My question is for the Premier. Across our province, we’re seeing more and more reports about an alarming rise in violence and major crimes impacting our communities. Our government must act now to improve public safety and provide greater protection to the people of Ontario.

I was proud to serve my community as a front-line OPP officer, and I will always support my fellow officers and encourage anyone interested in joining this rewarding profession. In order to better support our police services, it is essential that our government provide improvements to the recruitment process so we can get more officers in our communities. Speaker, can the Premier please explain how our government is removing barriers for police services across the province to recruit and train more front-line officers?

Local police services are in urgent need of more officers who are trained and equipped to respond to the ever-increasing complexity of calls. Among the many people considering a career in this profession, some may not have attended a post-secondary institution, but they still have valuable skills and valuable life experience to contribute and to serve their communities.

Speaker, can the Premier please elaborate on the actions our government is taking to remove barriers for a career in policing?

The employers of Westray coal mine deliberately ignored safety concerns until the day it exploded and killed 26 miners. This preventable incident resulted in Bill C-45. The Westray law allows criminal liability of bad bosses for preventable workplace deaths and injuries. Unfortunately, Westray is nearly 20 years old and is rarely used, Speaker.

The OFL and the Steelworkers have worked with police forces across Ontario, and they agree that there’s a need for Ontario to develop a standardized C-45/Westray law investigation policy. This policy would include the training, awareness and resources so Ontario’s police officers can be successful in investigating preventable workplace deaths.

My question is, will the Premier commit to providing Ontario with a standardized C-45/Westray law investigation policy and direct the chiefs of police to implement consistent protocols across Ontario?

Response? I recognize the Minister of Transportation.

Thank you so much to our great member from Chatham-Kent–Leamington. I also want to thank him for serving his community, putting his uniform on every single day and getting out there to make sure he has a safe community.

He is leading the charge when it comes to bail reform, when it comes to making sure that we take care of the cost of basic training at the Ontario Police College. He understands it. There’s no one in this chamber who understands it more than the member from Chatham-Kent–Leamington.

Madam Speaker, we have decided to make sure that we take care of the complete cost of having these young people, these young women and men, go to the Ontario Police College without having the burden of $15,000 or $16,000. This is going to attract more recruits to serve the people of their community.

Madam Speaker, across Ontario we’ve seen crime go up; we’ve seen crime go up an unprecedented amount right here in Toronto. People are scared to go on the subway. People are scared to walk out their door at nighttime and take a stroll down the street.

I have a clear message for all the bad guys out there, all the criminals: You cause problems in our town, we’re coming to get you; we’re going to throw you in jail, and you’re going to be in there for a long time.

My question is to the Premier. In 2019, this government put out a call for development for Ontario Place. The call for development document warned prospective bidders, “Participants should consider the adequacy of parking for their development concept.” The document made it clear to bidders that their proposals must work with the parking available and not to expect additional parking. Yet, after Therme had won the bid this government announced that it was building a $450-million parking garage that was not mentioned in the call for development.

Why is the Premier giving Therme a publicly funded $450-million benefit that was not offered to competing bidders?

Again to the Premier: According to Ontario’s lobbyist registry, starting in September 2018 PC Party insiders have been lobbying the Ford government on behalf of Therme. These lobbyists include Amir Remtulla, Mayor Rob Ford’s former chief of staff, as well as prominent PC Party activist Leslie Noble. It looks like Therme has gotten its money’s worth because it is now benefiting from a publicly funded $450-million parking garage that was not offered to its competitors bidding for the right to redevelop Ontario Place.

Prior to awarding the Ontario Place contract to Therme, did the Ford government or anyone else give Therme reason to believe that the Ford government would later sweeten the deal with a publicly funded parking garage?

Interjections.

Thank you for the question. I’m not sure which one they want me to answer. As far as someone from out of town supporting and coming into Ontario, I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

With respect to the growth, I think adjustments have to be made in any type of project. When you make adjustments, you base it on what’s going on around you. The business case, in many situations, regardless of whether it’s building or developing or, let’s say, moving a science centre from one spot to another because it’s going to be better not only for the people who have a chance to go visit—maybe up to a million people who are going to come down there. You have to be able to accommodate what you plan on building. To do that you have to adjust and certainly swing one way or the other based on what is going on. I think this is a great example of development looking into the future, at what’s going to happen down at Ontario Place and the great advantage that we will have as a destination, one of the best in the world to drive tourism in our province.

From my perspective and all the great people that I’ve met in my tours and tourism around this province—they’re excited at what this government and our Premier are doing to help support tourism, drive business and drive the economy.

My question is for the Minister of Transportation.

Many individuals and families in my riding of Markham–Thornhill need our government to address the pressing issue of transit congestion. Whether travelling by car or bus, gridlock and congestion adds frustration and unnecessary delays to everyone’s day. My community has grown significantly, and they need greater accessibility when it comes to convenient ways to connect to their jobs, family, and other communities in the GTA.

Access to rapid transit is long overdue, and the residents in my community are looking forward to the Yonge North subway extension. Can the minister please provide an update on the status of this critical transit project?

While the people of Ontario are seeing progress on many public transit projects, it remains critical that our government continues to make transit infrastructure investments a priority. Where the previous Liberal government failed to plan ahead for the transit needs of our communities, our government must deliver on our commitments to build the transit solutions that are so vital for our province.

Can the minister please explain why these investments are so important for Ontario and what benefits the Yonge North subway extension will have for everyone?

Question?

Interjections.

The member opposite is correct; the Yonge North subway extension will transform the commute in York region, North York and beyond, extending the TTC’s Line 1 from Finch station to Vaughan, Markham and Richmond Hill. Rather than being stuck in gridlock, the people of York region will have access to fast and reliable rapid transit connecting them to where they need to go.

Madam Speaker, our government is focused on this project, and I am pleased to say that we have reached another milestone. Just this morning, I announced that our government has officially started procurement, releasing the request for qualifications for tunneling work. This builds on the important work that’s already under way at Finch station, where workers are making upgrades to accommodate future subway service. With procurement now under way, we are full steam ahead on this project, and the people of York region and Toronto have every reason to be excited.

Madam Speaker, we know our message is being heard around the world from the investments companies like Volkswagen are making in Ontario or the approximately 200,000 people who moved to Canada last year and now call Ontario home.

For too long, the hard-working people of York region waited for and they asked for fast access to subway service to get where they need to go, whether it’s to their job, to run errands, or to go catch a Jays game with friends in the city.

Madam Speaker, unlike the previous Liberal government, supported by the NDP, it’s this government that’s building the transit of the future.

I want to thank the member from Brantford–Brant for his extraordinary work, not just in his riding but working closely with Six Nations of the Grand River.

Madam Speaker, it’s true that the Oneida Energy Storage Project is one of a kind. It’s an exciting opportunity when political leadership aligns with its economic development priorities, goes out proactively and joins with major partners in the corporate world, and delivers on projects that benefit the community, the surrounding area and the entire province when it comes to the scope of this project.

That’s exactly what we were talking about in Vancouver earlier this week with the First Nations Major Project Coalition: a growing membership of Indigenous leaders and major businesses converging on the opportunity to grow infrastructure, to build out opportunities for Indigenous youth and ensure that they are a critical part of every resource project and every major critical infrastructure project across this country and, most notably, in Ontario.

My question is for the Minister of Northern Development and Indigenous Affairs. The previous Liberal government drove jobs out of our province and failed to unlock Ontario’s full economic potential. The negative results of their destructive economic policies left many behind, including those from rural, remote and Indigenous communities.

In contrast, our government must be focused on solutions that will help grow our economy. In my community of Brantford–Brant we see what is possible when governments work in partnership with Indigenous communities as equal partners in major infrastructure initiatives. For example, the Oneida Energy Storage Project is a significant Indigenous-led development that will create good jobs and support prosperity to Six Nations and the surrounding area.

Can the minister please explain what actions our government is taking to further enhance economic prosperity in partnership with Indigenous communities?

One of the ways that we do this is we go out and tell people around the world, across this country about the extraordinary opportunities in store for the province of Ontario, and that it includes Indigenous businesses, Indigenous leadership that want to rally around these great opportunities.

The First Nations Major Project Coalition is helping to leverage and support the development of $40 billion worth of infrastructure. It covers myriad kinds of projects, but at the heart and soul of it is a values-driven opportunity to ensure that major financial institutes, major energy companies, major infrastructure construction companies are in play, working together with Indigenous leadership like communities from the Ring of Fire, like the opportunities that we’re seeing with Indigenous communities in southwestern Ontario’s corridor from St. Thomas to Windsor, to make sure that Ontario’s bright future includes Indigenous young people, Indigenous businesses and a better sense of prosperity for all people in Ontario moving forward.

The insights shared by the minister in his response demonstrate that our government is building on current successes and is continuing to move forward in strengthening relationships with Indigenous partners. We know that by forming and maintaining these strong relationships, we are advancing economic development and success across our province.

Our government must understand that we need to support and invest in programs that will create good-paying jobs and economic opportunities for Indigenous peoples in Ontario. Individuals, families, businesses and communities can all succeed when they have the tools, the training and the supports that they need.

Speaker, can the Minister please explain how our government is supporting the ongoing economic growth and prosperity for Indigenous communities?

A recent survey reveals two out of three Ontarians planning to dig this year could be putting themselves and their community at risk by digging in locations where buried cables, pipes and wires are located. Damaging underground infrastructure is dangerous and can cause serious injuries and carry severe financial consequences. That’s why I would like to salute the member from Sarnia–Lambton and former MPP Paul Miller for their incredible work and the passage of their Ontario One Call private members’ bill.

Speaker, can the minister please provide more information about Dig Safe Month and the role that Ontario One Call plays in protecting public safety?

Can the minister please explain how our government is working closely with Ontario One Call to protect Ontario’s communities and our underground infrastructure works?

Thank you to the member from Brantford–Brant for the question and for taking the time to raise awareness of this important topic. For many, this might sound like a simple thing, but underground locates are a critical step to ensure that communities and workers remain safe and that we don’t accidentally create service outages or damage underground infrastructure when we build. For example, telecommunications failures can cripple a business or cut off a person’s access to emergency services, posing a very real threat to the safety of Ontarians. That is why we continue to work with Ontario One Call to protect the well-being of Ontarians and their communities, just as this government has done since day one.

The member knows full well that the private members’ bills process in this place has a schedule which it works under. Members in the House will give it due consideration.

I know that the Minister of Multiculturalism, though, has been working very, very closely to ensure that we have a very inclusive Ontario. It is something that I’m sure members on all sides of the House would agree on, that we have to continue to do that work. I know the minister also has been reaching out and ensuring that there are continuous consultations.

But Mr. Speaker—Madam Speaker, excuse me—it is also the work that is being done by the Solicitor General and the Attorney General to ensure that we have communities that are safe for all people. That is what this government has been doing right from the beginning.

Now, Mr.—Madam Speaker; I apologize for that, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, later on today, members from the NDP will have the opportunity to put their money where their mouth is when it comes to law and order in the province of Ontario. They spoke against a bill that the Solicitor General brought forward last night, but I suspect, despite every speech being against that bill, that they will do the right thing today, and they will vote in favour of our police and community and law and order in the province of Ontario.

At the same time, we’re hearing the member right now just talk about how important it is to keep the people of the province of Ontario safe, whether it is that community, whether it’s other communities across the province of Ontario, whether it is students.

Now, yesterday the Solicitor General and the Attorney General of this province deposited a bill in this House that was up for debate for 10 hours, and speaker after speaker after speaker on the NDP side spoke against the provisions in that bill. They spoke against the provisions in that bill, but after question period today, the member and her colleagues will have the opportunity to do exactly what that member asked for: vote to keep our communities safe. Despite their opposition, I hope they will do the right thing, have reflected and will vote in favour of that bill in 21 minutes.

To the Premier: Last June, the Norwich BIA put up pride banners, only to have dozens removed, vandalized and then burned. This week, Norwich town council voted to ban pride flags from municipal properties and then rejected proclaiming Pride Month, which is coming up in June.

Since the Premier has not spoken up against the hateful rise of homophobia and transphobia in Ontario, I’d like to ask him today: Will he break his silence and commit to working with the Ontario NDP to pass our bill, the Keeping 2SLGBTQI+ Communities Safe Act, as quickly as possible?

This week, an angry mob also turned up at the York Catholic District School Board, where they disrupted a meeting to intimidate the trustees to vote against Pride Month and raising the flag for their community. This is not the first time that the police were called in to contain homophobic violence. If the Premier is unwilling to adopt our anti-2SLGBT strategy hate crime plan, what is the Premier’s plan to keep students safe? What is he going to do while they attend publicly funded schools?

Further questions?

Thank you to my honourable colleague for the question.

Just over one year ago, our government passed the Getting Ontario Connected Act, which, amongst other things, made amendments to improve the locate delivery system, enhanced governance and oversight of Ontario One Call, and improved compliance tools. Speaker, if I may, I want to commend the incredible work by our Minister of Infrastructure, the Honourable Kinga Surma, to build this important piece of legislation, as well as the great member from Sarnia–Lambton, MPP Bob Bailey, for having worked with his colleagues across the aisle in 2012 to bring about Ontario One Call as we know it today.

So, whether you are planting a tree, building a fence or planning to dig for any reason, remember to visit ontarioonecall.ca to learn more about how to request a locate in just a few simple steps.

Thank you to the member from Newmarket–Aurora for their question and their advocacy on creating more economic opportunities in their riding, and also across the province.

Madam Speaker, just last month, I announced the expansion of the Investing in Women’s Futures Program to 10 new locations across the province, bringing the total number of service locations to 33.

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of visiting Operation Grow. It’s in Midland, and I was there with the member from Simcoe North, the Minister of Colleges and Universities, to announce that they will be the next location receiving the Investing in Women’s Futures Program funding.

Operation Grow is a social enterprise operated by Huronia Transition Homes, and they empower women who have experienced violence to access skill-building workshops in their commercial kitchen and their state-of-the-art vertical farm. They grow food to feed their communities and also empower women to develop skills to be able to secure employment.

In addition to Midland, the Investing in Women’s Futures program will now be delivered in Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga, Pickering, Newmarket, Kingston, Killaloe, Elliot Lake, and Kirkland Lake. These programs will be led by community-based, locally informed organizations and will provide a range of flexible programs and services like counselling, safety planning, legal rights workshops, life skills and self-esteem workshops, financial literacy, employment readiness and skills development and business development. Some programs will also provide wraparound supports to enable women to participate, like transportation, child care, and mental health supports.

Under the leadership of our Premier and this government, we will continue to empower women across this province because we believe that when women succeed—