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August 11, 2022

43rd Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2022-Aug-11 vol. A (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Thursday 11 August 2022 Jeudi 11 août 2022

Orders of the Day

Plan to Build Act (Budget Measures), 2022 / Loi de 2022 pour favoriser le développement (mesures budgétaires)

Members’ Statements

Gujurati Seniors Samaj of Mississauga

Riding of Mushkegowuk–James Bay / Circonscription de Mushkegowuk–Baie James

Riding of Scarborough–Agincourt

Long-term care

Riding of Hastings–Lennox and Addington

Health care

Riding of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound

Garde d’enfants / Child care

Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

Resilient Communities Fund

House sittings

Introduction of Visitors

Gisèle Lalonde

Question Period

Health care

Health care

Health care

Housing

Hospital services

Housing

Nurses

Social assistance

Cost of living

Consumer protection

Housing

Services hospitaliers / Hospital services

Arts and cultural funding

Hospital services

Education

Long-term care

Correction of record

Business of the House

Correction of record

Motions

House sittings

Petitions

Social assistance

Infrastructure funding

Northern health services

Health care funding

Gasoline prices

Sécurité routière

Multiple sclerosis

Orders of the Day

Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022 / Loi de 2022 pour des maires forts et pour la construction de logements

The House met at 0900.

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

Prières / Prayers.

Orders of the Day

Plan to Build Act (Budget Measures), 2022 / Loi de 2022 pour favoriser le développement (mesures budgétaires)

Mr. Bethlenfalvy moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill 2,

An Act to implement Budget measures and to enact and amend various statutes / Projet de loi 2, Loi visant à mettre en oeuvre les mesures budgétaires et à édicter et à modifier diverses lois.

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

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to note that I will be sharing my time with the member from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound and the member from Oakville, in that order.

It is my honour to rise on behalf of our entire government and speak to our Plan to Build Act. This legislation underpins our Ontario 2022 budget, which is titled Ontario’s Plan to Build. Our government’s budget was first released in April of this year, and I’m thrilled for the opportunity to speak to how we are getting to work for Ontario workers and for Ontario families.

It’s a budget for rebuilding Ontario’s economy; a budget for keeping costs down for Ontario families and putting more money back into the pockets of their families; a budget that is working for Ontario workers; a budget for building highways, for building transit and building key infrastructure across our province; and a budget with a plan to keep Ontario open, today and in the future.

Ce budget vise à reconstruire l’économie de l’Ontario. C’est un budget qui contribuera à garder les coûts bas pour les familles de l’Ontario et à mettre de l’argent dans la poche des contribuables; un budget qui oeuvre pour les travailleurs; un budget qui permettra de construire des autoroutes, des réseaux de transport en commun et des infrastructures essentielles, à l’échelle de notre province; et un budget qui permettra de garder l’Ontario ouvert, aujourd’hui et pour l’avenir.

I will provide an overview of the focus areas of our budget and will touch on some of the highlights of the Plan to Build Act, which supports this plan.

The first pillar of our plan is rebuilding Ontario’s economy. Ontario’s manufacturing sector is key to the economic success of our province. However, by 2018, the province’s manufacturing employment had decreased by about a third since its peak in 2004.

Our government has a plan to make Ontario the workshop of Canada once again, and that plan applies to the whole province. It applies to building prosperity for everyone, in every corner of the province. Our plan to rebuild Ontario’s economy will build prosperity in the north. It will include seizing Ontario’s critical minerals opportunities and those opportunities therein.

It is time to do more to tap into the enormous resource potential across this province, starting with the Ring of Fire. Canada is the only country in the western hemisphere with all of the raw materials required for a lithium-ion battery. With northern Ontario already being a key global producer and processor of minerals, such as nickel, copper and cobalt, and home to various promising, advanced-stage lithium and graphite mining and mineral processing projects, the Ring of Fire has the potential to bring multi-generational prosperity to northern and First Nation communities while supporting a homegrown supply chain for battery technology, electronics and electric and hybrid vehicles.

In an era of geopolitical instability, seizing our critical mineral opportunity and developing the Ring of Fire is a strategic necessity for Canada. Critical minerals will protect and be part of a clean, environmentally friendly future for Ontarians and for Canadians. It will be part of a future of clean steel, with batteries, hybrid and electric vehicles as the next generation of automobiles built in Ontario by Ontario workers and sold right across North America.

The government’s plan includes close to $1 billion for critical legacy infrastructure, such as all-season roads to the Ring of Fire, building the corridor to prosperity. These roads will help bring critical minerals to the manufacturing hubs in the south, which will bring prosperity to Ontario’s north and help improve access to health care, goods and services, education, housing and economic opportunities for First Nation communities.

The plan is supported by a Critical Minerals Strategy, with $2 million in 2022-23 and $3 million in 2023-24 to create a Critical Minerals Innovation Fund.

Mr. Speaker, the plan is also helping to create good manufacturing jobs right here in Ontario, as Ontario becomes a North American leader in building the vehicles of the future.

Over the last two years, Ontario has attracted almost $16 billion—yes, that’s correct—in transformative automotive investments by global automakers and suppliers of electric vehicle batteries and battery materials. This includes more than $12.5 billion in electric vehicle and electric vehicle battery-related manufacturing investments.

Our government has partnered with the federal government, municipal governments and forward-thinking partners in key sectors and the auto supply chain, including Honda Canada’s nearly $1.4-billion investment to upgrade and retool its Alliston plants so workers there can build the next generation of hybrid vehicle models—right here in Ontario, made by Ontario workers, and sold right across North America. That is great news for the 4,200 people who work for Honda Canada’s operation in Ontario.

There is also a more than $2-billion investment by General Motors to pave the way for GM’s first-ever vehicle production line in Ontario at Ingersoll, while supporting continued vehicle production in Oshawa and Durham region—an investment, by the way, that will support 2,600 jobs in Oshawa.

We’ve also seen the largest greenfield investment in over a decade. That’s an over $5-billion investment by LG Energy Solution and Stellantis to build Ontario’s first-ever large-scale electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant—an investment that will create 2,500 new jobs in the Windsor area.

And, Mr. Speaker, there’s more. Umicore plans to make an $1.5-billion investment to build a first-of-its-kind industrial-scale cathode and precursor materials manufacturing plant in eastern Ontario. At full production, the plant will produce annual cathode material volumes sufficient to manufacture batteries for one million battery-electric vehicles—almost 20% of all North American EV production at the end of the decade here in Ontario. So it’s the north, it’s the southeast, it’s the east, it’s the GTA—manufacturing is coming back to Ontario.

Ontario is also supporting investments to help make the province a world-leading producer of clean, low-emission steel to help build automobiles in the province.

But this is not all. Through the Plan to Build Act, we are also proposing an enhancement to the Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit. This tax credit was introduced in March 2020 to help lower costs for businesses seeking to expand in areas of the province where employment growth had been slower than the provincial average. The tax credit supports corporations that build, renovate or purchase eligible commercial or industrial buildings in qualifying areas of Ontario. It provides an incentive to bring jobs and growth to these communities.

In the 2021 budget, we temporarily doubled the tax credit rate from 10% to 20% until the end of 2022 to provide additional support to businesses in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This enhancement increased the available tax credit support for regional investment from a maximum of $45,000 to a maximum of $90,000 in a year. Through the legislation we are discussing today, our government is proposing to extend the temporary enhancement to the Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit to the end of 2023.

This would give businesses more time to make use of the enhanced support, more time to invest in Ontario’s opportunities, more time to encourage a robust economic recovery.

En vertu de la loi dont nous parlons aujourd’hui, notre gouvernement propose donc de prolonger la bonification temporaire du crédit d’impôt à l’investissement régional jusqu’à la fin de 2023. Les entreprises auraient ainsi plus de temps pour se prévaloir du soutien bonifié, plus de temps pour investir dans les collectivités de l’Ontario et plus de temps pour favoriser une reprise économique robuste.

By extending the time-limited enhancement to the Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit until the end of 2023, Ontario would be investing an additional $40 million, resulting in an estimated tax credit support of over $280 million from 2020-21 to 2024-25. This is real support to encourage growth in regions that need it the most.

In addition to this measure, another way the Plan to Build Act is supporting stronger local economies is by working to bring jobs to provincial agencies in communities across Ontario. Centralizing government organizations in one place misses the opportunity that these jobs can bring to different communities. It’s simply not fair that only select communities should have access to these well-paying jobs.

That is why we are exploring the relocation of the headquarters of the WSIB to London, Ontario. The Plan to Build Act, which we are discussing today, would give the WSIB the flexibility to determine where its head office is located, and this legislation would remove a legacy provision that requires the WSIB’s head office to be in the city of Toronto.

The government will also explore the location for new agencies, including Supply Ontario, Invest Ontario and Intellectual Property Ontario, to help ensure opportunities so all the people and all the communities of Ontario can benefit. Through this initiative, the provincial government can reduce costly third-party leases, make better use of its buildings and unlock the economic potential of smaller communities to help grow regional opportunities.

To bring jobs and prosperity to every region of Ontario, every person must have access to good-quality, high-speed Internet access. It’s an absolute necessity for doing businesses. So our plan includes nearly $4 billion to support high-speed Internet access to every community in Ontario by the end of 2025.

Of course, this plan builds on many of the actions our government has taken to date. For example, we introduced an accelerated capital cost allowance to help businesses invest in new investment and equipment. We reduced industrial electricity costs, on average, by between 15 and 17%. And we cut hundreds of millions of dollars in red tape.

So, Mr. Speaker, as you can see, Ontario’s Plan to Build includes concrete actions and investments to help create jobs and build prosperity everywhere for everyone in Ontario.

I will now discuss the next pillar of our plan, which is keeping costs down for Ontario families. The same day that our government re-tabled the Plan to Build Act, we also released the 2022-23 first quarter finances, which provides updated information about the evolution of Ontario’s economic and fiscal outlook since the 2022 budget, and as of June 30, 2022.

The numbers reflect a reality that people and businesses are feeling in their day-to-day lives, and that is, the effects of inflation are being felt in a real way, whether at the grocery store, at the pumps, or when purchasing goods or services to keep one’s businesses running. While this economic trend is global in nature, our government is stepping up to do our part to help Ontario families with the cost of living. We’re bringing forward actions to help people across Ontario keep a few extra dollars in their pockets right now so they can continue to pay the rent, to pay the bills, to pay for gas, and to pay for groceries, regardless of the curveballs the global economy throws our way.

Mr. Speaker, the Plan to Build Act proposes amendments that would provide relief to families and to workers, especially minimum wage workers and low-income families who are especially feeling the impacts of rising costs for groceries and other essentials.

Beginning with the 2022 tax year, our government is proposing to enhance the low-income individuals and families tax credit, also known as the LIFT credit, to increase and expand this benefit to provide $320 million in additional tax relief to most workers. The proposed enhancement to the LIFT credit would mean about 700,000 more people in Ontario would benefit from this tax credit in this tax year. Also, with the general minimum wage rising to $15.50 per hour, as of October 1, 2022, this would help ensure eligible minimum wage workers continue to receive additional tax relief.

So how does this tax credit work? The LIFT credit is a non-refundable tax credit that, since it was first introduced in 2018, has provided up to $850 in Ontario personal income tax relief each year to lower-income workers. Under the current LIFT credit, the benefit is phased out at a rate of 10% for individual income above $30,000 and family income above $60,000. Combined with other tax relief, the introduction of the LIFT credit means that about 90% of all Ontario tax filers with taxable income below $30,000 pay no personal income tax.

Let me repeat that: 90% of all Ontario tax filers with taxable income below $30,000 pay no personal income tax. Mr. Speaker, our Plan to Build Act proposes amendments to enhance this credit so it can provide even greater benefits to the people of Ontario. So under our proposed enhancement, the maximum benefit would increase from $850 to $875, helping to put more money in people’s pockets. On top of that, we’re also proposing to raise the income thresholds and lower the phase-out rate from 10% to 5%, increasing and expanding the income ranges over which the benefit is reduced.

So what does this mean for the people of Ontario? It means that, with the proposed enhancement, 1.1 million lower-income workers would see an additional $300, on average, in tax relief this year, in 2022, bringing the total number of beneficiaries in Ontario to 1.7 million taxpayers. That’s real relief. That’s relief to make life more affordable for people in Ontario.

Mr. Speaker, our plan for keeping costs down also includes cutting fees. We’re making it less expensive to drive by eliminating and refunding licence plate stickers, so that for each passenger vehicle, light-duty truck, motorcycle and moped, they get relief. This on its own will save Ontario drivers $120 a year per vehicle in southern Ontario, and $60 a year per vehicle in the north. On top of these savings, our government is also helping people who are feeling the pinch at the gas pump. As of July 1, we have cut the gas tax by 5.7 cents per litre and the fuel tax by 5.3 cents a litre for six months.

Together, these measures—eliminating and refunding licence plate renewal fees and cutting the gas and fuel tax—will help households save about $465 on average this year in 2022.

I note the member from Durham is here. We have also removed the tolls on Highways 412 and 418. This especially helps people in the Durham region and benefits every single person who uses these highways.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind members of two new initiatives our government recently announced to keep costs down in Ontario.

First, we announced an increase for Ontario Disability Support Program payments, to bring much-needed support to help offset rising living costs for these families and individuals. And we announced that future Ontario Disability Support Program—ODSP—payments would be adjusted for inflation, to help support these recipients moving forward. This comes in addition to measures we’re discussing today to keep costs down, as well as other initiatives such as the Ontario Community Support Program, and providing an additional $307 million to help municipalities, and Indigenous communities and their partners, deliver critical services that create longer-term housing solutions and keep people safe.

Additionally, beginning in September, the government will increase the maximum monthly payment by 5% for the Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities Program. We also announced an additional investment on top of our government’s previously announced tutoring support program to provide direct education supports for students. Our government has committed an additional investment of $225 million on top of the previously announced tutoring support program, bringing the total investment in tutoring supports to over $400 million over three years. These additional funds will support a program that provides parents with greater flexibility over how to support a child’s specific needs.

Mr. Speaker, the next part of our plan I will cover is highways and infrastructure. As Ontario’s population grows, it puts unprecedented pressure on roads, highways, transit and other infrastructure, so our plan includes building roads, highways and transit for Ontario’s needs, getting shovels in the ground and getting to work for the people and the businesses of Ontario.

At the heart of our plan is a capital investment of $158 billion over the next 10 years, with planned investments of over $20 billion in this fiscal year, 2022-23, alone. Our plan includes trains, it includes subways, and it includes highways—because you cannot fight gridlock without building highways. That is why we are investing more than $25 billion over 10 years for highway expansion and rehabilitation projects right across this province, including projects such as Highway 413. Highway 413 will save drivers up to 30 minutes on their commute.

Our commitment also extends to the Bradford Bypass, a new four-lane freeway connecting Highway 400 in Simcoe county and Highway 404 in York region. That’s an area of the province expected to experience rapid growth over the next 20 years. The Bradford Bypass will take pressure off of Highway 400 and existing local roads in York and in Simcoe, giving drivers in the region relief from endless gridlock and saving them up to 35 minutes each trip.

In addition to building highways, our capital plan will invest over $61 billion over the next 10 years to fuel a huge expansion in new subways, GO rail and other vital infrastructure. In the north, we are investing $75 million to help bring passenger rail service back to northeastern Ontario.

Interjections.

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Thank you to the members.

Our plan also is a plan that includes working for workers. To begin, we are putting more money into workers’ pockets by raising the minimum wage to $15.50 per hour, starting on October 1, 2022. Our plan includes attracting and recruiting more workers into skilled trades, with an additional $114 million over three years in our skilled trades strategy. We have relaunched our very successful Second Career program into Better Jobs Ontario. We’re expanding college degree-granting programs to build a pipeline of job-ready graduates in applied fields, helping students get into the workforce faster.

And we are investing $67 million over three years to fund the Ontario bridge training program to help eligible immigrants bridge their international training and experience with in-demand jobs in their communities. Our economy needs these skilled workers, and our workers need our support. That is why our government is working for workers.

The final

chapter of our budget is our plan to stay open. The people and businesses of Ontario have been tested by the pandemic, and those tests continue. Our plan includes investments and actions to help keep our economy open and to invest in our health and long-term-care system.

One such investment is included in the Plan to Build Act, and that is our proposed new Ontario Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit. This new tax credit would help low- to moderate-income senior families with eligible medical expenses, including certified attendant care, assistive breathing devices, and hearing and walking aids. In 2022, this new personal income tax credit would provide an estimated $110 million in support to about 200,000 low-income to moderate-income senior families, or about $550 on average. Senior families would first claim this credit when they file their 2022 tax returns.

This proposed measure would help seniors age in their homes, surrounded by their loved ones and their memories.

Our plan to stay open also includes a 10-year, $40-billion hospital capital plan, which represents the most ambitious plan for hospital expansion in Ontario’s history, supporting more than 50 major hospital projects and adding 3,000 new beds over the next 10 years.

The plan also includes investing now in long-term care. Ontario now has over 31,000 new and over 28,000 upgraded beds in the development pipeline to get long-term-care beds built, to get seniors and other individuals the care they need and deserve.

Our government is planning to invest up to an additional $1 billion over the next three years to expand home care. Our plan to stay open takes immediate action to support the hard-working health care workers who have done so much to keep us safe—a credible recovery plan that will eliminate the provincial deficit two years earlier than projected in the 2021 budget.

While we’re doing this, we are providing nurses with a retention bonus of up to $5,000. We’re making the wage enhancement for more than 158,000 personal support workers and direct support workers permanent.

That is Ontario’s Plan to Build. It’s a plan to invest and invest responsibly, with spending increasing by an annual average of over 5%, with investments in health care, in education and other critical infrastructure. These are the types of investments that will help lead a credible recovery plan and, as I just mentioned, that will help eliminate the provincial deficit two years earlier than projected in the 2021 budget.

The Plan to Build Act is an important piece of legislation that will enable us to put this plan into action. I urge all members—all members—to vote for this plan to build, this plan to get the work done for the Ontario families.

La Loi pour favoriser le développement est un texte législatif qui nous permettra de mettre en oeuvre ce plan. Je demande donc aux députés d’adopter ce plan pour bâtir, ce plan pour favoriser le développement, ce plan qui nous permettra de travailler pour les familles ontariennes.

This is a plan to build Ontario together. This is a plan for all Ontarians. Join us in this plan and do it for all Ontarians.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Next I’ll recognize the member for Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound.

Mr. Rick Byers: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m very pleased to have this opportunity to rise and speak on our government’s Plan to Build Act. As members know, this is the legislation that supports our 2022 budget, Ontario’s Plan to Build. We are excited to hit the ground running and get to work on delivering this budget that will help workers, seniors and families in Ontario.

We’ve made a commitment to this province, a commitment that we will get it done. That is why, through you, Mr. Speaker, I’m urging members to support this important piece of legislation. It’s legislation that supports our plan to rebuild Ontario’s economy; to keep costs down for Ontario families and put more money back in their pockets; to work for Ontario’s workers; to build highways, transit and key infrastructure across our province—and our plan to keep Ontario open today and in the future by investing in hospitals, home care and our health care workforce.

I’m going to use my time today to focus specifically on our government’s plan to keep costs down for Ontario families and businesses. We’re facing a period of global economic uncertainty, with inflation reaching levels we’ve not seen in four decades. While this phenomenon is being driven by global economic forces, from geopolitical instability to the effects of the worldwide pandemic, it’s nonetheless critical for our government to play its role in keeping costs down for Ontario families and workers.

As such, a key pillar of our 2022 budget focuses on actions our government is proposing to take to make life more affordable and put money back in the pockets of the people of Ontario. I’ll be speaking about some of these measures to keep costs down that are detailed in our government’s Plan to Build Act.

Specifically, and as the minister has mentioned, our proposed enhancement to the low-income individuals and families tax credit is so important.

In addition to our proposed new Ontario Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit, I’ll also talk about our plan to reduce the cost of auto insurance, which is another item featured in our plan to act.

From transportation to groceries to other essentials, rising costs are impacting household budgets. When costs go up, it has a direct impact on families, seniors and the economy. A higher-cost province is a less competitive province, as workers decide to take their skills elsewhere. That’s why the government has a plan to keep costs down for Ontario families and businesses so they can reinvest in themselves and in the economy.

The Plan to Build Act proposes amendments that would provide relief to families and workers, especially minimum wage workers and low-income families who are feeling the effects of these rising costs.

Beginning in the 2022 tax year, our government is proposing to enhance the LIFT credit, as the minister noted. What I like so much about the changes that are being made is that the proposed enhancement to the LIFT credit would mean about 700,000 more people would benefit from this tax credit in the 2022 tax year. Combined with other tax relief, the introduction of the LIFT credit means that about 90% of all Ontario tax filers with taxable incomes below $30,000 will pay no Ontario personal income tax.

Mr. Speaker, our Plan to Build Act proposes amendments to enhance this credit so that it can provide even greater benefits to Ontario, and as noted, it means that, with this proposed enhancement, 1.1 million lower-income workers would see an additional $300, on average, in tax relief in 2022—that’s very important—and more workers would benefit from the LIFT credit, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 1.7 million people. That’s real relief to make life more affordable for people in Ontario.

This proposed tax credit enhancement builds on the robust suite of tax credits and benefits that are available to support people and businesses in Ontario. I’ll spend a moment highlighting some of the other benefits that are available.

Mr. Speaker, most seniors prefer to age in their own homes surrounded by their loved ones. These seniors may require a range of supports to meet their unique needs and circumstances. Our government believes that these seniors should have support to make their homes safer and more accessible. That’s why we’ve introduced the Ontario Seniors’ Home Safety Tax Credit, which is a temporary, refundable personal income tax credit available for 2021 and 2022. It’s worth 25% of up to $10,000 in eligible expenses per year for a senior’s principal residence in Ontario, with recipients getting back up to $2,500 per year.

This credit is already helping seniors cover the costs of renovations they make to their homes to make their homes safer and more accessible, such as installing grab bars, widening doorways and installing non-slip flooring. Now, through the Plan to Build Act, our government is proposing to build on this support with a new Ontario Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit. This new, refundable personal income tax credit would help seniors with eligible medical expenses, including expenses that support aging at home.

People eligible for this credit would get back up to 25% of their claimable medical expenses of up to $6,000, for a maximum credit of $1,500. These are dollars back in the pockets of eligible seniors to support a wide range of medical expenses such as: certified attendant care; care from a provincially authorized medical practitioner—for example, a nurse or occupational therapist—dental, vision and hearing care—for example, glasses, dentures and hearing aids—walking aids such as walkers and canes; wheelchairs and electric scooters; bathroom aids, such as grab bars and rails; and more.

As you can see, Mr. Speaker, this tax credit would provide real relief for seniors and their families. The proposed credit could be claimed in addition to non-refundable federal and Ontario medical expenses for the same eligible expenses, and it would be refundable, supporting low- to moderate-income senior families even if they do not owe personal income tax. In 2022, it is expected that the new credit would provide an estimated $110 million in support of about 200,000 low- to moderate-income senior families. That will help seniors be supported and stay in their homes.

In addition, through the Ontario Child Care Tax Credit, families can claim up to 75% of eligible tax child care expenditures, including care provided in child care centres, homes and camps. Further, when people filed their 2021 tax returns this year, they benefited from a temporary 20% top-up to this tax credit.

Our jobs training tax credit is helping workers receive training that they may need for a career shift or to sharpen their skills. It provides up to $2,000 in relief for 50% of a person’s eligible expenses for the year. Our government extended this temporary tax credit to the 2022 tax year to help more workers continue to upgrade their skills and transition back to the labour force.

Additionally, our Ontario Staycation Tax Credit is helping families who want to discover our beautiful province this year, while helping tourism and hospitality sectors recover from the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this credit, Ontario residents can claim 20% of their eligible 2022 accommodation expenses; for example, for a stay in a hotel, a cottage, or a campground, or coming to Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound. They can make this claim when they file their personal income tax and benefit return for 2022.

People can claim eligible expenses of up to $1,000 as an individual or $2,000 if they have a spouse, common-law partner or eligible children, to receive up to $200 as an individual or $400 tax relief as a family.

Tax credits are just one of the many ways our government is helping put money back in the pockets of Ontario families to keep costs down and make life more affordable.

Our plan is not only bringing relief to families. Our suite of tax credits also includes measures to help build prosperity for everyone, in every corner of the province. To support this goal, through the Plan to Build Act, we are proposing to extend the enhancement to the Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit, as was noted. This tax credit was introduced in March 2020 to help lower costs for businesses seeking to expand and grow in areas of the province where employment growth had been slower than the provincial average. It supports corporations to build, renovate or purchase eligible commercial or industrial buildings to bring jobs and growth to these communities.

In the 2021 budget, we temporarily doubled the tax credit from 10% to 20% until the end of 2022 to provide additional support to businesses in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This enhancement increased the available tax credit support for regional investment from a maximum of $45,000 to $90,000 per year.

Through the legislation we are discussing today, our government is proposing to extend the temporary enhancement to the Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit until the end of 2023. This would give businesses more time to make use of the enhanced support, more time to invest in Ontario’s communities and more time to encourage a robust economic recovery. By extending the time-limited enhancement through the Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit until the end of 2023, Ontario would be investing an additional $40 million, resulting in total estimated tax credit support of over $280 million from 2020 to 2025.

As part of our plan to keep costs down for Ontario families, we’re putting a specific focus on transportation costs, as the minister had noted. One way of doing this is, we want to reduce the cost of auto insurance, an initiative that is supported by the Plan to Build Act. While the government has made substantial progress on Putting Drivers First, a blueprint for Ontario’s auto insurance system, we know there’s still more work to be done. Our plan includes creating more choice, because the current mandatory insurance product may not offer the choices Ontario drivers deserve. We intend to propose changes over time that would give consumers more options when purchasing car insurance.

We’re also cracking down on fraud. Our government remains committed to building strong anti-fraud measures into the auto insurance system. That is why, through the legislation we are discussing today, we are proposing amendments to the Insurance Act that, if passed, would require insurers to provide prescribed fraud information on an ongoing basis to the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario. This would hold insurers accountable for managing, tracking and reporting fraud.

FSRA will be consulting on the implementation of a fraud reporting service tool that will better prevent, detect and, ultimately, deter fraud. This is an important step to crack down on fraud and its associated costs. FSRA will be consulting further on proposals for combatting fraud through fraud management plans and removing identified fraudsters through excluded provider lists.

Lastly, our plan to fix auto insurance will also see FSRA implement a new strategy for reforming the regulation of auto insurance rates and underwriting. As part of the new strategy, FSRA will be developing a new framework for ensuring fairness in rates that would replace outdated guidance, including existing guidance on territorial rating.

Additionally, as drivers are required to use workplace benefits prior to making a claim through their auto insurance provider, the government will review how drivers access benefits when extended health plans are involved to ensure the system remains modern and works well for accident victims when they need it most.

Mr. Speaker, here are a few additional highlights of our plan to keep costs down for families. Housing costs are another item we hear about from people across the province. Everyone in Ontario deserves to find housing that is right for them. The government is taking action to increase housing supply and make sure that everyone in Ontario can find a home that meets their needs and their budget. Housing that people can afford is an important part of the strong, stable foundation the government is building for Ontario’s workers and families.

That’s why our government passed legislation to support the creation of all types of housing by speeding up approvals to get more shovels in the ground faster.

Our government is also investing $19.2 million over three years to increase capacity at the Ontario Land Tribunal and the Landlord and Tenant Board to resolve cases faster, address the significant backlog, and support more housing supply and opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, it has been my pleasure to have this opportunity to discuss the Plan to Build Act, which supports our government’s plan to keep costs down for Ontario businesses and workers. We look forward to implementing all measures in our 2022 Ontario budget, which is our government’s plan to invest, and invest responsibly; to rebuild Ontario’s economy; to keep costs down for Ontario’s families and put more money back in their pockets; to work for Ontario’s workers; to build highways, transit and key infrastructure across the province; and our plan to keep Ontario open today and in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all members to vote for this important legislation so that, together, we can get to work to support Ontario families.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Next, I’ll recognize the member for Oakville.

Mr. Stephen Crawford: First, I want to say it’s an honour to be able to share my time with the Minister of Finance and the member from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound. I’m on a great, great team.

It’s a pleasure to be able to use this time to be able to speak about our government’s Plan to Build Act. We brought this legislation forward as one of our first orders of business, because we have already hit the ground running, and are well under way in implementing our 2022 Ontario Budget: Ontario’s Plan to Build.

This is our plan to rebuild Ontario’s economy; our plan to keep costs down for Ontario families and put more money back in their pockets; our plan to work for Ontario’s workers and deliver better jobs and bigger paycheques; our plan to build highways, transit and key infrastructure, and support the building of housing right across our province; and our plan to keep Ontario open, today and in the future, by investing in home care, long-term care and our health care workforce.

“Build”: Mr. Speaker, that word appears in our 2022 budget more than 300 times, and it appears in the legislation we are discussing today, whether we’re talking about getting shovels in the ground to build highways, bridges, subways and schools; building new hospitals and long-term-care beds, and recruiting nurses, doctors and personal support workers; making investments in the auto sector and in critical minerals to rebuild Ontario’s economy; or to build a province that works for workers while keeping costs down for families. Our government has a plan to build, and we have a plan to get it done.

Our government has a plan to build prosperity everywhere, for everyone, for every person and every region across this great province. Our plan will build prosperity for all. For too long, employment growth and opportunities have been concentrated in Ontario’s largest metropolitan areas. For example, our government doesn’t think it’s fair for government organizations to be centralized in one location, typically Toronto. Too many regions have not shared in the prosperity in this province. Every small city, town and village in Ontario has something to offer, and the Ontario government has a plan to make sure everyone can contribute to making this province great.

That’s why our 2022 budget includes a Community Jobs Initiative. Through this initiative, the government is working to bring jobs and provincial agencies to communities across Ontario to spur economic growth throughout the province. This begins with exploring the relocation of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board headquarters to London, Ontario. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Act of 1997 currently requires the main offices to be located in Toronto. Our Plan to Build Act would, if passed, see this

section repealed, because we don’t believe that only one urban centre should have access to these good jobs and community benefits that they can bring.

Mr. Speaker, another way to build is helping to bring prosperity in all corners of the province through our Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit. It is a tax credit that was introduced in March 2020 to help lower the cost for businesses seeking to expand and grow in areas of the province where employment growth has been slower than the provincial average. It supports corporations that build, renovate or purchase eligible commercial or industrial buildings in qualifying areas in Ontario.

It provides an incentive to bring jobs and growth to these communities because, as I noted earlier, we believe communities across the province deserve access and opportunity to build and succeed. Members may recall that in the 2021 budget we temporarily doubled this tax credit rate from 10% to 20% until the end of 2022. We did this to provide additional support for businesses in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This enhancement increased the available tax credit support for regional investment from a maximum of $45,000 to a maximum of $90,000 in a year.

Through the legislation we are discussing today, our government is proposing to extend the temporary enhancement of the Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit until the end of 2023. This would give businesses more time to make use of this enhanced support, more time to invest in Ontario’s communities, more time to rebuild our economy.

By extending the limited enhancement to the Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit, Ontario would be investing an additional $40 million, resulting in a total estimated tax credit support of over $280 million from 2020-21 to 2024-25. As we move forward with our plan to rebuild Ontario’s economy, this measure would help bring growth and prosperity to Ontario’s diverse communities. From Cochrane to Kenora, from Thunder Bay to Timiskaming, from Manitoulin to Perth, the Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit enhancement would support job creation and growth throughout this great province.

Mr. Speaker, our plan to build also includes one of the most ambitious capital plans in our province’s history. It includes planned investments over the next 10 years totalling $158.8 billion, including $20 billion in 2022-23. This plan is getting shovels in the ground to build highways, hospitals, transit and other critical assets, creating jobs and laying the foundation for a stronger Ontario. It includes $25.1 billion over the next 10 years to support the planning and construction of highway expansion and rehabilitation projects across the province, cutting commute times so the people of Ontario can get to work faster and to their families faster.

Additionally, these critical projects will support job creation and drive economic growth. For example, we are moving ahead with building the Highway 413, a new 400-series highway and transit corridor across Halton, Peel and York regions. This highway will support the movement of goods and services across the province, saving drivers up to 30 minutes on their commute, as well as being a relief to the most congested area in North America.

Our government has taken another step towards getting shovels in the ground to build the Bradford Bypass, a new four-lane highway connecting the 400 in Simcoe county and Highway 404 in York region. This critical infrastructure will ease gridlock in the greater Golden Horseshoe area by taking pressure off an increasingly congested Highway 400 and existing east-west local roads. It is estimated that commuters using the Bradford Bypass will save up to 35 minutes in travel time per trip compared to existing routes on local roads.

Our work on expanding Highway 401, an important economic corridor, better connecting eastern Ontario and eastern Canada: This work includes three bridge replacements in Oshawa to facilitate future widening between Brock Road and Pickering through to Highways 35 and 115; bridge replacements in Port Hope to facilitate future widening between Highways 35 and 115 to Belleville; and acquiring land to facilitate future widening of Highway 401 through Belleville and Brockville.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to provide some examples of the highway rehabilitation and expansion initiatives that will help decrease gridlock and increase productivity for the people of Ontario.

In the north, we are widening from two to four lanes on Highways 11/17 from Highway 587 east to Pearl Lake, and this includes new Pearl River bridges for 14 kilometres.

We have also several rehabilitation and resurfacing projects for Highway 417 in Ottawa, Highway 401 in Cornwall, Highways 115 and 7 in Peterborough. In addition, there are bridge replacements on Highway 417 in Ottawa.

In the southwest of the province, the government is improving Highway 401 in Oxford county, Highway 21 in Kincardine and west of Springmount, as well as a bridge replacement on Highway 40 over the CN railway in Sarnia. In central Ontario, we have bridge replacements in Orillia, Barrie and Oshawa and are expanding the 401 from Mississauga to Milton. We are building in the east, north, west and central Ontario—all across this great province.

Mr. Speaker, I’d now like to focus on public transportation. Our plan includes a $61.6-billion investment over 10 years in public transit. With the Plan to Build Act, our government is proposing changes that will improve local passenger transportation systems because, as we know, a stronger, more integrated transportation network is absolutely critical and vital to the people of this province.

This includes transforming the GO Transit rail network into a modern, reliable and fully integrated rapid transit network through properties such as the Bowmanville GO rail extension, which will provide GO Transit rail services from Oshawa into Bowmanville on the Lakeshore East corridor and help reduce gridlock, and the London GO rail service, which will provide weekday GO train trips between London and Union Station in Toronto.

Our plan also includes the government’s historic vision for the largest subway expansion in Canadian history. This includes the all-new Ontario Line that will offer subway service between the Ontario Science Centre to Exhibition Place through downtown Toronto. This new subway line will connect to more than 40 other transit routes, including GO rail lines, existing TTC routes and the Eglinton Crosstown light rail transit line.

Our ambitious vision also includes several extensions, such as the Scarborough subway extension that would provide additional service extending from the existing TTC’s Line 2 Kennedy Station with three new stations along the way; namely, Lawrence Avenue and McCowan, Scarborough Centre, and Sheppard Avenue and McCowan Road.

The Yonge North subway extension will extend the TTC’s Line 1 service north from Finch station with new additional stations: Steeles, Clark, Royal Orchard, Bridge and High Tech.

And the Eglinton Crosstown West extension will extend the Eglinton Crosstown west of the future Mount Dennis Station, with seven new station stops, from Jane to Renforth, as well as a proposed connection to the Toronto Pearson International Airport.

Additionally, a few examples of new light rail service that connect to stations and lines include: the Hazel McCallion Line, previously known as the Hurontario LRT, that will provide new service in Peel region along Hurontario Street, connecting Port Credit Station in Mississauga to the Brampton Gateway Terminal at Steeles Avenue; the Finch West LRT that will provide new service connecting Finch West Station on the Yonge-University Line to Humber College; and the Hamilton LRT that will provide new service connecting Eastgate Square to McMaster University through downtown Hamilton.

Our transit projects in the GTA will support more than 16,000 jobs annually during construction over the next decade. By 2040-41, the subway projects are expected to have a total ridership of roughly 620,000 and expand the existing network by 50%.

Shovels are already in the ground across the greater Golden Horseshoe region. We have hit some noteworthy milestones, such as preparing the Scarborough subway extension, with the tunnel-boring machines getting into position to prepare for digging tunnels. And we have started the planning for the design and build of three subway stations and related bus facilities. This includes working on all the nuts and bolts for installation, from the tracks to the signals and communication involved. We want to ensure that once it is constructed, it will continue to be a vital piece of infrastructure.

It is worth noting again that our Plan to Build Act will support this plan through proposed measures that would enable better integration of the services of the local transportation systems to help the people of Ontario get to where they need to go.

Our plans include actions and investments to ensure that Ontario’s health system is even more resilient. The pandemic took its toll on health care, but it was not without learnings. With these lessons learned, we can deliver high-quality health care in the face of any future challenge.

Our capital plan for building Ontario also includes more than $40 billion over the next 10 years in hospital infrastructure, including $27 billion in capital grants. This is $10 billion more for hospitals and health care than the commitment in the 2021 budget. These investments will increase capacity in hospitals, build new health care facilities, and renew existing hospitals and community health centres. This funding means supporting thousands of acute and post-acute beds and hundreds of adult, pediatric and neonatal critical care beds.

Ontario is investing another $3.3 billion for the hospital sector in 2022-23, bringing the total additional investments in hospitals to $8.8 billion since 2018-19. Funding in 2022-23 includes $1.5 billion to support the continuation of over 3,500 critical care, acute and post-acute beds. It means increased access to high-quality health care, much-needed surgical and diagnostic imaging recovery, and health and human resources.

With that, my time is expired. I will pass it back to you, Mr. Speaker.

I certainly hope the opposition would see to it that they will support us in this great budget put forward by the Minister of Finance.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. John Yakabuski): Questions and responses.

Ms. Catherine Fife: There are a lot of questions about what’s not in this budget, and then there are a lot of questions about what you’ve floated, particularly Ontario’s new $225-million child benefit. There are no answers thus far, so let’s try to get some.

The Minister of Finance has said that this could be tied to tutoring, it could be means-tested; we don’t know. But even people who may benefit from this tutorial top-up of $70 to $90 per student say, “I’m a little suspicious seeing that there are continuous cuts to education being made.”

Let’s remember that in March, the province’s Financial Accountability Officer reported that the Ford government spent $5.5 billion less on education than it planned to in the first three quarters.

My question to the Minister of Finance is, given how poorly Ontario managed the pandemic and the negative impact on education, why have you proposed a gimmick? Because that is how we see it. A voucher system is not the answer to address lost learning. When will you be clear with the people of this province that you are truly committed to public education and investment in that sector?

The Acting Speaker (Mr. John Yakabuski): Minister of Finance.

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You look a little different, but congratulations.

Thank you to the member opposite for that question.

I don’t think the parents of the two million students in this province consider catching up their children’s education as a gimmick.

Let me set the record straight for the people of Ontario.

I’m sure the member opposite has looked at the amount of spending in the last full year of the previous Liberal government versus the amount of spending that we’re putting—investments into education. It’s a massive increase. Why? Because we are investing in our children’s future and we’re investing today.

Let’s take a look at the budget, the 241 pages: a $3-billion increased investment in our children’s education; investments in child care; investments in COVID containment and HEPA filters for our schools; investment in the curriculum; investments in mental health and investments in tutorials—most parents would see that as an important investment in their children’s future.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. John Yakabuski): The member for Barrie–Innisfil.

Ms. Andrea Khanjin: I want to thank the Minister of Finance and his parliamentary assistants for their excellent deliveries and speech.

As the Minister of Finance knows, the seniors’ home tax credit is a very important tax credit to my community. I was joined by Gwen Kavanagh, the chair of the Barrie Canadian Association for Retired Persons, also known as CARP; Bob Schickedanz from the home builders’ association; John Tom, the owner of Superior Home Health Care; as well as Paul Meredith, the vice-president of a seniors’ organization, and all of them said there was an urgent need to extend the tax credit and the importance of making it refundable.

I want to ask the minister, why is it so important for all Ontarians, not just the ones living in Barrie–Innisfil, to extend this tax credit—and the importance of making it refundable?

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, through you to the member, for that question.

We have 2.6 million people now in the province of Ontario over the age of 65, and over the next 20 years another two million people will join them. Then we’ll have 4.6 million people over the age of 65. What’s so important is that they have choice as to where they can age. Part of that choice is aging at home.

So what are we doing today to invest in our seniors for tomorrow?

The member mentioned the home safety tax credit, so they can have their homes retrofitted, who need it—guardrails and so on.

The member mentioned the care at home tax credit so that attentive care can come to the home.

I would add also that through the home and vehicle program, which is administered by the March of Dimes, we increased funding so that lower-income people—people who couldn’t even afford to get the tax credit because they didn’t have money—could afford to put infrastructure in their homes.

That’s what we’re doing.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. John Yakabuski): The member for Thunder Bay–Superior North.

Ms. Lise Vaugeois: There’s great concern in Treaty 9 communities about the potential devastation of their traditional territories and thus their traditional land-based economies.

Ontario already carries the shame of the poisoning of the people of Grassy Narrows because of irresponsible industrial development.

What is the government doing to ensure that any development taking place on Treaty 9 territories meets stringent environmental requirements and is undertaken with the free, prior and informed consent of all the affected Treaty 9 communities?

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Through you, Mr. Speaker: Congratulations on your election, and welcome to the House, to the member opposite.

We have so much more to do as a society to support all people in Ontario, including our Indigenous populations. I take the question with great interest and seriousness, because it is so important that we build Ontario for everyone.

That is why we have put more funding in place for economic development, in consultation with First Nations, so that, for example, they can share in the prosperity in the Plan to Build Ontario. That’s why, with regard to the Ring of Fire and opening up the prosperity for the north, it is inclusive, that it is in consultation with the people of the north and our First Nations.

This is the way we’re going to move Ontario forward together. We’re going to do it with everybody, including our Indigenous populations, so that we can have an Ontario that benefits everyone.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. John Yakabuski): The member for Mississauga–Lakeshore.

Mr. Rudy Cuzzetto: During my 2022 debate, I told the people of Mississauga–Lakeshore that Ontario had the best finance minister in Canadian history, and the former finance minister was sitting in the audience.

As the member knows, I used to work at the Ford Motor Co. for many years.

I want you to elaborate on what we’re doing more for the building of electric vehicles in North America to make us the number one jurisdiction in the world.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. John Yakabuski): The Minister of Finance.

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: I knew there was a reason why I liked the member from Mississauga–Lakeshore.

It’s a very important question, and it’s a big question, and I’ll do my best in the time allotted.

As the Premier said, every car that you’ll have a choice to buy in the not-too-distant future will be an electric vehicle. We believe in a clean, green economy in this province. So what are we doing about it? Obviously, not only manufacturing. We’re going to be a manufacturing powerhouse for electric vehicles in this province, but we’ve got to make sure that the production that goes into those vehicles, be it clean steel in Hamilton or Sault Ste. Marie, is fired by clean energy—that the electricity to charge the electric vehicles is done through clean energy. That’s why we’re investing in small modular reactors.

There are many ways to improve the environment. We all believe in that. We’re all going to do it together.

But let me tell you this: We’re also, in the budget, going to put in place the first provincial park in 40 years.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. John Yakabuski): The member for Niagara Falls.

Mr. Wayne Gates: All you guys talked a lot about seniors, and we should be talking about our seniors.

Speaker, right now, in long-term care, close to 100 homes have no air conditioning in their rooms. Much of June, July and August, temperatures were above 40 degrees, with the humidity. Some have died, some have had heatstroke. And you talk about working for workers? Those support staff, the workers in those places, are working in those same conditions, working in those rooms.

Is this how you think that seniors in the province of Ontario should be treated? Why are these rooms not having air conditioners for seniors in the province of Ontario? It’s absolutely disgraceful. You need to do something about it.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. John Yakabuski): Back to the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Thank you to the member opposite, through you, Mr. Speaker, for that question.

The member is right; there’s no daylight between the member opposite and myself and our government with regard to ensuring that all long-term-care homes have not only the proper infrastructure and air conditioning, but the proper supports.

Let me point out that when you don’t build long-term-care beds—like the previous government in 2011, in 2014, supported by the NDP. You don’t have to air-condition a bed that you don’t build.

Mr. Speaker, not only are we putting in air conditioning right across the province; we’re also building those beds. We’re also putting funding inside—we did in the budget of 2020, almost $5 billion to hire the personal support workers, the nurses to provide four hours standard of care in this province, which will be leading all of Canada.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. John Yakabuski): That concludes the time for questions and responses.

Second reading debate deemed adjourned.

Members’ Statements

Gujurati Seniors Samaj of Mississauga

Mr. Deepak Anand: It is an honour and a pleasure to rise again in this esteemed chamber to kick off my second term as MPP. I want to extend my sincerest appreciation to the residents of Mississauga–Malton, volunteers, supporters and my family for giving me the opportunity to serve.

Globally, more than one billion people volunteer for community well-being, including members of Gujurati Seniors Samaj of Mississauga. Founded as an informal group in 1990 by late Shri Vishnuprasad Raval, today GSSM has over 550 members, with an aim to preserve rich culture, to stay connected and serve the community. Over the years, GSSM has knitted mats out of plastic bags to support areas struck by natural disasters, organized food donation drives, Anand Mela fun fair, yoga, tai chi, picnics, outings and overseas trips, including cruises for senior members and the annual Diwali gala.

GSSM has also raised over $420,000 through a walkathon for helping Trillium Health Partners Foundation. I encourage everyone to contact Kanoobhai, Kalaben and Dilip Bhai and join this year’s walkathon on September 11 at Mississauga Valley Community Centre.

Thank you to the executive committee, all members, volunteers, sponsors and supporters of GSSM. You are the true definition of Ontario spirit. My best wishes to GSSM.

Remarks in Gujarati.

Keep growing and keep serving the community.

Riding of Mushkegowuk–James Bay / Circonscription de Mushkegowuk–Baie James

Mr. Guy Bourgouin: Today I would like to highlight the communities of Mushkegowuk–James Bay that are celebrating their 100th anniversary this summer. These communities all have a heart of gold and display a huge francophone and northern spirit.

The first one, Fauquier-Strickland: a population of just over 500 residents; located beside the Groundhog River, with its annual farmers’ market showcasing local products made by its residents. Chez Pepere Groundhog River Farm offers a coffee shop, daily specials, baked foods and a farmers’ market. Dépanneur Groundhog store is a one-stop shop as well as a to-go restaurant, with a unique twist on various poutines—one of the best in the region.

Ensuite, la municipalité de Moonbeam : une population de près de 1 200 résidents; renommée pour ses sentiers de nature, son terrain de golf, le parc provincial René-Brunelle, avec plusieurs choix de camping, à Twin Lakes ainsi qu’au lac Rémi; et le Dépanneur Meilleur avec sa fameuse crème molle et la Della-Pieta pour de la bonne pizza.

La ville de Hearst : une population d’au-delà de 5 000 résidents et renommée pour plusieurs endroits de chasse et pêche, ses sentiers pédestres, la marina Veilleux, les campings Fushimi et le Ranch, ainsi que son Marché Agriva et la Maison Verte. Hearst possède une fierté francophone du Nord, ayant une université francophone et la Place des Arts avec une variété de spectacles.

As you can see, northern Ontario has a rich culture and history, with lots to offer.

Join me in wishing these communities a happy 100th anniversary, and come celebrate with us.

Et encore une fois, merci pour votre support.

Riding of Scarborough–Agincourt

Mr. Aris Babikian: I would like to begin by thanking the residents of Scarborough–Agincourt, my volunteers and donors for putting their trust and support in me to represent them for another term. I am humbled and honoured to serve the people of Scarborough–Agincourt and Ontario for four more years.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate you on your re-election as the MPP for Wellington–Halton Hills and your re-election as Speaker. I would also like to congratulate all my colleagues on their election to this chamber.

Finally, after two and a half years of challenging times, it was a great relief and pleasure to see the residents of Scarborough–Agincourt come together to celebrate Canada Day at my Canada Day community barbecue. It was heartwarming to see the residents come together and celebrate Canada’s values, traditions and diversity. I had the opportunity to chat with residents and hear their concerns and get feedback from them while enjoying some burgers and ice cream.

I received lots of positive feedback on the historic investment our government is making in health care in Scarborough; more specifically, the new Birchmount Hospital in my riding. The voice of Scarborough is finally being heard.

Our nation and province have made substantial progress over the past few years.

Wishing you all a happy belated Canada Day as our country adds another beautiful year to its age.

Long-term care

Mr. Jeff Burch: We’ve had record-breaking heat waves in this province this summer, yet many seniors in long-term care are stuck in their rooms without air conditioning. Despite a change in the law requiring resident rooms to be fully air-conditioned by the end of June, 15% of homes have missed the deadline, and the homes that have made the deadline may not be any cooler.

Christine Zuk is sounding the alarm about conditions her mother, Shirley, has been forced to live with this summer in long-term care in Welland. After advocating for cooler rooms, Christine was told that the home was simply “in compliance.” Not convinced, Christine began temperature testing her mother’s room, and readings showed it was over 28 degrees inside her room.

Cooled public areas do not offer much reprieve when in COVID lockdown or when the residents cannot get themselves out of bed. The heat has been a challenge for Christine’s father, Kit, when visiting Shirley. The gowns required during a COVID outbreak are plastic, disposable and inappropriate for the heat.

Shirley is fortunate to have great advocates like Christine, but that is not the case for many seniors living in long-term care. Christine points out that without legislated maximum acceptable temperatures, there is a profit incentive to not use the air conditioning to its full extent.

She says, “It is profit over resident care and they need to be forced to continue to keep their air conditioning working at a reasonable level. I think this underscores the need for the regulations to include a maximum acceptable temperature in resident bedrooms.”

Speaker, I urge this government to follow through on its commitment, look seriously at this legislation and fix the loophole that is causing seniors to suffer in privately operated long-term care.

Riding of Hastings–Lennox and Addington

Mr. Ric Bresee: Mr. Speaker, let me begin by congratulating you on your election to that seat. I know you will serve us well.

Today, Mr. Speaker, I rise to highlight a few recent events in the amazing riding of Hastings–Lennox and Addington.

I must begin with the devastation created on July 24, when an EF2-class tornado, with speeds of up to 190 kilometres per hour, touched down across the middle of the riding; specifically, with a path about 1.4 kilometres wide across the north end of the township of Tweed. I had the opportunity to tour the affected areas, and I noted many acres of flattened forest, homes destroyed and businesses devastated.

As bad as it was, I was so impressed that during the tour, we came out with the mayor and municipal staff, but also representatives from MMAH and other professionals, and a group of volunteers from Team Rubicon to support the residents. We heard a great number of stories where people of the community came together to support each other. Between good fortune and the helping care of neighbours, there were no fatalities and only a very few minor injuries. I’m grateful to live and work amongst such wonderful people.

I’d also like to report to this House that at its meeting of August 8, the council of the township of Loyalist unanimously chose to appoint the deputy mayor, Jim Hegadorn, to his seat as the mayor of Loyalist, as it was recently vacated. I know he will serve that municipality very well.

Health care

Ms. Catherine Fife: I want to address in my statement today the comments that the Minister of Health made yesterday. Given the context that the Ontario Medical Association has reported that 22 million patient services were cancelled during the pandemic, of which 10 million were surgeries or cancer screening procedures, we were genuinely shocked that the government did not address the urgency of the medical and hospital crisis that’s playing itself out in Ontario hospitals.

Yesterday, the Ontario health minister said that she is not ruling out privatization as the government looks at ways to deal with this major issue. What is shocking, though, is that the Minister of Health has said that she is looking at innovative opportunities to address this health crisis.

We have a recommendation. Do you know what is innovative? Do you know what is creative? When you actually invest in public health care. And when you repeal Bill 124, you won’t see the mass exodus of health care professionals from this field.

We’re very concerned about the direction and the language that the Minister of Health is using. We are truly committed to strengthening the public health care system. In fact, it has created this narrative in the health care field—is this privatization by design or by neglect? Are you choosing to not invest in health care so that the private sector can move in? This is our concern, and we share that concern with the rest of this province.

Riding of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound

Mr. Rick Byers: I was going to do this in my inaugural address yesterday, but since that got changed, I want to start by congratulating you, Speaker, on your election this past Monday. While I was not a member this past session, I know you performed your duties with energy and dedication. Thank you for agreeing to serve this Legislature again.

I also want to thank those responsible for my being here in this chamber—of course, those are the great residents of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound. I am very grateful for the confidence you showed in me as a new candidate in this past election. I will work hard to earn your trust every day.

Third, I want to thank and congratulate the Minister of Infrastructure for her broadband investment announcement yesterday. In Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound, we were very grateful. There are 13,870 underserved homes and businesses throughout the riding that will now be serviced better as a result of her announcement. It means a huge amount to our residents, our farmers, our businesses, and our homes and our schools. So thank you, Minister, for that investment.

Finally, members, I’d like you to know that it’s just under six months now until Groundhog Day, and it’s your opportunity to come to Wiarton and see the groundhog Wiarton Willie project the forecast for spring. You’ll love it. There’s nothing like seeing fireworks at 7 a.m. in the morning, in the winter. I look forward to seeing you all there.

Garde d’enfants / Child care

M me Stephanie Bowman: Comme c’est la première fois que je me lève en Chambre, je tiens à vous féliciter et à remercier les gens de Don Valley-Ouest de m’avoir élue députée. Je m’engage fermement à les représenter fidèlement et à servir les Ontariens au mieux de mes capacités.

I am speaking today to express the concerns of Don Valley West parents, local businesses and not-for-profits with regard to the implementation of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care program, also known as CWELCC or $10-a-day child care.

The Conservative government set a deadline of September 1—only 21 days from now—by when child care operators must sign on to this program to reduce child care fees for parents. As of mid-July, over half of Toronto operators have not yet signed on because they do not yet have the information they need to make an informed decision, like if and when they will be reimbursed for rebates they pay to parents.

The Conservative government’s signing of the federal child care agreement was a good first step, but the lateness of doing so has left municipalities, parents and child care operators scrambling. I respectfully ask the Minister of Education to help them get answers.

It would be a shame if families were not able to tap into this great support, especially as the throne speech talked about easing the financial burden for families in Ontario.

Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

Mr. Stephen Crawford: It’s an honour to rise this morning and give my first member’s statement in the 43rd Parliament.

Speaker, I want to take a moment to congratulate you on your re-election as Speaker of the House. Also, I congratulate all the members of this House. It’s an honour to serve our constituents, and I thank my constituents for electing me back here to serve them here in the House.

In a few weeks, the Chinese and East Asian communities in my riding of Oakville will participate in the Moon Festival celebration event. In the Chinese community, it is called the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, and it is the second-most important celebration, after Chinese New Year.

I want to take this opportunity to highlight this important festival and also recognize the incredible work the organizers have had on the Oakville community. On Saturday, September 3, the Oakville Chinese Network Society will be hosting the Moon Festival celebration event. Finally, after two years of virtual events, this celebration will be in person at the Queen Elizabeth community centre. The festival is rich in history and tradition. It is a time to give thanks to the harvest of the past year, while also hoping for a prosperous harvest in the new year.

This important event is thanks to the Oakville Chinese Network Society, which has been an important connection in the Oakville Chinese community, along with other communities, by providing social, educational and rich cultural events. Since 2012, Rena Lu has led the organization.

Thank you, Rena, and all your dedicated volunteers, for all you do.

I want to wish everyone a very happy Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.

Resilient Communities Fund

Mr. Lorne Coe: Nine Whitby organizations recently received approximately $680,000 from the Resilient Communities Fund so they can continue to deliver the very best possible service for hard-working families in Whitby. Non-profit organizations like Community Care Durham are a crucial and valued part of the town of Whitby. Countless residents rely on their services and programs every day, and, even facing the impact of the COVID pandemic, these organizations deliver.

In addition to Community Care Durham, other organizations in my great riding of Whitby that received the funding include the Charles H. Best Diabetes Centre, the Sunrise Youth Group, and Participation House.

Speaker, the Resilient Communities Fund provides grants of up to $150,000.

It has been a priority for our government to fund successful programs like the Resilient Communities Fund, which helps non-profits adapt and grow, ensuring that they can continue providing the best service possible and make a positive difference in the lives of hard-working Ontario families.

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

House sittings

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I beg to inform the House that pursuant to standing order 9(g), the Clerk has received written notice from the government House leader indicating that a temporary change in the weekly meeting

schedule of the House is required. Therefore, the afternoon routine on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, shall commence at 1 p.m.

Introduction of Visitors

M me France Gélinas: It is my pleasure to introduce nurse Cathryn Hoy, the president of the Ontario Nurses’ Association, as well as Etana Cain, who are here today to watch the proceedings.

Hon. Monte McNaughton: I’d like to welcome Kelly Harris to the Legislature today. Kelly does corporate and public affairs for PlasCred. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Jennifer K. French: I am pleased to welcome to this 43rd Parliament my partner, Jonathan Arnold. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Jill Dunlop: I would like to introduce two of my new policy staff members from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities: Matt Frola and Tay Rubman. Thank you for being here today.

Ms. Lise Vaugeois: I’d like to welcome my partner, Maureen Ford, who is in the gallery and drove down from Thunder Bay with me to help me settle in, and my very good friend Diem Lafortune.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Toronto–St. Paul’s.

Ms. Jill Andrew: Thank you, Speaker, and congratulations on your election once again.

I am here to welcome, as well, Cathryn Hoy from ONA, along with Etana Cain. Welcome to the Legislature, and thank you for your hard work.

Ms. Stephanie Bowman: I would like to welcome my parents, Keith and Barbara Bowman, as well as some members of my constituency office, Fatma and Caroline. Thank you for being here.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Nickel Belt, I understand, has a point of order.

M me France Gélinas: I seek unanimous consent to move a motion to allow an emergency debate on the health care crisis and that it take place this afternoon during orders of the day.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Nickel Belt is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to move a motion to allow an emergency debate on the health care crisis this afternoon during orders of the day. Agreed? I heard a no.

Gisèle Lalonde

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

M me Lucille Collard: Je demande le consentement unanime pour que la Chambre observe un moment de silence pour honorer le décès de Gisèle Lalonde, l’une des plus importantes défenseures des droits des francophones de l’Ontario.

I seek unanimous consent for the House to observe a moment of silence to honour the passing of Madame Gisèle Lalonde, one of the most important advocates for the rights of francophones in Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Ottawa–Vanier is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to observe a moment of silence to honour the passing of Madame Gisèle Lalonde, one of the most important advocates for the rights of francophones in Ontario. Agreed? Agreed.

I’ll ask members to please rise.

The House observed a moment’s silence.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Merci. I’ll ask members to please take their seats.

Question Period

Health care

Mr. Peter Tabuns: My question is to the Minister of Health.

Yesterday, the Minister of Health was asked by journalists whether the government is considering further privatizing our health care system. The minister said that the government is exploring all options.

Is this government looking to the private and for-profit sector to take over health care services that are currently publicly delivered?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: Thank you for the question.

Allow me to clarify, or to repeat what I said yesterday, which was, in Ontario, you use your OHIP card to access health care services in the province of Ontario, and that will continue.

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

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Well, that was hardly a “no.”

Again, to the minister: Reliance on private health care providers will plunge our public hospitals and health care systems deeper into crisis. Bill 124 is draining staff from the public system, and private staffing agencies are gouging hospitals.

Will the minister allow private health care companies into Ontario, siphoning doctors, nurses and health care workers out of the public system?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: To be clear, Ontario has one of the strongest publicly funded health care systems in the world. It is world-renowned, first-class; it’s second in terms of how much we spend on publicly funded health care. That will continue in the province of Ontario.

What I referenced yesterday was innovation. We should not be afraid of innovation. We do it very well in the province of Ontario, and we will continue to work with our partners to make sure that that innovation is encouraged and can continue.

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

Mr. Peter Tabuns: So I take that as a “yes.”

Again, to the minister: Private corporations have a financial responsibility to generate profit. That’s a direct conflict of interest with their responsibility to offer affordable, accessible and high-quality care, regardless of the patient’s ability to pay.

Does the minister think patients should have to start paying for care they now receive as of right?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: No, no, no. OHIP cards are used in the province of Ontario to fund publicly funded health care systems. That will continue under our watch. There has never been a change where—we will continue to fund OHIP services through our health care system. What you are worried about, unnecessarily, is that we w ould be encouraging innovation.

There are many examples of innovation that are happening in the province today that we want to expand, not the least of which are examples with OHN—Ontario hospital network, SickKids and many others, which I’m happy to highlight if the member opposite is not aware of that innovation that is happening in the province of Ontario today.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’ll remind members to make their comments through the Chair.

Health care

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: My question is for the Premier.

Just two days ago, I received a letter from a nurse in my riding. He shared a story about one of his patients: “My patient has fluid filling up his lungs, and he is less able to” breathe. His oxygen is not coming “into his body with each passing day.

“It is not exaggerating to say that he is drowning slowly. He needs an urgent procedure to remove the fluid.”

This should have happened last week: “This was scheduled for last week—it has yet to happen” because of the staffing shortage.

My question: What will the government do to help this suffering patient in the next 24 hours, and what will they do in the next 10 days to alleviate this staffing crisis that we see in our hospitals?

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

Hon. Sylvia Jones: Welcome to the member opposite in her new role as a parliamentarian.

There is no doubt that staffing challenges impact patient care. That is why we have been working proactively to make sure that where we need those services, we have them. We’ve worked with Ontario Health to, for example, ensure that if an emergency department is at risk of closure, physicians who are prepared and willing to travel to other jurisdictions have that opportunity. They may travel for a couple of hours to go to a hospital network that they’re not traditionally tied in to. We’ve done that work. We need to do more of it, of course, but I want to reinforce that we have done a lot already.

We have 10,500 new health care professionals working in the province of Ontario that we did not have without the innovation and the proactive approach that we have taken as a government.

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

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: Back to the Premier: With respect, the question that I had was really about what you are going to do in the next 24 hours.

My constituent further invites all of us to consider this: Reflect on what it would be like to be unable to breathe during every single breath that you’re drawing. Please think about what it’s like when your lungs are filled with water. Reflect upon that.

Speaker, no one in Ontario hospitals should have to experience that agony because they’re waiting for an urgent procedure.

My question again is, will this government listen to health care professionals and implement the solutions that are needed to address the health care crisis and this understaffing crisis in our hospitals?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: Again, through you, Speaker: Of course, we have provided additional funding to hospitals to ensure that their emergency departments and other backlog surgeries can proceed in a faster way. In some cases, that involves additional funding to allow those surgery suites to be open longer into the evening, over the weekends. That kind of innovation, those kinds of investments mean that we can deal with the backlog and get through the number of people who are waiting for these critical services. We’ll continue that work.

We’ll make sure that as hospitals and medical practitioners need the support, they will get it. They have the province of Ontario and the people of Ontario supporting them in that role.

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

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: This issue is not related and restricted to just one patient or one hospital, as we all know.

Another constituent of mine, Gregory, needs urgent abdominal surgery. But because of the surgical backlog that we have already heard a lot about, he was told to find a doctor outside of Ontario, never mind outside of the city or in another neighbourhood. He called my office to say this: “Do they really think someone in my condition is ready to try to find care outside of the province?”

Speaker, health care workers have told the government how to clear the surgical backlog: Hire 30,000 nurses, repeal Bill 124, and fund public health care at the rate of inflation. Will the government put these recommendations into action or are they really just setting up the excuse for privatization?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: As part of our plan to reopen, we’ve actually expanded by almost over 1,000 beds in ICU capacity. It means that things like the surgery backlog can be dealt with proactively.

We understand that there are many challenges that have happened as a result of individuals who could not access their primary care practitioner, who didn’t have the ability to get that diagnostic imaging. We have now essentially eliminated the imaging backlog that we’ve had and the diagnostic piece. We’re working very well with our health care partners to make sure that we focus as equally on the surgery backlog. That work will continue. But in the meantime, I think it’s really important for people to understand that a lot of this work happened because we understood we needed the capacity in the province of Ontario to be able to stay open and to continue to serve the people of Ontario.

Health care

Ms. Peggy Sattler: My question is to the Minister of Health.

Chris Hodgins lives in London West and had to take his 84-year-old mother to University Hospital ER for severe hip pain. She waited 16½ hours before being seen and then waited two hours more in the treatment room. Another patient with acute appendicitis waited five hours longer than Chris’s mother.

Speaker, how many hours will Londoners have to wait before this government finally acknowledges that our health care system is in crisis? Or does the entire ER have to shut down?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: It is absolutely critical that we address some of these delays and wait times. It’s why, as part of our $3.3-billion investment into the hospital sector, we also dedicated $300 million specifically to reduce surgery backlogs from delays or cancelled surgeries and procedures due to COVID-19.

That work will continue, but we need to drive that innovation and encourage that so that opportunities can be made available and we can expand, frankly, surgical suite timelines; we can offer incentives to physicians—which we’ve already done—to make sure that they can operate and get those surgery backlogs down, in the same way that we have, of course, with the diagnostic testing already dealt with.

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

Ms. Peggy Sattler: Speaker, this government may think that privatization is the answer, but Londoners disagree.

Like many Londoners, a constituent told me that she and her husband have been unable to find a new family doctor. After being turned away from overwhelmed walk-in clinics, they felt they had no other option than to pay to join a private medical service in order to access basic medical care. They have the means to pay but feel that this is fundamentally wrong.

Why is this government more interested in promoting privatized two-tier health care than in making the urgent investments that our public health care system and our exhausted health care workers so desperately need?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: It is exactly why we have expanded residency spaces. It is exactly why I have worked with my colleagues to make sure that we have additional health care practitioners, doctors, nurses, personal support workers getting trained right here in the province of Ontario. It is precisely why we have ensured that the College of Nurses, the College of Physicians and Surgeons have been directed to deal quickly with the individuals who are living in the province of Ontario who want that licence, who want to be able to practise as a nurse, as a physician.

We’ll continue that work. We are working with the colleges to make sure that they expedite those reviews and ultimately licensures, and we’ll continue that work.

But it’s not an individual piece. That’s why we’ve expanded the residency. That’s why we have expanded the number of students who are being trained. That’s why we’ve encouraged the colleges to expedite those licences.

Housing

Mrs. Robin Martin: In Tuesday’s throne speech, the government highlighted its desire to put in place the conditions that will lead to the construction of over a million homes.

We have seen that the lack of supply, along with the recent Bank of Canada interest rate hikes, are placing a strain on many young Ontario families looking to buy their first home—but it’s not just potential homebuyers; it’s also people looking for rental accommodation in an increasingly tough environment.

More often than not, delays caused by red tape, infighting at local councils or simply bad policy have stalled construction of housing, be it rental, non-profit, long-term-care or even someone wanting to buy a home.

Yesterday, the government tabled legislation that would supplement the powers of mayors in Toronto and Ottawa. Specifically, I want to know how these added authorities help move projects along.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I recognize the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to reply.

Hon. Steve Clark: Yesterday, I was pleased to announce that our government is introducing legislation that is intended to give the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa the ability to move forward provincial priorities, select municipal department heads and deliver budgets.

We know that municipal governments play a crucial role in determining housing supply. And the reality is that over one third of Ontario’s growth in the next 10 years will come in the cities of Toronto and Ottawa.

Too many families today are struggling with housing and the rising cost of living. We need to empower our local leaders with the tools that they need to get it done. We are also counting on them to cut red tape, to build housing faster so that more Ontarians can realize the dream of attainable home ownership.

Thank you for the question.

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

Mrs. Robin Martin: In fact, Mr. Speaker, the Toronto board of trade has said, “Toronto faces numerous urgent city-wide challenges, from housing, land use, transit, ... budget” and “economic development.... Effective, timely solutions require a city chief executive with clear authority.... Now is the time to act.”

Minister, we have a vibrant province. If our communities are to continue to thrive, people need to be able to stop dreaming of a home and know that they will have housing options—rental, non-profit, single detached, condo—choice and options, timely delivery as well, a clear path for residents and, more importantly, our municipal partners.

Does the minister agree with the board of trade, and does the legislation provide a realistic path to more homes, more choice and housing predictability in Toronto and Ottawa?

Hon. Steve Clark: The member and the Toronto regional board of trade are 100% correct. Urgent action is needed to address Ontario’s housing crisis. Too many families are already struggling with housing and the rising cost of living.

We just had an election where we committed to Ontarians that we would build 1.5 million homes over the next 10 years. Increasing housing supply is a priority for our government, and we know that it is a shared priority with our municipal partners.

Speaker, the changes, if passed, would help empower the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa to ensure that they drive priority provincial projects forward. As our province grows, we need to ensure that communities keep pace. This will require bold solutions from all levels of government working together.

I’m proud to support Toronto and Ottawa as they cut through red tape and as they speed up development timelines so that more families can realize attainable home ownership.

Hospital services

Ms. Jennifer K. French: My question is to the Minister of Health.

Critically sick patients had to be transferred out of Bowmanville Hospital when Lakeridge Health had to make the unimaginable decision to close the intensive care unit there because of a staffing shortage.

Shelly, an ICU nurse who worked at Bowmanville, stood on the lawn of Queen’s Park and bravely told us what it was like to watch fellow co-workers make the difficult decision to leave the bedside in a health care system where nurses cannot take it any longer.

Bill 124 has unfairly suppressed wages, and exhausted nurses feel devalued, underappreciated and disrespected—and this after two years of COVID. We need the Bowmanville ICU to reopen.

How will this Premier ensure nurses can stay and ICUs can stay open?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the President of the Treasury Board.

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: Our government has a proud record of investments in health care, especially supporting our front-line health care heroes.

Since March 2020, we have added over 10,500 health care workers to the system. This also includes investing in the first new medical school in over 100 years in the GTA to ensure that we have—in Brampton, in the Durham region and in Scarborough—doctors and health care professionals into the future.

The members opposite have voted against each and every single one of those measures to support health care workers and increase health human resources in this province.

We will continue to do what we can and ensure that we support our health care heroes across this province.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question? The member for Nickel Belt.

M me France Gélinas: Back to the Minister of Health: People admitted to an ICU are really sick. Many have a 5% to 10% chance of survival.

Bowmanville had to close their intensive care unit. They had to transport people sick enough to be in an ICU because they did not have enough nurses. It came with great risks.

There is an easy solution that will keep hundreds of nurses on the job. How much risk is the Minister of Health willing to take before she withdraws Bill 124?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: I’ve said many times, it is concerning, deeply disturbing when an emergency room department or another department in a hospital must transfer patients. The Bowmanville four-bed ICU was, of course, one such example. We don’t want that to happen, which is why we have been investing in our health care system, including $3.3 billion, bringing the total annual investment in hospitals to over $8.8 billion in the province of Ontario.

Specifically related to acute and post-acute, we’ve made a historic investment of $1.5 billion to support the continuation of 3,500 acute and post-acute beds opening during the pandemic. Those beds will continue because we understand our population is growing. That’s why we are making these investments in new hospitals in Ottawa, in Brampton, in Niagara. We’re doing these investments because we understand the people of Ontario deserve no less.

Housing

Mr. Vijay Thanigasalam: Between 2003 and 2018, the previous Liberal government allowed communities to develop webs of red tape, which led to frustration, disappointment and, ultimately, drastically reduced housing supply. Our municipal partners, both in Toronto and Ottawa, have been calling our government to help them reduce this red tape while working with them to increase the supply of a mixed range of housing.

It is abundantly clear to anyone that leadership at the provincial level is essential if we are to assist our municipal partners in reaching our goal of over a million new homes, as outlined in the speech from the throne.

As a Toronto member, I’m keenly aware of the challenges of lack of supply, but at the same time I am now more than ever looking for solutions that will have both immediate and lasting impacts.

Specifically, how will a strong-mayor system in Toronto help address housing supply?

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

Hon. Steve Clark: Our government is providing municipalities with the tools they need to get it done, and that includes working with us to build 1.5 million homes over the next 10 years. That’s why we’re supporting municipal governments which are ready to cut red tape and end the delays that have held back attainable housing for far too long.

We’re providing enhanced tools to the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa to get more homes built faster. These mayors oversee the two largest cities in our province, which are projected to have over one third of our province’s growth over the next decade. They need the tools to prepare for growth and ensure that the creation of new homes keeps pace with demand.

Speaker, we’re going to work with our two largest cities and other fast-growing communities that are shovel-ready, committed to growth and ready to cut red tape.

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

Mr. Vijay Thanigasalam: We know that more needs to be done to work with our municipal partners to strengthen our infrastructure, expand our transit networks and, most importantly, build more homes.

Empowering strong mayors is a good start to addressing housing needs to help big cities like Toronto and Ottawa, but what is our government doing for the other municipalities across the province? Our government must work with other municipalities to ensure that housing development is a priority for all across this province.

Speaker, is the minister taking any other action to help municipal leaders to identify and resolve problems that stand in the way of building more homes and building them now?

Hon. Steve Clark: Thanks for the question.

To help communities across Ontario build more attainable homes, Ontario is launching the housing supply action plan implementation team. The team will provide advice on market housing initiatives, including building on the vision of the Housing Affordability Task Force, More Homes for Everyone Act and other government consultations.

The government intends to appoint Drew Dilkens, the mayor of the city of Windsor, as chair and Mayor Cheryl Fort from the township of Moosonee. Both Mayor Dilkens and Mayor Fort have excellent track records for their service and success for their residents. Other team members will be appointed in the coming weeks, with the first meeting to take place in the fall.

Nurses

Ms. Lise Vaugeois: My question is to the Premier.

I have been contacted by nurses in my riding of Thunder Bay–Superior North expressing frustration with working in hospitals, continually short-staffed, while nurses from for-profit agencies are working next to them earning two and sometimes three times their wages.

How is it the Ministry of Health can justify limiting public sector nurses to a 1% increase with inflation near 8% while staff from for-profit agencies performing the same duties receive so much more?

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

Hon. Sylvia Jones: I have to say that when I hear the member opposite talk about limiting opportunities, it concerns me greatly. We have a hospital system that has worked very well with their nurses’ associations, with their medical associations, to make sure that all opportunities are explored to make sure that they have the appropriate coverage in their departments in their areas. We need to continue that work.

We have—as I’ve said many times—already expanded by 10,500 more health care workers working in the province of Ontario, including 6,700 to support hospitals in need. These programs support international health professionals and students, as well as redeploy medical residents and physicians to where they are needed most critically. That work will continue, and we will ensure that we have a partner in our systems.

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

Ms. Lise Vaugeois: This government has created a crisis in health care as frustrated nurses leave the field in droves, frustrated by a two-tier approach to wages, stressful working conditions and the unfair measures of Bill 124. Private agencies, such as that owned by former Premier Harris’s partner, profit greatly on public dollars while full-time nurses are made to suffer.

Will this government remove wage caps and end the health care crisis by ensuring we have full-time jobs with benefits instead of temporary and costly agency work?

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

Hon. Paul Calandra: The more things change, the more they stay the same with the NDP. It’s all about personality, right, Mr. Speaker? If they can’t win an election based on policies—and we know that they never can because they’ve only done it once and people threw them so far out to the curb and never gave them the opportunity ever again. So what do they do? They start attacking the personality of individuals. That’s what the NDP is all about. That’s why they go from this to this to this to where the NDP leader can’t even bring himself to sit in the chair of the opposition leader. He seeks refuge in the middle of his small, tiny caucus.

We will stand up for the workers of the province of Ontario. We’ll stand up for nurses. We will build a better health care system, a better long-term-care system, a better education system, a better transportation system. We’ll keep the economy moving.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.

Order.

We’re ready to start the clock again.

Member for Guelph.

Social assistance

Mr. Mike Schreiner: Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Premier. But first, I’d like to congratulate you and all members in this Legislature for your election. I look forward to serving the people with each and every one of you.

Inflation is negatively impacting all Ontarians, especially the most vulnerable. It’s impossible for people with disabilities to live on $1,169 per month. An extra $58 will force them to continue to live in legislated poverty. It’s wrong. This is a moral issue. The people of Ontario want to care for the most vulnerable, and I would hope that the members opposite would as well.

Will the Premier do the decent thing and double ODSP rates so that people with disabilities can at least live at the low-income cut-off?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Finance to respond.

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Thank you to the member opposite, and congratulations on your re-election and serving the people of Ontario.

There’s no daylight between, I think, the member opposite and many of us to make sure that we, in these very difficult times, when people are feeling the pinch—particularly the most vulnerable and people, for example, on disability.

That’s why, through the campaign, we said we were going to increase by an historic amount—5%—the Ontario Disability Support Program. That’s why we are adjusting it for inflation. That’s why we kept that promise after roundly being supported by the voters of Ontario, and we tabled it in the budget bill, Bill 2, the other day. Many Ontarians are feeling the pinch. That’s why that’s just one part of a suite of measures that we’ve taken to support the most vulnerable of Ontario.

I’ll have more to say in the supplementary.

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

Mr. Mike Schreiner: Respectfully, Speaker, I don’t think the minister fully understands the crushing cost of living in legislated poverty.

Poverty and rising food prices are driving food bank use to all-time highs. Geopolitics, excessive grocery profits and climate-fuelled droughts are disrupting local food supply chains and pushing food prices through the roof.

There are solutions—things like doubling ODSP rates, protecting local supply chains by permanently protecting prime farmland, legislation to stop price-gouging in concentrated grocery retail markets.

Will the minister commit to implementing any of these solutions to make groceries more affordable for people, especially people living with disabilities?

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: With respect back to the member opposite, I would just point out that that was the biggest increase in over 10 years for ODSP. So it’s this government that acted. We made a commitment to do that. We made a commitment to adjust it to inflation.

It’s just one of many things that this government is doing, not least of which is the Ontario Community Support Program, which you know also supports for vision care, for dental care, for health care. It helps with meals, helps with prescriptions.

It’s also why we have put in the budget the fifth round of social services relief, under the leadership of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, for supportive housing, to help the most vulnerable, to help people with disabilities in this province.

We’re doing many things, and we will continue to do many things to help our most vulnerable in society as we work together to make a fair society.

Cost of living

Ms. Jess Dixon: Inflation continues to negatively impact families across Ontario, with Stats Canada reporting a year-over-year increase of 8.1% in June. As mortgage rates increase, so too does the cost of basic groceries, leaving many families in my riding and beyond worried about their future.

Soaring costs that put pressure on families is not the way to build a strong Ontario. Carbon taxes, which increase the cost of fuel and virtually every other product a person buys, red tape, and policies that restrict growth, that reduce opportunity, could devastate communities and the hard-working people who are trying to build a life within them.

Can the minister outline what immediate steps he is taking to support families across Ontario?

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: I’d like to thank the member for that question.

Our government has been working tirelessly to rebuild our economy. We have lowered taxes for lower-income Ontarians, and we have reduced gas and fuel taxes. We negotiated a child care agreement to reduce costs for young families across Ontario. We eliminated licence plate renewal fees and, for the people of Durham, we eliminated the tolls the previous Liberal government put on Highways 412 and 418.

We have continued to focus on building a strong economy by reducing taxes and fees for job creators. We have stabilized electricity rates. We have continued to invest in our auto, mining, infrastructure and construction sectors.

The road ahead is going to be uncertain. Global events in Europe and abroad are in our environment right now, but that’s why we’re making investments to transform our economy and unleash economic prosperity across the province.

Together, let’s build Ontario.

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

Ms. Jess Dixon: The impact of these rising prices always is felt the heaviest by the most vulnerable in our communities.

We’ve already seen reports of increased food bank usage. The Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto says it saw more than 170,000 visits in June alone—a record-high number that it says is only expected to keep growing, and I’ve heard similarly from food banks in my riding.

Many of my constituents are now confronting cost-of-living increases that have them worried about opportunities for their children and the stable financial future of their families.

Speaker, can the Minister of Finance please tell us what concrete steps the government is taking to keep costs down and to provide support for those most in need?

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Mr. Speaker, the member is right, and this government knows the impact of rising prices is being felt all over Ontario, especially amongst the most vulnerable. That’s why we are putting money back into the pockets of those who need it most.

We are increasing—as was just discussed—the monthly amount of the Ontario Disability Support Program and adjusting future increases to rates based on inflation.

We’re increasing the minimum wage, giving over 760,000 Ontario workers an increase.

And in our 2022 budget, Ontario’s Plan to Build, we expanded the low-income family and individual tax rebate credit, which will impact people making up to $50,000. That means, for about 1.1 million people, an extra $300 in their pockets through a tax break every year.

This government is going to keep costs down for workers, families and seniors, for the people of Ontario, and they can rest assured that this Premier and this government will have their backs.

Consumer protection

Mr. Jamie West: My question is to the Premier.

The TSSA is an agency responsible for administering and enforcing the Technical Standards and Safety Act on behalf of the government. Their safety inspectors provide an invaluable service to our province and to public safety. They inspect every propane dispensing station, every amusement park ride and food truck. They inspect hospitals and construction sites. They even inspect nuclear power plants, Speaker.

These workers are members of OPSEU Local 546. They’ve been trying to bargain their first collective agreement since February of last year. After 17 months of delays and stall tactics, they voted to strike in July.

The TSSA claims that it has a contingency plan in place to ensure public safety. However, they haven’t been transparent about this plan, who’s doing the work or what their qualifications are.

The question is, has the Conservative government seen the contingency plan from TSSA, and if so, what inspections are being done to ensure the public can operate safely, and what are the qualifications of those conducting these inspections?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery.

Hon. Kaleed Rasheed: Thank you to the member opposite for the question.

My ministry is aware of ongoing union negotiations between the TSSA, OPSEU and the Society of United Professionals. The union negotiations process is an independent process between the TSSA, OPSEU and the society. Mr. Speaker, as such, my ministry and I cannot intervene in this process.

The TSSA has advised us that it has prepared plans to ensure public safety in Ontario is not affected and impact to businesses is minimized in the event of labour disruptions.

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

Mr. Jamie West: Back to the Premier: This is a public safety crisis. The strike started three weeks ago, and there have already been numerous safety incidents of concern. These include a fire at Canada’s Wonderland; a propane explosion in Sault Ste. Marie; and, just this past weekend, three children were thrown from a ride due to a malfunction at the Campbellford Fair.

With the CNE set to open next week and agricultural fairs and exhibitions happening across this province, public safety is on the line.

Speaker, will the Conservative government demand the TSSA get back to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair first contract so our province’s safety inspectors can get back to work keeping our families and our children safe?

Hon. Kaleed Rasheed: As I said, my ministry and I cannot intervene in this process. But I can tell you that TSSA has prepared plans to ensure public safety in Ontario is not affected.

As part of our pandemic response, our government gave over $2.4 million in financial support to the TSSA. This provided direct relief to businesses that faced significant operational and financial impacts. We also reduced permit and licence fees by 75% for 163 businesses operating almost 1,000 amusement parks across Ontario until the end of this year.

Mr. Speaker, our government is building a stronger Ontario from the ground up, recovering from the pandemic and 15 years of NDP-backed Liberal mismanagement of our province.

Housing

Mr. Andrew Dowie: Just recently, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. released a very worrying report. In it, they say that in order to reach housing affordability nationally by the year 2030, governments across Canada will need to take action and up to 3.5 million more homes will need to be built. The report further states that, “Increasing supply will be difficult. Critically, increasing supply takes time because the time to construct is significant, but so is the time to progress through government approval processes. This delay means that we must act today to achieve affordability by 2030.”

Many of my younger constituents are concerned about the prospect of home ownership in the future.

Can the Associate Minister of Housing please explain what the government is doing to build more homes, as the CMHC report called for?

Hon. Michael Parsa: I want to thank the member for the question and congratulate him on his election to the people’s House.

Ontarians are facing the rising cost of living and certainly a shortage of homes. Our government was re-elected with a strong mandate to help more Ontarians find more homes that meet their needs and their budgets.

We all know that Ontario accounts for two thirds of the population growth in Canada. That’s why, under our ambitious plan, our government will build 1.5 million new homes over the next 10 years to keep costs down and make life more affordable for all Ontarians. We’re also speeding up the approval process while implementing recommendations from the Housing Affordability Task Force. The steps that our government is taking are working. Over 100,000 homes have been built in 2021—and more than 13,000 new rental starts here in the province of Ontario; that’s the highest in over 30 years.

Speaker, next week I’m heading over to AMO in Ottawa to be able to continue collaboration with our municipal governments.

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

Mr. Andrew Dowie: RBC’s latest housing affordability report reveals that the housing situation in our province is the worst it has been since the early 1990s. RBC senior economist Robert Hogue stated, “The Bank of Canada’s ‘forceful’ interest rate-hiking campaign will further inflate ownership costs in the near term, putting RBC’s national affordability measure on a path to worst-ever levels.”

Can the associate minister please outline the immediate action that this government will focus on to restore and safeguard housing affordability in our province?

Hon. Michael Parsa: Again, I thank the member for the question.

Our government’s policies have delivered historic results in getting more housing built faster, and they certainly complement our more than $4.3-billion investments over three years to grow and enhance community and supportive housing for vulnerable Ontarians and Indigenous peoples, address homelessness and respond to COVID-19.

The More Homes for Everyone plan, launched in March 2022, outlines the next steps we’re taking to address Ontario’s housing crisis, such as accelerating approval timelines and protecting homebuyers from unethical business practices. For example, changes were made to provide an incentive for municipalities to make decisions in a timely manner on zoning and site plan applications. Effective January 1, 2023, if a municipality does not make a decision within the legislated timeline, they would be required to gradually refund the application fee to the applicant. Municipalities could avoid lost revenues by improving processes to support timely decisions.

We remain steadfast—

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

Services hospitaliers / Hospital services

M. Joel Harden: Ma question s’adresse à la ministre de la Santé. Le 6 et 7 août, l’Hôpital Montfort, l’hôpital francophone de notre ville, a fermé ses urgences, à chaque fois pour une période de 12 heures. Le problème était la pénurie d’infirmières. Cet hôpital existe parce qu’un puissant mouvement communautaire l’a sauvé d’un gouvernement conservateur, en 1997, qui voulait fermer définitivement ses portes.

Monsieur le Président, ce gouvernement a-t-il l’intention de revenir à cet héritage?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: We know that the Montfort Hospital in the Ottawa region is a critical hospital partner that will continue to operate strongly in the province of Ontario and in the Ottawa region.

Specifically regarding the ER closing: As I’ve mentioned, whether an emergency department has to close for two hours, a shift or, unfortunately, over a weekend, there are processes that are in place to avoid in all possible cases that happening. In some situations, that cannot be the case, and there is a very clear process that lays out what has to happen in terms of notifying first responders, notifying the community. And of course, the hospital continues to operate and have staff there to redirect people to nearby hospitals if and when an emergency does appear at their doors.

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

Donc, monsieur le Président, je crois que les francophones méritent le droit à ces soins de santé dans leur propre langue. Qu’est-ce qu’il faut faire pour continuer de la sorte?

Il faut se souvenir des paroles de Gisèle Lalonde, qui était la chef du mouvement SOS Montfort qui a sauvé cet hôpital en 2002. Elle a dit : « Pour faire entendre nos voix, on doit continuer la bataille par ici. »

For the Anglophones in the room, she said, “To make ourselves heard, we had to fight them from here. And Toronto would listen because we’d fight so hard they’d hear” us from Toronto.

Hon. Sylvia Jones: It’s such a pleasure to have the member back and, in a respectful place, have a conversation about how we can work together to ensure our health care capacity and the people of Ontario are served.

I will say, Speaker, that as I mentioned in my previous answer, Montfort Hospital is a very critical partner in the Ottawa region, serving the people of Ontario.

We will continue those partnerships. We will work with our partners. We are about solutions.

They can talk about the problems.

In the meantime, let’s get the job done—which is what we have been doing and what we will continue to do.

Arts and cultural funding

Mr. Rob Flack: For nearly two years, the pandemic has disproportionately impacted significant local events and festivals that brought our communities to life and Ontarians together.

In my riding of Elgin–Middlesex–London, families and friends count on attending exciting events such as the Oxford Renaissance Festival in my hometown of Dorchester.

We missed out on the fun opportunity to share good tim