Speaker, let’s talk ideology, because this is a government that continues down a terrible road purely based on ideology, and it’s not working.

Yesterday, the Minister of Transportation said she had learned the lessons of the P3 failures of the previous Liberal government, but the only lesson that she seems to have learned is how to funnel more public money to private P3 contractors. Her subway P3s now cost $1 billion per kilometre, nearly three times what Toronto’s publicly procured Spadina subway extension cost just six years ago.

In 2018, the UK government abandoned P3s after years of costly fiascos. Why won’t the Premier do the same instead of doubling down on Liberal P3 failures?

Interjections.

Will the Premier stop fighting to keep women’s wages down and end his efforts to legislate a gendered wage gap in Ontario?

This government fumbled the implementation of affordable child care in this province, stalling an estimated 96,600 women from entering the labour force.

I want to go back to the Premier again, who is sitting right there in front of me and could be answering this question for the women of this province. The FAO says that we will be short 220,000 child care spaces to meet the demand. Is he just going to keep kicking this can down the road?

Speaker, almost a quarter of working women are in part-time jobs. That’s nearly double the number of men. We are only a third of senior management and middle management roles, and that wage gap is persisting in every single sector.

For the Premier, 87 cents on the dollar would amount to about a $27,000 pay cut for him, Does he really think that that’s fair, and would he accept that?

Interjections.

The FAO report is actually saying we’ve done significant work and are seeing more women entering into the workforce because of the actions of this government, such as investing millions in seeing women get skills and development training, education, encouraging women and investing in women entering into the trades, where there is pay equity. We’ve seen significant investments in better jobs to cover expenses, including child care, tuition, transportation, for short-term training programs and micro-credentials. We’ve expanded the Investing in Women’s Futures Program and the Women’s Economic Security Program. Millions are going into the budget that we hope the members opposite will support.

In fact, the FAO actually says, “In 2022, labour participation rates for Ontario core-age mothers reached 81.7 per cent—the highest on record since 1976.” That is increasing.

We’re going to continue to make these investments, Mr. Speaker, because we are shortening the wage gap. We are—

I’ve gone across the province, Mr. Speaker. I’ve met with hundreds of women who are getting into the workforce, taking advantage of the programs and investments this government has made. I just wonder of if the members opposite are going to support the budget that’s coming up, plus the millions of dollars in investments.

The mining agreement: There are women getting into these sectors in droves, and we’re going to work hard to make sure they stay here.

My question is to the Premier. With over 600,000 people and 120 wells in Kitchener-Waterloo, this is the largest community in Canada dependent on groundwater for a majority of its drinking water. We’ve known for decades that the aquifer providing this water is particularly vulnerable to contamination.

The Grand River Conservation Authority has been key to protecting this vital resource while supporting growth and housing. Bill 23 drastically reduces the powers of conservation authorities to protect our water.

Why does this government believe that it makes sense to increase the risk that the region of Waterloo’s water sources become contaminated? Why are you gambling with source water protection in Ontario?

I want to thank the member for the question. Our government takes our public safety very seriously. We’ve never had a government in my generation that is more concerned with the welfare of all Ontarians, and that’s exactly why we’re moving forward with our plans for next-generation 911.

As the member knows, we are committing over $200 million to work with our local municipal jurisdictions so that they can implement in their jurisdictions the new technology. As the member knows, Mr. Speaker, the new technology will allow for unprecedented safety and security for all Ontarians. At the end of the day, Mr. Speaker, we believe everyone has a right—an equal right—to live safely in their own communities.

Ma question est pour le solliciteur général.

Speaker, this morning I was joined by northern MPPs to discuss the need for 911 everywhere in Ontario. Every year, families living and visiting northern Ontario discover in their times of need that after they dial 911, they get a recording that says, “This number is not in service. Please try your call again.” In my riding, the police, the fire, the ambulance are available, but nobody knows the 1-800 numbers to reach them. When will Ontario do like every other province in Canada has done and make 911 available everywhere throughout our province?

Speaker, we were crystal clear with Bill 23, including ensuring that the environment is protected but, at the same time, we’re going to build much-needed homes. We’re in the middle of a housing crisis and New Democrats seem to not want to acknowledge that. They don’t want to acknowledge that there are young people that are living in Waterloo region today that can’t realize the dream of home ownership. There are seniors who want to downsize but don’t have a home that meets their needs and their budget at their disposal.

This is the impetus for why we took this plan to the people last June. We got a significant mandate under the leadership of Premier Ford. We are going to build housing and we are going to provide hope and opportunity for newcomers to our province, for seniors and for young families.

I want to celebrate and congratulate them, not talk down like the member for Waterloo does.

Supplementary question?

Interjections.

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

My question is for the Premier. With a growing wave of crime everywhere across Canada, communities are rightfully concerned. In Ontario, we’re seeing a rise in crime in cities of all sizes and in our rural communities. Everyday, we see and hear new reports of serious crime throughout the province. These trends are disturbing and this is not acceptable. Everyone in Ontario deserves to be safe in their communities, including the police officers who respond to these calls to protect us. Our government must take urgent action now and explore all options to combat the surge in criminal activity.

Speaker, can the Premier please explain what actions our government is taking to make Ontario’s communities safer?

In the past, most officers attempted to cope with trauma on their own and without professional help. All police officers deserve to have access to the care and supports when they need it, where they need it.

Speaker, can the Premier please explain what action our government is taking to support the health and wellness of all our front-line officers?

I want to thank the great member from Chatham-Kent–Leamington and I also want to thank him for being an OPP officer for years. We’re so proud to have him down in the Legislature.

As we tackle the crime that we’ve seen around the province, we’re making sure we’re giving the police services across Ontario the tools that they need to get the job done; to make sure our communities are a lot safer; that you’re able to walk out at night and you’re able to take transit here in Toronto without worrying about being abused or physically hurt.

We’re adding more recruits to the Ontario Police College every single year. We’re investing another $13 million—to fight guns and gangs—that will stop illegal drugs from coming into our province. We’re cracking down on auto thefts, adding $51 million in new measures to find and dismantle crime networks across this province.

That’s why in our budget we announced an additional $9.6 million to support the Runnymede Healthcare Centre to provide mental health supports and PTSI treatment tailor-made for the unique needs of our police officers and front-line workers. We must always ensure that our dedicated first responders have the access to the highest quality of mental health and addictions care that meets their needs. We will always ensure the brave women and men that serve on our police forces are treated with dignity and respect.

I’m still waiting for that technology to arrive in Kiiwetinoong. It has almost been five years since this government received the Chief Coroner’s report following four deaths linked to a failure of 911 in northern Ontario, but nothing has changed.

In Kiiwetinoong, the services for ambulance, the services for fire and the services for police range from minimal to non-existent. You cannot call 911 for services that do not exist. When will this government take real action to ensure everyone in Ontario who calls 911 gets the help that they need?

My question is for the Premier.

There are 200,000 acres of greenfield land already approved for development in the greater Golden Horseshoe. Planners have shown that there are 1.4 million homes currently approved, in process or under construction and enough approved development land to build two million homes. It’s clear that the only greenbelt scam is the government’s scheme to pave over the farmland that feeds us and contributes $50 billion to our food and farming economy, and the wetlands that protect us from flooding and clean our drinking water.

Instead of attacking the greenbelt, let’s work together to remove the barriers to build homes in communities that people can afford, close to where they work. The Premier has a chance to support the farm economy and to make life affordable if he keeps his greenbelt promise. Will he keep that promise today?

If the Premier wants to work with me to build more homes, let’s actually pass my Bills 44 and 45, which would get rid of exclusionary zoning so we can actually build homes that people can afford in the communities they want to live in.

The government has an opportunity today to help people and municipalities save money, to defend our farm economy and to build affordable homes that people want to live in, in affordable communities close to where they work, if the government agrees to stop their expensive sprawl agenda and protect the greenbelt.

Will the Premier keep his promise today and promise to protect the greenbelt?

My question is to the Premier. Over 100 residents in the town of Rossmore are being threatened with a blatant renoviction by their new corporate landlord, Bedford Properties. Resident Keith Maybe said this: “It’s not humane what they have done. You’ve got people who have been in these apartments right from the time they were built 37 years ago. Some people are in their eighties and their nineties. It’s not right.”

Premier, what are you going to do to help these residents keep these homes?

For the sake of these residents, can you say yes to our amendments in Bill 97 to strengthen Ontario’s eviction protection laws?

The supplementary question.

I want to thank the member from “build nothing” riding, because that’s what he believes in: building absolutely nothing. It’s unheard of that the University of Guelph, on their property, tried to get housing and guess what? He didn’t support it. He didn’t support housing at the University of Guelph. He doesn’t believe in building housing in Guelph. They have the lowest per capita housing starts in the entire province.

I find it ironic that he’s coming up and trying to tell us how to build housing. Let me tell you, Mr. Speaker, we have 445,000 people who arrived in Ontario last year and they need homes. We’re going to make sure that we hit our target of 1.5 million homes, and I just wish the MPP from Guelph would get on board and support our housing plan, because the people in his community are going to need homes.

We have reduced the cost of doing business in Ontario by $8 billion every year. According to the latest federal report, Ontario is now the number one investment destination in all of Canada, and with our regional development programs we’re ensuring that we remain that number one site.

Just last week, All Season Fencing announced a $4-million investment into their Trenton manufacturing facility. Thank you, Minister Smith, for doing that. They manufacture sustainable PVC vinyl fencing that uses only recycled plastic. They are creating 19 jobs and acquiring new equipment in Trenton with a $400,000-investment from the province. This adds to the $1 billion in investments and over 1,800 jobs that companies like All Season Fencing have added to Ontario.

They continue to vote against attracting billions in investment and making Ontario stronger. Speaker, we’re going to keep Ontario competitive because we’re open for business.

Part of our commitment to Ontarians, under the leadership of Premier Ford, is that we’re going to have a housing supply action plan tabled in the Legislature every year for the four years. We’ve got a bill before the House right now, Bill 97, Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, and we’ve been responsive to many of the tenant concerns and also the Ontario Human Rights Commission when it comes to air conditioning in units. Many of the recommendations that we put forward on that bill respond directly to some of the concerns that tenants have expressed to our government about renovictions and landlord’s own use.

Again, Speaker, the member keeps asking questions, but she never states on the record whether she’s going to support our measures. I would really love her to do that today.

I think this is one of the premises that the Attorney General has taken throughout the pandemic, whether it be to stand up against illegal evictions when we were at our most vulnerable as a province—but this latest commitment, this record-setting commitment by the government to invest $6.5 million in the Landlord and Tenant Board, will pay huge dividends to both landlords and tenants alike.

My question is for the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. Over the last five years, Ontario was garnering a reputation for its world-class manufacturing sector. Employing almost 800,000 workers, we are continuously investing and innovating to stay competitive and produce critical goods that the whole world relies on. That’s why it’s imperative for this government to take the right steps to attract investments that will grow the economy and create good jobs. Will the minister please highlight how our government is promoting Ontario’s manufacturing sector and keeping it ahead of the competitive global curb?

In 2018, our government knew it was long overdue that Ontario, once again, takes charge of its manufacturing sector after over a decade and a half of Liberal inaction that spurred the manufacturing exodus from the province.

This minister has mentioned a number of times that Ontario is now one of the most competitive places to invest and grow a business. Will the minister please explain what actions have led to Ontario holding this illustrious title?

You know, it’s pretty rich for the member from Windsor to say what she just said, when for 15 years you could shoot a cannon down the middle of the street in Windsor. Now Windsor is thriving.

Not only did the member not support it, she voted against it. She voted against every economic development opportunity down in Windsor. She voted against Stellantis. We’re the ones who created the deal—

Interjection.

Interjections.

Interjections.

Point of order, Mr. Speaker.