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December 7, 2021

42nd Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2021-Dec-07 vol. A (PDF)

L030A - Tue 7 Dec 2021 / Mar 7 déc 2021

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Tuesday 7 December 2021 Mardi 7 décembre 2021

Orders of the Day

Build Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2021 / Loi de 2021 visant à protéger nos progrès et à bâtir l’Ontario (mesures budgétaires)

Tabling of sessional papers

Members’ Statements

United Way

Member’s anniversary

Holiday messages

COVID-19 immunization

Student achievement

Climate change

Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Long-term care

Algonquin Radio Observatory / Holiday messages

Visitors

Parliamentary counsel

Bette Stephenson

Question Period

COVID-19 immunization

Employment standards

Climate change

Electronic service delivery

Rondeau Provincial Park

Great Lakes protection

Personal support workers

Supportive housing / Logement en milieu de soutien

Hospital funding

COVID-19 testing

COVID-19 response

Small business

Garde d’enfants / Child care

Deferred Votes

Providing More Care, Protecting Seniors, and Building More Beds Act, 2021 / Loi de 2021 visant à offrir davantage de soins, à protéger les personnes âgées et à ouvrir plus de lits

Estimates

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Government Agencies

Introduction of Bills

St. James Town Act (Residential Tenancies Amendments), 2021 / Loi de 2021 sur St. James Town (modifications en ce qui concerne les locations à usage d’habitation)

Petitions

Employment standards

Gaz naturel / Natural gas

Land use planning

Automobile insurance

Optometry services

Optometry services

Post-stroke treatment

Firearms control

Optometry services

Road safety

Affordable housing

Land use planning

Orders of the Day

Build Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2021 / Loi de 2021 visant à protéger nos progrès et à bâtir l’Ontario (mesures budgétaires)

The House met at 0900.

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

Prayers.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Now we will have a moment of silence for inner thought and personal reflection.

Orders of the Day

Build Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2021 / Loi de 2021 visant à protéger nos progrès et à bâtir l’Ontario (mesures budgétaires)

Mr. Bethlenfalvy moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 43,

An Act to implement Budget measures and to enact and amend various statutes / Projet de loi 43, Loi visant à mettre en oeuvre les mesures budgétaires et à édicter et à modifier diverses lois.

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

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Before I begin, I want to note that I will be sharing my time with the member for Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill and the member for Brantford–Brant.

I am honoured to rise and address the House about our government’s plan to protect our progress against the pandemic and lay a strong foundation so that Ontario’s workers, business leaders and families can build a future—a future with greater opportunities for all. Bill 43, the Build Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2021 would make the necessary legislative changes to support that plan.

The measures contained in this proposed legislation would allow our government to take specific actions to protect Ontario’s progress in the fight against COVID-19 and prepare our great province to emerge from the pandemic stronger, more self-reliant and ready to face the changes of a dynamically changing world.

Mr. Speaker, the people of Ontario have shown strength, compassion and a genuine desire to support their neighbours and their community throughout the pandemic. They have shown the true Ontario spirit. Our government’s plan will protect the province’s progress in facing a once-in-a-lifetime public health challenge while creating the right conditions to grow a stronger and more resilient economy and a province that can take on any challenge we might face in the future.

When the pandemic reached our province, our government did not hesitate to make every resource available in this fight. We invested more than $1 billion to support the rollout of Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccination plan, a plan that has already seen Ontario achieve one of the highest vaccination rates in the world. When our government introduced Bill 43, over 83% of the population had already received a second dose. Since then, the people of Ontario have continued to roll up their sleeves as soon as they were eligible, and, as of November 23 children aged five to 11 are eligible to

schedule an appointment to get the pediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Mr. Speaker, we remain vigilant in the face of the Omicron variant. We are taking the necessary steps to address this new variant by continuing our vaccination program, while rolling out testing and contact tracing.

Mr. Speaker, our government has learned the hard-fought lessons of the pandemic. Notre gouvernement a tiré de dures leçons de la pandémie. And we will continue to protect the incredible gains the people of Ontario have made.

Our government’s plan recognizes our strong record of pandemic management and then builds on it. I firmly believe that positioning Ontario for future growth and prosperity is a powerful strategy for not only recovering from this pandemic, but also safeguarding Ontario from the effects of future crises. It’s a vision for a province that not only leads Canada in economic growth, but North America as well.

To achieve that vision, we will have to address some of the long-standing challenges—challenges that, to be frank, previous governments did not do enough to address. When it was time to invest in our hospital and ICU capacity, they said no. When it was time to build more long-term-care beds, they said no. When it was time to get shovels in the ground on roads and highways, they said no. And when our workers needed support to develop the skills to land good, well-paying jobs, they said no. You say no long enough and there are consequences. Every decision you make today matters tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, our government is saying yes, because the economy isn’t just a GDP number, it’s made up of people, people who work hard to provide for their families, grow businesses and build for a better future—the same people who follow public health guidelines, who get vaccinated and who have made great sacrifices during the pandemic to keep us safe. But we recognize that over the long run, this level of spending is not sustainable, and we have a responsibility as the stewards of the province’s finances to ensure Ontario’s fiscal health.

Now, there are some in the House who believe that the solution is to impose painful burdens on Ontario families and businesses. They don’t have a plan for growth, because they don’t believe in Ontario workers or Ontario families. But we have chosen a different path. By unleashing the potential of the people of Ontario’s economy and the province’s fiscal position, we will continue to recover.

And we are already seeing evidence of the resilience of our economy and the strength of our fiscal position. Last week, we learned that employment in Ontario increased by 68,100 jobs in November, almost all of which were full-time jobs. Ontario has now nearly 115,000 more jobs than it did before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we continue to lead Canada in job creation. Thanks to the resiliency of our fiscal position, it has continued to improve. For 2021-22, the government is projecting a deficit of $21.5 billion, which is $11.6 billion lower than the outlook published in the 2021 budget.

A stronger economic growth outlook is a key factor in this improvement. Ontario’s real gross domestic product, or GDP, is projected to rise by 4.3% in 2021—exceeding the 4% projection in the 2021 budget. Real GDP is projected to continue to grow over the next few years at a pace of 4.5% in 2022, 2.6% in 2023 and 2% in 2024. These projections are slightly more modest than the average you’ll see from the private sector forecast, demonstrating our government’s ongoing commitment to prudent fiscal planning.

Revenues in 2021-22 are projected to be $168.6 billion—which is also an improvement over the 2021 budget forecast. In fact, it is $14.6 billion higher than projected in the 2021 budget and $11.7 billion higher than projected in the 2021-22 quarterly finances of the first quarter. Based on these important indicators, there are clear reasons for optimism and that the future will require a prudent, responsible plan that creates the conditions for an economic and fiscal recovery, driven by growth.

Our government recognizes that the improved economic and fiscal position laid out in the 2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review is due to the hard work and sheer ingenuity of the people of Ontario. Those projections demonstrate how strong economic growth can positively impact the province’s balance sheet.

However, as we know, the pandemic is not over and new challenges continue to arise even as more and more people get vaccinated. Protecting the health of the people of Ontario and safeguarding our progress continue to be job number one for our government. That is why the province continues to maintain financial flexibility, given the continued uncertainty related to the pandemic, through the Time-Limited COVID-19 Fund. With the release of the 2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review, the province has allocated an additional $500 million into the fund for this fiscal year.

And after accounting for the top-ups and drawdowns from this fund since the 2021 first-quarter finances, the net position of the Time-Limited COVID-19 Fund remains at $2.2 billion for 2021-22. This funding will allow the government to continue to direct resources where they are needed in a dynamic and changing environment, and support additional recovery initiatives while continuing to take a prudent and cautious approach to Ontario’s fiscal and financial recovery.

While recognizing the uncertainty that still exists around the pandemic, our government has developed faster-growth and slower-growth scenarios in the 2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review. This practice is consistent with previous financial updates from the government during this unprecedented time. These scenarios will help us anticipate how the economy could perform over the next several years and provide people with more transparency about how alternative economic scenarios could impact the province’s finances. Mr.

Speaker, that fiscal transparency has been a cornerstone of our government’s approach to Ontario’s finances, and that commitment has not wavered in the midst of the pandemic. Our government has continued to bring the people of this province timely and transparent updates about the state of Ontario’s finances.

As we responded quickly and decisively to the growing COVID-19 threat, we were the first jurisdiction in Canada to release a fiscal update that reflected the potential impacts of the virus. Eight months later we published the Ontario 2020 budget, which expanded our response with strategic and targeted investments to protect people and to protect jobs. We followed that with the 2021 budget—Ontario’s Action Plan: Protecting People’s Health and Our Economy.

In that document, the government enhanced its response to COVID-19, bringing our investment to help guide the people and businesses of Ontario through the pandemic to $51 billion. Included in that number is the $1 billion for our province-wide vaccination campaign; $5.1 billion earmarked to support hospitals, creating more than 3,100 additional hospital beds; and nearly $3 billion in support to over 110,000 small businesses across the province.

And our government’s 2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: Build Ontario continues to make $51 billion in supports available to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and promote economic recovery. This milestone document is the seventh financial update since the pandemic began. And highlighting the government’s steadfast commitment to provide regular updates on Ontario’s finances, even during this uncertain economic period, will continue.

Mr. Speaker, the plan that we laid out in the 2021 Ontario economic update and fiscal outlook is our plan for jobs, our plan for opportunity and our plan to build Ontario. It’s a plan that dreams big, but then lays out a clear path to take us there. This is our plan for building a better and brighter future for the people of the province.

C’est un plan ambitieux, mais qui montre clairement la voie à suivre. C’est notre plan pour bâtir un avenir meilleur et plus radieux pour la population de l’Ontario.

During the pandemic, the heroes on the front lines of our health care system rose to the challenge. But it also has become clear that after decades of neglect we have to build our capacity across the health care system, from public health measures to intensive care unit capacity to mental health supports—particularly for front-line workers—to reducing surgical wait times. Because if just one of the components is failing and falling behind, it impacts the system as a whole. All of them need to be working efficiently and effectively.

Mr. Speaker, our economy is no different; everything is interconnected. And when one part of the economy isn’t performing to its potential, it impacts everyone. A strong and resilient economy needs focused and strategic government investment and prudent economic management to boost production, support technological innovation and create more well-paying jobs. An innovative economy with hard workers and technological know-how can help return Ontario to its position as a global leader in sectors such as manufacturing, such as natural resource extraction. This includes turning Ontario into a global leader in steel, electric-vehicle and battery development.

Mr. Speaker, these global and competitive industries will be vital for building Ontario’s economy of the future. And for Ontario to capitalize on the growth, we will need to unlock the vast and game-changing resource potential of Ontario’s north. Those industries will need Ontario workers to help them thrive. This means making investments in skills training and encouraging more young people to pursue rewarding, challenging and lucrative jobs in the trades.

To attract and keep these skilled workers in Ontario, we need to make investments in the communities where those workers live, to grow their roots and ensure they have every resource they need to pursue successful careers. That means investing in a strong and integrated health care system, modern infrastructure and efficient and reliable supply chains to keep food, PPE and other essential goods moving. And strong communities require good roads, they require good transit systems and highways so people can get to work, get home and get to where they’re going quickly and easily.

Our economy is an interconnected machine. Every component needs to be working smoothly and at its full capacity. A dynamic economy creates a virtuous circle that will help our province strengthen its position as the economic engine of Confederation.

Mr. Speaker, this is our plan to emerge from the pandemic stronger and more resilient than before and ready to take on the world. Since I released the 2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review in early November, I’ve had the opportunity to travel the province and speak to the people in different communities about their priorities and their hopes for the future, about how our plan can help them achieve the very best for themselves and for their family.

My conversations with the hard-working people of Ontario have shown me that our government’s prudent, responsible plan is sending Ontario on the right path. It’s a plan to protect the progress we’ve made, it’s a plan to build for the future and it’s a plan for the workers who will all make it happen. C’est un plan pour protéger les progrès que nous avons accomplis, bâtir pour l’avenir et soutenir les travailleuses et travailleurs qui sont derrière tout cela.

Mr. Speaker, the pandemic is a challenge that has touched the lives of everyone in the province, directly or indirectly. We will all come out of it seeing the world differently, but through it all, the Ontario spirit has shined. The people of Ontario have stood together and have helped each other persevere. They said yes to following the public health guidelines. They said yes to getting vaccinated. They said yes to changing the way they do business to keep their customers safe. And they said yes to so many other ways of supporting each other through these difficult times.

Our government is profoundly grateful to them for doing so. In that spirit, our government is also saying yes: yes to building, yes to investing and yes to growing. Let’s say yes to a better and brighter future that the people of Ontario deserve.

I’d now like to call on my parliamentary assistants to speak in further detail about our fall economic statement, which will support our government’s efforts to move forward to protect the people of this province and build an Ontario that we can all be proud to call home. Michael Parsa, MPP for Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill, will discuss how the 2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review and the components of this legislation protect our hard-earned progress in the fight against COVID-19 and how it will support the workers of Ontario. And Will Bouma, MPP for Brantford–Brant, will provide more details about our plan to build Ontario.

I’ll now turn it over to MPP Parsa.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): The minister did say he’d be sharing his time, so first we turn to the member for Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill.

Mr. Michael Parsa: Thank you very much, Speaker, and I thank the Minister of Finance as well.

Bill 43, the Build Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2021, contains legislative measures that support our government’s efforts to protect the progress Ontario has made against COVID-19 and support the workers who have sacrificed so much throughout the pandemic. We will continue to ensure that they have every opportunity to succeed and prosper.

Speaker, the plan laid out in the 2021 Ontario economic outlook and fiscal update is built around three core pillars. The first is protecting our progress in the fight against COVID-19. The second is building Ontario’s infrastructure and economic capacity. And the third is working for workers, who will play such an essential role in our recovery.

Our plan starts with protecting our progress. While we have made great strides in pushing back against the threat of COVID-19, we know there’s still much to do. It’s more important than ever to ensure that we continue to take steps forward in our fight and not a step backward. Our plan will safeguard the gains we have made against COVID-19. We owe it to the selfless, steadfast and resilient people of Ontario.

The majority of people across Ontario have been fully vaccinated—more than 90% of those over 12 have at least one dose—and our government continues to encourage everyone who is eligible to roll up their sleeve. Under Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccination plan, more than 22 million doses have been administered, resulting in one of the highest vaccination rates in the world. And now that Health Canada has approved a pediatric COVID-19 vaccine, we urge people to get the young ones in their lives protected against the virus as well.

Offering the vaccine to children aged five to 11 is a significant milestone for Ontario’s fight against COVID-19 in advance of the holiday season. Not only does this help shield them from the virus, but it also protects their family members, helps further minimize disruption and keeps students learning in a normal in-class experience.

Speaker, we know that the pandemic has revealed years of neglect in our health care system. Our government is taking decisive action by providing hospitals with over $1.8 billion in 2021-22 to support 3,100 new and additional beds, reduce surgical and diagnostic imaging backlogs and help hospitals keep pace with patient needs and increase access to high-quality care.

The government is also safeguarding Ontario’s seniors, who have made such profound contributions to this province. Speaker, our government wants to help seniors in particular stay in their homes safely. That’s why Bill 43 proposes to extend the Seniors’ Home Safety Tax Credit. Our government introduced this refundable tax credit for the 2021 taxation year to help seniors or those living with senior relatives make renovations to their homes to make them safer and more accessible. The credit is worth 25% of up to $10,000 in eligible expenses.

The 2022 credit extension would provide an estimated $35 million in support to about 32,000 people, or $1,100, on average, up to a maximum benefit of $2,500. This credit helps seniors in communities across our province afford the renovations they need to get around safely and easily in their own homes. Should this legislation pass, the credit would be extended, making it also available for the 2022 taxation year.

Our plan will build more spaces for our seniors in long-term care. That includes 30,000 net new long-term-care beds and redeveloping older beds across the province to meet modern design standards. But our plan is not just about building more beds, Speaker. It’s about building better beds. That’s why we’re going to raise the bar for what constitutes acceptable care in our long-term-care homes. Our government has already committed $4.9 billion to increase the direct care provided to residents by nurses and personal support workers to an average of four hours per resident per day by March 31, 2025.

To put that in context, in 2018 residents received an average of two hours and 45 minutes of direct care from registered nurses, registered practical nurses and personal support workers. This investment also supports a 20% increase in the care provided by allied health care providers, such as physiotherapists and social workers, by March 2023. This investment will create more than 27,000 new positions for nurses and personal support workers in long-term care.

We’re building on that funding by implementing a plan to bring higher standards and more accountability to seniors’ care. To ensure the safety of long-term-care residents, the government is providing an additional $72.3 million over three years to increase enforcement capacity. This funding will double the number of inspectors across the province by 2022-23, making Ontario’s inspectors-to-long-term-care-homes ratio the highest in Canada.

We are investing $57.6 million, beginning in 2022-23, to hire up to 225 new nurse practitioners in the long-term-care sector. We’re also recruiting more than 5,000 registered nurses and registered practical nurses throughout the health care system, and funding to train an additional 8,000 personal support workers.

We’re also making new investments and improving home care that keeps patients out of the hospital by investing an additional $548.5 million over three years to expand home and community care. This funding would support up to 28,000 post-acute surgical patients and up to an estimated 21,000 patients with complex health conditions every year, because we know that the best care is the kind that you can receive in the comfort of your own home.

Speaker, just as we are supporting seniors, we’re also ensuring that our young students are protected. To ensure students have a safe and successful 2021-22 school year, the government is providing more than $1.6 billion in resources to protect schools against COVID-19. Over $600 million has been allocated to improve ventilation and filtration in schools, including over 70,000 stand-alone high-efficiency particulate air—or HEPA—filters and other ventilation devices to help improve air quality and keep children safe.

Ontario is also investing $8.9 million to continue keeping staff and residents safe in congregate care settings. This includes residences for adults with development disabilities, residences for children in care or with special needs, youth justice facilities and emergency shelters for women and families fleeing domestic violence. This funding addresses immediate needs by providing essential resources, such as personal protective equipment, rapid antigen testing and enhanced infection prevention and control measures.

Speaker, during the pandemic, workers had our backs; Premier Ford and our government will always have theirs. Our government is profoundly grateful for all those workers who were willing to go that extra mile in a time of such great need. We want Ontario workers in a race to the top—not a race to the bottom—because we know that Ontario’s economic growth will be built and sustained by the hard work of our province’s workforce. That’s why, Speaker, our government is working for workers.

It’s clear that Ontario workers and families are struggling. Take-home pay has not kept pace with the rising cost of essentials that families rely on, like groceries. That’s why Bill 43 proposes to increase the general minimum wage to $15 an hour, effective January 1, 2022. This represents a 4.5% increase over the current minimum wage of $14.35 per hour. If passed, it would also eliminate the lower special minimum wage rate for liquor service, so that they would earn the general minimum wage as well.

The minimum wage rate for students, home workers, hunting and fishing guides and wilderness guides would be increased proportionately to the increase in the general minimum wage, and consumer price indexation would resume on October 1, 2022. Speaker, should the legislation pass, this measure would help many employees boost their take-home pay. Full-time general minimum wage workers would see an extra $1,350 in 2022, and full-time liquor servers would earn an extra $5,100 more.

Proposing to raise the minimum wage is only one part of our plan to work for workers. Speaker, people who are willing to work hard and do their job well should not have to live in fear of exploitation or labour trafficking. We’re investing $1.1 million in 2021-22 to support a dedicated team of officers to undertake focused inspection of temporary help agencies and recruiters of temporary workers in industries and work circumstances where there is a high risk of exploitation to occur.

This pilot will help protect some of Ontario’s most vulnerable and marginalized workers, including Indigenous workers, newcomers, young workers, migrant workers and women. This initiative will ensure all workers, no matter their status, will have the full protection of Ontario’s labour laws.

Speaker, if Ontario’s skilled workforce is to fully participate in our province’s future success, it must have access to the training that the jobs of the future will require. To provide more training opportunities for workers, Bill 43 proposes to extend the Ontario Jobs Training Tax Credit to 2022. This credit currently provides up to $2,000 in relief per recipient for 50% of a person’s eligible training expenses for 2021. The credit is estimated to provide $260 million in support to about 230,000 people this year alone. The 2022 tax credit extension will provide an estimated $275 million in support to about 240,000 people. On average, that’s about $1,150 per person.

Ontario is also moving forward with our skilled trades strategy, a measure introduced in the 2021 budget, to help workers secure good jobs. Through the 2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review, we’re investing an additional $90.3 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, in the strategy to encourage more young people to pursue rewarding careers in the trades.

Key new initiatives in the strategy include creating a skilled trades career fair and enhancing the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program and Pre-apprenticeship Training Program.

In addition, to support workers who need training to get a job, Ontario is investing an additional $5 million in 2021-22 to expand the Second Career program and the program’s eligibility.

Speaker, in order to prepare Ontario workers for the well-paying jobs of the future, we must also make sure that the province’s economy is growing and creating the demand for those workers as well. Our government is continuing to provide significant supports and investment to help Ontario’s economy recover from the pandemic. Through strong and prudent management, our plan seeks to attract increased investment and position Ontario’s key manufacturing industries for success. That includes fuelling an automotive manufacturing renaissance in the province, with key supports outlined in Build Ontario.

For example, we have secured investment commitments of $5.6 billion from major auto manufacturers for electric-vehicle supply chain capacity, because a key goal of our plan is to develop a battery supply chain ecosystem and a new generation of electric vehicles in Ontario. Electric-vehicle manufacturing presents a major opportunity to help the province strengthen its production position, secure long-term economic growth in the sector and provide job opportunities for workers, as well as meet emission-reduction targets.

In addition, Ontario is taking action to address growing competition for investment and challenges to our supply chain as the global economy continues to reopen. The government is creating a new province-wide, two-year $40-million advanced manufacturing and innovation competitiveness stream under the Regional Development Program. Speaker, this new stream will help Ontario businesses invest in the equipment, advanced technologies and skilled workers that they need to become more competitive, support growth and create and retain jobs in every region of the province.

And to support businesses and the workers they employ, Ontario has enabled an estimated $10.1 billion in cost savings and support in 2021. More than 60%, or $6.3 billion, is going to small businesses in the province that have carried us throughout the pandemic and who will be vital contributors to our economic recovery.

Speaker, our government recognizes that the tourism, hospitality and culture sectors have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic, and we have been there for those industries, investing more than $800 million in the sectors since the start of the pandemic. We will continue to stand with them in these difficult times.

To help the tourism and hospitality sectors recover, and to encourage Ontario families to explore the province they call home, Bill 43 proposes a new temporary Ontario Staycation Tax Credit for 2022. This new personal income tax credit will provide Ontario residents with a return of 20% on eligible 2022 accommodation expenses in Ontario, up to $1,000 for an individual and $2,000 for a family. The credit will result in a maximum reimbursement of $200 or $400 respectively, which could help individuals and families extend their stay a bit longer or further explore the many wonders of our province in 2022. The credit would provide an estimated $207 million for over 1.5 million families.

The agri-food sector has also been significantly impacted by the pandemic, particularly through vital supply chain disruptions—which is why, to strengthen Ontario’s agri-food supply chain, Ontario is investing up to $25 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, in a new Strategic Agri-Food Processing Fund to support projects that will enhance processing capacity and food security.

Our government has a strong and comprehensive plan to protect our hard-earned gains against COVID-19 and to position Ontario’s talented and diligent workers for future success. I encourage the members of this House to support Bill 43. This legislation is a key component of our broader plan to help navigate Ontario through the pandemic and into a brighter future.

Now, I would like to call on my fellow parliamentary assistant representing the good people from Brantford–Brant to share more about our plan to get shovels in the ground on our foundation for the future.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): We now look over to the member from Brantford–Brant, who has the floor.

Mr. Will Bouma: Mr. Speaker, thank you. It’s good to see you in the chair today.

It’s such a pleasure to rise in the House and talk about our fall economic statement. I’d just like to acknowledge my colleague the parliamentary assistant to finance from the great riding of Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill, who has spoken about two of the three pillars of the plan showcased in the 2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review and in the measures contained in Bill 43, the Build Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2021.

I am honoured to speak about the third pillar, building Ontario. This component of our plan is aimed at getting shovels in the ground on projects across the province—projects that include highways, hospitals, housing and high-speed Internet, which will boost Ontario’s economic growth and standard of living.

These investments will result in improved health care capacity so that our valuable public health care system is ready when the people of Ontario need it most; they will help provide access to the critical mineral resources that the industries of tomorrow desperately need by unlocking the incredible economic potential of Ontario’s north, including the Ring of Fire; and they will upgrade our province’s transit and transportation infrastructure so that commuters spend less time in gridlock and more time doing what matters most with the people who matter most.

The Minister of Finance and my colleague and fellow parliamentary assistant to finance have spoken about the importance of safeguarding our progress against COVID-19 and strengthening our health care system. An essential part of our plan involves building and expanding hospitals so that they can support the people of Ontario not just during the pandemic today, but keep pace with growing demands and be ready to face any of the challenges that we might be facing tomorrow.

Ontario is investing $30.2 billion over the next decade to build, expand and enhance our hospitals. This is a truly historic commitment, and is absolutely necessary to ensure that the people of Ontario can get the care that they need.

These projects include: a new hospital and a lodge in Moosonee as well as a new ambulatory care centre on Moose Factory Island; a new in-patient care tower in Etobicoke; a complete rebuild of the Mississauga Hospital, in partnership with Trillium Health Partners; funding to support the planning for the new Windsor-Essex acute care regional hospital; redeveloping the Oak Valley Health Uxbridge Hospital; expansion of in-patient beds and ambulatory care at London Health Sciences Centre, and expansion of the capacity of its stem cell transplant unit; and transformation of the existing site and urgent care centre into a new in-patient care hospital at the William Osler Health System.

These are just a few examples of the critical health care infrastructure projects under way in all four corners of our incredible province.

Ontario’s economic recovery will be centred around returning our province to its rightful place as Canada’s manufacturing leader, and unlocking the potential of northern Ontario is essential to achieving that objective. That is why our government is working in partnership with northern and First Nation communities to create jobs, develop all-season road access to remote communities and advance the development of critical minerals to bring economic prosperity to Ontario’s north. The people in the north have known for a very long time what we are just realizing in the rest of Ontario: that that part of our province is critical to the future of not just Ontario, but indeed our entire country.

Ontario is strengthening its position as a leading North American jurisdiction for responsibly sourced critical minerals by committing to develop the province’s first-ever Critical Minerals Strategy. Minerals such as nickel, lithium, cobalt, manganese and graphite are crucial components of low-emission vehicle batteries. Zinc, rare earth elements and titanium are used in medical equipment and technology such as cardiac implants, MRI machines and prosthetics.

These resources hold the power to fuel an advanced manufacturing renaissance in our province that supports the green economy; build a resilient and strong supply chain for electric vehicles and battery manufacturing right here at home; help secure investments in the cutting-edge technologies of today and tomorrow; and open up new avenues of opportunity for Ontario’s skilled workforce.

Ontario has a natural abundance of these critical mineral resources, but to make this happen, we must make it easier to access the minerals across northern Ontario. That’s why Ontario is committed to working with Far North communities, including First Nation communities, and supporting them in their goals, including all-season road access to their communities and the Ring of Fire. In our plan, we have committed close to $1 billion to support the planning and construction of an all-season road network and other projects. Together, these projects will contribute to a corridor to prosperity that will unlock economic opportunities and benefits to the entire region.

Bill 43 would, if passed, make changes to the Far North Act to create the certainty desired to support economic development in the Far North, including the Ring of Fire. These changes would also enhance and encourage collaboration between the province and Far North First Nations on land use planning. I would like to acknowledge and thank Nishnawbe Aski Nation, or NAN, for its close collaboration with our government to review the act and recommend changes. Ontario has also engaged directly with Far North First Nations throughout the review.

Speaker, Ontario is doing its part, but First Nations are also doing their part. We are working closely with the Marten Falls and Webequie First Nations as they lead proposed road projects in the region. We need the federal government to do its part too and match Ontario’s commitment to this crucial and critical project, because unleashing the mineral wealth found in northern Ontario means not only economic vitality for the north, including Indigenous communities, but for all of Ontario and, as I’ve said, indeed for all of Canada.

Speaker, we are not just investing in roads in the north. To build, expand and repair Ontario’s highways and bridges, create jobs and spur economic growth, the government has invested approximately $2.6 billion in funding for 2021-22 in support of the Ontario highways program. This program features more than 580 expansion and rehabilitation projects across Ontario, including investing to build and advance the Bradford Bypass and Highway 413.

The Bradford Bypass would be a new four-lane freeway that will connect Highway 400 and Highway 404 in Simcoe county and York region. Both regions are expected to experience rapid growth over the next 10 to 20 years, and investing in this new corridor is necessary to ease congestion on Highway 400 and existing local roads. This project is expected to support more than 700 jobs per year, on average, during construction and generate more than $70 million in annual real gross domestic product. Motorists and trucks are expected to save more than 60% of their travel time and reduce their commute time by up to 35 minutes.

Highway 413 will be a new 400-series highway and transit corridor across Halton, Peel and York regions. The highway will bring relief to the most congested corridor in North America and play a vital role in the province’s plan for economic recovery, growth and job creation. During construction, Highway 413 is expected to support up to 3,500 jobs per year and generate up to $350 million in annual real gross domestic product. This highway will save drivers up to 30 minutes each way on their commute. That’s one hour per day and five hours per week freed up in people’s schedules for what’s most important to them.

These two projects will significantly enable our economy to grow and will help make life easier and create more opportunity for people across the greater Golden Horseshoe. But the Liberals and the NDP are in a race to see who can say no the loudest and the fastest. Speaker, it doesn’t really matter to me who wins that race, but I do know who stands to lose: the Ontario worker who can’t afford to live close to their job, local businesses who cannot get their products to market or even hire because available workers are too far away, parents who never see their kids because they are stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic every single day.

Speaker, we recognize that investing in highways alone is not enough. That’s why our government is also making significant investments in transit and transportation networks. We are delivering the largest subway expansion in Canadian history with a transformative $28.5-billion plan. This includes the all-new Ontario Line, the Scarborough subway extension that will add three stops, the Yonge North subway extension connecting York region to downtown Toronto and the Eglinton Crosstown West extension that will bring the convenience and reliability of subways closer to more people.

In addition, we are investing $1.7 billion towards a total of $3.4 billion to advance the Hamilton light rail transit project. This shovel-ready project will create thousands of jobs and will offer service from McMaster University through downtown Hamilton to Eastgate Square. We are also delivering on our commitment to build two-way, all-day GO Transit, building the Kitchener GO rail expansion and expanding GO train service to London.

Our government is bringing infrastructure investments to communities across Ontario. The province is increasing the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund by an additional $1 billion over five years. That means an additional $200 million per year, starting in 2022. This will help 424 small, rural and northern communities build and repair roads, bridges, water and waste water infrastructure. This, Speaker, makes such a difference in communities like yours and mine that are away from the big cities, but rely on their transportation networks in order to get people, goods and services moving where they need to go.

From road repairs in Sarnia, Georgina and Haldimand county, to water treatment plant upgrades in Tay township, Blind River and West Nipissing, these projects will help provide reliable and sustainable services in communities across our great province and will directly support public safety, job creation and economic growth, helping the main streets of Ontario recover from COVID-19.

Building Ontario also means building schools and adding additional child care spaces. To help today’s kids become tomorrow’s leaders and innovators, the government is investing about $14 billion in capital grants over 10 years to build more schools. The funding is also being used to improve existing facilities and support education-related projects. This includes providing $1.4 billion for the 2021-22 school year to support and repair the renewal of schools.

The government is also investing up to $1 billion over five years to create up to 30,000 licensed child care spaces for families and communities across the province. That’s like Central Public School, which I saw go from the shovel in the ground to the spaces—that’s in my community of Brantford. That’s like at Our Lady of Providence school, where a couple of weeks ago I got to go to the blessing, from shovel-ready in the ground. It’s like the two new announcements at Cobblestone school in my riding and also at Banbury Heights School in my riding.

These are the spaces that our families need so that our schools can become the hubs for child care and learning, so that children can go to school where they live and they can enjoy all the things that our communities have to offer. We have been working closely with our federal partners to support working families with their child care. We look forward to building on the progress we’ve made with our federal partners to meet the needs of working families.

Speaker, moving on, the pandemic has taught us that high-speed Internet access is not a luxury in our modern world; it’s a necessity. I can remember in the early days of the pandemic having five students in my home learning—no, sorry, four; one was out. Our Internet was just not capable. Fortunately, I had options. I found an Internet service provider that could provide us the data speed and everything else so that our two university students, high school student and grade school student could all successfully learn from home while I was doing Zoom meetings every single day.

It is a critical tool for accessing vital services like health care, education and employment, seeking out economic opportunity and promoting entrepreneurial opportunities and just helping people stay connected when we couldn’t do it in any other way.

Did you know, Speaker, that over 700,000 households and businesses in Ontario have no access to high-speed Internet or they have no Internet connection at all? If Ontario is to compete in the modern-day economy, we need to get those families and businesses online.

In the 2021 budget, the province committed a historic $2.8 billion to make high-speed Internet accessible in all regions of the province by the end of 2025. This commitment increases Ontario’s overall investment in broadband to nearly $4 billion over six years, beginning in 2019-20.

This is the largest single investment in high-speed Internet in any province by any government in Canadian history. It will help Ontario be more competitive, it will help Ontario workers and businesses compete for decades to come and it will support our economy’s transformation into a digital economy that moves at the speed of modern business.

Speaker, getting shovels in the ground creates jobs. It generates opportunity and builds the foundation for a modern, competitive and resilient Ontario. These infrastructure projects will help bolster Ontario’s health care capacity to meet not just the demands of today, but whatever might be coming our way in the future. They will help businesses, they will help students, they will help families and they will help our communities connect with loved ones, sharpen their skills, capitalize on economic opportunities and build a better future.

In closing, we need to protect our progress, we need to build Ontario and we need to work for workers. That’s why I call on all members of this House to support our plan to build Ontario and to vote in favour of Bill 43.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): We now have an opportunity for questions.

Ms. Rima Berns-McGown: I would like to say that honestly, contrary to what the minister claims, anybody who has been paying attention hears the government saying yes to developers and buddies of the Premier and no to everyone else—no to families and health care workers and PSWs in long-term care when it comes to making the changes that are desperately needed, like good working conditions and a commitment to not-for-profit care; no to everyone who cares about climate change and the environment; no to parents; no to people trying to stay housed; no to seniors.

Speaker, it is seniors who are the first to be evicted when financialized landlords take advantage of unscrupulous renovictions and above-guideline rent increases, but the government said no to our rent stabilization bill. Why is the government saying no to seniors?

Mr. Michael Parsa: I thank the honourable member for the question. When the previous government was in the habit of saying no to the people of Ontario and often had the support of the opposition, it took this government to say yes to the people of Ontario. Speaker, we will not take any lessons from any member of the previous government and anyone in the opposition who often had the opportunity to stand and oppose them, and they supported them every step of the way.

Mr. Speaker, we are going to say yes to our seniors, who have done everything for us in this province, who have paved the way for us. We are going to say yes to our health care system that was left on life support by the previous government. We’re going to say yes to our students. We’re going to make sure that the businesses of this province that have sacrificed so much during the pandemic receive support.

When we say we’re going to say yes to workers, we’re going to do that by ensuring that the workers are receiving more support. Some 760,000-plus will receive a bigger paycheque as a result of this government come January 1—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): Thank you.

The next question goes to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Hon. David Piccini: I appreciate the comments from all members today and the excellent remarks that they made. When the opposition maligns development in this province, they’re maligning new Canadians who want the opportunity for affordable housing. They’re maligning new Canadians who want to access expanding and supporting our municipalities with their official planning process.

My question is, why is it so important that, after years of neglect, we make these investments into hospitals, into long-term care and, most importantly, into affordable home ownership?

Mr. Will Bouma: I so appreciate the question from the Minister of the Environment. I am a new Canadian. I think we have 20 members in our caucus who are new Canadians who have decided to make this country their home. On behalf of all new Canadians, we know what the people who dream of coming to this country and to this province to build the future of this province have to bring to the table. That’s why we are making these investments today, so that they can find jobs, they can come here, they can thrive and have the opportunity in the trades and in other job skills that we have available.

I welcome that question, because it’s so true that we need to invest today in the Ontario of the future so that so many new people can call this incredible province their home.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): The member for St. Catharines.

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: From the beginning of the pandemic, which hit Ontario in March 2020, small businesses across our province have been suffering. It took the government nine months to come up with a program to support local businesses. After months, small business owners, chambers of commerce, advocacy groups and, of course, the New Democratic Party were calling on the government to offer financial support to small businesses.

Last week, we learned from the Auditor General that they failed to properly protect taxpayers. A quarter of workers in St. Catharines work in the hospitality and tourism sector, which has been hit the hardest throughout the pandemic. This loss, over $200 million, to ineligible grants could have gone directly to supporting more the hardest-hit sectors in Ontario. It could have directly gone to help support businesses that are struggling. Speaker, some 14,000 ineligible businesses received over $210 million from taxpayers. This Conservative government has given up on getting the money back.

Why does the government feel that these businesses deserve this $200 million from taxpayers? Why are they giving up on the money?

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Thank you to the member opposite for the important question. Sometimes I wonder if there’s a little bit of amnesia, because in March 2020, this government acted very swiftly to provide supports for businesses, including a $17-billion package within weeks of the pandemic.

Mr. Speaker, of course I’m referring to measures such as rent relief—billions in rent relief, billions for WSIB premiums, rebates for electricity, rebates for property tax. In fact, it goes further. We provided supports for Digital Main Street so that they could set up their e-commerce platforms. Mr. Speaker, it goes further, because we set up a fund for PPE to help businesses. That was all at the beginning of the pandemic, during the first year of the pandemic. This government was there for businesses and will continue to be there for businesses.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): The member for Peterborough–Kawartha.

Mr. Dave Smith: As the parliamentary assistant to northern development, mines, natural resources and forestry, and Indigenous affairs, there is something in this bill that is near and dear to my heart, and that is critical minerals. We know that the electric-vehicle market is something that is emerging. It’s green technology. It is good for all of the world, not just Ontario. But the key thing, too, is that they are battery-operated, and Ontario has one of the largest reserves of all of those critical minerals.

Could one of the members who spoke please talk about how great it is that Ontario can be the world leader in critical minerals and reduce greenhouse gases across the entire world by what we’re doing here in Ontario?

Mr. Will Bouma: I want to begin by saying this fall economic statement is a piece that brings together aspects from many different ministries, and so I wanted to thank the parliamentary assistant and the member from Peterborough–Kawartha, God’s country, for the incredible work that he’s done on this Critical Minerals Strategy.

As I mentioned during my remarks, the people of the north have known this for a long time, but they are the key to the future prosperity of not just our province and building a green economy, but indeed for the future of this entire country. That’s why we need the support from all parties in order to make this bill a reality, so that we can build that future green economy.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): The member from Windsor West.

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: The government side claims we’re the party of no, they’re the party of yes, but I’d like to point out that the government side had said no to 10 permanent paid sick days; no to nurses and repealing Bill 124; no to a legislated minimum of four hours of hands-on care in long-term care; no to providing Ontarians rapid antigen tests, of which the federal government has gifted them millions; and no to people with disabilities in ensuring they have an income that allows decent, stable housing, food security and basic human dignity. They said no to smaller, safer class sizes in our publicly funded schools. They’ve said no to $10-a-day child care.

Yet, Speaker, to contrast, they said yes to wealthy, for-profit long-term-care owners and shareholders who made millions off of this pandemic. They’ve said yes to legislation that protects not only themselves, but those for-profit long-term-care operators from liability as thousand of seniors have died during this pandemic, and they’ve continually said yes to donors and PC insiders for infrastructure projects—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): Thank you. I know there is a question in there somewhere, and the member from Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill is going to respond.

Mr. Michael Parsa: I thank the colleague for the question. This is not a secret. We’ve said this from day one, that we will work with anyone who will help us improve the lives here and help us be able to produce more and do more for the people of Ontario. That includes the federal government and any government. But, yes, we did say yes to making sure that there are more supports in our health care system. We did say yes to more support in education to make sure that students and staff and parents—everyone—is kept safe. We did say yes to our business owners, the job creators, and we’ll always say yes.

Any initiative that helps the people of Ontario—we will work with anyone because we have, and we’ve said it from the beginning, the best and the brightest living in this province. We’ll always say yes to improving their lives in the province.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): Further debate?

Ms. Catherine Fife: It is a pleasure to join the debate until question period starts this morning. It’s a really interesting time in the province of Ontario. The contrast, I think, between the priorities that this government has indicated that they care about in this fall economic statement, the budget Bill 43 and where we have been trying to amplify the voices of Ontarians, is quite different.

One of the number one issues that has been facing Ontarians before the pandemic, during the pandemic and now it’s even more heightened because of some of the decisions that this government had made, is on housing. What was interesting for us, in committee, is that—we tried. We came to the table with some trust, with some earnest effort to try to make this a better piece of legislation, particularly on the housing front. We brought forward a number of amendments, particularly around affordability, which is not a word this government seems to understand.

If they are listening to the people in their ridings, this is the number one issue: affordability on gas; affordability on hydro; affordability on rent, on housing; affordability on child care. I don’t know where you have been, I don’t know if you’ve gone into hiding, but this is the number one issue that faces Ontarians right now.

So we brought forward two amendments to Bill 43 specifically around affordability. One of these issues was on housing. We have two of our members—MPP Karpoche and MPP Bell have brought forward some recommendations specifically around the predatory nature of investment in the housing market, which is driving up costs. This is something that you could have done something about, and yet chose not to.

Particularly on

schedule 2, which is the Business Corporations Act, we brought forward amendments that called on the government to, in a timeline for one year, implement a public registry with a system for exemptions, such as homes for people fleeing domestic violence—particularly timely, I would say—expanding the definition of which entities must register to include all companies, trusts and partnerships that own land in Ontario.

What’s interesting on this front is that during the delegations, we heard from an organization called Transparency International Canada. They have been tracking how predatory investments and, really, the hoarding of real estate is impacting Ontarians. Now, we’ve seen this play itself out in BC, around Vancouver. This is what one of the members who came to speak to committee said, that the government is essentially allowing—so you are permissive in this—“empty safety deposit boxes in the sky which are harbouring dirty money.” That’s their language.

And this dirty money is actually—the government knows this full well. This is one of the few things that we have some data on, that they are facilitating, essentially, the stealing from their own citizens in other countries and harbouring that money here in Ontario. You are part of the problem when you don’t actually address the issue.

Now, not only are you helping nefarious money laundering in other jurisdictions, but that money now is actually being held in trust in real estate, which is actually preventing people from having access to affordable housing. It’s a full cycle of real estate transactions, which we tried to make better in

schedule 2. Our members in Toronto and in the north and actually across the entire province have really been trying to drive home to this government that that point of tension for housing is paramount.

The other affordability issue that we tried to get this government to listen to was on the front of minimum wage.

Mr. John Yakabuski: I’m listening.

Ms. Catherine Fife: Are you listening? Are you listening? Yes, keep on walking.

This had to do with

schedule 9 of the bill. We understand, of course, that while you froze the minimum wage, one of your first actions, and actually rolled it back and cut those two really crucial sick days, we have proposed a minimum wage which is predictable, which is consistent and which is reflective of what we’ve actually heard from businesses, which is what they want. They want you to take the politics out of the minimum wage.

We actually now have a strong body of evidence that when workers in Ontario and across other jurisdictions earn a fair living wage, that this could be an economic escalator. It can drive the local economies, Mr. Speaker.

And so we brought forward a proposal—and this is essentially based on the Nobel Prize winners, one of them is Canadian David Card—where they did real live research, documented it, explored the value and the economic impact of having a fair and living wage, and they found that this demonstrated empirically that the idea touted by conservative economists that higher minimum wages mean fewer jobs is not based on fact. In fact, it actually contributes to local economies, it builds local resilience in our economies and it ensures that people actually can live with some dignity and is a key factor in driving poverty.

I would say that we were very disappointed that the government did not participate even remotely in this discussion of the value of a strong minimum wage. We have put forward a plan that gets to $20 an hour by 2026. Some folks are really quite excited about moving away from wage suppression—thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’ll continue in the afternoon.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): Thank you. I apologize for interrupting, but the clock is such that we have to leave the debate and move into members’ statements.

Third reading debate deemed adjourned.

Tabling of sessional papers

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): I beg to inform the House that the following documents were tabled:

—the 2020-21 annual report of the French Language Services Commissioner, from the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario; and

—a report entitled Costing Climate Change Impacts to Public Infrastructure, from the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario.

Members’ Statements

United Way

Mr. Ian Arthur: I’d like to stand and take a moment today to congratulate the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington United Way. I’m delighted to stand and tell the House that the United Way of KFL&A blew past its $3.6-million goal, raising $3.8 million in the 2021 campaign. This incredible milestone is a testament to the critical work that the KFL&A United Way does under the steadfast leadership of president and CEO Bhavana Varma.

In 2020, when things shut down, the community needs didn’t disappear, and for many they actually increased. The United Way moved nimbly to support agencies and meet emerging needs. They made sure that kids who relied on school lunch programs got those same lunches at home. They supported low-income seniors facing an increased cost of living during the pandemic. They increased support because of demand for counselling and supports for sexual assault and domestic violence.

As the months passed, the KFL&A United Way has spearheaded collaboration amongst agencies, experts and all levels of government, helping the community navigate the concurrent crises of the pandemic and an opioid epidemic facing Kingston’s most vulnerable populations. They have been instrumental in Kingston’s situational response team, and spearheaded the homelessness collective impact committee at a time when front-line staff were working flat out to make sure Kingstonians were okay during the pandemic.

To Bhavana and the United Way team, thank you for everything that you do.

Member’s anniversary

People love the Scarborough North member because they know they can trust him and they can count on him to defend their interests. His devotion to his community and the people of Scarborough is legendary. He will not leave a stone unturned to help the most vulnerable in our society.

It is a distinct privilege for me to know Minister Cho and work with him as a campaign volunteer and as a colleague in this Legislature. I have learned so much from his humble soul. His dedication and commitment to the betterment of our province and country is inspiring and trend-setting.

Congratulations to the minister on this milestone. I wish him health, happiness and many more years of service to the people of Scarborough and Ontario.

Holiday messages

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: I rise today to wish my constituents in Windsor West as well as all Ontarians a happy holiday season.

As many of us will gather with family and friends over the next few weeks, I want to remind everyone to celebrate safely. We must ensure that we continue to social distance and keep our gatherings small this year as we all get through this pandemic together. All of us must follow the public health directives to ensure a great holiday season.

I want to recognize the many individuals in this province who will be unable to have a joyous holiday celebration, as they face financial hardship. With this government’s refusal to provide livable social assistance rates or wages, many people are struggling to afford housing or food, let alone holiday gifts and celebrations.

I want to thank the folks at the Windsor Youth Centre, the Downtown Mission, the Salvation Army of Windsor, the Hiatus House, the Welcome Centre Shelter, the Unemployed Help Centre and many other local community organizations that have stepped up to help the residents in Windsor during the holidays and beyond this year. Food banks, shelters and outreach groups will see a rise in need as more families seek assistance this year. If you have the availability and means, I ask that you consider donating to local organizations and sharing your holiday cheer with those who need it the most this year.

I had the pleasure of participating in the annual Windsor Santa Claus parade this past Saturday. It was wonderful to connect with the residents of Windsor-Essex and celebrate alongside my community.

I wish everyone a safe and healthy holiday season and a prosperous new year.

COVID-19 immunization

Mr. Billy Pang: In October, our government launched the official COVID-19 QR code and a made-in-Ontario verification app, Verify Ontario. These tools are an easier, more secure and convenient way for individuals to provide proof of vaccination and for businesses and organizations to verify vaccine certificates where required to do so.

On October 27 and 28, my office organized a help desk at Markville Mall to help Markham–Unionville constituents download their QR codes directly to their phones. My team and I had a great time assisting our constituents and responding to their inquiries regarding the QR code. As of December 3, the QR code has reached over 1.53 million downloads.

Mr. Speaker, our province is making steady progress with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, with over 87% of Ontarians aged 12-plus fully vaccinated, and the eligibility for the booster shot expanded for individuals aged 50 and over and for additional high-risk individuals.

With confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in Ontario, I urge all Ontarians to remain vigilant. Let’s continue to follow public health and workplace safety measures. Together, we will get through the pandemic.

Student achievement

Mr. Taras Natyshak: I rise to congratulate a group of students from St. Clair College and also the University of Windsor, who recently competed in a business development competition that was the brainchild of local resident Richard Peddie.

Richard, as many know, is the former president of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and is now a cherished resident of Amherstburg who has done so much in economic development, growth and revitalization of our community. Richard put up a $5,000 prize, also working with the Barry and Stephanie Zekelman Foundation to create a $10,000 prize for business students at St. Clair College and the University of Windsor, to come up with real-world solutions to support the Downtown Espresso Café and their revitalization. That is owned by Remo and Renee D’Amore.

A group of students from St. Clair College won the $10,000. I want to give them a shout-out: Trevor Ramieri, Bethany D’Alimonte, Samantha Hollinsky, Cen Shen and Noor Al-Qaraghuli. They are the grand-prize winners, but we all win when we harness the power of local students’ talent, innovation and initiative, and incentivize them to be problem solvers in our community—all this to say that we have great local economic development in our small communities. I urge everyone to visit and support these businesses over the holidays, shop local and get to downtown Amherstburg and all the wonderful hamlets in Essex county.

To each and everyone in the House and all across Ontario, merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We wish you well.

Climate change

Mr. Mike Schreiner: This morning, in response to a request I made, the Financial Accountability Officer released an alarming report on the financial risks and costs that the climate crisis will have on public infrastructure: the cost of increased rainfall and heat on our schools, our recreation centres and other public buildings.

I called for this report because we need to be honest with the people of Ontario about the cost of the climate crisis. We need to be honest with people about the cost to adapt and we need to be clear about the importance of crushing climate pollution to reduce these costs.

The report was very clear: The costs of inaction far exceed the cost of climate action. The impact of extreme rainfall and heat will cost public buildings alone an additional $6 billion this decade, and, on top of that, an additional $116 billion this century if we don’t crush climate pollution. This was only for public buildings and only for a limited number of risks, which didn’t include things like flooding.

Speaker, we have a moral and fiscal responsibility to act on the climate crisis now. We simply cannot waste billions on infrastructure that will supercharge sprawl, pollution, climate risks and climate costs. We need to act now.

Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Mr. Amarjot Sandhu: December 6 marks the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. It has been over 30 years since the truly heartbreaking École Polytechnique massacre has taken place. The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is about remembering those who have experienced gender-based violence and those we have lost to it.

On December 6, 1989, a shooter entered an engineering class at Polytechnique Montréal and opened fire, killing 14 young women. This attack was led by vicious, sexist and misogynistic intent, and no woman should ever feel threatened or be in fear for their safety at any public institution such as schools or the workplace because they are women.

As we mourn the lives of those lost, we must reaffirm our commitment to fight the misogynist and sexist-fuelled hatred that led to this tragic event. In Canada and around the world, women are still victims of unacceptable gender-based violence. It is our duty to address this gender-based violence as it absolutely has no place in our society.

I encourage everyone to educate themselves and their loved ones on violence against women and to speak up and take action against potentially harmful behaviour. We must do everything in our capabilities to empower women and end the negative social constructs that belittle our sisters, mothers and daughters.

Long-term care

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: Protecting our loved ones and ensuring our seniors receive the care they deserve is at the centre of everything that I have been motivated by these past few years. You see, each Christmas holiday, I travel to about 35 senior centres and long-term-care homes across St. Catharines, bringing a poinsettia to mark the holidays, but also to just check in.

This month I am pleased to have attended so many homes already: Tabor Manor, Garden City Manor, Heidehof and many, many more. It is a pleasure to make these visits and talk to the PSWs, the RPNs, the RNs and all of the health care staff who have stood strong through this pandemic.

We too often hear words from this Conservative government about getting shovels in the ground, and yet report after report, like the one last week, shows that the government is not doing what it can to fix long-term care fast enough—money unspent, promises that show little commitment today outside of press conferences and news releases.

After decades of inaction by previous governments, it is not enough to fix long-term care and ensure our seniors get the quality of care they need for 2025 or 2028. They need it now, and we can do that.

So I am reporting back from my visits to these homes, from our seniors that built our province, from the staff who are still working so hard to make the system work today. They deserve action with equal urgency, not promises that may never deliver real action.

Algonquin Radio Observatory / Holiday messages

Mr. John Yakabuski: Last Friday, I had a fascinating visit to the Algonquin Radio Observatory. My hosts, Caroline Roberts and Brendan Quine of Thoth Technology, gave me an absolutely amazing tour of the facility, as well as explaining in layman’s terms some of the unique and specialized services they are providing to clients.

While most people probably aren’t aware of its existence, the ARO continues to perform critical scientific work, and it’s happening right here in our backyard on Lake Travers in Algonquin Park.

In addition to being informed of its scientific capabilities, I also had the really special experience of examining the guest book from May 1970 and finding in it the signatures of Maurice Hamilton, MPP for Renfrew North, and my father, Paul Yakabuski, who was then the MPP for Renfrew South. It certainly would have been the latest cutting-edge technology at that time. What’s significant is that it remains vital today, over 50 years later.

On another note, my wife and I attended the Santa Claus parade in Petawawa, where there were literally thousands of people lining the streets. The parade was great, the floats were amazing, but what was most exciting for Vicky and I was the number of young children waiting anxiously for St. Nicholas himself. Petawawa being home to the largest army base in the country brings with it the wonder of all those young families.

In keeping with that spirit, I want to wish everyone here in the chamber and all across this great country a blessed and merry Christmas and the very best in 2022.

Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m very pleased to inform the House that page Isabella Surman from the riding of Beaches–East York is one of today’s page captains, and we have with us today at Queen’s Park her mother, Sarah Cahill. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. We’re delighted to have you here.

Parliamentary counsel

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I would like to ask for the attention of the House at this time. One of our table Clerks and parliamentary counsel is going to be retiring at the end of this month.

Peter Sibenik has worked at the Legislative Assembly for over 32 years. Peter began his career as a procedural Clerk in 1989 and went on to the position of a procedural research Clerk. After a brief secondment at the Office of the Integrity Commissioner as a research consultant, Peter returned to the Legislative Assembly and resumed his post as procedural research Clerk and then as table research Clerk. He has been in the role of parliamentary counsel since 2014 and was appointed to the table in 2020.

On a personal note, I have always valued and appreciated Peter’s professionalism and his knowledge of parliamentary practice and procedure, relying often on his sage advice and understanding of Parliament as I attempt to preside over this assembly.

His family is here with us today in the Speaker’s gallery: his wife, Gillian Lynne-Davies, and his sons, Jasper and Josh.

Peter, thank you for your exemplary service to Ontario’s Parliament and enjoy your well-deserved retirement.

Applause.

Bette Stephenson

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I understand the government House leader has a point of order.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Mr. Speaker, if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent to allow members to make statements in remembrance of the late Dr. Bette M. Stephenson, with five minutes allotted to Her Majesty’s loyal opposition, five minutes allotted to the independent members as a group and five minutes allotted to Her Majesty’s government.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Agreed? Agreed.

I recognize the member for Davenport.

Ms. Marit Stiles: First of all, I want to say how truly honoured I am to have the opportunity and the privilege of speaking here in the Legislature as we mark the passing of Dr. Bette Stephenson. There are certainly few others who have blazed more trails than Dr. Stephenson. She opened so many doors for women in politics, in medicine. Her story is extraordinary, and her achievements are many:

—first female Minister of Labour in Ontario history;

—first female Minister of Education in Ontario history;

—first female Minister of Colleges and Universities in Ontario history;

—first female Minister of Finance in Ontario history;

—first female president of the Ontario Medical Association;

—first female president of the Canadian Medical Association—and on top of that, she delivered about 5,000 babies.

As Steve Paikin has written, she was a force of nature. That forceful personality dated back to her childhood. When she was five, she wanted to start school, but school didn’t start until six, so she hectored her parents until they caved in and gave up. It was also at five that Dr. Bette decided that she was going to be a doctor. At that time, people were telling her that women don’t become doctors, they become nurses, because there were no women doctors. But she wasn’t going to put up with that. “Yes, there are,” she would respond. “I don’t know any, but I think they’re there.”

By 1941, Dr. Bette became the only girl in her high school graduating class at Earl Haig Secondary School to go on to university. She wanted to go straight into school for her chosen profession—again, she’d decided already on medicine—but the rules at the University of Toronto were that you had to be 18 to enrol in med school, and she didn’t have the $680 tuition. So what did she do? She camped outside the dean’s office at the University of Toronto medical school, insisting on being admitted one year early at 17. She impressed the dean so much that not only did he let her in, he helped arrange coverage of her tuition.

It’s pretty clear that nobody was going to succeed in opposing Dr. Bette from even those earliest days. When she married another med student, Allan, she told him she intended to have six children, and indeed they did: four boys, two girls.

In 1962, Dr. Bette was now also the first female board member of the OMA, and by 1970 its first female president. She famously crossed swords with Pierre Trudeau as part of a Canadian Medical Association special committee when she tried to have abortion removed from the Criminal Code. Trudeau confirmed he would do so, but then at some point changed his mind. When new legislation was introduced, abortion remained illegal. Dr. Stephenson was furious. She later talked about how she confronted Trudeau at an event about his broken promises. She said he would just deny that he’d ever made the commitment.

But from her story of those interactions, it made it pretty clear that she wasn’t backing down. Sadly, it wasn’t until 1988 when the Supreme Court ruled abortion law unconstitutional that she got her way.

When she was elected as a Conservative to the Ontario Legislature in 1975, Bill Davis didn’t waste much time making her the Minister of Labour. He thought her background as a doctor would help in some of the health and safety law reforms that were under way.

Later, juggling the education and colleges and universities roles, her workload increased and so did the opposition to some of her positions. One day, at a speech at the University of Waterloo defending tuition increases, a student protester shoved a lemon meringue pie in her face. She cleaned herself up and carried on. But when she went to York University for her next address, she came prepared: “You’ll see that this time, I have come armed with my own pie,” she said, placing it on the lectern. “And I’m a pretty good aim.”

Bette’s cutting-edge leadership as minister influenced many educators’ work hugely. Dave Cooke, former Minister of Education, reminds me that as Minister of Education and Minister of Colleges and Universities from 1978 to 1985, she established the secondary education review project and introduced a new blueprint for Ontario’s secondary schools. She was also responsible for establishing the Bovey commission on post-secondary funding in Ontario and introduced legislation establishing a program for funding for special education to serve vulnerable students better.

Dave also shared how she used to love sitting in the Legislative dining room talking with the interns, inspiring so many of them. Dave even appointed her to the board that oversaw the set-up and design of EQAO when he was minister. He talks with great admiration about her control of the files as minister, her great interjections in the Legislature and her contribution to public education.

She made it clear to Dave that she wouldn’t be messing around if she joined that board. Indeed, her only question to him when he asked her to sit on the board was, “Is this a political manoeuvre or is this about real public policy?” And only when Dave assured her it was the latter did she agree to serve. He says to me, “Bette was a warm and caring person. Tough as nails in question period, but a real caring person who loved kids and public education.”

Richard Johnston, an MPP with Bette and the first chair of EQAO, has said his first and favourite memory of many was when she was so ticked off with a line of questioning from Dave Cooke in a social development committee discussion of the education budget that she actually poured water from a water jug on him. Needless to say, the three of them remained fast friends.

I’m going to wrap up by sharing something that Joan Green—who, for many in this province, is really a titan in education. She gave the eulogy at Bette’s funeral and was kind enough to share some memories with me as well. She told me that once she left office, Bette continued to forge new paths in public service and focus on education in one form or another, whether in the service of the province’s children or in support of medical research and the continuous learning of those in health care.

Joan also shared that Dr. Bette’s father’s advice was as follows: “Always leave the place are you in better than you found it.” How many, many places and how many, many people have benefited because Bette took that advice to heart. Thank you to Dr. Stephenson, to her family and friends, and may she rest in peace.

Ms. Mitzie Hunter: Well, my friend Joan Green would tell many stories about Dr. Bette Stephenson, and she even wrote about her in a

chapter in her book, Northern Lights: Outstanding Canadian Women. So I’m absolutely thrilled to rise in this House and speak about Dr. Bette Stephenson—trailblazer, founder and leader in medicine and politics.

Born on July 31, 1924, she was the daughter of Carl and Mildred, wife of Dr. G. Allan Pengelly, mother of six, grandmother and great-grandmother to numerous children. Her story is one that reminds us that we as women can do anything that we want to, and we do have the power to make fundamental change and make our province better than we found it. She is known for breaking doors and shattering ceilings throughout her life and her career.

Dr. Stephenson fought to get to where she was at a very early age. Her pathway to education began with badgering her father to go to school until he enrolled her at an early age of five. She began kindergarten one year ahead of the recommended age at the time. In her words, “It was clear to me that persistence paid off when the cause was worthy.”

After she finished high school, she went on to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a doctor at the University of Toronto, once again breaking those doors that were challenging her. She did not know any women who were doctors, but she believed that “they were out there.”

She went on to be a pioneer in medicine, including as a founding member of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, holding various roles there, including president of the medical staff. She also served as president of the Ontario Medical Association and president of the Canadian Medical Association. She held Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau to his word as a staunch advocate for removing abortion from the Criminal Code.

Dr. Stephenson never planned to run for office. Her predecessor called her three times to seek the nomination in her riding, and each time she refused. When Premier Bill Davis asked her to run, it was her family who finally persuaded her to seek the nomination for the person that she was: someone loyal to their word, full of integrity and generosity and someone they knew would make a remarkable difference in public office. And, indeed, she did, as the first female Minister of Labour, Education, Colleges and Universities, Finance, Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet and Deputy Premier.

She also facilitated the passage of Bill 82, the special education act, to assist the needs of vulnerable children, and she chaired the Ontario Innovation Trust and the Ontario Cancer Institute. Dr. Stephenson was also a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario, and in 2013, she was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.

In 2002, I got to meet Dr. Bette Stephenson at a luncheon for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, at Sheridan College in Oakville. It was there that I sat beside Dr. Stephenson, enraptured by her many stories and the passion that she had for education.

Thank you, Dr. Stephenson, for inspiring so many as you broke and shattered those glass ceilings. You were a woman who was always ahead of her time. Our province is indeed a better place than you found it, in innumerable ways, because you chose to serve the public here in Ontario.

Mr. Mike Schreiner: I’m honoured today to rise and pay tribute to Dr. Bette Stephenson, a true trailblazer and by all accounts a force of nature. I’m not going to repeat the many accomplishments that my colleagues have outlined, but I will have to say that Premier Davis, when he appointed Dr. Stephenson as Minister of Labour, the first woman to hold that position, gave her many reasons why, but one of them was, “My staff recommended against it.” And how right the Premier was and how wrong his staff was, because Dr. Stephenson was an extraordinary cabinet minister, known for her sharp wit and ability to answer questions quickly.

In response to one question about a pulp and paper strike in northern Ontario, she said, “The answers to your question are yes, no, and perhaps—in that order.” That was it—not the kind of response you oftentimes hear today in question period.

Dr. Stephenson was a trail-blazing doctor, a model MPP, and Ontario is a better province because of her service. I want to thank Dr. Stephenson’s family for sharing her with us.

Mrs. Robin Martin: It is a great pleasure and an honour to pay tribute on behalf of the government to Dr. Bette Stephenson, who lived from 1924 to August 2019 and was, among other things, the member of provincial Parliament for York Mills.

For many, being elected as a member of Parliament is the highlight of their career. For Bette Stephenson, her 1975 election under Premier Bill Davis was merely another step in an amazing journey of accomplishments and firsts. Her accomplishments did not begin nor end through elected office and through her contributions to Ontario.

As we have heard, at the age of five—yes, five—Bette Stephenson knew that she wanted to be a doctor, but was disappointed when she was told she could only start school at six. It took me, frankly, until I was eight to decide I wanted to be a lawyer, and I thought that was pretty precocious, but she was there at five, so an amazing lady. People told her that women at this time become nurses, not doctors. But since her parents had told her that she could do anything that she wanted, a doctor it was.

Starting in grade 9, she won awards for elocution. In 1939, when she was in grade 12, when Hitler invaded Poland and started World War II, having read Mein Kampf, she won her school’s public speaking award warning against the evils of Adolf Hitler.

She was the only female graduate of her high school to go on to university. She wanted to go to U of T medical school but was only 17, not 18 as required, and she did not have the tuition, so she waited outside of the dean’s office for hours. Not only did she get to go to medical school at 17, but she got the tuition waived. Clearly no obstacle was going to stop Dr. Bette Stephenson.

This is the thing that I most admire about her and what I most want to say about her: She was feisty. She had an indomitable, invincible spirit, and her many accomplishments simply attest to that spirit.

She graduated from medical school and was one of only 10 women in her class of 142. She became a doctor in 1946 and excelled as a leader in that field during her 40-year medical career.

We’ve heard some of those accomplishments: founding the College of Family Physicians of Canada; first chief of the family medicine department at Women’s College Hospital; first woman to be elected to the board of the Ontario Medical Association; she served as the first president to the OMA; the first female president to the Canadian Medical Association, where she was also the first to go on a medical delegation to the People’s Republic of China. Bette Stephenson’s accomplishments in medicine alone make her life remarkable.

However, she was not just a doctor. As I said, she became an MPP in 1975. And, as in medicine, she broke barriers in politics, continuing to add to a long list of firsts in our province’s history.

In the government of Bill Davis, Dr. Stephenson served as the first female Minister of Labour, where she brought her skills in medicine to bear, helping to establish the division of health and safety. Later, as the first female Minister of Education, Colleges and Universities, she took on some challenges.

At one university, speaking about a tuition increase—as we have heard—a student protester put a pie in her face. The audience was aghast, but, undaunted, Dr. Stephenson finished, and at the next university she spoke at—as we have heard—she went to the podium carrying her own pie and indicated to the audience that she was quite prepared to deploy it, if needed, which thankfully it was not.

In education, she established the first funding program for special education in the province of Ontario—way ahead of her time. Before ending her long and accomplished career in government, Bette Stephenson would serve as the first female Treasurer of Ontario, as well as the first female Deputy Premier of Ontario under Premier Frank Miller.

With such a long and illustrious career in two highly demanding fields, it’s no surprise that she received many honours in her lifetime, and these included the highest honours a Canadian and an Ontarian can receive with the Order of Canada and Order of Ontario. She was also honoured as woman of the year by B’nai B’rith.

In addition to all of this, she had six children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren—too many to name today. When asked if she was a feminist, she replied, “I am a humanist, and if that happens to leave a few men behind, well, so be it.”

Dr. Bette Stephenson was a force to be reckoned with, and Ontario was blessed to have her. As the only other Ontario female finance minister Janet Ecker said, “She could be tough without being nasty, firm without being stubborn, direct but always professional” and “you always knew where you stood with her.”

It was clear hers was a life well-lived and well worth remembering. It was a life of duty, accomplishment and service to her community and her family. Her life is an inspiration to all Ontarians. Thanks to her family and to Dr. Bette Stephenson for serving us all so well.

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I want to thank the members for those tributes. All of us give thanks for the life and public service of Dr. Bette Stephenson.

It is now time for oral questions.

Question Period

COVID-19 immunization

Mr. John Vanthof: My question to the Premier. In the face of rising COVID cases and a new variant, which we know very little about, yesterday the Premier and the Minister of Health both refused to acknowledge or announce whether or not they would extend vaccine certificates. Vaccine certificates are a very important tool, especially for small businesses and for restaurants. No one’s been hit harder by COVID than small businesses and restaurants. No one has been hit harder by the uncertainty of what the rules are going to be and the changing rules day by day.

So we don’t understand, why the reluctance to just say, with the new information we’re going to extend the vaccine certificate program—regardless of what the Premier said a few weeks ago.

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

Hon. Christine Elliott: Thank you to the member opposite for the question. We did introduce a plan to reopen Ontario a month or so ago, and we indicated definite timelines for the reopening; timelines where we would be able to relax certain features to allow for people to be able to return to, more or less, the life they used to live. However, it was very firm and very clear from the beginning that Dr. Moore indicated that if there is a change in circumstances, if there is a variant that is going to cause a significant rise in cases, then we will have to reassess the situation.

That is the situation we are in right now because we don’t know enough yet about Omicron to be able to make those determinations.

What we do know we have to do is to continue on the path of vaccination. We have lowered the age guidelines for people to receive the third dose. We are now giving shots to children aged five to 11. We’ve now got 22.1% of that age category covered.

That is what we need to continue to do, to make sure that everyone possible who can have the vaccination receives the vaccination, and continue following the public health measures as we have since the beginning of this pandemic.

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

Mr. John Vanthof: I’d like to thank the Minister of Health for that answer. It seems we have the inside answer and the outside answer, because when the Premier announced that the vaccine certificates were coming off January 17, we didn’t hear any caveats. It was, “That’s happening. Be happy.” That’s what we heard.

Mr. John Yakabuski: You know that’s not true.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke will withdraw.

Mr. John Yakabuski: Withdrawn.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Timiskaming–Cochrane has the floor.

Mr. John Vanthof: The mixed messaging is part of the problem. When people who are vaccine-hesitant hear on the radio that you won’t need a certificate after the 17th, the impetus to get vaccinated lessens—exactly the opposite message of what you’re trying to convey here, Minister. Why don’t you just say, “In light of the new information, we are going to extend the certificates,” and give small business some certainty?

Hon. Christine Elliott: In fact, there has been no mixed messaging. The message has been clear from the beginning with the plan that was released to reopen Ontario in stages with guidelines and with timelines. It was always made clear by our government, by Dr.

Moore, by everyone involved based on the science, based on the clinical evidence that obviously if there was a change in circumstances, if there was another variant that came in that was going to cause an increase in hospitalizations, that it was going to be extremely transmissible, virulent and cause people to perhaps not be vaccine-useful, that we would have to change course. Right now, we are awaiting further information on all of those issues to be able to understand what guidance we can then offer the people of Ontario.

But it’s only reasonable to expect that we need to wait to obtain that information from South Africa and from scientists around the world, that we then make a determination based on that evidence when we have it.

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

Mr. John Vanthof: I would say that having the Premier say he doesn’t believe in a split society is very much mixed messaging. What happened to the precautionary principle where you say, “Okay, things are changing and we’ve got a system that works. Be prepared that it’s going to be extended,” as opposed to, “Here’s the hard date where we’re thinking about getting rid of it”?

This isn’t months. This is weeks. It’s the short-term decision-making that has hurt the restaurant sector and the service sector throughout this pandemic. Open the patios, close the patios. Why don’t you give them the advanced notice that they need, use the precautionary principle and say today, “We’re going to extend the vaccine certificate program”?

Hon. Christine Elliott: Our government has always made every effort to give as much advanced notice as possible to businesses as to whether they need to remain closed, when they can start reopening and under what circumstances. But, right now, we don’t have the information that we need. We want to be fair to the people of Ontario. We want to be clear and transparent with the people of Ontario. We’ve said already that we do not have the information yet. No one in the world does. Ontario is no different.

We are waiting to find out about the transmissibility, the virulence and the effect of this variant vis-à-vis our vaccines. We need to have this information. That is being fair and reasonable. I anticipate that the people of Ontario will understand that, knowing that no one in the world knows how this is going to turn out. But once we do know, we will be giving people sufficient information in order to understand what we need to be able to do.

It’s not, “Trust us,” as I heard from the other side. It’s, “Let’s rely on the clinical evidence to be able to make those decisions.” That’s what we’ve always done and that’s what we will continue to do.

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

I need to address the member for Cambridge. The member for Cambridge is obviously in the precinct and in the chamber—at the present time, in contravention of the current COVID-19 screening protocols that have been adopted by the Legislature. I must now ask the member to withdraw from the chamber and leave the precinct. Member for Cambridge?

Mrs. Belinda C. Karahalios: Speaker, in the rules that you’ve set out, it’s proof of double vaccination or proof of a negative rapid antigen test, which I was able to provide this morning. I’m cognizant of the rules.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): As the member knows full well, being unvaccinated and having tested positive for COVID-19, the current advice from the public officer of health is that she must be out of the chamber for the next 90 days, starting from the date on which she tested positive. I’ll ask the member once again to leave the chamber and leave the precinct.

I must now warn the member for Cambridge.

The member for Cambridge leaves me no choice but to name her. Mrs. Karahalios, you must leave the chamber and leave the precinct.

Mrs. Karahalios was escorted from the chamber.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. Please start the clock.

The next question.

Employment standards

Ms. Doly Begum: My question is to the Deputy Premier. Speaker, three weeks from now, workers across Ontario will be left without any paid sick days. We are still in a pandemic.

Ontario has now seen multiple consecutive days with over 1,000 cases, including the novel Omicron variant, yet this government is ripping away even the little support it put in place in the middle of the pandemic.

Workers deserve the right to be able to stay home when they are sick, Speaker. They deserve the right to protect themselves, their families and their workplaces.

Will the Premier stand up for workers in my riding of Scarborough Southwest and people across Ontario and stop his cancellation of paid sick days now?

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

Hon. Paul Calandra: Mr. Speaker, as I’ve said on a number of occasions, obviously we stepped up right away to ensure that workers across the province of Ontario were safe in the COVID environment. We brought in job protections. In fact, we were the first government across the country to bring in job protections, which are still in place. And of course we worked very closely with our federal partners to bring in paid sick days and to in fact augment those sick days.

We will, of course, continue to be there for the workers of the province of Ontario, not only during COVID, but as we have always been, the party that leads when it comes to protecting workers and to promoting job creation and safety in the workplace.

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

Ms. Doly Begum: Speaker, I want to remind the House leader and all the members opposite that they dragged their feet on paid sick days, gave us the lines about federal paid sick days—which wasn’t true—and now we’re talking about the little they offered which, after they admitted they were wrong, they introduced—and they are taking those away.

Throughout this pandemic, workers across this province, including front-line essential workers, had to make the impossible choice between their lives and livelihoods. Taking away paid sick days as we are on the brink of another wave right before this hectic holiday season is beyond cruel. Doctors and experts recommended 14 days for a self-isolation period for COVID-19, not three, and now this government is taking that away.

Speaker, we have legislation ready to be passed that will mandate 10 paid sick days for all Ontario workers. We have proposed it dozens of times in this House. Will the Premier do the right thing and legislate 10 paid sick days for all workers before the House adjourns for the holidays?

Hon. Paul Calandra: Again, Mr. Speaker, there are protections in place for workers. As I just said, we were the first government to bring in protections for our workers.

It is very true that the Premier negotiated an extensive, over $1-billion program to ensure that there were paid sick days. We thought we needed to go a little bit further than that—than the federal program—because there were loopholes that we had thought would be addressed in the federal budget that were not, so we filled in those loopholes.

You will recall, though, Speaker, we voted against proposals by the Liberals and the NDP members because they wanted to place the burden on our small businesses. We didn’t think that appropriate at a time when they were giving so much and there was so much challenge for them. So the program that we brought in shifted that burden to the government.

We will continue to be there, not only for essential workers, but for all of the people of the province of Ontario, to ensure that they can work in an environment that is safe not only during COVID, but after.

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

Ms. Doly Begum: It is rich hearing this government talk about small business support. They mismanaged millions—over $200 million—that didn’t even go to the businesses that needed it the most, that had to close their doors.

Front-line service workers such as servers, waiters and retail workers often do not have paid sick days in their contracts. These workers, who will be working throughout the holiday rush to help Ontarians, will not have the protection of paid sick days. They will once again be putting their lives at risk simply to make sure that they can get a paycheque. The Premier and his government took away the two provincially mandated paid sick days workers used to have, and now they are ripping away the three days that they offered.

There is a new variant right now; I cannot emphasize this enough—there is a new variant, and we need to do everything to protect everyone. Will the Premier do the right thing and mandate paid sick days? Why is the Premier continuing to leave workers and everyone behind in this province?

Hon. Paul Calandra: Nothing could be further from the truth. As I’ve said, and I’ll say it again and again, this was the first government to bring in job protection for people impacted by COVID. We ensured that first and other jurisdictions followed us.

We negotiated with the federal government a program of 20 paid sick days. There were holes in that legislation that we had thought would be filled, so we brought in additional protections to ensure that there were no gaps in that care. Our paid sick days allow workers to take their kids to get vaccinated. That is what we have to continue to do. We will always be there for the workers of the province of Ontario.

But the difference between what we did and what they were proposing was that they wanted to shift the burden to our small, medium and large job creators at a time when they were being impacted the hardest. We knew that that was impossible, and that is why we assumed that burden.

It’s the right program and it has made a big difference in the lives of our essential workers across this province.

Climate change

Ms. Catherine Fife: My question is to the Premier. The Financial Accountability Officer released a report this morning on the financial impacts of climate change on public infrastructure. The report confirms that the costs of doing nothing are much higher than the costs of climate action—in fact, billions higher.

But the Premier has not only failed to prepare for climate change, he has actually made things worse in Ontario. He ripped out electric-vehicle charging stations. He wasted hundreds of millions of dollars on not building renewable energy. He forced gas stations to put up propaganda stickers and wasted $30 million on a failed court challenge against federal climate change action.

How many more public dollars, how many more millions and billions of dollars, must be wasted because of the Premier’s climate change denial? We deserve better. Ontario deserves so much better.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To respond, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Hon. David Piccini: Thank you to the member opposite for that question.

Premier Ford, upon assuming office, acted immediately to launch Ontario’s first-ever climate change impact assessment. This is a first in Ontario and will inform our province as we fight climate change and make important investments to build adaptation and resiliency.

I would also add that when it comes to investing in infrastructure, this government leads the way in the province of Ontario. We have made continued investments and improvements to infrastructure. In fact, the Minister of Infrastructure has made historic commitments in the fall economic statement to support urban and rural municipalities.

Further, we launched the climate change advisory panel. I met with Chair Paul Kovacs, and he has been doing important work, working not only to inform our government, but in close coordination with the federal government, with the national adaptation strategy and the national infrastructure assessment. I recently met with my federal counterpart, and we’ll continue to lead the way and make these right investments to build adaptation—

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

The supplementary question?

Ms. Catherine Fife: It’s an alternate universe here sometimes, Mr. Speaker.

The disturbing images of washed-out highways in British Columbia show the risks of climate change to public infrastructure. This is something that we can plan for, but the Premier has not only ignored these risks, he has fought an ideological war against any action to address these risks.

The current annual budget, for instance, for the government’s climate change and mitigation program is only $15 million. The Premier spent twice that much in court fighting federal climate change action and losing. The Auditor General says that Ontario will not even achieve one fifth of the Premier’s own weakened climate change reduction targets.

Will the Premier apologize to everyone in this province for his relentless and wasteful attacks on climate change action? When will we see leadership on climate change, particularly around investment in our infrastructure?

Hon. David Piccini: I gave an answer that included tangible action that this government’s taken. The member talked about an alternate universe. I enjoyed Mirror, Mirror from Star Trek, and if we were to relive that, that’s their party; the party that says no to investing in adaptation and resiliency; the party that said no to clean fuel standards equivalent to taking over 300,000 cars off the road and a megatonne of GHG reductions; the party that said no to the largest clean water investment in Ontario’s history working in close coordination with Pollution Probe.

We’ve continued that with a recent announcement I made last week, with the Canada-Ontario agreement, on important investments, and I will be speaking this question period on that as well. That party has said no to $7 billion in green bonds, working in close coordination—you know, we can’t reach net zero, we can’t take meaningful action to combat climate change without leveraging the private sector. While I’m on that, we worked with Algoma on the electrification of their arc furnace.

This party has nothing but negativity, no solutions, no answers—

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

The next question?

Electronic service delivery

Mr. Dave Smith: My question is to the Associate Minister of Digital Government. Now, more than ever, it’s important to protect, support, connect and equip the province’s people and businesses to succeed in a digital world.

Mr. Speaker, through you, could the minister please tell us, how is the ministry working with the province’s world-class technology sector to help our government build a digital Ontario, and what is the government doing to unlock the expertise of the private sector to accelerate Ontario’s digital future?

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

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: I would like to thank the member for that question. Our government is saying yes to simpler, faster and better digital services for the people of Ontario.

Earlier this year, we published Ontario’s first digital and data strategy to help protect, support and equip Ontarians and businesses to thrive in a digital world. Included in the strategy was a commitment to creating a fellowship program to utilize private sector expertise and resources. On November 25, our Associate Minister of Digital Government, Kaleed Rasheed, introduced the Digital and Data Innovation Fellowship Program, the first of its kind in Canada. Minister Rasheed and this government are building a digital Ontario that puts people first.

This project and this pilot will bring the best of Ontario’s digital and data talent into the government to help design Ontario’s digital future.

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

Mr. Dave Smith: Thank you to the minister for that answer. It’s good to hear that this government is transforming Ontario into a province that puts people first and delivers simpler, faster and better government for Ontarians, businesses and communities.

While I appreciate the answer, I’m sure that my constituents, as well as everyone else in Ontario, would like to know more. Speaker, through you, can the minister please explain how inviting the province’s top technologists, designers and data experts to work on transformational digital projects will directly benefit the people of Ontario?

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Thank you again to my colleague from Peterborough–Kawartha. The Digital And Data Innovation Fellowship Program is about unlocking private sector expertise and resources to accelerate digital projects that the public service is working on across several ministries, including the Ministry of the Attorney General, to deliver digital access to courts; the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, to create new digital services for permits and licences; and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, to enhance inspection and compliance programs.

Mr. Speaker, we are saying yes to building a digital Ontario that puts people first. We are saying yes to working with the private sector to make things happen and we are saying yes to making Ontario a world-leading digital jurisdiction.

Monsieur le Président, la population francophone essaie d’être entendue par M. Ford et son gouvernement. Quand peut-on s’attendre à ce que le premier ministre Ford et son gouvernement s’engagent en faveur d’une université francophone pour les gens de Sudbury et du Nord-Est gouvernée par, pour et avec les francophones?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Francophone Affairs.

Tel que souligné par la commissaire Burke dans son premier rapport annuel de l’année dernière et réitéré dans son second rapport dévoilé aujourd’hui, notre gouvernement a réagi à un bon nombre de recommandations qui ont été soulevées par son bureau menant à des résolutions rapides.

On va continuer à travailler en étroite collaboration avec tous les ministères pour nous assurer que les francophones de l’Ontario aient accès à des services de qualité dans la langue de leur choix.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary.

M me France Gélinas: La commissaire dit clairement que l’expérience des francophones qui utilisent les services du gouvernement et qui la contactent est négative, voire très négative, et souvent humiliante. Les plaintes les plus élevées viennent du ministère des Transports, dirigé par la ministre des Affaires francophones.

Monsieur le Président, dans son rapport aujourd’hui, la commissaire souligne que notre gouvernement a répondu immédiatement par rapport à ses recommandations de l’année dernière et que nous travaillons en étroite collaboration avec elle. Je remercie la commissaire pour ses recommandations. Nous allons continuer à travailler avec elle pour les mettre en oeuvre.

Rondeau Provincial Park

Mr. Rick Nicholls: My question is to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

When I was first elected back in 2011, one of the burning topics was the selling of land in Rondeau Park to cottagers who had been leasing the property from the Ontario government for decades. Over my 10-year span advocating for these cottagers, I’ve worked with many ministers. With each one, the hope of the sale of the property to the cottagers was anticipated. But here we are today, and nothing has been finalized.

Many varying proposals have been brought forward. I remember during my first term sitting down with former Minister Gravelle, along with a member from my city council, to discuss the issue. One of my fond memories of the former minister was him saying to me, “Many come with problems and expect my ministry to fix them. You, on the other hand, have come to me with a problem but you have offered very reasonable solutions for my ministry to consider.” To this day, I strive to present solutions to the province to aid and assist ministers, regardless of political stripe.

My question to the minister is, what challenges lie in the way of finalizing the sale of the property to cottagers?

Hon. David Piccini: Thank you to the member for that question. I know this indeed is an issue that is close to his heart. The member will know, while I can’t speak for work he has done with previous governments, what I can speak to is work we’ve done. More specifically, since becoming minister, I met closely with Mayor Canniff and know that the municipalities brought forward a proposal pursuant to our obligations as a ministry to the Environmental Bill of Rights. This was posted on the ERO, where we received thousands of comments from Ontarians. In fact, this is one of the most commented on ERO postings in Ontario’s history.

We obviously want to ensure as a government that we’re expanding Ontario’s protected green spaces. It wasn’t far from that member’s riding that I made one of my first announcements as minister to expand Turkey Point Provincial Park and add Normandale beach. So I appreciate Mayor Canniff’s leadership. I appreciate the work that that member opposite has put into this, and we will continue to work on the file.

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

Mr. Rick Nicholls: Thank you, Minister. Over the decades, a lot of water has actually gone under the bridge to find a reasonable win-win solution for the cottagers and the Ontario government. I, along with the help of many, have been successful over the years in getting the file to a point where the municipality of Chatham-Kent, the province and cottagers are close to finalizing.

For many years, the cottagers have lived in fear of losing their cottages upon the expiration of their leases with the province. Because of that, many only do repairs to their cottage as needed. Their cottages have been the site of years of cherished family memories, where the former government had stated that when the leases were up, the cottagers had to leave and tear down their cottages at their own expense.

You and I both know that Rondeau park was originally established as a park where cottages could be built upon. Fortunately, the cottagers and I were able to get extensions on the leases as more formidable plans were being worked on.

So, Minister, could you please provide us with even further details with regard to the park, perhaps a swap of other land to replace the land in the park, and add that to the comments for this particular Legislature?

Hon. David Piccini: Again, I appreciate the work that that member has done in the community. I know in today’s day and age, the public are often looking for quick, black-and-white solutions to things. This is a complex issue, and I appreciate, again, the leadership of Mayor Canniff, locally. I’ve met with Mayor Canniff. I sat down with him, actually. He educated me on the incredible history of Rondeau, and I’m greatly appreciative for that. I know the Rondeau Cottagers Association is an important community within the community that that member opposite represents.

When it comes to extending land leases and the important work that Ontario Parks does, again, as minister, I’ve reviewed carefully the Auditor General’s reports and the Auditor General’s comments on the leases. I would encourage that member opposite to read through that as well. The Auditor General has opined