Housing is a human right, but in Ontario, things have gone terribly wrong. There isn’t enough actual affordable housing across communities. This government isn’t building it, and it isn’t supporting low-income tenants.

Lately we’ve been hearing about slumlords who aren’t maintaining units. They’re allowing mould to fester. They’re not fixing appliances. They’re not turning the heat on. We know of abuse of the landlord’s-own-use evictions, where landlords have been caught lying, trying to evict tenants. There’s rampant discrimination in applying for housing. Many landlords are not accepting folks on ODSP, new Canadians, or racialized people.

Recently, I met with folks on Ontario Works who need better protections from slumlords. They told me that instead of first and last months’ rent being required now, they’re being asked for four months or more to even compete for a spot.

People who are sharing a room have zero protections, because they aren’t technically tenants. So when they answer an ad and are forced to pay $800 a month for a room and then move in and find another person, a stranger, paying the same amount for the other half of the room, there’s nothing they can do and there’s nowhere for them to go.

The human trafficking coalition in Durham recently flagged that a new danger is accommodation ads targeting vulnerable, unhoused women. Ads for a bedroom rental in a house or apartment often look safe and renovated. However, many of these addresses aren’t even residential, but a young girl looking for a safe place to live doesn’t know that, and predators are counting on it.

Ugly things are happening in Ontario. Home is supposed to be a safe place, and in Ontario, this government is turning its back on low-income and underserved Ontarians. Just because this government pretends it isn’t happening doesn’t mean it isn’t.

Do better. These are people’s lives.

Earlier this week, in question period, I raised the issue of wait times for breast cancer surgery at the Ottawa Hospital. I told the story of Lisa, whose wait was so long she was forced to travel to a private clinic in Montreal and pay $50,000 for life-saving surgery.

Lisa is not the only woman who has suffered as a result of unconscionable wait times at the Ottawa Hospital.

Christine MacMillan of Ottawa was stunned when her surgeon suggested that she go private. She said the wait “was torture.”

Gail Kelpin said that two surgeons suggested she consider a private clinic for surgery, and because she travels for work, one surgeon suggested that she may have to go to another country.

How is it that at the Ottawa Hospital, one of the largest hospitals in Ontario, only 13% of women are getting their breast cancer surgeries within the safe recommended time? At the Civic campus, it’s not much better: 29%. And for gynecological cancers at the same hospital, it’s 30%.

There’s a reason that Ontario started measuring wait times in 2007: It was to prevent this from happening.

The hospital, the ministry, the minister, and the Premier have failed these women and their families.

There needs to be action now so that these women can get the care they need and deserve.

On April 24, the Armenian community of Ontario and Canada commemorated the 108thanniversary of the Armenian genocide which took place in the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923. Some 1.5 million Armenians perished in one of the first genocides of the 20th century. I am the grandson of survivors of the Armenian and the Greek genocides.

Armenians will never forget that during their darkest hours Canadians stood by the survivors. The Armenian Relief Association of Canada, under the patronage of Governor General Byng, Archbishop Neil McNeil, venerable Archdeacon Cody, Colonel Sir Henry Pellatt, and other prominent Canadians raised $300,000 to feed, clothe and house the refugees. Toronto’s the Globe spearheaded the campaign to raise funds for the “starving Armenians.” Furthermore, the association brought 109 orphan boys to Canada and resettled them on a farm near Georgetown. At the same time, nurse Sara Corning of Nova Scotia saved 5,000 Armenian and Greek orphans from slaughter in the city of Smyrna.

In keeping with the tradition of our forbearers and Canada’s first international humanitarian mission—

Speaker, today I rise, honoured to represent the people of Ajax. Over the last week, I had the privilege of touring two exceptional community care organizations in my riding, which I would like to share with you. The first one is SE Health, an organization providing exceptional health care services for over a century, with more than 8,000 employees nationwide, including nearly 1,000 health care workers in Ajax and its surrounding areas. SE Health delivers over 20,000 home care visits per week to Ajax and its surrounding communities. During my tour, I had the pleasure of meeting with Kyle the manager, and I would like to extend my gratitude to him and the entire SE team for their dedication to our community. I’d also like to thank the patients who shared their stories of satisfaction and the difference their care has made outside of the hospitals.

The second organization I had the pleasure of visiting was Carea Community Health Centre, where I was joined by my colleague PA Dawn Gallagher Murphy. This registered charity offers free community services and programs, such as health promotion and wellness programs, counselling, primary care, and education. I was particularly impressed by their recent event Taking Black Our Health, which focused on advancing health equity in Durham.

I’d like to take a moment to extend my sincere gratitude to SE Health and Carea health for the exceptional work they do in our community. Your commitment to high-quality health care services and programs is truly commendable. The dedication of your staff—

Being a Heart Lake boy, Professor’s Lake was a neighbourhood in my riding that I honestly wasn’t that familiar with until I sought public office. Since deciding to run, I set out to get to know the neighbourhood as best I can, and I was thrilled when the residents’ association invited myself and local councillor Rod Power to host an Earth Day barbecue and litter pick-up. The weather didn’t co-operate, Madam Speaker, but I’ve never been part of a group that was so happy, literally lining up to get pickers in the rain, to go out and pick up garbage and clean the neighbourhood. We had about 70 people out at once picking up litter and had around 150 attendees for the barbecue, total.

I’d like to thank wards 7 and 8 Brampton city councillor Rod Power, the Professor’s Lake Residents’ Association, Peel paramedics, Peel police, Brampton fire, the Brampton Honey Badgers, EnRoute 2 Success, Bramalea Boxing Club, Starbucks, Maple Leaf Foods, Enbridge, Boys and Girls Club of Brampton, Young Bosses, and Coca-Cola for all coming out to support the event.

Professor’s Lake is a heck of a neighbourhood, and it’s even prettier today because of the community getting together to clean up the neighbourhood.

I want to thank everybody for coming out on Sunday. It was a great time.

May 1, 2023, marks National Physicians’ Day in Canada and Doctors’ Day in Ontario.

In the trying times of 2020, when COVID-19 has struck the world at large, we see how dedicatedly and selflessly the doctors all around the world have served the people at large and emerged as true heroes. They haven’t thought about their health, family, personal issues, but worked around the clock to help and heal.

I’m pleased to rise today to express my gratitude and appreciation to all Ontario physicians for the critical and life-saving services they perform daily.

Our government continues to support our physicians by accelerating efforts to build up the province’s health care workforce. We’re investing over $100 million to expand and accelerate the rollout of undergraduate and postgraduate medical education.

Our physicians work around the clock, sacrificing precious time away from their loved ones, facing burnout, putting themselves at risk to protect the health and well-being of Ontarians.

Thank you for your service.

On behalf of my family, my constituents and my caucus colleagues, I want to express my most sincere appreciation to the Ontario Medical Association and thanks to our province’s 31,500 practising physicians and 1,900 medical students.

Thank you for the care you provide in an abnormal and extraordinary time. You are true representatives of Ontario spirit.

Members’ statements?

I would like to welcome all the members of Save Minden Ontario Emergency Room who are here today, including Laura and Patrick Porzuczek, Richard Bradley, and many more.

Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’d like to recognize my friend and former colleague on Ottawa city council—and newly engaged: Michael Qaqish, from Algonquin College.

I recognize the member for Kitchener–Conestoga on a point of order.

Interjection: Good luck, Speaker. Good luck.

Laughter.

I know it may not be a valid point of order, but I did want to congratulate you. To my recollection, you are the first female to preside over the entirety of question period here this morning. Congratulations.

Applause.

I’m delighted to introduce three amazing individuals from York Centre who believe in our province and in our future: Mr. Howard Paskowitz, Mr. Joshua Kaufman, and Mr. Amir Roizman.

Welcome to the Legislature of Ontario.

I’d like to welcome my friend Ryan Jordecska to the House today.

Welcome to the people’s House.

It’s my honour to introduce Michael Sud, formerly with the NDP Western university club. Michael is studying law and hopefully business, as well.

Welcome to Queen’s Park, Michael.

I would like to welcome the parents of page Mridul from Brampton West: his dad, Balraj Goel, and his mom, Monica Jain.

Welcome to the Legislature.

Madam Speaker, I would like to welcome Anthony and Natalie Naassan, and their daughter Emily, from my constituency of Pickering–Uxbridge. They are here for a very special day, as their son Christopher Naassan is page captain today. So please congratulate their son.

Welcome to the Ontario Legislature.

I’d like to welcome three amazing young people today, all graduates from St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. They all have a connection to the House: D’Vaughn Powell, whose father keeps us safe here in the precinct each and every day; Atik Gilao, my legislative assistant; and my daughter Mercedes Tibollo, who is here on a break from medical school.

Welcome to the House.

Speaker, I’m pleased to welcome to the Legislature today some great volunteers and community builders and friends from Markham–Thornhill: Kashif Khan and his father, Waqar Khan, who’s visiting Canada all the way from Pakistan, and his children Muhammad and Fatima.

I’d also like to welcome my friend Michael Qaqish.

I’d like to welcome them all to the Legislature.

I’m so happy to welcome two great individuals from the GTA—Scarborough and Markham. Sabeta Selvarajah is the author of Oruthy: The Power of an Immigrant Woman. She is also a teacher and founder of Focus Educational Services—along with her lovely husband, Kokilan Thirugnanasampanthar, radio co-host and producer at East FM radio and the director of Focus Educational Services. It’s their first time at Queen’s Park.

Welcome to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.