The month of May is recognized as Community Living Month here in Ontario. This year’s theme is “#InclusionMatters.”

Community Living Ontario and its over 115 Community Living associations across the province support over 80,000 people with an intellectual disability and their families.

From my community of beautiful Essex I’d like to welcome Community Living Essex County, who is here with us today. Thank you for all that you do.

These agencies offer a wide range of supported living, social, respite, planning and employment supports, all with the goal of fostering inclusive communities by supporting the rights and choices of people with an intellectual disability. It’s important to recognize the hard work of staff in developmental services sectors because without them, none of this would be possible.

This year, Community Living Toronto is celebrating its 75th anniversary. I’m happy to share that Community Living Ontario and Community Living Toronto would like to invite all members to their reception today at 5 p.m. in the dining room. I look forward to seeing everyone there.

I’d like to welcome Community Living Ontario, Community Living Toronto and other local Community Living agencies across the province to the Legislature this morning. I’d like to, in particular, give a shout-out to Brad Saunders, Chris Beesley, Jo-Anne Demick, Shawn Pegg, Petronilla Ndebele, Brianna MacLellan, Sarah MacDonald and Julia Silani. I look forward to meeting with all of you later on this afternoon at the reception. Thank you, and welcome to Queen’s Park.

Good morning. I’d like to welcome my fellow Polish Canadian Kryss Weiss from Community Living Toronto. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

My question is to the Premier. A new report by the city of Toronto is raising fears that the Conservatives want to override Toronto’s laws and make it easier for developers to knock down rental buildings, kick out tenants and replace rent-controlled homes with luxury condos. When renters are facing a demolition, they need better protections, not an eviction notice.

To make our city more affordable, can this government commit to strengthening municipal rental replacement laws instead of weakening them?

My question is back to the Premier. Average rents in Toronto have reached an alarming high of $3,000 a month, which means losing your home to demolition is devastating. Right now, there are 73 rental homes approved for demolition and conversion in Toronto, putting over 3,400 rental homes at risk. Tenants living in these buildings, like those at 55 Brownlow, 25 St. Mary and 145 St. George, are rallying at city hall today because they want to save their homes.

I’m going to ask the minister again: Can you commit to strengthening rental protections when a tenant is facing a demolition instead of weakening them?

I have a petition to address homelessness in Ottawa:

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas, per the 2023 Ontario budget, the province of Ontario has allocated $48 million in additional funding to address homelessness in Toronto, yet only $845,100 for the city of Ottawa;

“Whereas this amounts to 60 times more funding for Toronto, despite being just three times the population of Ottawa;

“Whereas this shortfall in funding for Ottawa will severely compromise the city’s 10-year housing and homelessness plan;

“Whereas this will result in the cancellation of 54 new housing units scheduled to be completed within 18 months, and hundreds more over the next 10 years in the second-largest city in the province;

“We, the undersigned citizens of Ontario, petition the Legislative Assembly to provide Ottawa with its fair share of funding to address the homelessness crisis and alleviate the suffering of its most vulnerable citizens.”

I agree with this petition. I’m signing it and giving it to Liam.

I have a petition entitled “To Address Homelessness in Ottawa.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas, per the 2023 Ontario budget, the province of Ontario has allocated $48 million in additional funding to address homelessness in Toronto, yet only $845,100 for the city of Ottawa;

“Whereas this amounts to 60 times more funding for Toronto, despite being just three times the population of Ottawa;

“Whereas this shortfall in funding for Ottawa will severely compromise the city’s 10-year housing and homelessness plan;

“Whereas this will result in the cancellation of 54 new housing units scheduled to be completed within 18 months, and hundreds more over the next 10 years in the second-largest city in the province;

“We, the undersigned citizens of Ontario, petition the Legislative Assembly to provide Ottawa with its fair share of funding to address the homelessness crisis and alleviate the suffering of its most vulnerable citizens.”

Mr. Speaker, I agree with this petition. I will sign it and give it to page Mackenzie to bring to the table.

I have a petition regarding homelessness in Ottawa.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas, per the 2023 Ontario budget, the province of Ontario has allocated $48 million in additional funding to address homelessness in Toronto, yet only $845,100 for the city of Ottawa;

“Whereas this amounts to 60 times more funding for Toronto, despite being just three times the population of Ottawa;

“Whereas this shortfall in funding for Ottawa will severely compromise the city’s 10-year housing and homelessness plan;

“Whereas this will result in the cancellation of 54 housing units scheduled to be completed within 18 months, and hundreds more over the next 10 years in the second-largest city in the province;

“We, the undersigned citizens of Ontario, petition the Legislative Assembly to provide Ottawa with its fair share of funding to address the homelessness crisis and alleviate the suffering of its most vulnerable” residents.

I agree with this petition, will sign my name and pass it on to Randall.

Thank you to the member opposite here for actually starting off with a little bit of history with the Toronto Maple Leafs. There might be a little history tonight with people picking up their lawn chairs and taking them home off the parade route. I’m a Boston fan, right?

However, this building has tremendous history, as well, as you have eloquently said. But hopefully we see a bright future for this building. How does the member think we can protect heritage aspects of this building while involving new ideas and telling the stories for future generations, like my grandchildren, that might come here and enjoy the structure of this historical building?