I appreciate the question from the member opposite.

Let me be very, very clear: The Premier of this province gave me a very clear mandate to ensure that I build 60,000 new and upgraded long-term-care beds across the province of Ontario. Part of that mandate was to increase the level of care to four hours. Part of that mandate was to hire 27,000 additional health care providers, health care workers, for those 60,000 new beds.

Let me be clear to the people of Pickering: They are waiting for a long-term-care home. What we are talking about here is tearing down an old, outdated home, Orchard Villa, and replacing it with a brand new, state-of-the-art home for the people of Pickering. And let me be very clear to the member opposite: Although he is opposed to this, I will do whatever it takes to remove the obstacles, to make sure that that home is built, because the people of Pickering deserve nothing less.

Interjections.

What we are talking about in Pickering is tearing down an old, outdated home that should have been torn down long before we came to office. That is what he is advocating against.

This really isn’t the first time in Pickering. We have two applications for brand new homes in front of Pickering council. One was this brand new Orchard Villa. The second home was an Afro-Caribbean-centred home, the first of its kind in Ontario, and they turned it down. That is who the NDP are protecting, Mr. Speaker.

What I’m going to do is tell this member, tell the NDP, and tell Pickering council very clearly: The Premier gave me a mandate to build 60,000 new beds for seniors across Ontario. I’ll remove the obstacles and I will get it done despite the fact—

Interjections.

My question is for the Solicitor General.

Sadly, I’m hearing concerns from the people of my community about increased criminal activity. Of course, the issue extends beyond our local community of Brampton East. We’ve all heard media reports about a rise in attacks on religious institutions and hateful graffiti. Hate-motivated incidents that target individuals, families and businesses based on their ethnicity, religion, race or gender have many feeling vulnerable and threatened.

The public safety of all Ontarians must be our government’s highest priority. The people of my community and all Ontarians are counting on our government for support and solutions.

Speaker, can the Solicitor General please explain how our government is addressing crime and increasing protection for Ontario communities?

It’s reassuring that our police services are well-trained and well-equipped to protect our communities. We value the dedication and service of our front-line police officers.

Ontario is one of the most diverse places in the world, and everyone is responsible to be respectful and welcoming to all. The words and actions that we all use must help build stronger, safer and more inclusive communities across our province.

Speaker, can the Solicitor General please explain what other actions our government is taking to support the safety and protection of all Ontarians?

I want to thank my friend from Brampton East for his question. As I said before, everyone in Ontario has a right to feel safe and free from harassment, hate and discrimination. That’s why we’re building an Ontario for everyone, where everyone belongs and everyone can contribute and prosper. This is our Ontario.

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure this House that our police work day and night to protect all Ontarians from violence, and this government will always have the backs of everyone that keeps Ontario safe.

Recently, I visited the Ontario Police College, where I saw for myself the police training—the training for investigations and hate crimes, so that they are prepared to keep us safe.

Mr. Speaker, let me be clear: Our government has a zero tolerance towards hate and violence of any kind.

Let me be clear: There is no excuse for anti-Semitism, Islamophobia or racism of any kind. It’s totally unacceptable. Hate is toxic to our democracy. And if anyone here or anywhere engages in this type of behaviour and feels you can double down or triple down on this, we have a message for you: We will call you out.

My question is to the Premier.

Last year, we learned that Orchard Villa, owned by Southbridge and one of the worst private long-term-care operators in our province, wants a 30-year licence renewal. Now Southbridge wants an MZO from the province to expedite a planned expansion. Pickering council saw first-hand the neglect at this company and firmly said no to their plan at a recent council meeting.

Will the Premier listen to the concerns of residents, families and the city of Pickering, or does he plan to renew these dangerous for-profit homes with a 30-year licence renewal and fast-tracked expansion?

Back to the Premier: The Premier wants to build more beds, but under a private, for-profit owner-operator, those are just more beds for seniors to die in.

To the minister and the Premier: Look at the history of this company—military intervention, bedbugs, a staff shortage, rotten food, residents left in soiled diapers, a class action lawsuit. Eighty residents died, some from dehydration. It seems likely the government will not only grant them a 30-year renewal, but are advocating for them to expand further.

We know the public, not-for-profit system is safer. How can the Premier justify even considering renewing the Orchard Villa licence? How can you even consider that?

My question is for the Associate Minister of Housing. As Ontario faces an affordable housing crisis, individuals and families are struggling to keep pace with the costs of housing due to rising mortgage and interest rates. These economic challenges are, unfortunately, preventing many hard-working Ontarians from achieving the goal of home ownership.

Unfortunately, years of inaction by the previous Liberal government left vulnerable individuals without the housing supports that they desperately need. That’s why it’s crucial for our government to take immediate action to increase the construction of safe, stable and affordable housing for those at risk.

Speaker, can the associate minister please share what steps our government is taking to deliver great housing supply to Ontarians?

These investments are welcome news and demonstrate our government’s commitment to provide support to the housing needs of all Ontarians. However, many constituents in my riding of Brampton North are very concerned about the surging costs of rent and mortgage interest rates. Now, many individuals and families are worried about finding an affordable place to live. That’s why our government must take urgent action to support those who are experiencing hardships and implement practical and long-term solutions to address homelessness.

Speaker, can the associate minister please elaborate on what our government is doing to improve housing services for the people of Ontario?

Minister of Northern Development.

Ma question est pour le premier ministre.

Premier, once again, due to flooding, the community of Kashechewan had to be evacuated to multiple communities across northern Ontario. Families with children are bound to live in hotel rooms for a recurring issue: the spring flooding.

Five years ago, the federal and provincial governments, with Kashechewan, signed an agreement to move the community to a safer location. My question: Premier, what has your government done in those five years to move Kashechewan to their new location?

Premier, what will your government do to expedite the moving of the community that has to be evacuated year after year due to flooding?

My question is to the Premier. Last week, the Middlesex-London Health Unit wrote to this government urging an increase to social assistance rates. Their letter states, “Middlesex-London residents with low incomes cannot afford to eat after meeting other essential needs....” At a time of unprecedented inflation, food insecurity is higher than ever before. Our health unit is telling this government that people on ODSP and Ontario Works are not eating.

Speaker, why is this government keeping social assistance rates so low that those who rely on social assistance are force to go without food?

I really do want to thank the member from Brampton North for this very important question.

It was a pleasure to be joined by my Peel caucus colleagues and representatives from the region’s municipalities last month to echo our government’s investment of an additional $202 million every year in our Homelessness Prevention Program and Indigenous Supportive Housing Program. This brings our total annual investment to nearly $700 million. It’s record investments.

But this funding is vital as it helps service managers, like the regional municipality of Peel, provide supportive housing and other supports for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Speaker, we know that supportive housing provides stability that opens doors to better health, employment and independence for those in need. That’s why our government is stepping up and delivering greater investments to the people of this province, which benefit our communities and our economy as a whole.

Our government met with partners and stakeholders right across our province this past fall, and their valuable feedback was key to our improvements to Ontario’s supportive housing system. We recognize that the availability and affordability of housing are closely linked to the supply of homes in our communities. That’s why we’re committed to increasing the supply of housing in the coming 10 years.

We’re pleased to see that many municipalities in Ontario share this goal, like Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon, who have collectively pledged to build a total of 246,000 homes. These pledges demonstrate a solid commitment to increasing housing supply and ensuring that residents have access to affordable housing.

Speaker, only by working together can we ensure that all Ontarians have access to safe, affordable and suitable housing.

As we support the ongoing logistical challenges of that community, there is no question that there is a need for us to move on that location—“us” involves the community itself and some neighbouring communities. The federal government and the provincial government remain committed to that process and continue to work with not just Kashechewan but Fort Albany First Nation to ensure that they actually want to do this and we can proceed with a couple of important processes to make that move. Our door remains open, and we’d like to facilitate that process. It shouldn’t take this long. It’s twice in my own political career that this has happened.

I can assure the member opposite that we remain committed to facilitating that, providing it has the support of the nearby communities to Kashechewan.

Frankly, we continue to urge, particularly, Fort Albany First Nation to work with Kashechewan First Nation so that we can proceed with things like the environmental processes that are required to actually build the road that the member speaks about. It’s not that nothing is being done. Efforts are being made to get things started. That has been going on for a couple of years. I suspect the member knows that.

We would be happy to have a conversation with the leadership of those First Nations communities to trigger those processes and move that community to a place where we signed on the dotted line that we were committed to do that.

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Red Tape Reduction. Reducing red tape is a key part of building a stronger economy and improving services for all Ontarians. That’s why our government must bring forward red tape reduction solutions to deliver on our promise to improve government services and make it easier to do business in Ontario. The Less Red Tape, Stronger Economy Act should help to pave the way for better services, provide greater support for businesses to grow and help to save people time and money. While it is unfortunate that the opposition does not believe in the benefits of cutting red tape, this legislation could help ensure Ontario remains a key destination for investment, opportunity and prosperity.

Mr. Speaker, through you, can the minister please explain how our government is reducing regulatory burdens on people and businesses in Ontario?

Through you, Mr. Speaker, can the minister please explain how these red-tape-reduction changes can create real benefits for people and businesses in our province?

“To the Solicitor General:

“Whereas the government of Ontario is committed to ensuring the safety of Ontario communities; and

“Whereas the government of Ontario is committed to supporting our hard-working women and men in blue, who put their lives on the line every day in police forces across the province of Ontario to keep our communities safe;

“Therefore, we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:

“To support the passage of Bill 102, Strengthening Safety and Modernizing Justice Act, 2023, to ensure the following:

“(1) Make it easier for police services across the province to recruit and train more police officers by removing tuition fees for the basic constable training program at the Ontario Police College, known as OPC, and immediately expand the number of recruits that could be trained each year;

“(2) To expand the Basic Constable Training Program at the Ontario Police College, OPC, immediately to accommodate an additional 70 recruits per cohort from 480 to 550;

“(3) Starting in 2024, expand the Basic Constable Training Program to four cohorts per year instead of three;

“(4) Additionally, to support recruitment efforts at a time when local police officers have signalled challenges in doing so, introduce legislation that, if passed, will eliminate the post-secondary education requirement to become a police officer as set out in the Community Safety and Policing Act, also known as the CSPA, and if passed, the act would amend the Community Safety and Policing Act, CSPA, to provide that a secondary school diploma or equivalent is sufficient education for the purposes of being appointed as a police officer; and

“(5) To make the elimination of the tuition fee for the basic constable training program at the Ontario Police College retroactive to January 1, 2023, and recruits who paid for their 12-week basic constable training earlier this year to be reimbursed.”

I proudly affix my signature to this petition, and I will give it to page Sophie.

I’d like to introduce Richard and Sandra Bradley from Save the Minden ER. And there are two other Minden residents up above who are also with Community Living Ontario.

I beg leave to present a report from the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs and move its adoption.

I would like to introduce one of my constituents, William Hulme, who just made it to the gallery with his group, Community Living Ontario. Welcome to the chamber, William, and I hope you enjoy your day at the Legislature.

It is my honour to present 17,107 names that were collected by Save the Minden ER. That’s 95% of the population. It reads as follows:

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the Haliburton Highlands Health Services board of directors has, without consultation with the affected stakeholders, announced the permanent closure of the emergency department located in the municipality of Minden Hills, Ontario, effective June 1, 2023;

“We, the undersigned, petition” the Legislative Assembly “that a moratorium of this decision be implemented by the” Ministry of Health “immediately for a period of a minimum of one year to allow for consultations with all affected stakeholders to occur.”

I fully support this petition, Speaker, will affix my name to it and ask page Christopher to bring it to the Clerk.

Mr. Speaker, the health and safety of every worker is our government’s top priority. That’s why I was proud to go to Sudbury to be joined by the Minister of Mines, to stand with the United Steelworkers union, to lower diesel particulate requirements in mines to the toughest standards in all of North America. This was a request by the United Steelworkers union.

But, Mr. Speaker, I want to pay tribute to those 29,000 miners across northern Ontario who are building the future of this province. They are in well-paying jobs with pensions and benefits. These are the jobs that our government, under the leadership of Premier Ford, is investing in to ensure that we have more young people joining these amazing careers out there. As we’ve said before, and as the Premier often says, when you have a career in the skilled trades, you have a career for life.

Yes. Thank you, Speaker. My apologies. I’d like to welcome Robert Smith to the Legislature, who I’m having lunch with. He’s with Community Living Ontario as well. I look forward to speaking with you later today. Thanks for being here.

Thank you. Order.

Supplementary question.

The Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

The next question.

The division bells rang from 1149 to 1154.

On May 8, 2023, Mr. Pirie moved third reading of Bill 71, An Act to amend the Mining Act.

On May 9, 2023, Ms. Kusendova-Bashta moved that the question be now put.

All those in favour of Ms. Kusendova-Bashta’s motion will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Mr. Pirie has moved third reading of Bill 71, an Act to amend the Mining Act. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? I heard some noes.

All those in favour of the motion will please say “aye.”

All those opposed will please say “nay.”

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

Call in the members. This is another five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1159 to 1200.

All those in favour of the motion will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

The House recessed from 1204 to 1500.

Report adopted.

Mr. Fraser moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr25, An Act to revive Superior Corporate Services Limited.

First reading agreed to.

Ms. Brady moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr24, An Act to revive Parrington’s Food Market Limited.

First reading agreed to.

This question is to the Premier.

Young people are particularly vulnerable to permanent brain damage due to diesel fuel exposure. With young people beginning skilled trades training as early as grade 11, can the Premier explain to parents why the government has not reduced the diesel exposure limits to the level long recommended by health and safety experts?

Mine workers have been lobbying this for years. In fact, members of the United Steelworkers have stickers on their hard hats recommending it be much reduced from the level that the government has recently moved to. For me, particularly knowing how badly WSIB is serving the interests of injured workers, I can’t imagine how parents will feel.

My question is: Why has the ministry not moved the rate down to the recommended level?