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October 21, 2025

44th Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2025-Oct-21 vol. A (PDF)

L025A - Tue 21 Oct 2025 / Mar 21 oct 2025

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Tuesday 21 October 2025 Mardi 21 octobre 2025

Orders of the Day

Building a More Competitive Economy Act, 2025 / Loi de 2025 visant à bâtir une économie plus concurrentielle

Members’ Statements

Women’s achievements

Small business

Persons Day

Wildfires in Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Flooding in Punjab

Road safety

Public safety

Affordable housing

Oktoberfest

Visitors

Remarkable Women at Queen’s Park

Introduction of Visitors

Legislative pages

Steve Butland

Question Period

Government accountability

Government accountability

Government accountability

Government accountability

Child care

Government accountability

International trade

Education

Government accountability

Homelessness

Ontario economy

Manufacturing jobs

Government accountability

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs

Standing Committee on the Interior

Petitions

Post-secondary education

Homelessness

Animal protection

International trade

Anti-bullying initiatives

Government services

International trade

Education funding

Interprovincial trade

Appareils et accessoires fonctionnels

Endangered species

Commerce interprovincial

Vision care

Orders of the Day

Working for Workers Seven Act, 2025 / Loi de 2025 visant à œuvrer pour les travailleurs, sept

The House met at 0900.

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

Prayers.

Orders of the Day

Building a More Competitive Economy Act, 2025 / Loi de 2025 visant à bâtir une économie plus concurrentielle

Ms. Khanjin moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill 56,

An Act to amend various Acts / Projet de loi 56, Loi modifiant diverses lois.

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

Hon. Andrea Khanjin: It is a privilege to rise in the House to introduce the Building a More Competitive Economy Act. I will be sharing my time with the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks as well as the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.

Before I begin, Speaker, I just wanted to take a quick moment to commemorate a great constituent of mine, because I wouldn’t be here in this Legislature elected as the member for Barrie–Innisfil if it wasn’t for the great constituents that I represent. But sadly, we lost Derek Francis on Sunday to a battle with cancer. He was a remarkable individual who contributed so much to our local Legion in Innisfil, in Belle Ewart, Legion 547.

Many of us would ask: If we won the lottery, if we had $1 million, what would we do? Well, Derek Francis asked that very same question, and he said, “If I ever won $1 million, I would be donating it to the Legion.” Well, Speaker, in his lifetime, he actually won the Lotto 6/49, and he fulfilled that dream of his, which was to donate money to the Legion. In fact, he donated $26,000 to the local Legion, and he will forever be remembered for his generosity.

Derek not only donated to the local Legion, but he also helped his children get through school and did so much for our community, whether it’s the Barrie Food Bank, and certainly he will be missed. I will miss his annual tradition that he had with his wife, April, where they would stop by my house around the holidays and drop off a little ornament that April would work on and that she had beaded. So, to April and your family, my condolences. And Derek, may you rest in peace.

Speaker, as I continue on with the bill that is before us, this is an example of how we are moving forward. Our government is moving forward with our unwavering commitment to make Ontario the most competitive place in the G7 to live, work, invest and do business. This bill is not just about cutting red tape. It’s about unlocking opportunity. It’s about removing barriers that hold workers back and hold businesses and communities back. We are unleashing the full economic potential of this province and we’re protecting Ontario’s future by acting decisively in the face of global uncertainty.

I want to thank my deputy minister, Maud Murray, and the whole team at the Ministry of Red Tape Reduction for their work in putting this great piece of legislation together, as well as my colleagues across government for their collaboration and leadership. Speaker, red tape reduction bills are truly a team effort, and I am so blessed to be joined by such an incredible team in this Legislature who are always putting forward bright, bold ideas that keep our economy moving forward.

This bill is also a great example not only of how our government is working as a team, how we’re working across ministries, but also the impactful contributions each of us make. This bill has contributions from nine different ministries that are playing a vital role. One of the ministers who could not be with us today who contributed to this role is our Minister of Infrastructure, Minister Kinga Surma, who delightfully had a little baby girl many weeks ago, little Georgia. If she’s watching, I just want to congratulate her on the beautiful birth of her baby girl. We are excited to see her in the Legislature when you bring her to meet all of us.

Speaker, we live in a time of rapid change, and the global economic pressures—inflation, supply chain disruptions, geopolitics and the headwinds of geopolitics—are shaping our landscape. The recent study as of Monday by the Bank of Canada survey of businesses shows confidence across the country is still weak, and a large part of this is because of the uncertainty from the United States.

The central bank’s quarterly business outlook survey actually showed uncertainty still remains a top concern cited among Canadian businesses. The other concern they also showed in the exact same survey is that cost pressures, slowing demand, taxes and regulations still actually round out the top concerns amongst businesses in this third quarter. To complement that, our Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the CFIB, also indicated persistent uncertainty among small business owners.

This is an impetus—that it has never been more important to cut red tape, and our government is listening and taking decisive action. That is what the Building a More Competitive Economy Act is about. It’s about positioning Ontario to meet this new moment. In this environment, we must be nimble, we must be bold and we must act with purpose. Our government has a clear plan to protect Ontario’s economy by cutting red tape, streamlining approvals, modernizing regulations and unleashing the full potential of our workforce and industries.

This is a direct response to the challenges we face and the opportunities where we must seize to stay ahead. It builds on the commitments we’ve made on the progress already launched to reinforce our momentum

Under the Liberals, Ontario was shackled in red tape. Our businesses were strangled by overregulation and they weren’t able to do what they do best, which is help grow our local economies, hire people and give back to our communities. Under the Liberals’ rule, the red tape compliance cost for small businesses hit $33,000 per business per year, the highest of any province in Canada. The Liberals’ failed policies forced Ontario businesses to pay a total of $15 billion in annual regulatory costs, twice as high as any other province. How is anyone supposed to open a business in Ontario?

The Liberal legacy of overregulation strangled Ontario’s potential and held Ontario back. It is no wonder why the Canadian Federation of Independent Business gave the Liberals a C- on red tape reduction when they were in government.

But there is hope. Our government got elected, and now Ontario is actually the best place to do business with the lowest regulatory burden in all of the Confederation. All of this is without compromising our environment and safety, and that is something we can all be proud of.

The Building a More Competitive Economy Act is more about what we’re doing to protect Ontario from the disruptions that we’re seeing to make us more competitive in this economy. We are reinforcing the foundations of a resilient, self-sustaining economy that can weather uncertainty and thrive in a rapidly changing world. This act includes 11 items, from regulatory amendments to policy changes from nine ministries, and together, these measures will accelerate labour mobility across provinces and territories. It will cut red tape for permissions and approvals in key sectors like forestry, mining, energy and housing.

It will strengthen our supply chains by developing a made-in-Ontario vehicle policy to support the auto industry through fleet purchases by provincial ministries and the broader public sector and municipalities. It will support Ontario producers, local economies and jobs by exploring ways to increase procurement of Ontario- and Canadian-made goods, and it will modernize outdated legislation to improve clarity and consistency. It will strengthen Ontario’s position as a global leader in economic competitiveness.

Ontario is at a crossroads, and the status quo isn’t enough. As the global landscape continues to shift dramatically, we need to do more, and this legislation positions Ontario to meet that new moment. A stronger, more competitive Ontario can position itself as a global leader in investment readiness and economic development. By reducing barriers, improving regulatory efficiency and listening to the needs of the people—employer and employee alike—we are laying the foundation of long-term growth and prosperity.

I would like to take a moment to explain how each of the pieces of this legislation help address this critical point. As my colleague the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks will be speaking to this bill, as well as my colleague from health will be speaking to this bill, I will allow them to address those particular sections. But first, I want to address the buy local and support for workers piece of this act, which tackles the growing challenges of labour shortages and protecting jobs.

Across sectors, from health care to skilled trades, employers are struggling to find qualified workers, and so that is why we need to seize the moment here and be able to support made-in-Ontario. That is what we have in this bill, the ability to say that we should lead by example.

When it comes to our local automakers, I have many in Barrie and across the way in Alliston, which is Honda, and the ripple effects we see of those jobs are great. From all the precision components that are made for these vehicles to the greater supply chain through the press—which I know the Minister of Economic Development and Trade has actually come with me to Matsu automation in my riding of Barrie and seen first-hand the incredible press they have there. These are local employers. This is part of our greater automotive supply chain, and we need to be able to stand up for them every step of the way.

This bill is a move in that direction—by supporting those workers, to tell them that there is certainty in this uncertain global world, under the Donald Trump tariffs.

There is a government that is listening to those workers to protect their jobs, but also to lead by example. When we say, “Buy an Ontario vehicle,” not only are we saying that for the ministries of this government, the Ontario public service or municipalities, but we’re leading by example, for all Ontarians, to say, “When you’re going buy that next vehicle, maybe make a strong statement with your pocketbook.” We saw this summer where a lot of people chose to keep their tourism dollars here in Ontario, here in Canada, and certainly we can do that for autoworkers as well.

To them, I say that Premier Ford will always have your back, and certainly in Barrie–Innisfil, I will always continue to represent the great supply chain we have in the automotive sector.

Speaker, the Premier talks about this a lot, which is creating the right environment to create growth in the uncertain times that we’re in. And so it’s no wonder why this government has already seen great growth in red tape reduction. To date, we’ve been able to reduce $1.2 billion in red tape reduction. We’ve been able to save individuals and people 1.8 million hours in red tape time. As we all know, time is money. And so we’re building on these great successes that we’ve embarked on since the beginning of our government’s mandate back in 2018.

But it’s not just there that we are helping support our automotive workers, helping a lot of skilled labour be able to practise across this great Confederation. But you see that the work that—and she’ll be talking later today—the Minister of Health is doing with the as-of-right tool.

It’s frustrating to me and my community when you have individuals who are really excited that we have a primary health clinic, a nurse practitioner health clinic that is opening at the Rizzardo centre, which the Minister of Health came and helped us launch, but there’s still so many other individuals who don’t understand, “Well, why can’t my daughter be practising here in Ontario?” Or: “My son or daughter went to school in Ireland and now they’re stuck and they want to come back to Canada.” These are all things our government is looking at, and so this as-of-right tool is going to help us propel that economy by saying that if you are a doctor or nurse in Saskatchewan and Alberta, it will take up to two business days to be able to be recognized here in Ontario.

And, Speaker, that is a united front for Canada. If you want to be able to practise in Ontario, we should be able to say, “Yes, come practise here. Please take on patients, and please come back home and practise here.”

I know she will elaborate on that particular section, but one other aspect of this bill that I did want to touch on—it’s a sector that’s being really hard hit by tariffs at the present moment. We talk a lot about steel, but it’s also our forestry industry. As everyone knows, I love to frequent our provincial parks and sometimes with our Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. But when you go out to Algonquin Provincial Park, you can’t help but see those great trucks that are carrying all the lumber from the forestry sector.

And you see the sustainable practices we have here in Ontario—bar next to none how great these workers are. I was able to actually visit a lot of these workers up north and in Resolute Bay, and the passion they have for the sector, but they’re hurting right now, and they want a government that has their back. Premier Ford, with his leadership and in this bill—we’re showing the natural resource sector, the forestry sector, that we have their back. We don’t want them to be mired in bureaucracy and red tape.

We want them to get on with what they’re doing best, which is to employ workers and continue with the sustainable practices that they’re very proud of.

The amendments that we’re proposing in this particular bill are amendments to the Crown Forest Sustainability Act. What it does is that it would streamline annual approval requirements and remove unnecessary steps, helping reduce costs for forest management planning. Overall, this proposal delivers on Ontario’s commitment to strengthen the forestry sector by reducing red tape and supporting economic growth.

These changes are enabled in nature—pun intended. They lay the groundwork for future regulatory improvements that will be developed in consultation with stakeholders. But let’s be clear—and the direction is clear: We are building a more efficient, responsive forestry framework that supports growth while maintaining environmental standards.

The other part of this bill, in addition to supporting our automotive sector, our forestry sector, our great health care workers across this province, is about road safety. This bill is building on our road safety and infrastructure so that we can continue to protect Ontario’s people and communities while supporting a strong economy. Road safety is a shared responsibility, and our government is taking action to deliver safe benefits in a fair and transparent way across the province.

Safe roads keep communities connected, helping families thrive, workers succeed and businesses grow across Ontario. Protecting Ontario also means being responsible with taxpayer dollars and making sure every investment results in deliverables. We’re taking action to deliver road safety measures that focus on prevention. This bill will work with municipalities to put smarter, community-focused solutions in place that keep our roads safe and our communities strong.

By focusing on prevention, we’re protecting Ontario’s communities, supporting our economy and ensuring our province remains the safest jurisdiction in North America. These preventative steps will help slow down drivers and keep our streets safer.

But Speaker, this bill is more than just policy. It’s about delivering real outcomes that protect Ontario’s future and strengthen us as a global leader. If passed, the measures in this package will save businesses and individuals millions of dollars in compliance costs, reduce approval timelines by months, not weeks, improve access to skilled labour and send a strong signal to investors that Ontario is serious about competitiveness. These proposed changes reflect our commitment to protect Ontario’s economic strength and ensure we’re the most attractive place in the G7 to invest, innovate and build.

Another part of this bill that I’m quite proud of is the work that we’re doing at the red tape reduction ministry, and that is compiling a list of the different economic permits that we have within this government. Before this exercise, we didn’t know how many economic permits we had in this province. This is something Alberta had already done, to compile a list of economic permits that the government is responsible for. We found that in Ontario, we have 332 economic permits. This is anything from what you’ve seen in the past, which is parking minimums, which in previous red tape bills we got rid of.

That not only helped with the cost of housing but also the red tape that was getting in the way. These 332 permits that we’re looking to eliminate or transform are going to help us move our economy.

You’ve already seen the great successes this government has had with the “one project, one process” review, where we’re cutting mining approval timelines in half, by 50%. The goal of reviewing these 332 permits is transforming about 35%; if not transforming, eliminating them all right. These are low-risk permits, everyday routines. We’ve already seen in practice how this government has transformed the regulatory framework without compromising our environment or worker safety. It’s allowing workers to get on with the work that is at hand. Our economy cannot afford to stop. We need to be progressive.

We need to move forward. There are systems in this government that were outdated. We had policies that were developed before the iPhone. So this is about working smarter for business, smarter for government, delivering results and real-time impacts.

When I started my speech, I talked about the uncertainty. Nothing gives our economy, the people, the employers and employees alike more certainty than being able to say that the government will deliver on this timeline. And many people have said, “I just want to know where my permit is. Is there a way that I could check it?” Well, this framework that we’re introducing in this bill will allow us to work towards that measure, so that if you’re a proponent who’s applying for a permit, you’re able to put in that permit number into a database. In this 21st century, believe it or not, we do not have this.

We have it for other streams of business, thanks to this government—thanks to the work that the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement has delivered on, we have it in our day-to-day transactions we have as a government, but we’re taking that template, we’re taking that model and we’re moving it further so that those individuals have that certainty. They can see where in the queue they are, where is that permit—providing that certainty for their project.

Frankly, Speaker, this will not only help industry thrive, it will help us build more homes. It will help us unlock that economy and we can keep those jobs and keep those industries here. Now more than ever, we need to seize that moment and be able to give that certainty to businesses.

Again, this isn’t about compromising safety. These are low-risk, everyday routine things. To point to an example of the previous reviews this government has done is we had an environmental assessment process in this province where we let hydro poles collapse if we were replacing them. And thanks to the getting it done bill, now we are able to replace them in real time. But this was an antiquated system, Speaker. This is what we’re talking about when we’re reviewing our permits and permissions system—updating this antiquated system so we’re in touch with the 21st century and we can move as fast as the opportunities for people to seize them.

Speaker, as I wrap up my comments and pass the baton to the next speaker, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, I want to ask all members to support this bill, support unleashing our full economic potential, support the workers, whether it’s in forestry, whether it’s in auto, whether it’s the small business, whether it’s the person working from home—every employer and employee benefits from red tape reduction. We’ve been here at this crossroads before. The status quo is not working. We need to do better. Workers are counting on it.

So let’s keep building a province where opportunity moves as fast as the people ready to seize it. Let’s fight to keep Ontario a place that remains resilient, responsive and ready to lead in a rapid global economy. Let’s protect Ontario. I hope that everyone will support this bill.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ric Bresee): I recognize the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Hon. Todd J. McCarthy: It’s an honour to rise today to follow the Minister of Red Tape Reduction and to speak to Bill 56, the Building a More Competitive Economy Act, 2025. I am here to address those items of the bill, those aspects of the bill specifically related to the mandate of the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

The proposed amendments are ones that support this government’s direction to protect Ontario’s economy and to drive long-term growth, while at the same time, restoring and enhancing our environment, leading to healthier communities and building a more resilient future for all Ontarians. My colleague the Minister of Red Tape Reduction has already given this House some description of the sections of the bill related to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. But I would like now to take this opportunity to go a little more in-depth.

Mr. Speaker, first I would like to speak to our proposed amendments to the Ontario Clean Water Act that would, if passed, modernize the protection of Ontario’s drinking water sources. But first, I believe it would be beneficial to quickly summarize how Ontario undertakes drinking water source protection.

Under the Ontario Clean Water Act, communities help protect their drinking water supply by focusing on prevention. They do this by developing science-based, locally driven source protection plans. This helps ensure municipal drinking water sources are protected from contamination or depletion. Local source protection authorities, working together with multiple stakeholder committees, have created plans that help protect municipal drinking water systems within 38 source protection areas across Ontario.

Together, these plans support nearly 440 municipal drinking water systems over an area where over 95% of Ontario’s population resides. Through these plans and the Clean Water Act, 2006, Ontario continues to take strong action to protect existing and future sources of drinking water from contamination and depletion.

I want to make this abundantly clear, Mr. Speaker: Ontario’s drinking water is among the safest and the best protected in the world, and this is not changing. Our government continues to take strong action to protect existing and future sources of drinking water to protect existing and future water sources. At the same time, the simple reality is the system can be improved to work more efficiently and to deliver faster outcomes.

The current process for making routine amendments to source protection plans is overly complex and slow, with duplication in terms of approval and consultation requirements. This can delay the expansion of drinking water systems in situations where comprehensive protections are already in place, leading to unnecessary burden and unnecessary delay.

Source protection plans may require amendments for any number of reasons, the most common being to add a new well or intake to supply municipal drinking water to meet an increase in demand to support a new housing development or to address structural issues as well. Under the present system, if a municipal well has structural issues and a new well needs to be built next to the existing one, the current process requires updating the source protection plan. This includes completing two consultation periods and obtaining minister approval before the new well can be used.

This can take as much as 21 months, even when protections for the drinking water are already in place and are not even changing. These unnecessary delays can cause issues in advancing housing projects for growing communities or even in ensuring that local communities maintain access to safe, clean drinking water should the existing well face issues. These burdens are costing time and money—time and money that we cannot afford, certainly not when our province is facing external and internal pressures like never before.

External pressures include our tariff and trade war and constantly shifting positions on trade, and internal pressures concern an unprecedented growth in our population here in Ontario.

So we must do better. We must be fast and flexible and nimble while continuing to restore, protect and enhance our shared environment. We must be able to get shovels in the grown faster to keep workers on the job to continue to fuel our economy and to create the infrastructure we need to build the Ontario of tomorrow while preserving the environment today and for future generations.

That’s why we are proposing updates to the Clean Water Act and related regulations—changes that will enable local source protection authorities to approve routine plan amendments and to streamline the plan process so that drinking water sources are protected faster—changes that will simplify consultation, enhance transparency and accountability and remove redundancies that delay expansion of drinking water systems, all while maintaining strong science-based protections and oversight for our sources of drinking water.

These proposed changes are about accelerating and modernizing, not weakening protections for sources of drinking water. I will reiterate, Mr. Speaker: Strong and proactive protection of our sources of municipal drinking water will continue across Ontario.

Let’s take a closer look now at how these proposed changes would work in practice and why they’re so very necessary. Right now, when a community needs to make even a small change to its drinking water system, it kicks off a lengthy, complicated process. Even when all the protections are already in place and nothing is being weakened, we still require two full rounds of consultation followed by ministerial approval. Again, this can take up to almost two years.

Think about that: If a growing town needs more water to support new homes or if an old well has a problem, the red tape we have today can hold things up for almost two years. That’s two years of delay for new housing projects, two years of uncertainty for communities and families that just need reliable access to clean drinking water. So we can and we must do better, and that’s why we’re proposing changes to how our source protection plans are updated.

One of the key improvements we’re making is around who can approve what. Right now, every change—no matter how small—has to go all the way to the minister for approval. That includes changes that don’t impact the safety or science of our drinking water protections. This process is not only long and drawn out, but actually unnecessary. We have found that these small decisions are all inevitably approved in any event. That’s why we’re proposing changes that would empower local source protection authorities to outright approve these routine plan amendments—speeding things up while also ensuring that our resources are better focused on the larger, more significant decisions.

Under the new approach, the ministry would still be very much involved, but in a smarter way. The source protection authorities would work closely with us from the beginning of the process, ensuring the proposed changes meet all the high standards we’ve set for drinking water protection. Now, once the ministry confirms that all is in order, the 120-day clock begins. That’s the maximum time it would take to make a decision. If more consultation is needed, the ministry can pause that clock—but, at least now, everyone involved has clarity, certainty and a clear timeline.

And if a change is straightforward—like updating a map to show where a new well is located, or applying existing protections to a nearby area—the local authorities will be able to approve those changes themselves. These are routine, common-sense decisions, and they should not be held up by unnecessary layers of approval.

We’re also simplifying the public consultation process. Right now, there are two rounds of consultation: one with the people who implement the plans—like municipalities and conservation authorities—and another with the general public. This can lead to repetition, confusion and fatigue. So we’re proposing to bring these two phases together. One unified consultation period where everyone—the public, Indigenous communities, municipalities and other stakeholders—can have their say all at the same time. This is more efficient, more transparent and it ensures that everyone’s voice is heard.

We’ve also begun outreach efforts into the modern age. That means moving away from outdated requirements like placing notices in local newspapers. We’re moving away from local newspapers and instead focusing on methods that are more accessible, more visible and, quite frankly, more effective in today’s world.

Speaker, I will reiterate: Not one of these changes—not one—will reduce protections for drinking water. What they do is reduce red tape, save time and resources and help communities get the clean, safe water they need faster.

Let me give you a few examples of what we mean by routine or minor changes. Imagine a new well is being drilled right next to an existing one that already has protection policies in place. The protections don’t change—they just apply to a slightly larger area. That’s the kind of thing that shouldn’t take almost two years to approve. Or, for example, consider a prohibition in place on a certain activity, but now we have a better approach that protects the environment even more effectively. We should be able to make that change quickly and responsibly.

Of course, not everything will be considered routine. Any change that introduces new rules or prohibits certain activities will still need full ministerial review and approval. And, as always, Indigenous communities, the public and all key stakeholders will have meaningful opportunities to provide input. In fact, we’re asking for feedback on whether there are other types of plan changes that should continue to go to the minister. We want to get this right, and we’re listening.

To sum up, the changes we are proposing to the Clean Water Act under Bill 56 would cut down on unnecessary delays by removing the need for ministerial approval of truly minor administrative amendments that would save, if passed, up to 12 months. Secondly, letting local source protection authorities approve routine changes with ministry oversight on the science, that would save, if passed, around six months. Thirdly, combining consultation periods into one, more effective phase, and that would save about two and a half months, if approved.

And then, fourth, set a clear, 120-day timeline for ministerial approval so everyone knows what to expect and when to expect it. That improves transparency and certainty. And fifth, and finally, and most importantly: getting safe drinking water to growing communities faster, while keeping the protections strong and science-based. These are smart, balanced changes that will help us build homes and infrastructure faster, support economic growth and give communities faster access to clean, safe drinking water, all while continuing to protect our environment for all and for generations to come.

The next proposed amendments in Bill 56, the Building a More Competitive Economy Act, I would like to talk about are related to the Species Conservation Act, 2025; that was part of Bill 5, passed last spring. Under this act, our government is taking a new approach to environmental permitting and environmental approvals for activities that impact certain species. The previous approach to protecting and conserving species was simply not working. It was overly complicated, it took too long to complete and, ultimately, it did not deliver the outcomes that Ontarians need and expect.

That is why under the new Species Conservation Act, we are shifting species-related authorizations to a registration-first approach. It’s also known as “permit by rule.” It is a process already used successfully for many other environmental authorizations. This new approach sets clear expectations and clear rules for proponents to follow. These rules and expectations focus on those activities that are most likely to have a direct negative impact on species. Under our new system, proponents will no longer be required to wait for the ministry to approve permits for most activities.

Instead, proponents will now be able to register, follow the requirements and then proceed with their activities right away.

Our ministry is now in the process of developing new requirements for registered activities in consultation with the public and with Indigenous communities. These new requirements will have to be followed by anyone undertaking an activity that impacts certain species, with no tolerance for bad actors. In fact, we’ve stepped up the investigative and enforcement powers under this new legislation to root out any bad actors who would harm species.

Under the new Species Conservation Act, we will leverage this strong enforcement, including hefty fines, potential jail time and new investigative and compliance tools for officers that I referenced. Repeat violators may be prosecuted and face fines of up to $2 million for corporations or $500,000 and imprisonment of up to one year for individuals.

To bolster our efforts to help conserve and recover species at risk in Ontario, our Species Conservation Program will invest $20 million each and every year in conservation projects across Ontario. That is a four-fold increase in annual funding over the old program. This program will support the important work that experts and community organizations are doing to protect species across the province.

As part of the Building a More Competitive Economy Act, we are proposing technical amendments to the Species Conservation Act before it comes into force. Because under Bill 5, the Endangered Species Act was amended and remains in force; the Species Conservation Act is still to be proclaimed in force and we’re readying for that process. Consequential amendments to other statutes will be required to reflect the future repeal of the Endangered Species Act and the implementation of the new Species Conservation Act.

These technical amendments to the Species Conservation Act are necessary to ensure the legislative language is clear and consistent. They include amendments to when the minister can issue a habitat protection order to align it with other order powers in the act and clarify that one of the purposes of the act is indeed to protect species at risk rather than all species.

These proposed amendments also clarify that the requirements in the act also apply to activities impacting parts of living or dead members of protected species. This is consistent with the existing approach under the Endangered Species Act.

The proposed changes would also ensure the one-year exception for certain activities that impact species that are listed for the first time as “endangered” or “threatened,” also applying to species that were previously listed as “special concern” on the species at risk in Ontario list under the act. This, of course, would provide clarity to stakeholders.

I would also like to point out, Mr. Speaker, that these proposed amendments are posted for public consultation on the Environmental Registry of Ontario and Ontario’s regulatory registry. This occurs along with regulatory proposals that are also needed to implement the new Species Conservation Act.

The comment period began on September 26 and is set to close on November 10, 2025. Anyone who wishes to comment on these proposed amendments is strongly encouraged to do so.

And so, Mr. Speaker, these technical amendments to the Species Conservation Act, if passed, would ensure accuracy, clarity and consistency in both the act and other legislation that reference species at risk or the Endangered Species Act—and the Endangered Species Act will be repealed. That is the plan when the Species Conservation Act is proclaimed in force.

These proposed technical amendments to the act will support Ontario’s efforts to enable faster development and support the long-term strength and security of our province and our economy, all while continuing to preserve and recover species in our province.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for having this opportunity this morning to clarify the proposed amendments put forward by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks—amendments that support, I submit, our government’s plan to protect Ontario by modernizing environmental protections while at the same time continuing to safeguard public health and our shared environment.

I ask that my colleagues in this House support Bill 56, the Building a More Competitive Economy Act. I thank you for your kind attention this morning to all members of the House, through you, Mr. Speaker.

Now, it is my pleasure to turn the debate over to our colleague the Deputy Premier and the Minister of Health.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ric Bresee): I recognize the minister.

Hon. Sylvia Jones: Good morning, Speaker. It is indeed a pleasure to be able to join the Minister of Red Tape Reduction and the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks on this important piece of proposed legislation, the Building a More Competitive Economy Act.

Under Premier Ford’s leadership, our government has worked tirelessly to protect our health care system and to protect workers’ jobs. This is a time of global uncertainty. As we face the impact of President Trump’s tariffs and the resulting trade war, I want to acknowledge Premier Ford for his unwavering and passionate defence of our province and our country as he works relentlessly to protect Ontario. These unjust tariffs continue to threaten our economy, our businesses and the livelihoods of Ontarians.

In the face of these very real and present challenges, our government is united and steadfast in our resolve to protect Ontario and to protect Canada. Now more than ever, Ontario needs a world-class, highly skilled workforce to keep our province competitive. Now is the time to do everything we can to eliminate red tape and bureaucratic delays and remove the interprovincial barriers to trade and labour mobility. That is why our government has been taking bold and decisive action with the Building a More Competitive Economy Act to break down barriers, ensuring trained workers can get to work faster and keep Ontario strong, healthy and productive.

The proposed as-of-right legislative changes are an innovative step our government is taking to address these challenges and support our province’s future. This is an important piece of legislation that, if passed, will remove barriers to internal free trade and labour mobility that impact our health care system.

Expanding as-of-right rules in our health care system would allow more regulated health professionals to work faster in Ontario and provide high-quality care to the people of Ontario. This bill builds on the work we have done to support the Your Health plan that our government launched in 2023. Your Health is focused on providing people and their families with a better health care experience by connecting Ontarians to more convenient health care options closer to home while shortening wait times for key services across the province and growing the health care workforce for years to come.

The Your Health plan has a number of initiatives working together, coordinated under three pillars: the right care in the right place, faster access to care and hiring more health care workers. These initiatives are delivering more connected and convenient care in hospitals, emergency departments, community settings like pharmacies, primary care, long-term-care homes and through care delivered in our homes and communities.

Our government has made tremendous progress in implementing Your Health and providing more connected and convenient care to Ontarians. As an example, when it comes to hiring more health care workers, we’ve moved forward with the largest expansion of medical school education in more than a decade. We’ve made significant investments to expand education and training opportunities to support individuals who want to work in health care and to support communities to grow their health care workforce. There are many health care workers from across the country, and indeed across the world, who are eager and wanting to work in Ontario.

In the face of the US administration, our government has also made some recent changes to make it easier for US-licensed nurses and board-certified physicians to begin practising immediately, which supports our government’s plan to protect Ontario and strengthen our health care system.

Earlier this year, our government made legislative changes to enable qualified US-licensed physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and registered practical nurses to begin working in Ontario health settings for up to six months while seeking full registration in Ontario, removing a significant barrier to attracting American health care workers. By cutting the red tape that was delaying highly trained US-licensed board-certified physicians and nurses from being able to live and work in Ontario, we are making bold strides to ensure Ontario patients receive timely and accessible care.

These changes are another step in our government’s historic action to reduce labour mobility barriers for health care professionals within Canada, and have made it faster and easier for American physicians and nurses to care for Ontario patients. This is a great example of how reducing red tape can strengthen our health care system, support front-line workers and ensure that patients get the timely and high quality care that they deserve.

Through Your Health, we have made a number of innovative changes to make it easier and faster for these individuals to begin working and providing care to people across Ontario. We have been reducing bureaucratic delays and reinforcing the front lines of our health care system.

This includes establishing an as-of-right rule in 2023 that allows nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists and medical laboratory technologists who are registered with other Canadian provinces and territories to immediately begin working and caring for people without first having to register with one of Ontario’s 26 regulated health colleges. With these new as-of-right rules, Ontario became the first province in Canada to allow health care workers registered in other provinces and territories to immediately start providing care without having to first register with one of Ontario’s health regulatory colleges.

That is because our government prioritizes patients and health care workers over bureaucracy.

These changes are helping health care workers overcome the burdensome red tape that results in delays in becoming registered to practise in Ontario. Highly skilled health care professionals from British Columbia to Nova Scotia shouldn’t have to pause their career or face barriers to starting their practice here in Ontario. We should make it as easy as possible for them to get work and start treating patients, and we are.

I must say, having just returned from a health ministers’ meeting in Calgary, where health ministers from across Canada came together to talk about best practices and how we can work together, these as-of-right initiatives that we began in Ontario in 2023 were of high interest to other health ministers because they wanted to have that same opportunity and figure out how they could have the ability to ensure people who want to work, regardless of where they’re living, can have that opportunity.

I believe we can all agree that there is no better place than Ontario to live, work and raise a family. With our growing population, we must ensure that our health care workforce keeps pace. Since 2018, a record-breaking number of new health care professionals have joined the province’s workforce, adding over 100,000 new nurses that are registered and nearly 20,000 more physicians, including a 14% increase in family doctors.

We are preparing for the future by undertaking the largest medical school expansion in more than a decade to further increase access to family and specialty physicians and other health care professionals across Ontario. This includes, of course, welcoming and opening two new medical schools, including the TMU School of Medicine that has welcomed its first 176 students this fall.

I have to tell you, going and speaking to those medical students who are having an opportunity to train in Ontario—to train, often, in their communities—is a pretty good reason to be opening TMU and to be able to celebrate that success with those students. So to the students of TMU, congratulations. You’re in the first cohort, and I know that you will do great things for the province of Ontario.

Of course, also online is York University’s new medical school in Vaughan, which will be the first in Canada focused on training exclusively family physicians.

We are creating more opportunities for students to study and practise in their home province, such as by expanding the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant, which is already supporting students in eligible nursing, paramedic and medical lab tech programs to learn, and ultimately stay, in underserved and growing communities. Over the next five years, about 2,000 eligible students that commit to practising family medicine in Ontario with a full roster of patients once they graduate will receive free tuition, encouraging more students to pursue family medicine.

Addressing the geographic distribution of our physician services in the province is another important priority. We must take action to help improve access in rural and remote or northern communities. We are revising the distribution and mix of postgraduate positions within medical schools and continuing to invest in the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. I have to remind people that the Northern Ontario School of Medicine was started by—that’s right—a Progressive Conservative government. We know how to plan.

We are providing targeted financial incentives, such as the Northern and Rural Recruitment and Retention Initiative, to attract physicians to establish a full-time practice in communities with the greatest need, as well as investing in the Practice Ready Ontario Program, which enables internationally trained physicians to begin working more quickly in communities, again, where they are needed most, while also building on the progress we’ve made to break down interprovincial barriers, increase labour mobility for Canadian physicians and nurses and ensure they can get to work the day they arrive in Canada.

It is part of our government’s work to reduce barriers, create new opportunities for job creation and protect and grow our economy.

Now is the time to build on our successes increasing Ontario’s health care workforce and enhancing labour mobility. Now we must take the next steps in breaking down barriers and removing red tape.

This proposed legislation will support greater worker mobility across Canada, building, again, a stronger and more resilient economy and health care system by expanding as-of-right provisions for Canadian workers licensed and credentialed in other provinces and territories—particularly health care workers—and move forward with automatic recognition of credentials for doctors and nurses from the rest of Canada.

Our current as-of-right rules allow nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists and medical laboratory technologists from other provinces and territories to work in Ontario for up to six months while they seek and complete their registration with their professions’ Ontario regulatory body. This proposed legislation would lay the groundwork to expand these rules to an additional 16 health care professions, improving access to care for more Ontario patients and meeting urgent labour demands across Ontario.

These professions would include audiologists, speech-language pathologists, podiatrists, dental hygienists, dental technologists, dentists, denturists, dietitians, medical radiation and imaging technologists, midwives, occupational therapists, opticians, optometrists, pharmacy and pharmacy technicians, physician assistants, physiotherapists and psychologists. With these legislative changes, patients in need of a wide variety of health care services will have more timely access to care from licensed professionals.

Secondly, we are introducing automatic registration for physicians and nurses. This again is a first-in-Canada approach that shifts from a “verify then trust” to a “trust then verify” model. The automatic recognition of physicians and nurses who are registered in good standing in other provinces and territories will make it faster and easier for them to continue their practice here in Ontario. The province will do so by working with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and the College of Nurses of Ontario to reduce application fees and documentation requirements.

Ontario continues to work with these regulators to cut unnecessary red tape and fees for professionals already licensed elsewhere in Canada.

Here’s how it will work: Professionals notify the college of their eligibility. They receive a certificate of registration within two business days. Post-registration checks, such as police record and disciplinary history, are completed afterwards. Colleges retain full authority to impose conditions or suspend registration if concerns arise.

This model respects the integrity of our regulatory system while removing unnecessary delays. These changes will make the process more convenient for health care workers and their patients without compromising safety. This approach is consistent with Ontario’s first principle on internal trade: that an individual registered or licensed to practise in one Canadian jurisdiction is also safe to practise in Ontario.

We are working closely with Ontario’s health regulatory colleges to ensure readiness. Colleges are updating their systems, public guidance and internal processes to support these changes. Importantly, the legislation also includes ministerial regulation-making authority to add more colleges over time, exempt or reduce fees and to remove duplicative requirements such as continuing professional development already completed elsewhere.

This flexibility ensures the framework can evolve as needed and safeguards are in place. Professionals must attest to their eligibility, including being in good character and good standing with their original regulator, having no recent disciplinary actions and holding liability insurance. Colleges retain oversight and can act swiftly if concerns arise. We have engaged extensively with stakeholders, including regulatory colleges, health associations and interprovincial partners, and I thank them for their input. The response has been overwhelmingly positive.

The stakeholders we have consulted recognize the urgency of addressing current and future workforce needs and support the principle of mobility and trust. Some have raised important questions about information sharing and differences in training across jurisdictions. We are already addressing these collaboratively, ensuring transparency and accountability remain critical.

Through these changes, Ontario is leading the way in modernizing labour mobility. This bill will help fill critical gaps in our health system, reduce delays for patients and support professionals who want to bring their skills to Ontario. We’re proud to be taking this step, not just for today’s challenges, but for a stronger, more resilient health workforce in the future.

By taking this first-in-Canada approach to streamline the labour mobility process, we are making it faster and easier for both our health care system partners and clinicians to provide the world-class care Ontarians need, when and where they need it. We are breaking down barriers to build a more unified Canada that is resilient in a time of global uncertainty.

Our plan to expand as-of-right rules in health care and implement other labour mobility initiatives, like mutual recognition, supports these important goals. It supports our health care workforce by making it easier for more health care professionals to start working in Ontario more quickly. It assists our vital efforts to support the health care needs of Ontarians, Ontario’s growing communities, and building a stronger, patient-focused health care system. It’s another way our government is taking action and making innovative changes.

We are building on our progress, bolstering our nation-leading health care workforce and helping to ensure people and their families across Ontario can access world-class health care now and for years to come. Ontario is indeed setting a new standard for labour mobility across Canada. Our approach is bold, forward-thinking and rooted in trust. We’re proud to lead the way, and we invite other provinces to join us in building a more connected and responsive health care.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ric Bresee): Questions?

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: I would like to thank the ministers and the Deputy Premier for their presentation. My question is to the Minister of Red Tape Reduction.

The minister claimed that this government is achieving their goals without compromising the environment. Yet with Bill 5, they compromised species at risk and undermined habitat protection and, through Bill 56, claim to be undoing the damages they caused, but are they? Are they really?

I, for one, am deeply thankful that the RCMP is closing in on the Conservatives for their greenbelt debacle.

I have heard loud and clear from London North Centre constituents who are concerned about the removal of speed cameras, especially for school zones. Many ask why. Is it because this Premier wants to protect his 12-time-offending ministry stunt driver?

Now, if this government is ideologically married to undermining community safety by removing speed cameras, why are they handing the bill to cash-strapped municipalities?

Hon. Andrea Khanjin: There are many questions in his question, but let me bring it back home to my riding of Barrie–Innisfil, where the local mayor there, Mayor Nuttall, has said the following about focusing on prevention when it comes to speeding: “The city of Barrie supports the province of Ontario, and we are excited to see the new funding opportunities for municipalities. Thank you, Premier Ford, for your leadership and commitment to enhanced traffic-calming measures across our cities.

We look forward to continuing to work with the province to create community safety measures that reduce speeding, improve safety and respect taxpayers.” That’s Alex Nuttall, mayor of Barrie, who also happens to be on Big City Mayors.

Also, Mark Baxter, the president of the Police Association of Ontario, says, “The Police Association of Ontario has consistently called for a comprehensive reassessment of automated speed enforcement cameras”—and he goes on.

But, Speaker, this bill is about more than just road safety. I know the member opposite would rather go back to Liberal days of high red tape, where they were putting $33,000 per year in cost compliance measures on our businesses, but we’re moving forward. I hope the member opposite can move forward with us.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ric Bresee): Questions?

Mr. Lorne Coe: My question is to the great Minister of Red Tape Reduction. I’ll take you back to 2018, Ontario was known as Canada’s red tape capital. Thanks to the previous Liberal government, we had over 386,000 requirements on Ontario’s businesses and individuals—the highest in Canada. Their failed policies drove investments and jobs right out of the province.

What I would like the minister to do is please share some of our results from the efforts of reduced red tape. They’re considerable, in the case of people and businesses here in the province of Ontario.

Hon. Andrea Khanjin: The member has a great question. He’s an excellent representative for his community. He’s always bringing red tape reduction ideas to this government while speaking to his local residents and his community. This bill wouldn’t be possible without a team effort. I also wanted to acknowledge my parliamentary assistants, the member for Wellington–Halton Hills and the member for Markham–Thornhill, who also contributed to building this bill.

It’s thanks to the work of this whole-team approach in this government that we’ve been able to save businesses and people $1.2 billion in regulatory red tape reduction. That’s also 1.8 million hours that we’ve been able to save people. We know that if we save people time, they can spend it more with the things that they value the most—with their families, with running their business. If we save them money, it’s money they’re putting back in the community. It’s something we’ve heard clearly from chambers of commerce across this province and from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ric Bresee): Questions?

MPP Robin Lennox: My question is for the Minister of Health: You spoke about the need for reducing red tape and barriers for growing our health care workforce, but just last week you announced that internationally trained doctors are only able to participate in the first round of the residency match if they spend two years of high school in Ontario. I’ve been practising as a physician in Ontario for 10 years and I can tell you that not a single patient has ever asked where I went to high school. They just don’t care. They want a skilled, compassionate physician.

We know the international medical graduates already entered into the process. They paid money, they invested time and now they’re being left stranded. How do you respond to the Ontario Medical Association and residency program directors across Ontario who have said that this will destabilize family medicine programs and reduce our ability to actually grow our health care workforce?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: What I can tell you is that I hear from far too many medical students who are training in other countries and want to have that opportunity to come back and complete their residency here in Ontario. What we are doing with only the first round of the CaRMS matching is ensuring that students who have a connection to Ontario have the opportunity for the first round of their CaRMS matching system to make sure that comes to fruition.

I think of the students who are training elsewhere because they wanted to get started in their medical career sooner and now we are giving them an opportunity for the first round of CaRMS matching to make sure that they have that pathway back to Ontario, back to their communities, so that we can welcome them home and ensure they train here.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ric Bresee): Questions?

Mr. Adil Shamji: I’m going to follow up on my colleague’s question. As the Minister of Health will know, last year in the CaRMS match, the only reason that the family physician positions in Ontario were filled was because of international medical graduates. She knows that, the OMA knows that, the Canadian Medical Association knows that, and that is why the OMA and the CMA, along with residency program directors across the province, are all saying that this policy will only cause more red tape, more barriers and more difficulty in getting Ontarians the family doctors that they deserve.

My question for the Minister of Health is: Why is she so hell-bent on increasing barriers in access to primary care in this province, and why is she implementing a policy that is widely acknowledged as being discriminatory and, according to the Toronto Star, devastating?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: Well, again, I will say, I am hearing directly from students who are training in other international medical schools who are welcoming this opportunity to have the opportunity in the residency phase to move back to Ontario and complete their medical training. I do not want to have a single Ontario medical student who cannot have the opportunity to train and complete their residency role in Ontario. We’re doing that with the first round and I’m proud of the fact that we’ve done this.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ric Bresee): Questions?

Mr. Lorne Coe: Speaker, you’ll know from your time as a representative in your municipality on council that one of the major challenges that we always faced was delays and unnecessary red tape when trying to expand drinking water systems, even in cases where protections are already in place—always a challenge, always a challenge. The opposition would rather keep communities waiting, stuck in outdated process. They always do. They always do.

My question is to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. How does our government’s modernization of the Clean Water Act empower local authorities to act faster, support growth and ensure that strong environmental and public health protections remain firmly in place that we support?

Hon. Todd J. McCarthy: I thank the excellent member for Whitby for that thoughtful question. And he has it right, as implied in the question. It’s certainly about balance, always. We also can learn from almost 20 years of history with the Clean Water Act, 2006, which we are proposing to modernize.

As the

preamble to Bill 56 indicates, among other matters, building a more competitive Ontario economy by streamlining government processes for permits and approvals and lowering costs for taxpayers and businesses—that is part of the

preamble of this bill. But embedded in the very first

schedule of the bill—schedule 1, the proposed amendments to the Clean Water Act—are those provisions that while streamlining, while avoiding duplication, make sure that the strong protections and the strong oversight are there. We can build faster but we can build safely as well and that is what we intend to do.

The Clean Water Act and the Ontario Clean Water Agency are the result of the Walkerton Inquiry chaired by then Associate Chief Justice Dennis O’Connor. We learned from history, and we can modernize based on history. We will get it right with this balance to ensure clean water for all and at the same time building faster, building smarter and avoiding unnecessary duplication.

This is the balance we need, especially at this time of challenge with lower housing starts. We’re going to build the Ontario of tomorrow. We’re going to build those attainable homes and we’re going to make sure there is clean drinking water for all.

Second reading debate deemed adjourned.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ric Bresee): It is now time for members’ statements.

Members’ Statements

Women’s achievements

Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos: I rise to recognize Persons Day, which is held each year on October 18 and celebrates the day when Canada officially recognized that women are persons under the law, enabling them to sit in the Senate of Canada. This was a landmark moment in our nation’s journey towards equality, and it reminds us that rights once denied can, through collective effort, become rights upheld.

In my own community of Oakville North–Burlington we have many women whose lives reflect this spirit of change. I think of Florence Meares, who began her career teaching in a one-room school, then became one of the first female vice-principals and ultimately a principal, showing that educating the next generation knows no gender boundary.

I also honour Veronica Tyrrell, a dedicated community leader whose work with the Canadian Caribbean community in Halton helped newcomers settle and brought to life the stories of inclusion and belonging.

These pioneers remind us that trail-blazing is not only about formal office, it’s about building community and giving voice where none was heard.

To commemorate Persons Day, the Speaker is hosting a Pink Tea for female MPPs. Pink Tea parties were held by early 20th-century suffragettes as a discreet way to organize and advocate for women’s rights. So today, let’s honour the past, celebrate the present and continue to build an inclusive future.

Small business

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, comprising approximately 98% of all businesses in Ontario and employing about 2.3 million Ontarians. In London North Centre, they’re the heart of our communities, creating jobs, supporting families and contributing to the unique quality and character of our city.

This Small Business Week, I want to recognize the outstanding work of the London Chamber of Commerce, the small business enterprise centre and our local business improvement areas. Their continued advocacy, leadership and support of small businesses across our city are invaluable.

Ontario has a responsibility to support our small business community beyond just words. It’s time to listen, and it’s time to act. Commercial rents have escalated past reasonable limits and utility costs are astronomical. Small businesses are not just economic engines, they are vital to the vibrancy and identity of our neighbourhoods. It’s essential that we do whatever it takes to revitalize our downtowns, ensuring that they remain thriving hubs of commerce and culture. If this government truly wants to take on Trump, then the answer is to protect our economic backbone—80% of our economy is small business.

As the Ontario shadow minister for small business, I’m dedicated to advocating for the resources, supports and policies necessary to empower our small businesses to grow, succeed and continue enriching our communities.

To this government, it’s time to move past words and into solid action because when small businesses succeed, we all succeed.

Persons Day

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: Good morning, Madam Speaker, colleagues next to me, across the aisle and every guest in our House today. You will know how proud I am to be a woman when you hear me say repeatedly, “My name is McMahon, but it should be McWoman.”

My Persons Day private member’s bill was co-signed and passed last December because I worked across party lines to recognize a group of five courageous and tenacious women. Canada’s first female judge, Emily Murphy, wanted to be the nation’s first female senator, so she invited four suffragettes to come for tea to her home in Edmonton in 1927.

Her guests included Henrietta Muir Edwards, who had established the Victorian Order of Nurses and YWCA; Louise McKinney, an advocate for women’s and disability rights who refused to let partisanship hinder progress; Irene Parlby, the “minister of co-operation,” who fought tirelessly for rural and farmers’ rights; and Nellie McClung, an orator, author and Liberal MLA. Against all odds, the Famous Five secured women’s recognition as persons October 18, 1929.

Belonging and awareness looks like working together, and I have high expectations for all of us in this session.

Wildfires in Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock

Hon. Laurie Scott: This past summer, during the first week of August, my riding of Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock experienced two significant wildland fires, one in the Burnt River area and another near Kirkfield that burned for 10 days. Seven fire crews monitored and worked for weeks to make sure both wildfires were successfully contained and fully extinguished.

I want to highlight that all those local responders were the very same people who protected and cared for us during the ice storm at the end of March. These efforts remind us of the courage and dedication of those who protect our communities.

I am so proud of the Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service, the Kawartha Lakes Volunteer Firefighters Association, the Trent Lakes fire service, the Ministry of Natural Resources Haliburton detachment crews, the North Bay fire crews, the fire ranger teams, the water bomber pilots, the city of Kawartha Lakes and all the first responders and volunteers who assisted on the ground.

To put it in perspective, Madam Speaker, the ice storm had shredded our trees and our forests; we were in the worst drought that anyone can remember; everything was tinderbox dry; and the Burnt River fire was inaccessible by road. It was a perfect storm, but our first responders’ commitment and their professionalism prevented what could have been a devastating disaster.

On behalf of the people of Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock, thank you for your service and dedication to keeping our communities safe.

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Ms. Catherine Fife: Earlier this month I had the honour of attending the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, representing more than 180 Parliaments in 56 Commonwealth countries.

The CPA’s goal is clear: strengthen Legislatures to better serve citizens and uphold democracy. At this event, I was elected Chair of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians—a role Canada has never held. This success was only possible through multi-partisan Team Canada support, and I am deeply grateful to colleagues and countries that placed their confidence in Canada during a volatile global moment.

Chairing this committee is a profound responsibility, but I am inspired to work with women across the Commonwealth to advance gender balance in Parliaments and promote equality. Our work will span justice, education, health, women’s empowerment, climate change, peace and the economy.

In a world that feasts on division, the Commonwealth’s role has never been more vital. We must remind the world that connection, not division, defines and strengthens our world. Women parliamentarians are essential to this mission. When women reach their potential, nations succeed. Together as Commonwealth countries, we can lead towards peace, economic equality and global democracy. May God bless the Commonwealth, a family of the world.

Flooding in Punjab

Mr. Amarjot Sandhu: I rise today with a heavy heart to extend my deepest sympathies to the people of Punjab, India, who are facing devastating floods that have displaced countless families, destroyed homes and taken innocent lives.

The images and stories emerging from Punjab are heartbreaking: communities submerged, livelihoods lost and families struggling to rebuild amid unimaginable hardship. My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected as well as with the brave first responders and volunteers, working tirelessly to provide aid and relief.

This tragedy hits close to home for many in Ontario, including myself, as we have deep family ties to Punjab. Our hearts are with our loved ones and all of those enduring this difficult time.

The people of Punjab are known for their resilience, compassion and strength in the face of adversity. I have no doubt they will overcome this tragedy with the same courage and unity that define their spirit.

Road safety

Ms. Jennifer K. French: As the official opposition shadow minister for infrastructure and transportation, I support the use of speed cameras to keep roads and communities safe. The Ontario NDP has consistently been on the side of community members, road safety experts and municipal leaders demanding that Premier Ford back off from his absurd vendetta against speed cameras.

Ontarians will recall that it was this Premier and his government that rightly gave decision-making powers to local municipalities about whether or not they would use automated speed enforcement as a tool—or not—and where within their own municipalities. Now, years later, Premier Ford has done an about-face for no discernible or evidence-based reason.

Micromanaging local municipal decision-making is not appropriate. Removing tools from local leaders who are trying to keep their roads and communities safe is not appropriate or the right thing to do. Forcing municipalities to bear significant costs for the removal of speed camera infrastructure is not fair.

It is clear that this Premier doesn’t like speed cameras, and since at least 20 of his cabinet ministers have been caught speeding in safety zones, I imagine they don’t like them either.

This ploy by the Premier is a very engaging distraction from what issues are actually provincial responsibilities, such as housing, health care, education and protecting jobs and the economy. I will oppose the Premier’s ban on speed cameras and will fight for safer roads as well as for the many provincial priorities that this government is neglecting to address.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Members, if I could have your attention, please. The side bar conversations—especially on the government side—please keep your voices down a little bit, please. Thank you.

Public safety

Mr. Logan Kanapathi: I rise today to speak about a recent community safety meeting that I hosted in my riding of Markham–Thornhill.

I want to thank the many residents and community leaders who joined us, shared their ideas and spoke up.

I would also like to thank: the Associate Solicitor General for Auto Theft and Bail Reform, Zee Hamid; Deputy Chief Da Silva; Superintendent Chirag Bhatt; and all of the brave members of York Regional Police for their presentation and their commitment to keeping our community safe.

Madam Speaker, we know that crime is on the rise, and these crimes are frightening our communities. Safety is our top priority. That’s why our government is taking strong action by investing in new technology, aerial surveillance and expanded resources to better support law enforcement.

Because of these measures, auto theft in Markham has dropped 47% in 2025—and across York region, down by 37%—proving our investments are making communities safer.

We need the federal government to do its part. The new bail reform must ensure that violent repeat offenders are never released without consequences.

Community safety is a shared responsibility. I urge all levels of government to work together to protect Ontario families and keep our neighbourhoods safe.

Affordable housing

Mr. Mike Schreiner: The housing affordability crisis is getting worse, not better: sky-high rent; young people unable to afford a home; an unprecedented number of people experiencing homelessness. That is why passing the bill to establish a homelessness elimination strategy, sponsored by the MPPs for Kitchener Centre and Etobicoke–Lakeshore, is so important.

We have affordable, financially responsible solutions, like the supportive housing project at 10 Shelldale in Guelph: 32 people have moved from tents to homes, with Kindle Communities, Stonehenge and the Guelph CHC working together to stabilize and support people with complex challenges.

In the first year of operations, there were no evictions, no residents died from an overdose and no residents left the facility. There has been a drastic reduction in police and hospital contact for residents, reducing cost and stress on the health care system and first responders when housing is combined with health supports that are available for residents.

I want to thank the government for helping to fund this project. I call on them to pass Bill 28 and to increase funding for permanent supportive housing so we can save lives and money by supporting our neighbours with dignity.

I want to close by saying: Go, Jays, go!

Oktoberfest

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Kitchener South–Hespeler.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Folks, if we could please bring the conversations down. Thank you.

Ms. Jess Dixon: Danke, Speaker, and good morgen. This month marks the annual return of Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest. For more than 50 years, K-W Oktoberfest has brought our community together in the spirit of Gemütlichkeit, a wonderful German word meaning warmth, friendship and good cheer.

I want to extend my sincere thank you to this year’s organizers, volunteers and the entire K-W Oktoberfest team, including our beloved Chef D, known formally as Darryl Fletcher; executive director Tracy Van Kalsbeek; our 2024-25 Oktoberfest ambassador, Katie Kneisel; as well as the presidents and misses of our wonderful festhallen: Alpine, Bingemans, Concordia, Hubertushaus, Shwaben and Transylvania.

As a reminder, myself and my other Waterloo region colleagues will be joining Madam Speaker as she hosts K-W Oktoberfest right at Queen’s Park this evening. I will be in a dirndl—I have to mention—custom-made by my mother. She’ll be upset if I don’t mention that. I expect everyone else to show up in their trachtenhut hats, graciously provided to us by Madam Speaker.

Again, to everyone that makes this tradition possible year after year: Ein Prosit to friendship, good cheer and another unforgettable K-W Oktoberfest.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): This is the third time I’ve asked: Would the government side please lower your voices in these conversations? Thank you.

Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Now that I have your attention: We have with us in the Speaker’s gallery today the member for Don Valley West during the 38th through 42nd Parliaments and the Premier of Ontario during the 40th and 41st Parliaments. Please welcome back Ms. Kathleen Wynne.

We also have with us in the Speaker’s gallery my blind date, Ms. Kathryn McGarry, who was the member for Cambridge in the 41st Parliament.

Also with us in the Speaker’s gallery today are Anne Wagner-Mitchell, the consul general of the Federal Republic of Germany in Toronto, and she is accompanied by Laura Kunkel, the consular attaché for cultural, press and economic affairs. Please join me in warmly welcoming our guests.

Remarkable Women at Queen’s Park

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): As many of you know, we have long honoured the remarkable women who have served in the Legislature. Their portraits hang proudly on the wall just outside the Speaker’s office, a tribute to their leadership and their legacy.

I am proud to announce a new initiative that broadens that recognition. Today, we are beginning to honour the remarkable women who keep this beautiful building functioning, those who make our daily lives at Queen’s Park not only possible but enjoyable.

It takes a team to keep this place running. Every day that I come into this incredible building, I continue to be awed by its beauty. But behind that beauty is hard work, dedication and care, much of it carried out by women who often do so quietly and without fanfare.

That is why I am pleased to inform the House of a new monthly recognition program that I have launched to celebrate the remarkable women who work at the Office of the Assembly. Each month, one honouree will be featured in the A Remarkable Assembly exhibit located in the east wing of the Legislative Building, just outside my office. It’s a small but meaningful way to show our appreciation and gratitude for the essential contribution that these women make every day.

Joining us in the Speaker’s gallery today are the first two recipients of this distinction, Lauren Warner and Monica Weber.

In September, Lauren Warner, a research officer with the legislative research branch, was recognized for her leadership, analytical skill and commitment to service. She supports members with professionalism and clarity, mentors her colleagues and contributes widely to the workplace, setting a remarkable example for all of us.

This month, Monica Weber, the apartment services coordinator in the Office of the Deputy Clerk, is being recognized for her dedication, professionalism and collaborative spirit. In her role supporting the Speaker’s office, she approaches every task with grace, diplomacy and a deep commitment to the assembly’s values.

On behalf of all members and staff of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, I extend my heartfelt thanks to Lauren and Monica for their outstanding dedication to Ontario’s Parliament. Thank you, ladies.

Applause.

Introduction of Visitors

Hon. Stephen Lecce: I am pleased to welcome to the House today representatives from AtkinsRéalis and Candu Energy: Joe St. Julian, Sandy Taylor, Carl Marcotte and Sam Boutziouvis. I want to welcome them and welcome all members of the Legislature to join us this evening at the reception. Thank you so much.

M me France Gélinas: I’d like to welcome Gina McAfee. She’s a constituent from Lively in my riding. Gina is a registered early childhood educator at the Rainbow District School Board.

I would like to wish a happy 25th annual Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day to all of the workers, including Gina. Thank you for coming.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Good morning, everyone. I’d like to welcome to Queen’s Park today members of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, joined by their executive: president, David Mastin; first vice-president, Shirley Bell; vice-president, Gundi Barbour; vice-president, Mary Fowler and many of the local presidents and executives of ETFO. We are very happy to have you join us today. Welcome to your House.

Ms. Lee Fairclough: Good morning. I’d like to welcome members of the Kidney Foundation of Canada who are here today discussing the impact of chronic kidney disease on people. I also really appreciated the opportunity to meet with them this morning.

Mr. Mike Schreiner: I’d like to welcome all members of the Ontario Association of Architects, especially those from my riding of Guelph; Rev. Ian Duffy of the Basilica of Our Lady; Bill Birdsell, who sits on the OAA’s council; and Michael Trussell, who is on the OAA’s Grand Valley Society of Architects. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Deepak Anand: I’d like to take an opportunity to welcome page Aayush Rao from Mississauga–Malton and his proud parents, Sridhar Rao and Tina Walia, in the members’ gallery.

Hon. Andrea Khanjin: It gives me great pleasure to introduce two hard-working interns from our summer months: David Litvak and Emily Dahlgren. Welcome to the Legislature today. It’s their first time here.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: I’d like to join in welcoming members of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, including, from Ottawa, Jamieson Dyer, president of the Ottawa-Carleton occasional teachers, and Stephen Skoutajan, the Ottawa-Carleton teachers’ president. Welcome.

MPP George Darouze: I’m pleased to welcome Carleton resident Brian Burnett alongside his colleagues from the Dairy Farmers of Ontario to the House today. Carleton is a strong agricultural riding with many dairy farms, and I’m very glad to have him join us here today with his colleagues, as farmers feed Ontario and feed the rest of Canada and we are thankful for them.

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: Today is a very special day. It’s the 25th annual early childhood educator and child care worker appreciation day.

I’d like to welcome the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care ED, Carolyn Ferns; the Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario ED, Amber Straker; and parent Janet Amito. They are all here today with child care workers, parents and babies.

Happy appreciation day, and thank you for what you do for the child care sector.

Mr. Matthew Rae: On behalf of the Minister of Education, I want to recognize Diabetes Canada—Glen, Vik, Laura, Alanna, Jenna, Susan, Amy, Andrea, Tara and Catherine. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

MPP Robin Lennox: I’d also like to welcome the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, including Shideh Houshmandi, Cindy Gangaram and Tamara DuFour from Hamilton.

Ms. Stephanie Bowman: I’d like to welcome Marjorie Hiley from Don Valley Community Legal Services; Janny Vincent, a small business owner from my riding, Fundata Canada; Sharon Castelino from Women Get On Board; Karma Lhamo from TNO; our city councillor, Rachel Chernos Lin, as well as her mom, Bev Chernos; and the Dewji ladies, Annie and Rozina, who are small business owners as well. And can I just throw in my constituency office manager, Kamrana Qureshi, and the Dairy Farmers of Ontario?

Hon. David Piccini: It’s a pleasure to welcome Finn and Kevin from the Carpenters’ Regional Council to question period today.

It’s also a great pleasure to welcome Eldon, Baseet, Jovens, Junior and Shayok from Aspire For Higher. Eldon is doing a fantastic job. Keep it up.

Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. John Vanthof: On behalf of everyone in the Legislature, I’d like to welcome the members and staff of Dairy Farmers of Ontario, who produce the fantastic milk we rely on and invite you to taste it in room 228 at 12 o’clock.

Ms. Catherine Fife: I’d like to welcome Nathan Core, Jeff Pelich, Jenn Wallage and Niki Kazemzadeh from Waterloo region teachers, ETFO. Welcome to your House.

Legislative pages

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I would now like to invite the pages to assemble for their introduction.

Joining us today, we have Finley Booker from Thunder Bay–Superior North; Elizabeth Demczur from Dufferin–Caledon; Ava Di Donato from King–Vaughan; Theodore Diplas from Markham–Stouffville; from Kitchener Centre, James Fobel; Ziming Guo from Don Valley West; from Leeds–Grenville–Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, Lorraine Holmstrom; Ziyue Huang from Nepean; Oluwatishe Iwajomo from Oakville; Taylor James from Scarborough Southwest; Avery Lockwood from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound; Orion Musta from Etobicoke Centre; Rafi Naqvi from Ottawa Centre; Naomi Noack-Simone from Ottawa West–Nepean; Ishaan Patil from Markham–Thornhill; Oliver Prang from Brantford–Brant; Aayush Rao from Mississauga–Malton; Simone Reaume from Essex; Alyssa Saidova from Richmond Hill; Bani Kaur Sandhu from Kanata–Carleton; Mansahaj Sandhu from Brampton West; Lyla Snell from Barrie–Innisfil; Aditya Tandur from London West; and Alice Wu from Scarborough Centre.

Welcome to our pages.

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member from Kingston and the Islands on a point of order.

Mr. Ted Hsu: I seek the unanimous consent of the House for leave to move a motion without notice that the 2025-26 estimates for the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development be referred to the Committee of the Whole House.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The member from Kingston and the Islands is seeking the unanimous consent of the House for leave to move a motion without notice that the 2025-26 estimates for the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development be referred to the Committee of the Whole House. Agreed? I heard a no.

I recognize the Minister of Education on a point of order.

Hon. Paul Calandra: I seek unanimous consent that, notwithstanding any standing order or special order of the House, the order for second reading of Bill 57,

An Act to vacate the office of the member of the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board who represented Haldimand county between July 8, 2024 and July 15, 2024 be immediately called; and

That the Speaker shall immediately put the question on the motion for second reading of Bill 57 without debate or amendment; and

That upon receiving second reading the bill shall be ordered for third reading, which order shall immediately be called; and

That the Speaker shall immediately put the question on the motion for third reading without debate or amendment; and

That the votes on second and third reading of the bill shall not be deferred; and

That if a recorded division is requested on the second or third reading votes on the bill, the division bells shall be limited to five minutes.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The Minister of Education is seeking unanimous consent that, notwithstanding any standing order or special order of the House, the order for second reading of Bill 57,

An Act to vacate the office of the member of the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board who represented Haldimand county between July 8, 2024 and July 15, 2024 be immediately called; and

That the Speaker shall immediately put the question on the motion for second reading of Bill 57 without debate or amendment; and

That upon receiving second reading the bill shall be ordered for third reading, which order shall immediately be called; and

That the Speaker shall immediately put the question on the motion for third reading without debate or amendment; and

That the votes on second and third reading of the bill shall not be deferred; and

That if a recorded division is requested on the second or third reading votes on the bill, the division bells shall be limited to five minutes. Agreed? I heard a no.

Steve Butland

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member from Sault Ste. Marie on a point of order.

MPP Chris Scott: I seek unanimous consent for a moment of silence for the passing of Steve Butland, former mayor of Sault Ste. Marie, former member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie and recipient of the city’s medal of merit and key to the city.

He was a great member, a great community builder and I just ask for unanimous consent for a moment of silence to recognize this great leader of our community.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The member for Sault Ste. Marie is seeking unanimous consent for a moment of silence. Agreed? Agreed.

The House observed a moment’s silence.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): You may be seated.

Question Period

Government accountability

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, can I just say before we get started, congratulations to the Toronto Blue Jays for an extraordinary win last night.

Applause.

Ms. Marit Stiles: What a night. What a night. Everybody’s a little bit bleary-eyed this morning, but it was worth it.

But my question, Speaker, is to the Premier. Yesterday, the Trillium reported that 50% of groups that got Skills Development Fund millions were Conservative-donor-led. One of those donor-led groups was Get A-Head Inc., which was given $7.5 million despite having a low-scoring application. The lobbyist for Get A-Head Inc.? None other than Michael Rudderham, the Paris groom himself.

So my question to the Premier is: Did the government pick winners and losers based on personal relationships and political donations?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Minister of Labour.

Hon. David Piccini: Speaker, 60% of low-scoring projects in round 3 donated to members opposite. So we can play that game all day or we could focus—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Order.

Hon. David Piccini: Senior leadership of IBEW 353 donated $20,000 to the NDP alone. But the reality is, when I look at IBEW 353, I don’t see a union that hosted the member from Oshawa for acclimation; I see a union doing good work to train a next generation of Indigenous youth. And that’s why we supported their tech truck that’s going into Indigenous communities for their pathway program, that’s training the next generation of Indigenous youth, that’s breaking down barriers for women. And that’s why we’ve seen a 40% increase in women registration into apprenticeship.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Supplementary?

Ms. Marit Stiles: Well, I shouldn’t have to explain to the minister that it’s his government that’s making the decisions here. That wasn’t really an answer.

Let’s try another one. Salvatore Biasucci’s company couldn’t get their hands on any funding. They kept failing. They then hired the Premier’s campaign manager, and apparently that was the magic sauce: $3 million rained down from the heavens, or the Conservative government. He said to the Trillium, when asked about this, that Kory Teneycke’s firm was “specifically recommended to him” for this program.

It looks like the government is creating more jobs for lobbyists than for actual workers. Did the minister’s office—again, to the Premier—instruct people to hire the Premier’s campaign manager to get their projects funded, yes or no?

Hon. David Piccini: Again, in the latest round, another 40% of lower-scoring projects had donations to the members opposite.

But again, when we look at funding training programs that are going to change the next generation, we look at things like: Is it in construction to advance the incredible priorities, to build new highways, roads, bridges? Is it supporting our manufacturing sector, a sector decimated under the previous Liberal government, where manufacturing jobs fled Ontario? Is it supporting our mining sector, like Jennifer, one of the 100,000 unemployed who now got employment within 60 days of this program?

Speaker, there’s not a program in government that’s getting that many people a job within 60 days, and we’re proud to support young women like Jennifer.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Final supplementary?

Ms. Marit Stiles: Ontarians deserve transparency and, instead, all they’re getting are canned answers and petty attacks like this.

It gets worse. It gets worse. Donations to this minister, Speaker, have skyrocketed since he started doling out public funds like Halloween candy. This is a culture of pay-to-play. It was an issue in the previous Liberal government, and it is continuing here under this government. The Premier has done nothing to hold his minister accountable.

Does the Premier condone pay-to-play culture or is he going to finally fire his minister?

Hon. David Piccini: We’ve got an incredible fund that’s changing lives for Ontarians. Again, when that member opposite—I could go on all day, Speaker.

I’ve got a great letter here from a member of a union that not even two years ago was protesting outside of my office. But when I look at their SDF, I don’t care who they support, Speaker. It’s a project to reduce temporary help agencies by SEIU.

Ty Downey had this to say: “I’m taking time to shout-out David Piccini and his team for investing in WorkersFirst Technologies’ staffing program through the Skills Development Fund. The investment is already helping transform how temporary staffing is done to health care.”

This is a Premier who is going to stop at nothing to make sure we’ve got the health care workers to support an aging population, who is going to stop at nothing to make sure we have construction workers to build the projects that they all reject, Speaker. We’re not going to apologize for doing it.

Government accountability

Ms. Marit Stiles: My next question is to the Premier again. I guess accountability only matters when the Premier can point a finger at someone else.

“A slush fund for political friends” is how the Premier himself described the Liberals’ Jobs and Prosperity Fund back in 2018. I remember that. And now, he’s turning around and doing the same thing. The fund is not the problem; it is the politicians. Workers shouldn’t have to pay to play to get the training they need.

My question to the Premier is, why doesn’t he spend as much time actually delivering a jobs plan as he does on these pay-to-play schemes?

Hon. Doug Ford: To the Leader of the Opposition: We have a job plan as we move forward. Since 2018, there are over 1,070,000 people that are working today that weren’t working under the previous government.

As you propped up this previous government, they chased 600,000 jobs out of this province. They raised taxes, they raised debt, they raised electricity rates. They closed 600 schools, fired nurses—compared to our record. Our record: We’re investing in 100,000 new nurses. We’ve already let—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Order.

Hon. Doug Ford: We’ve seen hundreds of thousands of new manufacturing jobs come back to our province. That’s what we’re focused on.

We’re going to continue growing this province because we have the environment and the conditions to continue to grow this province with more jobs, more—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): A reminder to address your questions and responses through the Speaker.

I recognize the Leader of the Opposition.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Well, your debt is through the roof, and this Premier and this Minister of Labour’s record is a jobs disaster in the province of Ontario.

When the Premier took office, Ontario’s unemployment rate was 5.9%. Last month, it hit 8%—the highest in a decade—and 250,000 more people are unemployed today than when this Premier took office. That is a fact.

Just this morning, 1,200 people learned that they are going to be losing their jobs in Ingersoll. This Premier has the nerve to stand there and applaud himself with 1,200 families impacted, a community devastated.

My question is to the Premier: Is this really a record worth defending?

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

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: We support all the workers in this great province. We’re going to continue to talk to GM and other companies right across the province because—you know what, Speaker? She mentioned debt. Now, that’s interesting. In the time that we have been in power, do people know that the economy was $860 billion? Now it’s a $1.2-trillion economy—1,070,000 more workers. Madam Speaker, they were busy for 15 years raising taxes and getting credit rating downgrades and building absolutely nothing.

We’ve been cutting taxes, putting money in the pockets of consumers and businesses, getting credit rating upgrades and building Ontario with unprecedented infrastructure. That’s what a government does.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The Minister of Natural Resources and the member for Orléans will please come to order.

I recognize the Leader of the Opposition.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Speaker, zero respect for taxpayer dollars, right? Zero respect—that’s why this government is a jobs disaster. First, they use the housing crisis as an excuse to carve up the greenbelt and line the pockets of their insiders. Now, they’re using the jobs disaster to hand over tax dollars to friends and donors. We see it. People see it out there.

This government says it’s laser-focused on jobs, but it is clear that their only focus is making money for their friends and their insiders.

My question to the Premier is, when—again—is he going to put an end to this pay-to-play culture, and when is he going to fire his minister?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Minister of Labour.

Hon. David Piccini: Speaker, the member talks about jobs and then turns her back on the Working Women Community Centre, in her own riding, that received $700,000 through the Skills Development Fund to help women upskill in management careers. And over the—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The member for Windsor West will come to order.

Hon. David Piccini: Speaker, I think to this weekend, where I visited Newcomer Women’s Services, where we marked the 1000th woman that went through the Skills Development Fund Sister2Sister Program that’s helping newcomer women, Speaker. It’s an incredible program run by executive director Sara Asalya. We were there to support them because this Premier recognizes that at, any age, it’s worthwhile investing in skills. That’s what we’re going to keep doing to make sure we have a world-class workforce that can weather these economic storms that are coming.

They have no ideas. They’re offering nothing on the table, Speaker. This Premier and this government will keep working hard for workers.

Government accountability

Mr. John Fraser: Here we are on the second day of school, and what did we all learn? Well, what we learned yesterday was that the Minister of Labour failed to declare a conflict of interest that involved a close personal friend. But if you were good students and you stayed up late past the Jays game and read the Trillium article, you would have read that 63% of $345 million in the latest round of the Skills Development Fund went to PC donors who donated—wait for it—$1.3 million. That’s right, folks, $1.3 million.

Let’s have another pop quiz: Can the Premier explain to us what the phrase “quid pro quo” means?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Minister of Labour.

Hon. David Piccini: Speaker, the leader of the third party may be interested to know that a member of his own party, MPP Hsu, wrote to me about one of the SDFs in his riding. Do you know, what was unique about this is—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): The member for Kingston and the Islands will come to order.

Interjections.

Hon. David Piccini: Now he’s writing to me asking that I support his fund.

But, you know, Speaker, I respect that member and know that this film project matters in eastern Ontario. The film sector matters in ridings like mine, where we filmed It: Welcome to Derry. We’re going to keep working on focusing on supporting worthwhile projects that drive prosperity, that give workers better jobs—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Supplementary?

Mr. John Fraser: For the Premier’s edification, quid pro quo is a Latin phrase meaning “something for something.” It describes a reciprocal exchange of goods, services or favours. While it can be a simple fair trade, it often carries a negative connotation, especially in political context, where it can refer to an illegal exchange such as a bribe or unethical use of power—

Interjections.

Mr. John Fraser: I withdraw.

I’ll demonstrate: A good example would be an organization hosting a $120,000—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Order.

And I will caution the member on his references.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Please, the government side, come to order.

You can continue.

Mr. John Fraser: So, a good example would be an organization hosting a $120,000 fundraiser for the Minister of Labour and then that organization getting the largest Skills Development Fund grant. Does that sound familiar?

So Speaker, I guess my question is, when is the Premier going to fire his Minister of Labour?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Premier of Ontario.

Hon. Doug Ford: Madam Speaker, coming from the most politically corrupt government—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I’m going to ask the Premier to withdraw.

Hon. Doug Ford: Withdraw.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Order.

I’m going to start warning and naming people, and you will be leaving the chamber.

You may continue.

Hon. Doug Ford: Yes, I did touch a nerve. They got pretty excited when I said that.

As your previous government—to the member: Remember this saying, “Let’s not worry about manufacturing; let’s focus on the service sector”? That went really well, didn’t it? He saw 600,000 headlights heading south of the border.

Just this year, 21,100 full-time jobs in August, 44,000 in September, we had another 8,000 last month. People are still investing.

But I just sit back here with my colleague beside me, and I look—

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

Mr. John Fraser: Speaker, I know that organization I was just talking about does good work. I’m surprised they didn’t mention it. But the point is—and the point that the Premier missed was—they shouldn’t have to pay to get what they do already and do very well. That’s the point.

So, out on the street, this activity would be described as a protection racket. That’s what it would be. So, 63% of $345 million for $1.3 million in donations—but hey, folks, there’s nothing to see here, nothing to see.

What is it going to take for the Premier to say, “You’re fired, Minister”?

Hon. David Piccini: It sounds like we hit a nerve with an organization that used to employ their former, former leader—and that organization that cut corporate cheques previously to their party.

But that’s not what this is about. Let me tell you about the Carpenters’ Regional Council. I encourage you to have the courage of your convictions to go to Finn, to go to Kevin, who are here today, and say it to their face, because their program has helped. They had a target of 200 participants: women, youth, racialized youth. They exceeded that target by 112%. The number of participants who registered for apprenticeship: They almost met 100% registration.

But that doesn’t matter to a party that oversaw the lowest registration of apprenticeships in the modern history of this province, because they don’t care about building. We do. That’s why these unions are supporting this Premier: because they know that when their workers go to work, they collect a paycheque working on homes, working on the 413, working on the new Ontario Line. Their members benefit when we build a prosperous Ontario.

That’s what this Premier is going to keep doing. That’s what this government is going to stay focused on.

Government accountability

Mr. John Fraser: They shouldn’t have to pay to do the thing they do well. That’s the point.

Look, I don’t know if you know, but the Minister of Labour is hosting an event tomorrow night. It’s a $1,000-a-plate fundraiser at an undisclosed location here in Toronto. We like to call it, “Round 6 of the Skills Development Fund is now open. Get your status quo ready”—or, sorry, quid pro quo. It is the status quo too, by the way.

I just don’t understand why the Premier thinks this is all okay. I don’t get it. There are people out there looking for work, looking for food, looking for help for their kid, looking for a family doctor, and you’re letting this go on? Who are you protecting? You’re protecting the minister. It’s not protect Ontario; it’s protect the minister.

When is the Premier going to fire this minister?

Hon. Doug Ford: Madam Speaker, if I remember correct, he was part of the $25,000-a-plate fundraiser for your Premiers—

Interjection.

Hon. Doug Ford: It was you that stood up there, and you were shovelling the $25,000 tickets.

We don’t sell $25,000 tickets. You know, the majority of our donations come from the $5, the $10—the hard-working blue-collar folks that used to support you. They have no faith in you whatsoever because they don’t see any hope at all.

We’re giving the people hope here in Ontario. We’ve seen an investment of $46 billion in the EV sector, tens of billions in the tech sector, $6 billion in health sciences and billions of dollars in manufacturing.

We are a super powerhouse anywhere in the world. We’re going to continue being an economic powerhouse as we move forward.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Just to make it easy on everyone, just talk to me today, okay? Just talk to me. Thank you.

The leader of the third party.

Mr. John Fraser: My question is: Is SDF the “support David fund” or the “support Doug fund”? I’m not sure. Because after the minister became the minister, his riding association annual take went from $50,000 to almost half a million dollars. Nothing to see here, folks. Keep driving, keep walking by—nothing to see. There’s nothing to see here.

The Premier talks a lot about running the province like a business. If the Minister of Labour worked for any business in this province, he would have been fired last week.

So what’s it going to take, Premier? What do you need to do? Are you going to fire the minister or are you going to protect the minister?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Order.

I recognize the Minister of Labour.

Hon. David Piccini: What this is about, Speaker, is empowering a next generation. SDF, the Skills Development Fund, is changing lives.

And it’s about size, because these unions, these construction workers, recognize that when you actually build hospitals, when you don’t pander to activist groups that say no but actually get shovels in the ground, your members go to work; health care workers who recognize that when you build hospitals, you expand capacity. SEIU, a union that used to campaign for them, recognizes that when you fund innovative programming that reduces dependency on agency staff, good things can happen.

That’s what this fund is doing: rapid training with unions, with non-profits, with college and university partnerships to land better training for a better job with a bigger paycheque.

We’re going to keep focused on doing just that to support Ontarians of this province. We’re not going to pay attention to the distraction from members opposite.

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

Mr. John Fraser: It’s like the minister is taking all his friends out to lunch—a really expensive lunch—and then, when the bill comes, he’s just sliding it across the table to Ontarians—Ontarians who are looking for work, trying to put food on the table, trying to get help for their son or daughter at school, trying to find a family doctor. And the Premier is okay with the minister sliding the bill across the table because he’s doing it too.

I don’t think the Premier is protecting Ontario. I think the minister—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I’m going to ask the member to withdraw.

Mr. John Fraser: Withdraw.

So I don’t get it, Premier. I don’t get it. I know anywhere else, he would not be doing what he’s doing.

Ontarians work hard. It’s their money. It’s not your personal piggy bank. So are you going to fire the minister, or are you going to keep on protecting him and sliding the bill over to Ontarians?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I’m just going to remind people to direct your questions through the Speaker.

Back to the Minister of Labour.

Hon. David Piccini: Both that member and I, Speaker—we’ve never missed a lunch. I encourage him, next time he’s going for lunch, to visit Day-View Electric in his own riding. They helped 80% of their target folks through the Skills Development Fund land a job. They join the ranks of over 100,000 workers—100,000 workers that found meaningful employment within 60 days or less through the Skills Development Fund. Finally a program has that sort of impact to help people get jobs, and that’s what it’s about.

We’ve built a coalition with groups because we’re out there working with unions, we’re out there working with non-profits and we’re out there working with college-university partnerships to ensure that we have rapid training programs that could help build a resilient workforce that’s capable of withstanding anything.

We’re doing it to support a Premier who is leading this country in response to an aggressive President in the south. We’re never going to stop standing up for workers, those same workers who abandoned those parties in the last election because they know that this Premier, this government, has their backs.

Child care

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: My question is to the Premier. Today marks the 25th annual Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day, a time to recognize the vital work early childhood educators do in caring for and educating the next generation, yet nearly half of ECEs leave the profession within three years, citing low wages, lack of benefits and unsustainable working conditions. The AG reports our ECEs make up 59.5% of program staff, and up to 10,000 additional RECEs are needed by 2026.

This government has failed to meet its own workforce targets. Will the Premier commit to a real plan that ensures fair wages, improved working conditions and career stability for this essential workforce?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Minister of Education.

Hon. Paul Calandra: I do applaud the ECE workers. I spent a lot of time over the summer visiting daycares and child care centres across the province and really reflecting on the extraordinary work that they do.

The member will know, of course, that we are expanding access to child care. That means more ECEs. We are, unfortunately, in a bit of a holding pattern right now as we wait for the federal government to come to the table with respect to the next five years of the CWELCC program. We honestly have been asking the federal government to meet since last April; we have yet to hear back from the federal government.

It’s not only the province of Ontario; our friends in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are also asking the federal government to come back to the table. In their last offer to us, the federal government acknowledged that they were $10 billion short of sustaining the program as it is today, but we are hoping that eventually they will come to the table.

Time is running short and parents need to have some certainty, but so do the workers who do such extraordinary jobs on behalf of getting our children ready for the future, getting them ready to be in our schools. So I’m with the member, I’m with the ECE—

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the member from London–Fanshawe.

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: Speaker, appreciation must come with action, and without a stable workforce, there is no child care system. Uncertainty extends beyond the workforce: Families and operators are worried too. The Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care program is set to expire in March. Over 300,000 families rely on affordable child care under this program and 70,000 more are waiting, yet the government is one of two provinces that hasn’t signed a deal for this program.

Premier, the clock is ticking. Will the Premier commit today to get his ministers to the negotiating table?

Hon. Paul Calandra: Not only is the province of Ontario willing to get to the negotiating table, so is the province of British Columbia, which signed a deal and is now regretting that deal they signed—so is the province of Alberta, so is Saskatchewan, so is Manitoba.

We have been begging the federal government to come to the table so that we can begin talking about an extension of the CWELCC program. We have sent letters to the federal government, we have called the federal government. We understand that the new minister does not yet have a mandate from her Treasury Board to begin negotiations with us. It is hard to negotiate with yourself at the table.

We want an extension of the program. That is why I sent out a letter last April to parents—a year in advance of the expiry of the program—warning them that unless the federal government committed funding to their program that fees would go up. That’s why Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and British Columbia are joining us.

I hope the federal minister will come to the table with us so that we can resolve some of the issues that we have and we can give parents certainty, we can give operators certainty and we can give those ECEs workers who do such a great job the certainty that they need as well.

Government accountability

Mr. Rob Cerjanec: My question is to the Premier. Loyalist College in Belleville suspended one- and two-year culinary programs after years of investing in specialized equipment and industry partnerships. Domestic students were enrolled in those programs to give them opportunities to pursue an education and careers within their own community. Businesses in the hospitality and tourism sector in Prince Edward county and the Canadian Armed Forces rely on the highly skilled graduates from this program. In Picton, the Royal Hotel has nine alumni from Loyalist College working there.

Speaker, can the Premier explain to young people and local employers in the Bay of Quinte why millions of dollars were handed out through the Skills Development Fund like a slush fund to reward insiders, while Loyalist College can’t even afford to keep its culinary programs open? Will the Premier fire the Minister of Labour, fund our colleges and fix the Skills Development Fund?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Minister of Colleges and Universities.

Hon. Nolan Quinn: As the member opposite would know, funding for our colleges and universities is higher than it’s ever been. We can pass you over the 2025 budget; we’ve invested a billion dollars into the public sector. That is $750 million into 20,000 new STEM seats, new nursing seats, new teaching seats—we’ve invested into the sector, on top of the $1.3 billion that we invested last year.

But I think what that member opposite needs to know is that the federal government made many unilateral changes that have affected post-secondary right across the whole country. Ontario is not alone in the rebalancing that is taking place right now, so what I would recommend is that that member opposite phone his federal counterparts and ask them why they’ve messed up the post-secondary institutions right across all of Canada.

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Back to the member for Ajax.

Mr. Rob Cerjanec: Speaker, that was a program that was primarily enrolled with domestic students, not international students: the people within their own community looking for jobs and opportunities within it.

I used to work in the hospitality sector, and I know that in the county, it’s an important driver of economic growth and jobs. I know the story of many young people from the Bay of Quinte area who can’t afford to travel all the way to Toronto to enrol in a culinary program. What does the Premier expect those students to do? Where does the province expect hospitality businesses in the county to recruit their staff from? Should they go to tomorrow’s fundraiser with the Minister of Labour to get in line for the next round of the Skills Development Fund?

Premier, you say that government should be run like a business. Well, if this was an actual business, you would have fired the Minister of Labour a long time ago. Will you do it now?

The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I recognize the Minister of Labour.

Hon. David Piccin