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September 26, 2023

43rd Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2023-Sept-26 vol. A (PDF)

L090A - Tue 26 Sep 2023 / Mar 26 sep 2023

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Tuesday 26 September 2023 Mardi 26 septembre 2023

Members’ Statements

Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce

Long-term care

Six Nations Chiefs lacrosse team

Health care

Music awards

Canadian Paramedic Memorial Foundation Tour Paramedic Ride

Environmental protection

Government accountability

Volunteers

Rick O’Brien

Introduction of Visitors

Legislative pages

Independent members

Question Period

Government accountability

Government accountability

Government accountability

Skilled trades

First Nations consultation

Justice system

Responsabilité gouvernementale / Government accountability

Environmental protection

Transportation infrastructure

Land use planning

Rural and northern health services

Seniors

Government accountability

Tourism

Visitors

Rectification au procès-verbal

Legislative page

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs

Introduction of Bills

1000067464 Ontario Inc. Act, 2023

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

Test Your Smoke Alarm Day

Motions

House sitting

Committee membership

Petitions

Northern Health Travel Grant

Protection for workers

Child care

Social assistance

Amyloidosis

Renewable energy

Renewable energy

Long COVID

Long-term care

Land use planning

Orders of the Day

Working for Workers Act, 2023 / Loi de 2023 visant à oeuvrer pour les travailleurs

New members of provincial Parliament

The House met at 1015.

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

Prayers.

Members’ Statements

Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce

Mr. Robert Bailey: It’s an honour to rise once again in the Ontario Legislature. I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome all the members of the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce who have come to Queen’s Park yesterday and today for a number of meetings with members of all sides of the Legislature and cabinet ministers, and to share the good news of Sarnia–Lambton and what’s going on every day. Our community has a long history of innovation and collaboration when it comes to solving big issues. From energy to agriculture, manufacturing to Bay Street, the people and businesses of Sarnia–Lambton are working together to build a better future.

Mr. Speaker, more than 40 members of the chamber are joining us at Queen’s Park today, including Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce chair Nicole Crosby and chamber president Carrie McEachran. Please join me in welcoming the chamber members today.

I’d like to remind all members of the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce reception today from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in rooms 228 and 230. See you all there.

Long-term care

Ms. Catherine Fife: Today is September 26, 2023. It has been 315 days since Bill 21, the Till Death Do Us Part Act, passed second reading in this chamber. For nearly a year, seniors across Ontario have continued to be separated from their spouses while this government sits on a solution that could reunite older adult couples during their last years.

The new minister will be visiting Fairview Mennonite this Friday; there are five couples separated in this one home.

Over the summer break, I organized meetings with senior Jim McLeod to hear directly from seniors who are separated from their spouses, as well as their families and academics. They told me of the heartbreak they’re experiencing, the severe impacts to everyone’s mental health and the negative health impacts caused by isolation.

This week, I’m sending a letter to every mayor in Ontario asking them to bring motions forward to their res-pective municipal councils in support of the Till Death Do Us Part Act. Their support will help us keep attention on Bill 21, so that it will finally be called to the Standing Committee on Social Policy, one step closer to royal assent.

There is no good reason why the Ford government is stalling Bill 21 at committee. Nova Scotia passed similar legislation, the Life Partners in Long-term Care Act, in just 11 days. Let’s work together and get it done for all of Ontario’s seniors and the generations of older adults to come. It is time.

Six Nations Chiefs lacrosse team

Mr. Will Bouma: It is good to be back in this great House, and it is my sincere pleasure to share some great news to come out of my home riding of Brantford–Brant. Earlier this month, the Six Nations Chiefs secured the men’s senior lacrosse Canadian championship by winning the Mann Cup in New Westminster, BC, winning the best-of-seven-games championship series. On behalf of the government of Ontario, I congratulate the Six Nations Chiefs on this momentous win.

The “Creator’s game” is what the Haudenosaunee people have called the sport of lacrosse since the earliest of times, long before European contact.

Lacrosse has been used by some First Nations people as a social gathering, as exercise, and even to settle disputes among neighbours. But there is no dispute here; the Six Nations Chiefs are the Canadian men’s lacrosse champions, and they have made the Haudenosaunee people, Brantford–Brant and Ontario proud.

Health care

Ms. Jennifer K. French: There were thousands of people at Queen’s Park to welcome us back on our first day of this session. They were out in force, covering the lawns, and they were here with the Ontario Health Coalition to defend public health care and public delivery of health services.

Public health care is worth defending. This government finds billions for the things and fancy friends that matter to them, but they won’t put the money into health care. This government can spin it, but they know we are under-funding our hospitals. We’re losing nurses to private agen-cies and across the border because Bill 124 wouldn’t allow hospitals and the public sector to pay their staff and health care heroes what was fair. Instead, hospitals were made to watch as private, for-profit nursing agencies bribed their nurses away. The hospitals have been held hostage and made to pay agency rates, all the while forbidden by this government from paying their own staff what they would want to.

Despite the government nonsense, people are paying with their credit cards for health care. They’re getting hit with surprise fees and charges and getting stuck with the bill. This government isn’t preventing or remedying these unfair, often predatory, situations.

This government has friends and family making bucketloads of money from privatization. More and more of our public health care dollars are flying out the door, and they aren’t going to better patient outcomes. The profit margins aren’t shortening wait times, they aren’t opening the Minden emergency room back up, and they aren’t helping seniors cover their dental that this government refuses to cover anymore.

I was proud to stand with health care defenders yesterday—and every day. And I invite the government members to take their hands out of people’s pockets, their heads out of their offices and come outside to meet real people when they come to see us.

Music awards

Mr. Rudy Cuzzetto: Last month, I had the great honour to speak at the Hollywood Independent Music Awards, at the historic Avalon in Los Angeles, to celebrate the achievements of outstanding young artists from Ontario and around the world. I was thrilled to be able to present an award for best original recording to Neena Rose from Hamilton, for her song FYWO, and the award for best Latin pop/rock song to Ben Anthony Lavoz from Toronto, for the song Kan Can. Shylah Ray Sunshine, an Algonquin native from Ontario, was named best female vocalist of the year.

I want to thank Brent Harvey again for everything he does to help independent singers and songwriters who don’t have the resources of a major record label. Brent serves as executive producer of the Hollywood Music in Media Awards. Four years ago, when six Ontario artists were nominated, I was proud to recognize them right here in our chamber.

I also want to thank my friend Tina Cole, well known in Hollywood as Mama Swag, for everything she does to develop and mentor young Ontario artists. Earlier this month, at the 2023 Mississauga Music Awards, Tina was named industry person of the year, a well-deserved honour.

Again, I want to thank Tina and Brent, and on behalf of all the members, I want to congratulate Neena and Ben.

We are so proud of you, and we can’t wait to see what you do next. Congratulations.

Canadian Paramedic Memorial Foundation Tour Paramedic Ride

Mr. Wayne Gates: This weekend, I had the honour of joining the incredible men and women of the Canadian Paramedic Memorial Foundation as they took

part in their annual Tour Paramedic Ride in Niagara Falls. The foundation is on a mission to pay tribute to the unwavering dedication and ultimate sacrifices made by civilian and military paramedics in Canada who have lost their lives while serving on the front lines. For me, it was shocking to learn that no monument or memorial existed. The ride has successfully raised $800,000, which directly contributes to the realization of a national monument in Ottawa.

This year, over 50 cyclists rode over 350 kilometres through southern Ontario to honour 54 fallen paramedics. They are working hard to build a monument to honour the lives lost but also the mental and emotional toll the job takes on EMS, Ornge ambulance and military paramedics.

There is no denying that every Canadian will, at some point, be touched by the invaluable service of our paramedics, and for that we must honour them for their service.

The ride goes beyond fundraising; it extends its support to those battling mental health challenges and their families. It recognizes that the toll of this vital profession is not only physical but also emotional.

The ride and the Canadian Paramedic Memorial Foundation are a representation of our collective appreciation for these brave individuals who rush to our aid during a crisis like COVID-19. They honour the fallen, they support the living, and they forge a legacy of gratitude and honour for generations to come.

Environmental protection

Mr. Ric Bresee: I’m very proud to rise today to share how the government of Ontario, in partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, is protecting our flora and fauna and expanding nature preserves all across Ontario, just like in my own Hastings–Lennox and Addington’s Napanee plain.

The Napanee plain is a unique formation of alvars, wetlands and karst formations. For those who don’t know those terms, alvars have thin or almost no soil covering over a limestone shelf, and by their nature are home to hundreds of rare plant and animal species due to the seasonal variability.

Karst caves and crevices are created when water erodes that limestone underpinning the alvar. Karst ecosystems, like alvars, also support a huge variety of rare plants and animals in some very unique habitats.

I grew up playing in alvar and karst formations. I was fascinated by the breadth of wildlife in that cracked limestone and the huge number of fossils in the exposed limestone sheets.

I’m thrilled to say that the Napanee plain has recently been expanded by 81 hectares to include the Stoco Karst Forest. This new nature preserve provides a natural buffer for the nearby Stoco Fen Provincial Park; a 350-hectare reserve class provincial park located east of Tweed. By connecting with this large forest, we will preserve and sustain some wide-ranging animals like black bear or moose. The expansion will also help to provide flood protection and natural water purification for downstream rural residents and even communities such as Belleville or Deseronto.

I want to express my appreciation to the Minister of Environment, Conservations and Parks for the support of these projects.

Government accountability

Ms. Stephanie Bowman: Since the Auditor General’s report on the greenbelt, several media articles have suggested that this government’s handling of the greenbelt is not unique regarding political interference in provincial land use processes, whether it’s the 95-year lease for a mega spa at Ontario Place, the government’s plan to move the beloved Ontario Science Centre built by legendary architect Raymond Moriyama, or in my riding of Don Valley West, the 194 changes the previous Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing made to the Yonge–Eglinton Secondary Plan.

In approving this plan, the minister deleted mid-rise height restrictions on Bayview Avenue and Eglinton Avenue that would have met the province’s density targets. Now we’re seeing applications for buildings as high as 46 storeys, right alongside signs from the city of Toronto that tell potential residents that schools in the area are full.

Speaker, the Auditor General’s report revealed how this government operates—with developers handing over brown envelopes, with the expectation of making $8.3 billion in profits.

Ontarians want to know why they should believe that this government acted any differently when it comes to sky-high developments in Don Valley West, Ontario Place or the Ontario Science Centre. To really earn back the trust of Ontarians, this government needs to open the books and show the people of Ontario that “open for business” does not mean they’re open to backroom deals.

Volunteers

Ms. Jess Dixon: I think you can tell I spend too much time on Instagram when I was about to start this by saying, “This is a shout-out post,” when I’m actually doing a member’s statement—but it’s a shout-out member’s statement.

When I was 15, I did my 40 hours of community service at a place called Pride Stables, which now actually happens to be in my riding. Pride Stables is part of the Central Ontario Developmental Riding Program, so it is a stable that is part of an organization that seeks to give a therapeutic riding experience to people with disabilities, both mental and physical, and predominantly children with disabilities.

In my personal life, I don’t have cause to spend a lot of time with kids, full stop, or particularly with kids with disabilities or with autism, and seeing the grace that the other volunteers and instructors handled their charges with was incredible. So I want to shout out to Kassidy and Merissa, the instructors, and Amanda, the volunteer coordinator.

And if you can volunteer, always do.

Rick O’Brien

Mr. Trevor Jones: Today I take a moment to honour a hero in life: Constable Rick O’Brien, who served at the Ridge Meadows detachment of the RCMP in British Columbia. Constable O’Brien was 51 years of age and was serving as a front-line uniformed officer in his seventh year of service. On Friday, September 22, Constable O’Brien was shot and killed in the line of duty while executing a warrant in relation to a drug investigation in Coquitlam, BC. He is the 11th police officer to be killed in the line of duty since last September.

Constable O’Brien entered the profession later in life than most, and the challenges he endured in realizing his dream likely contributed to the skills he displayed while serving in the community and his natural ability to relate to youth and those struggling with mental illness.

Very early in his career, Rick was awarded the medal of valour, the highest honour, and a commissioner’s commendation for his efforts in successfully disrupting a violent home invasion, which led to both a hostage rescue and the arrest of four armed suspects.

Rick was a husband to Nicole, a father to their beautiful blended family of six, and an active contributing member of his community.

Words from his friend best capture this tremendous loss: “This man, his children, this family, was the definition of love.”

Rick was a hero in life, not death. May he rest in peace.

Introduction of Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m pleased to inform the House that we have a former member of the Legislature with us today: the member for Brantford in the 32nd and 33rd Parliaments, Phil Gillies.

Welcome back to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: It is wonderful to see Mr. Gillies. He’s a great friend to all of us here. Welcome to the House.

I want to welcome three guests. They are not all together.

I want to say a special welcome to Faith States-Linton, who is from the same town as me: New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. She now lives in the GTA. I must say, every time I seem to make it into the news, sometimes for not-so-great things, Faith is always there to make sure I remember that I’m my father’s daughter and that I deserve to be here.

Faith, thank you very much for joining us here today.

I also want to recognize two of my great friends—one is a constituent, actually: Michael Crockatt, the CEO and president of Ottawa Tourism, who I worked together well with over the past 18 years, and, of course, his partner in crime, Colin Morrison.

I don’t know what you’re doing now these days—if you’re still the chair of Ottawa Tourism or still the hoteliers—but you are a great friend to the city of Ottawa, and you’re a great friend to me.

Welcome all three to our House.

Ms. Catherine Fife: I’d like to introduce Karissa Singh. Karissa is the new legislative assistant in my office. She is also a recent OLIP graduate, so I feel lucky to have hired her.

OLIP is a great program. The deadline is October 6. May the best MPP get an OLIP intern.

Mr. John Fraser: I have some guests in the gallery today who are here for the debate of Bill 54, WSIB Coverage for Workers in Residential Care Facilities and Group Homes Act. From the SEIU, I have Andrea Gordon, Erica Valentine, Sandee Green, Vivienne McDougall, Jacqueline Haynes, and Michael Spitale. From CLAC here today, I have Ian DeWaard, Mira Ponomarenko, Carol Bartley-Fray, and Julie Garner. Thank you very much for being here.

Hon. Michael A. Tibollo: I’d like to introduce this morning a very dear friend of mine who is here from Little Current, Kevin Eshkawkogan. He is the president of Indigenous Tourism Ontario. Welcome to the Legislature.

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: It gives me great pleasure to welcome Chris Bloore, president and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, and Alexander Miceli, manager of policy and government affairs at the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario. Also, it was wonderful to meet with Dr. Jessica Ng, director of policy and government affairs at the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario.

Thank you to all the fine folks who are here today on behalf of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario. Welcome to your House.

Mr. Sam Oosterhoff: I have the privilege of welcoming to the House today the director of economic development for the town of Lincoln, Paul Di Ianni. Welcome to the people’s home.

Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos: It’s my pleasure to recognize page Minuka Premaratne from Oakville North–Burlington, who’s here today with his parents, Gethmi and Saman Premaratne.

M me France Gélinas: It is my pleasure to introduce Cathy Orlando, who organized a breakfast for the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and Ontario Climate Emergency Campaign. She is from Sudbury.

Welcome to this House.

Hon. Neil Lumsden: I’d also like to welcome Chris Bloore, the president and CEO of TIAO; Rebecca Mackenzie, the board chair; and all the other tourism professionals and leaders who are joining us here today. I look forward to the rest of the day and the meetings that will follow.

MPP Jill Andrew: I’d like to welcome Masani Montague to the House. She is the CEO and president of Rastafest Incorporated. Masani is doing a wonderful event for World Mental Health Day on October 10 in Little Jamaica. We would certainly welcome every member of the House to join. She is such a trailblazer in Ontario tourism. If you get to meet her today, you are very, very lucky.

I would also like to welcome to the House Lyn Adamson, one of our very own community members in St. Paul’s. She’s with ClimateFast. There isn’t a bigger climate justice activist in this world, probably, than Lyn Adamson.

Mr. Michael Mantha: I would like to welcome a friend and a huge advocate of tourism in Ontario, Kevin Eshkawkogan, who is here on behalf of TIAO. Welcome to your House.

Mr. Robert Bailey: I’d like to remind people about the Sarnia–Lambton day today. Two or three special guests who are here—the warden of Lambton county, Kevin Marriott, a good friend of mine; accompanied by Dave Ferguson, the mayor of Brooke-Alvinston; and his wife, Gabrielle Ferguson; along with 37 other people.

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: I’d like to welcome my dear friend Phil Gillies to the House. I recognize that he has just been recognized—but I wanted to say hello to you, and also to Suze Morrison, the former MPP from Toronto Centre and my predecessor, who I understand is here. Welcome.

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: Good morning, everyone. Welcome back.

I want to welcome the bubbly Beaches–East York team who are here to crusade for the planet. We’re a very green riding. Thank you for all you do.

Hon. Jill Dunlop: I, too, would like to take this opportunity to introduce a former member and former Minister of Colleges and Universities, John Milloy. He is here with his fourth-year master’s students from the political science program at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Welcome, everyone. I look forward to meeting with you this afternoon.

Ms. Doly Begum: I’m delighted to welcome page captain Emilia Rashid-Cabezas and her proud family members. Her mom, Alejandra Cabezas, her dad, Iftekher Rashid, and her brother Andrés Rashid-Cabezas are here today.

Also, I would like to introduce Robert Kim and his mom, Alysa Kim. Robert is the host of the Robert at Children’s Climate Championship YouTube channel, so check it out if you get a chance.

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Remarks in Anishininiimowin. Good morning. I want to welcome Chief Rudy Turtle of Grassy Narrows, Head Councillor Cecilia Begg from Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, Deputy Chief Stanley Anderson from Wapekeka, Elder Alex Moonias from Neskantaga, and other guests who are up there—Stanley Moonias, Sherry Ackabee, Bear Copenace, John Clint Kokopenace, Arnold Pahpasay, Judy Da Silva, Joseph Fobister, Mike Fobister, Chrissy Isaacs, Harriet Cutfeet, Jacob Ostaman, Samuel McKay, Joshua Frogg, and others I have missed. Meegwetch for coming.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): That concludes our members’ introduction of guests. I’m going to remind members that, to the greatest extent possible, we would ask them to keep their introductions as brief as possible and also to avoid any political commentary.

Legislative pages

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m now going to ask our legislative pages to assemble for their introductions.

It is my honour and privilege to introduce this group of legislative pages: from the riding of Hamilton Centre, River Almanzor; from the riding of Mississauga Centre, Lucia Alonzi; from the riding of Oakville, Sophia Crawford; from Ottawa West–Nepean, Kian Denissen; from Scarborough–Agincourt, Muhammad Huzaifa Farooq; from Mississauga–Lakeshore, Isabella Forodi; from Beaches–East York, James Gillespie; from Glengarry–Prescott–Russell, Justin Guindon; from Kingston and the Islands, Vera-Claire Hsu; from Spadina–Fort York, Jaden Tristan Joseph; from Brantford–Brant, Ella Knill; from Markham–Stouffville, Bella Li; from Vaughan–Woodbridge, Devyansh Marya; from Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke, Erin McCloskey; from Thornhill, Constantine Papadakis; from Oakville North–Burlington, Minuka Premaratne; from Scarborough Southwest, Emilia Rashid-Cabezas; from Niagara West, Sophia Rose; from Burlington, Clara Tiong; from Toronto–Danforth, Sofia Turco; and from the riding of Carleton, James Wereley.

Welcome.

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Before we start question period, I have information that at least two members want to raise points of order.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: I seek unanimous consent for the House to authorize the Speaker to issue a warrant to command and compel Silvio De Gasperis and Michael Rice to appear before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts within 30 days regarding the Office of the Auditor General’s Special Report on Changes to the Greenbelt.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Leader of the Opposition is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to authorize the Speaker to issue a warrant to command and compel Silvio De Gasperis and Michael Rice to appear before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts within 30 days regarding the Office of the Auditor General’s Special Report on Changes to the Greenbelt. Agreed? I heard a no.

Independent members

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Ottawa–Vanier, I understand, has a point of order.

M me Lucille Collard: Yes. I am seeking unanimous consent that, notwithstanding standing order 100(a)(iv), five minutes be allotted to the independent members as a group to speak during private members’ public business today.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Ms. Collard is seeking the unanimous consent of the House that, notwithstanding standing order 100(a)(iv), five minutes be allotted to the independent members as a group to speak during private members’ public business today. Agreed? Agreed.

Question Period

Government accountability

Ms. Marit Stiles: Yesterday, the Premier and the House leader seemed to think they could just brush off questions related to the greenbelt grab, but people still have many questions—questions like, what exactly happened on a trip to Las Vegas, taken by the Premier’s former principal secretary, his director of housing policy, the former minister of public and business services, and a speculator who later stood to benefit from preferential access to greenbelt land?

Speaker, to the Premier: When did he first find out that his minister was living it up in Vegas with people who have business before his government?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The government House leader and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Paul Calandra: I appreciate the question.

Obviously, the Integrity Commissioner has weighed in on that and is looking at the additional information that has been provided by the former minister.

At the same time, of course, we are not going to do what the opposition will want us to do. This is all about the same thing for them—it’s about stopping people from having what all of us wanted and what all of us have: a home for themselves.

I was speaking to somebody just yesterday whose wife delivered their first child. He did everything right. He bought his first condo when he was just out of school. And now all he wants is a home for his family, but 21 offers later, he still doesn’t have that home. All he wants—what he said to us—is this: “I want what you had. I want the opportunity to have my first home for my family.” That’s what he wants, and that’s what we will deliver.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, I want to ask him to follow along here.

I can’t blame the Premier or the House leader for having some difficulty with the dates, because they’ve changed a few times since these individuals were first interviewed, under oath, by the Integrity Commissioner.

The former minister, Mr. Massoudi and Mr. Truesdell all suspiciously told the Integrity Commissioner that their trip was in 2019, when it actually occurred months later. The greenbelt speculator Shakir Rehmatullah, someone this Premier knows very well, was at the same hotel on both set of dates. The minister said he was only in Vegas once since being elected; he has now admitted it was twice. That’s three different people giving the wrong date for the same trip.

So, my question, again, to the Premier: Can the Premier explain how three different people could mistakenly give the wrong date for the same trip?

Hon. Paul Calandra: Again, that is something that the Integrity Commissioner will take a look at. I can understand the leader bringing that question to the floor, but honestly, she should be providing those questions to the Integrity Commissioner. That is the official who is charged with overseeing those types of investigations with members on all sides of the House.

At the same time, we’re going to continue to be focused on what matters to the people of the province of Ontario, and that is delivering a strong economy, that is delivering homes for the people of this province—whether it is the senior who wants to downgrade into a bit of a smaller home, thereby making another home available for the young family I just talked about.

I suspect this is all the opposition is going to do—try to put obstacles in the way of Ontarians having that first home. We will remove those obstacles, and we will deliver for the people of the province of Ontario, because they deserve every advantage, the same advantages that we had. The next generation deserves those exact same advantages.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: The minister knows this was never about housing, and what we’re asking today is about restoring trust and integrity in government.

Back to the Premier: The discrepancies in these testimonies didn’t stop at the dates of the trip. The former minister said he and the Premier’s staff only saw the greenbelt speculator in the lobby of the hotel. Now it’s reported that they got spa services at the same hotel, at the same time. Of course, we know the member has now left cabinet and caucus in light of these revelations. The Premier has said he can return if he clears his name.

Will the Premier be asking the Integrity Commissioner to get to the bottom of this?

Hon. Paul Calandra: That is the Integrity Commissioner’s job to do and not the Premier’s job to do on behalf of the Integrity Commissioner.

But the Leader of the Opposition is right—for the NDP, it is never about housing, right? Because if it was ever about housing, they wouldn’t have put obstacles in the way, along with the Liberals, that saw us in a housing crisis in the province of Ontario. That is the reality today. We are in a housing crisis because they put obstacles in the way of people building homes. They put obstacles in the way that have led us to a housing crisis. It is the same policies that they’re supporting federally. They have the balance of power federally, and what are they supporting? High taxes, which lead to inflation, which lead to interest rates that put families out of competition for homes.

So I say to the Leader of the Opposition: Don’t do what your federal counterparts are doing. Don’t do what you did when you supported the Liberals. Don’t put housing out of the reach of thousands of people. Join us and make sure that the next generation has all the benefits that we enjoy. That’s what we’ll focus on.

Government accountability

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, I’m not raising these questions because I have any particular interest in the jet-setting lives of the Premier’s staff and friends; I’m raising them because of what they reveal about how this government makes decisions and who stands to gain from those decisions.

The Integrity Commissioner says evidence suggests someone tipped off Mr. Rehmatullah, but he has been unable to identify who it was.

Does the Premier have reason to believe that any of his ministers or staff may have given advance notice to Mr. Rehmatullah about their plans to remove parcels of land from the greenbelt?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Paul Calandra: In fact, what the Integrity Commissioner said—page 135: “In fact, I have found that the Premier’s office staff were not providing such direction.” Page 140: “I accept the purpose of the decision to remove lands from the greenbelt was to address the housing crisis.” That is what the Integrity Commissioner said—because that is what we have been focused on since we got into office.

We inherited a province that was brought to its knees by the policies of the Liberals and the NDP—the same policies right now, which, across this country, have led to high inflation, which is leading to out-of-control interest rates, which are putting thousands of people out of the market. And when you add on top of that the obstacles that they put in place, making new families have to decide to eat or heat—that was their legacy.

We’re going to bring prosperity back. We’ve already seen 700,000 people have the dignity of a job—and now the next step is to give those new families the same advantages that we had: a house that they can call home for their families, so that we can ensure that the next generation has all the advantages we had.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: My question is back to the Premier. I hope he answers this time.

This speculator’s influence wasn’t limited to the greenbelt. His company was identified by the Auditor General as one of the top beneficiaries of this government’s MZOs. We need some transparency here.

The Premier’s former minister paid $4,550 in cash for three flights to Vegas, but no one could provide clear proof just how, when or if the balance for the trip was repaid in full. Rooms at the Wynn Las Vegas apparently go for more than $700 a night.

What steps is the Premier taking to figure out who paid for this trip and when?

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

Hon. Doug Ford: To the Leader of the Opposition: It was very clear that the Integrity Commissioner cleared myself and cleared my office. The Auditor General cleared myself and cleared my office.

Our intent is to build homes—build homes for new Canadians and build homes for young families who come here who can’t afford it.

If it was up to the NDP and the Liberals, nothing would get done. We go back another 15 years and talk about scandals, be it the eHealth scandal or every other scandal that they had—nothing got done. We had the highest hydro rates in North America, the highest taxes, more red tape, more regulations—and they wonder why, under their rule, 300,000 people lost their jobs.

As we stand today, there are 700,000 people who have jobs, who will have an opportunity to pay their rent, who have an opportunity to get a mortgage and buy a home. That’s our intent. We’re going to continue making sure we build the 1.5 million homes.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: I think the Premier had better go back and read those reports again because their Vegas story is not adding up. You’ve got the former minister paying cash for flights. He says he believes the Premier’s staff paid him back—about $1,000 each—in cash. That doesn’t even cover the cost of the flight. The Premier’s now-former principal secretary stated that he thinks he paid him back in cash on or around November 7, 2022. That’s nearly three years after the trip and just a few days after the government announced Rehmatullah’s land would be removed from the greenbelt. Coincidence? I don’t think so.

To the Premier: Should the people of Ontario accept that government policy was being decided on a massage table in Vegas?

Interjections.

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

To reply, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Again, it’s the Integrity Commissioner who will look into any of these—as they do with any issues that come before us from members.

At the same time, the Leader of the Opposition and the leader of the Liberal Party can make all the jokes that they want, but the reality is this: It is not a joke, because what has happened in the province of Ontario under 15 years of Liberals and NDPs is that we have a housing crisis. These are the very same policies that they fought for here for 15 years, that we’re seeing in Ottawa right now. We’re seeing the same thing. We said a carbon tax would cost the people of the province of Ontario and drive up inflation; they said it wouldn’t, but it did.

We said high interest rates would cause our economy to fall; they said it wouldn’t, but we’re showing that it does. High interest rates are putting thousands of people out of the market for homes. Why? Because Liberal policies of high debt, high inflation and red tape, supported by the NDP, don’t work. It brings an economy to its knees. We’re going to do everything that they didn’t. We’re going to continue to restore the economy—

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

Government accountability

Ms. Catherine Fife: My question is to the Premier.

Speaker, the people of this province have questions about what happened in Vegas between the Premier’s former principal secretary, his former director of housing policy, his former minister, and greenbelt developer Shakir Rehmatullah. They all stated that the Vegas trip was in 2019; none of them clarified it may have been in 2020 until they were backed into a corner.

The minister from Mississauga East–Cooksville changed his story about only going to Vegas once since being elected; now we know that he has been there twice. I don’t know how you forget that. I know that I would remember a good-luck ritual massage.

Does the Premier believe that one of his ministers and/or members of his staff lied to the Integrity Commissioner?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m going to ask the member to withdraw the unparliamentary comment.

Ms. Catherine Fife: Withdraw.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Paul Calandra: The member would know the process of how the Integrity Commissioner does his work. Having been one of the only members found guilty of an infraction by the Integrity Commissioner, she would certainly know how that process works.

The person she is talking about is no longer a member of this caucus. That person will have to work with the Integrity Commissioner to ensure that all of the documentation that he requires is made available.

At the same time, we’re going to continue to move forward to ensure that we build 1.5 million homes for people all across the province of Ontario—it’s not just homes for people; it’s homes for students; it’s long-term-care homes. It’s about getting people moving in the province of Ontario. It is why we are building subways. It’s why we are building new roads. It’s why we are opening up our economy. For the first time in years, Ontario is on a prosperous path. Do you know why? Because we’ve done everything opposite to what the Liberals and the NDP did for 15 years.

People are coming back to the province, and now it’s our responsibility to do everything for the next generation to have all the same advantages that we had—

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

Ms. Catherine Fife: The truth matters to Ontarians, and the Vegas story is just not adding up.

The member from Mississauga East–Cooksville paid over $4,500 cash for the flights. He said he also paid for the hotels. The member estimates that the Premier’s staff paid him back $1,000 each and showed a deposit of $2,000 on December 20, 2019. But money the member said was for repayment for the trip doesn’t even cover the cost of the flights, and he can’t recall the particulars. Contrary to the former minister’s dates, the staff in question say they paid the minister back in 2020—but then in 2022. One of these staffers say that they actually paid the minister back $2,000—the other, over $1,000. The dates are wrong. The numbers don’t match.

Is this how the Ford government does business?

Hon. Paul Calandra: Again, the Integrity Commissioner will work with the member to ascertain what is important on any investigation going forward. I assume the members would appreciate it that the process follows the way it is meant to.

Having said that, what we are going to continue to do, and what we have done since day one in this place, is start to untangle the mess that was created by the Liberals and the NDP—a mess that has led to a housing crisis in the province of Ontario. We’re going to remove obstacles. The Minister of Long-Term Care talked about it just yesterday. Under the Liberal watch, 611 long-term-care beds were built across the province of Ontario—611, supported by the NDP. Under this minister’s watch, there are shovels in the ground for 18,000 beds.

In fact, there are more long-term-care beds being built in the member for Ottawa South’s riding than there were for the previous 15 years that he was in that government. We’ll continue to get the job done on behalf of all—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The next question. Order.

Skilled trades

Mr. Aris Babikian: My question is for the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

Our province is currently experiencing a labour shortage in every sector of our economy. Across Ontario, jobs are going unfilled every day, costing our economy billions in lost productivity. One of the most critical areas where we are missing talent is in the skilled trades. With so many job vacancies needing to be filled, people need to be provided with the opportunity to launch into these well-paying and lifelong careers.

To help build a stronger Ontario, our government must do all that we can do to help more people get into the skilled trades.

Can the minister please explain how our government is supporting people in gaining the skills they need to address our province’s overwhelming demand for skilled tradespeople?

Hon. David Piccini: I want to start by thanking the Premier for this important role and thanking all the many men and women in the skilled trades I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with over the last 48 hours. I’m really looking forward to working with you.

Speaker, if we’re going to be honest with ourselves and we’re going to build the hospitals we need, build the schools we need, build the highways, the roads and the bridges that this Premier, this government have committed to doing to support a stronger Ontario, we need the men and women who are going to build them. We need them—men and women like my grandfather, who came off the boats from Italy and found a very rewarding career in the trades. But for too many, that’s out of reach. The opportunity for home ownership and everything he did to provide for my family is out of reach. But under this Premier’s watch, it’s changing.

I want to draw attention to an important fact: Since the moves this government has made to support the skilled trades, we’ve seen an increase in apprenticeship registrations in the last year of over 24%. Bottom line: It’s working.

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

Mr. Aris Babikian: It is positive news that the apprenticeship registrations are up and that more people are entering careers in the skilled trades.

When speaking about getting more people into the skilled trades and that the labour shortage is hurting Ontario’s economic potential, our government must focus on implementing solutions that will have a real impact on the future prosperity of our province. We need to remove barriers as well as provide opportunities and pathways to employment in the skilled trades for those who don’t currently have jobs but who want to work.

Can the minister please elaborate on how our government is supporting Ontarians in securing rewarding careers in the skilled trades?

Hon. David Piccini: Speaker, as I said, we have a Herculean effort needed to ensure we have the infrastructure we need to support a growing Ontario, but if we’re going to be honest with ourselves, we can’t ignore half the workforce. That’s why we need to take steps to ensure that women are represented in the skilled trades.

I’d like to acknowledge the work of the Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity—the work that she has been doing to ensure that we have greater representation of women in the trades—and again, it is working. Under the leadership of this Premier, we have seen an increase in the number of female apprenticeship registrations, up by over 30% from last year. I hope, in the spirit of non-partisanship, that’s something that everybody in this House can say is a good thing.

First Nations consultation

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Meegwetch. Through you, Speaker, to the Premier: This government has all the time in the world to collaborate with developers in Las Vegas, but they won’t show these chiefs the basic respect of meeting with them. Three times they have travelled here and the Premier has ignored them.

Last week, they formally invited the Premier to meet with them face to face. They will be waiting for him out front at 12:15 today. The table is set. Will the Premier meet with the Land Defence Alliance chiefs today? Yes or no?

Hon. Doug Ford: Mr. Speaker, I’ve heard from the First Nations communities, and they have said there has never been a Premier who has been more accessible, returning phone calls, meeting with them. Never, ever have they had a Premier who reaches out to them, supports them in any way I can. I’m going to continue to support them. I return every single phone call and take every single meeting—ask Regional Chief Hare; he was the one who said that in front of numerous chiefs, and they all agreed. So, sorry to dismiss what you were saying.

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

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Those are a different set of chiefs, I think—what he’s talking about.

The Premier has encouraged the mining industry to exploit First Nations lands against their will. He has even promised to drive the bulldozer himself.

They are still waiting—he refuses to meet with the five Land Defence Alliance chiefs whose lands and people are at risk.

Speaker, the leaders are here now, today. Will the Premier commit to respecting their rights to their lands, to decide what happens on their land? If there is any other answer, if he is unwilling to meet with them, it just means that he does not care about First Nations.

Interjections.

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

The Minister of Northern Development and Minister of Indigenous Affairs.

Hon. Greg Rickford: Speaker, it couldn’t be further from the truth. Under this Premier’s leadership, we have settled more treaties, more flood claims and more land claims. We have struck an important balance about creating opportunities, addressing issues, to ensure, as the crown, as the government of Ontario, that we balance the interests of other communities who have moved ahead on legacy infrastructure projects, legacy resource projects, fundamentally transforming the economic, social and health landscape of those communities. That opportunity is extended to those leaders.

I have a personal relationship with many of them. I’ve known them a long time. I meet with them in my constituency office. Chief Turtle is here today. I spoke with the chief of Neskantaga not long ago about some opportunities in his community. We’re prepared to work with those communities, as we do with every First Nations community, to create opportunities for Indigenous youth—

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

Justice system

Mrs. Daisy Wai: My question is for the Attorney General.

The people of Ontario deserve a justice system that is both accessible and efficient. For years, the people of Ontario relied on outdated procedures that were paper-based, inconvenient and confusing when dealing with our provincial courts of justice. Sadly, updates to technology in this sector were clearly not a priority for the previous Liberal government, and they failed to help Ontarians who need timely access in addressing their legal matters. The people of Ontario need solutions that will replace the methods that were slow, outdated and ineffective.

Can the Attorney General please explain how our government is transforming and modernizing access to justice services?

Hon. Doug Downey: I want to thank my friend from Richmond Hill for the question.

I am proud to tell everybody here and tell the world about the bold new step, the new era that we’re entering, and our government’s plan to build an accessible and very responsive justice system. We’re building on the great work our government has done, in collaboration with the courts, to transform how people across Ontario access justice. It’s no secret to anybody—after years of being ignored by the previous governments, simply put, we needed to drag this system into the 21st century.

I’m proud to announce that we awarded a $166-million contract to deliver the most significant digital justice system project in the country, if not North America. It’s called the Courts Digital Transformation. It will completely change how people resolve legal matters in the Superior Court and Ontario Court, through the implementation of a faster, modern and more efficient new digital justice system. I’ll explain more in the supplementary.

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

Mrs. Daisy Wai: Thank you to our Attorney General. My constituents in Richmond Hill will be very happy. Digital access and implementation of other technologies will go a long way to improve how people interact with Ontario’s justice system.

As a government, we must ensure that our province’s justice system is effective and supports streamlined court operations. It is equally important that current technology is available in courtrooms across our province, in order to overcome long-standing barriers in the justice system. Modernization of these vital services through critical investments is essential to speed up access to services.

Can the Attorney General elaborate on how technological advancements will improve Ontario’s justice services?

Hon. Doug Downey: I want to thank my colleagues in our government, because they are committed to modernizing and digitizing government services so that they’re more available to Ontarians in every part of Ontario. The Premier’s commitment to this modernization is historic.

Through this contract, Thomson Reuters will deliver a new platform that will allow you to:

—file documents quickly and easily online;

—digitally access court case information online—that’s good for transparency;

—pay fees online;

—connect virtually to hearings;

—manage court appearances; and

—receive decisions electronically.

We’re going to make sure that the antiquated system we’ve put up with for decades, the paper-based system, is a thing of the past. It couldn’t be done without our partners in justice—the courts, the users and, of course, the legal associations—and it’s in addition to our justice accelerated strategy, in 2021. In 2022, we put in tens of millions of dollars to transform this system.

We’re not just making change. We’re changing how change is made.

Responsabilité gouvernementale / Government accountability

M me France Gélinas: Ma question est pour le premier ministre. La population de l’Ontario—en particulier, du nord de l’Ontario—voit que le gouvernement ignore nos besoins, et ce, en faveur de leurs amis riches. Le gouvernement a dit qu’il était pour faire le ménage. C’est ce qu’il nous a répété pendant la campagne électorale l’an dernier. Mais maintenant, il est impliqué dans un scandale incluant la violation des règles d’éthique. Trois ministres ont démissionné en déshonneur ou se sont faufilés vers la sortie. Le personnel entourant les conservateurs s’en va sous un nuage de soupçons, et ils se cherchent tous des avocats.

Le premier ministre a déclaré que la responsabilité lui incombait. Alors, monsieur le Président, le premier ministre va-t-il enfin nous dire la vérité et expliquer son implication personnelle dans le scandale de la ceinture de verdure?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Speaker, as you know, as I said earlier, the Integrity Commissioner will be reviewing that.

The Integrity Commissioner also did say this: “In fact, I have found that the Premier’s office staff were not providing such direction.” He went on further to say, “I accept the purpose of the decision to remove lands from the greenbelt was to address the housing crisis.”

This member in the north should know just how important it is that we address the housing crisis. She, of course, was part of a coalition with the Liberals that said that the north was just a wasteland, that nobody should make investments in the north. They stood by the Liberals when they made that claim. This member from the north stood by the Liberals when they made that claim.

Here’s what we’re doing: We’re restoring the North-lander, because that’s what is important to people in the north. We’re opening up the economy of the north.

I visited Kenora to ground-break on a new long-term-care home in a housing project there. I got delayed because they were blasting, because they were making new roads in Kenora.

That is what we are doing when it comes to the north—we’re getting the job done for all Ontarians, including your constituents.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question? The member for Mushkegowuk–James Bay.

M. Guy Bourgouin: Il y a encore tellement de questions auxquelles ce premier ministre et ce gouvernement refusent de répondre entourant le scandale de 2,8 milliards—pas des millions, des milliards—de dollars.

Encore, au premier ministre : comment ces spéculateurs ont-ils su donner à votre bureau de l’information sur les terrains à retirer de la ceinture de verdure avant même que cette possibilité soit rendue publique? Qui leur a donné la puce à l’oreille?

Hon. Paul Calandra: Mr. Speaker, again, I’ve addressed this multiple times in the House. The Integrity Commissioner has addressed that multiple times within his report. I refer the member to page 135, page 140, page 141, and page 142. Perhaps he can refresh himself. At the same time, he might want to take a look at the budgets we’ve introduced that have seen prosperity return to many, many parts of the north.

We’re talking about bringing long-term-care homes to the north. We’re talking about building homes in northern Ontario. We’re talking about bringing jobs and prosperity back to northern Ontario.

In fact, when we changed the Mining Act to help benefit the people of northern Ontario, the member for Sudbury, whose riding is so dependent on mining jobs, voted against it. But we shouldn’t be surprised, because they supported the Liberals when they called the north a wasteland; they supported the Liberals, who brought in carbon taxes, which directly impact the people of the north.

To the people of the north, I say very directly: We’ll get the job done for you. The NDP and Liberals have always failed you; we will not.

Environmental protection

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: My question is to the new Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Congratulations. I look forward to working together with you.

The greenbelt scandal has left an $8.3-billion stain on this government, resulting in the resignation of ministers and senior staff. And while the decision has been reversed, I seriously worry about the environment under this government’s leadership, and so do Ontarians. Notably, the previous Minister of the Environment was absent from the discourse of the greenbelt sale, at least publicly, when the destruction of the greenbelt would directly affect Ontario’s environment.

Why wasn’t the ministry an active participant in the Greenbelt Task Force, and how will this minister be involved in the development of upcoming legislation that will return the greenbelt lands to their protected status?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Again, it is worth noting that the changes we had anticipated making to the greenbelt that are no longer happening are not costing taxpayers a cent—unlike the Liberals, who cost the taxpayers billions of dollars. And what did the Liberals accomplish with the billions of dollars that they cost? Nothing. Their big accomplishment was that 300,000 jobs fled the province of Ontario. They called the north a wasteland. They said that Ontario should transition to a service economy and forget manufacturing. That is the legacy of the Liberal Party.

It was a Progressive Conservative government that actually brought in the Ministry of the Environment.

It was a Progressive Conservative government that protected the Oak Ridges moraine.

We’ll take no lessons from a party that opened up the greenbelt 17 different times. In fact, what are we doing? We’re protecting the greenbelt. We’re codifying it in legislation. We’re adding 9,400 acres to it—the largest increase in lands ever. And we’ll—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order. Stop the clock. The House will come to order so we can resume question period.

Start the clock. I recognize the member for her supplementary question.

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: Wake up. We’re in a climate emergency, and you need to act. The greenbelt scandal should have alerted you that Ontarians value our environment and are extremely concerned about the climate emergency. As we face this climate crisis, we need strong and proactive environmental leadership.

At the end of August, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks quietly released a report called the Provincial Climate Change Impact Assessment; the previous minister had no press conferences about it, and this government has yet to say a word. Maybe it’s because the findings are so damning. Ontario is not doing enough on infrastructure or for Ontarians to protect us from the future; your Financial Accountability Officer even told you that.

Does the new minister believe that there’s a climate crisis, and how will she utilize the recommendations from the climate change impact assessment report to influence—

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

To respond, the Premier.

Hon. Doug Ford: Again, anything coming from the Liberals, supported by the NDP—I find it really rich. And I really like Triple M. We work together at Queen’s Park. You’ve been sucked in, Triple M; I’m sorry for that.

Let’s talk about the infrastructure. Let’s talk about the $184 billion that we’re investing and the $50 billion in the hospitals, building 50 sites. Let’s talk about the billions of dollars we’re spending on transportation, building the largest transportation system in North America, building $30 billion of subways. We’re doubling the size of the TTC to get people out of their cars and into the subways. Let’s talk about the billions of dollars being invested by Algoma and Dofasco that’s taking two million cars off the road. Let’s talk about the 600 schools that you closed and the hundreds of new schools that we’re building. That’s what we’re doing on infrastructure.

Interjections.

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

The House will come to order.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The House will come to order.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’ve got all morning.

I am going to remind members to refer to each other by their ministerial title or the riding the member represents.

Start the clock. The next question.

Transportation infrastructure

Mr. Sheref Sabawy: My question is for the Minister of Transportation. Traffic congestion and gridlock on highways lead to delays and frustration. For people who live, work or travel through the western part of the GTA, Highway 413 will make a significant difference and have a huge impact on the quality of their lives. The hard-working people across Peel region know that Highway 413 will make travel more convenient and will help to prepare for the massive population growth expected in the next 30 years. It is clear that this project is essential not only for the people living in Peel region, but it is also necessary for the overall prosperity of Ontario.

Can the minister please explain how our government’s investment in critical highway infrastructure projects, like the 413, will benefit the people of Ontario?

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: The people of this province sent a very clear message: Build Highway 413.

Mr. Speaker, just like my colleagues, I hear the same thing every single day: Gridlock in the GTA is taking away from things that matter most, like spending time with your family. That’s why, in Peel region, one of the fastest-growing regions, with an expectation of over a million more people, it’s even more important for us to build these critical highway infrastructures across the province.

Unfortunately, the previous Liberal government, supported by the official opposition, refused to support the building of this highway. They expect the status quo.

We’re going to continue to invest $27 billion in expanding highway infrastructure across this province.

The opposition and the Liberals are completely out of touch with the challenges that Ontarians are facing. That’s why we’re going to build—

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

Mr. Sheref Sabawy: Ontario needs infrastructure to help move people and goods or Peel region will quickly become overwhelmed. Our government must provide transit relief that will make travel more convenient and that will increase opportunities for jobs and economic growth.

The reality is that we need critical infrastructure such as Highway 413 to continue attracting investments here in Ontario. The people of Peel region are tired of the voices of “no” and the people who continually oppose this project. They expect our government to deliver on building Highway 413 in order to keep up with the GTA’s population growth and business needs.

Can the minister please elaborate on how Highway 413 will contribute to supporting our province’s economy and growth?

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: We know that building Highway 413 is the right thing to do for families, for the economy and for our future.

Under the leadership of this Premier, we’ve attracted over $25 billion in new investments into this province.

Gridlock has cost this province over $11 billion per year, and it will only get worse if we don’t build these critical highways.

Highway 413 will keep the economy moving. During the construction of Highway 413, we will support an estimated 3,500 jobs; we’ll add approximately $350 million to the GDP each year. Once construction is complete, we will reduce gridlock and keep our goods moving.

Highway 413 will also have a dedicated transitway to connect people to our major employment centres and attract more businesses to the area.

It is very critical that we build Highway 413. The independent Liberals—

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

Land use planning

Ms. Jessica Bell: My question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Minister, your own experts have said very clearly time and time again that we don’t need to open up more land to meet our housing targets. While this government has backed down on opening the greenbelt, this government continues to force municipalities to expand their boundaries and pave over 35,000 hectares of farmland, even when municipalities from Hamilton to Waterloo are telling you they can build the homes they need with the land they’ve already got.

Minister, can this government reverse course and stop paving over farmland?

Hon. Paul Calandra: We saw this yesterday—it’s the next shoe for the opposition. It’s never about building homes. You can never get a question—“How can we help you build more homes for the people of the province of Ontario?” You’ll never get that from them.

No, we’re not going to continue to put obstacles in the way of building homes. Let me be very clear: As the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, I’m going to remove obstacles. Do you know why? Because it is our job to ensure that the next generation has all of the same advantages that we have.

We have one job as parliamentarians: to leave the province in better shape than we found it in. Under the Liberal and NDP coalition, what did you do? You brought the province to its knees.

So, no, I will not put new obstacles in the way of building homes.

And to our partners who have said clearly that you have enough land to build in your areas—we’re going to make sure that you come on board and that we build those homes in those areas.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I will remind the members to make their comments through the Chair.

The supplementary question.

Ms. Jessica Bell: This government has had five years to fix the housing crisis, and it has never been more expensive to rent or buy a home. That is your legacy.

What we’re also seeing now is that housing starts in Ontario are starting to go down; they went down by 20,000 in July, and they went down another 13,600 in August.

To build the homes we need for Ontarians, we have been calling on this government time and time and time again to do more to increase density in towns and cities so we can build homes in neighbourhoods people want to live in. What is your plan to do that?

Hon. Paul Calandra: The member can rest assured that we are going to ensure that every community across the province of Ontario will be building homes within their urban boundaries—they can rest assured.

We have been talking about removing taxes from building purpose-built rentals. We talked about this. Finally, the federal Liberals agree with us—they recognized—that when you put a tax, it drives the economy down. They have finally agreed with us, and they’ve agreed to remove the tax on purpose-built rentals—something that we put in the budget. Colleagues, you’ll remember, we put this in the budget. The finance minister put this in the budget. We’re seeing purpose-built rentals at the highest level in over 15 years. We put it in the budget. The member talks about it. How did she vote? She voted against it.

The member talks about transit and building in communities, but when we talk about densifying around community infrastructure like GO trains and subway stations—how did she and her party vote? They voted against it.

Don’t worry. We’ll get the job done for your com-munity as well.

Rural and northern health services

Mr. Michael Mantha: My question is to the Minister of Health.

Last week, Manitoulin Health Centre announced that they will have to close one of their emergency departments on days throughout October due to a shortage of available doctors. This will mean that people who live in central and western Manitoulin will have to travel at least an extra 40 kilometres when they are experiencing a medical emergency.

Before the summer break, I warned the minister about the shortage of primary care physicians on Manitoulin, and now we are seeing the consequences of understaffing play out. This is unacceptable. This government cannot continue to allow rural emergency rooms to go short-staffed.

Can the minister commit that she will not allow ER closures on Manitoulin so that it doesn’t become a common occurrence?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: I appreciate the opportunity to talk about some of the things that we’ve been able to do to, in fact, keep emergency rooms open, because we know the temporary closures are very disruptive to local communities. Of course, the member opposite would know that there has not been a single closure of an emergency room north of the French River, which covers the entire northern part of the province.

We’ve worked incredibly hard to make sure that those temporary coverages, where committed physicians are prepared to go into communities that are not their host communities, working those hours to make sure that we have that covered—as I said, there has not been a single emergency department closure. That is a result of the coverage that we’ve been able to do with physicians. We’ll continue to do that work.

I’m guessing the member opposite is specifically referencing Mindemoya. We’ll make sure that we work with all of those partners to ensure those coverages.

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

Mr. Michael Mantha: Again, to the Minister of Health: Emergency room closures due to short-staffing are becoming common across Ontario in rural and northern communities. Despite raising the communities’ concerns with the minister time after time, we are still seeing ER closures happen across Algoma–Manitoulin. Rural hospitals like Manitoulin Health Centre, Lady Dunn in Wawa, the North Shore Health Network, St. Joseph’s in Elliot Lake, and hospitals in Manitouwadge and Hornepayne work tirelessly to limit closures.

However, this government has not shown any urgency in addressing the physician shortage facing northern Ontario. We know that ignoring the problem is only making it worse. Overburdened doctors in the north are burning out and being forced to close their practices.

While I appreciate that the minister is extending locum coverage in the Manitoulin area, the fact is that officials are still saying it is not enough to avoid ER closures.

What is the minister going to do to ensure that all northerners have reliable access to physicians in their communities?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: I will agree on one point, and that is, the status quo is not acceptable. We were left with a system that, frankly, wasn’t training enough physicians. We had a Liberal government of the day who actually shuttered and reduced the number of residency positions available for new physicians to train in the province of Ontario.

In fact, it is our government, under the Premier, which has ensured that if you are a physician in any part of Canada and you want to live and practise in the province of Ontario—come on down. We have made it easier for people to do that.

It was, of course, a Progressive Conservative government that opened a northern medical school.

And it was our government that actually expanded those positions so that we have more physicians being trained in the province of Ontario.

We have more access for individuals who want to practise in the province of Ontario. We will continue to do that work because we see a population that is expanding, aging and wanting health care and housing.

Seniors

Can the minister please explain how events such as the Grand Parade fundraiser in Alliston are important to the well-being of our seniors across this province?

Hon. Raymond Sung Joon Cho: Thank you to the excellent MPP from Simcoe–Grey for the question. He is doing a marvellous job advocating for seniors in his riding. He invited me to kick off the Grand Parade and meet the friendliest people in Alliston, Ontario. Events like this are important because they create ways for seniors and their families to get active, be together and support each other.

I’d like to give a big shout-out to Contact Community Services for this marvellous event. I encourage all members to follow their lead and bring seniors in their community together.

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

Mr. Brian Saunderson: Thank you to the minister for that response.

Our senior population not only provides us with wisdom and experience, but they are critical to the continued growth of our communities. Events such as the Grand Parade are important in bringing seniors together for social interaction, but we also know that there need to be ongoing opportunities for seniors to be engaged in their communities. Our government must continue to work for the many Ontario seniors who built this province, who lent their expertise, so that they can remain active, healthy and live comfortably. Seniors in Ontario deserve our best and our continued support on every level.

Can the minister please explain how our government is supporting our senior population in this province?

Hon. Raymond Sung Joon Cho: Speaker, social isolation is enemy number one for seniors. This Premier understands that the best thing we can do is get seniors active and connected. That is why our government invested $6 million this year to support the delivery of over 280 local projects for seniors, from educational classes to Zumba and pickleball.

In fact, Contact Community Services received $25,000 to help isolated seniors live healthy, get engaged and access resources in the community. This is how we are supporting seniors in Simcoe–Grey and across this province to get together, get the supports they need and be in their community.

Government accountability

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: My question is to the Premier.

The property at 502 Winston Road in Grimsby was removed from the greenbelt. New Horizon Development Group purchased this property after you became Premier. Since then, the co-founders and their families made substantial donations to the PC Party.

Given public concerns in Niagara, what actions have you taken to investigate potential links between these donations and the greenbelt decision?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Paul Calandra: In fact, it was the Integrity Commissioner who took a look at that. I refer the member to page 142: “I cannot find that political donations were the basis for the decision to remove lands from the greenbelt. Accordingly, I find there was an objective basis for the decision”—the objective basis for the decision was, namely, a housing crisis. The Integrity Commissioner, actually, on page 140, referenced the fact that all political parties received donations from the exact same people.

The reality is, what we are trying to do is build more homes for the people of the province of Ontario, including in that member’s own community. That member is a member who voted against, of course, long-term care. She voted against new hospitals in her community.

Thankfully, there is a good Progressive Conservative member in that area who has brought more investment into Niagara, I think, than all of the other members combined from Niagara since, probably, Confederation. Thank you to the member. Thank you to Mr. Oosterhoff for the great work that he has done in bringing investment and jobs to his community.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Again, I’ll ask members to refer to their colleagues by their riding name or ministerial title.

The supplementary question.

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: Don’t you find the timeline is concerning? New Horizon’s purchase of 502 Winston Road, followed by significant donations from the co-owner’s family to the PC Party—note: many being their first-ever provincial contributions. Before 2022? No donations. And afterwards, we see max donations—over $10,000.

What have you done to investigate the surge in the financial support and the degree of favoritism in the greenbelt sell-off?

Hon. Paul Calandra: Of course, that is something the Integrity Commissioner will look into—but you talk about favoritism, right? This is a member who voted against the expansion of roads in her community.

We were just in Niagara Falls last week, and I can’t tell you how many people came to us and said, “Finally we have a government that cares about our region. Finally, there are members of provincial Parliament who care about our region.”

We have new hospitals going in. We have the Skyway being expanded. She, of course, voted against that. We have long-term care.

The best part of it is, colleagues, that when we break ground on long-term care—guess who shows up? The NDP. They show up, they want to take credit for it, but then they don’t tell their constituents and colleagues, “Well, we voted against it. We’re just here to take credit for it.”

Come on. You know full well what the job of a member of provincial Parliament is—it’s to bring investment to your community, and there’s only one member in that area who’s doing it; it’s the member for Niagara West.

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

Once again, I’ll remind members to please make their comments through the Chair.

Start the clock. The next question.

Tourism

Ms. Natalie Pierre: My question is for the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

Today, delegations from the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario are holding meetings with members and with our government to update us on their work to provide new and innovative tourism experiences to locals and visitors alike. It’s vital that we value and appreciate their insight as we all work together to understand and address the challenges facing businesses in the tourism sector.

Can the minister please explain what our government is doing to support Ontario’s tourism industry?

Hon. Neil Lumsden: Thanks for the question—and I’d also like to thank her for all the work she has done in a very short period of time and the impact she has made, not only in her community, but across Ontario. It’s great work, and thank you for that.

Mr. Speaker, tourism touches us all in many ways, and today it has touched us a lot because we’ve had the great pleasure of not only having a reception last night with the leadership group and people around and colleagues showing up—but today in meetings.

Tourism, I’ve found, has become very special to me in many ways. When I’ve had conversations and understand what tourism does on driving economic power into our province—how they do it and how they went through a very tough time. I’ve met with a lot of them, and I’m going to meet with more of them because they’re inspiring. They’re inspiring because when you sit down, they don’t say, “Here, I need this, help”; they say, “We have a problem. Here’s our solution. Will you work with us to get to that solution?”—and you bet we will, Speaker.

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

Ms. Natalie Pierre: Thank you to the minister for his response. It’s encouraging to hear the minister’s confidence in our province’s tourism industry.

Today’s meetings with members of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario are timely since tomorrow is World Tourism Day. That being said, it’s also a reminder that while tourism is celebrated and recognized internationally, it’s also a highly competitive industry.

Can the minister please explain how our government is partnering with the tourism industry to unlock its true economic potential and ensure Ontario remains a world-class tourism destination?

Hon. Neil Lumsden: Mr. Speaker, that’s another great question. I think the right word there is “partnering”—it’s not so much working, but it’s partnering with people; it’s understanding their dilemma and their situation. As I said in the earlier answer, it’s so refreshing to sit down with people and have them have solutions to their own problems and look for a partner to work with. We are that partner.

When I look across the industry—and really, like most things, it comes down to people, the types of people you’re dealing with, and whom we’ve been dealing with in the tourism industry have enlightened, have expanded and have been aggressive, to go through a tough time and come out the other side and find ways to be better.

A great example—and I won’t necessarily mention—yes, I will: Blue Mountain ski resort. Blue Mountain has taken a turn and they do things other than just with snow. They take advantage of the landscape and the natural beauty. They do so many things to draw people to their area—and that’s not just about Blue Mountain; that’s about the whole region. There are regions across this province that have so much to offer, like Blue Mountain, and the people who are in this—

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

Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Oxford has a point of order.

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: Mr. Speaker, on a point of order: I’d like to introduce the class from Rehoboth school in the great village of Norwich who are here this morning. I would have done it earlier, but they were caught in the traffic and they couldn’t get here. But they are here now, and we would like to say welcome to Queen’s Park.

Rectification au procès-verbal

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Mushkegowuk–James Bay apparently has a point of order.

M. Guy Bourgouin: Je voudrais corriger le record : j’ai mentionné 2,8 milliards de dollars quand je voulais mentionner 8,3 milliards de dollars.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. That’s a legitimate point of order.

Legislative page

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

Ms. Goldie Ghamari: Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that, when the page from Carleton was introduced, apparently his last name was mispronounced. It was pronounced “Worsley” and not “Wereley.” I received a call to my office asking if this could be corrected on the record.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I apologize for mispronouncing the page’s surname. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.

Are there any more points of order before we recess?

This House stands in recess until 3 p.m.

The House recessed from 1152 to 1500.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Before I invite members to introduce their guests, if they have any, I’m going to remind them that the standing orders allow five minutes for the introduction of visitors. Ideally, we would ask that the introductions are as brief as possible and that there be no political commentary associated with the introductions.

Introduction of visitors? I hope I didn’t scare anyone off.

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs

Mr. Matthew Rae: I beg leave to present a report from the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs and move its adoption.

The Clerk-at-the-Table (Mr. Wai Lam (William) Wong): Your committee begs to report the following bill without amendment:

Bill Pr23,

An Act to revive Ice Hockey Resources Ltd.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Shall the report be received and adopted? Agreed? Agreed.

Report adopted.

Introduction of Bills

1000067464 Ontario Inc. Act, 2023

Ms. Smith moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr33,

An Act to revive 1000067464 Ontario Inc.

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

First reading agreed to.

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

Test Your Smoke Alarm Day

Hon. Michael S. Kerzner: It is my privilege to rise in the House today in recognition of the inaugural Test Your Smoke Alarm Day, taking place on September 28.

Interjections.

Hon. Michael S. Kerzner: Thank you.

I want to thank Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal for launching and tirelessly promoting this important day of action and awareness. And I want to thank my colleague the member from Oxford, whose private member’s bill a long time ago paved the way for us and our action today.

Mr. Speaker, fire statistics show that fatal fires have increased year over year for the past four years. Last year there were 133 fire fatalities in the province. This is the highest number of fire-related deaths in the province in two decades. Statistically, the Office of the Fire Marshal’s investigators found that in the majority of fatal fires, there were no working smoke alarms.

This troubling trend continues. This summer, a mother and her child from Brampton and a 54-year-old in Waterloo died in residential fires with no working smoke alarms. There has also been a high number of fatal fires in First Nations communities across Ontario.

Mr. Speaker, these preventable deaths prompted Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal to spearhead the first-ever Test Your Smoke Alarm Day. This day of action aims to raise awareness about the critical importance of having working smoke alarms in our homes and the role they play in keeping our families safe.

Smoke alarms are a first line of defence. They provide early warning that can mean the difference between life and death in the event of a fire emergency. However, smoke alarms are only effective when they are in good working condition, and that’s why Test Your Smoke Alarm Day is so crucial.

This year’s theme is “Saved by the Beep,” emphasizing the vital role that properly functioning smoke alarms play in safeguarding our homes and loved ones. “Saved by the Beep” reminds us that the simple act of testing our smoke alarms can be a lifesaver. These small devices are often taken for granted, and yet they have the power to provide early warning and save lives in the event of a fire.

Mr. Speaker, on September 28, I encourage all residents of Ontario to just take a few minutes and test your smoke alarms to ensure they are functioning properly. Here are some steps to follow on Test Your Smoke Alarm Day:

(1) Press and hold the test button on your smoke alarm to ensure it makes a loud and audible sound. The sound will be three loud beeps.

(2) Replace the batteries in your smoke alarm if they are more than a year old. I’ve led by my own example of changing all my batteries at our home, which is the right thing to do.

(3) Vacuum or gently dust your alarms to remove any debris that may interfere with their operations.

(4) Ensure you have smoke alarms installed outside all sleeping areas and on every storey of your home. For added protection, we encourage everyone to install a working alarm in every bedroom.

(5) Lastly, replace all smoke alarms that are more than 10 years old.

To learn about the Saved by the Beep campaign and find resources on smoke alarm maintenance, safety, tips and educational materials, I encourage Ontarians to visit the dedicated website, savedbythebeep.ca. There’s a wealth of valuable information to help people ensure the safety of their home and family.

By participating in this initiative, we are not only prioritizing the safety of our own families, but we are also contributing to the overall safety of our communities. A well-prepared and vigilant community is a safer and more resilient one.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, let’s make Test Your Smoke Alarm Day an annual tradition in our province. Together, we can help prevent tragic fire-related incidents and protect the well-being of all Ontarians.

Thank you for your commitment to safety. Let’s work together to save lives by making sure that every home in Ontario is equipped with a properly functioning smoke alarm.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Responses?

Mr. John Vanthof: It’s always an honour to speak in the House—today, actually, is my first chance speaking since we came back from break—and to give a few comments on the first annual Test Your Smoke Alarm Day.

There are some sobering statistics that we don’t often think about. In 2022 in the province of Ontario, 133 people died as a result of residential fires. That’s an incredible number. It’s the highest in two decades. There are also statistics to show that a working smoke alarm, between 2015 and 2021—I’m going to reword this, because this is a very serious issue. Between 2015 and 2021, homes without working smoke alarms accounted for nearly three out of four deaths, 74%.

Another statistic, and this one is a US statistic, but I think it would pertain to Canada as well: According to the US National Fire Protection Association, a working smoke alarm in your home cuts your risk of dying in a fire by 55%.

It’s very easy to do. There are people who forget, but it’s easy to do. Anyone who knows me knows I’m not much of a cook, and the few times I’ve tried to cook something, often the smoke alarm goes off. You know what? I have been guilty of taking it down. It’s easy to do because you always think that it will never happen to you.

I commend the fire marshal’s office for giving us the chance to remind people once again—it’s so easy to do—to check it and make sure it works.

I don’t think we can talk about the risk of fire without talking about firefighters, both volunteer and professional, who actually run towards the fire while, hopefully, we are running away. For those people who take the ultimate risk, the least we could do is to remind people to make sure your fire alarms, your smoke alarms are working.

I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention the member from Oxford and his long journey to get the Hawkins Gignac Act passed, which makes carbon monoxide testers also a requirement in houses in Ontario. The member from Oxford is on the opposing party, but he happens to be my uncle, so I’m kind of obligated to mention it. It is an example of a really good initiative that took far too long to get through this House, but it did finally get through. It happened. He was so adamant because he had a tragedy happen in his riding. We’ve all had tragedies happen, and it’s one of the things that drives us to prevent further tragedies from happening.

There’s one other issue I would like to mention regarding emergency services, particularly in northern Ontario: There are parts of Ontario—parts of populated Ontario—that still do not have 911. They don’t have it. I am told that people are working on it and we’re going to get it, but as we speak, there are people in this province, especially those moving to my part of the world, who think they have 911. If they hear their fire alarm and they call 911, they will not be directed anywhere. That’s something else we need to change as quickly as possible.

Thank you very much for the opportunity.

Motions

House sitting

Hon. Andrea Khanjin: I move that when the House adjourns on Thursday, November 2, it stands adjourned until 3 p.m. on Tuesday, November 14, 2023.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Ms. Khanjin has moved that when the House adjourns on Thursday, November 2, it stands adjourned until 3 p.m. on Tuesday, November 14, 2023. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

Committee membership

Mr. Trevor Jones: I move that the following changes be made to the membership of the following committees:

On the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, Mr. Leardi replaces Mr. McGregor, Mr. Kanapathi replaces Ms. Gallagher Murphy and Mr. Oosterhoff is removed; and

On the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Mr. McCarthy is removed; and

On the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, Mr. Cuzzetto is removed; and

On the Standing Committee on Justice Policy, Mr. Jones, Chatham-Kent–Leamington, is removed; and

On the Standing Committee on Social Policy, Mr. Rae is removed;

On the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy, Ms. Kusendova-Bashta replaces Ms. Smith, Thornhill; Mr. Rae replaces Mr. Holland; Mr. Coe replaces Mr. Thanigasalam and Mr. McGregor is removed; and

On the Standing Committee on the Interior, Ms. Gallagher Murphy replaces Mr. Flack, Mr. McGregor replaces Ms. Dixon and Mr. Leardi is removed; and

Finally, on the Standing Committee on Government Agencies, Mr. Holland replaces Mr. Coe, Mr. McGregor replaces Mr. Sabawy and Mr. Jones, Chatham-Kent–Leamington, is removed.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Mr. Jones has moved that the following changes be made to the membership of the following committees:

On the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, Mr. Leardi replaces Mr. McGregor, Mr. Kanapathi replaces Ms. Gallagher Murphy and Mr. Oosterhoff is removed; and

On the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Mr. McCarthy is removed; and

On the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, Mr. Cuzzetto is removed; and

On the Standing Committee on Justice Policy, Mr. Jones, Chatham-Kent–Leamington, is removed; and

On the Standing Committee—

Interjection: Dispense.

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

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

Petitions

Northern Health Travel Grant

M me France Gélinas: I would like to thank Madame Monique Roberge from Chelmsford in my riding for this petition.

“Whereas people in the north are not getting the same access to health care because of the high cost of travel and accommodations;

“Whereas by refusing to raise the Northern Health Travel Grant (NHTG) rates, the Ford government is putting a massive burden on northern Ontarians who are sick;

“Whereas gas prices cost more in northern Ontario;”

They petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:

“To establish a committee with a mandate to fix and improve the” Northern Health Travel Grant;

“This Northern Health Travel Grant advisory committee would bring together health care providers in the north, as well as recipients of the Northern Health Travel Grant to make recommendations to the Minister of Health that would improve access to health care in northern Ontario through adequate reimbursement of travel costs.”

I fully support this petition, will affix my name to it and ask my good page Sophia Rose to bring it to the Clerk.

Protection for workers

Mr. Adil Shamji: “Petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas health care and support services are increasingly understaffed workplaces; and

“Whereas health and care services rank second highest for lost-time injuries ... among all sectors in Ontario; and

“Whereas complex care is increasingly prevalent with the growing and aging population; and

“Whereas recipients of care prefer services outside of large institutions and close to or inside their homes, whether group homes, retirement homes, or other residential care facilities; and

“Whereas developmental support workers (DSWs) are the backbone of group homes and similar residential care facilities that deliver care for people with exceptionalities; and

“Whereas bites, cuts, broken bones are all too common injuries when doing this work; and

“Whereas all group home and residential care workers deserve workplace protections as we ask them to care for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities; and

“Whereas it is not currently mandatory for employers to provide WSIB protections to DSWs, particularly in group homes where a majority of DSWs and workers like them provide care; and

“Whereas approximately 25% of health and care workers have no WSIB protections under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997; and

“Whereas efforts to expand WSIB coverage to DSWs and all workers like them has received yes votes from members of all political parties represented in the Legislature; and

“Whereas there is currently legislation before the House: Bill 54, WSIB Coverage for Workers in Residential Care Facilities and Group Homes Act, 2022;

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

“Legislate or regulate an expansion of WSIB to offer mandatory coverage to all health and care service workers in Ontario by categorizing all those who operate a group home or residential care facilities, including retirement homes, rest homes and senior citizens’ residences, a

schedule 1 employer.”

I agree with this petition, affix my signature in the corner and hand it to page Devyansh.

Child care

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: My petition is to “Stand Up for Early Years and Child Care Workers.”

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas child care centres across the province are closing rooms and limiting enrolment because they cannot retain staff in their programs; and

“Whereas child care experts and advocates estimate Ontario may need as many as 65,000 new child care workers to meet the expected demand for $10-a-day child care; and

“Whereas without a strategy to recruit and retain child care workers through setting a salary scale, increasing wages, and implementing decent work standards, parents will lose access to affordable child care; and

“Whereas early years and child care workers have long been overlooked in child care policy-making discussions; and

“Whereas the vitally important work of early years and child care workers has been historically undervalued, with low pay, poor working conditions, and high turnover;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to immediately establish an Early Years and Child Care Worker Advisory Commission to develop recommendations on how to support the early years and child care workforce and address staffing shortages, including through a salary scale, increased compensation and improved working conditions.”

I fully support this petition and give it to page River to deliver to the table.

Social assistance

Miss Monique Taylor: I have a petition titled “To Raise Social Assistance Rates.”

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontario’s social assistance rates are well below Canada’s official Market Basket Measure poverty line and far from adequate to cover the rising costs of food and rent: $733 for individuals on OW and $1,227 for ODSP;

“Whereas an open letter to the Premier and two cabinet ministers, signed by over 230 organizations, recommends that social assistance rates be doubled for both Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP);

“Whereas the recent small increase of 5% for ODSP still leaves these citizens” far “below the poverty line, both they and those receiving the frozen OW rates are struggling to survive at this time of alarming inflation;

“We, the undersigned citizens of Ontario, petition the Legislative Assembly to double social assistance rates for OW and ODSP.”

I wholeheartedly support this and thank Dr. Sally Palmer for continuing to gather these petitions and send them in to me. I give them to page Lucia to bring to the Clerk.

Amyloidosis

Ms. Sandy Shaw: I would like to thank Jennifer Enright from my riding and members of the Canadian Amyloidosis Support Network for this petition.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas amyloidosis is an incurable disease that affects Ontario residents and their loved ones;

“Whereas amyloidosis, including hereditary and non-hereditary forms of the disease, is caused by abnormal proteins, known as amyloids, that build up in the tissues and/or organs of the body and can cause organ failure and can be fatal;

“Whereas recognition of this disease is critical in order to ensure that more Ontarians are diagnosed earlier. Earlier diagnoses can ensure patients receive treatments in a timely manner and can contribute to a more positive outcome, better quality of life and longer quality of life. In addition, these benefits can reduce the burden on society in general;

“Whereas both national and local support groups for patients are working to ensure that more treatment options are available to patients in this province, that more publicly funded drugs are available to fight this disease in Ontario, and that adequate care is accessible to all Ontarians no matter where they live;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly ... as follows:

“To recognize March 2024 as Amyloidosis Awareness Month to raise awareness of this disease among our fellow Ontarians and to improve outcomes for both patients and their families and for newly diagnosed and as-yet-undiagnosed patients.”

I fully support this. This is a disease that my father suffered from before he passed so, believe me, I think this is a very worthy and important petition.

Renewable energy

Mr. Mike Schreiner: I’m pleased to read this petition that was handed to me this morning by members of CAPE and the Citizens’ Climate Lobby.

“Petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly.

“For Meaningful Climate Action Stop Gas Plant Expansion.

“Whereas our planet is undergoing significant warming with adverse consequences for health, for agriculture, for infrastructure and our children’s future;

“Whereas the costs of inaction are severe, such as extreme weather events causing flooding and drought;”

Therefore “we, the undersigned, call upon the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to stop fossil gas and invest rapidly in lower-cost, proven renewable energy and conservation technologies.”

I wholeheartedly support this petition, will sign it and ask page Sophia to bring it to the table.

Renewable energy

MPP Jamie West: I want to thank Cathy Orlando, who’s joining us here in the gallery from Citizens’ Climate Lobby, for helping collect these petitions.

“Pause the Expansion of the Methane-Fired Electricity Generation.

“Whereas the Earth just passed through the hottest three months on record;

“Whereas Canada is experiencing the most severe wildfire season on record;

“Whereas the Ontario government is preparing investments for electricity supply for the long term;

“Whereas in light of recent reports by the RBC Climate Action Institute, Dunsky Energy and Climate Advisors and the Sustainability Solutions Group;

“We, the undersigned, call upon the government of Ontario to pause the expansion of methane-fired electricity generation and evaluate the role of renewable energy in the storage, conservation, distributed energy resources and municipal net-zero plans in meeting Ontario’s electricity needs.”

I support this petition. I’ve learned from Cathy’s daughter, Sophia Mathur, to listen to the experts. I’ll affix my signature and provide it to page Huzaifa for the table.

Long COVID

MPP Jill Andrew: This petition is entitled “Support Ontarians Living With Long COVID.” I just want to thank Lesley Stoyan, who is an amazing local community organizer in St. Paul’s and is also a certified therapist and movement wellness coach. She does many things, but a lot of it has been impacted by long COVID.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the impacts of long COVID are extensive and devastating, which include migraines, dizziness, vertigo, brain fog, loss of smell or taste, and mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety;

“Whereas socio-economic analyses on long COVID project significant negative impacts on the economy through its effects on the labour market, gross domestic product, as well as added costs in health care and social supports;

“Whereas 1.4 million Canadians or approximately 500,000 Ontarians are suffering the devastating health impacts of long COVID;

“Whereas adequate treatment options for those suffering from long COVID are mostly limited to private clinics and can cost as much as $5,000 a month in order for them to continue in their day-to-day lives through gainful employment, parenting, and overall life enjoyment;

“Whereas the Ontario government has failed to properly address and support the escalating crisis of long COVID and how it is devastating the lives of an increasing number of Ontarians;

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

“To immediately allocate funding to support fair, equitable, accessible, and appropriate treatment for the complicated symptoms of long COVID and implement a cohesive and comprehensive funded support system for those suffering from the disease.”

I couldn’t agree more. Again, thank you to Lesley Stoyan and all of those in St. Paul’s who have signed this. Thank you. I’m going to sign it and pass it over to Kian.

Long-term care

Ms. Catherine Fife: This petition is called “Support Bill 21, the Till Death Do Us Part Act.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas there are 38,000 people on the wait-list for long-term care; and

“Whereas the median wait time for a long-term-care bed has risen from 99 days in 2011-12 to 171 days in 2020-21; and

“Whereas according to Home Care Ontario, the cost of a hospital bed is $842, while the cost of a long-term-care bed is $175; and

“Whereas couples should have the right to live together as they age;

“Whereas Ontario seniors have worked hard to build this province and deserve dignity in care;

“Whereas Bill 21 amends the Residents’ Bill of Rights in the Fixing Long-Term Care Act to provide the resident with the right to be together upon admission and to continue to live with their spouse or their partner;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to direct the Minister of Long-Term Care to call Bill 21 to the Standing Committee on Social Policy to find a compassionate solution to provide seniors with the right to live together as they age.”

It’s my pleasure to affix my signature to my petition, and let’s get this done.

Land use planning

MPP Jill Andrew: This is titled “Stop the 413 GTA West Highway.

Petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the Ontario government is pushing ahead with plans to build Highway 413, a redundant and wasteful 400-series highway through the greenbelt that would cost taxpayers an estimated $10 billion or more; and

“Whereas according to a TorStar/National Observer investigation entitled ‘Friends with Benefits?’ powerful developers and land speculators with political and donor ties to the Premier and the” Conservative “Party of Ontario own thousands of acres along the proposed highway corridor and would profit from its construction, suggesting that this $10-billion taxpayer-funded highway is about serving the private interests of the Premier’s friends and donors, not the public interest; and

“Whereas the Ontario government’s expert panel concluded in 2017 that Highway 413 would be a waste of taxpayer money that would only save drivers 30 to 60 seconds on their commutes; and

“Whereas that expert panel identified less costly and less destructive alternatives to new highway construction, such as making better use of the underused Highway 407, just 15 kilometres away; and

“Whereas Highway 413 would pave over 400 acres of greenbelt and 2,000 acres of farmland, destroy the habitats of at-risk and endangered species, and pollute rivers and streams; and

“Whereas building more highways encourages more vehicle use and increases traffic and congestion; and

“Whereas the highway would cause significant harm to historic Indigenous sites;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to stop” its Conservative “plans for building Highway 413.”

I couldn’t agree more. I’ve affixed my signature and am handing it over to Devyansh.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): That concludes the time we have for petitions this afternoon.

Orders of the Day

Working for Workers Act, 2023 / Loi de 2023 visant à oeuvrer pour les travailleurs

Resuming the debate adjourned on September 25, 2023, on the motion for third reading of the following bill:

Bill 79,

An Act to amend various statutes with respect to employment and labour and other matters / Projet de loi 79, Loi modifiant diverses lois en ce qui concerne l’emploi, le travail et d’autres questions.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Further debate?

MPP Lise Vaugeois: Thank you for the opportunity to speak to Bill 79. Much like the previous two bills introduced by the former Minister of Labour, there are a number of important issues addressed in the bill, but it tends to tinker around the edges. There’s a lot of substance missing. It gives the appearance of doing something for workers without actually taking on the most concerning issues.

I would like to start by looking at

schedule 1, and I have here notes from the submission to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs’ review of Bill 79, submitted by the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, Workers’ Action Centre and Parkdale Community Legal Services. What they have said is that when the labour minister introduced the Working for Workers Act, he stated that it would strengthen protections for foreign workers. However, Bill 79, as drafted—and no amendments by the official opposition were accepted by the government—will not benefit most migrant workers facing exorbitant recruitment fees and labour exploitation.

EPFNA only applies to foreign nationals who have valid work permits or are in the process of applying for a work permit. Many migrant workers fall outside of this narrow application. For instance, recruiters often bring migrant workers to Ontario on visitor permits. Because of the use of visitor permits, the EPFNA does not apply to those workers, who find themselves open to illegal fees and labour exploitation. This bill does nothing for those migrant workers.

The government talks of penalties and increased fines under violations of EPFNA; however, Bill 79 only proposes to apply higher fines to employers and recruiters that withhold passports and work permits. Nothing in this bill applies to penalties for illegal recruitment fees. Evidence exists that migrant workers have been forced to pay as much as $10,000 to get to work in Ontario. Therefore,

schedule 1 also should have addressed workers in fear of employee retaliation for raising concerns of exploitation. Very few workers will come forward to raise claims of withheld documents and illegal fees. Those few migrant workers that do come forward and are successful in their claims find that fines and penalties are effectively not levelled against recruiters and employers found in violation of the act.

What we’ve seen is that according to this bill, the fines have been increased, but between 2009 and 2017, only two employers were given a fine—of $250—out of 35 employers found in violation of the EPFNA. Similarly, under the Employment Standards Act, prosecutions of employers in violation of the act went from 79 in 2017-18 to only 12 in 2021. Clearly, we need to increase the proactive enforcement of both the EPFNA and the Employment Standards Act.

Considering the significant barriers that migrant workers face, a complaint-based approach to minimum standards compliance cannot effectively address the systemic mistreatment and wage theft that we see migrant workers face. A more effective strategy of enforcement is through proactive inspections of recruiters and employers of migrant workers. Proactive inspections are supposed to be conducted by the employment standards officer in a manner that protects the identity of individual workers that may have made a complaint.

Unfortunately, under this government, proactive inspections have declined from almost 3,000 in 2017 to 224 in 2021. It really begs the question of how sincere the government is in applying fines to wage theft and other forms of exploitation of migrant workers. Indeed, the deterrence of the fines proposed in Bill 79 is negligible if those fines are never actually levied against anyone.

Finally, they have another recommendation. The ministry also publicizes prosecutions under the Employment Standards Act. Given that the ESA and the EPFNA are complementary pieces of legislation and part of the same minimum standards, prosecutions under the EPFNA should also be published. That’s about

section 1.

We in the official opposition know that we need to create new jobs as part of our transition to a low-carbon economy. I must say, I’m very interested to hear what the members of the Ford Conservative caucus are prepared to admit about the existence of climate change after our summer of incredible floods and fires.

I’m just going back to some statements that were made in the House at the end of the spring session. At that time, we had drifting smoke from wildfires triggering special air quality advisories for large swaths of Ontario—we recall that here, in this House and outside this building—with Environment Canada warning of high levels of air pollution that can be harmful to everyone’s health, even at low concentrations.

“At Queen’s Park, Premier Doug Ford acknowledged the ‘major impact’ of the blanket of smoke across the greater Toronto area but said the province is ‘responding in full force’ with 142 fire ranger crews, 28 aircraft and nine heavy water bombers.”

Now, I’m going to come to these numbers again later, because numbers can be very deceptive. We don’t know what these numbers compare to, so, in fact, we don’t know whether these numbers and the number of people fighting wildfires are actually sufficient.

“During question period, NDP leader Marit Stiles claimed this isn’t an ordinary fire season and expressed concern about the ‘new normal’ in Ontario as children are forced to stay indoors due to poor air quality.

“‘This is not normal, with the very real impacts of climate change being felt by millions of Ontarians,’ Stiles told the Legislature. ‘Yesterday, the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry refused to acknowledge a connection between the climate crisis and these forest fires.’

“Ford, who accused the NDP is politicizing the wildfires, pinned the blame on campers and the weather.

“‘I have heard approximately 50% of the fires are started by lightning strikes, the other 50% are people starting campfires and not putting out the campfires properly.... I’m asking every Ontarian, please do not light any campfires.’

“When pressed on whether climate change is contributing to the current wildfire season, Ford dismissed the suggestion.

“‘They happen every single year similar to the floods,’ Ford said. ‘The wildfires fires start every single year.’”

I have another

article here. The headline is “World on Fire: 2023 Is Canada’s Worst Wildfire Season on Record, and It’s Not Over Yet.” That was on September 4.

“More than 15 million hectares have gone up in smoke across the country this year, shattering the previous record of 7.6 million hectares in 1989 as well as the 10-year average of 2.5 million hectares.”

Oh, my goodness. And we know that four wildfire firefighters died this summer, one from Ontario, working out in BC. People have lost their homes, communities have been evacuated again and again, and clearly—although it might not be admitted on that side of the House—climate change has arrived. It’s urgent that we deal with it.

In fact, it was interesting: I listened to something on the CBC. It was a series of 30-year-old interviews with David Suzuki, and those interviews 30 years ago were saying, “This is urgent. We absolutely must do something now. We can’t fiddle around.” Well, apparently we are still fiddling around, at least on one side of the House.

I want to move on to wildland firefighters, because there are many issues here. I received a number of copies of this letter, and I will read it. It’s from a constituent in my riding.

“I’m writing to you today to express my extreme disappointment at the Ford government’s cuts to wildfire management programs and unfair treatment of those on the front lines working hard to protect us and our communities.

“Forest fire workers are working around the clock to manage record-breaking fires with minimal resources provided. But the Ford government is gambling with their safety, and our ability to breathe clean air. There are runaway fires burning right now that could have been contained, but there are not enough crews. This year, Ontario is 50 crews short, because the Ford government cut 67% of funding for wildfire management programs.”

This brings me back to the uselessness, or the tactic, of giving numbers—how much money is being spent—when we don’t know how much it compares to and how much is actually missing. So it’s a 67% cut of funding for wildfire management programs.

“High turnover persists in Ontario’s aviation, forest fire and emergency services because of low pay and precarious work. Bill 124”—oh, we’ve come back to Bill 124 again—“has made the crisis even worse. Experienced workers are moving to different jobs where they’re better paid and have more job security. This means there are not enough experienced fire rangers to lead crews.

“Representatives from 14 bases met with the minister to reiterate their demands for:

“—better wages;

“—danger pay;

“—more permanent, full-time jobs;

“—proper training and equipment.

“This government has the power to fix this crisis. It is gambling with our safety with cuts and wage caps across the public sector. As a constituent in your riding, I urge you to listen to forest fire workers and move quickly to fix the crisis.”

This letter is signed by Khelsey Benson, who is from the riding of Thunder Bay–Superior North.

I want to continue on the topic of wildland firefighters. Last night, on CBC News, there was a very sad story, and I’m going to read a little bit of this: “Kim Leblanc is the widow of Thomas Leblanc, a former wildland firefighter who died from cancer in 2010. She fought for almost 10 years to get Ontario’s workers’ compensation system to recognize that his illness was caused by 35 years of wildfire exposure.

“Thomas Leblanc spent 35 years fighting wildfires in Montana, Alberta, British Columbia and his home province of Ontario, but when he developed a cancer linked to firefighting, he was repeatedly denied workplace coverage.

“‘Being outside was his dream,’ his widow, Kim Leblanc, said from the family home in Coldwater, Ont. ‘He loved it. He was like a Dalmatian sitting in the front seat of that fire truck and waiting for the call.’

“In 2009, Leblanc found a lump in his neck and was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, one of more than a dozen cancers considered a presumptive work-related illness in most parts of Canada for structural firefighters.” That means urban firefighters. “That means the illness is automatically accepted as likely being caused by occupational exposure—making it easier to access workplace compensation and supports.

“Leblanc applied to” the WSIB “for compensation but was rejected.

“In all but four jurisdictions in Canada, wildland firefighters are excluded in legislation from the presumptions granted to structural firefighters, who respond to fires inside buildings, fire alarms, chemical spills and accidents....

“Thomas Leblanc died at the age of 54 in August 2010, roughly a year after he was first diagnosed. He asked his wife to keep fighting the WSIB claim.

“‘He said nobody, nobody should have to go through this,’ she said.”

This is something that surely could have been addressed in one of these three workers bills, but it is not addressed, and I know that it has been raised. It’s been raised numerous times.

I just want to go back to some of the warnings that were expressed earlier in this year. This is from June 2, just before we ended our session at the Legislature:

“A water bomber flies overhead of Parry Sound 33, one of the more aggressive fires Ontario rangers dealt with in recent years.

“While provincial firefighters are trying to douse the flames of several forest fires in northern Ontario, their union is raising concerns about how the Ontario government is running the wildfire program.

“JP Hornick, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees’ Union (OPSEU), said the province is short 50 fire crews this season....

“A big problem, the union leader says, is how the province has been approaching the recruitment—and retention—of its” firefighters.

“‘Every season [the province] faces the same problem.... There’s a scramble to manage with too few workers.’

“‘What you have is that young workers start but there are too few permanent jobs, and so they leave.’

“According to Hornick, the province offers firefighters three to six-month contracts, rather than year-round employment.

“It wasn’t always this way....

“‘Used to be that in the non-fire season what the rangers would do is clear brush,’ Hornick said.

“‘They would do the kind of upkeep work in other areas of the ministry or across ministries to actually help prevent forest fires the following season and to help with things like snow clearing and whatnot.’

“‘With the cost of living crisis as it is and housing and travel that’s required, people simply either aren’t applying