an hour lead one day later. It’s terrible.

I didn’t have a chance to talk to you guys. I’m sorry; I haven’t had a chance to talk to you because I got the bill yesterday at 1:31. I was in the House at 1:31—

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): Comments through the Chair.

MPP Wayne Gates: So, I apologize to you. You answer whatever one of those questions you like.

Hon. Natalia Kusendova-Bashta: I’m not sure if there actually was a question in there, but very respectfully and collaboratively to my colleague: Today is a big win for our residents, for our seniors and for caregivers. In that spirit of collaboration, I would like to invite the member to a lunch we will be having with our stakeholders this afternoon, to give him an opportunity to engage with them.

But, Speaker, we are exactly doing that. We are engaging in discussion. This is the legislative process, where we debate ideas, so this is exactly what people of Ontario elected us to do. I invite him to propose his ideas, to debate this legislation and to propose amendments. If he has some better ideas on how we can make this legislation even stronger, even more robust, I would love to hear from him. That’s exactly what we’re doing. We’re engaging in discussion today through the legislative process.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): Question?

Mr. John Jordan: The member from Essex was talking about new homes. Again, I want to thank the Ministry of Long-Term Care for the three new homes in my riding, in Almonte, Carleton Place and Smiths Falls. They’re beautiful homes. The residents are already in two of those homes, and Smiths Falls is near completion.

I want to follow up on the minister’s comments regarding dementia. It’s really shocking—the comment about dementia cases increasing by over 200% in 20 years. I think the training is really important with regard to the funding for dementia—training specifically for implementing emotion-based models of care within long-term-care homes. Often, dementia will present in behaviour.

I’m wondering if the minister can expand on that training and how it will impact our long-term-care homes.

Hon. Natalia Kusendova-Bashta: Thank you so much for that question.

I also want to thank the member for his work. When he was my predecessor, when he was the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Long-Term Care, he certainly laid down some of the groundwork for the bill today.

The member is right; we are investing in emotion-based models of care. Through this pilot, we’ll be investing in 15 homes that will train their staff in how to provide communication techniques, such as gentle persuasive approaches or other techniques to support those living with dementia. Through these investments, we’re targeting about 1,800 residents—to train up the staff, the PSWs, the nurses in emotion-based care approaches. It’s a big win for the dementia community. And we’ll continue building on those important investments.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): Next question?

Ms. Jessica Bell: I’d like to thank the member for Mississauga Centre for her excellent speech.

I listened very closely to your personal experience as a nurse during the COVID pandemic. It must have been incredibly difficult to go through that experience and many others.

Hon. Natalia Kusendova-Bashta: Thank you so much for that question.

I’m very proud that it was this government that has actually enacted legislation, and we put it in the legislation, to raise the hours of direct care per resident per day to four hours of care per day. I’m happy to report to this House that today, on average, we are providing three hours and 42 minutes of direct care per resident per day. So, since we became elected, we raised the hours by one full hour. This represents about 15 days of more care every single resident in every single one of our homes receives. This is a great, great achievement. We’ll continue building on those investments.

Specifically, to answer the question about infrastructure, homes have different funding streams through which they can apply. They can apply to the Local Priorities Fund—and the minor infrastructure project fund, as well, that they can apply to. We will, of course, consider those applications on a per-need basis, and we’ll support homes by providing this infrastructure funding.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): The next question?

M me Dawn Gallagher Murphy: My question is for the Minister of Long-Term Care.

We all have family members or loved ones who are currently in or may one day be in a long-term-care home. My mother was in a long-term-care home, with Alzheimer’s.

Understandably, my constituents, like many others across this province, are deeply concerned about the quality of care their loved ones will receive and how their safety and dignity will be protected in those homes.

My question: Can the minister inform this chamber how the introduction of an individual offence for abuse and neglect of long-term-care residents will serve to protect residents and, additionally, how this measure works in conjunction with strengthened inspection and investigation powers?

Hon. Natalia Kusendova-Bashta: Thank you for that very important question, and I think it’s a timely one, because the safety of our most vulnerable residents, such as those living with dementia, is paramount to this government. Previous to our legislation, the only offences that could be charged under the act were actually offences to the licensee. But individual staff members or volunteers who could be participating in neglect or abuse of residents were unable to be charged.

Through the legislation, we are introducing the individual offence, and this will ensure that licensees are not unfairly penalized for actions they could not foresee. This is introducing targeted accountability, where guilty staff members will face consequences under the law, not the home itself. This will result in safer homes as well as better tools for our inspectors to use.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): Questions?

MPP Wayne Gates: I did want to talk a little about caregivers. Because I brought a motion forward, going back just maybe a month ago, on caregivers. We have 3.4 million caregivers in the province of Ontario, that put in 20, 30, 40 hours sometimes a day. They’re losing their jobs sometimes to take care of their loved ones. And I brought the motion forward that they should be given financial contribution of $400 or $500—like they do in other provinces—yet the minister and their party voted it down.

I’d like to know, if you care about caregivers—and it’s part of the bill which I’ll speak on, obviously, next time it is called—why did you vote against caregivers for financial benefit when they’re putting 20, 30, 40 hours, really doing the government’s job and helping their loved ones. Why did you vote against it?

Hon. Natalia Kusendova-Bashta: The purpose of this bill is to support seniors and their caregivers, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. We have targeted investments. We are investing in respite care. We’re investing in adult day programs. By investing in these programs, we are off-loading caregivers so they can go run errands. They can do their medical appointments. They can do their grocery shopping. We’re also providing funding for respite care, which is more long-term. It could be several weeks—if the family or the caregiver needs to travel somewhere. So, we’re investing into those programs.

We’re also piloting a new project which I’m very excited about, the Community Access to Long-Term Care pilot with the same goal to bring people who need supports from the community into long-term care to give that much much-needed respite to caregivers.

I’m excited about these investments, and I’m very excited about this legislation.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): Thank you. It is now time for members’ statements.

Second reading debate deemed adjourned.

Members’ Statements

Santa Claus parades in Newmarket–Aurora / Shelter services

M me Dawn Gallagher Murphy: Christmas came early to Newmarket–Aurora this year. The Newmarket Santa Claus Parade was a magical event with thousands of people lining the streets of downtown historic Main Street. Christmas carols were being played while children were beaming with excitement in anticipation of seeing old St. Nick.

The Aurora Santa Under the Stars Parade lit up the evening down Yonge Street, and thousands of people again lined the streets, with the realization that Christmas is only one month away.

Merry Christmas, one and all.

Winter highway safety

Mr. John Vanthof: Over the last few days, we’ve heard a lot about road closures in the district of Muskoka, Gravenhurst, Washago. Our heart goes out to those people; it really does.

But what you don’t hear in the news most of the time is that after that, the highways are closed multiple times. Highway 11/17 were closed multiple times—a six-transport pileup on Highway 11 and multiple in my riding as well. It’s not necessarily a road maintenance issue; there was a little bit of snow. People in northern Ontario are rightfully frightened of their main street and every time that the minister gets up and says, “We have the safest roads in North America,” people in northern Ontario feel not only disrespected; they get angrier and angrier and angrier.

All our families are coming home for Christmas, hopefully. We all want our families to come home safe—all of us do. But mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles in northern Ontario really are frightened that their families might not make it. I’m not exaggerating this—I’m not. We need to understand that the Trans-Canada Highway in northern Ontario is not a safe route. We all have the responsibility to change that, especially the government: not just maintenance, but also to make sure that commercial drivers can actually drive in northern conditions. That’s your responsibility; you haven’t taken it so far. You better, because the next death is on you.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I remind the member: I take full responsibility for everything I do, and I remind him to make his comments through the Chair.

Mr. John Vanthof: My apologies.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): It’s okay.

Non-profit organizations

Mrs. Daisy Wai: It’s that time of year again when the holiday spirit fills our hearts and communities. On November 29, the Salvation Army in Richmond Hill launched its annual Christmas Kettle Campaign at Hillcrest Mall. This campaign plays a crucial role in supporting local children, families and newcomers to Canada.

As we gather with loved ones this season, we must remember the many in our community who need our help. I am proud of the many organizations and volunteers who make it their mission to support those in need. I would like to take a moment to appreciate the non-profit organizations in our community. These organizations, along with their dedicated staff and volunteers, work tirelessly to improve lives and provide critical services, often without recognition.

I also want to acknowledge that the next Non-Profit Sector Appreciation Week will take place from February 10 to 14, 2025. I encourage everyone to join us in celebrating the invaluable work of our non-profit organizations. Let’s celebrate their remarkable contributions to the non-profit sector, not just during that week, but every week.

Long-term care

MPP Lise Vaugeois: I am deeply concerned that people are being blocked from visiting their relatives in long-term care, because of the illegal use of the Trespass to Property Act. Paul Ziman has been banned from seeing his mother for over a year, because he expressed anger about the quality of her care. And because his father can only visit with his assistance, his father has not been able to see his wife for over a year. The result? Paul’s mother Anna has been forced into social isolation by her care facility.

The Fixing Long-Term Care Act states that residents have the right to receive visitors of their choice. Sadly, the Minister of Long-Term Care has suggested, incorrectly, that the Trespass to Property Act can be used in exceptional circumstances, but case law does not support this claim. Only the occupant of the unit—in this case, Anna—has the right to say who may or may not enter her home. The facility does not have this right and when they abuse their authority, the financial burden falls on the banned family member to take the home to court.

If a person is a threat to the health and safety of people in a care home, the home must apply the correct legal remedies, all of which require due process and the provision of evidence.

The isolation of seniors from their families is a cruel form of intimidation. I am calling on the government to step up, educate police officers and care homes on the correct use of the Trespass to Property Act and once and for all stop these abuses.

University and college funding

Mr. Billy Pang: On November 4, joined by Premier Ford and many of our fellow colleagues, I had the honour of attending the grand opening of York University’s newest campus, located in the heart of my riding of Markham–Unionville. This state-of-the-art facility will equip students with the skills needed to succeed in today’s economy.

While supporting the growth of local industries and creating new pathways for success in my community, our government recognized the importance of modern, innovative learning environments. That’s why we are investing over $201 million in the past year to ensure publicly assisted colleges and universities have the facilities, learning tools and equipment needed to prepare students for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

In addition, we are supporting made-in-Ontario innovation by committing over $92 million to research projects across universities, colleges, research institutes and research hospitals. This investment will drive growth, fuel discovery and shape the future of our workforce.

I would like to once again congratulate York University on the opening of this new campus. It’s an exciting milestone for Markham–Unionville and a bright step forward for Ontario’s future.

Riding of Windsor West

MPP Lisa Gretzky: It has been a tough six and a half years for many families in Windsor under this Conservative government. The cost of living has skyrocketed. The unemployment rate in Windsor is the highest in the entire country. Those on ODSP and OW are in deep, legislated poverty.

The Feed Ontario Hunger Report notes that in 2023-24, over one million individuals accessed a food bank in Ontario, visiting almost 7.7 million times. First-time users represented 77% of those needing support. Food bank use has been on the rise for eight years. This is the second year of unprecedented surge in demand. The main reasons: insufficient income and unaffordable housing, and homelessness is at a historically high level.

This is reality under this Conservative government, yet they continue to give out hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars in backroom deals that benefit luxury foreign spa owners and wealthy Conservative donors.

In 2023, one in four families in Windsor-Essex did not have secure or adequate access to food, according to the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. The government is spending tens of millions of taxpayer dollars on self-promotional ads telling Ontarians, “Everything is fine, and the government is doing just great,” yet people in this province are left hungry, and many will be homeless this holiday season.

It has been an incredible honour serving as the member of provincial Parliament for Windsor West for 10 years. While the Conservatives seem to live in some alternative reality, I will continue to use my voice and the opportunity given to me by my constituents to fight for the living conditions they need and deserve.

Public safety

Mr. Sheref Sabawy: I was sad to learn about the robbery that took place last week at Misk Jewellery at Ridgeway Plaza in Mississauga–Erin Mills. Just three minutes’ drive from my constituency office, a group of masked individuals attacked the employees in a violent robbery.

Just in the past few weeks, we have been seeing robberies across the GTA, such as in Dixie mall, Square One, in Markham and in Brampton—jewellery stores broken into, pharmacies robbed at gunpoint, storefronts destroyed. Auto thefts continue to cause problems.

We hear it frequently from our constituents: People are feeling that it is unsafe for them and their families in their own communities. Businesses are eating losses. People are having their property stolen.

In response, our government is taking immediate action to fight crime. We have invested $112 million in new funding to enhance bail compliance and keep violent offenders off the street. We have invested in the judicial system for more prosecutors and violent crime experts. But our efforts are fruitless if the federal government does not pull their weight. We cannot have a justice system where repeat violent offenders are arrested and released again the same day. The federal government must take action to stop crime in our communities.

We will continue to stand for Ontarians and work hard to ensure everyone is safe and secure.

Energy policies

Mr. Mike Schreiner: It’s the holiday season, and I want to wish everyone all the best. It’s also budget season for municipalities, and I’ve been meeting with mayors and councillors who are struggling to avoid large property tax increases and service cuts because of provincial downloading.

With budgets tight and people struggling to afford the basics, local leaders are asking why multi-billion dollar oil and gas companies are getting a free ride for their use of public land. The city of Guelph recently passed a motion to charge such right-of-way fees when they renegotiate their 20-year franchise agreement with Enbridge. This could raise millions of dollars the city could use to invest in addressing the homeless crisis in our community, but provincial law prohibits this in Ontario.

BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Nova Scotia all allow municipalities to charge private utilities like Enbridge a fee to use public land. That’s why the member from Kitchener Centre and I have introduced the No Free Ride for Fossil Fuels Act to allow municipalities to charge these fees.

At a time when municipalities are struggling to deal with the intersecting crises of mental health, addictions, homelessness and poverty, why is a multi-billion dollar company with a $19-million CEO getting a free ride? I want to applaud the city of Guelph for trying to change this.

Seniors

Mr. Aris Babikian: It is truly an honour to recognize the remarkable achievements and birthdays of our seniors who have reached the incredible age of 95 or more. I was delighted to attend and extend the Premier’s warmest greetings to Shepherd Village seniors who celebrated this milestone.

The celebration was a beautiful tribute to longevity, resilience and the invaluable contributions of these extraordinary individuals. Shepherd Village has always provided exemplary care, compassion and a sense of belonging to our residents. I commend the leadership and the staff for their dedication in fostering an environment where seniors can thrive and continue to lead fulfilling lives.

It fills me with immense pride to witness such remarkable milestones being celebrated in Scarborough–Agincourt, wishing the celebrants continued health, happiness and many more wonderful years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, with your indulgence, allow me to read the names of the esteemed seniors: Rhea Colwill, Clarence Westcott, Ruth Lucas, Mohamed Shaheed, Kumarasamy Sinnathamby, Bernice Brigham, Gertrude Trudie Clarke, Elizabeth Banks, Chiz Takata, Jessie Ogar, Clara Morgan, Gladys James, Lucila Matias, Noberto Goncalves, Ceta Chang, Man Fai Lau, Tsui Ping Wong, Olga Kitenbergs, Gladys Wismer, Lilian Gray, Gwendolyn Duffley, Lavina Dower, Joyce Chin, Margaret Whitehead, Vera Day, Edith Pennycooke, Maxwell Pennycooke, David Jose, Noelle Thompon and Bing-Xia Anna Qui.

Perth–Wellington athletes

Mr. Matthew Rae: I rise today to recognize the incredible athletic achievements celebrated at Wellington North’s third recognition of outstanding achievements in sports night. The Mount Forest Rams under 15 rep hockey team had a phenomenal season, finishing with a 24-9-2 record and winning the WOAA Lockridge Championship. In the playoffs, the Rams dominated with a 7-0 record, outscoring their opponents 53-9 in the round robin portion of the playoffs before advancing to the Ontario Minor Hockey Association tier 3 championships, where they placed third.

The Mount Forest under 12 soccer club also had a standout year, completing an undefeated regular season and tournament victory. What makes this team truly special is the sportsmanship and camaraderie that they displayed, setting an example of teamwork and inclusivity both on and off the field.

Finally, I’d like to celebrate Khloe Hall, a talented lacrosse player from Arthur, who represented Team Ontario at the under 13 national box lacrosse championships in Regina, Saskatchewan, competing in all eight games, including the final against Team British Columbia. Khloe and her teammates earned a silver medal, showcasing their incredible talent and dedication.

These athletes have made our community proud with their perseverance, teamwork and achievements. Congratulations to all the honourees; you represent Perth–Wellington with great pride.

Introduction of Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): We have with us in the Speaker’s gallery today a special guest: The Consul General of the Argentine Republic in Toronto, Mr. Gustavo Infante. Please join me in warmly welcoming our guest to the Legislative Assembly.

We have another special guest in the Legislature today, a former member who represented Oakville South in the 35th and 36th Parliaments, was the member for Oakville in the 37th Parliament and was the greatest Speaker in the history of the Ontario Legislature in the 37th Parliament, Gary Carr, and his wife, Teresa.

Gary currently serves the people of Halton as their regional chair.

MPP Lisa Gretzky: It is my pleasure and my honour to welcome Janet Sumner, the executive director of Wildlands League, and Dave Pearce, senior forest conservation manager for Wildlands League. I want to thank them for all the work that they have been doing around Ojibway National Urban Park in my community. It’s such an important piece of legislation that we need to get through to protect that land. Thank you and welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Sylvia Jones: It’s my pleasure to welcome, visiting Queen’s Park for the first time, Baldev and Satwant Grewal. They are also celebrating their 33rd anniversary, but most importantly, they are the parents of a fabulous team member in the Ministry of Health, and that’s Satnam. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome my new executive assistant Francesca Delano to the House. She’s here for the first time. Also, holding the fort back in St. Catharines, my constituent assistants Caleb Ratzlaff, Penny Ormerod and Taylor Jones.

I want to wish you all a very merry Christmas and I want to take this opportunity, Speaker, if I may, to thank them for everything they do for the constituents in St. Catharines as well as what they do for me. They are the best team in Niagara, and I hold that to account.

Mr. Logan Kanapathi: Good morning. I’m delighted to introduce our legislative page from the wonderful riding of Markham–Thornhill, Ananthamhee Shakthi Thirunadarajah, who is a page captain today, who’s also joined by her wonderful parents up there and her uncle Dr. Mayooran Mahalingam, who is also celebrating his birthday today. Happy birthday to Dr. Mahalingam. She’s also accompanied by her aunt Nirthicaa Nalenthiran and cousins Akarshan and Skyshan. Welcome to Queen’s Park. Thanks for being here.

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Meegwetch, Speaker.

ᒥᓄᑭᔐᐸᔭ. Good morning. My colleague from Mushkegowuk–James Bay and I would like to introduce some guests from Mushkegowuk Council and Wildlands League, many of whom, again, travelled a great distance to be here today. Everyone is welcome to attend their event at Queen’s Park in room 228 at lunchtime.

From Mushkegowuk Council: Deputy Grand Chief Amos Wesley, Acting Grand Chief Natasha Martin, Elder Norman Wesley, Lawrence Martin, Paul Crowley, Sam Hunter, Troy Woodhouse and George Nakogee.

From the Wildlands League: Janet Sumner, Anna Baggio, Megan Chen and Marion Ocampo. Meegwetch for being here.

Hon. Nina Tangri: I would like to welcome Scott Knox, Leah Power, Christian Mathieu, Graham Candy, Sacha Lai-Svirk and Ira Baptiste from the Institute of Canadian Agencies to Queen’s Park. Welcome, and I am looking forward to meeting with you later today.

Mr. Guy Bourgouin: I want to join my colleague from Kiiwetinoong in introducing guests from Mushkegowuk Council and the Wildlands League. Also from Mushkegowuk Council, I want to introduce Ivan Iserhoff, Edward Sutherland, Ron Grech, Colleen McLeod, Ernest Beck, Vern Cheechoo, Galen Boulanger and Jeronimo Kataquapit.

With us with the Wildlands League are Dave Pearce, Kaia Rebane, Jordan Martinez and Katie Hayashi.

J’ai hâte de vous revoir à votre réception cet après-midi. Merci, meegwetch and welcome to Queen’s Park.

M me Dawn Gallagher Murphy: I’d like to welcome some constituents from my riding of Aurora. First off, Daliyah and Yasmina Chalk, and their father, Tyler. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Natalia Kusendova-Bashta: Good morning. I would like to welcome some very special guests who are here to support Bill 235 this morning.

We have the Alzheimer Society of Ontario. We have the Ontario Long Term Care Home Association, Ruth McFarlane. We have AdvantAge Ontario. We have Community Care Durham. We have the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario represented by Michelle Acorn. We have several members from the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, including nurse practitioner Lhamo Dolkar; doctor and NP Alanna Coleman; doctor and RN Julia Fineczko; as well as Madison Scaini. We also have the Ontario Brain Institute, as well as several long-term-care homes. As representatives, we have Wellbrook Place, Copernicus Lodge, Peel Manor, and Villa Columbo.

Thank you so much for your support on the bill, and welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mrs. Robin Martin: I just wanted to welcome to the Legislature two members of my constituency staff: Alla Krupnikov and Owen Cranston. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Todd J. McCarthy: It is my pleasure to welcome to the House today, Mr. D. Keith Smockum, noted and respected trial and appellate lawyer throughout the province of Ontario, and a senior partner at Smockum Zarnett LLP. Welcome to the House.

Ms. Sandy Shaw: It gives me, also, great pleasure to introduce my staff who keep my Hamilton office running. They’re the best staff in the place, so thank you, Michelle Tom; thank you, Micaela Krawczuk; and thank you, Linda Boos for all you do. Here’s to a wonderful, safe holiday for you and your families. Thank you so much for your service.

M me France Gélinas: J’aimerais présenter Émile Maheu, qui est le président de l’AEFO, qui est ici à Queen’s Park aujourd’hui. Bienvenue à tous les membres de l’AEFO. Ça me fait plaisir de vous rencontrer.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): If there are no objections, I propose we continue to introduce our guests.

MPP Lisa Gretzky: It is always my honour to introduce my team, both my constituency staff and here at Queen’s Park, and thank them for the incredible hard work that they do on behalf of the residents of Windsor West and, frankly, across all of Windsor. While I’m introducing them, I want to take the opportunity to wish them and all of my constituents a very happy holiday and a very happy and safe new year.

Hon. Stephen Lecce: I want to introduce Joseph Gulizia, who is with us today from UniversalCare. He has been a leader in founding Strides for Seniors, raising over $1 million for CHATS. Thank you for everything you do for seniors and families in Ontario.

Mr. Chris Glover: I want to welcome to the House my new executive assistant, Sam Hamilton.

Also, they’re not able to be here in person, but I want to wish both my parents—they have birthdays coming up this weekend. I want to wish my dad a happy 93rd and my mother a happy 88th birthday. Happy birthday, Mom and Dad.

Mr. John Jordan: I want to welcome, for outdoor hospitality day: Cyndy Bonello from Glen Haven Resort and Dave Hilhorst from Skycroft Campground. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: It’s also my honour to welcome my entire team, who are in the House today. They’re here to celebrate Christmas with myself and also to extend congratulations and greetings to a number of stakeholders who will be joining us this afternoon. I want to thank Benjamin Donato-Woodger, as well as Emma Beattie, as well as Sarah Gardiner, and, of course, Sasha Kane. Without our constituency assistants, as well as our staff, where would we be? Thank you very much, Speaker, for this opportunity.

Also, I need to say this: My wife had surgery last week, on Friday. She is recovering after a very lengthy surgical process. Her surgery was originally cancelled because of a lack of nurses but she was able to get it a few days later. I wish her, honey—who is watching today—all the very best in your recovery. You are amazing. I love you very dearly. The next five weeks will blow by quickly and I know we’re going to be stronger as a family afterwards.

Hon. Michael Parsa: I’m very pleased to welcome Susan Somogyi, CEO of Family Service Ontario. Thank you so much for all you do, and welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Stan Cho: Here today for outdoor hospitality day, I want to welcome Camping in Ontario and the Ontario RV Dealers Association. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Wearing of ribbons

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m going to recognize the Minister of Education on a point of order.

Hon. Jill Dunlop: Speaker, if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent to allow members to wear white ribbons in recognition of tomorrow, December 6, as being the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Ms. Dunlop is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to allow members to wear white ribbons in recognition of tomorrow, December 6, as being the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Agreed? Agreed.

House sittings

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I recognize the government House leader next.

Mr. Steve Clark: I just want to announce that this evening’s sitting has been cancelled.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you for the information.

Question Period

Government accountability

Ms. Marit Stiles: I have a question for the Premier, and I’m really hoping that he will decide to answer the question this time. I want to quote the Auditor General: “Unfair,” “subjective” and “not transparent.” That is how the Auditor General described the call for development process for Ontario Place. The government is ponying up some serious cash for the Premier’s vanity project: hundreds of millions for a taxpayer-funded parking garage, $700 million to move the Ontario Science Centre so Therme gets a sweeter deal and $60 million so Therme could have that fake beach.

Why won’t this government take this seriously? I want to ask the Premier: Does the Premier not think that wasting billions of taxpayer dollars is a big deal?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply for the government, the Minister of Infrastructure.

Hon. Kinga Surma: Thank you to the member for the question.

Mr. Speaker, I am using words from the AG’s report: “The Ontario Place redevelopment was categorized as a real estate transaction and subject to the province’s realty directive,” not procurement laws. We made a commitment to the people of Ontario, back in 2022, that we would bring Ontario Place back to life. Construction is under way, and we are proceeding.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: As I said yesterday, the people of Ontario are not buying that kind of creative response, but they sure are paying for it. Two days ago, the minister couldn’t even be bothered to answer for how, under her watch, this project got so out of control—billions over budget. We’ve seen hundreds of millions to close the science centre, handing over bags and bags of taxpayer dollars to subsidize a luxury spa company that was pretty much completely broke.

Instead of taking responsibility, the minister has made civil servants face questions for her decisions over and over again. Will the Premier of this province stand in his place, take responsibility, do the right thing and fire this infrastructure minister?

Interjections.

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

The Minister of Infrastructure.

Hon. Kinga Surma: Mr. Speaker, I hate to disappoint the Leader of the Opposition, but I am not going anywhere. We know that, today, faced with current economic conditions and market conditions, everything is more expensive. We know that projects are more expensive. This is something that my ministry deals with and works with the Treasury Board and the Ministry of Finance every single day so that we can keep projects moving.

But let me use the AG’s words: “Some of the cost escalation is construction costs. That would happen also if you were renovating” the science centre.

Let me use Michael Lindsay’s words, the CEO of Infrastructure Ontario: “Costs associated with rehabilitating and remediating the ... facility at 770 Don Mills Road have continued to increase.”

This is the unfortunate circumstance we find ourselves in. It is far more costly to build. But don’t worry, Mr. Speaker, and have faith, Ontarians, because this government will continue to build Ontario.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: If it was only about the outrageously ballooning budget for a project that nobody in Ontario asked for—the auditor’s report makes it very clear that Therme was struggling financially. In fact, they were and are broke. They did not pass the financial test to be viable for this contract, and yet, despite warnings from staff, even at Infrastructure Ontario, the minister pushed this deal through and handed them billions in taxpayer dollars.

These funds are meant to build homes, they are meant to hire doctors, they are meant to fix schools, not prop up a broke, luxury Austrian spa company. Why won’t the minister do the right thing, take responsibility for wasting these taxpayer dollars and resign?

Interjections.

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

The Minister of Infrastructure.

Hon. Kinga Surma: Through you, Mr. Speaker, I just want to remind the member opposite; perhaps she conveniently forgot that I was not the minister until 2021, and I was not responsible for the Ontario Place redevelopment until October 2022, but that’s fine.

Let me read contents from the AG report. Page 77 says the following: “The lease between the province of Ontario and Therme includes a financial test. The lease required Therme Group to have a net worth of $100 million. An examination by IO of Therme Group’s 2020 audited financial statements shows that Therme had met this financial test per the lease requirements.” The lease was made public by IO on October 3, 2024.

Government contracts

Ms. Marit Stiles: Well, that’s some way to treat your friends. Throw them all under the bus now, why don’t you?

Back to the Minister of Infrastructure: I’m going to try a different approach here, because I can’t get over the fact that she is not taking any accountability or responsibility here. Right now, there’s a mom about to tap her card at the Food Basics, feeling anxious about whether that’s going to go through. Right now, in Sudbury, a dad is telling his kid that they can’t play hockey this year because they don’t have room in the budget. At the same time, this Premier’s focus is on a vanity project at Ontario Place that’s going to cost that mom and that dad and every other household in Ontario $400. Why is a family in Sudbury paying $400 to build a luxury spa in downtown Toronto?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order. Opposition, come to order.

To reply for the government, the Premier.

Hon. Doug Ford: Well, does the Leader of the Opposition ask that family—do they know that you voted against getting rid of the licence plate sticker, getting rid of the tolls, putting money back into people’s pockets, getting rid of One Fare? Make sure you tell them, when that family gets their $200 for the mom, the dad and all the kids, that you voted against it. Maybe that $200 can be applied to their kids playing hockey.

It’s not our money. I always say, Mr. Speaker, it’s the taxpayers’ money; it’s the person in Sudbury’s money that’s been paying taxes. But guess what? The NDP and the Liberals, they believe it’s their money: “Let’s not give any money back to the taxpayers,” because they’d rather waste it on bureaucracy and all their special interest groups that support them. We give money back to the taxpayers. We’re the only jurisdiction in North America—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Opposition, come to order.

Hon. Doug Ford: —we’ve never raised a tax. And there’s 850,000 more people working today than there was when you were in office—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’ll remind the members, including the Premier, to make their comments through the Chair and not directly across the floor of the House.

Supplementary question?

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, this Premier is spending $100 million on advertising to tell people in Ontario that he’s giving them a $200 cheque, and then he’s taking $400 back.

Yesterday, I spoke to some of the biggest manufacturers in Ontario, some of the biggest employers in this province. One common thread is that they can’t recruit and they can’t retain workers because they can’t guarantee that they’ll have a family doctor or an affordable place to live or that the school buses are going to show up on time.

And 12,000 people in Sault Ste. Marie don’t have a family doctor right now. Meanwhile, this government is spending $2.2 billion on the Premier’s luxury spa project in downtown Toronto. Why is the Premier making workers in Sault Ste. Marie pay $400 to subsidize a luxury spa in downtown Toronto?

Hon. Doug Ford: Well, through you, Mr. Speaker, whoever this big company is, I can guarantee the Leader of the Opposition one thing: They aren’t voting for the NDP. The factory workers aren’t voting for the NDP; they’re voting for the PC Party, because we’re putting money back into their pockets. And the same applies for the family in Sault Ste. Marie—which, by the way, the member up there is an absolute champion, building things—they’re getting the $200 as well.

I find it ironic. You can tell the Leader of the Opposition couldn’t run a lemonade stand. There’s one thing about running a business, and this is a business of Ontario: You advertise. You advertise down in the US; you advertise across Ontario, telling the people it’s the greatest place to invest in. And we’ve seen that, with over 136 companies around the world investing last year, investing $11 billion, creating 12,200 jobs—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.

I’m going to ask the member for Ottawa to withdraw the unparliamentary remark.

Mr. Joel Harden: Withdraw.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Start the clock.

The final supplementary?

Ms. Marit Stiles: Well, Speaker, $400 may not be a lot to this Premier, but it’s a lot to most families. It’s a lot for the average family. And they’re expecting their taxes to be invested in things that would actually help make their lives better—for example, making highways safer in northern Ontario. The twinning of Highway 11 and 17 has been a priority for northern communities for years, but it has not been one for these Conservatives. Winter is here. People are literally risking their lives on these highways.

I want to know: Why are families in Thunder Bay and Kapuskasing being forced to pay $400 each to subsidize this Premier’s luxury spa in downtown Toronto?

Interjections.

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

To reply for the government, the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: What we’re witnessing is an absolute failure in leadership on the other side, Mr. Speaker. Just a few short weeks ago, the fall economic statement provided relief for families in Ontario, providing a family of five a $1,000 tax rebate because the economy is surging.

This government is doing this without raising taxes, without raising fees. But don’t take it from me; take it from Standard and Poor’s, that just increased the credit rating of Ontario for the first time since 2001, to AA. That’s what good government looks like.

Government contracts

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: My question is to the Minister of Infrastructure. Ontario taxpayers are on the hook for more than $2 billion in subsidies to support a luxury spa in downtown Toronto. An Austrian spa company was given a 95-year deal in a shady process the Auditor General said was not fair, transparent or accountable.

Some 2.5 million Ontarians don’t have a doctor, schools are flooding due to disrepair, rural emergency rooms are closing and housing starts are collapsing. Why is this Conservative minister forcing every family in Ontario to pay $400 for a spa they will never visit?

Interjections.

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

I’ll caution the member on her choice of words.

To reply for the government, the Minister of Infrastructure.

Hon. Kinga Surma: I will reference Michael Lindsay’s comments yesterday when he spoke to the public. Through the AG’s own submission, the call for development was not meant to be a structure procurement. It was meant to be a real estate solicitation to take ideas from the globe. We did so, creating a process that was competitive, that had non-partisan evaluation.

But while the members opposite focus on that, Mr. Speaker, I will talk to you about what’s important to Ontarians. Do you know what’s important to Ontarians? The Grandview Children’s Treatment Centre that we opened in Ajax. That is important to Ontarians. That is a facility that we built that will provide services to families for years to come.

If they don’t care about that treatment facility, let me talk about Michael Garron Hospital, another hospital that will treat families in the province of Ontario, or the Mount Sinai redevelopment or West Park Healthcare Centre.

While the NDP will focus their attention on—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The minister will take her seat.

Order. The opposition will come to order.

Supplementary question? The member for Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas.

Ms. Sandy Shaw: This minister is taking over $2 billion in taxpayers’ money and spending it on a private luxury spa in downtown Toronto. This money is coming right out of the pockets of people all over Ontario, from Windsor to Thunder Bay, from Sudbury to Hamilton. So far, the minister is taking about $400 from every single household to pay for this luxury spa.

We know Ontarians are struggling to find a doctor or a child care space or a place to live. There’s no possible explanation for this abuse of taxpayers’ money. So my question: Will the minister do the honourable thing and resign?

Interjections.

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

To reply, the Minister of Infrastructure.

Hon. Kinga Surma: Then I may ask the member opposite who asked this question why she didn’t support the Grandview Children’s Treatment Centre; why she didn’t support improvements to the Michael Garron Hospital—if health care is so important—why she didn’t support Mount Sinai redevelopment; why she didn’t support the West Park Healthcare Centre, a brand new hospital in the west part of Toronto.

Mr. Speaker, I am not going anywhere. I am honoured to sit in this house, I am honoured to serve the Premier and I am honoured to serve my constituents. I will continue to build the infrastructure that the people of Ontario depend on each and every single day.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Leader of the Opposition will come to order. The member for Ottawa Centre will come to order.

The next question.

Taxation

Mr. Tyler Allsopp: My question is for the Minister of Energy and Electrification. We know that Ontario families and businesses need affordable, reliable and clean energy to power their lives, but the Trudeau-Crombie carbon tax is making everything more expensive: higher costs at the pumps, at the grocery store, on heating bills and for building the energy projects that we rely on. While the Liberals and NDP push for higher taxes as their solution to climate change, our government believes in innovation. Ontario is already leading with clean energy solutions like hydro, advanced nuclear, and proving we can grow the economy and cut emissions without punishing families.

With energy demand expected to grow by 75% over the next 25 years, we need a plan that works. Speaker, can the minister please explain how our government is taking action to build the energy infrastructure Ontario needs while keeping costs down for our families?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The parliamentary assistant and member for Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke.

Mr. John Yakabuski: I want to thank the member for Bay of Quinte for that question. It’s why this government—our government—will choose technology over taxation every single day, full stop. We were elected to clean up the hydro mess, Speaker, and we did. And now the IESO forecasts the need for 75% more energy in the next 25 years. We will make sure we get it done right.

Just last week, the Minister of Energy and Electrification directed OPG to begin engagements with Indigenous, municipal and community leaders to develop new energy generation that will give us clean, reliable and affordable energy.

Regardless of the type of generation, we need the energy to power our province. The answer lies in innovation, not in burdening families with another tax.

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

Mr. Tyler Allsopp: Thank you to the member from Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke for that answer.

Speaker, families, farmers and businesses across Ontario are working hard to make ends meet, but the Trudeau-Crombie carbon tax keeps driving up costs for everything they rely on: fuel, groceries and the energy needed to run their homes and operations. Unlike the Liberals and NDP, who consistently advocate for higher taxes and more government intervention, our government has taken a different approach. Our government has shown strong leadership by prioritizing reducing costs for hard-working Ontarians and fostering a stronger, more resilient economy. We’ve seen the results: more jobs, stronger growth and less red tape holding people back.

Speaker, can the parliamentary assistant please explain how our government is supporting families and businesses while building the clean, reliable energy Ontario needs for the future?

Mr. John Yakabuski: Thanks to the member again for that supplementary.

It’s precisely why we’ve taken a different approach compared to the Liberals and the NDP, an approach that supports the success of farmers, empowers businesses and eases the burden on families across the province. We’ve lowered taxes, cut the gas tax, eliminated unnecessary fees and eliminated the licence plate stickers. We’ve created hundreds of thousands of new jobs and added billions to our GDP.

Speaker, we’re building net new clean and reliable energy for generations to come. It’s clean, reliable and affordable. Our government has a plan. It’s working, and it doesn’t include a Trudeau-Crombie carbon tax.

Public safety

Mr. Tom Rakocevic: The AG report is out, and this government is still blurring the line between mismanagement and misdemeanor. In the report, the Auditor General talked about inappropriate VIN searches. The Auditor General didn’t talk about 2,200 or even 2,000 of them: We are talking over 22,000 inappropriate VIN searches under the watch of this government. My question is how many of these inappropriate, and potentially at times suspicious, VIN searches resulted in auto theft in the province of Ontario?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Associate Minister of Auto Theft and Bail Reform.

Hon. Graham McGregor: Nice to hear the NDP actually taking auto theft seriously for a change. Where have you been for the last number of years, where we’ve been taking it seriously with a $51-million investment, helicopters, automatic licence plate readers and support for police to take this crime seriously?

We had a bill before this House just recently where we took VIN fraud with penalties up to $100,000 and six months in jail time through the provincial offences. That party voted against that, Mr. Speaker.

The majority of cars that are stolen are shipped overseas; a minority stay here in Ontario. We need to crack down on VIN fraud. Cars belong in people’s driveways, not shipped off into the hands of organized crime.

I wish the NDP would take this problem seriously. Join the PC Party and stand up for public safety.

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

Mr. Tom Rakocevic: Speaker, since this government took power in 2018, auto theft has been up 525%—but this is the same government that appointed an associate minister for auto theft and not against auto theft.

My question is, what is it going to take for this government to crack down on the problems with the VIN system by implementing a VIN verification system? It’s not that hard; just do it.

Interjections.

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

The Associate Minister of Auto Theft and Bail Reform.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.

The associate minister.

Hon. Graham McGregor: The only thing you need to know about the NDP’s approach to crime, Mr. Speaker: They’ll blame the cars and let the criminals run free.

We put a letter out six weeks ago calling for mandatory remand for violent offences, serious offences; a three-strike penalty; automatic detention; no options for bail for criminals that are out three, four, five, six, seven, eight times committing the same crime. Where have the NDP been? Silent, Mr. Speaker.

We have a Toronto police officer who got shot two months ago. We heard nothing from the NDP at the time. They spent all their time congratulating the member for Niagara Centre on his nomination and nothing about the Toronto police officer who was shot. The Leader of the Opposition is a Toronto-area MPP. Where have they been on this issue?

Take auto theft seriously. We’re doing the right thing, cracking down on VIN fraud, cracking down on serious offences. We wish the NDP would stand up and join us.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas will come to order. The member for Ottawa Centre will come to order. The member for Hamilton Mountain will come to order. The Minister of Red Tape Reduction will come to order.

The next question.

Environmental protection

Mr. Lorne Coe: My question is to the Minister of Natural Resources. Earlier this week, the minister introduced new legislation. A part of that bill, the Geologic Carbon Storage Act, enables the regulation of commercial-scale geologic carbon storage. Commercial-scale geologic carbon storage means firmly storing carbon emissions in rock formations deep underground, which would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere.

This technology is a crucial component of our government’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while allowing job creators and workers to continue building our province. Can the minister please tell us more about the actions our government is taking to help build a greener future for Ontario?

Hon. Graydon Smith: Thanks to the member for the question.

The member is right: This is a technology that is new to our province, and the ministry is developing a framework that ensures it’s implemented responsibly with measures in place to safeguard both people and the environment.

Over the past three years, my ministry has been consulting extensively with industry, municipalities, Indigenous communities, landowners and the public regarding this framework for carbon storage, and that feedback has helped to develop the proposed act. Ontario is once again on the cutting edge of innovative technology that will attract investments, create jobs and support existing jobs. The carbon tax is driving away jobs; we’re bringing them back with innovation and technology in Ontario.

It’s a competitive global economy. We need to keep making the investments. We need to keep innovating. We need to keep working together to build a cleaner, more sustainable future for Ontario. This government is doing that every single day.

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

Mr. Lorne Coe: Thank you to the minister for his response.

During debate, I heard that the members opposite want to delay carbon storage while increasing the Trudeau-Crombie carbon tax. The Trudeau-Crombie carbon tax is driving up the price of everything, including Ontario’s natural resources. Ontario’s natural resources go into building everything. A tax on our natural resources increases the cost of living for everyone in Ontario. Carbon storage, on the other hand, will create jobs, support workers and reduce emissions.

Speaker, can the minister please explain how carbon storage will reduce emissions while creating jobs and supporting workers in Ontario?

Hon. Graydon Smith: Thanks again for the question.

My ministry has conducted some initial estimates regarding the development of commercial-scale carbon storage projects in southwest Ontario, and we expect to see a decrease of approximately five million to seven million metric tons of carbon per year. Well, that’s hard to imagine, Mr. Speaker, so let’s put that in terms that we can imagine: the equivalent of two million cars off the road in Ontario every year; also, the creation of thousands of jobs to support these projects; a big boost to local economies; a reduction in commercial carbon tax for businesses in Ontario to allow them to be more competitive, to continue to make investments and innovate in our province.

This means billions of dollars for Ontario and a cleaner environment in Ontario. It’s being done so we can support the people and the communities, especially in the southwest. Mr. Speaker, the members opposite need to support this bill so we can keep innovating and growing this province.

School facilities

Ms. Jessica Bell: My question is to the Premier. The Toronto District School Board needs an additional $4.1 billion to repair its schools. It’s the worst in the province; that’s what the Auditor General found.

Take Jesse Ketchum school in my riding: The school has 47 urgent repairs, including plumbing, HVAC issues, flood prevention and electrical work. The school is in such bad shape that it would be cheaper to tear the building down than it would be to fix it.

Kids should be learning in safe and well-maintained schools. My question to the Premier: What are the Conservatives doing to fix Toronto’s schools?

Interjections.

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

The Minister of Education.

Hon. Jill Dunlop: Let me be clear: The safety and well-being of our children is my top priority. As the Auditor General clearly stated, the conditions of our schools are not a risk for our children, and our government has a plan to replace them.

Since taking office, we’ve invested billions into repairing and upgrading schools across the province, addressing long-neglected issues left behind by the previous government. We’re making real progress by building new schools and modernizing classrooms to support the needs of our growing communities.

The TDSB has struggled to make the best use of its funding, including for capital improvements, with $900 million in school renewal funding that the TDSB continues to bank unused year after year. I suggest the TDSB spend the money that we are providing to ensure that those upgrades are done for our schools, our children and our teachers.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.

The supplementary question? The member for Ottawa West–Nepean.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: If the government’s record is so great, release the school repair backlog total.

The Auditor General’s report on the Toronto District School Board highlighted some of the many challenges that schools are facing under this government. The number of violent incidents in the TDSB is the highest ever recorded. Across the province, violence is up 114%. Meanwhile, demand for mental health support for students has far outstripped the ability to hire additional mental health staff.

Will the Premier finally acknowledge the problem, implement our emergency plan to end school violence and put more caring, qualified adults in our schools to support our kids?

Hon. Jill Dunlop: Under this Premier, our government’s investments in mental health and student safety are at record heights, and yet this value-for-money report by the auditor shows the TDSB has hit rock bottom. Year after year, we increase funding for these initiatives to reach vulnerable students across TDSB. Yet the board doesn’t even have the common sense to conduct criminal background checks on some of its employees—shame on them.

The Auditor General spells it out in the report. The TDSB is not even implementing the safety protocols mandated by our government to protect teachers and their unions. But their unions would rather run attack ads against our government, rather than defend their own members from this lack of oversight.

Speaker, to set the record straight: For this school year, the TDSB is projected to receive $3.3 billion through core education, an increase of over $68 million compared to last year, an increase of $350 million since we—

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

The next question.

Health care

M me Lucille Collard: Two weeks ago, I asked the Minister of Health why the government only provided a quarter of the funding to the nurse practitioner-led clinic in my riding. In response, the minister scoffed and implied that the thousands of people in my riding who are still waiting for primary care should be happy with what they got. Well, what they got is not sufficient. The minister knows, because I showed her, on a map, that there are no clinics in Ottawa–Vanier. People who don’t have access to a family doctor have to go to the hospital.

Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to the minister, I will not stop advocating for access to primary care until every person in my riding has their own family doctor. That’s why I have much more faith in the plan recently announced by our Ontario Liberal Party to make that a reality.

The primary care situation in Ontario is dire, with 5.6 million Ontarians either without a family doctor or at risk of losing theirs.

My question to the Minister of Health is simple. Does this government really believe that every person in Ontario should have access to primary care, and what are they doing about it?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke, come to order. The Minister of Red Tape Reduction, come to order.

The Deputy Premier and Minister of Health can reply.

Hon. Sylvia Jones: I really appreciate the opportunity to answer this question, because today, the CIHI data—which is the Canadian Institute for Health Information—actually showed that Ontario is making significant progress. In Canada, we have 85.6% of Canadians attached to a primary care practitioner; in Ontario, we are now over 90%.

The plan we have is working. And of course, starting this past Monday, we have Dr. Jane Philpott, who is now continuing the progress that we have made.

We intend to continue making progress to ensure that every Ontario resident who wishes to have a primary care practitioner will have one in the next five years, because of the work that we’ve already started.

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

M me Lucille Collard: Mr. Speaker, in response to my question two weeks ago, the minister also said that this government has increased compensation for nurse practitioners. However, nurse practitioners tell me that their current salary levels have not been increased since April 2020—not even a cost-of-living increase. Even when this government capped wage increases at 1% through the unconstitutional Bill 123, nurse practitioners still didn’t get that 1% increase.

If this government thinks that nurse practitioners are a valuable part of our health care system, why have their salaries not been increased in almost five years?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: I have to compare and contrast. We have a representative of the Liberal Party, who, when they were in power, cut residency positions, medical seats in the province of Ontario—50 every year. You are now seeing the cumulative effect of that decision—450 physicians who either had to go elsewhere to get their training or choose a different pathway. Compare and contrast that to expanded medical seats in every single medical school in the province of Ontario, two new medical schools in York region and in the city of Brampton, an expanded medical school in Scarborough, increased seats for nurse practitioners and registered nurses.

We are making the changes that, frankly, either your government chose to ignore or didn’t care enough to do anything about.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.

I’ll remind the Minister of Health that it was not my government and, again, remind all members that we make our comments through the Chair, not across the floor of the House directly.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order. The member for Ottawa South, come to order.

The next question.

Seniors’ services

Ms. Laura Smith: My question is for the Minister of Long-Term Care. Every single senior in Ontario deserves access to support that meets their unique needs. As Ontario’s population ages, the challenges associated with aging also increase. This includes the needs for support for those living with dementia and programs to help seniors stay active and connected.

Many of my constituents have shared stories of loved ones struggling to access proper care, feeling isolated or facing challenges related to affordability and safety. These are real issues that demand urgent action. That’s why our government is demonstrating leadership by ensuring our seniors have the resources they need when they need them.

Can the minister please share what our government is doing to ensure Ontario seniors can enjoy the best quality of life?

Hon. Natalia Kusendova-Bashta: I thank the member for Thornhill for raising these important concerns and also for being such a great advocate for seniors, caregivers and those living with dementia for the last two years.

We are deeply committed to enhancing the quality of care for seniors no matter where they call home, whether it’s in long-term care, whether it’s in the community or in retirement homes. That is why, just yesterday, I had the pleasure of introducing the Support for Seniors and Caregivers Act, 2024, which includes $114 million of new investments for Ontario’s seniors.

This act builds on our government’s success in improving long-term care, in building thousands more long-term-care beds and connecting seniors to community support. We are investing in adult day programs, in respite care, in emotion-based models of care, and we’re including the requirement for dementia-specific programs in all long-term-care homes.

We will continue to ensure that every single senior in Ontario receives the support they need and deserve.

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

Ms. Laura Smith: Thank you to the minister for her commitment to the people of Ontario and those living with dementia.

Families in my riding of Thornhill want to ensure that their loved ones receive the high-quality care they deserve close to home. They are encouraged by our government’s action to meet the needs of Ontario’s aging population by better supporting these people who care for seniors.

But they want to know more about this new legislation. Specifically, they want to understand how the Support for Seniors and Caregivers Act will tangibly improve the daily lives of seniors living in long-term care, congregate settings and in the community. Can the minister please outline how this legislation will help Ontario seniors live with dignity, comfort and respect?

Hon. Natalia Kusendova-Bashta: Our seniors have built our province and our country. They have worked their entire lives. They paid taxes. They contributed to our growth and our economy. Now it is our job to take care of them and provide them with the love, care and support that they deserve. That is why we are committed to addressing the challenges seniors face, both in long-term-care homes and within the community at large.

One key initiative under the legislation, and my favourite one, frankly, is the community access pilot, which expands certain services available in long-term care and makes them available to seniors living in the community. We’re opening up long-term care for seniors who live in the surrounding area to come on in and get certain services, such as get a shower, get podiatry, get dementia cafes and all kinds of different and exciting initiatives. This pilot will provide specialized care to more seniors beyond the walls of long-term-care homes, acknowledging the vital need to support seniors wherever they reside.

Under Premier Ford, our government will never stop working for Ontario’s seniors.

Long-term care

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Meegwetch, Speaker.

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The people of Sioux Lookout and surrounding communities have been advocating for more long-term-care beds close to home for many years. Since 2018, this government has promised to build a new long-term-care facility with 76 new long-term-care beds.

To the Minister of Long-Term Care: What tangible steps is this government taking to deliver the long-promised 76 long-term-care beds in Sioux Lookout?

Hon. Natalia Kusendova-Bashta: I thank the member for his question. Back in May, we all remember, it was a truly historic day when the member for Kiiwetinoong spoke in his Indigenous language, and back in May, right here in this chamber, the Premier made a commitment to the member opposite to get this home built in Sioux Lookout. I’m happy to say that today we are delivering on that commitment, and we have just recently approved a $2.5-million planning grant to be provided to Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre.

This planning grant means this 96-bed project can advance from the planning stage of development into the construction stage. With that, we’ve taken a major step forward in building this home so that Sioux Lookout residents can receive proper, culturally focused long-term-care services in their community.

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

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Meegwetch. Thank you to the Minister of Long-Term Care for sharing the news. However, community members from Sioux Lookout may be skeptical of this government’s words after years of seeing promises without actions to fulfill those promises.

Will the Minister of Long-Term Care share a timeline for when the residents of Sioux Lookout can expect long-term-care beds to be operational in Sioux Lookout?

Hon. Natalia Kusendova-Bashta: Make no mistake, our government is getting this home built. I would like us all to just take a minute to soak in this truly historic moment. There are rare moments that we can put our differences aside and we can agree and work collaboratively across partisan lines simply because it is the right thing to do. That’s exactly what we are doing because the people of Sioux Lookout deserve this long-term-care home. I want to thank that member for his leadership because today is truly a celebration of his work. I’m so proud to be the Minister of Long-Term Care to deliver this good news of this $2.5-million planning grant to help the centre accomplish this goal.

Under the leadership of Premier Ford, we will continue investing into our historic build: $6.4 billion, the largest capital build in the history of this country. We are committed to building 58,000 new and redeveloped beds across the province of Ontario—

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

Interjections.

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

The next question.

Public safety

Mr. Kaleed Rasheed: My question is for the Associate Minister of Auto Theft and Bail Reform. Every family in Ontario deserves to feel safe. Crime affects our communities, our homes and our peace of mind. Auto theft has been a big problem in Peel region. These crimes are not just about stolen cars; they hurt families, cost people money and raise insurance rates. I know the government has taken action in response to this issue.

Can the associate minister please tell this House more about what the government is doing to tackle crime and stop auto theft in Peel region and across Ontario?

Hon. Graham McGregor: I want to thank the member from Mississauga East–Cooksville for the question. Auto theft and organized crime, like armed robberies and carjackings, remain significant challenges in our communities. Our government is addressing these issues head-on through initiatives like Project Warlock. Project Warlock was launched in response to a surge of violent home invasions, armed robberies and carjackings across the GTA. The joint forces investigation led by the Peel regional police through their central robbery bureau resulted in the arrest of 18 individuals and the laying of 150 criminal charges.

Over 17 violent incidents have been solved and investigators have recovered 12 stolen vehicles valued at more than $1.2 million that was directly invested into CISO by this Ontario provincial government.

But it’s about more than just enforcement; it’s about restoring safety and confidence to our neighbourhoods. Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure in their homes, in their cars and workplaces. We will not allow violence to take root in our communities. It’s time for the federal government to join us in matching the urgency and dedication we’ve demonstrated here in Ontario, that our law enforcement demonstrate, to tackle the root causes of crime and keep—

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

Supplementary?

Mr. Kaleed Rasheed: Thank you to the associate minister for his continuing leadership. Auto theft and violent crimes are hurting families in Peel region and across Ontario. These crimes are often linked to organized gangs. Many of these criminals are repeat offenders. They know how to work the system. People in Ontario want justice. They want to know that violent offenders will not be let back out on the streets.

I know the government is working hard to protect families. They are taking action to stop crime, but we need stronger laws from the federal government as well. Can the associate minister please tell this House what Ontario is doing to ensure violent repeat offenders face jail, not bail?

Hon. Graham McGregor: Thank you to the member for the important follow-up question. The families in Ontario are rightfully outraged. Auto theft and organized crime are surging, and the federal government’s failure to act decisively is leaving our communities vulnerable. Their soft-on-crime, catch-and-release policies are emboldening criminals and putting public safety at risk.

The Solicitor General and I, and our Ontario government, have called on the federal government to immediately amend the Criminal Code with the following:

(1) restore mandatory minimum sentences for serious crimes, that they removed;

(2) eliminate bail eligibility for repeat offenders and those charged with organized auto theft;

(3) mandate a three-strike rule requiring pre-trial detention for habitual criminals; and

(4) tighten conditional sentencing rules to ensure those convicted of serious crimes face meaningful consequences.

While we wait for federal leadership, our government is taking action. We are investing in new police initiatives, expanding local enforcement capacity and targeting the organized crime networks that are driving a