Members’ statements?

This week being National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week, I’d like to welcome Jillian Lynch to the House today. Her brother was the first to have three double lung transplants here at SickKids in Toronto.

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.

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.

My question is to the Premier.

Speaker, I’d like to take a moment to catch everyone up on the Ontario Place saga. In 2021, this government announced that their friends at Therme were building an elite, luxury spa on public parkland. Cut to March of this year, and a city report shows a long list of problems with the plan. The spa? Too big. The $450-million taxpayer-funded parking garage? It violates even this government’s own policies.

Yet the Minister of Infrastructure pressed on. They told us they signed a “standard commercial lease” for the spa that just happened to be for 95 years—but not so standard, that it must be kept secret. There is no business case for a 95-year lease. Ontarians already feel cheated on the 407—by the last Conservative government.

Speaker, to the Premier: If the lease is a standard commercial lease, when will this government release it, and why are you keeping it a secret?

To the Premier: When will he release the business case on the science centre move?

Good morning, Speaker. It’s great to see you in the chair.

Thanks for the question.

When we talk about what is happening down at Ontario Place, we talk about development, we talk about growth, we talk about opportunities. Those opportunities don’t come overnight. They have to be developed. Given Ontario Place has been sitting dormant for so long and there is still interest by industry to come down and transform Ontario Place into a destination not only for people within 30 or 40 miles but across Ontario and the United States—this is going to be a destination that is going to impact large, medium and small businesses that are part of tourism.

Tourism needs to continue to be supported, especially with what they’ve gone through over the last couple of years. They’re a strong, vibrant industry. They’re smart, and they’re making things happen. To do something like this for Ontario and for the rest of Canada and the people in the United States to come visit and have a destination like this is outstanding.

I’d like to welcome three amazing guests all way the from Northern Ireland: Connleth Gallagher and Barry McCarron, who are from a very innovative waste recycling firm called Kiverco. Michael Barton actually lives locally and comes from Invest Northern Island—just welcoming them to our beautiful home.

I would like to introduce Liza Tam and Joseph To from Markham–Unionville. Liza’s parents, Man Ching Tam and Yun King Yip, are also here today. They are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. Their loving families and close friends—in total, 16 of them—are up there waiting for their security check and are also joining them at Queen’s Park this morning.

Welcome, all.

I also want to welcome my legislative assistant, Florence Tsang.

I recognize the member from Waterloo.

The member from Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke will come to order.

Further questions?

Speaker, my question is to the Premier.

Conservatives have pushed Ontarians living with disabilities into legislated poverty. After Mike Harris’s callous cuts in the 1990s people are worse off now than ever, and part of that is due to Liberal neglect.

People on ODSP can barely afford housing, but especially now, healthy food. The Middlesex-London Health Unit is sending a letter urgently requesting that the province raise social assistance rates. The medical officer of health, Dr. Alex Summers, and CEO Emily Williams stated, “Food insecurity has a pervasive impact on health; and there is a need for income-based solutions.”

Will this government listen to experts and lift ODSP recipients out of poverty, yes or no?