role="main" class="main-container container js-quickedit-main-content" id="main-content">

November 29, 2021

42nd Parliament, 2nd Session

< Previous sitting day

Next sitting day >

Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2021-Nov-29 vol. A (PDF)

L025A - Mon 29 Nov 2021 / Lun 29 nov 2021

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 29 November 2021 Lundi 29 novembre 2021

Report, Financial Accountability Officer

Members’ Statements

Child care

Mental health and addiction services

Road safety

Diabetes

Environmental protection

Government services

Child care

Road safety

Paint the Town Red

Clerk of Procedural Services

Question Period

COVID-19 response

Highway tolls

COVID-19 response

Economic reopening and recovery

Long-term care

COVID-19 response

Northern economy

Public safety

COVID-19 response

Anti-racism activities

Child care

Child care

Environmental protection

COVID-19 response

Autism treatment

Deferred Votes

Rent Stabilization Act, 2021 / Loi de 2021 sur la stabilisation des loyers

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills

Standing Committee on General Government

Introduction of Bills

1664503 Ontario Inc. Act, 2021

Petitions

Special-needs students

Autism treatment

Special-needs students

Special-needs students

Child care

Anti-racism activities

Addiction services

Animal protection

Child care

Nurses

Orders of the Day

Working for Workers Act, 2021 / Loi de 2021 visant à oeuvrer pour les travailleurs

Throne speech debate

The House met at 1015.

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

Prayers.

Report, Financial Accountability Officer

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Before I ask members for their statements, I beg to inform the House that the following document has been tabled: a report, entitled Expenditure Monitor 2021-22: Q2, from the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario.

Members’ Statements

Child care

Mr. Chris Glover: Global News recently reported that Wendy LaRose, a parent and lead of Toronto Parents for Childcare paid $2,000 a month for infant care.

Tegan Nguyen, a parent in my area, says, “As a young immigrant woman and ECE, I cannot afford to” both raise my children “in Toronto or do the child care work I love.”

Mr. Speaker, we are in the midst of a she-cession. The pandemic rolled back women’s employment rates to 1998 levels. But in Quebec, where they have $10-a-day child care, women’s employment rates are almost back to pre-pandemic levels.

Registered early childhood educators Hollis Pearson and Maame Ataa-Adwubi say, “Affordable $10-a-day child care will allow families to continue working.”

Allison Papageorgakopoulos says, “For our family, with four boys under the age of eight, it would mean I could go back to work.”

Sinéad Rafferty, an ECE and parent, says, “As a single mother, it would mean not having to decide between affording my rent or child care.”

Andrea Prifti, a child care operator, says, “I know many families struggle a lot with the current funding formula.”

Meike vanGerwen, an ECE, says that the government “signing the deal would mean a decent wage for ECEs.”

My question to the government is, will you please, please sign the child care deal so that the women of Ontario can recover financially from this pandemic?

Mental health and addiction services

Mr. Sam Oosterhoff: Every year more than a million Ontarians experience challenges with mental health and addictions. Many of us know a friend, a family member or a colleague who struggles with mental health, and we know mental health is just as important as physical health.

As part of our province’s strategy to address mental health, I was pleased to join my colleagues Minister Tibollo and MPP Barrett at the beginning of November to announce a new mobile mental health and addictions clinic in rural Haldimand–Norfolk and Niagara. Access to quality care can be a challenge for individuals living in remote, rural and underserviced communities across Ontario. Instead of asking patients to travel long distances for critical care, we will bring them the care they need.

This partnership will provide mental health and addictions services in Niagara West through a multidisciplinary team of clinical therapists, social workers and nurses who will travel to the communities that need them, providing more clients more care in more places. The mobile clinic will provide local clients with a variety of services under one roof, including intake and brief services, referrals to existing services, and psychiatric support and follow-up.

As the clinic operates within a custom-built, retrofitted bus, it reduces the need for people to travel to find services. Through the development of this mobile mental health and addictions clinic, clients and families in my riding of Niagara West will have greater access to high-quality, evidence-based care, in a setting where they are fully supported on their journey towards recovery.

Speaker, our government is committed to the Roadmap to Wellness and bringing healing to those who are hurting through this important project.

Road safety

Ms. Suze Morrison: Two weeks ago, my community in Toronto Centre lost Christine, a well-known community member who was hit by a cement truck at the intersection of Sherbourne and Dundas. Christine was 59, Indigenous, homeless, and used a wheelchair.

A worker who saw the crash, Sarah, told my office, “This is a really busy corner that has vulnerable people all the time. The people who live here already feel their lives are disposable, and they watched the undignified and inhumane way that Christine’s body lay on the street for hours before the cement truck was removed. Why has nothing been done to protect people in our community?”

In the coming weeks, the Toronto Ghost Bike project will be installing a ghost wheelchair at the intersection in Christine’s honour.

Unfortunately, deaths like Christine’s are becoming far too common in all of our communities. In June 2019, we also lost Ismathara Ratna, a mother of three in Regent Park who was killed in a hit-and-run. She was walking to visit a friend when an impaired driver lost control of his vehicle, mounted the curb and took the life of a beloved community member. We need to ensure that communities are safe for vulnerable road users—for pedestrians, for cyclists, for children and for vulnerable people—because there are now three children in Regent Park who will grow up without their mother, because this government refuses to prioritize road safety.

Today I’m calling on all members of this House to work swiftly to pass the vulnerable road users act, for Christine, for Ismathara and for the many others we needlessly lost.

Diabetes

Mr. Deepak Anand: In Ontario, 1.5 million people have diabetes, and in the region of Peel, often called the diabetes capital, one in six residents are affected by diabetes. While the impacts of diabetes are concerning, there are multiple ways to manage the impact and, in many cases, prevent it from occurring.

Education and awareness play an important role to understand the symptoms and the causes of diabetes. Healthy outcomes can result from simple lifestyle changes, including nutrition, increase in physical activity and taking medication to monitor blood sugar levels. It is important to become aware of the risk and get tested.

I would like to give a shout-out to Diabetes Canada and educators like Bonnie Loranger, Amber Khalid from Four Corners Health Centre and Anterpreet Dhaliwal from William Osler Health System for ensuring residents have tools and supports like virtual care to reduce their risk of developing diabetes during this pandemic.

To support residents living with diabetes, starting November 30, the government will provide free access to the FreeStyle Libre system to all eligible Ontarians over the age of four. The sensor-based technology will help to monitor glucose levels through the phone and without the use of finger-pricks.

Speaker, I’m proud to share that in 1921, Dr. Frederick Banting discovered insulin right here in Ontario. His breakthrough invention went on to save millions of lives and resulted in better treatment. November marks Diabetes Awareness Month. Let’s work together to ensure our province remains a leader in providing accessible, high-quality diabetes care to individuals in need.

Environmental protection

Ms. Sandy Shaw: Speaker, last week I was asked a remarkable question by the press: Does Ontario even have a Minister of the Environment? In the wake of last week’s damning Auditor General report, this is a fair question. These reports show yet again that this government, and in particular the Minister of the Environment, are failing at their core mandate, which is to keep Ontarians and their communities safe.

Two years ago, I rose in this House to share the outrage of my hometown at the news that 24 billion litres of raw sewage spilled into Cootes Paradise for over four years. No one—not the city of Hamilton, not the Ministry of the Environment, no one—let Hamiltonians know. I filed a freedom of information request regarding the spill with the Ministry of the Environment. After two years, my community has still not been provided answers.

Hamiltonians know we need action to prevent future spills. That’s why I introduced my bill, the Cootes Paradise Water Accountability Act. This is to ensure spills are properly and publicly reported and that no community would ever be left in the dark again like Hamilton was. But instead of working with me to pass my bill, this government did nothing. Now the Auditor General is calling for changes similar to those in the bill I introduced two years ago.

After years of ignoring Hamilton, the answer to the question is clear: No, this province does not have a Minister of the Environment, certainly not one that will work to keep Ontarians and their environment healthy and safe.

Government services

Ms. Kathleen O. Wynne: In June 2011, I got an unusual call from one of my family members. My niece, Amy, called me to thank me tearfully for something the government had just announced—not an everyday occurrence for a politician, Mr. Speaker. Amy’s disabilities mean that she will never drive, so of course she will never qualify for a driver’s licence, which meant that she had a constant and irritating problem producing government-issued ID when asked. Amy was one of about 1.5 million people in Ontario at the time who were in need of an alternative to a driver’s licence.

She was calling me because I was the Minister of Transportation at the time and we had just introduced the Ontario photo ID card. Speaker, the card was intended to allow people who could not or chose not to drive in Ontario the same dignity as drivers. But it turns out, Speaker, that holders of the photo ID card are not being accorded that same dignity when it comes to using this government’s online services.

A friend of mine alerted me to the issue that the OHIP card’s online renewal service is only available to people holding an Ontario driver’s licence. The Ontario photo ID card is not accepted. Everyone else is expected to do the renewal in person. As my friend said to me in her email, “People with mobility issues? Visual impairments? Dementia? Maybe immunocompromised? And in a pandemic? It makes zero sense that you can use the card in person and not online.”

The member for St. Paul’s has raised this issue and is calling on the Ontario government to make the OHIP card’s online renewal more inclusive by making it available to all eligible residents, including those who do not drive. Speaker, I join with the member for St. Paul’s in her call for the government to fix this. When Amy called me in 2011, I told her that this card was designed to give her the same right to government-issued identification that is accorded to drivers. I didn’t say that those rights would be limited when it came to accessing government services online.

Child care

Mr. Will Bouma: It gives me great pleasure to rise in the House today to showcase an event I attended with my friend and colleague the Honourable Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, in my home riding of Brantford–Brant this past Friday. In March of this year, I remember announcing the funding for 49 new licensed child care spaces at Our Lady of Providence Catholic school in the north end of Brantford. This last Friday I was so happy to be part of the official blessing of the completed, stunning new child care centre, which includes 49 new child care spaces and three new child care rooms that will open to hard-working families on December 13.

The celebration of the blessing of this new addition to the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board was attended by Chair Rick Petrella; His Excellency Wayne Lobsinger, the auxiliary bishop of the Hamilton diocese; representatives of the YMCA, the city of Brantford and the school community. The $1.7 million of funding that Ontario provided will provide a quality learning environment. Before, after and through-the-day child care is so vitally important to many people’s lives.

Last Wednesday I was also happy to announce an additional $4.4-million investment to the Grand Erie District School Board for a similar build of quality child care spaces in Cobblestone elementary and Banbury Heights School to help hard-working families in Brantford and Paris, for a combined 64 new child care spaces respectively.

Funding and having quality programs before school, all day and after school is a huge step in helping families achieve a work-life balance that is so important in today’s complex and busy lifestyles.

Road safety

Ms. Marit Stiles: Good morning. On December 2, 2020, just a little less than a year ago, Alexandra Amaro was struck and killed while cycling on Dufferin Street in my riding of Davenport. Alexandra was a writer and a journalism student, known for her radiant kindness. At 23, she had a bright future in front of her, and it was brought to a very abrupt end that night.

Alexandra’s death is a singular, painful event for those who knew and loved her, but it is also part of a pattern of injury and death facing cyclists and pedestrians on Toronto’s busy downtown streets. And while the city has been spurred into action to address some of the infrastructure issues on this stretch of Dufferin that we’ve been dealing with for so many years, we know that changes on the provincial level are needed.

That’s why I was so pleased to see MPPs vote unanimously last week in support of our bill, the Protecting Vulnerable Road Users Act, at second reading. Under the bill, penalties would apply to all driving offences under the Highway Traffic Act that result in the death or serious injury of a vulnerable road user. Along with increasing funding for municipalities to improve active transportation, public transportation and infrastructure like bike lanes, I urge the government to swiftly pass the Vulnerable Road Users Act into law.

A year after Alexandra’s death, we have a chance to make a difference. The sooner we, as legislators, act, the sooner we can prevent the loss of more lives like Alexandra’s on our streets.

Paint the Town Red

Mr. Rudy Cuzzetto: Many were disappointed last year when Paint the Town Red Canada Day parade, our annual tradition in Port Credit, was cancelled due to the pandemic. This year, a modified event, including a concert and fireworks, went ahead at Thanksgiving. Thank you to the chair, John Bozzo, this year’s recipient of the Gordon S. Shipp Memorial Award as Mississauga’s citizen of the year, and many local volunteers. Together, they did an incredible job under very difficult circumstances to make the concert a safe and moving experience for all who attended and truly a Thanksgiving to remember.

The province supported this event with a $76,000 grant through the Reconnect Festival and Event Program. I was proud to sponsor the performance by the Hip cover band as we marked the fourth year since we lost Gord Downie and the fourth annual Brain Cancer Awareness Day in Canada. This was in honour of one of my staff who is a brain tumour survivor.

I want to thank the other sponsors, including Queenscorp, Loretta Phinney, Fram Building Group and the Lakeview Community Partners. I want to thank the organizers for their memorial tribute in honour of those we have lost during the pandemic.

Hundreds of people attended the Port Credit Memorial Park, including Mayor Hazel McCallion. I know we all look forward to celebrating Canada Day together again at the parade next year.

Clerk of Procedural Services

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I would ask for the attention of the House. I have a very sad duty this morning because I have to announce that, after 32 years of working at the Legislative Assembly, Tonia Grannum, who is one of our table Clerks, will be hanging up her robes for the last time today. This is her last day in the chamber.

Tonia began her career as a research assistant in committees branch and went on to become a committee Clerk. She’s been a table Clerk and the head of the committees branch, now called procedural services, for 14 years now.

I can recall travelling on standing committees with Tonia when she was a committee Clerk in the days when standing committees travelled. Yes, we had long days: committee meetings with deputants back to back from 9 to 6, then fly at night to the next city, find the hotel, deal with all the mix-ups when you got there, have dinner at 9 o’clock or 10 o’clock. And the next day it would start all over again.

No matter what came up—winter storms delaying flights, members sometimes working together, other times at each other’s throats—she was always calm, cool, collected, a model of professionalism. She would solve every problem as it came up, just as all of our outstanding committee Clerks do. She’s done the very same at the table. It’s been a privilege to work with her in my capacity as Speaker for the last three years.

Tonia, you leave with our eternal gratitude. Congratulations on your exemplary career here, serving Ontario’s Parliament. We will miss you. On behalf of all the members, thank you for your three decades-plus of commitment to making parliamentary democracy work, working together as we all serve the people of Ontario.

We wish you good health and happiness. Please join me in showing our appreciation to Tonia Grannum.

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): It is now time for oral questions.

Question Period

COVID-19 response

Ms. Andrea Horwath: On behalf of Ontario’s New Democrats and our New Democratic caucus, I want to thank Tonia for all of her amazing support and work over the years. She truly has been a wonderful woman and a beautiful personality to work with here in the chamber and throughout all of the work that she’s done. Thanks, Tonia, and good luck.

Speaker, if you’ll indulge me just one more time, can I just say Oskee Wee Wee? Hamilton won their game yesterday and are looking forward to meeting up with Toronto this coming weekend.

My question, actually, is a bit more serious in terms of topics, and it’s for the Premier. As we know, Ontarians are rightly alarmed and a little bit worried about what’s happening with COVID-19 these days. We all have seen our cases climb up to around the 1,000 mark on a daily basis. At this point, 9,994 Ontarians have lost their lives. I haven’t got the stats from today, so that might quite actually be the grim milestone of 10,000 by now. If not, it will happen this week, likely.

The Omicron variant, as people know, is extremely contagious and is in several countries around the world, including here in our country and our province. There are lots of unknowns about whether the vaccines actually work on this particular variant. My question, simply, to the Premier is: What is he doing to ensure that Ontarians are protected from this latest variant, especially as we make plans to get together with loved ones over the holidays?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Deputy Premier and Minister of Health to reply.

Hon. Christine Elliott: I thank the leader of the official opposition for her question. But before I answer it let me also say, on behalf of government, that we also recognize and thank Tonia very much for your years of dedicated service and your knowledge of this place, but also for your incredible personality. We can still see your smile even though you have a mask on. Thank you for your service.

In answer to the Leader of the Opposition’s question, this, of course, is a concern for many of us. The best option is to stop the Omicron variant from getting across the border, so we are very pleased with the steps that the federal government has taken so far to ensure that we are testing all people who have returned or travelled from South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

We recognize that there may be others that may need to be added to the list, since the two people who have already been diagnosed were travelling from Nigeria. I would expect that other locations are going to be identified, and that’s why we are continuing to ask the federal government to ensure that everyone is tested who comes into Canada, regardless of where they come from. This is one of the most important things we need to do to protect Ontarians, and I’ll speak further in the supplemental.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: On the weekend, Dr. Jüni, the head of the science table, said that the Omicron virus spreads faster than the Delta virus—or the Omicron strain, rather, spreads even faster than Delta. The Premier may recall that he justified finally giving Ontario workers three paid sick days because the spread of Delta was faster than the initial coronavirus strain in Ontario. At that time, the Minister of Labour said that sick days are “to ensure that we continue to get people vaccinated as quickly as possible and protect workers sick from this virus.”

The same threat is with us today, Speaker, and it seems to be getting worse. Will the Premier be extending paid sick days beyond December 31 and making them permanent for Ontario workers?

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

Hon. Paul Calandra: I appreciate the question from the Leader of the Opposition. The opposition leader will know that we took steps immediately at the beginning of the pandemic to ensure that our workers who were impacted by COVID-19 were protected. As you know, the Premier also negotiated an over $1-billion program of paid sick days with the federal government. We’re going to continue to work with the federal government to ensure that programs to support Canadians throughout COVID continue to happen, and we’ll continue to ensure that workers have access to paid sick days.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, regardless of the recasting of history, we do have an important opportunity now to do the right thing moving forward. Seventeen schools have closed due to COVID-19; 712 schools have reported cases. Sudbury, Kingston and Algoma are responding with new restrictions. New variant Omicron is already here in Ontario, as I have already mentioned and as has been acknowledged by the Minister of Health.

So, the question is, will the Premier commit to extending paid sick days beyond December 31, and to make them permanent so that we can actually protect working people, keep them safe and reduce the spread of the Omicron virus?

Hon. Paul Calandra: Mr. Speaker, I’m not sure why the Leader of the Opposition has to always go to the negative. This is what the province of Ontario has accomplished in its fight against COVID-19: We have ensured that workers are safe. We have ensured that they have access to paid sick days. The Minister of Education has ensured that our students have a return-to-school protocol that is safe, including investments in air purification. We have ensured that the medical officers of health across the 34 different regions have the tools they need to fight COVID-19 in their areas.

The Minister of Health has made sure that our front-line health care workers have the tools that they need. That is what has led to Ontario having one of the world-leading vaccination—almost 90% have a single dose, and approaching 90% on both doses. We’re seeing tremendous uptake with kids from five to 11, Mr. Speaker.

I think Ontario has done a great job. There is more work to be done. We will continue to do the work that is necessary to lead Canada and to lead North America.

Highway tolls

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is also for the Premier. The Premier tweeted last week, during his blustery comments regarding Barrie condo owners, that, “A contract is a contract, and must be respected!” Meanwhile, he let the 407 off the hook for $1 billion in penalties stemming from their contract. The company started negotiating to break their contract with the government back in March of last year and yet they still made $148 million in profits from tolls. Looks like a contract is a contract, unless the Premier decides it’s time to rip it up.

How on earth can the Premier explain a $1-billion write-off to corporate owners of the 407—helping his buddies—while surgeries, diagnostics are still backlogged and while schools are still not safe from COVID-19?

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

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. As she knows, the COVID-19 pandemic had significant impacts on traffic levels on the 407 as well as Ontario’s roads and highways. These were unprecedented circumstances, as Ontarians complied with stay-at-home orders while fighting multiple waves of COVID-19. This resulted, Mr. Speaker, in the 407 invoking the relief clause under its contract with the Ministry of Transportation. At the end of the day, this is a contractual issue.

Our government took immediate action at the beginning of the pandemic to bring relief to drivers by freezing tolls on the 407 east, on the 412 and on the 418, to deliver more relief to drivers.

Mr. Speaker, the opposition talks about standing up for drivers, but the NDP stood by while the Liberals, under Steven Del Duca, when he was Minister of Transportation, signed a contract in 2015 that locked drivers into tolls on the 412 and the 418. We’re focused on providing relief for drivers, and that will continue to be our focus.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Well, you don’t throw stones when you live in a glass house. It was the Conservatives who sold the 407 contract in the first place and privatized all of those revenues for their buddies, as opposed to for the benefit of Ontarians. So it’s quite funny, actually, that response from the minister.

But look, the 407 does make hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue for their shareholders. That’s because that’s the way this party that’s governing now wanted it to be. But they could have avoided the penalties in their contract altogether by, for example, reducing or eliminating tolls to attract more cars to the highway, which frankly would have also helped Ontarians. Instead, they asked Premier Ford for a $1-billion break, and he gave it to them. Worse, a second $1-billion break is on the table for 2021.

My question is, how, in the depths of this pandemic, could the Premier think a $1-billion penalty to a private company should just be wiped away, even as they continue to make huge profits?

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: As I said, at the end of the day, this is a contractual issue.

In response to COVID-19, our government took immediate action to provide relief to drivers across the province. We suspended the collection of interest on unpaid toll fees from Highways 407 east, 412 and 418. We froze the scheduled increases to driver and carrier products, like driver’s licences and validation tags. We extended the validity of government driver, vehicle and carrier fees to keep people safe. And we froze the scheduled CPI increase to toll rates on Highways 407 east, 412 and 418 that was scheduled to come into effect on June 1, 2020.

Mr. Speaker, we are looking at ways to make life more affordable for Ontarians, especially drivers, as we’re going through the next wave of COVID-19. We are committed to affordability. That has been our focus since the beginning of the pandemic and will continue to be our focus as we continue to navigate COVID-19.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: In the laundry list, the minister forgot to mention that they gave the 407 a $1-billion gift.

Look, they quietly made that decision back in April, behind closed doors. The public didn’t have any idea of what the government was up to; they never told the public. The 407’s own financial statements show that it continues to make significant profits: “The company maintains sufficient liquidity and expects to be able to satisfy all of its obligations in 2021.”

As you may know, I’ve asked the Auditor General to look into this fiasco, but the Premier and his team can clear this up right now. How could the Premier write off $1 billion of penalties, especially when apparently he believes a contract is a contract, and it must be respected?

Hon. Caroline Mulroney: Well, if the Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about contracts, I wonder what she had to say back in 2015 when then-Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca locked a contract in against drivers in Durham region to pay tolls for 30 years. Our government has never and will never sign a contract like that, Mr. Speaker, so we certainly won’t take any lectures from the Leader of the Opposition on the issue.

Unlike the Del Duca Liberals and the NDP, who sat by, we’re taking action to make life more affordable for Ontarians. We took immediate action to provide relief to drivers across the province, and we’re continuing to look for ways to make sure that we provide affordable relief for drivers as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 response

Ms. Marit Stiles: This question is for the Premier. As a new threat of a new variant looms large, the Delta variant continues to spread in our schools, and cases are rapidly climbing among our youngest students. Cumulative school cases are now surpassing 7,000, and 17 schools have closed entirely. Something is not working.

I wish the Premier would just admit that allowing class sizes to balloon and waiting until mid-November to release a testing plan has put another school year in jeopardy. With the risk profile changing, will he act now to ramp up in-school protections and take-home testing before it’s too late?

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

Hon. Stephen Lecce: I want to remind the member opposite that the government in fact announced actions to deploy testing—the first in the country to do so—to all schools in the province of Ontario, rapid antigen tests for every child going home this holiday to ensure a safe return in January.

The government acted well before this variant entered our shores in the context of strengthening elementary school protocols, restricting lunches to cohorts, requiring virtual events within schools, really with the aim to reduce indirect and direct contact. We’ve extended the second term funding of $300 million to all schools to help build upon the hiring of over 2,000 staff supporting children.

We have one of the lowest case rates for kids under 19 in Canada and we have one of the highest vaccine rates. We are taking nothing for granted. It’s the basis for why we announced the extension of PCR take-home tests to all families for symptomatic and asymptomatic purposes.

Some 157,000 kids have signed up to get the vaccine; that is promising. We’ll continue to do whatever it takes to keep our school system safe.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, under this minister’s watch, Ontario schools were closed longer than any other jurisdiction in North America, and our kids are still feeling and suffering the impact of those closures. You will excuse me and parents out there for being a little bit skeptical with a response like that from this minister.

I’m going back to the Premier: Four more schools have reported new cases over the weekend in Thunder Bay. There are nine active outbreaks in Durham region schools and at least 23 schools with outbreaks in Ottawa. In total, 712 schools in this province have cases.

The head of the science table has said, “We need to try to tread as carefully as we can” to avoid more explosive outbreaks in schools. Our kids, our families cannot afford another school closure like last year.

What action is this government going to take today to keep our kids safe and our schools safely open?

Hon. Stephen Lecce: It’s not lost on parents that if the NDP were in power they would have closed schools and locked down our province for the entire duration of the year. The inconsistency of the New Democrats to reopen, followed by a desire to close schools, reopen schools—that is your consistency, the fact that you are not following the best science and the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, who has said the school system has been robust and safe, which is why we have taken nothing for granted.

It’s why weeks ago we announced the expansion of testing in our province, the only province in Canada to do so, with the use of rapid test kits for all children. It’s why we have a PCR take-home test. It’s why we expanded ventilation in every single school and strengthened the protocols within elementary school.

Mr. Speaker, five in six secondary schools have not reported an active case, and today, six in seven elementary schools do not have an active case at all. But we take nothing for granted, which is why we extended funding, we’ve improved ventilation, and we’re working to make testing more available to more families right across Ontario.

Economic reopening and recovery

Mr. Sam Oosterhoff: My question is to the Minister of Finance. Speaker, as we know, global supply chain challenges and economic uncertainty have driven prices in our province and many other jurisdictions higher. But Ontarians want to know that their government is taking swift action to ensure that economic certainty and job stability remains, now and into the future. All Ontarians deserve to know that their government is taking action to ensure that good jobs are being protected today and into the future.

Speaker, through you, what is the minister planning to do to help protect Ontarians through these challenging times and to create the right conditions for future economic growth?

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Thank you to the member from Niagara West for that question, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This economic adversity couldn’t come at a more challenging time. That is why we have a plan, a plan to build Ontario.

As we all know, we inherited a province from the previous government where real investment in infrastructure never materialized to the level needed. That’s why, in our 2021 Ontario economic statement and fiscal review, we have a plan, a plan to support Ontarians by growing this province as the best place to do business, to work, and raise a family.

Mr. Speaker, we are going to say yes. We are going to say yes to investing in our health care capacity and investing $30.2 billion over the next 10 years to build, expand and enhance hospitals; yes to supporting Ontario workers who have fallen behind, including supporting them through minimum wage; and yes to getting shovels in the ground on roads and bridges. That’s why we’ve invested an additional $2.6 billion in funding to support the Ontario highways program, which features more than 580 construction, expansion and rehabilitation projects. We are saying yes to building the foundation for our future prosperity.

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

Mr. Sam Oosterhoff: My thanks to the Minister of Finance for that response. I know many of my constituents are very glad to hear that this is a government that has their back.

But my constituents also want to ensure that the work that is moving Ontario forward, to build Ontario up and ensure future economic growth is maintained.

Speaker, back to the Minister of Finance: While I appreciate that answer from the minister, there is always more that can be done. Could the minister tell us what the government’s plan is to take measures that will support hardest-hit Ontarians where they need it most?

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Thank you again to the member for that question. As we’ve said, as a government, we are focused on affordability, and we’ve been focused on that since day one. Our government continues to support households with the Ontario Electricity Rebate for residential customers, small businesses and farms.

We introduced the LIFT, the low-income family tax credit, for workers who had fallen behind, as well as expanded the CARE tax credit for families and caregivers. Bill 43 proposes to extend the Seniors’ Home Safety Tax Credit to help seniors or those living with senior relatives make renovations on their homes to make them safer and more accessible.

Speaker, these are just a handful of measures our government is taking to support Ontarians. It’s all part of a plan to build Ontario’s future. That means getting shovels in the ground for highways, hospitals, housing, schools and high-speed Internet. We’re making these investments to improve our health care and will continue to do so in the future.

Long-term care

Mr. Tom Rakocevic: Last week we were once again horrified by another terrible incident in private long-term care. Jacy Ruuhala had to intervene to save her father’s life. Her father was very ill from a urinary tract infection and moments away from sepsis if his daughter didn’t fight the centre to call 911 and have him sent to a hospital. That happened at Hawthorne Place, one of the seven private long-term care facilities that were so bad during the pandemic that the military had to be called in and later published a long list of shocking and sickening deficiencies.

After this, a hospital administrator temporarily took over, and yet here we are again as though not a single lesson has been learned.

We’ve seen enough. It’s time to pull the plug on profit in long-term care and give residents a second chance at a life where the only priority is their health and dignity, because they deserve so much better than what they’re getting.

Why won’t this government do the right thing and take profits out of long-term care?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: To be very clear, it is this government that has put significant resources back into the long-term care sector. We are providing a North American-leading four hours of care. We’re moving to that standard. Of course, that has been talked about for a long time in the province of Ontario by both a Liberal government and the Liberal-NDP coalition, from 2011 to 2014, but never done.

This government is doing that with the resources that come with that. We’re hiring over 27,000 additional PSWs. We are building over 30,000 new beds across the province of Ontario. Every community in this province will have access to a brand new, state-of-the-art long-term care facility because of the work that this government is doing.

What we won’t do is what the NDP are suggesting we do: Put thousands of people out of work so that we can buy and then close down long-term care homes. That’s their plan. That’s certainly not our plan.

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

Mr. Tom Rakocevic: This question will show just how similar this Conservative government is to the Liberal government before them. Last week, the NDP private member’s bill the Time to Care Act was tabled again for the fifth time. This vital bill that would legally guarantee every long-term care resident in Ontario a minimum standard of four hours of direct care per day was voted for unanimously in this House. But whether it’s a Conservative or a Liberal government, this bill never gets to third reading, because it appears that they don’t want it to become law, but they also don’t have the gall to vote against it.

The clock is ticking. We have months before the end of this session when all bills that have not been passed into law will die. Will this government, right here, right now, commit to bringing back the Time to Care Act for third reading and vote it into law, or will they make it die once again and show us what they really think?

Hon. Paul Calandra: I truly don’t know where the member has been, because this government has already passed that level of care. I just mentioned it: a North American-leading level of care, four hours of care. And to support that, we are putting billions of dollars behind that. We are hiring 27,000 new additional PSWs. We are bringing on some 30,000 new long-term-care beds in the system.

The only people that have never prioritized long-term care, in fact, are the NDP and, of course, the Liberals. The Liberals built 611 beds, Mr. Speaker. In between 2011 and 2014, this party, the NDP, held the balance of power. Was long-term care their priority? No. Was education their priority? No. Was health care their priority? No. On every single thing that matters to the people of the province of Ontario, the NDP could have put an end to the reign of terror of the Liberal Party, but they chose to support them for a stretch goal in insurance that they never really meant to happen.

COVID-19 response

Mr. John Fraser: COVID case counts are rising, and Ontarians are very concerned about the Omicron variant and the impact it may have on their lives. Throughout this pandemic, this government has been indecisive and slow to act, and that has led to the unnecessary spread of the virus.

It took 400 days to get three temporary paid sick days, and that led to the unnecessary spread of the virus. Speaker, we know that parents are going to need these days in the new year to take their children to get their second doses, or for people to go get their boosters, or for people to stay home because they’re sick.

Speaker, through you to the Premier: It’s about being ready, so will the Premier do the right thing, pass Bill 7 today and provide 10 permanent paid sick days to every Ontario worker?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Mr. Speaker, when you talk about being ready, let’s be very clear about what happened in the province of Ontario during this pandemic. This province was brought to its knees and had to go through longer lockdowns than any other North American jurisdiction because the previous Liberal government left us unprepared. Eight hundred people in intensive care brought this province to its knees.

One of the richest provinces in Canada, if not the richest, and one of the richest jurisdictions in North America was brought to its knees because the previous government never made the investments in long-term care, never made the investments in intensive care, never made the investments to ensure that our front-line workers had access to PPE.

On every single matter, Mr. Speaker, the previous Liberal government failed, and in the dying days of their administration they decided to bring in some sick days—not good enough. And that’s why the people of the province of Ontario reduced them to five, six or seven—I’m not sure what it is, Mr. Speaker. But the people of the province of Ontario know that they can rely on this government to get the job done once and for all.

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

Mr. John Fraser: Speaker, to the minister: 400 days. And making 10 paid sick days permanent is only part of what this government needs to do.

We know what needs to happen: Make vaccinations mandatory for front-line health care workers and education workers. Ensure an effective vaccine rollout for five- to 11-year-olds and make vaccinations universal in schools. Expand third-dose booster eligibility. Improve ventilation in indoor public settings, like schools. Continue vaccine certificates. Expand access to rapid testing. Stop the harassment of our front-line health care workers and families.

Speaker, will the Premier do the right thing and address these gaps, or is he still planning to end vaccine certificates and the pandemic on January 17?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Health to reply.

Hon. Christine Elliott: Our government is taking the necessary steps. As of today, we have 89.9% of the population 12 and up having received their first dose, 87% having received two doses. We have appointments for five- to 11-year-olds booked: 157,900. We’ve also had 69,000 children aged 5 to 11 vaccinated within the last week, which is 6.4% of that population group, and obviously the appointments are being booked.

We’re encouraging everyone, especially with the Omicron variant now in the province of Ontario, to please get vaccinated. And we’re making sure that we are going to expand the number of people who can go for the booster doses in different age groups. We’ll have more to say about that in the next week.

We are taking every step possible that we can take to protect the people of Ontario.

Northern economy

Mr. Norman Miller: My question is for the Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry. Last week I saw there was a news conference with that minister, the Minister of Energy and the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade about investing in a new electric arc furnace in the Algoma Steel facility in Sault Ste. Marie. After years of the north being ignored by the previous government, it’s great to see our government investing in northern Ontario.

Speaker, through you, can the minister please tell this House what this investment in Algoma Steel means for Ontarians?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply on behalf of the government, the member for Peterborough–Kawartha and parliamentary assistant.

Mr. Dave Smith: It is always a good day to rise in this House and talk about the great work we’re doing in northern Ontario. Last week, the aforementioned ministers were in Sault Ste. Marie to announce funding to help build a new electric arc furnace for Algoma Steel, something that wasn’t possible under the energy policies of the previous Liberals.

Algoma Steel provides good-paying jobs and materials needed to build cars, technology, transit, hospitals, schools and community infrastructure that are at the heart of Ontario’s economic recovery.

Investing in jobs in the north has been a priority for this government since day one, and we’ll continue to fight for good-paying jobs and keep them right here in this province. Compare this to the Ontario Liberal Party, who were supported by the NDP: They said no to jobs like the ones at Algoma Steel and, as a result, waved goodbye to 300,000 manufacturing jobs during their time in government.

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

Mr. Norman Miller: Thank you to the parliamentary assistant for that impassioned answer. It’s great to see that this government is standing up for Ontario jobs and making sure this province remains competitive while we recover from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We all know that jobs are a priority for this government and ensuring that we keep jobs intact as we transition to a greener technology is paramount. We know that we can support jobs while being environmentally friendly, but the approach has to be balanced. Speaker, back to the minister: What does this announcement mean for the environment?

Mr. Dave Smith: The upgrades being made at Algoma Steel will leverage Ontario’s clean energy advantage: 94% clean. It will provide them with an affordable and reliable supply of clean electricity for years to come. Clean, made-in-Ontario steel is a central part of Ontario’s plan to build, leveraging domestic production of cars, technology, transit, hospitals, schools and community infrastructure, and that’s at the heart of Ontario’s economic recovery.

Our government continues to take action to support job creation and investment certainty in an environmentally conscious way for industries across North America, just like we did last week for Algoma Steel. We will continue to make strategic investments into jobs in northern Ontario because that supports all of this province.

Public safety

Mr. Michael Mantha: My question is for the Premier. This weekend, parents and children in North Bay were met by a crowd of angry, megaphone-wielding anti-vax protesters who screamed and cursed at them as they tried to take their kids to get their vaccine.

Abby Blaszczyk took her seven-year-old boy to get his life-saving shot and was screamed at through a megaphone, called a murderer and told that getting her boy vaccinated is genocide. Think about it. This is absolutely unacceptable, Speaker. Families like Abby’s are already stressed enough, and this is only making things worse.

We asked you before children’s vaccinations started to pass the NDP’s safety zones legislation to spare families from harassment. Will the government pass this bill by the leader of the NDP today, or will they keep emboldening anti-vaxxers?

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

Hon. Paul Calandra: I think the member knows, as we’ve talked about, that there are already in place significant protections to ensure that people are safe. The police do have the resources to ensure that.

The member is quite correct, though, in his assertion that this is completely unacceptable. I think we would all agree—or at least most of us in this chamber—with the member and with the obvious anger the member has expressed in his question. It is very, very clear—it should be very clear to everybody that getting a vaccination is not only safe, it is the right way to get us through this pandemic. If you love your family, if you love freedom, then you should get yourself a shot so that we can all get back to normal.

That is the best way for us to get out of this pandemic. And if you’re one of those people who thinks that it is somehow smart or intelligent to go out there and protest families doing so, give your head a shake and think about it.

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

Mr. Michael Mantha: Again to the Premier: Protests like this are exactly why the safety zones legislation we proposed can’t wait. This should have been done months ago, but the Ford government would rather pander to the anti-vax vote.

Children like Abby’s son need this vaccine to stay healthy and keep going to school. And while Abby is relieved her son got the shot, she is worried that he has been traumatized by walking down an alley of hate and misinformation while adults yelled at him through a megaphone.

Premier, every day that you delay these important protections is another day parents and kids are potentially at risk of the sorts of protests that hurt Abby and her son in North Bay this weekend. Speaker, again, through you to the Premier: Will you work with us to pass our safety zone legislation and finally commit to keeping our schools and hospitals safe?

Hon. Paul Calandra: As noted earlier, there are tools already in place for our law enforcement officials to ensure that people are safe. With respect to pandering, I suspect that there are at least a number of our colleagues who would feel differently than the member opposite.

We have believed right from the beginning that the best way to get beyond this pandemic is to ensure that people get vaccinated. That is why close to 90% of Ontarians have two doses. That is why we are seeing five-to-11s really book at an amazing rate.

Are there individuals out there who ought to know better? Absolutely. Are we all angry and frustrated that there are some individuals—a very small minority of individuals—who are doing this to parents? Absolutely. But as I said, we are as angry as the member opposite is, but ultimately there are tools in place for law enforcement to ensure that all people are safe. Again, Mr. Speaker, the best way for us to get beyond this is to get vaccinated.

COVID-19 response

Mr. Roman Baber: To the Minister of Health: For a year and a half this Premier and this government continue draconian measures against Ontarians, with lockdowns and mandates. The Premier talks a good game: No one wants to see businesses open more than him. No one loves nurses more than him. He is against passports because it will create a two-tier society.

A month ago the Premier said that vaccine passports would be lifted on January 17. But on November 24 the head of the science table said that the probability that we drop passports in mid-January is next to zero. Who should Ontarians believe: the Premier, who says vaccine passports will end mid-January, or the head of the science table, who says they won’t?

Hon. Christine Elliott: We should believe the Chief Medical Officer of Health, who is the chief person who is advising the government and who is looking at the clinical evidence, who is looking at the trends, who is looking at the number of case counts in Ontario and who has said from the beginning, when the plan came forward, that this is what we are expecting to do; however, if plans change, if there is a sudden increase, if there is a variant that comes in that causes concern, then we will have to change the plan.

But the people need to know what is coming forward. That is what we expect will come forward, subject always to the caveat that the situation might change. We are doing everything in our power to ensure that the people of Ontario remain safe and healthy.

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

Mr. Roman Baber: The reports of aerosol transmission were available as early as spring 2020. We heard that the virus was transmitting through ventilation in New York restaurants as early as summer 2020. In July 2020, the New York Times wrote, “Yes, the Coronavirus Is in the Air.” Also in July 2020, the WHO said that the virus can be airborne indoors. But for two years, Canadian health authorities denied the science by suggesting that transmission was by droplet. You see, despite discussing ventilation, this government and public health authorities recommended Plexiglas everywhere. Businesses spent thousands of dollars while some school boards put students behind a glass box.

Four days ago the head of the science table told Global News that Plexiglas may do more harm than good because it prevents ventilation. Does the minister understand that there is no universe in which both Plexiglas and ventilation make sense? And will she listen to the head of the science table and instruct all places and businesses to remove Plexiglas immediately?

Hon. Christine Elliott: Our government has always followed the advice and recommendations of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, who is also advised by the science table, by Public Health Ontario and by others. They are epidemiologists. They understand the transmission of this virus.

We understand that we need to continue to follow all of the health and safety precautions that we’ve always followed: wearing a mask indoors or when we’re in close contact with people, physical distancing, washing hands. All of those measures will remain in place to keep all of us safe and healthy so that we can then move on with reopening Ontario.

But we’re not there yet. We need to continue to get more people vaccinated. That is going to be the most important thing we can do. Ventilation, of course, is also always important, but the most important thing right now is for more people to get vaccinated. We’re asking anyone who has not been vaccinated yet to please do so right away.

Anti-racism activities

Ms. Natalia Kusendova: Good morning. Ontario is proud to be home to the largest Jewish community in Canada. Now that the celebration of Hanukkah has begun, this is an excellent time to recognize the tremendous contributions the Jewish community continues to make to Ontario. While this is a time of celebration, sadly, we have also borne witness to a disturbing rise in anti-Semitic hate and hate crimes in our province. This is a solemn reminder that our work to combat anti-Semitism is not done.

Can the Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism please inform the House about the actions our government is taking to eliminate racism and hate from Ontario?

Hon. Parm Gill: I want to thank the member from Mississauga Centre for that important question. This also allows me the opportunity to wish the Jewish community a very happy Hanukkah. Ontario is of course proud to be home to the largest Jewish community here in the country.

Our government is honoured to stand shoulder to shoulder with our Jewish community and to continue to take strong action, determined to fight anti-Semitism. Our government has absolutely zero tolerance when it comes to any form of racism and hate, including anti-Semitism. That is why we’re working with our partners like La’ad Canada and other community organizations across our great province as we work together to build a stronger, prosperous and inclusive Ontario.

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

Ms. Natalia Kusendova: Thank you to the minister for his answer. I also wanted to thank him for recently visiting Mississauga and celebrating Polish Independence Day with our community.

Speaker, through you: I know the Jewish community in my riding will be pleased to know about the work our government is doing in collaboration with our community partners to rid Ontario of anti-Semitism and hate of all forms. This has never been more important than now. I am proud to stand on this side of the House and support Jewish communities right across our beautiful province.

Now that the Festival of Lights has begun and the menorahs are being lit, can the minister please tell this House what our government is doing to shine a light on racism and hate, wherever it may be hiding?

Hon. Parm Gill: I want to thank the member for that question again. On this side of the House, our government is absolutely committed to doing everything in its power and making the necessary investments that are needed. That’s why in our recent fall economic statement we announced $8.1 million in additional funding to fight—anti-racism and anti-hate—and introduced initiatives like doubling the Anti-Racism and Anti-Hate Grant from $1.6 million to $3.2 million. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs had to say this, Mr.

Speaker: “We applaud the government of Ontario” for “doubling of funding for the Anti-Racism and Anti-Hate Grant program,” saying, “This program is a critical step forward in addressing the rise in anti-Semitism.”

Our government will always defend the right of every person to practise their faith and live their lives free of intimidation and hate. I look forward to taking

part in celebrations over the holidays. And I want to wish everyone Happy Hanukkah once again.

Child care

Ms. Suze Morrison: My question is for the Premier. Families and especially women across Ontario cannot find or afford the child care that they need to return to work. Even Jason Kenney’s Conservatives in Alberta are now working with the federal government to create affordable child care spaces, while Ontario families wait for this Premier to make a deal.

I recently heard from Leah, a constituent of mine in Toronto Centre. Leah and her wife are delaying their plans to have a second child because they simply cannot afford to have two children in child care at the same time. Leah told me, “It doesn’t make any sense, why wouldn’t you want to decrease barriers for mostly mothers getting back into the workforce?”

Premier, when can families like Leah’s finally expect your government to deliver on a deal for $10-a-day child care in Ontario?

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

Hon. Stephen Lecce: You can certainly count on our government to stand up for Ontario’s interests and children who want a fair deal from the federal government. We have met with the federal government twice now, with the aim of landing a deal, one that delivers on $10-a-day child care, which is what the federal government has committed to for the people of this province. Obviously, we’re ensuring that we get the requisite investment to achieve $10-a-day, not $20- or $30- or $40-a-day, which I think all of us would agree is not what the feds committed to.

We’re working with them constructively to do that. We’re making the case for more sustainability and more flexibility to support moms and dads across Ontario who need this support. We know child care is too expensive. The former Liberal government had a disastrous record of increasing child care costs by 400% over their tenure, 40% above the national average. Obviously, that’s unacceptable. Our Premier is committed to reducing cost and increasing access, which is why we’re at the table making the case for a fair deal at the lowest cost for all families in this province.

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

Ms. Suze Morrison: Back to the Premier: Leah’s family doesn’t want to wait for this government to negotiate a deal that favours private, big-box child care, where taxpayer-subsidized profits go to shareholders. When I asked Leah about this, she said, “I don’t think my child’s care should be profited off of. It creates shady motivations with worse child care worker ratios.”

Families like Leah’s are being clear with this government: They expect you to deliver a deal for affordable, high-quality, publicly funded, not-for-profit child care in Ontario. When will this government stop shirking your responsibilities to Ontario families, invest in affordable child care and sign a deal that gets $10-a-day child care for families in Ontario?

Hon. Stephen Lecce: Unlike the New Democrats and Liberals, who believe they know best for how parents raise their children—24% of operators in this province are independently managed. They do a good job and they support access for families across Ontario. I would never denigrate hard-working child care operators in the province of Ontario, as the NDP just did.

What I will say is that every single family deserves support from this federal government. We know that they currently contribute roughly 2.5% of Ontario’s allocation for child care. They’ve got to do much more, which is why we’re at the table to make the case for a fair deal that gets prices down to $10 for families.

When you reflect on the legacy of the former Liberals, of the Del Duca Liberals, where child care rose by 400%—obviously every government, provincially, federally and municipally, has to work together to get these prices down, which is precisely what we’re doing, by meeting with them, presenting our data and making the case for more flexibility and more investment to deliver on an imperative of this government, which is affordability and increased access for all parents in this province.

Child care

Ms. Kathleen O. Wynne: On behalf of our members, I just want to say thank you to Tonia Grannum. Thank you for all the work you’ve done over the years. Thank you for training me when I was a new MPP on committee.

Speaker, my question is for the Premier or Minister of Education. The holiday season can be a warm and happy time of year. It can also be a time of anxiety and worry, as we all know. This year, once again, we’re all living with a degree of apprehension as COVID continues to be a threatening, morphing reality.

I can remember as a young mom, in the lead-up to Christmas, juggling all the needs and expectations of my three kids, balancing my work in and outside of the home, and that feeling of exhaustion. But my worries were not about whether my kids would be fed or whether they would have gifts under the tree; my worries were not about who was going to look after them when I was at work.

But those are exactly the worries of thousands of families across this province. Year in and year out, mothers in particular struggle to make arrangements for their children. When it’s holiday time, those struggles are amplified. The gaps seem wider and more insurmountable. In the middle of the night, the fear of not being able to look after your kids adequately can be a really dark pit.

Speaker, I know that the answer from the minister will include a spin on what our government did or did not do while in office. But here’s the thing: Never for one moment in our time in office did we have a federal government putting $30 billion on the table to reduce child care costs in Ontario. Why has this government not yet signed a child care deal with the federal government?

Hon. Stephen Lecce: It is just a matter of fact that under the tenure of the Del Duca Liberals, child care rose by 400%. That is indefensible, and I think everyone in this Legislature would recognize that families paid the price for that neglect, where it was inaccessible and unaffordable for too many moms and dads in Ontario. That is their legacy, one which the people of Ontario rejected in the last election, which is why our government, in the first budget, introduced a tax credit for families to help them save money, roughly $1,500 a year.

We know there’s more to do, which is why we enhanced it during the pandemic. It’s why we continue to sit with the federal government to make the case to get that deal, which I think all families want, so long as it is equitable, it is sustainable, and it gets us to $10 a day. That’s exactly the case we’re making to the federal government.

I am proud that the Premier is standing up for the people of this province.

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

Ms. Kathleen O. Wynne: Mr. Speaker, I could spend a lot of time in this House railing against the inaccuracies that come from that side of the house about what our government did or didn’t do, but that’s not my job. I know that’s not my job. My job is to advocate for the people I represent and for the people of Ontario.

It was encouraging last week when we learned the minister was going to be meeting with federal officials to hammer out a child care agreement, but that has not happened. I know first-hand that negotiations between provincial and federal governments can be slow and they can be frustrating. But, Speaker, this federal government has been able to sign agreements with most of the over provinces and territories in the country. I know Ontario is special, it’s very special, but families in Windsor or Thunder Bay are not so very different from families in Calgary or Halifax. They all need child care that they can afford.

Is the government serious about signing an agreement? And when can we expect to hear that families in Ontario will share from the benefits of the $30-billion federal commitment?

Hon. Stephen Lecce: Mr. Speaker, we absolutely are looking forward to landing a fair deal for the people of Ontario. It’s why, for the past week, we’ve been negotiating in good faith to achieve that objective.

But I will say, Speaker: I think it is unacceptable that when you had, over a decade, the privilege to serve the people of Ontario—it’s not that child care just remains static—

Ms. Kathleen O. Wynne: It’s the federal government that’s putting that money on the table, not you.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Don Valley West will come to order.

Minister of Education to reply.

Hon. Stephen Lecce: It’s not that the member opposite—that child care remains static. It’s that it actually got 400% worse under your tenure. That is your legacy: families that weren’t able to access child care in communities small and large, and the most expensive child care in Canada. That is your legacy.

Mr. John Fraser: You just can’t get it done.

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

Interjections.

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

Hon. Stephen Lecce: It is absolutely shameful. This Premier is absolutely committed to getting a deal that reduces cost and increases access. I was proud to stand with—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. Members, take a seat.

I realize that members have strong opinions about this issue, but we still have to have a civil debate.

I’m going to ask the Minister of Education to resume his answer. Please start the clock.

Hon. Stephen Lecce: Speaker, the Minister of Infrastructure and I, just last week, announced an additional 3,000 affordable child care spaces in schools. We have a plan to build 30,000 over five years.

Last year alone, 16,000 spaces were created and 19,000 the year prior. We know there is much more work to do after the disastrous legacy of the former Liberal government. We’re going to work hard to get a fair deal for the families we serve in this province.

Environmental protection

Ms. Sandy Shaw: Speaker, my question is to the Minister of the Environment. Last week, the Auditor General released a scathing report on this government’s failed environmental performance.

The Auditor General also reported, “When the environment ministry first identified concerns about pollution from a spill in Hamilton’s Chedoke Creek in July 2018, neither the environment ministry nor the city of Hamilton informed the public about its magnitude (24 billion litres of sewage spilled over four years).”

Two years ago, I rose in this House to ask why the ministry chose to leave Hamilton in the dark. The answer from this government? It wasn’t the ministry’s role.

Now the Auditor General is stating the obvious: Of course the Ministry of the Environment has a role in ensuring the public is aware of spills in their community.

Speaker, my question: Will the minister apologize to the people of Hamilton for keeping this spill in the dark?

Hon. David Piccini: I appreciate the opportunity to rise to answer a question, the first question, I would add, the critic in the NDP has posed on the environment. I’m very glad to rise to answer that question.

Speaker, we understand, obviously, the impact that spills have across the province of Ontario. That’s why, as a government, we’ve taken decisive action. The new Environmental Compliance Hub Ontario is embracing modern technology to respond better to spills as we take decisive action across the province of Ontario. I think of recent funding initiatives that I have been a part of across the region, and that member’s region, to support in better responding to spills.

I’ll also add that budget 2020 improved waste water management and committed funds to support municipalities to better handle spills. I know that the municipality of Hamilton, where that member hails from, has had challenges, without question, and we’re working closely with that municipality to improve their waste water management. I’ll have more to say in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary.

Ms. Sandy Shaw: It’s unfortunate that the minister chooses not to apologize to the people of Hamilton for keeping them in the dark.

But it’s not just the people of Hamilton who are suffering under this government’s abysmal track record on the environment. In the same damning report, the Auditor General writes, “The environment ministry is not recovering its costs from responding to spills, resulting in taxpayers and not the spillers paying for” spills. The auditor estimates that hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars have been spent cleaning up the messes polluters made.

Mr. Speaker, will the minister please stop denying and deflecting his responsibility, and work with the opposition and work with community groups to keep Ontarians and their environment safe?

Hon. David Piccini: Again, I appreciate the opportunity to rise to answer this question. We value the input from the Auditor General and value her recommendations. That’s why, after a decade of inaction, a decade under which we saw a disastrous ability for Ontarians to work with their government to respond to spills—we know over 93,000 spills are reported to the ministry each year, and all get responded to by dedicated staff. Each one varies in nature. Some are more serious than others.

But it’s dedicated scientists, it’s dedicated leaders on the ground who are responding to this, and we’re working closely—but we’re not stopping there. Municipal sewage systems consist of treatment plants and collection systems that are designed to convey and treat sanitary or combined sewage. We invested over $20 million in the budget to address that.

Interjection.

Hon. David Piccini: Perhaps that member would stop heckling and listen, and she might learn something—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas must come to order.

The next question.

COVID-19 response

Mr. Roman Baber: To the Minister of Health: Last week, I asked the minister about the lives lost as a result of the government’s pandemic response. For the first time, last Monday, the Minister of Health admitted that lives were lost not just from COVID but as a consequence of the government’s pandemic response.

To be clear, lockdowns, increases in overdoses, a mental health catastrophe, delayed cancer diagnoses and surgeries postponed by this government also cost lives. Does the minister accept responsibility for those lives, and can she tell the Legislature how many lives were lost as a result of her actions, directly or indirectly?

Hon. Christine Elliott: What I can tell the member is that our goal from the very beginning of this pandemic is to protect the health and well-being of all Ontarians. Every action we have taken has been to do just that. Vaccination was the most important thing. But in the beginning, we didn’t have vaccinations. We had to care for people in our hospitals, care for people with COVID, care for people with other issues. We had to delay some of the surgeries because our hospitals were full. So every step we have taken since then, including with the vaccinations, has been to protect and save lives.

We’ve got close to 90% of the population aged 12 and over vaccinated with the first dose and 87% with the second dose. We’re working with children aged five to 11. We’re going to be accelerating the age limits for the booster dose as we’re dealing with the original Delta variant. We have got Omicron. We’re trying to contain that right now to make sure it doesn’t spread, with the goal of saving as many people as possible in the province of Ontario. That is our responsibility, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.

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

Mr. Roman Baber: Back to the minister: We all want to save lives. That’s precisely the subject of my question. Lives were lost as a result of this government’s pandemic response. It’s a welcome but overdue admission.

The increase in overdoses, late cancer diagnoses, late surgeries and one of the harshest and longest lockdowns in the world resulted in the death of countless Ontarians. The human toll of the government’s response is the responsibility of this government. Ontarians should know how many people died as a result of the actions of this minister. But apparently there are no studies, no estimates, no thinking that actually went into assessing whether the response was deadlier than the pandemic itself.

Public Health Ontario told us that the increase in overdoses among people under 50 is three times greater than all people who died from COVID. Excess mortality, according to Statistics Canada, is three to one.

How does the minister justify imposing deadly lockdowns without measuring or estimating how many lives may be saved and how many lives may be lost as a result of the catastrophe she and the Premier perpetuated against the province of Ontario?

Hon. Christine Elliott: To the member opposite: Every step our government has taken to deal with this pandemic has weighed the pros and cons of what the effect on the general population is going to be. But we know for a fact that vaccination is the most important thing that we do right now, and we have a very successful vaccination rate in the province of Ontario and one of the lowest case rates in the world right now.

So we are taking steps. We are moving forward. We are making sure that we don’t leave anybody behind, though. Because we know that we have had to postpone some surgeries, we’ve put over half a billion dollars into catching up with those surgeries, into making sure that our operating rooms can operate as many hours as possible, to make sure they can operate on weekends and into the evening.

We’ve also invested $3.8 billion into our mental health and addictions system with the Roadmap to Wellness. We know that we need to put more resources there, because we know that many people, because of COVID-19, because of job losses and for a lot of other reasons, are experiencing significant mental health and addiction issues. That is what we have been turning our attention to, even as we’re trying to manage the vaccination rate, to make sure that no Ontarian gets left behind.

Autism treatment

Ms. Peggy Sattler: My question is to the Premier. Speaker, families in London West are still waiting desperately for autism services for their kids. Virginia is a mom to two children with autism. One of her sons was among the 600 children selected for the OAP core clinical services pilot, but she’s not allowed to use the funding that was deposited into her account for the life skills supports her son requires. Meanwhile, her other son, who urgently needs clinical services, is one of almost 50,000 Ontario children forced to wait for needs-based funding.

When will this government stop ignoring the needs of children with autism and start providing them with the actual services they urgently require?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Children, Community and Social Services to reply.

Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: Thank you for the question, to the member opposite. This has been an endeavour that our government has been committed to since the beginning of our mandate, to address a long-standing neglect of children with autism and their families. This is exactly why we doubled the funding, from $300 million to $600 million. It’s why we’re implementing a world-leading program that has been created by the autism community for the autism community.

This is a program that is comprehensive. It is needs-based. It is family- and child-centred. We’ve incorporated behavioural therapy, including ABA. We’ve also included mental health and speech-language pathology. This is a needs-based program that uses nine domains of need to understand how we best serve the needs of children. This is something that is going to serve tens of thousands of children. We are making sure this is rolling out. We are on target and we are getting the feedback from the 600 children who are now enrolled. Thank you for your question.

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

Deferred Votes

Rent Stabilization Act, 2021 / Loi de 2021 sur la stabilisation des loyers

Deferred vote on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 23,

An Act to amend the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 to implement various measures to stabilize rent / Projet de loi 23, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2006 sur la location à usage d’habitation afin de mettre en oeuvre diverses mesures destinées à stabiliser les loyers.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The bells will now ring for 30 minutes, during which time members may cast their votes. I will ask the Clerks to please prepare the lobbies.

The division bells rang from 1139 to 1209.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The vote on the motion for second reading of Bill 23,

An Act to amend the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 to implement various measures to stabilize rent, has taken place.

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Todd Decker): The ayes are 26; the nays are 49.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I declare the motion lost.

Second reading negatived.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): There being no further business at this time, this House stands in recess until 1 p.m.

The House recessed from 1211 to 1300.

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills

Mr. Aris Babikian: I beg leave to present the second report, 2021, of the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Does the member wish to make a brief statement?

Mr. Aris Babikian: Just a short, brief statement to thank the committee members and the staff for their co-operation, patience, hard work and diligence. Thank you very much.

Report presented.

Standing Committee on General Government

Mr. Mike Schreiner: I beg leave to present a report from the Standing Committee on General Government and move its adoption.

The Clerk-at-the-Table (Ms. Tonia Grannum): Your committee begs to report the following bill, as amended:

Bill 13,

An Act to amend various Acts / Projet de loi 13, Loi modifiant diverses lois.

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

Report adopted.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The bill is therefore ordered for third reading.

Introduction of Bills

1664503 Ontario Inc. Act, 2021

Mr. Coe moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr53,

An Act to revive 1664503 Ontario Inc.

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

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Pursuant to standing order 89, this bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills.

Petitions

Special-needs students

Ms. Marit Stiles: It’s really a pleasure today to rise on behalf of families from Rawlinson, Fairbank Memorial, Dovercourt and The Grove school in my riding who have presented me with these petitions. It reads as follows:

“Fund Our Most Vulnerable Students, Fund Dedicated Remote Teachers for Students in ISP Programs in the TDSB.

“Hybrid learning forces teachers to divide their attention between students in-person and online, which will result in students not getting the attention they need and deserve;

“Intensive support programs at the TDSB are meant to provide additional supports for students with special behavioural, communication, physical and intellectual needs;

“Educators and experts have repeatedly pointed out that there is no evidence to support hybrid learning as an effective pedagogical tool, especially when offered to students with special needs;

“Students, parents and caregivers can and should expect a safe and supportive educational environment that safeguards their privacy from video cameras that could capture their likeness or behaviour;

“Students enrolled in intensive support programs at the TDSB are being forced to rely on hybrid learning to receive teaching instruction from their classroom teacher, thus leaving vulnerable young students without the supports that they need;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Toronto District School Board and the Ministry of Education to commit to funding and providing a dedicated remote teacher to all students enrolled in the intensive support program to supplement their in-person programing.”

I support this petition, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to sign my name to it and pass it along to legislative page Ellie to table with the Clerks.

Autism treatment

Ms. Judith Monteith-Farrell: I’m presenting this petition on behalf of northern autism families.

“Support Ontario Families with Autism.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas every child with autism deserves access to sufficient treatment and support so that they can live to their fullest potential;

“Whereas the Ontario Autism Program was badly broken under the Liberals, and the changes introduced by the Conservatives have made it worse;

“Whereas the new funding caps are based on age and income, and not the clinical needs of the child;

“Whereas Ontario needs a true investment in evidence-based autism services that meets the needs of autistic children and their families;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to direct the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services to invest in equitable, needs-based autism services for all children who need them.”

I agree with this petition. I will sign it, and send it with page Claire to the table.

Special-needs students

Mr. Chris Glover: I read this petition on behalf of the Elementary Teachers of Toronto, the Ontario Autism Coalition, the Downtown Alternative School, and the members of the special education and disability advocacy group that I’ve hosted for the last 10 years. The petition reads, “Fund Our Most Vulnerable Students, Fund Dedicated Remote Teachers for Students in ISP Programs in the TDSB.

“Hybrid learning forces teachers to divide their attention between students in-person and online, which will result in students not getting the attention they need and deserve;

“Intensive support programs at the TDSB are meant to provide additional supports for students with special behavioural, communication, physical and intellectual needs;

“Educators and experts have repeatedly pointed out that there is no evidence to support hybrid learning as an effective pedagogical tool, especially when offered to students with special needs;

“Students, parents and caregivers can and should expect a safe and supportive educational environment that safeguards their privacy from video cameras that could capture their likeness or behaviour;

“Students enrolled in intensive support programs at the TDSB are being forced to rely on hybrid learning to receive teaching instruction from their classroom teacher, thus leaving vulnerable young students without the supports that they need;

“We, the undersigned, petition” the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, “the Toronto District School Board and the Ministry of Education to commit to funding and providing a dedicated remote teacher to all students enrolled in the intensive support program to supplement their in-person programing.”

I fully support this petition, will affix my signature, and pass it to page Athisha to take to the table.

Special-needs students

Mr. Tom Rakocevic: I’m going to be reading out a petition that’s been circulated by the elementary teachers of Ontario as well as the Ontario Autism Coalition and many others. It’s entitled “Fund Our Most Vulnerable Students, Fund Dedicated Remote Teachers for Students in ISP Programs in the TDSB.

“Hybrid learning forces teachers to divide their attention between students in-person and online, which will result in students not getting the attention they need and deserve;

“Intensive support programs at the TDSB are meant to provide additional supports for students with special behavioural, communication, physical and intellectual needs;

“Educators and experts have repeatedly pointed out that there is no evidence to support hybrid learning as an effective pedagogical tool, especially when offered to students with special needs;

“Students, parents and caregivers can and should expect a safe and supportive educational environment that safeguards their privacy from video cameras that could capture their likeness or behaviour;

“Students enrolled in intensive support programs at the TDSB are being forced to rely on hybrid learning to receive teaching instruction from their classroom teacher, thus leaving vulnerable young students without the supports that they need;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Toronto District School Board and the Ministry of Education to commit to funding and providing a dedicated remote teacher to all students enrolled in the intensive support program to supplement their in-person programing.”

I certainly support this petition, will be affixing my signature to it, and giving it to page Alfie.

Child care

Ms. Marit Stiles: It’s a pleasure to present this petition on behalf of my many constituents, including Danielle Beaton. It reads as follows:

“Demand $10-Per-Day Child Care.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontario has some of the highest child care costs in the country and the costs have made quality care hard to access for many families;

“Whereas several provinces and territories, including Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Yukon, PEI and Newfoundland and Labrador have implemented a $10-per-day child care program;

“Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on the child care sector;

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

“To immediately negotiate an agreement with the federal government to introduce a $10-per-day child care plan in the province of Ontario, improve wages for ECEs and child care professionals, and invest in child care capacity to support the recovery from COVID-19.”

I could not be happier to support this petition and affix my signature, and I’ll pass it along to page Nathaniel to table with the Clerks.

Anti-racism activities

Mr. Chris Glover: This petition is entitled “Take Action on Islamophobia: Support Our London Family Act.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas on June 6, 2021, three generations of the Afzaal family were killed in an Islamophobic terror attack in London, Ontario;

“Whereas hate crimes and anti-Muslim hate crimes are on the rise, and words are not enough;

“Whereas no one should be scared to go for a walk while wearing a hijab, and no one should fear worshipping at a masjid;

“Whereas Ontario should be a province in which people can live without fear, regardless of the religion they practise, their clothes or the colour of their skin;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to support the Our London Family Act ... and to follow the calls to action directed at provincial governments in the NCCM’s recommendations to the National Summit on Islamophobia, including:

“—creating a provincial hate crimes accountability unit;

“—dismantling white supremacist groups by preventing them from registering as societies, and preventing acts of intimidation;

“–-restoring the provincial Anti-Racism Directorate; and

“—giving Ontario schools new tools to help young people understand Islamophobia.”

I fully support this petition. I will affix my signature and pass it to the page to take to the table.

Addiction services

Ms. Judith Monteith-Farrell: I’m sad to present this petition, “Prevent Overdoses in the North.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario ...

“Whereas northern Ontario has some of the highest rates of opioid-related deaths in the province and this number continues to grow; and

“Whereas we need urgent action from the provincial government to save lives in” northern Ontario;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to declare the opioid overdose crisis in northern Ontario a public health emergency, and commit funding for comprehensive, evidence-based local health and community initiatives such as harm reduction strategies, awareness programs, anti-stigma training, residential treatment, and overdose prevention services.”

I will sign this petition and send it to the table with Rishi.

Animal protection

Ms. Marit Stiles: I’m very pleased to present this petition on behalf of my constituent Juli Mori. It reads as follows:

“Pass Teddy’s Law to Ban Declawing in Ontario.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the practice of declawing, also known as partial digital amputation, is painful and debilitating for cats; and

“Whereas the procedure can cause lasting discomfort, complications and behavioural issues in cats; and

“Whereas there are many more effective, safe, non-surgical alternatives to declawing to protect furniture and people from being scratched by cats;

“Whereas the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association have said that non-therapeutic partial digital amputation,” or declawing, “is ethically unacceptable;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to pass Bill 53, Teddy’s Law, to ban the declawing of cats in Ontario.”

Mr. Speaker, I couldn’t be happier to endorse this petition, affix my signature and pass it to page Isabella to table with the Clerks.

Child care

Mr. Chris Glover: This petition is entitled “Universal Child Care.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the child care fees in Ontario are unaffordable for many families;

“Whereas Ontario faces a shortage of early childhood educators and child care workers because of low wages and difficult working conditions;

“Whereas Ontario has a shortage of child care spaces;

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

“Sign and commit to the federal child care plan and follow the Roadmap to Universal Child Care in Ontario developed by the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care in collaboration with the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario.”

I fully support this petition. I will affix my signature and pass it to page Ellie to take to the table.

Nurses

Mr. Michael Mantha: I’m honoured to present these 701 signatures from the good people of Southlake hospital in Newmarket, Aurora, who have entitled this “Petition to Stop Unsafe Patient Care and the Erosion of Quality Critical Care at Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas patients requiring critical care have complex and urgent care needs and their conditions are unstable, unpredictable, and can quickly change and deteriorate; and

“Whereas these patients need registered nurses with specialized education and training who are highly skilled and experienced, and anything less puts patient safety at risk; and

“Whereas Southlake’s response to the RN staffing crisis in its intensive care unit is to hire RNs without providing full education and training in critical care nursing prior to these nurses working in the ICU; and

“Whereas existing expert RNs will be required to intervene to provide care to multiple patients when the appropriate level of care in an ICU is a 1-to-1 nurse-to-patient ratio; and

“Whereas while ICU RNs are exhausted from providing life-saving care during the COVID-19 pandemic, Southlake’s plan puts patient and staff safety at risk and is driving away the expert and experienced ICU RNs this hospital can’t afford to lose; and

“Whereas cutting skilled care means patients can suffer from unnecessary complications or death because of unassessed care needs, delayed care, missed care, miscommunication, or errors which erode safe quality patient care;

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

“Stop the pre-sponsorship program in the ICU at Southlake Regional Health Centre—a program that does not provide newly hired RNs with full education and training in critical care nursing prior to working in the ICU;

“Immediately transfer any RNs who were hired into the pre-sponsorship program enrolment into the sponsorship program—a comprehensive critical care education and training course, the successful completion of which is required prior to working in critical care at Southlake;

“Cease the plan to implement ‘team nursing’ in the ICU at Southlake—a model that does not provide the appropriate level of care for critically ill patients, which is a 1-to-1 nurse-to-patient ratio;

“Cease any subsequent plans to implement a team-based nursing model of care in the cardiac intensive care unit and the cardiovascular intensive care unit at Southlake;

“Create increased opportunities for funded full education and training of new critical care RNs at Southlake;

“Commit to fund initiatives that retain existing specialized, highly skilled, educated, and experienced critical care RNs at Southlake;

“Ensure this hospital recruits appropriately educated and trained critical care RNs to provide safe, quality care to patients who need life-saving care.”

I agree with this petition. I’ll affix my name and present it to page Hayden to bring down to the Clerks’ table.

Orders of the Day

Working for Workers Act, 2021 / Loi de 2021 visant à oeuvrer pour les travailleurs

Resuming the debate adjourned on November 25, 2021, on the motion for third reading of the following bill:

Bill 27,

An Act to amend various statutes with respect to employment and labour and other matters / Projet de loi 27, Loi modifiant diverses lois en ce qui concerne l’emploi, le travail et d’autres questions.

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

Mr. Stephen Crawford: Good afternoon to all the members of the Legislature here. I’m happy to speak on Bill 27. It’s an honour to rise here to talk about Bill 27, which was introduced by the Minister of Labour.

Speaker, this bill is proposing to introduce several changes that would strengthen Ontario’s leading position in protecting workers’ rights while creating new opportunities. Our province’s economy is on course to emerge stronger than ever, and our government is helping to accelerate this fiscal growth.

As we look towards the future, society is evolving. Technology use is widespread and continues to grow. More companies are emerging in this sector. What is evident is that the world of work is changing. And as a result, our government is ensuring that as this occurs, workers are protected. No one will be left behind.

Our government’s goal is to lift everyone up. Ontario’s competitiveness depends on a high-quality and talented workforce. The proposed measures within the legislation would deliver larger paycheques, greater protections and more options for workers.

Speaker, on the one hand, we know that technology offers efficiency. Communication is delivered almost instantaneously. Information is also readily available. However, technology makes it harder for people to disconnect from their jobs once they leave the desk. Too often, people are conducting work on their commutes home, or when they’re home—it’s during the little time they have with their family before returning emails. We need to stay ahead of this, implementing a clear divide between work and home.

This legislation, if passed, will include a mandate for a disconnect-from-work policy. Constant engagement in work harms not only the mental health of workers but also their families. Juggling between the demands of work and home after official work hours puts stress on individuals and others. Separation is needed between a person’s work and their home. A recent public opinion poll found that 95% of people would support the right to disconnect from workplace devices. This proposed change has overwhelming support, and it makes sense.

There are other jurisdictions that have implemented similar policies. European countries such as France and Spain have implemented national disconnect-from-work policies. Looking at France, policy-makers consider off-duty email use as a health and safety concern. They implemented a policy to address rising stress levels among employees who check email after hours.

North America has been lagging far behind Europe. In fact, Ontario will actually be the first jurisdiction in Canada to support such a policy. Speaker, this policy is about respecting workers’ time and privacy. It gives them a chance to relax and, importantly, de-stress after a long day of work.

Going into the details, Speaker, this legislation, if passed, would require employers of 25 or more employees to create a written disconnect-from-work policy. This policy can be adjusted to fit the business and the employers’ workforce. If this legislation passes, upon royal assent, employers will have six months to create their initial policies. In addition, employers would also be required to provide a copy of the policy to each employee within 30 days of preparing or changing the policy. The policy can detail the expectations on response time for emails or encourage workers to shut off notifications once the workday concludes.

This is a policy that will benefit employers. It reduces burnout and it decreases job stress. Ultimately, employers can see higher level of engagement during the work hours. This is not a small measure; its lasting impact will be positive and felt right throughout our entire labour force.

Speaker, our province is a land of opportunity. We want to attract investments and talent inwards. This legislation will open new doors and jobs for workers. In particular, this legislation is proposing to ban the use of non-compete agreements. If the bill passes, Ontario will be the first Canadian province to ban non-competes. At first, this might feel like a major overhaul, but when it comes to competition, we want to present our province as fair and ready for new business.

This change could cause concern among businesses; however, other laws such as non-disclosure agreements, patents and federal laws are in place to protect the entities’ intellectual property or trade secrets. The heart of this change is creating a healthier environment for individuals to start a business with fresh ideas and thrive.

Notably, it breaks down barriers for the technology sector. Non-compete agreements are common in the technology sector. As research shows, removing these agreements from employment contracts could be very beneficial. For example, the state of Hawaii banned non-competes in the tech sector in 2015. Following this, there was an 11% increase in labour mobility and a 4% increase in wages.

Workers in the technology sector in Canada are relatively lower-paid compared to the United States. Ontario’s average tech salary is 65% of the average US tech salary. Eliminating non-competes could create well-paying jobs and, importantly, it could spawn more entrepreneurs to create jobs for their own new and exciting projects. Further, it reduces a factor that will reduce and limit labour mobility—and it’s not just the tech sector, of course; workers in every sector, from finance to health care and others, will benefit.

I just want to mention what the legal community has been saying about non-compete agreements more generally. Walter Yoo, an employment lawyer with Monkhouse Law, said, “Very few non-compete clauses have been enforced by Ontario courts, but they still had a psychological effect on staff.” This is reiterated by many law firms in Ontario. We do not want people to feel stressed out or worried about clauses that may or may not be enforced. There are some exemptions allowed in the bill, which include certain company executives and circumstances related to the sale of a business.

Speaker, attracting and retaining talent, not just domestically within Canada but globally, extends beyond the non-compete agreements. The proposed legislation would create a destination for newcomers to jump on their careers and quickly find greater economic opportunities. Newcomers choose Canada for rewarding opportunities and oftentimes create their own businesses. Newcomers work hard and we value the contributions they make.

It’s apparent that the current system is burdensome for individuals who have trained extensively in another country and have professional experience outside of Canada. The current restrictions and requirements could be costing Ontario engineers, scientists and other professionals because of the conditions that must be completed in order to get a job. In 2016, only one quarter of internationally trained immigrants in regulated professions were working in a job that matched their level of qualification. I’m sure we all know or have heard of somebody who was underemployed because of the current system requirements.

Our government is proposing changes that would, if passed, help remove barriers for newcomers to find licensed jobs that match their qualifications and skills. These changes include:

—eliminating Canadian work experience requirements for professional registration and licensing, unless an exemption is granted based on a demonstrated public health and safety risk;

—reducing burdensome duplication for official-language proficiency testing so people would not have to complete multiple tests for the purposes of immigration and professional licensing;

—allowing applicants to register faster in their regulated professions when there are emergencies, such as a pandemic, that create an urgent need for certain professions or trades; and

—ensuring the licensing process is completed in a timely manner to help internationally trained immigrants start working in their careers that match their skill set.

In total, if this legislation passes, it would impact 23 trades and 14 professions such as lawyers, engineers, architects, plumbers and electricians. It is only right that someone who has spent a considerable amount of time and energy and money achieving their dream job is matched with and has an easier time finding employment that utilizes their skill set.

Before I conclude, I would like to thank the front-line workers who have been there since day one. We cannot forget the contributions that have been made during the most difficult time of this pandemic.

One group of workers that has been there to keep our economy moving and store shelves stocked are delivery and truck drivers. During this pandemic, our government allowed 24/7 deliveries to ensure goods were there when people needed them the most. Essential goods need to be transported, and drivers have stepped up. They were there when we needed them through the pandemic.

This proposed legislation is making a change to ensure that when a driver requires access to a bathroom, they have one. We are proposing a change to require business owners to let delivery workers use their company’s washroom when they’re delivering or picking up items. Introducing this measure is about respect and decency.

Speaker, as I conclude my remarks, the members on this side of the House are rebuilding this province. Our government is bringing jobs back. We witnessed hundreds of thousands of jobs leaving this province under the previous Liberal government because of the unsustainable environment they established. This is no longer the case, and these new measures will attract even more people to this great province.

Speaker, we want well-paying jobs here. Our government has helped the business community. This legislation is another way to help support workers.

I hope the opposition members will join us in supporting this legislation, supporting workers.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): We have time for questions.

Mr. Tom Rakocevic: Since we’re on the topic of workers, I think this is something that needs to be discussed, and it has been brought up many times by New Democrats here—it’s the process of deeming in this province. Because of deeming, many workers who are injured, who are unable to find a job and unable to live on the compensation that they’re receiving, are forced onto social assistance and into poverty. Will this government commit to ending this practice?

Mr. Stephen Crawford: Thank you to the member opposite for the question.

This legislation obviously pertains to certain areas related to workers. As I mentioned, there are a few other areas we touched on as well. I should add that it has quite broad support, actually, among the labour movement. A lot of the union leaders in this province, such as Jerry Dias from Unifor, Smokey Thomas from OPSEU, Joseph Mancinelli from LIUNA are supporting this legislation—broad support from union leaders, which typically has a lot of support within New Democrats.

So my question to you is, would you support this legislation if these union leaders are?

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): The process is that they ask the question and you give the answer.

The member for Mississauga–Lakeshore.

Mr. Rudy Cuzzetto: First, I would like to thank the Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development for this excellent bill, and his parliamentary assistant for working so hard on this.

Can the member, at a high level, explain more about how the Working for Workers Act will lift up workers and their families in Ontario?

Mr. Stephen Crawford: Yes. Thank you to the member from my neighbouring riding, the great riding of Mississauga–Lakeshore for the question. There’s a lot to answer in a very short time on that.

In terms of how this legislation is helping working families, there are many ways, and I touched on a few, but I think the disconnect policy is certainly a major contributor to that. No jurisdiction in Canada has put forward legislation like this. We all know about the burnout, about the blending of work and home life today, which so many of us do. It’s hard to put that time—there’s no check-in and check-out, like many workers do, for example, in a factory where they check in and check out at a certain time. Many of us are always connected.

I think the government putting a policy in place to encourage larger businesses to have a policy in place to disconnect will be tremendously beneficial to families.

Mr. Wayne Gates: I’ll answer that question, even though we’re supposed to be asking the questions. Let’s be clear: There isn’t one union in this province that supports

schedule 6. You didn’t consult with the OFL, the Ontario Federation of Labour, which represents 1.2 million; you didn’t consult with CUPE on

schedule 6; you didn’t consult with ATU; you didn’t consult with the nurses’ unions, the teachers. None of that was done.

So when you stand up and quote union leaders—there are parts of this bill that are good, but

schedule 6 is a disgrace for the province of Ontario, when 50% of workers who are deemed are living in poverty. They’re losing their homes; they’re losing their communities; they’re losing their families. That’s why you can stand up and say, “Yes, there are parts in this bill that are good”—schedule 6 is a disaster for injured workers. We’re begging you, quite frankly, to—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): Pose your question, please.

Mr. Wayne Gates: My question is, why didn’t you consult with all unions on

schedule 6—which you didn’t do, by the way.

Mr. Stephen Crawford: Let me tell you something: This is a government that believes in consultation. We have consulted with dozens and dozens of organizations for all of our bills, including this bill.

Quite frankly, the Minister of Labour is a minister who has been the most open to talking to anybody, from any side of the aisle here. Minister McNaughton, the Minister of Labour, has been absolutely phenomenal and very open-minded in terms of listening to anybody.

Who have we consulted with? The Ontario College of Teachers—I think you mentioned teachers—the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the College of Pharmacists, the College of Midwives, Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario, the law society, kinesiologists, the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario. There are dozens and dozens. I have a list of them here; we can send that to you.

We’re a government that is willing to listen.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): The next question, the member for Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill.

Mr. Michael Parsa: Thank you very much, Speaker. It’s always good to see you in the chair.

I want to start off by thanking the minister and his hard-working parliamentary assistant for putting this very important bill forward, which addresses many, many issues—quite frankly, ones that the previous government consulted extensively on but did nothing about. It’s this minister and this parliamentary assistant who have been putting them forward.

Speaker, the areas that I want to reference and ask the member to elaborate a little bit more on are the removal of the Canadian work experience—which will help a lot of new Canadians to be able to get the jobs that they have been trained for—and things like the access to a bathroom, all of these that are in this bill. There are just so many of them.

In particular, if you can just elaborate on why it’s so important for this bill to be enacted now in this province—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): Thank you. The member for Oakville to respond.

Mr. Stephen Crawford: Thank you for the thoughtful question. Again, there’s a lot to digest, but I will start out with the issue around the bathroom access. To be quite frank, it’s kind of sad that we even have to put this in. That there are some businesses that did actually deny workers, couriers, drivers access to a bathroom—it’s a sad state. Unfortunately, there are bad actors everywhere—the majority are great, but there are some, and that’s why we had to put this through legislation. I’ll tell you, it has been so warmly received by the workers, by the delivery companies.

They are ecstatic that we are thinking about them. No one even thought about this before, but definitely this has become an issue, and we’re glad to see workers and businesses are overwhelmingly supportive of that.

With respect to foreign credentials, I think this is absolutely critical. We all know of so many workers here in Ontario who have such incredible professional credentials who are not able to apply them here in Ontario. To be able to fully access—it’s great for them, and it’s great for the province.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): The member for Ottawa Centre has a question.

Mr. Joel Harden: Speaker, I just want to say, through you to the member, that I plan to use this clip of what I’m about to say, so I really hope the question gets answered, because folks at home want this question to be answered. I’m going to pick up where my friend from Niagara Falls left off.

We know that under the previous Liberal governments, from 2010 to 2017, benefits for injured workers were cut in half. We also know that this government cut premiums to employers for WSIB by 52%. And we know that we have workers out there living in poverty, losing their homes because they are injured at work and because of this terrible practice of deeming at the WSIB.

Schedule 6 takes us backwards. It is an attack on injured workers.

So I’m asking the member sincerely, through you: Will he work with the opposition to take

schedule 6 out of this bill? It’s time Ontario stopped attacking injured workers and their families. Will deeming stop? Will he commit to stopping it? Will he insist his government pull

schedule 6 out of this bill? Yes or no?

Mr. Stephen Crawford: I’m happy to answer the question from the member from Ottawa Centre.

As I said earlier in my speech, our government is committed to helping workers in the province of Ontario. We are rebalancing the scales and putting workers in the driver’s seat. We’re leading the way, not only in Canada, but across North America. It’s time we levelled the playing field and, quite frankly, lifted everyone up.

Looking to the future, we are not going to go back to where we were before. Workers are no longer getting their fair share of the economic pie. Our mission is to give workers a hand up for better jobs and bigger paycheques. This bill is about people who work hard, put in a good shift and take pride in their job. We are a province of opportunity, where hard work pays off and big dreams come to life. We have a plan to build a future for our great province, and I certainly hope the opposition will support all the great parts of this bill and support this legislation.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): The member for Niagara West has a quick question, if he wants an answer.

Mr. Sam Oosterhoff: My question to the member is very brief: Why couldn’t the other Liberal government, when they were in office, deliver on this priority? It was clearly something that we heard the opposition members pay lip service to—supporting workers and supporting the labour movement—yet they couldn’t take real action when they had the opportunity, when they were propping the Liberal government up for many, many years. I’m just wondering if you could speak to why they weren’t able to accomplish these tasks when they were in office.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): You have 10 seconds. Good luck.

Mr. Stephen Crawford: Okay. Thank you to the member for that great question.

I think the opposition is getting very frustrated that the labour movement in Canada, much of it, is coming on side—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): Ten means 10, not 20.

Further debate?

Mr. Wayne Gates: I hope that my colleagues on the other side actually listen, because I have a 20-minute speech and it’s going to talk about some of the issues they raised.

To the member from Niagara West: The deeming part of the bill, although it was put in earlier—it only started to happen under the Liberal government in 2016. You keep talking about propping up a government. That was not part of that minority government at that time. It started in 2016, and that’s when the benefits started to fall. That’s when the billions of dollars were saved because they deemed workers. I’ll explain deeming to you during my presentation.

If you’re going to stand up and ask a question, my suggestion would be to look up the history on how deeming started to take effect and started to affect injured workers in the province of Ontario and threw them into poverty. They’re now collecting ODSP or OW, living in poverty, and instead of the employer paying for WSIB, guess who’s paying?

Mr. Speaker, you’re from Windsor; you probably know about the auto plants. Guess who’s doing it?

It’s being done by taxpayers, through ODSP and OW. That’s the history on deeming, and that’s why deeming has to come out of

schedule 6. That’s the poison bill in this bill. We’ve said very clearly on this side that there are a lot of good things in the bill that we can support.

Schedule 6 is an attack against injured workers. It’s disgraceful in the province of Ontario.

When you talk about unions—I’ve already said about the union movement that they weren’t consulted. The Ontario Federation of Labour represents 54 unions in the province of Ontario. You didn’t even talk to them. So you can say that they’re cuddling up to the Conservatives; no, they’re not. You didn’t even talk to the Ontario Federation of Labour. You didn’t talk to CUPE, which represents 280,000 members in the province of Ontario. You didn’t talk to the ATU. You didn’t talk to the unions who represent high school teachers, elementary teachers. So, please, don’t stand up and say you consulted; you didn’t on

schedule 6.

I’m asking you—somebody can yell it out—to name one union that has come to you and put it in writing that said they support

schedule 6 and attacking injured workers. You can stand up and say whatever you want; there isn’t one. I’ve talked to them all—not one.

Anyway, I’ll start my speech. I apologize, but they get me going before I even stand up. Honest to God, I just wish they’d listen. If they listened, no worker—and I can say this, because you know what? I don’t know how many of you guys worked in a plant, I don’t know how many of