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April 24, 2023

43rd Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2023-Apr-24 vol. A (PDF)

L069A - Mon 24 Apr 2023 / Lun 24 avr 2023

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 24 April 2023 Lundi 24 avril 2023

Orders of the Day

Reducing Inefficiencies Act (Infrastructure Statute Law Amendments), 2023 / Loi de 2023 sur la réduction des inefficacités (modifiant des lois sur les infrastructures)

Members’ Statements

Religious holidays / Supportive housing

Highway safety

Simcoe–Grey businesses

Injured workers

Gender-based violence

National Day of Mourning

Community services

Religious holidays

Hagersville Lions Chase the Ace raffle

Hospital funding

Independent members

Introduction of Visitors

Question Period

Government contract

Housing

Tenant protection

Automotive industry

Housing

Automotive industry

Land use planning

Affordable housing

Housing

Education

Provincial parks

Health care funding

Red tape reduction

Health care workers

Infrastructure funding

Visitors

Member’s birthday

Deferred Votes

Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, 2023 / Loi de 2023 sur l’amélioration des écoles et du rendement des élèves

Member’s birthday

Introduction of Bills

1105954 Ontario Limited Act, 2023

Petitions

Land use planning

Ontario Place

Land use planning

Domestic violence

Missing persons

Social assistance

Health care

Health care

Land use planning

Access to health care

Opposition Day

Tenant protection / Protection des locataires

Orders of the Day

Reducing Inefficiencies Act (Infrastructure Statute Law Amendments), 2023 / Loi de 2023 sur la réduction des inefficacités (modifiant des lois sur les infrastructures)

The House met at 0900.

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

Prayers.

Orders of the Day

Reducing Inefficiencies Act (Infrastructure Statute Law Amendments), 2023 / Loi de 2023 sur la réduction des inefficacités (modifiant des lois sur les infrastructures)

Miss Surma moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 69,

An Act to amend various Acts with respect to infrastructure / Projet de loi 69, Loi modifiant diverses lois sur les infrastructures.

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

Hon. Kinga Surma: I am happy to rise for the third reading of Bill 69, the Reducing Inefficiencies Act (Infrastructure Statute Law Amendments), 2023. Today, I am sharing my time with David Piccini, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

This bill, if passed and proclaimed into force, would make amendments to the Ministry of Infrastructure Act, 2011, complementary amendments to nine other acts and the Environmental Assessment Act.

Mr. Speaker, our government has a transformative plan to build Ontario now and for generations to come. It includes building roads, bridges and highways, connecting people to high-speed Internet, providing more transit options, ensuring our children have access to the education they deserve and providing quality of care for our seniors.

But our government knows that building Ontario for the future is much more than that. It also includes being fiscally prudent, transparent and responsible by making smarter and more effective decisions that will benefit Ontarians. This means respecting how tax dollars are being spent, modernizing outdated, burdensome regulations and cutting red tape by streamlining processes.

Mr. Speaker, the people across Ontario are expecting our government to build while also practising good governance. That’s why I am proud to say that our government is taking action to deliver on those expectations by bringing forward the Reducing Inefficiencies Act (Infrastructure Statute Law Amendments), 2023. If passed, our proposed measures would help enhance fiscal management, boost the economy, save taxpayer money and cut red tape.

This bill is just one of the many ways our government is continuing to take the necessary steps to unlock our province’s economic potential, create better jobs and save taxpayer dollars. It’s another meaningful step in our government’s plan to build Ontario for the future.

Madam Speaker, I’d like to start by giving everyone an overview of what this bill entails. Bill 69, the Reducing Inefficiencies Act (Infrastructure Statute Law Amendments), 2023, contains two initiatives. One of the proposed initiatives would streamline process to better maintain and manage real estate. The other initiative, if passed, would help bring much-needed efficiency to the Environmental Assessment Act, all while ensuring continued environmental oversight.

Today, I want to focus on our government’s plan to better maintain and manage real estate. Real estate is one of our government’s greatest resources, but currently, accountability for this portfolio is highly distributed among many entities and each of these entities have their own processes for decisions and transactions. Bill 69, if passed, would help our government make more strategic, holistic decisions that could have significant impacts in the long term for families and businesses across Ontario.

If passed, the proposed measures in Bill 69 would establish a framework to remove or modify the real estate authority of 14 entities and provide the Minister of Infrastructure with control over real estate previously under the control of the prescribed entities.

Each of these 14 entities plays a critical role in the health, well-being and economic prosperity of our province. Their work impacts many different sectors that people in our province depend on daily, from education, economic development, finance, health care, the digital sector, human rights and equity, the skilled trades, arts, media, tourism, agriculture and fire safety. We know that these past few years have brought many different challenges to these industries, yet members within these 14 entities have shown great leadership by continuing to adapt to these challenges while ensuring that people of Ontario still have access to their work, programs and services.

These 14 entities include the Ontario Financing Authority; the Education Quality and Accountability Office; the Financial Services Regulatory Authority; the Ontario Financing Authority; the Ontario Securities Commission; the Human Rights Legal Support Centre; Intellectual Property Ontario; Skilled Trades Ontario; the Ontario Arts Council; Ontario Creates; Destination Ontario; the Ontario Trillium Foundation; Agricorp; and the fire safety council.

The bill, if passed, would amend the Ministry of Infrastructure Act, 2011, and would include complementary amendments to the following nine other acts: the AgriCorp Act, 1996; the Arts Council Act; the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021; the Capital Investment Plan Act, 1993; the Education Quality and Accountability Office Act, 1996; the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario Act, 2016; the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997; the Human Rights Code; and the Securities Commission Act, 2021.

The legislative amendments that are being proposed today, if passed, would support the centralization of real estate, subject to any exceptions that would be determined through regulation.

Secondly, I also want to speak on the work at the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy, where Bill 69 was studied by members of all sides of the House, with whom I had the pleasure to deputize and speak on the bill. One of the key topics of Bill 69 that members expressed interest in are the amendments on the Environmental Assessment Act, giving the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks the authority to waive or change the 30-day waiting period for infrastructure projects with routine and predictable effects, such as waste water or municipal roadworks.

Madam Speaker, I want to be clear, as I was in committee: This minor change to the Environmental Assessment Act will simply give the minister the discretion, should they feel it is necessary, to waive or amend the waiting period for minor infrastructure works that are important for municipalities. It does not in any way reduce or lower the standards of the environmental assessment process, but simply gives the minister the discretion to remove the 30-day waiting period, should the minister choose, when and if the class environmental standards have been met, there are no concerns from the community and the municipality wants to move forward with the project.

Projects that fall under this requirement are:

—the city of Brampton’s Clark Boulevard and Eastern Avenue project;

—the municipality of Chatham-Kent’s Ridgetown Stormwater Master Plan project;

—the city of Mississauga’s Carolyn Creek erosion control along Barbertown Road;

—the Sarnia Jail administration trailer project; and

—the region of Peel’s Front Street Wastewater Pumping Station and Wastewater Diversion project.

These projects are important for municipalities to complete. This bill, if passed, would accelerate the construction process, which is especially essential given that Ontario has a seasonal construction window. I know the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks is ready to have a more in-depth presentation after the conclusion of my remarks.

Committee members also asked about the realty portion of this bill, specifically on the Auditor General’s report on Infrastructure Ontario’s role in this bill. I want to reiterate that the CBREA amendment in this bill does not apply to the realty authority for these 14 entities. This amendment simply gives the Minister of Infrastructure centralized control to evaluate and manage the 14 entities’ real estate portfolios and office space. If this bill is passed, this simply gives the Ministry of Infrastructure a direct line of sight on realty decisions so the government of Ontario can evaluate, consolidate, optimize and modernize agency real-estate decisions.

I want to thank the members of the standing committee of heritage, infrastructure and culture for their work in studying Bill 69 and for the opportunity to speak on this important bill that will save taxpayer dollars, cut red tape, optimize office space and enhance fiscal management.

Madam Speaker, I am also pleased to share that since 2020, the Ministry of Infrastructure has consulted with key stakeholders, including the 14 entities and their eight oversight ministries. We heard that our proposed initiatives are aligned with their ongoing initiatives to increase office efficiencies and optimize office space. This comes as no surprise to our government, Madam Speaker. The people of Ontario want and deserve a more responsible, efficient government. Bill 69 is one of the ways in which we are doing that.

Madam Speaker, this is because our government is a government of action. We are constantly reviewing policies to see what can be updated and completed more efficiently. The benefits of a more centralized real estate model are clear. For example, the 2017 Auditor General’s annual report identified that the Ministry of Infrastructure’s general real estate portfolio could be operated more efficiently through a centralized authority and decision-making process. The report noted that this would help ensure properties in Ontario are well-managed and maintained in an efficient manner that would enhance economic benefits.

The 2018 Ernst and Young line-by-line review of government spending, titled “Managing Transformation: A Modernization Action Plan for Ontario,” found that a centralized approach to the management of real estate property and a more effective asset management process had numerous benefits. These benefits included reducing overall spending across government, improving the alignment of policies and enhancing decision-making capabilities. In addition, PricewaterhouseCoopers identified in 2018 that a strategic and holistic approach to the government’s real estate portfolio could foster greater levels of transparency while improving decision-making capabilities and reporting.

The feedback doesn’t end there, Madam Speaker. The benefits of a streamlined real estate model are also recognized nationally and internationally. For example, in an

article published in the Journal of Property Management in 2018, titled “Doing More than the Math,” the authors analyzed various real estate management firms in an effort to maximize operating efficiencies. This report found that firms that thoughtfully centralized and consolidated their real estate assets were in a better position to align real estate policies with their overall mandate, and as a result, they were able to hire staff with the necessary skills to fill knowledge gaps on the team.

Because organizations centralized real estate, they were able to gain insights into the entire workforce and better assess knowledge gaps; strategically plan ahead; produce better-quality work, resulting in happier clients; and increase efficiency through a more cohesive, holistic process.

In a recent

article published just last year by J.P. Morgan, the authors found that decentralized real estate operations were more likely to experience issues like decreased visibility into financial operations and inefficiencies. This is because decentralized real estate models often have numerous players involved in real estate decision-making, resulting in an approach that is less aligned with overall goals.

Another study published by McKinsey and Co. found that centralized direction on real estate helped numerous companies navigate the uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. This helped organizations make cohesive decisions to protect the health and safety of all employees, tenants and end-users of the space.

Madam Speaker, I want to emphasize this case. This report found that a centralized real estate model went beyond cost savings and efficiency. A centralized real estate model helped support health and safety. This is because a centralized real estate model can give organizations and governments a holistic view and, as a result, it can help inform highly targeted and important decisions.

The evidence is right in front of us. We’ve looked at the research. Numerous reports have found that organizations and jurisdictions that move to a centralized real estate model have increased efficiency, transparency and accountability. We’ve taken these recommendations and considered the research and that’s why we’ve brought forward Bill 69.

If passed and proclaimed into force, Bill 69 has the potential to increase efficiency, cut red tape, enhance fiscal management and save taxpayer dollars. It would also help eliminate the duplication of responsibilities, ensure that real estate is used effectively and, as a result, could boost economic growth across Ontario.

If realty authority is centralized, it means that all real estate matters would be overseen by a single authority. This would reduce the need for multiple ministries and entities handling similar tasks and processes. Most importantly, it means that the 14 entities described earlier can focus on what matters most: protecting people in Ontario, providing important services and programs, and enriching the quality of life for Ontarians.

Madam Speaker, Bill 69, the Reducing Inefficiencies Act (Infrastructure Statute Law Amendments), 2023, if passed, has the potential to provide more efficiency and transparency. Our government is confident that this bill, if passed, would boost economic development opportunities across the province through cost savings that could be used for other purposes. This is all part of our government’s plan to work harder, smarter and more efficiently to make life better and more affordable for the people of Ontario.

I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge Ontario’s plan and the progress we’ve already made to date. Our government has already unlocked thousands of cost savings for taxpayers and businesses across our province. This is clearly outlined in our 2023 budget, Building a Strong Ontario, released last month by our Minister of Finance. For example, at a time when the cost of living is rising, our government stepped up and continues to step up to support those in need.

That’s why we introduced legislation to extend the gas and fuel tax cuts by an additional 12 months to help families across the province with their household budgets. We eliminated licence plate renewal fees and licence plate stickers and refunded fees paid over a two-year period from March 2020 to March 2022 for eligible vehicles. We’ve also taken significant action to lower costs for businesses so Ontario can continue to attract investment and create more opportunities for the future.

Our government knows infrastructure is the backbone of a strong and healthy economy. That’s why our government is also delivering one of the most ambitious infrastructure plans, with an historic investment of $184 billion over 10 years. This plan is getting shovels in the ground to build much-needed hospitals, schools, highways, bridges and other critical assets that will lay the foundation for a stronger and more productive Ontario.

And that’s not all. We are investing nearly $4 billion to support our government’s bold plan to make high-speed Internet accessible in every community across the province by the end of 2025 because we know that access to high-speed Internet is essential in today’s economy. It allows families and workers to learn, start a business, access vital services like health care, and connect with loved ones and friends.

These projects are just a few examples of how we are investing in infrastructure for the people of Ontario. And we will not stop there. Madam Speaker, our government has a strong mandate to build Ontario for today and for generations to come, and we want the people of Ontario to know that we are delivering, and we will continue to deliver. Bill 69, the Reducing Inefficiencies Act (Infrastructure Statute Law Amendments), 2023, is the next step in our proposed plan.

I want to conclude with this: What improves the lives of Ontarians is when the government builds infrastructure. When the Ministry of Infrastructure helps to build a bridge or a hospital, it changes people’s lives. That infrastructure will be there for many years, people will rely on it, it will save lives, and it will help Ontarians live better.

Bill 69 affects projects such as waste water projects and municipal roads, which are smaller but no less important. In places such as Scarborough, Sarnia, Windsor, and even in my riding in Etobicoke Centre, homes have been flooded and families impacted due to the lack of stormwater management and delays. Bill 69, if passed, will accelerate the work on the stormwater and waste water projects for municipalities and could prevent a family’s home from being flooded.

Madam Speaker, people in Ontario are depending on our government to introduce innovative ideas and new approaches to work more efficiently, improve fiscal management and reduce regulatory burden. This bill, with the changes that we are proposing, if passed, will deliver on those expectations. Bill 69, if passed, will continue to help our government make good on our promise to the people of Ontario, and that is to be fiscally prudent, respect taxpayer dollars, cut red tape and practise good governance.

I will now turn it over to the Minister of the Environment, David Piccini. Thank you very much.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Hon. David Piccini: It’s an honour to rise in the House today for the third reading of Bill 69, the Reducing Inefficiencies Act. I just want to start by acknowledging and thanking my colleague the Minister of Infrastructure for her remarks and for her leadership. I think it’s important to note that when it comes to building a better Ontario, when it comes to building a stronger Ontario, this minister thinks outside the box, finding meaningful partnerships and investing.

She made an important comment when she spoke about waste water and stormwater infrastructure, smaller projects which she said are no less important, and I can start speaking for the good people of Northumberland–Peterborough South, who I represent. She’s joined me on multiple occasions in my riding to see the important impact these investments are making in communities like mine to support a growing Ontario, because for years previous governments let this infrastructure crumble.

That matters when it comes to building purpose-built rental units, when it comes to building affordable housing, when it comes to intensifying in existing urban centres, when it comes to expanding, building more homes so that people can get out of their parents’ basements. All of this stuff matters, so we have to tie everything in this bill into the bigger picture.

As you know, Madam Speaker, some elements in this bill come from my Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. I’m happy to take a few minutes to paint a bigger and fuller picture as to what this means.

I’m going to start off with the obvious, a number: 50 years. I’m a big political junkie, and I recall a mayor in Brockville with a fantastic set of hair—perhaps not here today, but a fantastic set of hair. This was—

Hon. Steve Clark: I’m here, but not the hair.

Hon. David Piccini: Yes, he’s here but not the hair. This was years after. He was barely 12 years old, and this environmental assessment hasn’t been touched since. You fast-forward to today, to the homes this minister is building, to the affordable housing—I can’t wait to have him in my riding to talk about Indigenous housing supports and about the Homelessness Prevention Program. That’s going to be big.

Everything has changed, and the environmental assessment process must change with it. Simply put, it’s outdated, and Ontarians deserve better. Leaving Ontario with the ineffective and inefficient act that requires urgent updates our government is proposing—the foundations of the Environmental Assessment Act remain incredibly strong. This act does not fundamentally alter the act in any way.

The changes contained in this bill are not a revolution. We’re doing a lot of things in this government that are a revolution, a lot of great things to build more homes, to build more critical infrastructure, to build new subway lines, to transform and modernize Ontario Place so that people can actually get back in and enjoy the space. We’re doing a lot of things as a government, but I’ll acknowledge that this slight change we’re making through my ministry is not revolutionary, and it’s not one of those things.

This, of course, requires—and I will encourage everyone in this Legislature to take time to truly understand what we’re proposing here. It’s a planning and decision-making process that evaluates potential environmental impacts. That’s the environmental assessment process. The environmental assessment process identifies and mitigates potential environmental issues before a project is implemented. They consider the effect and inputs from groups like Indigenous communities, government agencies, the public.

The environmental assessment process: Let’s discuss within that what we’re actually changing. This is important as, quite frankly, listening to some in the debate on this so far, I do not believe that there is an in-depth—and I wonder whether there’s a true appreciation of what is being proposed here. The proposed amendments to the Environmental Assessment Act are merely to provide the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks with the ability to waive or alter the 30-day review period, allowing projects to begin sooner. It’s a 30-day review period. That’s after the process is done.

That’s after all of the work has been done. We pause in time, just freeze and sit still. I think there are a number of instances; I think to waste water treatment plants, which are improving water quality for communities, where perhaps the minister would want to waive that waiting period to allow the proponent to move forward faster to build this critical infrastructure.

This doesn’t change or alter the ability for community members to request a bump-up request to the minister for a full environmental assessment. It doesn’t change any of the big the pieces within the act itself. It merely provides the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks with the ability to waive or alter the 30-day review period.

I think to where this started. As many good policies start, this started with a Bombardier project in Mississauga, where the mayor and where the community asked us and said, “This 30-day waiting period doesn’t make sense,” and where this project that was going to bring good-paying jobs and was going to bring investments into our aviation sector would have been kicked to another construction season. You think of the inflationary costs that that would have meant. This just enabled us to get shovels in the ground sooner. It didn’t do anything to change permissions, permits to take water, endangered species.

A number of these permissions were not there in this instance, but it bears repeating that it wouldn’t change any of those permissions. Madam Speaker, I think this is the right thing to do.

As you can see, this arbitrary 30-day period here is delay. Usually we see this place in question period filled with youth, the next generation. I see our young member from Brampton, who is doing a fantastic job. I see some young people in the gallery today. What I hear is a generation who can’t see beyond their parents’ basements. That is what Ontario is for too many: their parents’ basement.

Mr. Graham McGregor: Not me.

Hon. David Piccini: Not that member, but that’s the reality for so many. I spoke to a young mother in my riding over the weekend who is so desperate for home ownership and wonders if she can ever move beyond trying to find affordable rental units in Cobourg.

The members opposite voted against when we waived development charges for purpose-built rental units. I spoke to Trinity Housing, a housing co-op in my riding, on what waiving development charges meant for them. It’s that minor bit between making a project viable and making it not viable. Waiving development charges mattered for them. We codified what the town of Cobourg—and a shout-out to the town of Cobourg—is doing to ensure that we can get these purpose-built rental units built.

I know, for quite a few around here, it has been quite some time since quite a few around here lived in rental units. It’s not so far for myself. I recall with my wife really saving for years to be able to put that down payment on a home, to be able to become a homeowner. For too many that’s become a lost dream. We have to acknowledge that there are processes and there are realities that are a fundamental barrier, that are doing nothing to actually protect the environment, nothing to provide more affordable housing and nothing to make that dream of housing come sooner.

As I said, water and sewer mains, important infrastructure projects to bring cleaner water, to support waste water discharge for growing communities: These are all things that we’re working on with the sector, working with industry, not taking the approach of previous Liberal governments of driving those manufacturing jobs out or, in the skilled trades with the ratios, of making sure that we don’t have those workers. We had Happy Bucks at Rotary this past Friday, where Stadtke Plumbing acknowledged the number of youth they’ve been able to get into plumbing because of changes this government has made.

I’m going all over because I’m connecting the dots here. You need skilled tradesmen and tradeswomen to build the critical infrastructure we need to support a better environment, to support cleaner water discharge, cleaner water when you turn on the taps. Why do you need that? Because you need homes.

We know there are some in this Legislature who just don’t want to build those homes, who just don’t want to build rental units, who don’t want to build subways. It’s not surprising, given that when the previous government held the balance of power for 15 years, and when that balance of power was in a minority government, supported by the NDP, they didn’t build the subways. They didn’t build the purpose-built rental units. We have a record year in rental starts last year, thanks to this Minister of Housing.

And we’re doing it, Madam Speaker. We’re doing it while also launching one of Ontario’s largest-ever freshwater initiatives, plastic-capture technology in Lake Ontario. These sea bins are all over, including in harbours like mine. We’re building the vital water and waste water infrastructure we need to support a growing Ontario. This vital technology, this modern technology—when I visit a waste water treatment plant today, it’s like going onto the bridge of the Enterprise. It’s so modern. They’re using technology, but members opposite would rather have us using the same infrastructure from decades gone by.

I say no. We need to leverage the technology today. We need to build modern infrastructure to support growing communities.

They also didn’t support the previous government in building any new public transit. You think about the Ontario Line, arguably one of the largest low-carbon public projects in North America today. That’s done by this Premier, by this government. It’s going to be incredible—hopping on that line, the crown jewel at the end, a modernized, revitalized Ontario Place. I remember my parents taking me to Ontario Place ages ago and enjoying Ontario Place with my nana, my papa, my mom, my dad. And since, what is it, 2012, the doors have been locked? You’re lucky if I can get a dog walk in with my dog Max there. It’s dilapidated. It’s stale—stale like the attitudes of the previous government.

But we’re building a stronger Ontario; a hopeful Ontario; an Ontario where a young boy or girl can receive an opportunity in the skilled trades, where they could become an entrepreneur or start their own business—a sense of fulfillment in building and completing projects that are going to support a growing Ontario, that are going to protect our environment; an Ontario, a Canada that welcomes half a million immigrants, and the disproportionate number, over 250,000 or 300,000, of which choose Ontario. And where do the majority of those immigrants come? They come to the GTHA.

So again, we welcome that. I think to my own family experience, as do so many in the place. I think to stories of one of my grandfathers, who came off the boat from Italy with no money, who built a career in the steel sector—I’ve often referenced that before, but it bears repeating—building a future; my father, who was the first to go to university on that side of my family; and now his grandson, who is sitting in this place. That is the Canadian dream. That is the opportunity that this great province offers new Canadians. I think they would be happy.

I remember the member from Danforth, when we spoke a bit about clean steel. I think we can all acknowledge, and that member as well, that that steelworker today—those jobs have been protected and secured in this province, not through driving industry out like we saw in years gone by but through partnering with industry to build the cleanest steel on planet earth right here in Ontario, good union jobs right here in the province of Ontario.

I think to opportunities I’ve had to tour on what Stelco is doing. It is not the Stelco, for example, of my grandfather’s yesteryear. It’s not the Dofasco of generations gone by. They’re doing incredible work—and a big shout-out to the men and women of Algoma, Dofasco and Stelco and work that they’re doing. We’re proud to have those industries here in Ontario, and we’re securing jobs for generations to come. Clean steel; it’s incredibly exciting.

And, Madam Speaker, I think to when this government was elected, the fact that building in the province was one of the records that I think was unfortunate. Usually, you want to hold records. But I’ll contrast two records: The time it takes to get permits and to build in this province was one of the worst on planet earth. That’s unacceptable when we have to build modern infrastructure not only to support a growing population but to protect our environment at the same time.

Now, today, we hold the very prestigious record. I think last year alone was one of the largest years for projected areas in Ontario’s history. Don’t take my word for it; our federal database that compiles protected areas that is released every March shows what Ontario has done for protected areas.

You ask, “How do we do that?” You think to programs like the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program that has protected Vidal Bay, that has protected the Boreal Wildlands, the largest protection for boreal forests in Canadian history; the South Shore Joint Initiative for migratory birds, so that we can support a growing Ontario with active and passive opportunities for Ontarians to get out and enjoy and appreciate nature to better connect with the birds and the bees and the species that we’re so blessed to live alongside.

Yes, we have to do more. We do have to do more for those species and for protected areas. That’s why I was proud that this year, in budget 2023, we saw another record: the largest single in-year investment for protected areas in Ontario’s history; $14 million, thanks to the Minister of Finance.

We’ve worked so closely together with the Nature Conservancy of Canada. I think to hikes I’ve taken in my own backyard with groups like the Willow Beach Field Naturalists.

I think to Hazel Bird Nature Reserve where I go with my dog Max all the time. We’re out there in Hazel Bird Nature Reserve. That has increased by a third thanks in part to the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program.

I think to the South Shore Joint Initiative, the migratory bird corridor in Bay of Quinte.

I think to the land trusts and the environmentalist groups I’ve walked shoulder-to-shoulder with. We’re protecting that area on the shores of Lake Ontario forever for generations to come.

I think to work we’re doing all over this province, to Vidal Bay. I think to Alfred Bog, that we have now protected under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act forever. That is peat moss, carbon sequestration. It’s important. We’re doing that.

That largest in-year investment that this government has made has shown that you can support a growing population with growing numbers of protected areas. Interesting number: I was on Moore in the Morning this morning with John Moore, talking about the province’s first urban provincial park. We announced that on Saturday, on Earth Day. That’s going to be in the town of Uxbridge. Shout-out to Mayor Dave Barton, to regional chair John Henry, to John MacKenzie from the TRCA, Rob Baldwin from the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority and so many more who we’re partnering with to make this historic announcement.

I’m very excited for that new provincial park. It’s going to be a great opportunity to get outdoors. That is the first in 40 years, since before I was born; Madam Speaker, since before you were born; since so many—the first in 40 years. This is truly incredible.

I was on Moore in the Morning this morning, and I think a stat that bears repeating: Through programs like the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program, we’ve protected almost 400,000 acres in just the last few years. That is four times what the previous Liberal government protected between 2014 and 2018, a full mandate—four times, Madam Speaker.

I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done with partners like the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Ontario Land Trust Alliance.

Why I mention this, to tie it back to the changes we’re making, is you can support growing protected areas. You can support the environmental assessment process—the EA process that we’re modernizing not just for building homes, building public transit that we need, but yes, building parks.

When I was first a minister, they were saying it takes 10 years to build a park, 10 years to protect the environment, to add an area to actually protect it for trails. That’s wild. That’s not acceptable. It’s not acceptable because while I still have my best friend, my loyal friend, my four-legged Max, I want him to get out there and enjoy these trails with me. I’m not going to wait 10 years to protect those parks, to protect those areas.

When we look at that 50-year-old, dated process, that’s one of the reasons—my “why.” Why did I get involved? Why did I seek office? Often, people have these carefully scripted stories. They bring all the comms experts and they bounce ideas and it becomes—sometimes, it exacerbates and embellishes a bit of the truth. My “why” was pretty simple, and I don’t need 10 groups to soundboard it off. My “why” was, I’m a young man growing up in rural Ontario and I see manufacturing jobs fleeing. I saw a Kraft plant close. I saw buddies I played soccer with put out of a job.

I saw the reckless federal and provincial policies of the Liberals driving out manufacturing jobs in Campbellford, in Brighton, in Port Hope and in Cobourg, and I just said, “You know what, there’s got to be a better way.”

I didn’t have all the answers. I still don’t. I think in public office you’ve got to listen to the people you serve; you’ve got to form meaningful partnerships with industry to work in collaboration to find those answers. But my job is, I looked around the room, I looked at my predecessor and I looked at others—someone I have great respect for, my predecessor—but I said, “You know what? I’m going to do a better job. I’m going to bring these jobs back. I’m going to give it my best shot,” because there can be a stronger Ontario. There can be a better Ontario.

Fast-forward to today: CpK, Beneco Packaging, Mirmil, Jebco, Premier Tech in Brighton—all of which have benefited from $8 billion in reduced costs of doing business, all of whom are expanding. When I called the plant manager at Jebco in Colborne and said we are stabilizing class A and B industrial electricity rates, after the disastrous energy policies of the previous government—none of whose members are here, in part because they were voted out; none of whose members are here because they have so few seats in this Legislature today, because Ontarians said that we have to do better.

What did that mean for Jebco? Jebco is now expanding their investments. They are hiring more men and women. They’re saying, “Yes, David, it shouldn’t take 10 years to expand our plant because of a 50-year-old EA process. It shouldn’t mean the difference between new jobs and retreating and doing nothing, laying people off because of the reckless energy policies of the previous government.” Today they are expanding.

Today, Beneco Packaging is growing in Northumberland–Peterborough South. Today, we’re benefiting from building small modular nuclear reactors, maintaining our competitive advantage of a 90%-plus clean energy advantage. There is no path to net zero without nuclear. We are building SMRs in my community in Darlington. We’re building EVs. We’re supporting automotive jobs with General Motors in my community, again, jobs that, in this place, public policy-makers seemed content to let flee and leave this province. They are coming back.

Clean jobs, green jobs, jobs for the next generation are coming back to Ontario because this government and this Premier understand that when it comes to the environment, it is not an “either/or,” it’s an “and.” You can protect more, something we’re doing to the tune of four times that of the previous government.

It is not an “either/or” when it comes to public transit. The groups of four, five people who frequent council every day, the group of NIMBYs who don’t want to build public transit, the NIMBYs who say—it’s BANANAs now: build absolutely nothing anywhere near anyone. They don’t want homes in their community, but when it comes to building a high-rise or intensifying with an apartment unit which will include purpose-built rentals in their own community, they say no to that as well.

I’ve got a message for those people: Your time ruling the roost is gone. We’re building in the province of Ontario. We’re building for the young boy or girl who wants a job in the trades, who wants to have a place to call home; for the young boy like my grandfather in fascist Italy, who looked to Canada for opportunity; for someone like Sayo, from Nigeria, whom I had the opportunity of meeting when our member for Ajax brought Computek to this community, who has taken advantage of the free PSW courses that this government is working on and has provided. Sayo has now got a job.

He is working in no more honourable profession than in health care. He is now working, thanks to this Premier, this government and the investments we’re making.

This stands in stark contrast to an Ontario where those jobs were fleeing in my own community. They’re back today, 600,000 manufacturing jobs today, incredible opportunities in my community, where we are expanding public transit, bringing Metrolinx into Northumberland for the first time in Ontario’s history. We’re building the largest low-carbon public transit project, arguably, in North America with the Ontario Line. We’re expanding two-way, all-day GO and electrifying the GO network.

We’re bringing back the Northlander to the people. My predecessor called the north “no-man’s land.” That’s just bananas—and that’s an appropriate term of “bananas,” not “build absolutely nothing anywhere near anyone.” It’s actually bananas that he would call northern Ontario “no-man’s land,” because we recognize that prosperity in the south depends on opportunity and unleashing the potential of the north. We get that, this government.

I’ve had the opportunity to see environmental reclamation projects that you couldn’t imagine, with Mattagami First Nation in the north. I’ve had the opportunity to work with a number of partners in the north to see what this government is doing to unlock the opportunities, the critical minerals that are going to help us decarbonize, that are going to help us electrify, that are going to help us become less dependent on fossil fuels. I’m proud that that’s done in Ontario. I’m proud that that’s done working in partnership with Indigenous communities, working with men and women of the skilled trades, and not dependent on corrupt foreign regimes.

We’ve seen with the COVID-19 pandemic the destabilizing effect, the choppy waters that the Minister of Finance alluded to in his budget speech. Ontario is not an island. We’re not immune to global supply chain disruption—the war in Ukraine, the unprovoked attack and invasion of Ukraine. We’re not immune to those choppy waters.

So why now must we invest in the north? Because there is no better time and because there is no time that is more important than today—and a recognition among Ontarians alike. It’s partly the reason we’re back in this place. It’s partly the reason we’re winning seats in the north that previous Progressive Conservatives felt we had no business ever winning. Well, we’re winning them today because those Indigenous youth, those young men and women in the north know that they have an opportunity in the great province of Ontario under Premier Ford’s leadership.

I value the feedback on our EA process, on improving that process so that we can get those critical minerals we need to decarbonize, so that we can support battery creation here in Ontario. There are areas of the world that have no regard; they don’t even have an EA process when they’re mining for these critical minerals. Madam Speaker, we’re never going to follow that example. In Ontario, we’re going to always work in close partnership with Indigenous communities, respecting environmental processes and permits. I’m proud of that.

But no one can tell me that a relic from 50 years ago shall never change, will never change, and that we can never leverage modern technology to improve it. I’m sorry. Nor that this 30-day pause, this random pause for 30 days—that the Minister of the Environment can’t exercise the ability to get proponent-driven projects moving faster, like these decarbonization projects I’m alluding to in the north.

Another record historic first: the investment in boreal caribou that this government has made in the budget—a historic investment. I think to valuable relationships that I’ve had the opportunity to build with Chief Tangie from Michipicoten, with Chief Michano from Biigtigong. I’m going up there in the north this summer, and I value that learning relationship.

I’m going to draw an analogy here from what we’re doing with this bill with the EA process to how our wildlife advisory committee said that you always have to sedate caribou in the process to move them. We’re moving caribou and helping grow the population of caribou. They said that you always have to sedate it. Well, talk to Chief Michano, talk to Chief Tangie, and they’ll tell you that there are practices—they told me about an incredible story, Chief Tangie did, about a youth in her community witnessing a caribou relocation project where they blindfold, in a very humane manner, the caribou to move the caribou.

What does that have to do with this? I’ve drawn an analogy here. If our process of relocating caribou was so rigid, as is this 50-year-old EA process, that we would never listen and never change, we would never incorporate the perspectives of Chief Tangie, of Chief Duncan Michano from Biigtigong. It would remain rigid and a relic of the past. Well, no; today, we’re listening. I’m hopeful that in the next few weeks, I’ll be up north to sign an agreement with Michipicoten and Biigtigong for a historic protection of Ontario’s caribou. We’re going to do it.

I’m going out on a limb, but I’m going to say that we’re going to do it, because our relationships have been meaningful, and we’re going to do it.

I’ll hark back to the EA process that we’re talking about. If we’re not flexible to listen, if we’re not flexible to be amenable to new technology, new processes, then why are we here? Why are we serving? Why do we bother getting up in the morning? I could just stay in bed and never get up and never do anything. But I choose to get out of bed in the morning, to listen, to work in partnership with communities to improve our EA process for generations to come, and it’s thanks to that that we’re seeing record investments in public transit, actually getting shovels in the ground, actually taking cars off the road.

It’s thanks to that that we’re seeing record investments in manufacturing which is making clean steel for generations to come, building EVs that are actually going to be made in Ontario, not just rebates for millionaires to buy EVs that are incorporating critical minerals that are mined in Africa and in other jurisdictions that have no regard to the EA process and to meaningful partnership with Indigenous communities. We’re going to have those critical minerals here in Ontario.

I know worldwide, we have a commitment—I spent time at the United Nations—and we’re working with other jurisdictions that I have aforementioned to improve processes, to incorporate an environmental assessment process, to incorporate meaningful treatment of workers. I see our Minister of Labour is here. We’re making historic investments to provide dignity on the job site for workers. That’s the constant work here.

And we disagree all the time. I see a member opposite moving their hands like, “Talk to the hand. We’re not listening.” At the end of the day, I value the role that they play. They challenge us to do better. They challenge us to do a better job. We can disagree, we can snicker, we can smile, but at the end of the day, everybody here serves from a good place. They get up every morning to advocate for their communities and to serve to build a better Ontario. We disagree from time to time on how to get there.

When I chaired the Great Lakes Guardians’ Council with Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe, we chaired that Great Lakes Guardians’ Council, and we heard an update from officials in my ministry who have been there since long before I have been here and will still be there long after I’m gone. Those officials have worked with research institutes. A number of reports show that the Great Lakes on many metrics—when it comes to PCBs, when it comes to phosphorous, when it comes to a number of metrics, things are getting better.

When it comes to delisting areas of concern like Randle Reef, like a number of other areas, this government is making meaningful progress. Working with the federal government, working with partners at the upper and lower tier, conservation authorities, we’re making progress on delisting those areas of concern. Because, again, you can modernize the EA process, you can improve the EA process that will lead to a better tomorrow—a stronger Ontario.

I’ll close today by saying that that EA process, that strong EA process we have here—a strong, robust permissions process—means that we can protect the environment, but we can also get shovels in the ground on public transit to take cars off the road; to build the Ontario Line, the largest low-carbon public transit project, arguably, in North America. We can extract the critical minerals we need in the north to support electrification to decarbonize in the south.

We can build homes—homes that are better built today using better environmental standards than at any point in the past—to support the young boy or girl who lives in their parents’ basement, who has been destined there from poor policies of the past, who now wants the dignity of home ownership, who wants to have a home. Purpose-built rental units that can be built for tomorrow’s generation: We’re saying yes to that.

We’re saying yes to the non-sexy things that underpin that, like ensuring that when you turn your tap on, clean drinking water comes out of that tap, or when you flush the toilet, something is done to ensure that that discharge is cleaner. That’s what’s happening at Duffins in Pickering. That’s what’s happening in Newcastle, thanks to investments of this government to upgrade and improve the waste water treatment plant in Newcastle. That’s what’s happening in Cobourg; we’re adding new water power thanks to investments from this government. That’s what’s happening in Brighton. It’s happening all over Ontario.

I’ve just illustrated this with a few examples in my own riding to show that when you modernize the EA process, you’re actually strengthening it and improving it to get shovels in the ground on these vital infrastructure projects to support a growing Ontario, a better environment, a stronger tomorrow.

I am so proud to be part of a government making these meaningful investments and listening. Yes, we welcome being challenged by members opposite and others. But there’s a recognition that you can’t just take processes like the EA process that we’re talking about today, throw it up on a shelf, wait 50 years, close our eyes and pretend like nothing is changing, because technology is changing and we can improve the EA process. We can better respond to the needs of Ontarians of tomorrow, to the people who have an eye to Canada to build a better future, who flee, in many cases, war-torn countries to build a better future.

You’re going to have a home thanks to this government. You’re going to have better public transit thanks to this government. You’re going to have better waste water and water services thanks to this government. You’re going to have a better job thanks to this government, because we’re bringing back manufacturing. You’re going to work in clean steel. You’re going to work building EVs so we can drive EVs tomorrow. We’re going to build batteries using the critical minerals of the north to support jobs for men and women of tomorrow’s generation.

We’re going to work in partnership with Indigenous communities like Mattagami First Nation on environmental reclamation projects. You’re going to do all of that for a stronger Ontario, and I’m proud to be part of a government getting it done.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): Questions? The member from Toronto–Danforth.

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Thank you, Speaker. I appreciate this opportunity.

To either of the ministers: The elimination of the 30-day waiting period in the process of the Environmental Assessment Act class environmental assessment is of concern. That period is put there so that the minister will actually take the time to consider public commentary. Without that 30-day period, clearly, people will make comments; at the end of the comment period, the minister will say, “Time is up; let’s keep going.”

Why is it that public comment on these matters is irrelevant to the government?

Hon. David Piccini: I have to set the record: Everyone here heard him say “elimination.” That’s not what’s happening. It’s the ability of the minister to waive that waiting period and if that member honestly can look himself in the mirror and think that, for the EA process, the minister closes his eyes and ears? The public comments start months before. It’s a back-and-forth with ministry officials.

Please come to 777 Bay. Let me educate you on how the actual EA process is being done. We’re not eliminating the 30-day waiting period. We’re giving the minister the ability if, in his or her opinion, public comment has been responded to and there’s been a robust process that warrants not sitting on our hands for 30 days—as he’d be content to do, given that he supported it when the previous government did it for 15 years.

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

Mr. Graham McGregor: I come from a community that, as I’ve said before in this place, is simply tired of waiting. We’re tired of waiting, whether that’s at the hospital, whether that’s waiting for a job or whether that’s sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

I did a little bit of homework before, when this bill got tabled, and one of the environmental assessments that this would impact in my community is the extension of Clark Boulevard from Rutherford Road to Hansen Road. Getting around Brampton isn’t as easy as it used to be; getting around the GTA isn’t as easy as it used to be. We have a short construction season, and 30 days really means a lot when it comes to getting shovels in the ground and getting these projects done.

Can the minister talk a little bit about some other projects, be it in Brampton or his community, around the province where the NDP would want to delay and dither and wait and this government is going to be getting it done?

Hon. David Piccini: I appreciate that question from the member opposite, who is here because the people of Brampton recognize that sitting on hands is not a solution, that you’ve got to build hospitals, like this government is doing. You’ve got to support university and college expansion, like this government is doing with the first-ever medical school in Brampton and, yes, build those roads.

And on that project, I know that the public were engaged, that this was a long back-and-forth project, that engineers are involved, that that comment has been captured and that there was no willingness from the community, from the engineers or from anyone in this project to sit on our hands for 30 days and do nothing while the minister plays euchre or cards. This is outrageous, that we would sit when all metrics have been met, when it is the opinion of scientists and others in the ministry that permissions have been followed, that we can move—just give the ability to continue with the process and to get things moving. That’s all this is doing.

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

Mr. Jeff Burch: Speaker, through you to the Minister of Infrastructure: This bill does nothing to address the actual problems cited by the Auditor General with respect to the Ministry of Infrastructure’s poor oversight of real estate services in Ontario. The Auditor General indicated that Infrastructure Ontario was the problem, and this bill could make the problem worse by giving Infrastructure Ontario more properties to manage. Why is this bill making the problem worse instead of addressing the problems cited by the Auditor General?

Hon. Kinga Surma: Thank you very much to the member opposite for the question. The Auditor General was clear in her findings and her report that she actually recommended a centralized manner in which to assess real estate authority for government and government agencies. We are accepting those recommendations. We are moving forward. We are presenting legislation in the House to address those.

And what’s also equally important, Madam Speaker: It will also give the Ministry of Infrastructure greater insight into decision-making when it comes to real estate for entities, which I think will be important when we look at a holistic view, holistic use, office optimization, office modernization. So I thank the member for that question because he just highlighted why it’s so important that we move on this legislation.

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

Mr. Brian Saunderson: Good morning, everyone. My question is to the Minister of Infrastructure. I know in my riding of Simcoe–Grey, businesses are working very hard to rationalize their leases, to rationalize their plants as they move forward. It’s an important part of making sure that they are viable and sustainable moving forward. I’m wondering if the minister can please tell us how centralization of our real estate holdings for the province will help to be more efficient, will help to streamline our processes and to make this government more efficient and financially accountable?

Hon. Kinga Surma: Thank you very much to the member for the question. In my remarks, I mentioned that real estate is one of the greatest assets that government has. What I think is also equally important and an expectation of the public is that we are always constantly reviewing processes to see where we can make improvements. I think that’s what the people expect.

But this real estate authority, should the legislation be approved in the House, will allow MOI to look at the existing leases, to look at when leases are expiring, to look at the office space that is being used to see whether or not consolidation is an option, whether or not office spaces need to be modernized to improve the working conditions for our very hard-working staff. And so, certainly, that will be our priority over the coming months, should the legislation be approved.

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

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: Good morning, Speaker. This question is to either one of the ministers. The government is proposing legislation that will waive the waiting period for the ministry after review of the environmental assessments and comments—comments from the public, that is. Now, that might not be a problem in some situations, but the record of this government on the environment makes me very worried. The 30-day waiver can be dangerous if it is used improperly, say, to fast-track through changes for less accountability. We have seen it before.

How can the member opposite confirm to the residents of Ontario that these fast-tracking elements will not be given to friends or donors of the Conservative government?

Hon. David Piccini: Again, I really enjoyed the other night with that member when we had a really nice chat, and I’m hoping to extend an opportunity to come to 777 Bay to talk about the robust processes that are in the EA process, that are asking tough questions that engage the public, that work with engineers, and that work with proponents like municipalities in building roads and waste water treatment plants.

This ability to waive that 30-day waiting period—they’ve said “waive and eliminate.” All we’re doing is giving the minister the ability, should conditions be met, to not sit on our hands for 30 days, a needless 30 days, which is the difference for vital waste water treatment plants that could get in ground today for cleaner water tomorrow and not waiting tomorrow to start those projects. I say, “Yes, let’s start it today”—in her community, in my community, in the growing communities of Ontario.

I really hope she will take me up on that offer to come meet with some of our officials to talk a bit about that.

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

Mr. John Vanthof: Can the Minister of the Environment lay out a guideline of what would be the parameters when this 30 days would be waived or not? It’s hard to have confidence when the government doesn’t lay out parameters of what they constitute is worthy of a waiver.

Hon. David Piccini: Yes, that’s a good question. I applaud the member. That’s a very good question. A number of parameters: If there is outstanding public concern that is substantiated. We’ve had ERO postings—measures and permissions are still subject to our duty to post on the Environmental Registry of Ontario, and issue decisions.

Something I would add: This government has reduced the backlog from the previous government significantly—by 95%, in fact. That ability for massive projects still exists, and I think, again, public. If, in the opinion of officials—I don’t want to presuppose what a deputy or what an ADM or director within my ministry may or may not say, but, on numerous occasions, they recommend or flag a number of challenges.

Again, I would go back to what is done within the EA process where it’s a living piece, where they’re back and forth with proponents. Once that’s complete, on every process I’ve seen, all the conditions have been met—it’s, again, just waiving the sitting on the hands. I think it is a very important piece, giving the minister the ability to do so.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): Thank you.

Third reading debate deemed adjourned.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bhutila Karpoche): Given that it is almost 10:15 a.m., we will move on to members’ statements.

Members’ Statements

Religious holidays / Supportive housing

Mr. Sheref Sabawy: These past few weeks have been a time of much celebration in my riding of Mississauga–Erin Mills. I was delighted to join my constituents on a number of occasions to observe Passover, Ramadan, Easter, Orthodox Easter, Vaisakhi and Eid al-Fitr celebrations. We have a diverse community in Mississauga with a variety of cultures and traditions. It is always a pleasure to join together for these wonderful occasions.

Something else to celebrate is our government’s investment in homelessness prevention. The government has announced an additional $202 million annually, beginning in 2023-24, under the Homelessness Prevention Program and Indigenous Supportive Housing Program.

On Friday, the MPPs of Peel region announced that Peel will be receiving $42.3 million for the initiative. This money will help those affected by homelessness and support community partners delivering supportive housing.

We know there is a serious housing affordability crisis in Mississauga and throughout Ontario right now. This investment will help solve some of these problems, but while we continue to work hard tackling the housing crisis, these investments will have a tangible short-term impact, helping some of our neighbours get back on their feet. For that, we all have reason to celebrate.

Highway safety

Mr. John Vanthof: Englehart is a small town—it’s my hometown, actually—in the district of Timiskaming–Cochrane. It’s on Highway 11. The Associate Minister of Transportation knows exactly where it is because he was there for an announcement a couple of weeks ago.

On April 11, on a beautiful, clear day on a straight stretch of highway, there was a head-on collision between two transport trucks. Our thoughts go out to the families. It was obvious—two transport trucks, no one else involved.

On April 18, a tractor-trailer in Englehart forced a school bus with students on it off the road into the ditch. The school bus had the right-of-way. The tractor-trailer driver fled the scene.

On April 22, just south of Englehart, on the Earlton overpass, a tractor-trailer driver passed another tractor-trailer on the overpass, and the person coming with their dash cam was forced off the road.

That’s three tractor-trailers, one tragic accident, two near misses in 11 days just outside one little town, and that’s happening all over on the 11 and 17.

The government needs to step in, make sure all drivers are properly trained, properly licensed and that the laws are enforced now.

Simcoe–Grey businesses

Mr. Brian Saunderson: My riding of Simcoe–Grey has a very diverse and dynamic economy and is home to many businesses that have made their mark on the national and international stage, companies such as Honda, Agnora, Reinhart Foods, MacLean Engineering, Blue Mountain Resort, MEDATech and Decast, just to name a few.

Today, I would like to highlight two impressive companies in Simcoe–Grey that are using innovation, science and technology to the benefit of the people of Ontario. The first company is Baxter Canada in Alliston, whose mission is to save and sustain lives. Operating since 1957, Baxter produces life-saving intravenous and dialysis solutions found throughout our hospitals and clinics in Ontario and around the world. Operating out of a state-of-the-art 180,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, Baxter Canada employs 430 people.

The second company I would like to highlight is Impossible Metals from Collingwood, Ontario. This is an exciting new start-up company that is led by Duntroon native Jason Gillham and his team of talented scientists and engineers. Impossible Metals builds underwater robotic vehicles to collect much-needed rare earth EV battery materials from the seabed without harming the environment. The metals they harvest from depths in excess of 5,000 metres are essential to help accelerate and enable Ontario’s and the world’s transition to more sustainable energy.

These are just two examples of companies that are working in Simcoe–Grey to move us forward in a sustainable way.

Injured workers

MPP Lise Vaugeois: This Friday is the Day of Mourning for workers who have lost their lives through workplace accidents and workplace exposure to deadly chemicals. Unfortunately, this government, by distorting the function of the WSIB, has shown that it is not there for workers: claim suppression, refusing doctors’ assessments, bribery to deny that accidents have taken place, illegal cuts to the cost-of-living allowance, cutting support payments on the basis of fictitious jobs, and the return of billions of dollars to business that should have been available to support the far too many workers forced to live on ODSP because WSIB has denied their claims.

Recently, this government failed to reduce allowable levels of diesel exposure to what scientists have long recommended. Parents beware: Young people are vulnerable to permanent brain damage due to currently allowed rates of diesel exposure, and once harmed, they will have to fight tooth and nail for compensation. It doesn’t have to be this way.

This Friday, attend a Day of Mourning ceremony in your community, pay tribute to those who have died because of their jobs, and demand that the Ford government put the health and well-being of workers first. Nothing less is acceptable.

Gender-based violence

Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos: Each of us in this House and at every level of government must work to better protect women and girls escaping abusive relationships of intimate partner violence and coercive control.

This is why I was so pleased that, last fall, this House unanimously passed my motion for Ontario to consult about passing Keira’s Law in our province. This would require continuing education seminars for judges and other legal professionals in our Family Courts so that they have the knowledge they need about IPV and coercive control. Last week, our federal counterparts moved forward as the Senate passed Keira’s Law for federal judges.

However, for women in Ontario this is not enough. We need to act in Ontario as well, as Family Courts reside in our hands, provincially—not federally. Intimate partner violence and coercive control are insidious forms of abuse that have devastating effects on victims and their families. From November 26, 2021, to November 25, 2022, 52 women in Ontario died as a result of femicide. We must do everything in our power to end this kind of violence and ensure that those who perpetrate it are held accountable by law. Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of women and girls in Ontario.

National Day of Mourning

MPP Jamie West: This Friday, April 28, is the international Day of Mourning. It’s a point of pride for my community because the Day of Mourning was started in Sudbury in 1983. It was Steelworkers and CUPE members who noticed that there was a procession for a firefighter who had died, and they wanted that recognition for every worker who has been killed, injured, or who has suffered occupational disease. They chose April 28 because that was the day in 1914 that the workers’ compensation act received third reading.

Good ideas can’t be contained—1983, in Sudbury; 1984, the Canadian Labour Congress; 1989, the AFL-CIO; and in 1991, Canada recognized the international Day of Mourning for the first time. A great idea that started in Sudbury, the Day of Mourning, or Workers’ Memorial Day, is now celebrated in more than 100 countries around the world; we simply stopped counting after 100.

We recognize the Day of Mourning by wearing arm bands or pins with the canary in the coal mine or by holding flags at half-mast.

But most people remember the Day of Mourning because of the moment of silence. The moment of silence is reflective of the slogan of the Day of Mourning: “Remember the Dead, Fight for the Living.”

I challenge all members of the House, when the moment of silence is finished, to never be silent again when it comes to health and safety for workers in the workplace.

Community services

Mr. Lorne Coe: I’m pleased to share that 10 organizations within the region of Durham recently received approximately $908,000 from the Resilient Communities Fund through the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

In Whitby, the Charles H. Best Diabetes Centre received a substantive grant to help them continue to deliver their outstanding programs and services to hard-working families across the region and in outlying areas.

Nearby, in Oshawa, Catholic Family Services of Durham received $141,000 to continue to provide help, hope and healing to individuals, couples and families.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation has invested $200 million through the Resilient Communities Fund to support the delivery of community-based initiatives throughout the region of Durham. What’s clear is that countless residents within the town of Whitby and other parts of the region of Durham rely on their services and programs every day.

Our government is lifting Durham residents up, providing them with a hand up through these investments, while building healthy and vibrant communities.

Religious holidays

Mr. Hardeep Singh Grewal: This month has been one of celebration, remembrance and prayer in my riding of Brampton East and for Ontarians across the province. Over the last 30 days, members of the Hindu community celebrated Hanuman Jayanti to commemorate the birth of the Hindu deity Hanuman. The Christian community celebrated Easter to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ through prayer and gatherings with their loved ones. The Jewish community observed Passover in remembrance and recognition of the community’s strength, bravery and resilience.

The Tamil communities celebrated Puthandu, the harvest festival which marks the beginning of the new year, as per the Tamil and Thai calendars. The Sikh community is celebrating Vaisakhi, marking the beginning of the harvest season in Punjab and the day the order of the Khalsa was created. And members of the Muslim community just celebrated Eid-Ul-Fitr to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Ontario is home to many individuals from diverse, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. I am proud to celebrate our province’s multiculturalism and diversity. We’re lucky to live in such a cultural mosaic that brings people together in such a joyful and united manner. I look forward to continuing to celebrate and honour the diversity of our province as cultural events take place throughout the coming months and year.

Hagersville Lions Chase the Ace raffle

Ms. Bobbi Ann Brady: Last week was National Volunteer Appreciation Week. Volunteers are the most important resource this province has, and our communities would grind to a halt without them. I want to give a huge shout-out to the Hagersville Lions Club, who recently wrapped up a fundraiser called Chase the Ace. Chase the Ace is a progressive raffle in which participants purchase a ticket for a chance to win in the weekly jackpot, but also a progressive jackpot. Every Thursday, people lined up at the Hagersville Legion to purchase tickets. Each week, the number of tickets sold grew along with the jackpot.

Speaker, 45 weeks of Catch the Ace in Hagersville; 45 weeks of a few dozen Lions Club members along with the Legion, members of the chamber of commerce and Hagersville Rocks gave up their time, not only on Thursdays, but for preparation ahead of time as well. Jackpot hopefuls came from as far as the United States, Nova Scotia, Alberta and British Columbia. In week 45, an astounding 152,000 tickets were sold. In the end, it was 83-year-old Richard Marshall who caught the ace, a commercial fisherman his whole life who reeled in over $2 million.

The West Haldimand Hospital and Healthcare Foundation gets an infusion of $1.4 million, the local food bank about $1 million and the Lions will retain about $550,000.

Lion Dan Matten said the 45 weeks was simply extraordinary and an entire community effort. For those missing the excitement of Catch the Ace, no worries. The Community Support Centre Haldimand Norfolk has already started a new round each Thursday at the Caledonia Legion. Best of luck to all.

Hospital funding

Mr. Matthew Rae: It’s my pleasure to rise today to highlight some important health care investments our government is making in my riding of Perth–Wellington. Recently, I announced, on behalf of Minister Jones, that our government is supporting our doctors working after hours in our hospitals through the Hospital On-Call Coverage Program. Stratford General Hospital will be receiving more than $2.3 million. Groves Memorial hospital will be receiving $1.2 million under the program.

In December, I was pleased to announce that Palmerston and District Hospital was approved for new MRI operating funding which totals over $1 million. Many in my rural communities currently travel to large urban centres for critical MRI services. This funding will ensure my constituents can access care closer to home in a more timely fashion.

There’s more, Speaker. The Minister of Health has provided Perth County Paramedic Services with over $187,000 to help provide wraparound supports through its mobile integrated health team. This funding is ensuring people in my riding are getting the right care in the right place.

There’s still more, Speaker. Last spring, our government launched the Learn and Stay program. As members know, this program covers the cost of tuition, books and other educational expenses for nurses in exchange for them practising in rural and northern communities. I’m pleased to share this program has helped the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance recruit and retain 16 new nurses. This is great news.

There’s more work to be done, but I am proud to be part of a government that is building a strong rural health care system.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): That concludes our members’ statements for this morning.

Independent members

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I recognize the member for Ottawa–Vanier on a point of order.

M me Lucille Collard: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent that, notwithstanding standing order 45(b)(iv), the time for debate on opposition day motion number 4 be apportioned as follows: 54 minutes to each of the recognized parties and 12 minutes to the independent members as a group.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Madame Collard is seeking the unanimous consent of the House that notwithstanding standing order 45(b)(iv), the time for debate on opposition day motion number 4 be apportioned as follows: 54 minutes to each of the recognized parties and 12 minutes to the independent members as a group. Agreed? Agreed.

Introduction of Visitors

Miss Monique Taylor: Once again, I’d like to welcome Michau van Speyk to the House. And up in the gallery, I see the former mayor of Hamilton, Larry Di Ianni. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Raymond Sung Joon Cho: Good morning, Mr. Speaker. I would like to warmly welcome members of the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto, located in my riding: chairman Alan Lam, president Angela Chan, and staff Simon Ip and Alice Qiao.

I have two more important people. Mr. Speaker, I’m very happy to introduce Ganapathy Raveendran and his spouse, Ruby, from Yugam Radio. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Logan Kanapathi: I’m very happy to introduce my good friends, Ganapathy Raveendran and his spouse, Ruby Yogadasan, president of Yugam Radio and Media Inc. They have promoted Tamil arts and culture for many, many years in our community. Also, Mr. Speaker, they celebrated a milestone birthday—70th birthday—last week. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

Hon. Stephen Lecce: I’m very excited to welcome students who are here from Liceo Giambattista Vico in Sulmona, Abruzzo, Italy. They are with us today. They just wrote a book, Voci d’Abruzzo. It helps to commemorate the story of Italian immigrants to this country and to the United States. Voices of Abruzzo honours their incredible legacy of sacrifice. Welcome to Queen’s Park. Benvenuto.

Ms. Natalia Kusendova-Bashta: Bonjour. Good morning, Speaker. Speaker, today we have members from Achēv who are visiting us today for their Queen’s Park advocacy day. Achēv is a not-for-profit that began 30 years ago, and they have grown to become one of the largest providers of employment and newcomer, youth, language and women’s services across the GTA. Joining us today in the gallery are CEO Tonie Chaltas; senior vice-presidents Moya MacKinnon and Karen McNeil; chair of the board Epsit Jajal; and head of government relations Kristen Neagle. They will be hosting a reception this evening in rooms 228 and 230, and I invite all members to join us for this wonderful event. Welcome.

M me France Gélinas: I would like to introduce Noemi Khondo, who is campaigns officer in the political action and education division; Andrew Ruszczak, who is a negotiator; and Geoff Cain—all three of them are from OPSEU/SEFPO—who is the executive board member and chair of the blood services and diagnostics sector. I’d also like to introduce Kat Lanteigne, who is the executive director of BloodWatch Ontario. They’re here to stop for-profit plasma collection. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Christine Hogarth: Good morning, everyone. I am very proud to introduce some residents from the wonderful riding of Etobicoke–Lakeshore: Cole, who is our page captain today; his proud parents, Allan Okrainec and Joelene Huber, who are here; his sister Madison and his grandmother Gabrielle; and some friends and neighbours, Alicia Markson and Julia Markson, who was a page in 2022. Welcome to Queen’s Park today.

Ms. Marit Stiles: I’m very pleased to welcome in the member’s gallery today Lourdes David, who is my constituency assistant holding down the fort in Davenport, but also Delilah, a Western Technical-Commercial School co-op student who has been helping us out at our constituency office. Welcome to your House.

Mr. Rudy Cuzzetto: I’m not sure if he’s here yet, but I would like to welcome Tim Peterson, the former MPP for Mississauga South from 2003 to 2007, as well as his colleagues from Probus Canada. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: I’d like to introduce my constituent and friend Michau van Speyk.

Hon. Stan Cho: I’d like to welcome a good friend and school trustee for Willowdale, Dr. Pei, to the Legislature this morning.

Mr. Rob Flack: I’d like to recognize Mr. Robert—Bob—Stanley, in the gallery here, former executive director of the party and a great friend to everyone on this side of the House. Welcome, Bob.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’ll continue if there are no objections.

Mrs. Daisy Wai: I too would like to welcome Mr. Alan Lam and Angela Chan from the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto. Welcome.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): That concludes the time we have for introduction of guests this morning.

Question Period

Government contract

Ms. Marit Stiles: This morning, it was revealed that this government’s sweetheart deal with the private Austrian luxury spa at Ontario Place will last for 95 years—a 95-year lease, Speaker, for an enormous swath of public parkland. This government is committing land in a public park, a park owned by the people of Ontario, to a private luxury spa until 2118. This government is signing parkland away from our kids and our kids’ kids and their kids’ kids. This government entered into this contract on behalf of the people of Ontario.

My question is to the Premier. When will they provide Ontarians with a copy of the contract that now involves more than a billion dollars?

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

Hon. Kinga Surma: I’d love the opportunity to be able to speak about the 43 acres of public park space that we will be creating at Ontario Place for families to finally enjoy. The government is entering into a long-term lease, but we cannot ignore the fact that they will be providing $500 million worth of capital investment on the site, including 12 acres of land.

I would love to highlight some of the successes through the negotiations that Infrastructure Ontario has had with our tenants. For the first time, we will have our tenants contributing to the repair and ongoing maintenance of the public realm space so that we don’t make the same mistake that previous governments have made and leave the site in disrepair. We will have wonderful tenants that will be contributing to the annual maintenance of the site to make sure that it is clean, safe and beautiful for families.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: It’s very interesting, because reps from the corporation called it “a standard multi-year commercial lease.” Speaker, 95-year leases are more usual when it’s public land being leased to a public institution, but this is parkland being leased to a for-profit international corporate conglomerate.

If it is a standard lease, then this government should have no problem providing details to the people of Ontario. We’re talking $650 million in public subsidies and a 95-year lease. Back to the Premier: What are the details of this contract?

Hon. Kinga Surma: The member of the opposition said it herself: These are standard lease agreements. Unlike other waterfront destinations, we are not selling the land; the land will continue to be in ownership of the people of the province. This is a lease agreement.

But, Mr. Speaker, our tenants will be contributing $500 million of injection to the site to bring it back to life and they will also be contributing to annual maintenance and repair costs, which has not happened before and which has led to the position that we are in today, where the site is in disrepair and in need of love and care.

Our government presented a vision to the people back in 2019 and again just last week. We will have 43 acres of beautiful public realm space. We will have three wonderful tenants, which include the science centre, and we will have lots for families to do on the site.

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

Ms. Marit Stiles: Public realm, Speaker? This is a private luxury spa. You have to ask, what are they hiding? What are they hiding?

This isn’t just about Toronto. I’ve been travelling around the province and I’ve heard people from every corner of Ontario express concerns about this government’s backroom deals and their lack of transparency. They’re alarmed by this government spending as much as $650 million on a subsidy for a private luxury spa and a massive parking lot. Now they’re alarmed that this government is committing to a backroom 95-year lease with absolutely no details.

This government has failed to show Ontarians what value this deal has for the people of this province. They’ve failed to produce the contracts. They’ve failed to provide the business case. Speaker, Ontarians deserve to know—I’m going to go back to the Premier again: When will this government come clean about this backroom deal?

Hon. Kinga Surma: Thank you to the member of the official opposition. Mr. Speaker, I’d love to share what I hear from constituents across this great province, including constituents in Etobicoke, Scarborough and in Toronto. What they tell me is that they do not like the fact that this site is sitting there empty and not enjoyed by families like it was back in the 1970s and 1980s. They want to bring their families there. They want to bring people who are visiting the city there. They want it to be a place of economic development, a wonderful place for families.

Mr. Speaker, beyond the 43 acres of free public realm space, we are also making sure that we have a modern marina for people to enjoy. We are making sure that there are boardwalks, food and beverage, piers and beaches. This site now, with the plans that we showed last week, will have something for everyone to enjoy.

Housing

Ms. Marit Stiles: Here is another thing that this government is trying to convince Ontarians of: They’ve put a lot of effort into trying to convince Ontarians that building luxury mansions on expensive sprawl is the solution to our housing crisis. They’re even ordering municipalities to create more sprawl on prime farmland. They’re risking regions’ drinking water.

The truth is that no one out there is buying it. No one thinks that bulldozing species at risk or adding to municipal servicing costs and driving up property taxes is going to get a single affordable home built.

Speaker, my question is to the Premier. How will lower density and more sprawl make housing more affordable to Ontarians?

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

Hon. Steve Clark: Again, the leader of the opposition provides a real head-scratching argument on housing. Every time the government brings forward a housing supply action plan, we know exactly what that leader and the NDP are going to do: They’re going to vote against it. Then, they’re going to rail against that there’s not enough housing supply.

Again, when they use the word “sprawl,” what does that mean? That means that a young couple who want to live in the community that they grew up in, that they work in, that they want to raise their family in can’t have that opportunity.

They also believe that a farm family who wants to have an opportunity to maybe build a site for their workers on their property or maybe—and this is tough for the NDP to understand—sever a lot for their son or daughter to live on the family farm—that’s the crux of what the NDP stands up against.

What do they also stand up against? They stand up to a $700-million investment in homelessness—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Hamilton Mountain will come to order.

Supplementary question.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Do you know what we are going to do, Speaker? We’re going to vote against legislation that compromises farmland and clean water and doesn’t build a single unit of affordable housing in this province.

As rents are reaching all-time highs and corporate landlords are turning record profits, you know who aren’t affected? Those who live in co-operative housing. Co-op residents don’t have to worry about excessive rent increases because co-ops are non-profit. Co-ops are a key solution to solving the affordability crisis for low- and moderate-income households in this province, the people who are feeling the very real effects of this government’s housing crisis. Yet this government’s budget offers absolutely nothing to create more affordable co-op homes.

To the Premier, will he reverse course on his failing housing plan and start investing in co-operative housing to bring some relief to Ontarians who are truly struggling?

Hon. Steve Clark: I just can’t for the life of me understand why this member and her party think that Ontarians are going to buy this load of malarkey. We continually stand up for homelessness prevention. We responded directly to municipalities who asked us to invest in supportive housing. The only party that stands up daily in this House to speak against supportive housing is the New Democrats. Every single time, they stand up against supportive housing. They vote against supportive housing. They vote against non-profit housing. They vote against co-op housing. Every single time we put in an initiative that builds our community housing system, Marit Stiles and the NDP say no.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. Do I need to remind the House that we don’t refer to each other by name? We refer to each other by our riding name or our ministerial name or, in this case, the Leader of the Opposition.

Start the clock. Final supplementary?

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, they’re so out of touch. Once again—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.

Ms. Marit Stiles: I really don’t care, Speaker, if they show me any respect; I just want them to respect the people of this province. I’m so tired of this. This is a government that’s failing to take responsibility at every turn.

They do not seem to even understand history, Speaker. The last time a government made investments in co-op housing in this province, it was an NDP government. We helped build 14,000 co-op homes. And do you know what, Speaker? We readied 17,000 additional homes for construction, and, guess what, the Conservatives came in and they cancelled them all—17,000 affordable places to live, all gone.

But let’s look at the here and the now. If this government still refuses to build more co-op housing, the least they could do is to bring back real rent control for the people of this province.

Speaker, back to the Premier: People need homes they can actually afford to live in. So will he take action by supporting the NDP’s motion today to bring back real rent control?

Interjections.

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

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Steve Clark: Speaker, when it comes to housing policy, the NDP “Stiles” have no merit.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. Given the fact that I just asked the House to stop doing that, and the very next response the minister did it again, I’m going to ask him to withdraw.

Hon. Steve Clark: Withdraw, Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Restart the clock, and the minister can conclude his answer.

Hon. Steve Clark: Speaker, the NDP and the opposition want us to go back to a time where there were no purpose-built rentals built in Ontario.

So what have our policies done? They protected tenants who are under existing rent control, just like we promised in the 2018 budget.

But what’s happened to new rental construction? We need more affordable rental supply. What’s happened, Speaker? In 2021, a 30-year high in purpose-built rental construction; in 2022, the most rental construction starts in our province’s history. And in 2023, our province is staying on track with over 5,000 purpose-built rental starts already this year, which is double last year’s total. We want to build upon that success. We don’t want to go back to the failed policies that that member and her party continue to talk about.

Tenant protection

Ms. Jessica Bell: My question is to the Premier. Nikki has lived in a rental home for two years. She pays $1,995 for a 600-square-foot basement apartment. Earlier this month, her landlord slapped her with a $200 rent increase, and now Nikki can no longer afford to pay the rent. This unaffordable rent increase is allowed because this government scrapped rent control on new units.

As more and more people in Ontario are struggling to pay the rent, what is this government’s plan to make rent affordable now?

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

Hon. Steve Clark: I’m going to again talk about the statistics that the NDP want to roll back: 2021, 30-year high rental construction; 2022, most rental starts in the history of our province; 2023, already we’ve seen 5,000 rental starts, double what they were last year. These are the stats that our government and our party are going to move forward.

The NIMBYism-defence parties are always going to stand against increasing housing supply.

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

Ms. Jessica Bell: Back to the Premier: It is alarming to learn that Toronto’s average rent price has passed the $3,000-a-month barrier for the first time ever, approximately 13.8% up from the previous year. This is shocking. This massive rent spike is a clear distress signal that our housing affordability crisis is getting worse and the Conservatives’ plan is not working.

The NDP is bringing forward a motion this afternoon to bring in real rent control on all homes to provide immediate financial relief to Ontarians, 1.5 million renter households. My question is to the Premier: Will this government support our motion?

Interjections.

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

To respond, the Associate Minister of Housing.

Hon. Nina Tangri: I want to thank the member opposite for her question. It’s this government that stands shoulder to shoulder with our tenants across Ontario. We’re the only government that has taken decisive measures to strengthen protections for renters, whilst also putting in place measures for more rental housing. We’ve heard about the record purpose-built rentals.

But I want to take us back a little bit, to the dark days of the early 1990s, when we remember when the people of Ontario entrusted the NDP for one term to run this government. They had a majority, and what did they do? Let’s talk about rentals. The rental guideline in 1990 was 4.6%—

Interjections.

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

Hon. Nina Tangri: —although inflation was significantly lower; in 1991, 5.4%; and in 1992, when inflation was much lower than it is today, they had it at 6%—absolutely not acceptable. This government this year has a rent increase guideline of 2.5%. This is the government with this—

Interjections.

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

Automotive industry

Mr. Rob Flack: My question, through you, sir, is to the Premier, but first I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Premier, the Minister of Economic Development, the Minister of Labour and the Minister of Northern Development and Indigenous Affairs for coming to St. Thomas and making an historic announcement to better Ontario.

Under the previous Liberal government, Ontario’s auto manufacturing sector was all but destroyed because of the reckless economic policies they implemented. As far back as 2015, the CEO of Fiat Chrysler warned everyone that the short-sighted and destructive policies of the Liberals and the NDP were hurting our auto industry, causing good-paying jobs to flee our province. Companies like Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover and Ford were raising concerns, so they opted to build assembly plants in the US and Mexico instead of Windsor and Essex.

With so much that Ontario has to offer businesses, we cannot miss opportunities that will create great jobs and contribute to our province’s economic prosperity. Speaker, can the Premier please explain how our government is ensuring that Ontario is an auto manufacturing leader once again?

Hon. Doug Ford: I want to thank the great work of the MPP from Elgin–Middlesex–London. I always say he’s one of the smartest business minds down at Queen’s Park. Thank you.

It took about 16 ministries; it took a big chunk of the province right across the board to get this deal done, to make sure that we’re competitive with the rest of the world, no matter if it’s our US friends down south of the border, or Asia, or Europe, or South America. We’re in a competitive market, but we made sure we rolled out the red carpet, creating 3,000 jobs.

The real amazing story about this is the spin-off jobs, 30,000 extra jobs. No matter if it’s an additional school or hospital or roads or bridges or a Walmart or a Costco, these are the reciprocal jobs that are coming to St. Thomas. St. Thomas has seen some very tough times, when they lost 5,000 jobs. Now their town is going to be absolutely booming. That will have spin-off jobs in London and Elgin and the whole region.

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

Mr. Rob Flack: Thank you to the Premier once again for this great, historic announcement. The investments in Elgin county by Volkswagen and in all our local communities in southwestern Ontario truly marks a new and generational era for all of us. St. Thomas suffered through the closing of Ford’s Talbotville assembly plant in 2011—it was really tough—and Sterling Trucks assembly plant in 2009, resulting in thousands and thousands of jobs gone.

This investment made by Volkswagen is truly historic, and it sends a clear and definitive message that we are back in business in southwestern Ontario. I want to make the point that sustainable jobs matter to the people of Ontario, and it is the leadership and actions of government that make a difference by creating the environment for business to create jobs and succeed.

Speaker, can the Premier please elaborate on how our government is continuing to support our auto manufacturing sector in our great province?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Premier.

Hon. Doug Ford: Again, I want to thank the MPP. Mr. Speaker, this is a historic investment of Volkswagen to build its first overseas facility—16 million square feet. That’s 16 million square feet. It’s going to be one of the largest facilities in North America, one of the largest in the entire world, because we created the environment and the conditions for them to come here, along with General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Stellantis and Honda. There’s no jurisdiction in North America that has six auto manufacturers right there producing either the batteries or the vehicles.

Let’s remind everyone of four and a half years ago, when the Liberals and the NDP chased 300,000 jobs out of the province. They were gone. GM was closing. Ford was leaving. Stellantis was leaving.

Guess what, Mr. Speaker? We’re an economic powerhouse. We’re leading the EV revolution everywhere in the world right here in Ontario.

Housing

Mr. Jeff Burch: Through you, Speaker, to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing: There’s a housing development in Port Colborne, a city in my riding, that was approved in the 1980s and they still haven’t broken ground. As a matter of fact, the Regional Planning Commissioners of Ontario, AMO and Ontario’s Big City Mayors have all pointed out that there are 1.25 million homes in the approval pipeline that are not being built. Planners say if the province could incentivize developers to build what is already approved, they’d be 85% of the way to their goal.

Will the minister agree to implement a reasonable time limit on developers and builders whose developments have already been approved, yes or no?

Hon. Steve Clark: I’m glad the member opposite talked about Port Colborne. I had a great meeting with the mayor and representatives from that municipality at the Ontario Good Roads meeting last week—fantastic. They’re so aligned with our government’s policies on getting shovels in the ground faster. I want to thank them for all of their ideas and suggestions that they gave the ministry during Good Roads.

But, Speaker, I have to take the opportunity with this member, because he and his party continue to vote against our measures which would incentivize the development community to get shovels in the ground faster. Exactly what our government has put forward would do what this member wants and he votes against it, so I’m not sure how he rationalizes that back home—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.

Supplementary question.

Mr. Jeff Burch: Speaker, this government has been blaming municipalities and the approval process for the housing crisis. According to AMO’s calculations, they have taken away $5 billion in infrastructure revenue while at the same time fining municipalities if they don’t hire more planners to speed up the approval process. Meanwhile, the Premier’s well-connected friends get to bank land and speculate all they want, driving up the price of housing and creating red tape.

Will this minister stop blaming municipalities, do what is fair and implement a sunset clause on approvals so that developers and builders must build housing in a reasonable period of time after they’ve been approved, yes or no?

Hon. Steve Clark: The member has got it wrong. I’m blaming the NDP for voting against every measure that this government puts forward to increase housing supply. This is the fundamental argument that we have with the NIMBYism-defence party over there. The fact is that we as a government have an idea that we need to get those input costs down. We need to lower the costs. Right now, fees and charges in the greater Golden Horseshoe put $119,500 on the costs alone. We want to reduce those baseline costs to make housing more affordable.

The NDP will always—and I mean this—stand up for more fees, more charges, more taxes on non-profit housing, co-op housing, affordable housing, attainable housing. Every single time, you guys haven’t seen a tax that you don’t like.

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

The next question.

Automotive industry

Mr. Rob Flack: My question is to the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. I want to start by thanking him for his tireless and dogged determination for getting the Volkswagen deal across the line. Well done, sir.

As we have heard many times in this House, before this government got elected, our auto and manufacturing sectors were in deep, deep trouble. Hundreds of thousands of auto and manufacturing jobs fled the province thanks to the previous government, leaving Ontario unprepared to lead the charge on the future of electric vehicles. That is why we are laser-focused on rebuilding the province’s auto and manufacturing sectors by attracting investments, all the while creating good, long-term, sustainable jobs.

Last Friday, our government announced further details of the historic Volkswagen investment in my riding of Elgin–Middlesex–London. Will the minister provide an update on the Volkswagen deal?

Hon. Victor Fedeli: It was a thrill to hear Volkswagen announce their $7-billion investment for their first overseas EV battery manufacturing plant right here in Ontario. From our very first meeting in Toronto a year ago this month to the four meetings they had in Queen’s Park with Premier Ford, we knew that Ontario had everything VW was looking for.

As we talked about our EV ecosystem, from critical minerals in the north to the manufacturing might in the south, you could see VW being drawn into the Ontario story: clean, green electricity; coal-free, green steel; one of the largest automakers in North America; the only jurisdiction with five auto plants; 700 parts companies; 300 connected-and-autonomous-vehicle companies; 500 tool-and-die and mould makers. But what they really saw was that we already have the talent to turn out world-class, award-winning production.

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

Mr. Rob Flack: Thank you to the minister for his answer. It has been remarkable to see that the hard work of this government has paid off once again in the form of attracting the largest EV plant in the history of our province and, I dare say, the largest automotive investment in the history of this country called Canada.

These investments are building our strong economy and bolstering competitiveness, which is vital to our success. But beyond that, these investments demonstrate that our government continues to create good-paying, sustainable jobs now and in the future.

Speaker, will the minister please elaborate on what the Volkswagen investment means not only to the people of my riding of Elgin–Middlesex–London, but to all the people of this great province?

Hon. Victor Fedeli: What Volkswagen really saw in us was our people. They knew that we can do it here because we produce 65,000 STEM grads every year. We have 24 colleges and universities offering automotive programs. When we met them in Germany last October, we showed them Ontario understands cars and manufacturing, and we have for 100 years, and that by choosing us, they would be in the heart of the EV revolution.

We felt encouraged about where we were with the deal when Volkswagen effectively moved into our offices last January. And winning it, Speaker? There’s just no better feeling than that, so thank you, Premier Ford. It was the culmination of a lot of work, a lot of shoe leather, and a lot of sweat equity by a lot of partners.

Ontario now has $25 billion in new auto investment in two and a half years.

Land use planning

Ms. Peggy Sattler: My question is to the Premier. A staff report went to the London city councillors last week warning that Bill 23 will cause a $100-million revenue loss over the next five years, likely resulting in property tax increases. City staff cautioned that Bill 23 will reduce parks and green spaces, limit the city’s ability to invest in low-income housing and cause needed infrastructure improvements to be deferred. It will make it challenging for London to deliver on its approved target of 47,000 new housing units.

Speaker, why is this government creating a huge revenue hole for cities like London and making it more difficult to increase housing supply?

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

Hon. Steve Clark: You know, Speaker, in London, they’ve got a great mayor in His Worship Mayor Josh Morgan. I had an awesome opportunity to chat with him on Thursday at the Big City Mayors meeting in Kitchener. Mayor Morgan and his council get it. They were one of the first municipalities in Ontario to sign on to our housing pledge—no problem in making that goal of 47,000 housing starts by 2031—and, again, want to build, provide very respectful comments.

The meeting with the Big City Mayors on Thursday was amazing because we asked for their input. We’re looking for their suggestions and their guidance on some of the measures in our housing policy.

The only party that really sits on the sidelines are New Democrats, who always complain, never give any positive recommendations and, again, just vote against housing policy just for the sake.

We want to build upon the success that Mayor Morgan and his council have in London. We’re going to continue to engage with them.

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

Ms. Peggy Sattler: I don’t know why the minister is so dismissive of the hard-working staff who work for the city of London. The staff report also warns that Bill 23 will destroy wetlands, woodlands and natural habitats, resulting in serious harm and putting species, conservation and our environment at risk.

The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority states that Bill 23 will “open up significant holes in the delivery of our natural hazard roles, rendering them ineffective,” and “will negatively impact our ability to protect people and property from natural hazards.”

Speaker, why is this government gutting protections for the wetlands that protect cities like London from flooding risk?

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

Hon. Doug Ford: By no means. We’re actually increasing the greenbelt. The greenbelt has grown under our administration.

Let me just talk about the economic development. Mr. Speaker, we have 445,000 people who landed in Ontario, the fastest-growing region anywhere in North America. We’re seeing unprecedented growth. The reason we’re seeing unprecedented growth: We’ve created that environment, the climate for companies to invest. Every single day, my Minister of Economic Development gives me a list three pages long of these massive companies coming here.

Guess what, Mr. Speaker? We need homes for them to live in. It’s very simple economics, folks, that the NDP don’t understand. It’s business sense. It’s called supply and demand. When there’s a greater demand and not the supply, prices go up.

We’re going to create the supply. We’re going to make sure we build the 1.5 million homes for newcomers and people who are here who need a home. That’s what we’re going to do.

Affordable housing

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: Good morning, everyone. My question is for the Premier.

We are in a housing affordability crisis in this province. We all know that. Our major urban centres have an entire generation of young people and essential workers who are unable to find rental housing that they can afford.

Enter 8 Dawes Road, a plot of land in the centre of my beautiful riding of Beaches–East York. Originally a site owned by Metrolinx, it was recently sold to a housing developer. Great: more housing just steps from the Danforth GO train station and TTC subway at Main, exactly where new apartment buildings should be encouraged. And yet, that Metrolinx land deal contained zero requirements for delivering any on-site affordable housing units.

My question is, why doesn’t this government require that Metrolinx include minimum affordable housing requirements in their property sales to private housing developers? And why wasn’t this done for the Danforth GO station site at 8 Dawes Road?

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

Hon. Kinga Surma: Thank you to the member for the question. I appreciate the member’s question very much, because it was this government that led the way in terms of tying housing with transit construction. We are expanding the subway system by 50% in the city of Toronto and York region. We want to bring housing opportunities with it, which led to the creation of the Transit-Oriented Communities Program, which we are now very much focusing on the transit stations on the Ontario Line, on Yonge North.

We will be providing housing opportunities but also affordable and attainable housing models as well, and we are working with local communities to learn from them what other community needs exist within that particular area.

We are working very well with the city of Toronto. We are progressing on all of our stations and we will continue to work in partnership with Metrolinx.

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

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: Thank you very much for that answer, but obviously 8 Dawes Road fell through the cracks because nothing happened there.

In front of me now I have the report of the Ontario Housing Affordability Task Force. The task force is comprised of industry leaders and experts. They consulted with stakeholders, including municipalities and advocacy groups, to develop the report.

In appendix C, Government Surplus Land, the following point is made: “All future government land sales, whether commercial or residential, should have an affordable housing component of at least 20%”—in your own report.

My question to the Premier is, what is the point? What is the point of creating reports if you do not take the sound advice of experts? And will you take a bolder and gutsier approach to affordable housing by requiring 20% of newly built units to be affordable? And if you need a backbone, I’m happy to give you an injection.

Hon. Kinga Surma: I would like to ask the member opposite, who sat on city council for many years, why the city didn’t lead the way in building a TOC program. It was this government that led the way in terms of tying housing to transit development opportunities across the city of Toronto and Yonge North.

Mr. Speaker, we are making great progress. We are building more housing, including attainable and affordable housing opportunities along our subway line, but we’re not stopping there. We are doing a very thorough analysis of all of our GO stations within the greater Toronto and Hamilton area to see where other opportunities exist.

We announced East Harbour, for example, as well as Mimico. Mimico, actually, was a station that the former previous government spoke about but never got done.

Mr. Speaker, this was a government in action, and we will build housing and community benefits that come along with it.

Housing

Mr. Will Bouma: My question is for the Associate Minister of Housing. Many communities across our province have too many individuals and families experiencing housing instability. The factors contributing to homelessness and poverty are complex and need to be addressed with comprehensive, innovative, long-term strategies that help our most vulnerable.

In my riding of Brantford–Brant, we have a number of incredible resources and supports for those who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. I am incredibly proud of the work that these agencies undertake to deliver in providing help for individuals, families and Indigenous communities, but there is more that should be done, and can be done, for them.

Speaker, can the associate minister please explain how our government’s investments into local programs will support housing and homelessness prevention services in my community of Brantford–Brant?

Hon. Nina Tangri: I want to thank the member from Brantford–Brant for the tireless work that he does, and for this important question.

Our government is committed to providing the resources they need to combat homelessness and poverty. We are investing an additional $1.8 million into that community, bringing the total amount of provincial funding to almost $7 million, a nearly 34% increase, Speaker. This money will be used to fund the Homelessness Prevention Program and the Indigenous Supportive Housing Program, which will provide substantial support to those who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of being homeless.

Our government recognizes the critical relationship between housing supply and homelessness, and that’s why we’re working to ensure that all Ontarians have access to affordable housing and safe housing, no matter where they live.

We’re working with the 29 largest and fastest-growing municipalities to increase housing density around major transit station areas and other priority growth areas like the downtown.

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

Mr. Will Bouma: The shortage of housing supply impacts all Ontarians, no matter their background or their budget.

Under the previous Liberal government, the shortage of affordable housing worsened and community supports were lacking. Communities like my riding were unfortunately overlooked by the previous Liberal government, and my constituents are rightly concerned about the impact that their inactions have had on this serious situation. Ontarians deserve a government that is focused on tackling the supply crisis and providing a comprehensive approach to increase the supply of supportive and affordable housing for the most vulnerable.

Speaker, can the associate minister please explain how our government is continuing to make progress in supporting communities to ensure that resources are available for those who need it most?

Hon. Nina Tangri: Thank you once again to the passionate member from Brantford–Brant for the question.

We’re working hard to ensure that all residents have access to the resources they need and we’re committed to providing municipalities with the tools that they require to do so. Since being appointed associate minister I’ve been meeting people in many communities, talking to our great members from this caucus from all of these regions. The consensus is clear: Unlike the previous Liberal government, who neglected communities like Brantford–Brant, we recognize that every community in Ontario deserves the same opportunity to grow and to prosper.

Under the leadership of this Premier and this minister, our government is investing billions of dollars into transit and infrastructure as we accelerate the construction of new homes in all parts of the province. And, Speaker, we’re going to get it done.

Education

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Since coming to power, this government has cut education funding in Ontario by $1,200 per student in real terms. Thanks to this underfunding, school boards are currently scrambling to plan cuts. Teachers and education workers are burning out, and a growing number of classrooms have unqualified educators present. Kids are going without vital supports.

In the midst of this crisis, the Premier thinks that increasing funding for education by only 0.8% is sufficient when the government’s own projection for inflation this year is 3.6%. Why does the Premier believe developers and highways should get billions, but kids should get cuts?

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

Hon. Stephen Lecce: On the contrary, we believe students should get back to basics, which is why we’ve brought forth a plan to strengthen foundational skills in reading, writing and math. We increased staffing by 2,000 additional focused educators, with respect to literacy promotion and math. We’ve hired 8,000 additional workers since we started in 2018. This year, like every year, we are increasing funding—over $690 million, an increase in funding that’s going to help kids get back on track.

This morning, we announced over $20 million in additional funds to combat violence that’s happening in and around our schools, a 37% increase in Focus on Youth to help school boards with respect to after-school mentorship, leadership and career-development programming and free camps for high-need communities.

We just launched an agreement with the Pinball Clemons Foundation. We launched another agreement with Respect Group—that’s Sheldon Kennedy, a former NHL player. All of these funds are for the TDSB and school boards across Ontario to combat violence and keep children safe in schools across this province.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementa