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.

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—

I recognize the Minister of Health.

Thank you, and it’s great to see you in the chair, Speaker.

The member opposite knows very well that hospitals are responsible for their day-to-day operations and make those decisions independent of the Ministry of Health and government. We have been assured that the Haliburton Highlands Health Services board and leadership have made this decision carefully and thoughtfully, understanding and appreciating the needs of their community and their staff. I will let them do that work.

Our government continues to support hospitals in many ways, including Haliburton Highlands Health Services, to which we have increased funding by 11% since we came into office.

This is not a funding conversation; this is a conversation that the hospital leadership, the hospital board has made based on the needs of the community, and appreciating that they want to best serve the community, and they’ve done that.

My question is for the Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity.

Ontario is facing a historic labour shortage, with over 360,000 jobs going unfilled. If left unaddressed, this situation will cost billions to our economy in lost productivity.

We know that women make up almost half of the Canadian labour force but unfortunately hold less than 25% of the jobs in the tech sector and less than 4% of jobs in the skilled trades. Additionally, women often face added barriers when entering or re-entering the workforce.

Our government must focus on measures to provide women with the resources they need to achieve their full economic potential.

Can the associate minister please share what our government is doing to economically empower women in our province?

That said, our government understands that some women encounter social and economic barriers in obtaining the support that they require. It is essential that every woman should have access to these important programs no matter where they live in our province.

Can the associate minister please elaborate on how our government is helping women across Ontario to develop the skills that they need to gain financial security and independence?

Ma question est pour la ministre de la Santé.

Residents of Minden and surrounding area are here today in the gallery and on the front lawn. They were shocked last week to learn that their emergency room will close on June 1. So in one week, they have gathered thousands of names on a petition for a simple ask to the minister: a one-year moratorium on that decision.

Will the minister listen to the good people of Minden and grant the one-year moratorium on the closing of their emergency room?

Speaker, the people of Minden stand with their city council and will leave no stone unturned to alter this ill-advised, ill-timed and ill-planned decision. The Minden emergency department had 13,000 visits last year, and the numbers are only going up. This town of 7,000 people triples in size through the summer with the seasonal residents and tourists who come to the area, yet no one was consulted on this decision to close the emergency department.

The government has the opportunity to act. Will they help keep the Minden hospital emergency department open for one more year?

Our government has increased funding to our school boards year after year since taking office. That includes $26.7 billion in base GSN funding for the next school year, an increase of over $700 million this year alone, a 14% increase since 2017-18.

Since the 2002-03 school year, staffing has increased by nearly 8,000 despite student enrolment remaining the same across the boards.

We continue to be very dedicated to our school boards and our school boards’ and our students’ success.

In total, we hired nearly 2,000 new front-line educators, who will be hired and supported by the overall education funding, which is at the highest level in Ontario history, with nearly 1,000 additional skilled math and literacy educators to boost skills across our boards.

We believe in our students’ success and achievement.

My question is to the Premier.

The District School Board of Niagara, like many school boards in Ontario, is facing significant financial pressures. Since Christmas, the board has welcomed 400 new students, who were relocated to Niagara through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The board has requested $500,000 in additional targeted funding for the unique learning challenges faced by these students, including multi-language resource teachers, social workers, and translation software. After repeated follow-ups with the minister, the school board is still waiting for support.

Why is the Premier refusing to act and provide the necessary resources to keep classrooms functioning and students properly supported in Niagara?

My question is for the Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.

Recently, the Northern Ontario Large Urban Mayors group met to discuss the status of mental health and addiction services in northern communities. Our northern cities and towns are unfortunately facing higher rates of overdoses than the rest of the province, and residents of the north often have to travel greater distances to access services. These are serious health issues affecting our communities, and our government must take immediate action to improve the lives of people who are struggling with substance use.

Can the associate minister please explain what actions our government is taking to improve mental health and addictions services in rural, remote and northern communities?

Unfortunately, Speaker, for young people in rural, remote and northern communities who are in need of help, some services and supports are fragmented and not readily available. That is why it is critical that we strengthen the mental health support networks and make the vital investments in prevention and early intervention. It is essential that our government prioritizes local service delivery to ensure that programs are equitable and meet the needs of individuals and communities in an accessible and timely manner.

Can the associate minister please explain how our government is providing access to critical mental health and addictions support for children and youth when and where they need them the most?

Follow-up?

The Niagara school board has been promised the funding. Please just answer the question; it’s important to Niagara.

I want to be clear: This is a very real and very urgent issue that the board needs to address. The board has spent an additional $300,000 outside of their regular spending models. At this rate, it’s not sustainable. They need support from the province to ensure students in Niagara are receiving the education and support they need and deserve.

Our education workers and our teachers deserve to have the resources needed to provide quality education in our schools.

Will the Premier commit to follow up with the District School Board of Niagara and ensure they have the necessary funding to support all students in our community?