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November 21, 2024

43rd Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2024-Nov-21 (PDF)

L184 - Thu 21 Nov 2024 / Jeu 21 nov 2024

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Thursday 21 November 2024 Jeudi 21 novembre 2024

Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries Act, 2024

Committee sittings

Orders of the Day

Cutting Red Tape, Building Ontario Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 visant à réduire les formalités administratives et à favoriser l’essor de l’Ontario

Members’ Statements

Operation Red Nose

Homelessness

New Haven Learning Centre

Consumer protection

Christmas parades in Peterborough–Kawartha

Seniors’ services

Kiwanis school supply drive

Christmas events in Nickel Belt / Événements de Noël à Nickel Belt

Mental health services

Introduction of Visitors

Question Period

Government accountability

Government accountability

Affordable housing

Transportation infrastructure

Logement abordable / Affordable housing

Northern Ontario development

Home care

Health care

Agri-food industry

Affordable housing

Protection of privacy

Women’s services

Affordable housing

Public safety

Business of the House

Correction of record

Member’s birthday

Visitors

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on the Interior

Standing Committee on Justice Policy

Standing Committee on Social Policy

Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs

Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy

Petitions

Sexual violence and harassment

Social assistance

Cycling infrastructure

Addiction services

Cycling infrastructure

Health care

Cycling infrastructure

Caregivers

Cycling infrastructure

Addiction services

Cycling infrastructure

Cycling infrastructure

Orders of the Day

Cutting Red Tape, Building Ontario Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 visant à réduire les formalités administratives et à favoriser l’essor de l’Ontario

The House met at 0900.

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

Prières / Prayers.

Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries Act, 2024

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Pursuant to standing order 93(a), I beg to inform the House that the Clerk has received a notice related to Bill Pr55,

An Act respecting Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries.

Committee sittings

Mr. Steve Clark: Point of order, Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Point of order: I recognize the government House leader.

Mr. Steve Clark: I seek unanimous consent that, notwithstanding the orders of the House dated October 29 and November 6, 2024, the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy, the Standing Committee on Justice Policy, and the Standing Committee on the Interior be authorized to commence the afternoon segments of their meetings on November 21, 2024, at 1:20 p.m. instead of 1 p.m.

This is for the purposes of estimates reporting.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The government House leader is seeking the unanimous consent of the House that, notwithstanding the orders of the House dated October 29 and November 6, 2024, the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy, the Standing Committee on Justice Policy, and the Standing Committee on the Interior be authorized to commence the afternoon segments of their meetings on November 21, 2024, at 1:20 p.m. instead of 1 p.m. Agreed? Agreed.

Orders of the Day

Cutting Red Tape, Building Ontario Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 visant à réduire les formalités administratives et à favoriser l’essor de l’Ontario

Mr. Harris moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill 227,

An Act to amend various Acts / Projet de loi 227, Loi modifiant diverses lois.

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

Hon. Mike Harris: I would. Thank you very much.

Colleagues, we’ve got an hour, so strap in. It’s going to be fun. I’m going to talk a lot about the good things that this government is doing and the good things that we’re doing to cut red tape here in the province.

Speaker, I will be sharing my time with my parliamentary assistant, the member for Etobicoke–Lakeshore.

I am honoured to lead off debate today, of course, as Ontario’s Minister of Red Tape Reduction and to chat a little bit about the proposed Cutting Red Tape, Building Ontario Act, 2024, that we are here debating today.

As I said, I will be sharing my time, and I want to thank the member for Etobicoke–Lakeshore for her assistance in supporting us and helping develop this latest burden-reduction package, a key milestone in our government’s mission to make life more affordable for individuals and ease the burdens placed on businesses across Ontario.

I’d also like to take a moment to thank our partner ministries for their ongoing support in helping us drive Ontario forward. Together, we are building a modern, efficient province—one that is ready to meet the realities of today and opportunities of tomorrow. Today, they have come together to make a meaningful difference for all Ontarians.

I’m proud to say that this bill is part of our largest red tape reduction package to date and has been made possible by the contributions from a total—Speaker, are you ready for it?—of 20 different ministries.

Hon. Graham McGregor: Wow.

Hon. Mike Harris: Yes.

I didn’t mean to slip a Taylor Swift reference in there. I think my wife might be watching, actually.

Hi, Kim. That one was for you. No pun intended.

Let me repeat that: Twenty ministries across our government came together to make life easier and more affordable for individuals, families and businesses. It does truly show the power of teamwork. It proves that under the leadership of this Premier, government isn’t the problem; it’s part of the solution.

Ontario is one of the top three provinces leading the nation in red tape reduction. The government should not be an obstacle or a hindrance for the people; it should be working for them. This is the message that we are sending with this bill. We are not just cutting red tape; we are getting it done.

This is the 13th red tape reduction bill brought forward by this government since 2018. I’m proud to say we have made great progress. Our government is already saving people and businesses in Ontario over $1 billion in red tape compliance costs and over 1.5 million hours. And we’re not stopping.

If this legislation passes, this latest red tape reduction bill would build on our progress by adding an additional $20 million in cost savings for businesses and individuals across Ontario. On top of this, it would also save the people of this province 56,000 hours—56,000 hours—annually in compliance work. This is time that can now be spent on growth, innovation and productivity instead of unnecessary paperwork.

This bill shows our government’s strong commitment to removing barriers that have held back Ontario. We are eliminating red tape to unlock Ontario’s full potential, right here at home and globally.

The former Liberal government made Ontario one of the most heavily regulated provinces in Canada. Quite frankly, when they sat on this side of the House, the Liberals—propped up by their friends, of course, the NDP, from 2011 to 2014—worked against the people of Ontario. They would not hesitate to undo the progress again, if they were elected government.

Package after package, we’re making life more affordable and opening up opportunities across Ontario.

And thanks to the efforts of Ontario’s workers and businesses, helped by real leadership from our government, Ontario is in better shape today than it has been in decades.

Under the leadership of this Premier, we are working to continue to build up Ontario, ensuring it remains the best place in the world to live, work and raise a family.

When this Premier took office, he sent a clear message: Enough is enough. The buck stops here. It’s time for change, and it’s time for change for the better. We launched a determined effort to eliminate outdated regulations, streamline processes and cut through unnecessary red tape that was holding our province back. It was time to unlock Ontario’s full potential, giving individuals more opportunities and giving businesses the freedom they need to grow and succeed.

This government was elected with a clear mandate to make Ontario open for business and open for everyone. We are building a province where individuals and businesses are encouraged to take risks, innovate and grow—a place where anyone can dare to succeed, and a place where government is not a hindrance, but a true partner in economic progress and prosperity.

Speaker, red tape has weighed down the people of Ontario for far too long. Under the previous Liberal government, Ontario became known as Canada’s red tape capital, with more than 386,000 regulations—the highest in Canada and twice as many as the next closest province. These weren’t just numbers on a page. These regulations affected everyday life. They weighed down businesses and drove up costs for individuals. They created a culture of overregulation that held back growth, opportunity and innovation.

The cost of the Liberals’ red tape was staggering. Compliance costs soared to $33,000 per business annually, the highest in Canada. These costs were ultimately passed down to consumers, making life more expensive for all Ontarians. This is money that could have been used to invest in new equipment, hire more staff or make life more affordable. Instead, it went into compliance costs, wasted on endless paperwork, fees and approvals.

Let’s not forget the impact the Liberals had on employment. Under the Liberals, 300,000 manufacturing jobs left Ontario—almost 20,000 alone just in my area, in Waterloo region. That’s not just a number. That’s 300,000 families who lost stable, well-paying jobs. That’s thousands of communities that saw factories close and opportunities vanish. And these jobs didn’t leave Ontario by accident. They left because the Liberal policies made it nearly impossible to do business here in Ontario. Their overregulation sent a message that the province of Ontario was closed for business. And it was families right here in Ontario who ultimately paid the price.

Instead of fostering opportunity, the Liberals piled on costs and delays that stifled growth. Rather than creating pathways for success, they put up roadblocks, making Ontario one of the most expensive and challenging places to live, work and start a business. That’s the legacy the Liberals left behind—a legacy of high costs, fewer job opportunities, and a province where families were left to struggle under the weight of endless bureaucratic red tape. Let me reiterate: The Liberals chose a path that burdened individuals, drove away jobs and sent a clear message that Ontario was indeed closed for business.

That’s not the Ontario that this PC government believes in. We believe in an Ontario where the government supports families, where businesses are free to grow, and where the people of Ontario can keep more of their hard-earned money in their pockets instead of watching it disappear into compliance costs and under bureaucratic red tape. This is the Ontario we are building—where services are continually improving, where the cost of business is staying low, and where working with government is a positive experience.

But, Speaker, as we all know, there is always more work to be done. The key to reducing burdens is unwavering vigilance, actively listening to the people in businesses impacted by red tape, and taking decisive action to modernize regulations and break down barriers. We are a government of action, and we don’t just listen; we respond. We recognize the struggles faced by those burdened by unnecessary regulations, and we are committed to delivering impactful results that make a difference.

Our ministry continues to assess regulations through the lens of seven regulatory modernization principles enshrined in the Modernizing Ontario for People and Businesses Act, the legislation which was established to increase transparency and contain the cost of doing business in Ontario. Some of those principles include recognizing standards of international best practices, applying less onerous compliance requirements to small businesses than to larger enterprises, and reducing unnecessary reporting to ensure that stakeholders don’t have to repeatedly provide the same information.

But make no mistake, reducing red tape is not just a numbers game of cutting regulations. It’s so much more than that.

It’s about the real-world impact those changes are having on real people, businesses across our province and Ontario’s economy—changes like speeding up operations at the Landlord and Tenant Board so we can deliver quicker resolutions and reduce wait times; changes like making it easier for building officials to work across provincial boundaries to accelerate new home construction in northern Ontario; and changes like digital tools to help deliver key infrastructure projects such as hospitals, highways and transit on time and on budget, so we can continue to build a stronger, more efficient Ontario for everyone.

As always, this package reflects our commitment to listening and acting. Through ongoing collaboration across the province with our ministry partners and consultations with a range of stakeholders and people across the province, we are delivering practical solutions that drive real change.

These principles are at the heart of our mission to keep Ontario competitive globally and here at home, affordable, and open for business.

Under Premier Ford’s leadership, we are building a stronger Ontario—one where red tape is cut, opportunities are multiplied, and the people of Ontario are empowered to succeed.

The bill we are debating today includes 27 different schedules. Our complete fall red tape reduction package has 64 individual items, including regulatory and policy changes that complement the legislative changes that are found in the bill. I’m going to spend some time highlighting a few of those items that I believe will have the most important impact for Ontarians.

When it comes to providing better services for people, Speaker, I’d like to highlight a few initiatives, starting with my own ministry, the Ministry of Red Tape Reduction.

In line with our government’s commitment to making life easier and more affordable for Ontarians, we are proposing key amendments to the Modernizing Ontario for People and Businesses Act, better known as MOPBA. These changes, led by the Ministry of Red Tape Reduction, are focused on reducing the burden on individuals, just as we have done for businesses. The amendments would mean ministries could consider individuals when reflecting on the principles of the regulatory modernization. Formalizing this work on burden reduction for individuals in legislation is unparalleled, positioning Ontario as a leader in this area.

This is another step we are taking to offer better services and make interacting with government more convenient for the people of Ontario. By simplifying these processes, we’re making it easier for individuals and businesses to get what they need, saving valuable time and reducing frustration.

Ultimately, these legislative changes are about making Ontario more efficient, responsive and accountable to the people. By focusing on high-quality service delivery, we are fulfilling our commitment to reduce the burden on individuals. This is another step in building a modern Ontario that works for everyone.

At the end of the day, the Cutting Red Tape, Building Ontario Act is about reversing the legacy of costly regulation created by previous governments and making life easier and more affordable for all of Ontario. This package is filled with practical, impactful measures that will help ease the burden on families and improve quality of life across the province.

Speaker, part of this vision includes making the dream of home ownership a reality, so let’s talk about that dream. One of our top priorities is addressing the red tape that holds back housing development. That is why we are building off of our spring red tape reduction package, Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, and bringing forward regulatory changes to the Planning Act to support the building of additional residential units, such as garden suites, laneway homes and basement apartments.

These regulatory changes would reduce or eliminate the need for landowners to obtain a rezoning order or a minor variance before starting construction. This means cutting costs and saving time on each project for homeowners and builders, which will directly boost the supply of homes across this province.

Additional residential units are a tremendous opportunity for homeowners. They can rent them, help pay off their mortgages, and keep more of their own money in their pockets. This is real financial relief. It is also about supporting multi-generational living—whether it’s young adults starting their lives, or maybe aging parents. By making this change, we can not only expand housing options but cut financial stress for families.

We are building strong, adaptable communities to tackle the housing affordability crisis. We are listening, we are addressing it, and we are getting it done.

We’re also addressing illegal selling of new homes, which is a critical component of protecting homeowners. The Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement’s amendments to the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act will help to clarify Tarion’s regulation-making authority so they can crack down on illegal new home builders and sellers who are exploiting the system and putting a strain on Tarion’s guarantee fund. These illegally sold and built homes are an unfair burden on legal home builders and honest buyers.

With this amendment, we’re giving Tarion the tools it needs to go after these bad actors and make it clear that they can’t take advantage of the guarantee fund anymore. This will also allow Tarion to make future changes to better manage its deposit protection liability and keep the fund sustainable for years to come. This proposal will help identify illegal builders early on, protecting those who are purchasing new homes. Buyers will have more confidence knowing they’re covered by a fair and secure system.

As you can see, our proposed amendments aim to streamline processes, enhance efficiency and protect the rights of the people of Ontario. By listening to stakeholders and using the power of digital technology, we’re making services more accessible, faster and more efficient.

We’re also taking bold steps to safely revitalize brownfield sites across Ontario. With changes to the Environmental Protection Act and associated regulations, we’re making it easier to redevelop low-risk sites, known as brownfields. We’re talking about turning unused land into homes and businesses. These changes will save municipalities and builders time and money by cutting down paperwork and red tape for redeveloping these lower-risk sites, while protecting human health and the environment.

Redeveloping brownfields is environmentally responsible, protecting natural landscapes, and it promotes sustainable land use. By streamlining the redevelopment process where safe to do so, we’re turning abandoned properties into vibrant communities, creating more housing options and contributing to a cleaner environment.

Speaker, brownfield redevelopment is a win for everyone involved. Beyond the environmental benefits, revitalizing these areas improves quality of life by addressing safety concerns and turning neglected spaces into thriving communities where people can live, work and play.

The economic benefits of brownfield redevelopment are undeniable. Reclaimed land increases property values, expands the tax base and provides critical funding for local services like schools, infrastructure and public safety. This approach supports job creation, boosts the economy and makes Ontario a better place to live and invest.

By redeveloping brownfields, we’re showing that our commitment to addressing the housing crisis and to protecting the environment go hand in hand.

Freezing fees for driver’s knowledge and road tests is a crucial part of our commitment to making life more affordable for Ontarians. This is big; it makes it more affordable for Ontario drivers and trainees to complete their testing. Freezing the driving test fees means more people can get licensed without breaking the bank. This supports safer roads and opens more opportunities for all. In today’s economic climate, every cost-saving measure matters, especially as families face rising costs across the board.

Speaker, our government is committed to a different path—one that keeps costs in check and puts families first. Our government is determined to take meaningful steps to lower costs and not raise them.

One of the ways we’re achieving this is by ensuring key sectors, like the architecture sector, are supported with modern, efficient regulations.

Architects play a crucial role in keeping our buildings safe and functional across Ontario. As new building codes are introduced, it’s essential that the regulatory framework for architects evolves to keep pace. Our government is focused on keeping Ontario’s regulations up to date, particularly with new building codes coming into effect. This is why we are proposing amendments to the Architects Act. These updates will align with the latest building code regulations, including important provisions for large farm buildings.

Under the new regulations, architects and engineers will be responsible for reviewing the construction of these buildings, ensuring they meet rigorous safety and compliance standards. By implementing these updates, architects will have the clarity and flexibility they need to adapt to new regulations, and Ontarians will benefit from a more efficient system.

Speaking of thriving sectors, Madam Speaker, let’s turn our attention to agriculture.

Hon. Rob Flack: Hear, hear.

Hon. Mike Harris: I’m just making sure everybody is still awake.

The Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission is proposing regulatory amendments to the Farm Products Marketing Act to remove obsolete requirements on farm marketing boards. The commission is proposing further reforms to make processor and dealer licences indefinite, rather than expiring every five years. This means less bureaucracy, less administrative burden and more efficiency, all while preserving consumer confidence. The Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission is a central figure in Ontario’s regulated marketing system and holds an important public trust in the exercise of its duties.

By reducing red tape and increasing flexibility, we can help it exercise these important duties. These proposed changes are a testament to the importance of collaborating closely with stakeholders.

Speaker, when we listen, we can act and we can make real improvements that matter. It is practical, it is effective, and it’s exactly what this government stands for. When it comes to reducing red tape, the best ideas come from collaborating closely with stakeholders. By working together, we can identify practical solutions and find efficiencies that address real change that is needed by the people on the ground.

One such challenge is the significant delays in Ontario’s civil and Family Court systems, which are affecting individuals across the province—and this includes my own riding. These delays cause immense stress for people dealing with sensitive issues like family disputes or civil claims. Our government understands the serious impact of these delays and is committed to making the court system more efficient and responsive.

That’s why we’re introducing amendments to the Courts of Justice Act. These changes will empower the Attorney General to directly establish rule regulations for civil and Family Courts in consultation with the judiciary. By streamlining this process, we can reduce delays and implement necessary reforms more swiftly. This means a more timely and efficient court system for those with ongoing legal matters, helping them resolve their issues and move forward with their lives.

That’s why our commitment to cutting red tape extends across all sectors.

We’re especially focused on supporting health care and easing burdens on our front-line workers. We know that reducing red tape plays a critical role in strengthening health care.

This package represents a strong commitment to further strengthen Ontario’s long-term-care system, directly addressing the challenges that so many families face when seeking care for their loved ones.

We listened to families who have struggled with complex applications and long wait times, and we’re taking action. Streamlining the health assessment form required for long-term-care admission processes will help reduce delays for applicants and their families and ease the administrative load on health care workers. This streamlined form will reduce the time clinicians spend on paperwork, allowing them to focus more on patient care. It’s a common-sense change that still gathers the necessary information to safely admit individuals into long-term care.

These changes demonstrate our commitment to reducing red tape in ways that make a tangible difference for Ontario’s health care system. By making these processes smoother and more efficient, we’re helping families navigate the system more easily and allowing health care workers to concentrate on what truly matters: caring for the people they serve.

These measures are just a few examples of what is included in our fall red tape reduction package. The Cutting Red Tape, Building Ontario Act is a bill designed to rebuild Ontario’s economy, keep costs down and provide better services for people and businesses across Ontario.

As you can see, our proposed amendments aim to streamline processes, enhance efficiencies and make everyday life better. By listening to stakeholders and using the power of digital technology, we’re making services more accessible, faster and more efficient. Whether it’s speeding up approvals for additional residential units, freezing testing fees or streamlining health assessments, these changes are designed to benefit everyone involved. Additionally, we are ensuring consumer protections are stronger than ever and that our systems maintain their integrity. This is about smart, innovative governance that makes life easier and more secure for everyone across this province.

Speaker, I am pleased to report that since 2018, our government has saved individuals, businesses, not-for-profits and the broader public sector over $1 billion in regulatory compliance costs that they would have otherwise faced. That is proof that, under Premier Ford’s leadership, we are truly getting it done.

And that’s not all: The changes we have put in place have also freed up, as I mentioned before, over 1.5 million hours for individuals, businesses and organizations across the public sector. We have successfully reduced the regulatory burden by approximately 6%—a significant step forward that is making life and work easier and more affordable for Ontarians.

That includes the 12 impactful red tape reduction bills passed by this Legislature since 2018, along with more than 550 individual burden-reducing actions implemented by our government.

These are real, tangible results delivered by a government that prioritizes the people of Ontario.

But we know there is always more work to be done. Our government remains focused on ensuring Ontario stays competitive and resilient in the face of future challenges. We are committing to building on our progress by continuing to streamline regulations, attract more investments and support job creation in every corner of the province. We will work tirelessly to ensure Ontario remains an economic powerhouse, prioritizing policies that benefit hard-working families, strengthen public services and maintain fiscal responsibility. Every step we take is geared toward making life better and more affordable for all Ontarians, and we are determined to keep moving forward.

Speaker, the results of our efforts are undeniable. Ontario is now one of the fastest-growing regions in North America, with billions of dollars in new investment and hundreds of thousands of new jobs. We have slashed red tape, and we have slashed our deficits, so Ontario’s finances are in better shape today than they have been in decades, reversing a trend of mismanagement from the previous Liberal government.

And we’re not stopping there. Our efforts have earned Ontario an A- grade from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. That’s the highest mark that Ontario has ever received.

Interjections.

Hon. Mike Harris: Yes. Thank you.

We are no longer trapped in the cycle of high costs and endless delays. Instead, we’re seeing historic levels of investment and job creation, billions in new auto and manufacturing investments, an influx of high-paying jobs, and a growing economy that is keeping more money in the pockets of the people across this province.

Speaker, let me be clear: Our government is committed to a common-sense approach to eliminating red tape. We are making sure that every regulation we cut or streamline translates to real benefits for the people of Ontario. We’re not just making promises; we’re delivering real results for families, businesses and communities across the province.

With this bill, and through the ongoing work of red tape reduction, we are putting Ontario on a path to long-term prosperity, creating a province where costs are lower, opportunities are growing and families can build a brighter future. Under the leadership of this Premier, we’re not just cutting red tape; we’re building an Ontario where opportunity and affordability go together. Through this legislation, we’re putting people first, making life easier and building a province where opportunity and prosperity are within reach for all.

I ask all members here in this House to support this bill.

With the couple of seconds I have remaining before I turn it over to my parliamentary assistant, I want to give a sincere thank you to my team at the Ministry of Red Tape Reduction and to the team that is led by our deputy minister, Maud Murray. They have done a phenomenal job in working together across ministries, putting this bill together and truly making a difference in the lives of Ontarians.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Patrice Barnes): I recognize the member from Etobicoke–Lakeshore.

Ms. Christine Hogarth: I want to thank the Minister of Red Tape Reduction.

I am honoured to stand here and speak in support of the Cutting Red Tape, Building Ontario Act for the Ministry of Red Tape Reduction.

I want to offer my congratulations to the Minister of Red Tape Reduction on his first bill as minister. I also want to thank his dedicated team at the ministry for their tireless work and dedication. It’s not easy to work with all the ministries, to get together and put together such a large document. It’s so important. So thank you to his team for all their work.

Having the privilege of not only working with the minister, but being his former desk mate, I can personally attest to his dedication, his diligence and his commitment to serving the people of Kitchener–Conestoga and the people of Ontario.

Thank you, Minister, for your hard work for the people of Ontario.

It has been a pleasure collaborating with him and his team.

Today marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to reduce unnecessary burdens on businesses and families. What we’re doing today is not only about regulatory reform; it’s about ensuring that our government works for the people and not against them. We are continuing to build an Ontario that fosters growth, innovation and prosperity for everyone, and this bill is a vehicle that allows us to do just that.

As the Minister of Red Tape Reduction has highlighted, our government’s red tape reduction efforts have already delivered over $1 billion in annual compliance cost savings. That’s $1 billion that translates into real benefits for the hard-working people of Ontario, including those in my riding of Etobicoke–Lakeshore. Whether it’s reducing costs for small business owners or making everyday life more affordable for families, the impacts of the measures are profound. These numbers tell us that we are delivering results.

The savings in compliance costs mean more money in the pockets of everyday people—money that can be used to pay for groceries, child care, housing, or saving for the future. This is not just about data; it’s about making a meaningful difference in the lives of millions of people across the province.

Today, I am proud to say that with the latest red tape reduction package, which this bill is an important part of, we are continuing to build on that progress. If this legislation passes, it would provide an additional $20 million in cost savings and free up 56,000 hours. That is money and time that will remain with the people of Ontario rather than being lost to outdated, cumbersome regulations. We are proud of how far we’ve come.

Red tape has tied down the people of Ontario for far too long. The previous Liberal government entangled this province with endless red tape. With more than 386,000 regulations on the books, Ontario led the country in overregulation. As a result of the Liberals’ failed policies, over 300,000 manufacturing jobs left Ontario, along with the prosperity and the hope that once defined this great province.

I also recall a previous Premier, who may be familiar with our current Minister of Red Tape Reduction, who created the Red Tape Commission. It was a dedicated body that focused on reducing excessive bureaucracy and regulations, especially for small businesses.

Speaker, do you know what the Liberals did when they came to power in 2003? They dismantled that commission. They halted its vital work, and that’s an absolute shame.

But under the leadership of this current Premier, things are changing for the better. We are undoing the damage done by the previous Liberal government. Those dark years of regulatory overreach are behind us, thanks to the bold steps we are taking to ensure Ontario remains an affordable and accessible place under our government—an Ontario that is the best place to live, work and raise a family.

Since taking office, we have reduced Ontario’s regulatory burden by nearly 6%, saving individuals, families and businesses over $1 billion every year. This isn’t just money saved. It is money that can now be reinvested into our economy. It is money that families can use to cover their expenses or save. And it is money businesses can reinvest in growth, innovation and job creation.

We have also given back something more valuable than money: time. Through our red tape reduction efforts, we have freed up 1.5 million hours every year. That is 1.5 million hours that families, workers and businesses can spend on what truly matters to them, rather than being bogged down by unnecessary and outdated regulations. Time is a priceless resource, and we are giving it back to the people of Ontario.

Our Cutting Red Tape, Building Ontario Act, 2024, is the latest step in our mission to make Ontario a place where people and businesses can thrive without unnecessary barriers. This legislation is about cutting the chains that have held back growth and opportunity in our province for far too long. It’s about building an Ontario where businesses can thrive, where families can succeed, and where our communities can prosper.

Let me highlight some of the key measures in this fall’s package.

We are proposing legislative amendments to the Modernizing Ontario for People and Businesses Act to make it mandatory for all ministries to measure and report on activities aimed at reducing administrative burden on individuals. This will ensure clear accountability and highlight this government’s efforts to reduce burdens on individuals, making life easier and more affordable for everyone.

Ontario will also be establishing the Ontario payroll burden reduction consultative forum, with key stakeholders and payroll experts such as the National Payroll Institute, also known as NPI, to facilitate discussions and generate recommendations aimed at reducing payroll burdens for business owners across Ontario.

The Attorney General is proposing changes to the Residential Tenancies Act and statutory procedure act to help speed up operations at the Landlord and Tenant Board by increasing tribunal efficiencies. Additionally, Ontario will explore the feasibility of partnering with third-party organizations to improve access to Landlord and Tenant Board orders for credit reporting and enhance public transparency. The government will also update existing information on Ontario.ca to better inform landlords, tenants and the public about their rights, responsibilities, and consumer reporting.

By allowing qualified building officials from Manitoba to practise in Ontario, we are streamlining the qualification process, ensuring that local communities can meet their building code enforcement needs more efficiently. Through a pilot program, Ontario will assess the qualifications of Manitoba building officials, allowing them to contribute to our province’s growth. This approach will prevent unnecessary delays in construction, and it will ensure that new homes and infrastructure can be built on time and to code.

In addition, the government will clarify that building officials from other provinces can participate in Ontario’s building inspector internship program, helping municipalities fill staffing gaps and meet immediate recruitment needs. These steps will ensure that municipalities, particularly in northern Ontario, have the personnel required to maintain a steady flow of construction and development. This regulatory change is expected to receive widespread support from stakeholders, especially those in the municipal sector who have long called for measures to address staffing shortages.

By removing barriers and easing credential recognition, municipalities will no longer need to rely on costly external consultants—which can cost up to three times more than directly hiring a building official—which saves our municipalities money. This alone is a significant cost savings that will benefit taxpayers and our local governments, especially in the north.

Additionally, we are reducing the time and costs associated with qualifying as a building official in Ontario. It currently takes at least six months to pass all required building code exams, with costs exceeding $750 per official.

By recognizing out-of-province credentials, we are shortening the process and saving both time and money—critical resources that can instead be directed towards accelerating housing and infrastructure development.

The benefits of this initiative are clear: By easing credential recognition, especially in northern Ontario, we are fast-tracking essential housing and infrastructure projects that are vital to the growth of our communities. This means more homes will be built faster, infrastructure improvements will be made, and municipalities will have the support that they need to thrive. In turn, this will make Ontario a more affordable, accessible place to live, work and, of course, raise your family.

Our government remains committed to reducing burdensome compliance requirements for small businesses, allowing them to grow, succeed and continue driving our economy forward. Whether it’s housing development or business growth, this government is making real progress in removing barriers and delivering results for the people of Ontario.

In line with this, we are proposing amendments in this bill that would eliminate the annual registration renewal fees for rural Ontario farm-product dealers, saving them both time and money. These important legislative and regulatory amendments to the Farm Implements Act, also know as the FIA, will deliver significant benefits for farm equipment dealers, distributors and, ultimately, the farmers who rely on them. These changes are designed to reduce administrative burdens, streamline dispute resolution and lower costs for Ontario’s farm implement industry, providing a much-needed boost for rural communities and businesses across the province.

One of the key provisions of this bill will prohibit dealership agreements from restricting the application of Ontario law or Ontario jurisdiction over disputes. This change will ensure that disputes involving Ontario dealers and distributors are governed by Ontario’s legal framework, providing fairness and transparency for all parties.

We are also proposing to make AFRAAT, which is the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal, the final decision-maker in the dispute resolution process under the FIA. This change simplifies the appeals process and reduces administrative pressure on the Divisional Court. While stakeholders can still seek judicial review, if necessary, this amendment will provide faster resolutions and ensure more efficient handling of disputes.

Another key aspect of the bill is requiring dealership agreements to remain in place during the appeal process. This is a critical protection for dealers, ensuring that their businesses aren’t unjustly terminated while a dispute is under review.

The bill also introduces a change that will be widely welcomed by both dealers and distributors: requiring one-time registrations with no annual renewals and eliminating associated fees. This is a straightforward, cost-saving measure that will significantly reduce the administrative load and ongoing expenses for businesses. By removing the current $200 registration fee for dealers and the $300 fee for distributors, we are making it easier for these businesses to focus on what matters: serving farmers and supporting rural communities.

These amendments are the result of ongoing consultations with stakeholders, including the Canadian Equipment Dealers Association, CEDA, which has been a strong advocate for many of these changes. These updates reflect the evolving needs of Ontario’s agricultural sector and our commitment to fostering a fair, efficient and competitive marketplace for farm equipment.

Together, these updates to the Farm Implements Act will enhance business operations, reduce costs and ensure that Ontario’s farming sector remains competitive and sustainable for the years to come.

Furthermore, we are proposing to make it easier and more convenient for people with vision loss to receive more support closer to home. We know that accessing essential supports like white canes and cane tips can be challenging, and that’s why we’re taking action by proposing to pilot a service delivery model that will bring these supports closer to home and help people access what they need.

The first step in our plan is to issue a request for bids to find a supplier of white canes and tips. Once we secure that supplier, Ontario will provide full coverage for two white canes and two cane tips each year. This means no more waiting, no more stress—just the reliable access that individuals with vision loss deserve.

Mr. Anthony Leardi: Great job. That’s really good.

Ms. Christine Hogarth: Thank you.

And we’re not stopping there. We’re also modernizing our processes to make sure that people get the support they need when they need it. This includes offering direct shipping to clients, which will cut down on the administrative burden. And instead of having to reapply each and every year, individuals will only need to reapply once every five years.

This change is the result of extensive feedback from the vision loss community, and it is a direct response to the real needs of those individuals in Ontario who rely on these supports.

So what does this mean? It means we’re making the process easier, more efficient and more accessible. We’re creating opportunities for Ontario businesses by leveraging bulk purchasing, and we’re helping reduce costs for the health care system, all while delivering better service for the people who need it most. This is a win-win for our province.

Speaker, this is just the beginning. By investing in modern solutions and responding to community feedback, we are ensuring a more efficient and accessible future for all Ontarians, especially those with vision loss.

In addition to improving health care services, we’re introducing cutting-edge solutions in other key areas. Using digital twin technology helps us to deliver vital infrastructure projects such as hospitals, highways and transit on time and on budget.

For those unfamiliar with the concept, digital twins are virtual models of physical objects—a powerful tool that allows us to simulate and predict risks and challenges before construction even begins. With digital twin technology, we can create virtual models of essential services like electrical, water, gas, and waste water systems. This allows us to identify potential conflicts, such as utility issues, before they become costly problems. By doing this, we can save taxpayers money, improve worker safety and ensure projects are completed on schedule.

This is not just about using modern tools; it is about adopting a smart, innovative approach to problem-solving that will keep Ontario at the forefront of technological advancements. Through the use of digital twins, we are building a more connected, efficient and forward-thinking province.

These projects were selected because of their complexity, including existing and planned electrical, water, gas, and waste water systems.

By using digital twins, we can avoid delays and cost overruns. We can improve safety and enhance project delivery across the board. By adopting the digital twins, Ontario is not only improving our infrastructure delivery, but also reinforcing our commitment to building a more competitive and connected future for the province.

Speaker, these digital modelling tools are just one example of how we are using technology to enhance service delivery across Ontario. As we continue to innovate and streamline services, we will ensure that the people of Ontario have access to smarter, faster and more efficient solutions.

Today, the Ministry of Red Tape Reduction, along with our partner ministries, continues to prioritize the well-being of the people of Ontario and seeks to create an environment where businesses can thrive, families can prosper, and we can ensure our communities remain vibrant and competitive. Through this proposed legislation and its regulatory reforms, we are not simply making incremental changes; we are transforming the way government interacts with people and the private sector, ensuring that it is efficient, effective and responsive to the needs of all.

As we’ve discussed today, the proposed amendments to the Cutting Red Tape, Building Ontario Act, 2024, are grounded in the principle of making life easier, more affordable and more accessible for everyone in the province. We are taking concrete steps to reduce red tape and create an environment in which people can succeed.

Our efforts to reduce unnecessary compliance costs have already resulted in more than $1 billion in savings for businesses and individuals alike. These savings aren’t abstract; they are real benefits that are helping to make life more affordable for the people of Ontario. It’s money back in the pockets of hard-working families and reinvested in growing businesses that, in turn, create jobs and opportunities. It’s about ensuring that businesses can focus on growth, not navigating unnecessary red tape, and that families can focus on what is truly important and what truly matters: spending time together.

In fact, the integration of technology is central to our approach. With pilot projects like digital twins for infrastructure development, we are embracing cutting-edge solutions that will improve project outcomes, save taxpayers money and keep Ontario competitive in a global economy.

This is not just about cutting costs; it’s about building a smarter, more connected and more resilient province. These measures represent an investment in Ontario’s future, ensuring that we are prepared for tomorrow’s challenges while addressing the needs of today.

We also understand the importance of working in partnership with community leaders, listening to their concerns and acting on their feedback. Through consultations with industry experts, municipalities and advocacy groups, we have crafted a set of amendments that reflect the different needs of the people of Ontario and build on the progress we have already made. These partnerships ensure that we are not just reducing red tape, but we’re doing so in a way that strengthens our communities and boosts our economy.

One of the cornerstones of this bill is its ability to protect consumers and maintain the integrity of our systems. While we are reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens, we are equally committed to ensuring safety. This is about finding the right balance between encouraging growth and safeguarding the health and safety of the people of Ontario and the environment. We believe these changes will continue to foster an environment where businesses can thrive, while maintaining the high standards and protections that the people of Ontario expect.

Our commitment to reducing red tape is not a one-time effort; it’s a continuous journey. We understand that as the province evolves, so too must our regulatory framework. That is why we will never stop working to improve government services, reduce unnecessary burdens and make life easier. This legislation is just another step in that ongoing journey. As the Ministry of Red Tape Reduction continues their work, we will continue to look for ways to eliminate outdated processes and create efficiencies that benefit all of Ontario.

In closing, the Cutting Red Tape, Building Ontario Act, 2024, and the proposals contained within it are a clear demonstration of this government’s dedication to building a better Ontario for everyone. The savings, the improved services, the job creation, and the investment in future infrastructure are just the beginning. We are laying the groundwork for an Ontario that works smarter—a place where businesses grow, families thrive and communities prosper. We are focused on the future, and this bill is just a single

chapter in that story.

I urge all members, regardless of their political affiliation, to support this bill. Let’s make the lives of the constituents in your ridings easier and more affordable.

Speaker, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to present these important reforms, and for your continued support in ensuring that Ontario remains the best place to live, to work and to raise a family.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Patrice Barnes): Questions?

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: My question is to the minister.

Minister, I was recently speaking with Ben Murphy from Murphy’s Law Distillery in Elmira—someone in your riding—and they were expressing how Ontario’s craft distillers are being crushed under a punishing 61.5% tax. Ontario recently removed the 6.1% tax on wine vineyards, but this tax is 10 times that.

Will there be any effort from this government to provide fairness for Ontario’s craft distillers?

Hon. Mike Harris: Actually, Ben and I talk on a pretty regular basis.

Yes, I can understand his frustration.

I’ve certainly had a chance to talk to some other small craft distillers—Dixon’s distillery, as well, in Guelph. I’m not sure if you had an opportunity to chat with them.

These are our local companies that provide good jobs to folks locally. Trying to expand their distribution networks and looking at ways that we can reform some of the taxation pieces is definitely something that’s on our radar. We’ve had the conversations, and we look forward to some good news to come in the future on that.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Patrice Barnes): Further questions?

Mr. Deepak Anand: I want to say thank you to the minister and the parliamentary assistant for bringing this important bill.

Very simple mathematics: When you’re having a revenue of 10 and your expenses are 12, you have no choice to move, to close, to find efficiency. Thank you to this government—that we are looking into it and we’re making sure we are helping our communities grow their revenue, reduce their expenses.

Reducing red tape is a critical measure that helps Ontario maintain its position as a key player in both North America and the global economy.

My question is very simple. To the minister: What can we tell the business community? What is coming through this red tape bill?

Hon. Mike Harris: Thank you very much to the member from Mississauga–Malton.

I can tell you that this is the 14th red tape reduction package that we have put forward here in the province of Ontario since 2018. This will move the needle even further. We’ve already saved businesses, regulated entities, the broader public sector, over $1 billion alone just through red tape reduction. As I highlighted earlier, that also translates into 1.5 million hours saved. They’re not having to spend that time doing paperwork in the morning, when they open up their store or business—hiring more people, specifically, to do that paperwork. So they’re able to reinvest that money back into their business.

Anything that we can do to help business is definitely something that this government needs to take very seriously. We are doing that.

I thank you for the question.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Patrice Barnes): Further questions?

Ms. Chandra Pasma: This bill codifies the rule of system principal. System principals in our education system oversee support programs and initiatives like safe schools, Indigenous education, special education. That’s a role that’s already taking place within our systems, but the challenge for these principals is that they do not have the resources to actually meaningfully implement the programs that they’re being asked to see.

The funding for safe schools is only 14 cents per student per day.

This week, we’ve seen a vicious attack on an educational assistant, which has actually put them into a coma. This shouldn’t be happening.

Simply having a system principal isn’t going to address the challenge if they don’t have the resources to meaningfully make our schools safe. I don’t see the resources in the bill.

When are these resources coming to actually support our students and schools?

Hon. Mike Harris: I’d like to highlight that there has been no government that has made more investment into school systems than this Ontario PC government.

I think it’s incumbent on the school boards to look inwards and see where they are spending their money. We have put legislation in place that will now make sure that school boards are publicly posting their expenditures. I look forward to seeing where that money is going, because I’m sure there are some areas that maybe could use some investment moved into other areas, like investing in system principals—maybe not having trustees and board directors going on trips to Europe, and instead, properly funding the programs that need be funded.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Patrice Barnes): Further questions?

Ms. Laura Smith: I was listening intently, and I appreciated the minister’s comments.

I know the member from Etobicoke–Lakeshore is very intent, as is the member, on making sure that the businesses in her community thrive.

I was just wondering if either one wanted to comment on some of the proposed items that will really cut the red tape for these small businesses, to help lower their costs, to ease these burdens and make it a bit easier to have businesses thrive in Ontario.

Hon. Mike Harris: We are always consistently putting regulatory reform at the top of what we are doing.

I think one of the interesting things that our ministry has done over the last little while is implement a 10-year review process that will actually have all of our government ministries looking back to regulations that are 10 years or older, to see if they’re redundant, to see if they can be sunsetted, to see if they’re duplicative. In conjunction with that, of course, we’ve also launched an incredible program that will be coming online very soon, using AI to go through current regulation and make sure that, again, we don’t have those redundant pieces or duplications.

It’s always good to see our ministry and our partner ministries putting their best foot forward to make sure that they are doing the things necessary to make sure that we are cutting red tape for our small businesses and making sure that they’re able to reinvest back into what they do best.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Patrice Barnes): Further questions?

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: For a government that claims to hate red tape, this government surely has added a lot of red tape; for example, requiring municipalities to apply to the province if they want to install bike lanes, and adding red tape to not-for-profit child care centres, creating barriers that prevent them from creating more spaces that parents desperately need.

My question to the minister is, on issues that really impact people’s lives, why does this government add more red tape?

Hon. Mike Harris: Well, let’s talk about bike lanes for a second. Less than 3% of Ontarians use bike lanes to commute, get to work, travel around.

Quite frankly, I live in a community that has bike lanes, but when I come here and I drive around the city of Toronto and it takes me three hours to travel 116 kilometres because of the gridlock in this city—a lot of it is contributed by the fact that the city of Toronto has decided to tear up live lanes of traffic and put bike lanes in place.

So my question back to the member is, if we had an election today, do you think your party would win on bike lanes, or would we?

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Patrice Barnes): Further questions?

Mr. Anthony Leardi: I want to thank the member from Etobicoke–Lakeshore for her presentation today. It was a very thoughtful presentation.

I enjoy my discussions with the member from Etobicoke–Lakeshore because her riding is very different from mine. Her riding is very urbanized, and mine is very rural with very small municipalities in it.

I want to ask her about the bike lane conversation that just came up a moment ago. By removing bike lanes and restoring them to the traffic lanes they originally were, how does that help small businesses in Etobicoke–Lakeshore? I would like to hear that from the member of Etobicoke–Lakeshore.

Ms. Christine Hogarth: Well, I’m happy to answer. I thank you very much for the question, and the member opposite for her question about small businesses and cutting red tape.

I’ll tell you, those bike lanes caused a lot of red tape and caused a lot of hardship for small businesses in our community. Speaker, 100% of the businesses along Bloor Street were hurting because of those bike lanes.

So this government is stepping up. They’re bringing common sense to our community to make sure that those small businesses can survive.

We said we would do whatever we can to make sure our small businesses can survive and exceed and excel. Those are the lifeblood of our communities.

The member opposite from Parkdale knows the same thing. She has a beautiful area along Bloor Street that has businesses that are also suffering due to bike lanes.

This government is not going to let small businesses suffer. We’re going to remove that red tape. We’re going to remove the burden from the community. We’re going to get people home to their children faster so they can get to their soccer games, their hockey games faster. We are going to remove those bike lanes off Bloor Street so our businesses can flourish.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Patrice Barnes): Further debate?

Ms. Chandra Pasma: I’ll be sharing my time this morning with the member for Kiiwetinoong.

I’m pleased to rise on behalf of the residents of Ottawa West–Nepean to speak to Bill 227, which is omnibus legislation—it’s got 27 schedules in one bill.

This morning, I’ll be speaking to

schedule 5, which addresses our education system. This

schedule of the bill codifies the role of system principals. This is a role that already exists within our education system. We already have system principals working across school boards in the province. So it’s not a bad thing to have this codified in our Education Act, to specify what the role of a system principal is and what the criteria for being appointed to one of these roles is. As I said, we have these roles already across our education system.

A number of school boards have a system principal to address safe schools, for instance. The Thames Valley District School Board has a system principal whose title is “principal for safe schools and well-being.” They also have a system principal for special education.

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board has a system principal for Indigenous education, and they also have a system principal for equity, who is invested in ensuring the success of our students across various barriers to educational success.

What I don’t see in this legislation is what our education system actually needs to address these areas. We have these system principals in place already, and yet our schools are suffering a crisis of violence.

Just this week, we saw an education worker suffer extreme harm in a school. They are currently in a hospital, in a coma.

That should never happen to any worker in any sector. It should certainly not be happening to educational assistants. And our students should not have to witness their beloved educators experience this kind of severe assault and this kind of serious harm.

This government is only committing 14 cents per student per day towards student safety. This is why we have a serious crisis with student violence. Our students are not properly supported. They do not have the staff and the resources to meet their needs, and a student with unmet needs is a frustrated student, who may lash out.

My colleague the MPP for Sudbury, the NDP’s labour critic, and I worked with teachers and education workers to develop a plan that would address student safety—an emergency plan to end school violence in the province. We asked the government to implement this plan in September, and since then there have been crickets; there has been nothing from this government to address the issue of student safety and worker safety in our schools. Now we have this very serious incident that has occurred.

What do we need to see before this government will actually act? Does an educator need to lose their life in one of our schools before this government will take the issue seriously?

Simply having system principals in our schools to address school safety does not address the crisis if they do not have the resources they need to make meaningful change on student safety.

We also have system principals for special education. Again, the government is seriously underfunding special education in the province. School boards are spending tens of millions of dollars more on special education than what they are receiving for a system in which parents of kids with special needs and with disabilities are sending their kids off to school in the morning not even knowing if they will be safe, let alone whether or not they will learn anything at school that day.

We have educational assistants who are doing their best, who are running back and forth between students all day long—only after the crisis has already occurred.

And because school boards have had to cut to the bone because of this government’s underfunding of education, and now they have to make further cuts because of the government’s rules around deficits, about the fact that the government won’t provide the funding to actually meet student needs, now school boards are looking to cut special education programs.

So we have school boards across the province that are eliminating congregate classes for these students, which means that their safety is once again being put in jeopardy and they are not receiving the resources and supports they need to succeed in a classroom, to make integration and inclusion a reality—instead of finding a new way of excluding these students who deserve better from this government.

We’ve also seen with Indigenous education that the government has not been clear or transparent about where that funding is going. In fact, they have moved funding from one envelope to another that actually took resources out of the classroom for Indigenous education.

So it’s fantastic that the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board has a system principal for Indigenous education, but if we are not properly funding Indigenous education, that system principal isn’t going to be able to make a difference for our Indigenous students, and our other students aren’t going to receive the education they should receive on Indigenous culture and history, on the treaties, on our responsibilities for reconciliation.

The role of system principals in our school system is important, but if we are not going to provide the funding and the resources for them to actually be able to carry out the programs and initiatives that they are being asked to do, it doesn’t make a difference for our students.

At the end of the day, what we want to see is every student in our schools being safe, coming home safely at the end of the day. We want them to be supported in their learning, to have the educators, the resources, the attention that they need and deserve to succeed at school.

Simply codifying system principals in the Education Act doesn’t achieve any of that. In fact, it makes no difference at all in our education system, since these principals are already playing this crucial role.

If the government actually wanted to help our education system succeed, if they wanted to help every student in our education system succeed, they would be making the significant investments that we need—

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Patrice Barnes): My apologies to the member.

Second reading debate deemed adjourned.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Patrice Barnes): It is now time for members’ statements.

Members’ Statements

Operation Red Nose

Mr. Tyler Allsopp: I rise today to draw attention to a great program that has been running for 20 years in my riding of Bay of Quinte, which helps to keep our community safe over the holiday season. It was an honour to be in attendance last Sunday morning for the campaign launch for this year’s Operation Red Nose.

Operation Red Nose is an incredible program that prevents impaired driving by picking up clients and driving them home in their own cars, so we can all celebrate the holiday season safely. This program is available all throughout the riding, including Quinte West, Belleville and Prince Edward county.

Operation Red Nose runs on Friday and Saturday nights throughout the holiday season, as well as New Year’s Eve, which is a Tuesday, from 7 p.m., with last call set at 1:30 a.m.

The program is free to use, but donations are encouraged, and all proceeds go towards great community supports, including the YMCA, to send kids to camp free of charge.

For the program to be successful, it takes over 300 volunteers, and I am excited to volunteer as a driver for the first time, this year.

If you’re interested in helping out or gathering more info, please go to rednosequinte.ca.

Thank you to Rick Watts, David Allen and the whole team at Operation Red Nose, including this year’s co-chairs, Patricia Guernsey and Michael Callaghan. Thank you for all your hard work to keep our community safe.

This holiday season, make the right call. Call Operation Red Nose at 613-962-4334 and get home safe.

Homelessness

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: Leading up to the national day of housing, we face a critical issue that demands urgent attention: homelessness in Ontario.

We’ve invited over 100 housing advocates from across the province to call on this government to create and fund a plan to end homelessness.

The homeless numbers are stark, but behind those numbers are real people: our neighbours, our friends, our families.

Ontario is in the throes of a homelessness crisis of staggering proportions. Recent estimates from an internal government document indicate that over 234,000 people in Ontario are homeless. This figure underscores the inadequacy of the government’s existing measures. On top of that, we have over 1,400 encampments across the province in every city and town.

The gendered impacts of the housing crisis deserve special attention. For women and gender-diverse people, homelessness isn’t just about lacking a roof over their heads; it’s about their survival in the face of violence. Women experiencing homelessness are disproportionately victims of physical and sexual violence, both in the streets and in the shelters. Many are fleeing domestic abuse.

According to the 2019 Auditor General’s report, Ontario lacks a comprehensive provincial plan to prevent and reduce homelessness.

We have asked this government many times, when will we will see their plan, when will they address the issue properly—and they have failed to do so today. They must listen to the advocates who are coming in this time around.

New Haven Learning Centre

Ms. Christine Hogarth: I rise today to highlight the incredible work of New Haven Learning Centre and the vital role they play in supporting individuals and families impacted by autism spectrum disorder in Etobicoke–Lakeshore.

For many years, New Haven has been a beacon of hope, delivering life-changing services to help individuals with autism thrive. Their tireless commitment to creating a supportive, inclusive environment has inspired not only just the families they serve, but our entire community.

Last week, New Haven hosted their annual Changing Lives Gala, where I was deeply humbled to receive the Les and Kae Martin Inspirational Leader Award. While I am deeply humbled by this recognition, it is truly a reflection of New Haven’s extraordinary efforts and our shared commitment to making Ontario a place of opportunity and support for everyone.

During the challenges of COVID-19, I was proud to help New Haven by ensuring they received masks to protect their students, staff and families.

I’ve also had the honour of seeing and supporting their work first-hand during multiple visits, including one with our Premier and our minister, to shine a light on the invaluable work being done at their centre.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to New Haven Learning Centre’s staff, clients, families and supporters for their dedication. Their work changes lives and reminds us of the importance of partnership in building stronger communities.

I look forward to continuing our partnership and supporting their efforts to expand these vital services. Together, we are building a stronger, more inclusive Ontario.

Consumer protection

MPP Jill Andrew: Homeowners who have invested their life savings into purchasing their homes are living through a nightmare that is Tarion. Tarion is supposed to be a not-for-profit consumer protection organization established by the Ontario government to administer the province’s new home warranty program. However, this government has known for years that Tarion does not operate for the protection of homebuyers. It protects home builders, time after time.

Tarion must be eliminated and replaced. Tarion’s CEO and board must be removed. The Auditor General has published reports documenting massive bonuses for Tarion executives, upwards of 60%, when homeowner claims are turned down.

Wendy Wolman in my community has a message for everyone: “No one should use Tarion.... I found out after my purchase that my home had been flooded before I bought it. My builder did not disclose. He covered it up and then blamed me.... There is no one to help you in Tarion and no oversight at all.... Tarion is built on lies and is a corrupt corporation that needs a good cleanout. Send the rats scurrying.” I couldn’t agree more with Wendy.

Barbara Captijn, founder of reform Tarion, explains that Tarion is seeking to make it mandatory for new home purchasers to register their purchase agreements—APS—with Tarion. They also want to reduce protections for homeowners who don’t do this. Nowhere under the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act does it say Tarion has the right to do this.

When will this Premier take responsibility for Tarion’s corruption, gut it and build a system that actually works for homebuyers?

Christmas parades in Peterborough–Kawartha

Mr. Dave Smith: We’ve come to that time of year when many communities start to celebrate the festive season with Christmas parades.

Just this past weekend, the Lions Clubs for Buckhorn, Havelock and Lakefield put on their yearly celebration. Individuals, organizations and businesses took the time to decorate trailers, trucks and, quite often, ATVs and side-by-sides with lights, tinsel and Christmas decorations, and were often wearing red and white hats.

It’s always a great sight to watch so many from our community come out and line the streets to watch and cheer on the efforts of their neighbours and join in the festive spirit. The excitement that you see in the faces of those kids who are watching the parade, the joy a child shows when they’re given a simple piece of chocolate or a candy cane is something that’s hard to explain if you haven’t actually witnessed it. Even if it’s just for a few minutes, we all have the opportunity to put our struggles behind us and rejoice in the fun of celebrating something.

I’ve been in three Santa Claus parades so far this season, and we have many more to come.

On November 30, you can join me at 11 o’clock in the morning in Cordova, at 2 o’clock that afternoon in Apsley, and 5 o’clock, later that afternoon, in Warsaw.

On December 7, we’ll be in Peterborough at 4:30, for the start of the Kinsmen Santa Claus parade.

And we’ll be wrapping things up on December 8, in Curve Lake, at 5:30.

Please consider coming out to your local parade and joining in the festivities.

Seniors’ services

This reminds me of my own experience as a newcomer. Over 40 years ago, I was supported by a community that welcomed me with open arms, and it’s heartwarming to see that same spirit of care extended to today’s immigrants.

I want to thank Minister Cho for his dedication to our seniors—and a special thanks to Minister Parsa for his leadership and commitment to social services in Richmond Hill.

Organizations like CHATS embody the values of compassion and inclusion. I am proud to support their work.

Kiwanis school supply drive

Mr. Deepak Anand: Giving back, especially micro-giving, is more than just

an act of kindness. It is a powerful way to strengthen our communities and shape a brighter future.

Since 1954, every year the Kiwanis club partners with Staples for the local school supply drive, offering shoppers an opportunity to directly support students, parents and teachers in our community. Led by dedicated members like David Bushell, with over 445,000 members in 85 nations, Kiwanis annually raises over $390 million, dedicating more than 7.7 million hours to champion youth-focused local initiatives.

Here at home, this year, the drive raised an astounding $300,000 in donations across Ontario, all of which will directly benefit children in need in Ontario.

I am so proud of our local champions in Mississauga–Malton, Kal and his team at Staples Heartland, for raising nearly $8,000—placing their store among the top performers in the province—to provide backpacks and essential school supplies, ensuring that every child starts the school year ready to learn and thrive.

Thank you to the Kiwanis club of Mississauga and Staples Heartland for your act of kindness and, above all, to the kind residents of Mississauga–Malton for your unwavering dedication to giving back. You are the example of Ontario spirit.

Let’s keep building a better and stronger Ontario.

Christmas events in Nickel Belt / Événements de Noël à Nickel Belt

M me France Gélinas: Christmas is in the air in Nickel Belt, and I would like to remind everyone of a few of the wonderful activities organized in the coming weeks.

This Saturday, November 23, the Sudbury Santa Claus parade will start at 5:30.

Saturday, November 30, “le train des Fêtes,” the holiday express in French River, starts at 7 p.m. at the Rutter train station near Alban in my riding.

Also on November 30, Capreol’s candle walk, tree lighting and Santa Claus parade will start at 4:45 at the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum.

The following weekend, on Saturday, December 7, the Christmas parade and potluck feast at Wahnapitae First Nation starts at 5.

Le vendredi 13 décembre, ce sera l’ouverture officielle des Lumières d’hiver.

On Friday, December 13, Winter Wonderlights will start at 5:30 at Whitewater park in Azilda, organized by Café Heritage.

On Saturday, December 14, the Christmas tree lighting at Anderson Farm Museum in Lively starts at 6.

I hope to see you at those wonderful events.

In closing, I want to thank all of the volunteers who work so hard to organize these events, creating memories that will enrich children’s lives.

Un gros merci à tous les bénévoles. Merci beaucoup. Thank you very much. Kitchi meegwetch.

Mental health services

Mr. Lorne Coe: Solicitor General Michael Kerzner recently announced a vital investment of more than $32 million to support the mental health and well-being of first responders and public safety personnel. This funding will launch the new Mental Health Supports for Public Safety Personnel Program, which is designed to provide specialized mental health services for those who serve and protect us every day: police officers, firefighters, paramedics, correctional workers, and other front-line heroes. One of the organizations involved in this program is Wounded Warriors Canada, from my riding of Whitby.

Speaker, our government is committed to breaking down barriers by creating safe work environments where individuals feel confident seeking help. This strategy will eliminate harmful stigmas and foster a culture of understanding and support.

I’m proud of this government’s commitment to ensuring the mental health and well-being of Ontario’s first responders. Clearly, these selfless individuals dedicate their lives to keeping us safe, and we owe it to them to have their backs, just as they have ours.

Introduction of Visitors

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Speaker, it’s my pleasure to introduce Séamus Harraher from Broadview Village Salvation Army, Maritza Sanchez from Red Door Family Shelter, Stephanie Chan from the Toronto Shelter Network, and Jiin Yiong from Nellie’s Shelter.

Welcome to the Legislature.

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: Happy Thursday. I’d like to introduce awesome Ali Serjeant, who works at Sistering, supporting women in need.

Thank you for all you do, and welcome to your House.

Hon. Graydon Smith: It’s always great to have friends here, and Lisa Gow, Susanna Gow, Janine White and Taylor White are here today.

Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Also, my wife, Melissa Smith, is here. I don’t know where she has gone. She was here a moment ago. She’s the good-looking redhead patrolling around in the minister’s gallery—keeper of the red-headed flame.

Wherever you are, darling, welcome to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Jessica Bell: I’d like to introduce Lin Sallay from Street Health Community Nursing Foundation, Tim Maxwell from the Neighbourhood Group and Kensington-Bellwoods Community Legal Services, Chelsea Gagne from Homeless Connect Toronto, and Savhanna Wilson from the Toronto Alliance to End Homelessness.

Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Todd J. McCarthy: It is my honour to welcome to the House this morning Harold Knogl, Zena Knogl, Rianna Knogl, Adam Knogl, and Zuhair Al-Haider from York region—and Harold and Zena with a particularly strong community presence in my riding of Durham.

Ms. Peggy Sattler: I’m delighted to welcome a number of housing advocates who have joined us today: Steve Lurie; Nerina Chiodo from Mothercraft Breaking the Cycle; Unnati from Street Haven; and Touhida Choudhury from the Neighbourhood Group Community Services. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Patrice Barnes: I’d like to welcome the Mechanical Contractors Association of Ontario. We have Pat Cimek, Jason Campbell, Joe Givens, Frank Turano, Jeff Spitzig, John Jurcik, Charlie Webb, Terry Walker, Frank Bertuzzi, Dave Donovan, Julie Zulich and Serge Robert.

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: Today is the national day of housing, and we have many representatives from various housing advocacy organizations, including, from Parkdale–High Park, Nestor Gomez-Suarez, Kevin Thomas and Hazel Jackson from Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre, and Diana Chan McNally from the Shift. Welcome to your House.

Mr. Joel Harden: Just adding to the list of housing advocates in the room for housing day, I want to mention a few folks from Fife House: Bradley Palmer, Casey Sabawi, Carla Sonny and Esra Yesilkaya.

Welcome to your House. Thanks for all you do to give people good homes.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: I would like to join my colleagues in welcoming folks here for National Housing Day, including, from the Neighbourhood Group, Karen Hurley, Pamela Gawn and Jess Gebremedhin. Welcome.

Miss Monique Taylor: I would also like to welcome some folks who are joining us here today for National Housing Day. We have Krishni Ganesan, Monica Amenya, Jack Greene, Maralynn Beach. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Thank you for your advocacy.

I had the honour of meeting with some amazing folks today from the Pulmonary Hypertension Association—I know they’ve been here for a couple of days—working really hard to get a cure. They are Joan Paulin, Brooke Paulin, Michael Mayville and Cheryl Oliver.

Good luck. Keep coming back. Welcome to your House.

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: On this national day of housing, it gives me great pleasure to welcome the following housing advocates: Andrea Hatala from the Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre and the ODSP Action Coalition; Danielle Morris, Ifeanyichukwu Anih and Suchana Pandey from the Neighbourhood Group.

Housing is health care.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): If there are no objections, I’d like to continue with introduction of visitors.

MPP Jill Andrew: I, too, would like to add a few names and welcome everyone who’s here for the national day of housing: Colleen Lamond from Good Shepherd Non-Profit Homes, Rebecca Norlock from Habitat Services, Carol Thames from Houselink and Mainstay Community Housing, and Dena Keates from Street Haven.

I’d also like to give a shout-out to the members of No Demovictions, as well as OVCO tenants advocacy.

I’d also like to thank delegates from Ontario Student Voices: Ajané Adams, Vivian Eke, Rofiyat Olawoyin, Kara Mei Herrera and Ganyo Soh, who I met with yesterday. They’re phenomenal students raising their voices in support of our colleges and demanding help with food insecurity, amongst many other things.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): [ Inaudible ] not to engage in political points while they’re introducing their guests.

The member for Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas.

Ms. Sandy Shaw: I want to add my welcome on National Housing Day. I’m going to start with Claudia Calabro from the Income Security Advocacy Centre, Aishatu Ahmed, Elizabeth Tremblay and Rahima Mulla. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Marit Stiles: I also want to welcome so many advocates who are here today for the national day of housing. Particularly, I want to mention Maria Antonieta Marticorena from the Canadian Federation of University Women; Volletta Peters from Sistering; Alison Armstrong, also from Sistering; Ali Serjeant, also from Sistering—a wonderful organization in my riding that does incredible work—and Suzie Ibie Ogbomo from the Toronto Alliance to End Homelessness. Thank you for being here.

Hon. Rob Flack: I’d like to welcome a great advocate for Elgin county, a councillor from Aylmer, Kathryn Desrosiers. Welcome to your House.

M me France Gélinas: On this national day of housing, I would like to welcome Wilhelmine Babua from La Maison; Peter Martin from Toronto Alliance to End Homelessness; Gabrielle Poole-Fournier from Friends of Ruby; Chama Chongo from Madison Community Services; Sienna Singh from Fife House; Simran Kaur from Fife House Foundation; Cynthia Lewis and Archee Kautia from Street Haven; Reihona Abduli, Melinda Montgomery and Rustam Khamdamov from PARC; and Ron Anicich from Raise the Rates Coalition. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Chris Glover: I’d like to welcome all of the housing advocates, including Louise Smith from Eva’s Initiatives for Homeless Youth; Christina Van Sickle, Ande Clumpus and Ainsley Chapman from Evangel Hall Mission; Vivian Egie from Street Haven at the Crossroads, as well as Nevil Kaswala.

I also want to welcome Shakhlo Sharipova from Thorncliffe Park Autism Support Network and Vanessa Kwasowsky from Fred Victor.

MPP Lisa Gretzky: It’s national day of housing, and it’s my pleasure to welcome housing advocates from Street Haven at the Crossroads: Winnie Fung, Aishwarya Minocha, Veronica Koimburi and Nevil Kaswala. Welcome to Queen’s Park. Welcome to your House.

Ms. Catherine Fife: On National Housing Day, I’d like to welcome Sheila Lacroix, Michelle Bilek, Michael Marville, Hue Pham, Randi Luster, Melissa Bosman, Lucy Miringu and Debbie Millar. Welcome to your House on this great day.

Ms. Doly Begum: It’s the national day of housing, and I’m also delighted to welcome some wonderful housing advocates to the gallery this morning. We have Monica Aku Amenya from Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter; Genna Ross from the Social Assistance Coalition of Scarborough; Aakanksha Mathur from WomanACT; and Priya Shastri from WomanACT.

I also have some wonderful, wonderful young leaders in the gallery: Maria Mahfuz, Jihan Ahmed, David Omer and Razan Akiba.

Welcome to your House.

Ms. Jennifer K. French: I’m glad, on this national day of housing, to welcome folks to the Legislature: David Reycraft from Eva’s Initiatives for Homeless Youth; Deborah Jules of the Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre; Belinda Marchese from the Jean Tweed Centre; and Roberta Taylor, who is a member of the advocacy committee. Thank you for the work you do, and welcome to your House.

Hon. Graydon Smith: I’m going to do this again because I’ve tracked them down up there. My friends Lisa Gow and Susanna Gow are here; Janine White and Taylor White; and of course my lovely wife, Melissa Smith, is here today. It’s always a special day when my wife is here.

It’s good to see you. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: I’m also going to lend my voice to the chorus of welcomes. We have over a hundred housing advocates who are in the building today, including some of the organizers.

I want to recognize Dr. Siu Mee Cheng, Andrea Paszti, Alex Welsh and Laura Paley, all from Street Haven.

I also want to recognize Reihona Abduli and Melinda Montgomery from PARC, as well as Ron Anicich from Raise the Rates Coalition.

We also have in this House Randi Luster from PARC; Melissa Bosman from Progress Place; and, also from Street Haven, Lucy Miringu and Debbie Millar.

From Fife House, we have Sienna Singh, as well as Simran Kaur, Cynthia Lewis and Archee Kautia.

We also have Vivian Egie and Nevil Kaswala from Street Haven.

From the Thorncliffe Park Autism Support Network, we have Shakhlo Sharipova.

From Fred Victor, we have Vanessa Kwasowsky.

And finally, last but not least, I have four additional names to be read into the record. I want to welcome David Turnbull from Addictions and Mental Health Ontario; Narmatha Vannarajah from Fred Victor; and Taryn Harle and Dayna Moreash from Street Haven.

Welcome to your House.

Ms. Sandy Shaw: On National Housing Day, it is my pleasure to welcome to the House Cory Roslyn, Sheila Cranmer-Byng, Bella Roden and Janet Rodriguez. Welcome to Queen’s Park on National Housing Day.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): With us in the the members’ gallery is another special guest: my sister Debbie Jackson of Barrie.

Welcome. It’s great to have you here.

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members will take their seats because we’re about to commence question period.

It is now time for oral questions.

Question Period

Government accountability

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

Yesterday we learned that a lobby group, the Ontario Trucking Association, implored their members to buy at least 50 to 60 tickets to the Premier and the Minister of Transportation’s upcoming fundraiser so that the government would listen to their concerns, they said. They said that they’re going to “tally up what our association has raised and present to the minister. This is the only way to win this battle.” That’s pretty explicit. The government has created a cash-for-access culture that is sending Ontarians a clear message that if they want to be heard, they need to pay up.

My question is to the minister and the Premier. Will you cancel the fundraiser, give the truckers their money back, and simply do your job and meet them?

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

Hon. Doug Downey: The Ontario regulations set a level playing field for all of us. There are rules the parties have to follow. There are processes. Whether you’re in power or you’re in opposition or you aspire to be in this Legislature, there is an ability to raise money with rules. The process is open and very fair. Every donation is publicly posted. People can look at who donates and to whom they donate. It’s legal, it’s transparent, it’s accountable. Political fundraising makes sure that all parties have the same possibility to attract donors.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: Well, Speaker, I guess that’s a no.

This is not the first time that we have seen a culture of cash for access from this government. I was thinking about the former Minister of Colleges and Universities, when she hosted a fundraiser where a third of the attendees were private career colleges, those diploma mills. The minister accepted $24,000 from private career college executives at that event. And then that same minister opened the floodgates so those colleges could exploit international students.

Did this government allow these private colleges to exploit international students because the college operators made donations to that minister?

Hon. Doug Downey: This is a perfect example of how the open regulations and the level playing field for all parties, whether they’re in the House or they aspire to be in the House, for all candidates—this is a great example of transparency so that everybody can see who donates to whom. There’s a great accountability that way.

Ontario is a leading jurisdiction in terms of openness and transparency. I take great pride in our democratic process and our ability to have spirited debate and openness.

People can speculate, if they wish, about a number of things, but the most important thing is that they actually have information to speculate about. So we will continue to be open and fair, and we’ll continue to be accountable.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: We fought against the Liberals’ cash-for-access deals, and we’re going to do the same thing with the Conservatives here.

Democracy should not have a price tag. Hard-working people in Ontario deserve a government that’s in it for them, not for the backroom deals.

With this government, it is always the same thing, right? They cut deals, insiders cash in, and it’s the people of Ontario who pay the price every single time.

So, very simply, to the Premier: Are people and organizations with business before this government being pressured to buy tickets to cabinet ministers’ fundraisers? Yes or no?

Interjections.

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

The Attorney General.

Hon. Doug Downey: The Leader of the Opposition’s question is about the openness of government. Each day this week, I’ve mentioned that the Premier gives out his phone number, he texts people back, he responds to emails—

MPP Jill Andrew: No, he doesn’t. That’s a lie.

Hon. Doug Downey: —he phones people back. He’s very open—and we all do. He sets the model for us—that we are very responsive.

So this is, quite frankly, the third day in a row that I’m asking if the Leader of the Opposition will give her—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Attorney General will take his seat.

The member for Toronto–St. Paul’s will rise in her place and withdraw her unparliamentary comment.

MPP Jill Andrew: Withdraw.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Attorney General can conclude his answer.

Hon. Doug Downey: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Hamilton Mountain will come to order. The member for Waterloo will come to order. The Minister of Red Tape Reduction will come to order. The member for Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke will come to order. The member for Essex will come to order.

The Attorney General has a few seconds left. I’d ask him to conclude his response.

Hon. Doug Downey: On this national day of housing, I hope the NDP turns its next question to something more important.

Government accountability

Ms. Marit Stiles: Very disappointing there, Speaker.

We remember, all of us here, I think, that Friday afternoon this past summer when the government decided to shut down and fence off the science centre. Kids were still there on their field trips. Internal emails that have been obtained by Global News show that the Premier’s office and Infrastructure Ontario were crafting a narrative to justify this so-called sudden closure, long before the report was ever brought to light—a report that did not even call for an immediate closure.

My question to the Premier is, what role did the Premier’s office and Infrastructure Ontario play in justifying closing the science centre and shaping the independent engineering report?

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

Mr. Steve Clark: I want to make it very clear to the Leader of the Opposition, through you, Speaker, that the Rimkus Consulting Group is a professional engineering company, and they identified three buildings at the Ontario Science Centre that contained reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, or RAAC, roof panels, making up significant portions of each roof. In all three buildings, there were a number of panels distressed, in a high-risk condition—very clear.

The report found that the building, which is over 50 years old, is at potential roof failure due to snow load as of the winter. This is one report of three reports that identified deficiencies at the Ontario Science Centre that resulted in its closure. These were commissioned by Infrastructure Ontario, reviewed by the board, and the board made the decision exactly—

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

The supplementary question.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Well, Speaker, I’ve got to tell you, I would like to hear from the Premier on this.

I’m going to go back to the Premier.

The government’s announcement to shut down the Ontario Science Centre, to lay off the staff, is so deeply unpopular to everyone I speak with, but especially for those in Thorncliffe and Flemingdon Park.

Yesterday, the government stood here and tried to pass this off as a decision by the board, but we know that the decision was made by the Premier long before the board ever received the engineering report. The Premier’s office was all over this, trying to shape the message.

Did the Premier manufacture a crisis at the science centre to sweeten the deal for his luxury spa down at Ontario Place?

Mr. Steve Clark: The message that I want to convey to members of this House and to Ontarians is a direct quote from the Rimkus report: “A significant snow or rain loading occurrence could exceed the reduced load-carrying capacity of the distress panels, placing them at an increased risk of sudden collapse.” That is one report of three reports.

In the next question, I will outline measures in the peer review and also the third-party assessment that was, again, all part of the decision-making process by Infrastructure Ontario, by the Ontario Science Centre board and, ultimately, by the government of Ontario. These are reports from reputable firms that identified serious risks at the Ontario Science Centre. All of us acted upon professional reports. This isn’t something, as the Leader of Opposition tried to characterize, that the government shaped the narrative—the narrative were professional reports that were given to us, and we acted upon them.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: Yes, well, we don’t forget all those expert reports and all that stuff that you told us about the greenbelt either, Minister. I mean, really.

I’ve got to tell you, yesterday, right here in this building, I spoke with dozens of families who were here at Queen’s Park—people who can’t find a family doctor for their kids, people who can’t afford groceries, who can’t afford child care, who cannot even save for a family vacation, and now they can’t even take their kids to the science centre because it’s boarded up. What these families see every single day is a government that just doesn’t care—a government that is so focused on its own vanity projects that they’re leaving those families behind.

Is this really the province and the future that the Premier of this province is building? Honestly.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’ll remind the Leader of the Opposition to make her comments through the Chair.

I’ll ask the members to take their seats.

I’ll remind the government House leader that interjections are out of order.

The parliamentary assistant to the Premier and government House leader can reply.

Mr. Steve Clark: Ontarians deserve a modern, state-of-the-art Ontario Science Centre. My grandchildren deserve a science centre that is bigger and better than the one that I went to when it was brand new, when I was in public school. Let’s face it, right? When I went there, it was a brand new facility. I want my grandkids to go to a state-of-the-art facility.

I also believe Ontarians deserve to know the facts. The facts are that the 2023 business case identified almost half a billion dollars of spending that’s needed to address the failing infrastructure. Even the third-party assessment of the building identified other deficiencies in the building—wall systems, elevator systems, escalator systems, interior finishes, site features, fire safety issues, heating, cooling, electrical infrastructure, pedestrian bridge structural integrity, heating system failure. All of these are identified in the three reports.

I’ll tell you something: The government of Ontario wants Ontarians to have a bigger, better Ontario Science Centre that’s state-of-the-art—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.

The next question.

Affordable housing

Ms. Jessica Bell: My question is to the Premier. Lin Sallay is the executive director of Street Health. She is here in the gallery today. Every day, Street Health supports 100 to 150 people who are homeless, living in poverty and struggling with addiction. Most of the people who use Street Health services will never find permanent housing, because the wait-list to find a permanent home is eight to 10 years long. They’re stuck.

Lin wants to know when this government is going to take the issue of homelessness seriously and properly invest in supportive housing and affordable housing.

Interjections.

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

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Paul Calandra: The member opposite will know, of course, that we are investing over $1.2 billion in the Homelessness Prevention Program across the province of Ontario. We made significant resources available to our community partners. The Minister of Health, of course, along with the Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, is putting immense resources behind that strategy as well.

But I agree with the member opposite; with these big investments, we need to see results. So we will continue to make these investments, but we will monitor the results closer than we ever have before, because clearly what we have been doing has not been making the difference that I think all Ontarians expect to see from such a large investment. And we will be taking whatever measures need to be taken to ensure that people who are suffering from mental health and addictions issues have the help they need and the wraparound services they need, and that we are building the homes that are required for the people of the province of Ontario at all levels.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question. The member for Scarborough Southwest.

Ms. Doly Begum: Speaker, in my community of Scarborough Southwest, tenants in three buildings—buildings 263, 273 and 283—are facing an above-guideline rent increase of up to 5.5%, forcing them to choose between paying their rent or putting food on the table, or paying their bills or paying for their medication. Many of these families are worried sick about how they are going to keep a roof over their heads.

Meanwhile, this government, we just learned, has spent $8 million on self-congratulatory ads.

So, Speaker, on behalf of those tenants in those buildings and the hard-working people of this province, I ask the Premier: Will his government commit to banning above-guideline rent increases, stop the wastage that this government is doing and actually make life affordable for Ontarians across this province?

Interjections.

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

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Again, it speaks to the challenge that we’ve been having across the province of Ontario. For 15 years, a government was in place that made it extremely hard to get shovels in the ground. They made building very, very difficult. Obstacle after obstacle after obstacle was put in place, and it is taking us many years to unravel the challenges that they put in place.

But we are seeing, on purpose-built rentals, we are hitting numbers that we have never hit before in the province of Ontario. The highest amount of purpose-built rentals in the province’s history is happening under this government.

We will not put more obstacles in the way of those who want to bring more homes to the market; in fact, just the opposite. We’re going to encourage more homes of all levels and of all types to be built, because the only way we will meet the challenges is by making more homes of all types available for the people of the province of Ontario. And we’ll get it done.

Transportation infrastructure

Mr. Aris Babikian: My question is to the Minister of Transportation. Ontario’s population is rapidly growing, and we need to ensure that Ontario has the infrastructure needed to keep people moving.

But the NDP and the Liberals are saying no to critical infrastructure. They are saying no to Highway 413. They are saying no to building the Bradford Bypass. In fact, some members of the NDP want to tear down the Gardiner Expressway. That’s not what their constituents elected them to do.

My constituents in Scarborough–Agincourt want to see action. They want solutions that will make their lives easier.

After years of inaction by the previous Liberal government, can the minister please explain what steps our government is taking to build highways faster?

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Red Tape Reduction will come to order.

The parliamentary assistant and the member for Hastings–Lennox and Addington.

Mr. Ric Bresee: Thank you to the member from Scarborough–Agincourt for the great question.

Speaker, the member is absolutely correct; under the previous Liberal government, they said no to building critical infrastructure projects like the Bradford Bypass and Highway 413. Communities in the GTA were left to deal with worsening congestion and simply no solutions in sight.

With our Building Highways Faster Act, this government is committed to action. We’re cutting through the unnecessary delays and red tape that the Liberals and the NDP allowed to hold back projects like the Bradford Bypass for decades. This vital corridor will connect the 400 and the 404, significantly reducing congestion, improving commute times and supporting growth in this fast-expanding region.

Under the leadership of the Premier and the highly effective Minister of Transportation, we’re delivering real solutions, putting shovels in the ground and getting Ontario moving faster, ensuring that hard-working families spend less time stuck in traffic and more time where it matters most.

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

Mr. Aris Babikian: Families and workers in my community tell me how gridlock impacts every part of their lives. Gridlock is causing longer commutes, leading to less time with loved ones and even lost opportunities for local businesses.

Reports indicate that Toronto commuters face the longest travel times in North America, spending an average of 98 hours each year in rush-hour traffic. That needs to be changed.

We know that the Liberals and the NDP do not support common-sense solutions to tackle gridlock. That’s why Ontarians are looking to our government to implement measures that will help keep them out of traffic.

Can the minister please explain how the Building Highways Faster Act will help Ontario keep our province moving?

Mr. Ric Bresee: Thank you again to the member from Scarborough–Agincourt for raising this very important issue.

Families in the GTA deserve better. I’ve spoken to parents all across this province who just want to make it to their kids’ soccer games on time and business owners who need reliable routes to deliver their goods.

Through the Building Highways Faster Act, we’re taking action to make life easier for everyone by fast-tracking the Bradford Bypass and Highway 413. This will cut commute times, reduce traffic on local roads and support one of the fastest-growing regions in Ontario. Beyond that, it means good jobs during construction, a boost for local businesses and a more connected, prosperous future for those communities.

Speaker, this government is here to deliver real solutions for the people who count on us the most. And that is exactly what we’re doing.

Logement abordable / Affordable housing

M. Guy Bourgouin: Ma question est pour le premier ministre. La stratégie du gouvernement pour le logement ne fonctionne pas dans le Sud, mais c’est encore pire dans le Nord. Nous n’avons pas la population nécessaire pour attirer les développeurs à qui le gouvernement met toute sa confiance pour nous sortir de cette pénurie de logement. Les maires et les communautés autochtones demandent au gouvernement d’investir dans des coopératives, des logements subventionnés et des logements abordables—des solutions qui fonctionnent.

Alors, pourquoi ce gouvernement continue de faire l’oreille sourde aux besoins du nord de l’Ontario?

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

Hon. Paul Calandra: I met with the Rural Ontario Municipal Association not long ago, which has, of course, representatives of northern Ontario, and I met with the northern Ontario municipal association. One of the number one challenges they talked to me about was the ability to get infrastructure in the ground, and they were very grateful for the fact the government made an infrastructure commitment for small and rural communities, which they had never seen before. Of course, we’re delivering that infrastructure right now with the Minister of Infrastructure.

One of the things they did raise was the fact that there is so much economic activity now that is coming to northern Ontario because of the changes and the investments not only that we are making but we’re allowing to happen in northern Ontario. Northern roads, of course, the Ring of Fire—all of the things that we are doing are attracting so many people to northern Ontario that they want to be a part of helping to build a bigger, better, stronger Ontario, and that means infrastructure so that they can get more homes built. We’re working with the service boards up there, working with mayors, and we’ll get the job done for them, as well.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question. The member for Kiiwetinoong.

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Meegwetch, Speaker. Northern municipalities deserve to have their housing needs met, but they aren’t funded as well as urban centres.

In Sioux Lookout, the lack of housing increases the labour shortage and the high rates of homelessness, while they accommodate over 25,000 people each year who travel from First Nations to access services.

Will the minister join me in Sioux Lookout to see the housing crisis for himself?

Interjections.

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

Minister of Infrastructure.

Hon. Kinga Surma: I want to thank the Minister of Housing for addressing the question in the first round.

I want to make clear to all the members in the House that we have had two streams made available to municipalities: $250 million for additional water infrastructure projects, as well as $400 million for core servicing—anything to unlock lands for redevelopment, to build more homes. Staff are evaluating the applications that come in. I know that there will be many communities in northern Ontario that have made submissions. We will share the news of the winners of those two streams very shortly.

Northern Ontario development

Mr. Deepak Anand: Mr. Speaker, today is a northern Ontario day. It looks like my question is also to the Minister of Northern Development.

Northern Ontario is vital to our province.

Thanks to my son, ever since he moved to northern Ontario, we’ve enjoyed the beauty of the north.

The north is home to diverse communities, rich cultures and endless potential.

Indigenous communities in northern Ontario have long served a vital role in preserving the strength and the beauty of the north while driving regional economic growth, but for far too long, they have faced barriers to economic and social development.

We know the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. is crucial in building up the north. It creates jobs, spurs growth and supports community infrastructure. Their work is especially important for Indigenous communities, where every investment can make new opportunities, stronger connections and a brighter future.

Speaker, my question to the minister: Please share how our government is supporting Indigenous communities in northern Ontario through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp.—

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

The parliamentary assistant, the member for Brantford–Brant.

Mr. Will Bouma: Thank you to the member for the question.

I’d like to highlight a recent investment made through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund. Our government has invested $1 million through the NOHFC to help the Antoine Algonquin Community Services Corp. construct a new community capacity building centre in Antoine Nation, near Mattawa. This facility, designed as a 5,000-square-foot, octagonal, open concept building, will serve as a gathering space to promote cultural, social and economic development for Antoine Nation.

The centre will offer year-round programs and events to strengthen community ties and foster Indigenous identity, traditions and economic opportunities. This investment aligns with Ontario’s commitment to reconciliation and economic development in Indigenous communities. The province has also provided $675,000 from the Indigenous Community Capital Grants Program to support the centre’s construction.

This is just one way that our government is carrying out our commitment to economic reconciliation with—

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

Supplementary question.

Mr. Deepak Anand: Thank you to the parliamentary assistant for his response.

Housing is a challenge across Ontario. When our son was looking for a house, we faced this challenge the same way.

As we build a better, stronger, more prosperous Ontario, communities are growing, and families need safe, affordable homes.

Indigenous communities, in particular, face unique challenges when it comes housing. They need solutions that work for their communities.

The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. has a track record of supporting projects that make life better in the north.

To the people of northern Ontario: Our government is stepping up to help. As northern Ontario prospers, the whole of Ontario prospers with it.

Speaker, can the parliamentary assistant please explain how NOHFC is helping to address the housing needs of Indigenous and rural communities in northern Ontario?

Mr. Will Bouma: Thank you so much for that very important question.

Our government recognizes the need for new housing across the province, including in northern Ontario. This is why our government has invested $400,000 in Smart Modular Canada, located in Oliver Paipoonge, to purchase equipment and renovate its facility to increase the production capacity of its residential and commercial modular buildings for rural and First Nations communities.

I’d like to quote Bill Boulton, the CEO of Smart Modular Canada, who had this to say about our government’s recognition of the need to build more housing: “The NOHFC’s recognition of this need is clear, and we are thankful for its investment in our manufacturing process and automation upgrade initiative. With its support, we can expand into this region, offering excellent opportunities for our employees now and into future, and making quality, affordable homes more accessible to more people.”

Speaker, we’re getting it done for the people of Ontario. It’s unfortunate that the opposition continues to vote no on these important initiatives.

Home care

M me France Gélinas: Ma question est pour la ministre de la Santé.

The last mile delivery of medical supplies to home care patients is a critical part of home care.

The minister’s decision to centralize home care supply and hand it over to her donors at Bayshore has hurt a lot of patients and threatened the survival of small businesses across Ontario, like Boggio pharmacy in Niagara.

Can the minister tell the House what she has learned from this centralization fiasco and what she will to do to make sure that no one is left waiting for critical supplies?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: We’ve been very clear that as these vendors roll out and ensure that critical medical supplies get into the hands of our patients and our families in their homes, we are absolutely focused on ensuring that that supply continues in a seamless manner.

In fact, the member opposite will know that any individuals who went out and proactively purchased those supplies had the opportunity very quickly to get reimbursed. Because of the Canada Post strike, we’ve actually now transitioned and directed to ensure that they get those paycheques paid through means other than through the mail.

I don’t think there’s any question in this House that people understand the need to ensure those medical supplies get into the hands of the practitioners and the patients. And we are doing everything to ensure that that stabilization continues.

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

M me France Gélinas: It seems that the Conservatives are more focused on fundraising directives from Conservative Party headquarters than ensuring that the patients of Ontario receive quality care.

The home care supply delivery system we had before worked well and met the home care patients’ needs, but this government decided to centralize home care supplies with their friends at Bayshore. This decision hurt many patients, some of them severely.

What does the minister have to say to those patients and families who were hurt by her decision?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: The Premier has always been very, very clear that every process has an opportunity for improvement. We are doing that in the Ministry of Health. We are doing that in every ministry.

I will say to the member opposite: Since we came to office, we have doubled the annual investments to home care. Our record investments in home care have increased service volumes by 10% this year alone. What does that mean? It means over 700,000 families are now accessing and taking the home care system and bringing it into their homes, allowing family members to be in their homes while they continue their medical and treatment pathways. Those are successes that we need to do.

We also need to ensure, as we transition, that the patients continue to be our focus, which is what we have been doing with these modernizations.

Health care

M me Lucille Collard: Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago, I asked the Minister of Health about improving access to primary care in my riding of Ottawa–Vanier.

In response, the parliamentary assistant highlighted the Ottawa Nurse Practitioner Led Clinic as an example of how this government is increasing access to care. What he failed to mention is that the government only provided a fraction of the requested funding, forcing the clinic to dramatically downsize its services.

Over 2.5 million Ontarians, including 22,000 in my riding, lack access to primary care.

Why did this government choose not to fully fund the Ottawa Nurse Practitioner Led Clinic, which could have provided 10,000 residents with the care they need in my riding?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To respond, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.

Hon. Sylvia Jones: I want to be clear here. What the member opposite is asking is: “Of the 78 new and expanded interprofessional teams, primary care expansions that we have been able to do since February of this year, why didn’t I get more?” Honest to God, Speaker. We have 78 that we have been able to ramp up.

Last week alone, I was able to be with the MPP from Innisfil, and we announced a brand new nurse practitioner-led team in the community of Innisfil. That is nine—soon to be 10—nurse practitioners who are taking on patients, who are serving clients and patients in the Innisfil area.

As we continue to roll out the primary care expansion, we have now called on the expertise of Dr. Jane Philpott. Starting in December, she will continue this excellent work to ensure that we have primary care expansion and opportunities for every single Ontarian.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Don Valley East will come to order. The member for Scarborough–Guildwood will come to order. The member for Orléans will come to order.

Supplementary.

M me Lucille Collard: Nurse practitioners are essential to increasing access to primary care in Ontario, but to do so, they need adequate and sufficient funding. Nurse practitioners cannot bill OHIP directly. Without funding to join family health teams or to