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May 6, 2026

44th Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2026-May-06 vol. A (PDF)

L070A - Wed 6 May 2026 / Mer 6 mai 2026

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Wednesday 6 May 2026 Mercredi 6 mai 2026

Orders of the Day

HST Relief Implementation Act (Residential Property Rebates), 2026 / Loi de 2026 sur la mise en oeuvre de l’allégement de la TVH (remises relatives aux biens résidentiels)

Members’ Statements

Mattamy Sports Park

Protests in Ontario

National Monument to Canada’s Mission in Afghanistan

Clark Demeester

Jesse Terry

Primary care

Ottawa Charge hockey team

Primary care

Health care

Introduction of Visitors

Ontario Legislature Internship Programme anniversary

House sittings

Question Period

Government jet

Automotive industry

Government jet

Government jet

Race-based data

Freedom of information

Technology sector

Gender-based violence

Government jet

Energy policies

School boards

Public safety

Health care workers

Services de santé dans le Nord / Northern health services

Deferred Votes

Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026 / Loi de 2026 donnant la priorité à la réussite des élèves

Introduction of Visitors

Introduction of Bills

861282 Ontario Limited Act, 2026

Petitions

Collective bargaining

Collective bargaining

Collective bargaining

Health care workers

Collective bargaining

Education funding

Social assistance

Affordable housing

Education funding

Social assistance

Government accountability

Orders of the Day

Building Billy Bishop Airport Act, 2026 / Loi de 2026 sur la construction de l’aéroport Billy Bishop

Better Regional Governance Act, 2026 / Loi de 2026 pour une meilleure gouvernance régionale

The House met at 0900.

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

Prayers.

Orders of the Day

HST Relief Implementation Act (Residential Property Rebates), 2026 / Loi de 2026 sur la mise en oeuvre de l’allégement de la TVH (remises relatives aux biens résidentiels)

Mr. Bethlenfalvy moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill 114,

An Act to amend the Retail Sales Tax Act to enable credits and payments to be made respecting certain tax paid or payable in respect of residential property and to provide for other related matters / Projet de loi 114, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la taxe de vente au détail pour permettre l’octroi de crédits et le versement de paiements relativement à la taxe payée ou payable à l’égard de biens résidentiels et pour traiter d’autres questions connexes.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the minister.

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the great Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing as well as his parliamentary assistant the member for Thornhill.

It is my privilege to rise today in support of our government’s bill, the HST Relief Implementation Act (Residential Property Rebates), 2026.

Madam Speaker, Ontario is navigating a period of real and persistent economic uncertainty. Across the global economy, we continue to see the effects of trade pressures, supply chain disruptions and shifting market dynamics. Geopolitical instability, elevated costs and moderating global growth are creating uncertainty for businesses, workers and families alike. These forces are sending unpredictable shocks through economies and communities around the world, including right here at home in Ontario, in Canada.

In this environment, Madam Speaker, governments must be prepared. We must be ready to not only respond to change, but to anticipate it, even when that means preparing for more challenging economic conditions ahead. That is why our government is taking a prudent and responsible approach. We are focused on protecting Ontario’s economic security while continuing to build a stronger and more resilient province. We are doing this by maintaining a competitive business environment, supporting investment and ensuring that Ontario remains one of the most attractive places in the world to live, to work and to do business.

At the same time, we recognize that families are facing real and immediate pressures, particularly when it comes to housing affordability. For many people in Ontario, the cost of entering the housing market has become increasingly prohibitive and remains one of the most significant financial barriers they face. Communities right across Ontario are asking for action, and they deserve clear, decisive leadership from their government. This legislation is part of that response.

Madam Speaker, Ontario does not operate in isolation. Across Canada, we are seeing the impacts of global uncertainty reflected in provincial economies. In recent months, our fellow provinces have announced record deficits, increases in taxes and cuts to public services, but that is not the path we have chosen here in Ontario.

Instead, our government is focused on maintaining stability, supporting growth and improving affordability. We believe that the best way to support families, individuals and businesses is to keep costs down, encourage investment and build confidence in our economy. These principles guide our decisions as we navigate uncertainty. They guide how we support Ontario families, and they guide how we position Ontario as one of the most competitive jurisdictions to do business in the G7.

Madam Speaker, housing affordability remains one of the most pressing challenges the people of Ontario are facing today. For too many families, the dream of home ownership feels increasingly out of reach. High upfront costs and constrained housing supply are making it more difficult for first-time homebuyers to enter the market. At the same time, builders are facing higher construction costs, labour shortages, financing pressures and uncertainty that can delay or stall new projects.

These challenges are interconnected. When projects are delayed, supply is constrained; when supply is constrained, prices remain elevated; and when prices remain elevated, affordability continues to erode. Breaking this cycle requires targeted, coordinated and timely action. It requires policies that support both demand and supply, and it requires governments to act with both urgency and responsibility. That is what the proposed HST Relief Implementation Act is designed to support.

Madam Speaker, the purpose of this bill is straightforward. At its core, this bill is about delivering certainty and relief to Ontarians. It is about turning a major affordability commitment into a program that works clearly, effectively and responsibly for homebuyers, for home builders and for taxpayers—because announcing relief is only the first step; delivering it in coordination with our federal partners in a way that minimizes complexity is the real work before us.

And that is actually what this legislation is designed to do. As members know, as part of our government’s 2026 budget, we announced that we would be removing the full 13% for eligible buyers of new homes valued up to $1 million, meaning that families could see up to $130,000 in relief when looking to make one of the most important decisions of their life.

But we didn’t stop there, Madam Speaker. We also extended the support for new homes valued up to $1.5 million, helping more people put down roots, create stability and invest in their communities and where they want to live. Because strong communities are not just built from thin air; they’re built on a resilient economy, good-paying jobs and affordable homes.

This historic 13% HST tax cut is another example of how our government is taking a comprehensive approach, building an Ontario that is strong, connected and prosperous for generations to come. This is a significant measure. It lowers upfront housing costs, it supports demand, and it provides a strong incentive to build.

This proposed bill, the HST Relief Implementation Act, is part of our government’s historic efforts to cut taxes and put more money back into the pockets of Ontarians. And that, Madam Speaker, is exactly what this government is doing.

Ontarians have spoken loud and clear: They want to see our government taking action on the issues that impact their lives the most—on the cost of housing, the cost of gas, the cost of transit and even the cost of doing business. Ontarians have spoken, and our government has answered. Affordability continues to be a concern, and that is exactly why our government is staying focused on delivering what people need.

We delivered savings to Ontarians when we made the gas tax cut permanent to deliver lasting, predictable relief at the pump. We delivered savings when we got rid of tolls on Highway 407 East, saving daily commuters an average of $7,200 a year to ease household costs and keep goods and people moving. And we delivered savings when we cut the small business corporate income tax rate by 30%, delivering $1.1 billion in savings to more than 375,000 small businesses. These are but a few of our many recent efforts to support Ontario families by keeping the cost of living down.

And do you know what they all have in common, Madam Speaker? The members opposite refused to support every single one of them. Today, however, I would like to extend the opportunity to my colleagues from the opposition and from the third party to join us in delivering real, tangible dollars in relief for Ontarians who are looking to make one of the single most important purchases of their lives.

A home is more than just a house. It is the future for millions of people and families across this great province. Our government is here today to introduce legislation that would help those families with up to $130,000 in savings. I hope that my colleagues across the way consider joining us in supporting this proposed legislation.

Madam Speaker, a key objective of this legislation is to ensure a seamless experience for homebuyers and builders. We have been working closely with the federal government to ensure a clear path where this relief can be delivered through a single administrator. This approach minimizes burden, it reduces complexity, and it helps mitigate risks related to fraud and duplication.

Delivering this historic 13% relief is a coordinated process that requires we work closely with our federal colleagues in Ottawa. This is a complex undertaking, but it is a necessary one, because the alternative—inaction or delay—would mean higher costs for buyers and fewer homes being built. We recognize that timing matters, but our approach has been deliberate, it has been careful, and it has been built with the well-being of Ontarians in mind as the top priority. It ensures no eligible Ontarian is left behind simply because of implementation timelines, and we are working with the federal government to expedite delivery.

This legislation not only provides clarity to people and families looking to buy a new home; it also provides clarity to the market because builders have been clear they want certainty—certainty about how relief will be delivered, certainty about eligibility timelines, certainty about their role in the process. And thanks to our work to implement this proposed legislation, our bill responds directly to those needs. It establishes the framework required to move forward.

But let me assure you that we are not doing this in isolation. This historic program is supported by ongoing engagement with industry stakeholders, including home builders and developers, to ensure that implementation is informed, practical and responsive, and we are doing so because we also recognize that this is a complex policy environment. There are additional HST relief measures in place, including existing provincial and federal rebates. That is why we’re working closely with our industry partners: to make sure we get things right, to ensure fairness, to ensure consistency and ensure the program works as intended.

Madam Speaker, ultimately, this legislation supports a broader objective: It is about getting more homes built. By lowering costs and improving certainty, we are creating the conditions needed for investment and to spur new home construction.

We are supporting a housing market that can respond to demand. Early analysis indicates that the expanded 13% HST relief could support up to 8,000 additional housing starts next year, sustain up to 21,000 new construction jobs and contribute close to $3 billion—$2.7 billion, specifically—in GDP growth in Ontario, and we are helping to ensure families across Ontario have access to the homes they need and deserve.

Madam Speaker, our government is moving with urgency. We have introduced this legislation to ensure it is implemented as quickly as possible. We are working with the federal government to advance the necessary work, and we need their support because they administer the HST. We are continuing to engage with stakeholders because we know the people of Ontario expect action, and they expect results. They deserve results.

Madam Speaker, this proposed HST Relief Implementation Act is a critical piece of legislation. It provides the authority needed to deliver the full value of the HST relief that the people of Ontario have been promised. It supports a coordinated, practical and accountable approach to implementation, and it reflects our government’s commitment to making housing more affordable and to building more homes faster.

And so I call on all members of this Legislature to support the bill, the HST Relief Implementation Act (Residential Property Rebates), 2026, so that, together, we can move forward with delivering this important relief and with taking meaningful action to address the housing challenges facing our province.

In conclusion, many of us have gone through a time when we bought a home or found a place to live in Ontario, and it is our duty as elected officials in this Legislature to support everyone who has the dream of home ownership at a time when affordability is a challenge for many. This action is legislation that will help propel that vision forward, to help propel that promise to the people of Ontario, to the people who are struggling with food costs and gas costs and housing costs. This is action, Madam Speaker. It is thoughtful. It is clear. It is consistent.

And I call on our federal counterparts to work with us closely so we can advance the administration of the HST as quickly and as clearly and as appropriately as possible.

I thank the members of the Legislature for their time. I’m very hopeful that the Legislature will support this important legislation on behalf of all Ontarians. This is what we get elected for in this Legislature: to move the economy, the jobs and the people of Ontario forward. That’s what they expect us to do day in and day out. This piece of legislation helps enable that vision, helps enable delivering that promise to the people of Ontario. Again, I ask all members of this Legislature to support this bill.

The Acting Speaker (MPP Andrea Hazell): I recognize the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Rob Flack: Again, it’s a great honour for me to rise this morning to speak on this important relief implementation act, and I thank the Minister of Finance for his great work in helping advance this across the finish line as we debate this legislation today.

Obviously, I rise today in support of the HST Relief Implementation Act, 2026, a targeted and necessary piece of legislation that will allow our government to deliver on a clear commitment to the people of Ontario: to lower the cost of buying a new home, to get more homes built faster and to keep workers in our construction sector on the job.

The minister spoke about 21,000 jobs. What this bill does as well is it sustains: It keeps in place over 100,000 jobs that would be at risk had we not brought this legislation forward. It is a targeted measure to protect workers, as I just said, to spur home building, to get Ontario building again and bring confidence—I repeat, confidence—back to those desiring a new home in this province.

Speaker, I want to begin by grounding this debate in the reality that families, builders and communities across Ontario are facing today, because while we see the cranes on the skyline, while we see progress in many parts of the province, we also know this: It still takes too long and it costs too much to build housing in Ontario. That is the central challenge before us today, and it is a challenge that has been shaped by some events, I might add, outside of our control.

Over the past number of years, we have seen global inflation drive up the cost of materials from lumber to steel to concrete. We have seen supply chains disrupted. We’ve seen higher interest rates raise the cost of borrowing for both buyers and builders. And we’ve seen uncertainty in global markets ripple through to local construction activity. Without any doubt, the instability originating from President Trump south of the border is having a serious impact as well.

At the same time, here at home we have faced structural barriers that have slowed down the delivery of housing: lengthy approval processes, layer upon layer of fees and charges, outdated planning frameworks that do not reflect the urgency of the moment. All of these factors have combined to create a situation where projects that made sense just a few years ago are now sitting on the sidelines, unfortunately.

I have witnessed, from the first day taking this job, that people, consumers and home buyers, have hit the pause button. And Speaker, when projects sit on the sidelines, the consequences are real and are being felt. Workers are left waiting, trades are idled, supply chains slow, and, importantly, families are left wondering whether the dream of home ownership will ever be in reach. We’re changing that. I have a message for those people, here and now: We are fighting every day to protect Ontario to ensure the dream of home ownership is alive and well for generations to come.

We have also heard from builders and industry stakeholders about another emerging challenge: unsold inventory—units that have been built or are near completion but are not moving at the pace they need to, projects that are struggling to reach the sales thresholds required to move to the next phase of construction. When that happens, Speaker, it has a ripple effect, because if existing inventory is not moving, new projects don’t get started. It’s that simple. And if new projects don’t get started, the supply chain constricts even further.

That is why our government has been clear from the very start: We cannot accept the status quo when it takes too long and it costs too much to build, and that is why we’re changing these unfortunate instances.

Every act I have tabled to protect Ontario since being minister is to drive down costs and speed up approvals. Bill 17, Bill 60, and now before the Legislature Bill 98, compliment each other in that respect. We cannot accept a system where good projects stall because of cost pressures that are beyond the control of builders and beyond the reach of the families who want to buy these homes, and we cannot accept a future where the next generation of Ontarians is locked out of the housing market.

That is why we have taken action, Speaker. Over the last number of years, our government has advanced a comprehensive plan to get more homes built faster. Through the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025, and the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025, we have moved to streamline approvals, cut red tape and bring greater certainty and predictability to the development process. Through the Building Faster Fund, we have introduced a performance-based approach that rewards municipalities that are getting homes built.

Through these historic investments, like the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program and the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, we are ensuring that pipes, roads and services needed to support growth get in place.

As I’ve said all along, Speaker, we need infrastructure as much as we need housing, and through targeted measures like development charge relief, we are directly lowering the upfront costs of building new homes. Every action builds upon the other to an undeniable whole. It is easier and more cost-effective to build in Ontario in recent history.

Speaker, this is one of the most significant housing affordability measures in a generation, a generational tax cut, one of the largest in Canadian history. We have heard from across all Ontario that this is a game-changer. And it is not just about helping buyers; it is about unlocking the entire housing system, the housing continuum, because when we lower the cost of buying new home, we increase the demand for new construction. When we increase demand, we help move unsold inventory. When inventory moves, projects that were on hold can move forward.

That is how we have turned stalled projects into active construction sites. That is how we turned uncertainty into confidence, and that is how we ensure that workers in our construction sector stay on the job.

Speaker, I can say without reservation it is already working. I have talked to builders. I have talked to developers throughout the province. We are seeing increased sales, serious increased sales. It’s having its desired effect. What does that add up to at the very end? It adds up to affordability. I have heard from builders across Ontario units are selling—literally thousands across the province. However, this legislation adds further certainty and actions to come.

Speaker, I also want to speak to an important design feature of this legislation. It allows the HST relief to be assigned to builders upfront. That means that instead of waiting to receive a rebate after the fact, buyers can see the benefit reflected directly in the purchase of their new home. That is about making the system more practical, more immediate and more effective in getting deals done and projects moving. It is also about certainty: certainty for buyers, who are making one of the most important financial decisions of their lives, and certainty for builders, who need to know that projects will proceed.

This measure builds on the steps we have already taken. We previously moved to remove the 8% provincial portion of the HST for first-time home buyers, and we have expanded that process to include all eligible buyers for a limited period, basically one year. And now, in partnership with the feds, we are going further by removing the full 13% on eligible new homes.

Importantly, this legislation is designed to work in conjunction with our broader housing strategy. It complements our investments in infrastructure. It reinforces our efforts to streamline approvals, and it aligns with our development charge relief program—importantly, the development charge relief program—which is lowering the upfront costs that builders face when bringing new housing to market. As I think we have heard, it can cost up to 30% of a new home construction, a single-family home in the GTA. All costs—HST, land transfer taxes, development charges etc.—can be 30% of the cost of a new home.

We are changing that, because we know that no single policy will solve this challenge on its own. It requires a coordinated approach—an approach that tackles costs, removes barriers and supports the people who are doing the work on the ground.

Speaker, I want to turn for a moment to the voices we are hearing from the housing sector, because this legislation is not being developed in isolation. We have heard clearly from builders that high upfront costs are a major barrier to getting projects off the ground. We have heard that unsold inventory is tying up capital and delaying new construction. And we have heard that targeted, time-limited measures can help bridge the gap and restore momentum in the market. That is exactly what this legislation is designed to do. It is targeted, it is time-limited, and it is focused on unlocking supply and doing so now.

Speaker, when we talk about housing, we’re not just talking about buildings; we’re talking about people: the young families looking to buy their first home, the seniors looking to downsize, and those workers who want to live close to where they work. We are talking about communities that need to grow in a way that is sustainable, inclusive and prosperous. This legislation speaks directly to those aspirations. Affordability is not just about prices; it’s about opportunity and it’s about ensuring that hard work is rewarded. It’s about making sure that Ontario remains a place where people can build a life—their life, their family’s life.

Speaker, our government has been clear. We’ve taken a practical, results-driven approach to the housing challenge. We are not interested in theoretical debates or one-size-fits-all solutions; we are focused on what works, and we are focused on delivering results because results matter. It’s results that count. We’ve already seen progress in this manner.

We are seeing more homes built and being approved, putting critical infrastructure in the ground, as I spoke about. With measures like these, we are working to ensure that more homes get built and get sold, because at the end of the day, Speaker, that is what really matters: not announcements, not intentions, but outcomes; homes built, homes sold—results, Speaker. It’s all about results: communities strengthened, lives advanced and jobs supported. This legislation is a critical part of that effort, and it reinforces the broader work we are doing to fix a system that has not kept pace with the needs of a growing province.

Speaker, I will close with this: The housing challenge we face did not emerge overnight. We had record starts in 2022, but we’ve had clouds; we’ve had crises; we’ve had difficulties ever since. We’re seeing change. We’re seeing light on the horizon. But we understand this is not a one-all fix. It will not be solved overnight, but with each step we take, we are moving absolutely in the right direction. By speeding up approvals, cutting red tape and streamlining decision-making processes, we are creating the conditions for a stronger, more resilient housing system.

I want to situate this legislation within the broader arc of the work we have undertaken as a government because this is not, as I have said, an isolated measure. It’s the next logical step in a series of deliberate actions designed to confront a system that, for too long, has been weighed down by delay, uncertainty and rising costs.

Through our previous legislation, including Bill 17, 60 and now 98, we have consistently focused on removing barriers that slow down projects and add unnecessary expense. We have taken on the approvals process, recognizing that time is not a neutral factor in housing; it’s a cost driver. Every month of delays adds pressure, adds costs. Every year of uncertainty pushes projects further out of the reach of sustainability. That is why we have acted to streamline decision-making, standardize processes and ensure that when a project is ready to go, it can move forward with clarity and confidence.

At the same time, we’ve worked to ensure that the fundamentals are in place, that growth can happen in a way that is coordinated and sustainable. But Speaker, even with all that progress, we’ve been clear-eyed about the reality: There is still a gap of affordability, a gap of what it costs to build and what the market can bear. This legislation helps close that gap in a significant way. It does so in a way that is immediate, and it does so in a way that’s visible and practical. It puts a tangible incentive into the market and gives buyers a reason to act within the timeline outlined in this legislation.

It gives builders the confidence to proceed. And it gives the entire sector a signal that Ontario is serious about getting homes built now, not years from now.

That alignment matters, because when fiscal measures like this are paired with structural reforms, and when tax relief works alongside faster approvals, alongside infrastructure investment, alongside development charge relief, you begin to see the full picture come together. And you begin to see, in real terms, the kind of progress that Ontarians expect from all of us here in this Legislature.

It has been my pleasure to share time with the Minister of Finance. It’s rare to see the Minister of Housing and the Minister of Finance sharing time on bills like this, but I’m proud to do so. This is how you create the conditions to build—the fiscal and regulatory aspects working strongly together. That is what this legislation represents: not a stand-alone fix, but a piece of a broader plan that is already delivering results and making it easier and more affordable—I emphasize, more affordable—to build in Ontario.

The HST Relief Implementation Act is one part of a cohesive whole, and I encourage all members of this House to support its passage.

Speaker, when I got this job a little over a year ago, I hit the road, and I called it my listening-and-learning tour. I’ve spoken to and listened to countless Ontario home builder associations throughout the province—north, south, east and west—and in doing so, I can say confidently that I heard one consistent message, and that is that we need HST relief; we need affordability back in the market. Again, it takes too long and it costs too much to build housing in Ontario.

I want to thank the Ontario Home Builders’ Association, BILD, ResCon, and all their local affiliates for the support they’ve given me in helping navigate this important issue. Working closely with the Minister of Finance and the Premier, I believe we’ve put together a really solid plan—how we thought we could move the needle in terms of new construction starts, what new home sales would be. It really has been a collaborative effort.

And I’ve listened to homebuyers. You’ve heard me tell the story time and time again—I remember, when I was first put into cabinet, I met a young lady in Toronto who was serving my wife and I at a restaurant. I started asking her about her housing situation, and she teared up because she felt she would never be able to own her own home. It was compelling. It was sad. It was motivating. I think about her often, and I think about her as we bring this legislation forth here today.

Again, I want to thank the Premier, who I believe has done an outstanding job in negotiating with the federal government to get this across the finish line. Honest to goodness, folks, it was his leadership that brought it across the finish line—no ifs, ands or buts.

I also want to take a moment to say that I was proudly honoured yesterday, becoming a new grandfather of two baby twin girls. I couldn’t help but think, when I was holding them on the weekend, knowing we were going to be debating Bill 98, Bill 100, and now this HST—I’m not sure what the number is, but whatever this numbered bill is. Holding them, I remember thinking, “I wonder what you’re going to need to do with respect to housing in the future.” It was telling, and it puts it in perspective quite quickly. It was interesting. What is their housing future going to look like?

All of us, I think, in this chamber, or at least most of us—I’ll speak for myself—never lost the hope of owning our own home.

I’ve told the story of when I bought my first house in Guelph for $54,000, and I had $16,000 as a down payment. Interest rates were 19%, I might add, so it was a little daunting when I signed the purchase and sale agreement. Nonetheless, I could make the payments. I was making a little over $30,000 a year. I had a company car at the time, as I was with our company, travelling across southwestern Ontario. I remember the payments. I remember working hard. I could afford to buy that house—$54,000. Today, that house in Guelph is valued at a million dollars, or was—close to a million dollars.

When you think of the income you need to have to sustain a mortgage, with a basic down payment, it’s just unattainable, and it’s wrong—it’s generationally wrong.

So what we’re trying to do, step by step, bit by bit, legislative piece by legislative piece—it may not be all exciting, but little by little, cost by cost, we’re lowering the time it takes and the cost it takes to get shovels in the ground and build affordably. HST is part of that massive need to lower costs and bring affordability back to the table.

I would just end by saying I hope everyone can support this bill, obviously. I think it is generational in its purpose, in its intended consequence. Ultimately, I’ll end by just saying I really do believe we have an honour, a duty, a responsibility and an accountability to keep the dream of home ownership alive and well for generations to come. I hope when everyone else gets to be a grandfather or grandmother or whatever it may be in this Legislature, that thought will stick with you as we build this province and protect this province one day at a time, one person at a time, one family at a time.

The Acting Speaker (MPP Andrea Hazell): I recognize the member for Thornhill.

Ms. Laura Smith: I want to thank both the ministers for providing such fantastic remarks. I want to thank, actually, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for sharing the picture of his granddaughters. It’s quite heartwarming, and I appreciate the connection that we have, especially when we can talk candidly about our hopes and our dreams for the future.

It is a privilege to rise today in this House to speak in support of Bill 114, the HST Relief Implementation Act. I want to begin by once again thanking the Minister of Finance for his remarks and for outlining our government’s broader approach on affordability and what we are doing and working on to advance through this bill. I would also like to thank, of course, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for his leadership and for the critical role he plays in continuing to make Ontario the best place to live.

Today, I would like to focus my remarks on one of the most urgent challenges facing people across our province: housing affordability and supply. At its core, Speaker, this bill is about providing greater clarity and certainty for homebuyers and builders, and that clarity and certainty is desperately needed.

The proposed HST Relief Implementation Act forms part of our government’s plan to protect Ontario—a plan focused on strengthening our economy, supporting families and addressing the affordability challenges people across this province are facing.

Ontario’s economy does not operate in isolation. Global uncertainty, trade disruptions and rising costs are affecting jurisdictions everywhere. Yet Ontario continues to meet these challenges head-on with responsible, prudent plans focused on long-term resilience. Part of our plan includes more homes for more people at a price they can afford, but we recognize that making housing more affordable is a complex challenge.

Housing affordability cannot be tackled without careful consideration and planning. The supply and price of homes in any economy is the result of complex factors. So increasing home affordability is a structural challenge that requires careful solutions. That’s why our government is focused not only on helping buyers, but on speeding up construction and increasing housing supply so that affordability can be sustained over time.

By providing enhanced HST relief on new homes, we are lowering upfront costs for the families of Ontario. At the same time, we are providing clarity and certainty to the building and construction industry so they can move forward with projects that are ready to proceed with greater confidence. This certainty matters, because across Ontario, housing affordability remains one of the most pressing challenges facing individuals and families. We hear the concerns in every community. We hear it from the young professionals who are working so hard, but they’re unsure if home ownership is still within reach.

We hear it from Ontario families who are trying to find a home that meets their needs closer to work, closer to school and closer to the family and community supports they rely upon. And we hear the concerns from builders who are ready to build but are facing rising costs, delays and uncertainty. While this bill focuses on delivering immediate relief for homebuyers, it also provides much-needed certainty and clarity for the building industry.

Our government is also taking broader action to address the underlying drivers of housing affordability. For example, through the Transit-Oriented Communities Program, Ontario is advancing mixed-use developments around 17 subway and GO stations in Toronto and the surrounding region. This is important because these projects have the potential to deliver approximately 292,000 new homes, including affordable options, while connecting people to jobs, connecting people to schools and public transit, which helps reduce both housing and transportation costs for those families.

Speaker, people are looking for answers, they’re looking for action and they’re looking for certainty. That’s what the proposed HST Relief Implementation Act delivers. The measures are clear, and the practical steps are there to help lower costs, support home ownership and get more homes built.

Before I turn to the details of this bill, I want to acknowledge the strong support we have heard from our stakeholders across the housing sector, following the announcement of our government’s broader housing and affordability measures in the 2026 budget. I, too, have heard from so many of the developers, and it’s positive—it is positive—just in the last few days. Part of my riding includes a portion of Vaughan, and we are a building industry in that area. I’ve had first-hand information from the builders, who have been exceptionally excited about this, and the numbers are good; the initial numbers are good.

I’m going to just highlight some of the strong support we’ve heard from our stakeholders across the housing sector following this announcement of our government’s broader housing and affordability measures in the 2026 budget.

The Ontario Home Builders’ Association CEO Scott Andison said, “We welcome the Ontario government’s 2026 budget, including the HST relief on new homes and its significant infrastructure commitment. Aligning these investments with housing-enabling infrastructure will be key to supporting new supply across the province.”

Similarly, in the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association, executive director Jason Burggraaf said, after the budget was released, “Along with the HST relief announced yesterday, the capital infrastructure plan will relieve cost pressures on housing-enabling infrastructure and growth. We’re also heartened to see a desire by the province to again partner with the federal government to lower development charges for new housing, which is a critical step to further improve housing affordability.”

Speaker, these organizations represent the people who are building homes in our province. They understand the realities on the ground, and they understand that if we want to improve affordability, we must act on both cost and supply. The proposed HST Relief Implementation Act is the next step in supporting the implementation of the full 13% HST relief on new homes valued up to $1 million, as announced in March. If passed, this relief would provide up to $130,000 for eligible buyers, and for new homes valued between $1 million and $1.5 million, that maximum relief of $130,000 would be maintained.

And for homes valued above $1.5 million, that relief would decrease proportionately to a maximum of $24,000 for homes valued at $1.85 million and above.

This is targeted support. It is designed to focus relief where it will have greatest impact, and it reflects a balanced and responsible approach. And let me be clear about what this means for people. For a family looking to purchase a new home, this relief would make a meaningful and significant difference: a difference in reducing upfront costs, a difference in improving affordability and a difference in turning the dream of home ownership into a reality.

One of the biggest barriers to entering the housing market is the cost at the point of purchase, and by reducing that cost, we are helping to take that next step. We’re helping them move forward with confidence, and we are helping to ensure that people in Ontario have a path to home ownership.

But affordability is only one part of that equation. We must also address supply, because without enough homes, affordability will continue to be a challenge. That is why the proposed HST Relief Implementation Act is also about creating the conditions to build more homes. By providing clarity and certainty to our builders, we are helping to move these projects forward, we’re helping to reduce hesitation and delay, we’re helping to ensure that more homes are built faster, and we’re helping to get shovels in the ground faster.

As the Minister of Finance noted, the impact of this measure is significant. The expanded 13% HST relief could stimulate an additional 8,000 housing starts in Ontario next year. It could support 21,000 jobs, and it could boost Ontario’s GDP growth by up to $2.7 billion. I should also add that this is going to sustain 100,000 jobs, which is important, especially for the people in Vaughan. You know what? This means more than homes. It’s more jobs and a stronger economy.

While the proposed HST Relief Implementation Act focuses on affordability through targeted HST relief, it’s also important to recognize that affordability cannot be solved without increasing housing supply. That’s why our government is taking broader and sustained action to support housing construction across Ontario. We know that in order to improve affordability over the long term, we must build more homes, more supply, more options and more certainty for the home builders. That’s why we’re investing in the conditions that make home construction possible.

Through the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, we’re helping municipalities build the critical infrastructure needed to support new housing development. This includes roads, water systems and waste water capacity. Since its launch in 2024, this program has helped enable approximately 800,000 new homes across Ontario.

We’re also supporting innovative approaches to housing construction, including modular housing. We’re supporting innovation in how these homes are built, for example, through modular construction partnerships with Habitat for Humanity, who were at the Legislature just a few days ago. In the area of Toronto and Ottawa, our government is learning how homes can be delivered faster at a lower cost and at scale. These pilot projects are informing future approaches that will help us build more homes sooner, without compromising quality or safety.

Our government is partnering with the city of Toronto and Habitat for Humanity in the GTA to build 33 modular homes—this is in Toronto—in a six-storey condominium at 355 Coxwell Avenue. We’re also working with the city of Ottawa and Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa to deliver 33 modular townhomes at 40 Beechcliffe Street. These projects are helping us understand how we can build faster, how we can reduce costs and how we can scale new approaches across Ontario.

I’d also like to take a moment, now that we’re on the conversation of modular homes, to talk about an important project that the minister and I actually visited. It’s a collaborative construction project called Project Tiny Hope, and it provides homes. It’s a construction project of modular homes that I visited. This is truly a special project, a provincial and federal combined investment of over $2.4 million through the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative, also known as COCHI, to help build 40 new supportive housing units in St. Thomas.

The modular homes are near public transit, a library, child care and stores, and the project is managed by the YMCA, which also provides support services to the residents. I was there to see some of the first homes built. We were there. The residents were about to move in. I should also mention that this housing prioritized our most vulnerable, including seniors, and women and children fleeing violence, some of our most vulnerable citizens. It was a very good day when we saw our partners come together.

We’re also investing directly in infrastructure that enables housing growth and protects communities, and through the Housing-Enabling Water System Fund and the Housing-Enabling Core Servicing Stream, our government is supporting critical infrastructure, such as water, waste water and stormwater systems. Since its launch, this program has supported 120 projects across 127 municipalities and First Nations communities. To further support this work, our government is increasing funding by $700 million, bringing the total funding to $875 million. This investment helps ensure that growing communities are not held back by infrastructure constraints.

I would be remiss if I didn’t once again talk about my riding of Thornhill, and I would like to give you a practical example of how that fund helps communities get built.

In my riding of Thornhill, we have an area called the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, a new and growing emerging community. Our government invested $35 million through this fund to enable the construction of new homes. It will enable over 20,000 housing units in my riding of Thornhill on the investment of water management. This investment was crucial in accommodating our growing population.

When you talk about building a home, you cannot simply just walk out into a field, lay down some sticks and you’ve got a home. There are hookups involved. There are electricity and water that have to be in existence. That $35 million through that fund was crucial in accommodating our growing population. I was proud to stand with the acting Minister of Infrastructure—it was a very, very cold day as we broke ground for that truly important work.

Taken together, these measures reflect a clear approach. We’re not only supporting affordability through tax relief; we’re also supporting the supply of housing through infrastructure, innovation and partnerships. If we want housing to be more affordable, we simply need more homes. Our government is working closely with the federal government to ensure timely implementation. We’re focused on minimizing complexity, and we’re focused on ensuring that homebuyers can access the relief they’re entitled to. Even as implementation work continues, eligible buyers who meet the criteria and purchase within the defined time frame will be able to apply for the relief once applications are open.

Speaker, the proposed HST Relief Implementation Act builds on a strong foundation. Ontario already provides HST relief through the provincial New Housing Rebate and the new Residential Rental Property Rebate. We also have a rebate for first-time homebuyers, and we are continuing to take action to support purpose-built rental housing.

At the same time, we’re making historic investments to support housing growth. Through the $4-billion Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, through the $1.2-billion Building Faster Fund and through a suite of measures to help municipalities get homes built faster, Speaker, this bill is part of that broader effort. It complements our existing actions, and it strengthens our overall approach to housing.

Over time, development charges and other upfront costs have added significantly to the price of a new home. They’ve added pressures for homebuyers across Ontario, and these pressures are making it harder for families to get into the market in the first place.

The minister was talking earlier about his first home, and I have a very sweet story to tell as well. I walked into my first home—I was actually seven months pregnant with my child. I was thinking to myself that I want to be able to pass on that job of providing a home for my child. I want to make it affordable for them to have that opportunity. I was very cognitive when I walked into that house, literally carrying that child seven months in my stomach, realizing, hoping that she’s having this opportunity. That’s part of this work we’re doing here today.

This bill is part of a broader effort. The pressures are making it harder for families to get into the market, and that’s why we need to continue to improve housing affordability by taking action from all angles. That includes looking at ways to reduce upfront costs. It means providing targeted relief, like providing enhanced HST relief of up to the full 13% of the HST on new homes. It also means helping to streamline the process to get more homes built faster.

Speaker, our government is taking practical, coordinated action to increase supply and make housing more attainable for the people of Ontario. At the end of the day, this is about people. It’s about helping a young person buy their first home. It’s about helping families find a place to grow, and it’s about ensuring that Ontario remains a place where people can build their future.

The proposed HST implementation act reflects our commitment to lowering costs, to supporting home ownership and to building more homes for the people of Ontario. Speaker, we know there’s more work to do. By providing enhanced HST relief on new homes, we are lowering the upfront cost for families of Ontario. And at the same time, we are providing clarity and certainty to the building and construction industry so they can move forward with projects that are ready to proceed with greater confidence.

This certainty matters, because across Ontario housing affordability remains one of the most pressing challenges facing individuals and families. We hear the concern in every community. We hear it from the young professional; we hear it from the Ontario family, who are trying to find a home that meets their needs: closer to work, closer to school and closer to the family and community supports that they rely upon. And we hear the concern from the builders who are ready to build, but they’re facing rising costs and delays and uncertainty.

So this is an important step. This is a practical step. Protecting Ontario means protecting the ability of people to build a life right here in Ontario, including that child that was in my stomach so many years ago as I walked into that new home. This bill ensures Ontario has the statutory authority to deliver the enhanced HST relief efficiently, responsibly and in a way that supports both homebuyers and increased housing supply.

You know, we’ve talked about the first house that somebody purchases, and I know a number of people have shared stories. I recall feeling that weight. It’s the most important and substantive purchase that most people make, that a family can make in their lifetime. And this legislation protects the dream of home ownership. And this bill supports that homeowner and that builder and, I should add, preserves so many jobs in the home-building industry—100,000 jobs—and provides so many others.

The details of this bill may be technical, but the fact remains, and the direction is clear. I’m truly hoping that everyone in this House will support this bill. Think back to your first home and think about the excitement that you had. We want to be able to pass that dream to those children who are here and the ones that are coming ahead of us, including the minister’s two beautiful new grandchildren.

The Acting Speaker (MPP Andrea Hazell): Question?

Mr. Peter Tabuns: I appreciate the speeches that have been made this morning. This government has been in power since 2018. It has had numerous failures with regard to getting homes built. In fact, in 2025, we had the steepest decline in Canada for new home construction.

Can the speakers tell us how much of this failure of theirs will be made up by this initiative?

Hon. Rob Flack: Well, Speaker, I think we all know that we are in a housing crisis. The record starts in 2022; they continue to decline. I won’t get into all the reasons why, but again, I want to emphasize that step by step, bill by bill, we’re taking the necessary measures to lower the time it takes and the cost it takes to build a house.

This measure, the HST measure, I think will add significant new starts, new builds, new sales. I can say we are well over north of 1,000 new sales—I’m going to get updated numbers later today—since we introduced the legislation. It’s having its impact. It’s continuing to have its impact. One major home builder has had 500 new sales themselves alone. I talked to many home builders in my home riding and around the London area. Some have seen an extra eight, 10, 12, 16 new home sales where they would have seen very few, if any.

Again, this is going to be a measured approach. We’re going to measure it weekly, monthly to see what the outcomes will be, but it’s a good question. We’ll continue to measure the response, measure the reaction. I’m convinced we’re going to see thousands upon thousands of new home sales because of this effort.

The Acting Speaker (MPP Andrea Hazell): Question?

Ms. Natalie Pierre: Good morning. Thank you to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the parliamentary assistant for their remarks and their focus and attention on delivering savings for Ontario residents.

Last weekend, I was at an event in my riding of Burlington, and I was approached by a young man who asked me to relay his thanks to our government. The week previous, he and his partner bought their first home, a brand new home, because of the HST rebate. So we know that this legislation works and will help purchasers of new homes.

Could the minister please share what impact this legislation, if passed, will have on jobs and the economy—not just on purchasers of new homes but, in general, the other impacts that perhaps we haven’t spoken about?

Hon. Rob Flack: Those stories are heartwarming for sure. I’ve heard many myself. I have one in my riding, in Dorchester where we live, where a new home—because they could qualify for a mortgage. They couldn’t before. Now they can, and they bought their first home. I’ve never seen bigger smiles in my life. They’re great stories, and I’m sure there will be thousands more throughout the province.

As much as selling this notion, working with the Minister of Finance and the Premier—yes, it’s going to get new homes built, new home sales started. But the big economic driver in this decision is protecting the jobs that already exist. Yes, there will be new jobs, but there are over 100,000 jobs—skilled trade, good-paying, sustainable jobs—that will be protected, that were in jeopardy had we not done this piece of legislation. Add to it the DC-relief program coming forward with $8.8 billion—it’s a game-changer. It’s important that we did it, and thank you for your story.

The Acting Speaker (MPP Andrea Hazell): Question?

MPP Wayne Gates: Housing: Everybody needs it; we all understand that. Twelve years ago, when I got here, I didn’t even know what the word “encampment” was.

When we’re talking about the HST break, I understand what the reasoning is. But the real issue started in 2019, when your government decided to take rent controls away from new builds. That’s what started the crisis. And now, today in Niagara, they’re asking for three, four, five and six months’ rent in advance to get a place to rent for a young family with one or two children. It’s a mistake.

So my question to you is clear: Will you bring back real rent controls, including new builds, because that’s where the crisis started in housing? Will you do that, stop renovictions, and make sure we start building real affordable housing for young families in the province of Ontario?

Ms. Laura Smith: I want to thank the member opposite for his comments. I’m surprised that the member opposite didn’t talk about this, but we removed the HST from purpose-built rentals, which was a huge benefit to those vulnerable individuals. Our government is actually protecting Ontario tenants by implementing historic reforms so everybody has a place to call home. We’ve removed the HST on qualifying new purpose-built rentals.

Last year, we also saw a historic surge in rental housing, with starts over 25,000. It was a surge. We had lots of new housing in the rental area. This is the highest level of rental starts we’ve ever had. So the plan is working, Madam Speaker. Through 2025 and 2026, rents have continued to fall in the cities and towns across Ontario, especially right here in Toronto.

The Acting Speaker (MPP Andrea Hazell): Question?

Mr. Andrew Dowie: I want to thank the ministers and parliamentary assistant for their remarks.

One issue that I have seen in my community has been the ability to fund growth-related infrastructure. I saw with the agreement with the federal government that there is going to be an incentivization for municipalities to reduce their development charges to be able to access some of the funding in support of these housing rebates. Those development charges are used for growth-related infrastructure, so I’m hoping the minister can elaborate a bit as to how the Premier’s commitment to working with municipalities to eliminate development charges is going to go ahead.

Hon. Rob Flack: Thank you for the great work the member for Windsor–Tecumseh is doing for his residents and throughout this province.

The HST rebate, or reduction program, is a game-changer, but equally so, it is an $8.8-billion deal we negotiated with the federal government. All 444 municipalities—those that levy DCs and those that don’t—will be able to qualify for funding out of this program over 10 years.

The details will be announced by the end of this month, I hope, or early June. But here’s the deal: You reduce your DCs, you put an application in, and you can qualify for some serious dollars to put infrastructure in the ground.

Again, as I said in my remarks and in my answers, the biggest issue facing home building is, yes, affordability, but municipalities need infrastructure and need it fast. We are putting record amounts of money into that, whether it’s the $4 billion already announced, plus the $8.8 billion—and billions more to come. It’s crucial. And we’re making those investments. Why? Because we have a strong economy able to make those investments and generate that income to make those absolutely important DC reductions and DC supports.

The Acting Speaker (MPP Andrea Hazell): Question?

Ms. Peggy Sattler: My question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Last week, I attended the 40th anniversary of Zerin Place Seniors Apartments, which is a non-profit affordable housing complex that has been providing high-quality homes for London seniors for four decades. It really shows the value of investing in non-market homes; the community infrastructure that is created to benefit people for many years into the future.

I want to ask the minister, when can we expect to see this government start to invest in non-market homes to provide housing for people who are some of the most vulnerable in Ontario?

Hon. Rob Flack: Thank you to the member from London West for that question. I would answer simply by saying we currently do in a very significant way. When you take a look at the support we give through the National Housing Strategy along with the federal government, we do support many of those initiatives.

More, obviously, can be done. One of the things members will notice in Bill 98 is that we are eliminating development charges on publicly owned retirement homes, again bringing affordability back to those who need it most: our seniors. We will continue to make such investments as time goes on.

Lowering the cost of construction is important, but making affordable rents is just as important. And to piggyback onto the member from Thornhill’s response earlier, we are seeing rents in this province become lower by the day because there’s supply on the market. We’re going to continue along that pathway. Why, Speaker? Because it’s working.

The Acting Speaker (MPP Andrea Hazell): We are now moving into members’ statements.

Second reading debate deemed adjourned.

Members’ Statements

Mattamy Sports Park

Mr. Sheref Sabawy: We know that community spaces and recreational activities are important. All Ontarians—kids, young or old—need outdoor spaces where they can be active, make friends and play their favourite sport.

That’s why I was happy to attend the grand opening of Mattamy Sports Park at the Churchill Meadows Community Centre in my riding of Mississauga–Erin Mills. The new outdoor park includes a multi-use trail, picnic spaces and facilities for many sports, including field hockey and tennis.

One of the most exciting features of the park is the new cricket pitch. These facilities will be very useful because cricket is a growing sport in Mississauga and Ontario.

In fact, cricket is actually not a new sport. Cricket has a long history in Ontario and Canada. In 1867, Sir John A. Macdonald declared Canada’s first national sport to be cricket.

I’m always happy to join players and support the diversity of Ontario’s athletics and sports.

Last month, the Premier visited Mississauga city hall to congratulate over 100 students who had played on their school cricket teams. And just last week, I was honoured to attend a Brampton Super League Cricket awards ceremony.

I send my best wishes to all the cricketers in Ontario this summer. Enjoy the game.

Protests in Ontario

MPP Robin Lennox: Speaker, there are times when it is difficult to find something to be inspired by inside of this House. But lately I’ve been finding more and more inspiration coming from outside of this place.

Over the past few months, we’ve seen a movement building among Ontarians who are demanding better from this government. Last month, we saw over 5,000 Ontarians show up to protest in 55 different towns and cities to say that enough is enough. They showed up for public health care, for environmental protection, for affordable housing and to demand an honest and accountable government.

Each person may have had a different reason for showing up, but together they found a common cause: demanding a movement for better governance.

I would like to thank every single person who showed up to one of those actions. You paying attention and showing up is this government’s greatest fear. Your courage is contagious, and the unrelenting belief that a brighter future is possible is the exact kind of resistance that we need right now.

So I would like to say solidarity to you, my friends. We in the Ontario NDP stand with you, and we’ll see you on the streets.

National Monument to Canada’s Mission in Afghanistan

Mr. Stephen Blais: Earlier this week, I had the honour of attending the ground-breaking ceremony for our National Monument to Canada’s Mission in Afghanistan. I was especially proud to attend with my brother, Major James Blais, who served and fought for our country over there.

For many Canadians, the mission in Afghanistan is part of our national history. It was a story on the nightly news. But in Orléans, it’s deeply personal. Our community is home to one of the largest concentrations of active armed forces members, veterans and military families anywhere in the country. In fact, people often affectionately refer to Orléans as “CFB Orléans.”

But behind that nickname is something real. It reflects service, it reflects sacrifice and it reflects the families who know what it means when a loved one puts on the uniform and answers the call of duty.

The monument being built in our nation’s capital will stand as a permanent reminder of the 40,000 Canadians who served in Afghanistan, including the 158 members of the Canadian Armed Forces and the seven Canadian civilians who lost their lives. It will honour soldiers, diplomats, aid workers, journalists, public servants and families whose lives were forever changed by that mission.

And for veterans in communities like Orléans, it sends an important message: Your service mattered. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten. While politicians and governments don’t always get things right when you are away or once you come home, please know that your country remains forever grateful.

Applause.

Clark Demeester

Mr. Brian Riddell: Good morning, Speaker. Today is a very special day. I get the honour of speaking about an incredible young man from my riding. Clark Demeester is in the gallery with his parents, Scott and Samantha, sisters Hannah and Charlotte and his grandparents Michael and Jayne.

Clark did something truly inspiring: He collected 500 books for the Children’s Book Bank, and he’s only seven years old. Karly-Lynne from the book bank is also here in the gallery to extend thanks to Clark. He received the North Star Award from his Scout troop in North Dumfries, which is the highest honour a Scout can receive.

I could not help but continue this wave of positivity by recognizing him in this House today. We are facing very difficult times, but Clark is a beacon of hope in a world that continuously tests our willingness and ability to help others. I encourage everyone to share this story in hopes that we can inspire others to go forward. I will be presenting Clark with a certificate and a medal on the grand staircase after question period, and I welcome all members of the Legislature to stop by and say hello to this incredible young man.

The future of our province is looking very bright in the hands of people like Clark.

Jesse Terry

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: ᒥᓄᑭᔐᐸᔭ. It’s a good morning.

I want to congratulate Jesse Terry, of Lac Seul First Nation, who was named 2026 Iditarod rookie of the year. In March, Jesse took the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, known as the Last Great Race on Earth. It is a gruelling 1,000-mile journey across Alaska that goes through frozen rivers, mountain passes and high winds. Jesse recorded the fastest rookie time, completing the race in just 10 days, 13 hours, 36 minutes and three seconds—14th overall.

That result did not happen by chance, but it reflects years of dedication and hard work, starting when Jesse was 11 years old. Since then, Jesse has raised and trained a team of 30 dogs and even built his own sleds. It is clear that for him mushing is more than just a sport; it’s about respect for animals, for the land and for the ways of life.

Jesse, from Kiiwetinoong, we are very proud of you. As a musher based in Sioux Lookout, he carries northern strength and Anishinaabe representation onto one of the biggest stages in dog-sled racing. He’s also a reminder that the north does not follow; it leads. Congratulations. Meegwetch.

Primary care

Hon. Laurie Scott: I rise today to announce important health news from Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock. Our government is making decisive investments to strengthen our community and connect more residents to primary care. We are delivering over $1.8 million to the City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team, connecting over 5,000 residents to reliable ongoing care. In Brock township, more than $2.47 million is being invested in the Brock Community Health Centre, helping another 5,600 residents access primary care. Seniors will get the support they need, parents will feel more confident in their children’s care, and rural residents will access health services closer to home.

In a region as large and rural as Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock, access to quality care is vital. These investments close gaps, making the system more local and dependable.

Meaningful health care access is not just about connecting patients; it also ensures the next generation of providers is prepared to help. Just yesterday, our government announced the expansion of the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant to Trent University and Fleming College. Through this $14-million expansion, our government will help ease students’ financial burdens in nursing, paramedicine and lab technology programs by covering tuition, books and expenses when they commit to serving Ontario communities that need them.

This is more than an investment; it’s a commitment to the well-being of our region and for generations to come. Together, we are building a stronger, healthier community where every resident can rely on high-quality, accessible health care.

Ottawa Charge hockey team

MPP Catherine McKenney: I rise today to celebrate something that Ottawa does exceptionally well: show up for our awesome women’s hockey team. The Ottawa Charge are back in the PWHL playoffs, and Ottawa is electric.

This is a team that has grit built into their hockey DNA. Last season, they fought their way to the Walter Cup finals. This season, they clinched their playoff spot with a dramatic 3-0 shutout in the final regular season game. And now they are in a tight, thrilling semifinal series against the Boston Fleet, tied 1-1, with game 3 coming home to Ottawa this Friday night.

Speaker, these players are the best in the world. Goaltender Gwyneth Philips; captain and scoring leader Jocelyne Larocque, a defender and Team Canada legend logging the most ice time on this team, night after night—these are women who compete at the Olympics and then come home and compete for Ottawa. We could not be luckier, and we could not be prouder. And we show up for them—the fans, the noise, the girl pride.

The Ottawa Charge are bigger than hockey. They show us what happens when women’s sport is taken seriously, when we invest in it, celebrate it, and pack the building.

I know that all of Ottawa will be cheering them on this Friday.

Go Charge!

Primary care

Ms. Natalie Pierre: I’m pleased to rise today to share some great news for the people of Burlington.

Last week, alongside my seatmate the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Health and MPP for Essex, we announced the opening of the first community health centre in Halton region. Through our government’s primary care action plan, this more-than-$2-million investment will connect thousands of people in my community of Burlington with a primary care practitioner and will bring together a team of health care professionals under one roof, making it easier for people to access the care they need closer to home.

For many Burlington residents, the community health centre will make a real and meaningful difference in their day-to-day lives. It means more timely access to care, better coordination of services, and improved health outcomes.

I want to thank the team at Support House, along with the Burlington Ontario Health Team, for their leadership and dedication. Their work is helping to build a more connected, compassionate health care system for our community. Together, we are taking important steps to ensure that people in Burlington and across Ontario—including in Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes and Brock—can access high-quality health care closer to home for years to come.

Health care

Mr. Lorne Coe: I’m pleased to report that Lakeridge Health in the region of Durham has launched a women’s health collective. This program will include more opportunities for Durham women to connect with health care professionals, while breaking down barriers and transforming how women’s health is approached. By providing educational sessions on a wide variety of health topics, the women’s health collective aims to move our health care system forward and promote real change for Durham women.

I want to congratulate the president and CEO of Lakeridge Health, Cynthia Davis, for her and her team’s ongoing commitment to women’s health with the launch of the women’s health collective. Through their dedicated work, Lakeridge Health will see to it that women in Whitby and across other parts of the region of Durham receive dependable and lifelong care when and where they need it.

Introduction of Visitors

Mr. Ric Bresee: I’m very pleased today to welcome to this House, from Hastings Highlands, the entire council: Mayor Tony Fitzgerald; Deputy Mayor Tammy Davis; councillors Nancy Matheson, Tracy Hagar, Joan Nieman, Keith Buck, Roger Davis; and CAO David Stewart. Welcome to Queen’s Park, guys. I really appreciate you being here.

Hon. Graham McGregor: It’s my pleasure to welcome the team from Golden Age Village for the Elderly here to Queen’s Park. Golden Age Village is building an almost-done building, the first-ever Vietnamese long-term-care home in Ontario history. They’re doing it in my favourite city: Brampton, Ontario.

I’d like to welcome Van-Hoa Duong, Minh-Chau Duong, Thanh-Nha Thi Nguyen, Quynh Huynh, Quang Quang Nguyen, Anh Tu Chau, Dung Phuong Le, Duy Van Pham, Kim Noi Vuong, Trinh Thi Tuyet Lu, Minh Thi Hong Ho, and Giao Ho. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

MPP Silvia Gualtieri: I am proud to welcome the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs. I welcome OAFC president and fire chief Jeremy Parkin, OAFC board members and dedicated fire chief officers here to Queen’s Park to advocate for fire and life safety for all Ontarians, but especially to my hometown deputy chief, Samuel Williams.

MPP Lisa Gretzky: I would like to welcome Windsor Fire Chief Jamie Waffle here today, and also numerous members of Unifor who are here for an IPV awareness and advocacy day. To spare people time, I will not read the entire list, but I do want to give a special mention to Tracy Ramsey, who’s the national women’s director; Samia Hashi, who’s the Ontario regional director; and to the Windsor folks: Sue McKinnon, Manny Cardoso and Jodi Nesbitt. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: I want to welcome St. Catharines Fire Chief Dave Upper and Deputy Fire Chief Andrea DeJong to the Legislature this evening. Please join me in congratulating Chief Upper for completing 35 dedicated years in fire service. Congratulations on such an incredible accomplishment. Thank you for your courage and leadership. Welcome to your House.

M me Lucille Collard: I’d like to welcome the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects. They hosted the breakfast this morning. Welcome to your House.

MPP Paul Vickers: I’d like to welcome three chiefs to the House: Jack Burt from Bruce Peninsula, Courtney Allen from King City and Ryan Murrell from Muskoka. Thank you for helping protect us and save us.

Hon. Steve Clark: I just want to take this opportunity to say that today’s page captain is our page from Leeds–Grenville–Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, Azaad Sekhon. I want members to look under the clock to meet his grandparents Lucille and Sukhdev Sekhon and his dad, Danny Sekhon. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Graydon Smith: I want to welcome some fire chiefs from my riding of Parry Sound–Muskoka here with the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs today: Chief Chad Dowell from Georgian Bay, Chief Gary Monahan from Huntsville, Chief Jeremy Alldred-Hughes from Lake of Bays, Chief Kevin Plested from Bracebridge, Chief Ryan Murrell from Muskoka Lakes and Chief Jared Cayley from Gravenhurst. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Lorne Coe: I would like to welcome Chief Mark Pankhurst of the Whitby Fire and Emergency Services as well as Chief Aaron Burridge, Ajax Fire and Emergency Services. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Peter Tabuns: I would like to welcome Lewis Waring from my riding, who’s visiting today. Yes, the stories are true.

Ms. Peggy Sattler: For introductions today, I want to welcome all of the Unifor members who are here for IPV advocacy. A special welcome to Unifor Local 302 from London and to London West constituent Shinade Allder, who is Unifor’s Ontario regional council chair.

I also want to welcome two scientists who are joining us today for Science Meets Parliament, Dr. Katelyn Esmonde from London West, who is a Western University professor, and Dr. Maxwell Smith.

And finally, I want to welcome Vicky Pearson from Community Living London and the amazing New Vision Advocates.

MPP Tyler Watt: I’d like to give a shout out to David Hill, the awesome city councillor from Barrhaven, and Russell Ullyatt.

I’d also like to introduce the Science Meets Parliament group at the Legislature. A special welcome to Homa Pour, Chris Caputo, Matt McTaggart, Wendi Zhou, Zainab Taleb, Cecile Jugroot, Mehrdad Hariri and Effie Pereira. Welcome to your House.

MPP George Darouze: I would like to welcome my friend and colleague Councillor David Hill from the city of Ottawa to Queen’s Park today, the councillor for Barrhaven West, alongside his office staff, Russell Ullyatt. The councillor is a great representative for his community and our city, and I look forward to meeting with him today. Thank you, and welcome to your House.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I’m going to extend it one little bit for Kitchener Centre.

Ms. Aislinn Clancy: Thank you, Speaker. Today is Community Living Day at Queen’s Park, and I’d like to welcome, from my riding, Al Mills, executive director of Extend-A-Family; Ann Bilodeau, the ED of KW Habilitation; and Julie Thompson, director of OASIS. Welcome to your House.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): To our guests who are with us today, it’s my fault if your name was not mentioned. I usually have a hard cut-off time of five minutes, but your members can come back to the House at 1 o’clock and introduce you then.

Ontario Legislature Internship Programme anniversary

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

Hon. Steve Clark: Speaker, if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for members to wear the OLIP pin in the House and make statements celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Ontario Legislature Internship Programme, with two minutes for the government, two minutes for the official opposition, two minutes for the third party and two minutes for the independent members as a group.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The government House leader is seeking unanimous consent to allow members to wear OLIP pins in the House and make statements celebrating 50 years of the Ontario Legislature Internship Program, with two minutes for the government, two minutes for the official opposition, two minutes for the third party and two minutes for the independent members. Agreed? Agreed.

I recognize the government House leader.

Hon. Steve Clark: It’s a great honour and a privilege for me, on behalf of the government, to rise in the House and recognize and celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the Ontario Legislature’s most impactful initiatives, the Ontario Legislature Internship Programme.

For five decades, the OLIP program has given us highly qualified interns and given them the opportunity to step inside our Legislature and experience first-hand how our democracy works. But more than that, it gives these emerging leaders the chance to participate in it in a very meaningful way.

What makes the OLIP program so unique is its non-partisan structure. Interns have the opportunity to work with members of provincial Parliament both from the government and the opposition side, and, Speaker, I have to say, in a time where political polarization reaches a number of houses around the world, our OLIP program is a symbol of collaboration, of mutual respect and a shared commitment we all have to public service.

Through those 10 months in the program, our interns gain invaluable experience and insight into our provincial political process.

The impact of the program really extends far beyond our Legislature. The OLIP alumni have established themselves in a variety of positions, in government, business, journalism, law and academic life.

Speaker, I know each of us could speak of their participation in the program. I’m proud to say that I’ve participated—wait a minute; it’s not “participated.” I’ve been selected six times for the OLIP program. I think that’s very interesting, because a lot of people don’t know that we don’t interview the interns; they interview us. It’s their choice, for us, on how we participate. I’ve had six incredibly bright interns who have really rewarded not just themselves but myself with this experience.

I want to take this opportunity, Speaker, to recognize the leadership behind the program. OLIP academic director Peter Constantinou’s guidance and commitment has really helped shape this OLIP program into one of the most—

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

MPP Jamie West: It’s my absolute honour to speak about OLIP’s 50th anniversary on behalf of the Ontario NDP and our leader, Marit Stiles.

I want to say, I also had OLIP interns, and just how refreshing and helpful it is as a new MPP to have people like Braelyn and Lindsey and Alex and Giulia—who is hiding over there and doesn’t want to be noticed. We all love our interns.

The government House leader had mentioned how it’s non-partisan. The government whip now—Giulia is working in his office. Yesterday we were joking about how I sat beside her with a sign saying “Team Sudbury.”

But one of the reasons is because of the quality, the excellence, the integrity—just to get into the intern program, the bar is so high that we know that we’re going to be served in an excellent way.

The reality is, we’re lucky to have interns. We’re lucky to be part of the program, and we compete. They interview us, which is a whole different method than anyone who’s been in co-op, and we’re trying to show and sell ourselves to the interns.

Many of our interns end up working in our offices. Astrid Krueger and Jad El Tal are both working in our leader’s office. I have a list: Alia Mufti, Sayyidah Jaffer, Karissa Singh, Emily Trudeau, Bridget Carter-Whitney, Sharon Lee, Dan O’Brien, Steffi Burgi, Taylor Pizzirusso, Razan Akiba, Misha Apel, Ritika Gupta and Chris Charlton, who actually went on to become an MP for the New Democratic Party.

I want to remind everybody, in the remaining time that we have, that the 50th anniversary will be in the main lobby. It’s important to go down, show your support and love for the interns that we all care about.

I want to thank the OLIP program and all the interns on behalf of myself and my party, but really, on behalf of all of us. We’re so lucky to have you as interns.

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

M me Lucille Collard: It’s really a pleasure to rise to recognize the remarkable Ontario Legislature Internship Programme. For 50 years, the OLIP program has provided recent university graduates with a unique opportunity to peek behind the curtain and see the inner workings of the Ontario Legislature. These exceptional interns have the opportunity to join the office of one MPP from the governing party and one MPP from the opposition parties—a unique experience that allows them to consider perspectives from both sides of the aisle. As someone who values cross-party collaboration and mutual respect in our debates, I cannot overstate the importance of such an experience.

I was lucky enough to have had three different interns over the years, one of whom is David Nightingale, who later became my EA and is now our caucus’ very esteemed director of legislative affairs.

I know the valuable contribution these interns make to our offices. They bring diverse perspectives and an incredible drive to learn. They are talented, reliable and effective. And I know that all of our caucus members have benefited from their professionalism over time, with a lot of gratitude.

I want to thank the leadership of OLIP for their commitment to the program and all the support they provide to the interns each year.

And to all the interns who have participated in this wonderful program over the past 50 years: Thank you for the many contributions you have made to this Legislature and the impressive legacy you have left behind. I look forward to seeing many of you at the reception tonight.

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

Ms. Aislinn Clancy: I’m proud to rise today to welcome past and present OLIP interns back to Queen’s Park. Today, we celebrate all that you’ve contributed in the past 50 years of this program. The OLIP program has offered bright young minds like yours immeasurable opportunities to gain hands-on experience and contribute to our democratic process. I’m sure this is a life-changing experience that you’ll remember for years, but just know that it’s memorable for us too. We’ve been so grateful to benefit from your kind hearts, your open minds, and your sharp intellects. You’ve made a big impact on our teams, and we learn so much from you.

To former OLIP interns: Thanks for all you’ve done to contribute to making Ontario a better place.

And to current and future OLIP interns: We know that you’ll do great things. You might be sitting here or moving mountains outside of this place.

The Greens have been lucky to have several interns in our time here who have made a major impact on our office. Each intern has become an essential part of our team, and it’s always hard to see them go.

On behalf of Mike and myself, I would like to give a special shout-out to Elizabeth, Dia, Evan, and Alex.

I also want to thank the Canadian Political Science Association and the OLIP legislative coordinators, Nick and Tanzima, for administering an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and giving these young people an experience of a lifetime.

To the OLIP program: Happy 50th, and here’s to 50 more awesome years.

House sittings

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I beg to inform the House that the Clerk has received written notices from the government House leader indicating that temporary changes in the weekly meeting

schedule of the House are required, and therefore, pursuant to standing order 9(h), the House shall commence at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 11, 2026, for the proceeding orders of the day, and pursuant to standing order 9(g), the afternoon routine on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, shall commence at 1 p.m.

Question Period

Government jet

Ms. Marit Stiles: This question is for the Premier.

Not too long ago, this Premier indulged himself in quite a shopping spree—a $30-million shopping spree for a private luxury jet. Now he swears he returned it. He says, “Just trust me.”

Premier, what we would like to know is, how can we trust you? The people of Ontario don’t trust you. Will you release the receipts?

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

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Madam Speaker, what the people of Ontario trust is that this Premier and this government are going to build this economy, create the conditions for good jobs—a million more jobs in this province.

Every single day, the Premier and everyone on this side of the floor and the group over there are fighting to create good-paying jobs for the people of Ontario.

Let’s just think about the budget that the folks over there didn’t vote for and what we had in the budget for Windsor. Well, let’s talk about Windsor. Expanding Highway 3—did they vote for that? No, they did not. How about the next-door battery plant, supporting 2,500 jobs? Those are real jobs, Madam Speaker. How about the QEW Garden City Skyway bridge twinning project, so important for the region? Did they support that, member from Windsor? No. The members from Windsor say no.

This government is building the economy, building jobs, supporting regions like Windsor. They did not support it. This side of the House did.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: Building one private luxury jet at a time doesn’t seem like a plan to me. And I get it. I get it: The Premier, this government, they want us to all just move on. But you cannot brush this off and pretend like it never happened, Speaker—$30 million.

The truth is that this is and has always been about priorities. Some 700,000 Ontarians are looking for work right now. They can’t find a job, and the only time that this Premier ever talks about the economy is when he’s in a jam.

I would like to ask again: While he is failing at protecting Ontario, can the Premier at least release these receipts?

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: I think the Leader of the Opposition mentioned jobs. Didn’t I just mention the 2,500 jobs in Windsor that they did not support in the budget?

Let’s keep going. Let’s talk about Hamilton. Let’s talk about the great—

Interjection.

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Niagara—oh, Niagara is trying of jump ahead of Hamilton here. Hold on, cowboy, we’re starting with Hamilton over here: $18 million for medical isotope production at the McMaster nuclear reactor—$18 million. Thank you, Minister of Colleges and Universities. Where were you when we were talking about that?

The Hamilton Health Sciences hospital renovation, health care, investing $64 billion in building hospitals and renovating hospitals: Did you vote for that? The answer is no.

How about—here we go—completing the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital? Here we go. They didn’t vote for it. This side did. We’re building on—

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, there is a cloud hanging over this government. Hiding the receipts is not creating new jobs, buying a luxury jet is not bringing gas prices down, and the people of Ontario deserve to know how this government is spending their hard-earned tax dollars.

Now, look, I’ve got to admit I don’t have a lot of experience with returning private luxury jets, but the other day I was at Canadian Tire returning some light bulbs, got a receipt—it’s probably in the bottom of my bag somewhere. So all we’re asking is, show us the receipts.

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: The only cloud is the NDP trying to find their way in the fog. They can’t seem to find their way on the economic highway to prosperity, Madam Speaker.

Well, let’s go north. Let’s go to Thunder Bay. Where’s Thunder Bay? They’re right there, working hard back there. Some $62 million in Geraldton’s Main Street rehab project, the gateway to the Ring of Fire—do you not support the Ring of Fire and building infrastructure in the North?

The Minister of Indigenous Affairs is working overtime every single day to get the Webequie agreement to unlock economic development and speed up construction, with shovels in the ground starting this spring.

Hon. Greg Rickford: Hundreds of jobs.

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Hundreds of jobs, says the Minister of Indigenous Affairs.

How about the $400 million for the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund, helping over 390 municipalities, many in the North? That is what Ontario building is about.

Automotive industry

Ms. Marit Stiles: You want to talk about jobs? Let’s talk about jobs. This question is to the Premier.

Speaker, this Premier loves to distract from his many scandals and mishaps by talking about how focused he is on protecting Ontario. Well, not only are 700,000 Ontarians out of work right now, but last night, we learned that Honda is planning to halt their EV production plant in Alliston. A multi-billion-dollar project set to create over a thousand jobs now looks like it’s going to be gone—no checks, no balances.

Can the Premier tell us what, if any, strings were attached to the $2.5 billion that he promised to Honda for that project?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The Minister of Economic Development.

Hon. Victor Fedeli: The short answer is there’s no money that has been released to Honda whatsoever—period.

But when we came to office in 2018, we faced a real choice: Do we continue down the path of the Liberals and the NDP and get Ontario out of manufacturing, or do we protect the 100,000 men and women who were working in the auto sector? We chose to protect those jobs and support an auto sector that has become a global powerhouse. Honda has a 40-year legacy of producing vehicles here in Ontario. Their 11 millionth vehicle just rolled off the assembly line in Alliston. They have told us they’re here to stay.

The 4,200 men and women—we’ve always said to those 4,200 men and women that the auto companies know the products they need to produce best. We will always be here to support whatever products they want to create.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: It doesn’t seem to be working very well, Premier.

I’m going to go back to the Premier. This government was so busy trying to hide their egregious cover-up tactics in that budget that they forgot what budgets are actually supposed to do, which is deliver a plan for the future of this province. Almost a year ago, the Premier promised that he was going to hold Honda to account when they first threatened to pause—that was the last time they did that—and now Honda is threatening again the whole future of Ontario’s auto sector.

So I want to know what the Premier’s plan is to stop good auto jobs from leaving this province.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Minister of Economic Development.

Hon. Victor Fedeli: Let’s look at what’s actually happening in the auto sector, because we’re seeing resilience in the face of global uncertainty. Look at General Motors, just a couple of weeks ago, a $691-million investment to build the next generation of the V8 engines in St. Catharines; Toyota, a $1.1-billion investment in January to build the new RAV4 hybrid right here in Ontario. Stellantis brought back a third shift, 1,700 jobs in Windsor. That’s the first time since 2020 that they’ve had a third shift. Ford is making a multi-billion-dollar investment in Oakville that will open later this year.

So while the opposition does not support those investments, auto companies know that Ontario is the place to build vehicles in the world.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, we have heard all of this before. This is what this government said when we asked about the Stellantis jobs. Some 3,000 leaving Brampton—that’s 30,000 spinoff jobs. CAMI jobs in Ingersoll—and they had no solutions for Diageo workers in Amherstburg either in manufacturing. All those jobs are gone now. So the Premier clearly has no plan to stop jobs—good jobs—from leaving in this province. He loves to be invited to shiny announcements, to do the photo ops, to pat himself on the back, to gift himself a private luxury jet, but when jobs are at risk, he is nowhere to be found.

So I want to know again what conditions, if any, are attached to this deal with Honda, and what is this Premier going to do to fight for those jobs?

Hon. Victor Fedeli: We’re in close contact with all of our auto manufacturing contacts, including Honda, and again, I repeat, no money has been released whatsoever.

Global automakers continue to face the challenges from the US tariffs, but they know that Ontario is integral to their success. That’s why we’ve seen Toyota with a $1.1-billion investment, or General Motors with an almost $700-million investment, or Ford with a multi-billion-dollar investment to retool Oakville.

So while automakers readjust to the market conditions, several Ontario plants are in the process of ramping up. Whether it be Honda or any other automaker, we’re committed to working with them to bring more good-paying jobs to the people of Ontario.

Government jet

Mr. John Fraser: My question is for the President of the Treasury Board. So here we go again; let’s try once more to get the President of the Treasury Board to give us the details of the Premier’s purchase of the luxury private jet.

Yesterday, after question period, the Premier gave a very unclear answer to the media as to the status of his luxury private jet. So my question is really simple: At this moment, who actually owns the Premier’s luxury private jet?

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

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: The House leader has been clear. The President of the Treasury Board has been clear. The Minister of Finance—

Interjections.

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: No, I was at a press conference. The President of the Treasury Board responded to the questions from the media. I’ve responded to the questions from the media. We’ve all been clear. I was standing beside the Premier yet again yesterday, and he was crystal clear.

You know who’s not accepting clearness? It’s those folks. They can’t take a straight answer. That is the answer, Madam Speaker. We’ve been clear; we’ve been on the record. But we’re moving forward to build the economy, build good paying jobs, build infrastructure in this province. It’s about time that the member of the independent party gets with it, gets with the program.

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

Mr. John Fraser: I would like to hear from the President of the Treasury Board, not the Premier’s copilot. We need an answer, okay?

Here’s what the Premier had to say after question period. This is what he said, and listen closely: “We did a clean ‘giveback’ to Bombardier, if you want to call it that, and anything that is extra—and maybe there’s nothing extra—we’ll make it transparent.” And, “Again, we will make it transparent as we get the transfer done,” declining to say when he was going to make it public.

We just want a simple answer: Who owns the darn plane, President of the Treasury Board?

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: We criss-cross this province, and one thing we keep hearing about is that our economy is at risk. We’re not an island here in Ontario, folks. Breaking news: We’re not an island; we’re part of a global economy. There are challenges in the global economy.

We just tabled a budget that we all just voted for. While the member from Ottawa talks about that, let’s talk about the things in the budget for Ottawa that the member opposite did not vote for. The new deal with the city of Ottawa for $543 million—he didn’t vote for it and he’s in Ottawa. Madam Speaker, the Ottawa Hospital civic centre—more money for building that and renovating the hospital there; he didn’t vote for it. Let’s talk about expanding Highway 17 from two lanes to four lanes. Guess what? The member from Ottawa Centre did not vote and support Ottawa. That was in the budget—

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

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I have not recognized you.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Order.

I recognize the leader of the third party.

Mr. John Fraser: The Premier and this government are tired, out of touch and losing it. The President of the Treasury Board is supposed to guard the treasury—the taxpayers’ money—and apparently, she’s not doing a great job of that right now. And just so all of you on the front bench don’t get comfortable, you’re all the ones who said to the Premier, including his copilot, “Yes, you can have a luxury private jet,” while there are families in my riding who are struggling to put food on the table.

In every one of your ridings, there are thousands of people looking for work, out of a job, but it was okay to spend $29 million on the Premier’s luxury private jet.

A simple question to the President of the Treasury Board, one more time—this is beginning to feel like Keel Digital Solutions and the forensic audit. It’s déjà vu all over again. Will the President of the Treasury Board—

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

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: You’ve got a time limit there.

Madam Speaker, the member opposite raised that the people in his riding are struggling. Then I ask the question: When we put forward the $8 million for the Alexander Community Centre, thanks to this great Minister of Sport, did the member from Ottawa support it in his own community? The answer is no.

How about the new interchange at Highway 416 so more people can move, renovations there? Madam Speaker, this member from Ottawa did not support that. But wait, there’s more: funding to revitalize the downtown centre, including the new Ottawa Police Service hub in the Rideau Centre.

We’ve all been there, Madam Speaker. We all see that. We’re stepping forward, helping the people of Ottawa, helping them with their bills, helping them with infrastructure, helping them with health care, and helping them with a new sports recreation centre thanks to this Minister of Sport.

Government jet

Mr. John Fraser: Back to the President of Treasury Board: I’m going to try one more time. I think we’re up to—I don’t know; is this like the 10th attempt?

We learned in November 2018, barely six months in, that the Premier really loved luxury private jets on the public dime. In November 2018, the Premier chartered a luxury jet from Chartright Air Group for a northern fundraising tour for him and his entourage. He tried to do it on the taxpayer dime, got caught, and the PC party had to pay $29,000 for that three-day trip.

Now, eight years later, their Premier is trying to do the same thing again: another luxury private jet, sliding it by. But it’s not $29,000 this time; it’s $29 million.

Will the President of the Treasury Board, for this $29-million luxury jet, just give us one detail?

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

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Speaker, here’s the one detail that I can give: Not one member from Ottawa, whether it’s the member from Ottawa South, the member from Ottawa Centre—none of those MPPs from Ottawa supported the budget and all the funding that I just mentioned for the people of Ottawa. So look inward.

But you know what? If you don’t want to support the people of Ottawa, why don’t we talk about the good people of Durham? And maybe you can support them.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Through the Speaker.

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: How about the refurbishment of the Pickering nuclear station that will create up to 28,000 new jobs? You have that opportunity.

How about the 18,000 jobs in Darlington to support that community and building these small modular reactors?

How about, in the great riding of Whitby, this member’s great support for the constituency there for the new Charles H. Best addition for type 2 diabetes? Way to go.

And by the way, let’s not stop there. You have the opportunity to support and vote for the extension of the GO train from Oshawa to Bowmanville. Will you join us—

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

Interjections.

Mr. John Fraser: Oh, my God; they don’t want me to talk.

Speaker, this is the 11th time I’m asking this question. I’ll try it this time again.

Here’s what the Globe and Mail had to say from that

article on November 23, 2018. You can check it out: “The Globe asked” Mr. Ford “for documentation showing that the Ontario PC Party paid for the trip, and when they agreed to do so, and if the Premier will be travelling on” a private jet “in the future”—little did they know.

“Mr. Ford’s office did not provide an invoice or documentation”—sound familiar?—”as to when the PC Party paid, and would only say this was the first time Mr. Ford used a chartered plane since the ... election.” That was six months in, right?

Can the President of the Treasury Board just tell us something, anything?

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: The member opposite can go around in circles all day long and chase his tail, because that’s what he’s doing. He’s going around in circles. We’ve seen that before.

But let’s talk about what we’re doing: building Ontario. Do you know, Madam Speaker, we have the lowest debt-to-GDP since 2012, in over 14 years? And do you know what happened in that time? When they were in government, they increased taxes, so you’d think they’d increase the revenues and get the credit rating upgrade. Madam Speaker, they got downgraded—credit rating downgrades—while they were in power, which raised borrowing costs, which means there’s less money for health care, less money for education, less money for social services.

Thanks to the good work of all the people here on the Conservative side, we have lowered the debt burden, lowered the deficit, got two credit rating upgrades and lowered the borrowing costs for all the people of Ontario.

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

Mr. John Fraser: By the co-pilot’s rationale, there’s $29 million less for really important things like kids with special education or wait times in hospitals, so I love his argument.

This is the 12th time I’m asking the President of the Treasury Board to simply give us an answer—just stand up—because she signed the check. It happened at Treasury Board. It’s $29 million.

There is a principle of ministerial accountability. So can we have one detail, a simple detail, a simple answer to any question you want to answer, President, as to the details of the Premier’s purchase of a luxury private jet for him and his entourage?

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Madam Speaker, I just have that image of going around and around in circles chasing their tails, so keep going there.

But this gives me an opportunity for another thing mentioned in the budget: the $25 million for Hastings Highlands to rebuild Highway 62, which is great for jobs and great for tourism in the great area—thank you to the great member from that area—and especially, this will help the forestry industry.

Madam Speaker, while we’re at it, in the budget, we had a record investment in health care: $101 billion in health care; $43 billion for education; $22 billion dollars for social services—big investments for the people of Ontario. The party opposite had a chance to support the budget; had a chance to support health care, education and social services in this province; had a chance to support the people of Ontario, and you know what they said? They said, “No, thanks. We’ll just go around in circles.”

Race-based data

M me France Gélinas: Members of the Black Women’s Institute for Health are here in the gallery. In November, they released their report, Voices Unheard: Healthcare Barriers and Lived Experience of Black Women in Canada. Their 2,000-person survey documents the racism in our health care system and how it affects the health and lives of Black people.

Collecting race-based data is the first step if we want to make things better. Will the Minister of Health mandate the collection of race-based data in our health care system?

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

Mr. Anthony Leardi: It is, of course, reasonable for people of various communities in Ontario to expect a health care system that responds to their specific needs. In fact, our government already has a Black Health Plan, which is including a Black health and social services hub, which is an integrated hub. That was a $25-million investment. It is the first of its kind, and it offers a range of targeted programs and activities in primary care, in mental health and addictions, and social services.

The lessons learned at this hub and the programs developed through this hub then can be shared with the entire province of Ontario, helping members of the Black community and other communities as well.

These are the investments we are making in our health care system to serve the communities of Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The member for Nickel Belt.

M me France Gélinas: The Voices Unheard report is a call to action. It is Black people telling us how to make the system better.

Yesterday, my colleagues and I introduced the Black Health Equity Act. This bill takes the recommendations from the report—developed by Black people for Black people—and put them into law. The first step to solve the racism problem is to collect the data, but we must also act and take the steps needed to address health inequity affecting Black communities.

I’m hoping that every MPP in this House wants equitable, culturally safe and anti-racist health care, so will the minister listen to the 2,000 testimonies and pass the Black Health Equity Act?

Mr. Anthony Leardi: Various communities in the province of Ontario do have specific health care concerns which are specific to their community, and that’s why our government specifically responds to those health care concerns. With regard to the Black community, we have a Black Health Plan. As mentioned previously, that includes an integrated Black health and social services hub. It also includes various services and other programs.

One of those is a specific program which targets sickle cell, and it includes a pre-screening program that is specific for sickle cell and is provided for newborn children across Ontario. That includes 12 specific clinics dedicated to sickle cell. This is the type of program that we offer under the Black Health Plan, responding to the specific health needs of various communities.

Freedom of information

Mr. Adil Shamji: Madam Speaker, I can tell that the Premier loves his critical minerals, because the irony with him is astonishing. The man is so unbelievably out of touch. This is a guy who ordered Ontario’s public servants back to work while working from home himself—a guy who gutted student assistance and then accepted a free degree. This is a man who promised to end the gravy train by buying a gravy plane.

But of all the most outrageous and ironic things that this Premier has done, it’s been to claim that he would lead the most transparent government in our history and then dismantle freedom of information.

The Premier says he’s a man of the people, but every action he takes reveals that he thinks he’s above the people. We can’t even get the receipts for his gravy plane. Why does the Premier act like he’s accountable to no one?

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

Hon. Stephen Crawford: The Premier is accountable to the people of Ontario, and that’s why he puts his phone number out to the people of Ontario: so that they can connect with him, so he can get feedback. I’ve never seen a Premier or a leader anywhere, quite frankly, in the Western world that has done that. So I think we can appreciate that.

Going back to the FOI: The legislation we brought in in the budget bill was legislation that was long overdue—40 years before it had been adapted or changed.

In fact, I’m sure the members opposite understand that accountability is still the same. The Auditor General still has the same oversight; so does the Integrity Commissioner. There’s no difference: 95% of what was FOI-able is still FOI-able, and all decisions made by government are still fully accountable, Speaker.

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

Mr. Adil Shamji: It’s been eight long years of this very tired Premier, and he is so obviously out of touch.

Ontarians are struggling to put food on the table, but he’s too busy rubbing shoulders at private dinners and private clubs, trying to get himself a private plane. He’s like a terrible movie that’s been dubbed badly, because his words and his actions simply don’t line up. He promised he’d protect Ontario and then mistakenly released 150 prisoners while running up our debt to over half a trillion dollars and shopping for a jet.

Now that Ontarians are seeing through his elitism and his polling is crashing, he’s revving up his propaganda with over $100 million in self-promotional ads while crushing criticism by eliminating freedom of information.

If he’s as accountable as he says he is, will he prove it by sharing the receipts today of the luxury jet he bought and sold last week?

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

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: I think I heard the member opposite talk about protecting Ontario. Do you know who’s protecting Ontario? The great firefighters that we have in the Legislature. They are the people protecting Ontario.

So Madam Speaker, clearly—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The member for Ajax has been warned. The member for Don Valley East has been warned.

Continue.

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: We’re showing the people of Ontario that we may disagree about some things, but we agree on the great firefighters and the first responders who keep us safe and protect us in our communities—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The member for Beaches–East York has been warned.

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Let’s talk about the great Attorney General and Solicitor General. In the budget: $7.4 billion—a record amount to invest, protecting our communities, making families feel safe. And these folks are going to continue doing that in their jobs.

Technology sector

Mr. Sheref Sabawy: My question is for the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape our economy, the global race to attract investment is only intensifying. Companies are searching for jurisdictions that offer not just talent but the full ecosystem, from research and infrastructure to commercialization and scale.

Speaker, Ontario is stepping up. Whether it is in tech, life sciences or advanced manufacturing, we are proving time and time again that we can compete with the best in the world when it comes to attracting AI-driven investments and innovation.

Can the minister tell this House about Ontario’s plan to continue attracting and scaling AI investment across these critical sectors?

Hon. Victor Fedeli: On Monday, alongside Premier Ford, we announced Sanofi’s $294-million investment in their AI centre of excellence right here in Toronto. This investment will create 50 new high-paying jobs while enabling Sanofi to leverage Ontario’s AI expertise as they drive forward their life-saving innovations.

This is a testament to two areas of expertise for Ontario: life sciences and AI. It’s why we’ve been able to secure over $6 billion in life science business in the province and $10 billion in new AI investments. Companies know that our talent pipeline is second to none. We have 94,000 STEM grads every year, and businesses know this is the best place to invest and expand.

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

Mr. Sheref Sabawy: Thank you, Minister, for the response.

Ontario is not only a leader in AI, but also in semiconductors. As one of the world’s most critical technologies, our government has been laser-focused on building semiconductor capacity here in Ontario, reducing reliance on foreign jurisdictions and securing our place in the global supply chain.

Semiconductors power everything we rely on, from automobiles and defence systems to the smartphones in our pockets. That’s why it is essential that Ontario continue to double down on this sector, from AI to defence to emerging areas like opto computing.

Speaker, can the minister further explain Ontario’s role in the global semiconductor supply chain?

Hon. Victor Fedeli: Yesterday we had the opportunity to speak to a worldwide audience at the CHIPS North summit in Ottawa. We highlighted Ontario’s critical role in the semiconductor supply chain. From defence to AI to dual-use technologies, semiconductors are foundational to our economy and the global race to secure the supply chains has never been more competitive. But Ontario is already delivering real results. Look at our recent announcements in Kanata: Marvell Technology, $238 million, 350 new jobs; Ranovus, a $100-million investment, 125 new jobs.

From research and design to commercialization, Ontario is marking its place in the global semiconductor supply chain. That’s how we strengthen our economic resilience and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.

Gender-based violence

MPP Lisa Gretzky: To the Premier: We’re joined today by Unifor members who represent workers in many sectors across Ontario who have experienced gender-based and intimate partner violence at home and in the workplace. They are calling on this Conservative government to call IPV what it is: an epidemic. Survivors, service providers, police and 112 municipalities across Ontario have declared IPV an epidemic.

A provincial declaration is not merely symbolic; it compels the government to address the health and social impacts of the crisis, leading to increased funding for education, intervention, prevention and community-based supports.

Why is this Premier refusing to follow the evidence and implement the first recommendation from the Renfrew county coroner’s inquest by declaring IPV an epidemic?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity.

Hon. Charmaine A. Williams: Since we signed the national action plan in 2023—and all provinces signed that national action plan—we released Ontario-STANDS, Ontario’s strategy to end gender-based violence in our province. We’ve been crystal clear that we want to commit to making concrete and tangible steps to making sure that women are safe in Ontario.

On November 5, we recognized intimate partner violence as endemic. By calling intimate partner violence endemic, we recognize the difficult, critical work that still needs to be done to address the root causes. We have committed $1.4 billion to the strategies. We’re not going to stop making sure that we are investing in the programs and the supports to help keep women safe, because no women should be subject to violence in this province.

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

MPP Lisa Gretzky: Conservative governments in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick declared IPV an epidemic after we, the NDP, brought forward the Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act here in Ontario. This government can deny it, but IPV is an epidemic, and there’s an urgent need to declare that. The Premier and his cabinet secretly spent $30 million on a private jet for the Premier, and yet women and children experiencing IPV face no available shelter beds, inaccessible transitional or affordable housing and no financial support to help them flee the violence.

My question is this: Will the Premier explain why spending nearly $30 million on his private jet was more important than investing that money into protecting and saving the lives of women and children in this province?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the associate minister for a response.

Hon. Charmaine A. Williams: Well, if the member from Windsor West had actually participated in the committee for the bill that she moved, she would have learned of the hundreds of millions of dollars that we committed to addressing and ending intimate partner violence in this province. We had, just last year—which they voted against—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Order. Order.

Hon. Charmaine A. Williams: —invested over $27 million on shelter beds across the province. More than 100 organizations received—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The member for Windsor West has been warned.

Hon. Charmaine A. Williams: Madam Speaker, this is not something we should be arguing about. We all agree that intimate partner violence is a devastating curse in our province. We have to work on it together, and if the member opposite would support—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The member for Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas has been warned.

Hon. Charmaine A. Williams: —the work and the report that was released, then she would realize, and all of th