Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

The next question.

Interjections.

I’m going to remind the House that the debate is not enhanced, in any way, shape or form, by personal insults.

Interjection: Apologize.

Start the clock. The next question.

Thank you to the member for the great question. Yesterday, alongside the Minister of Health, we announced that applications are now open for the much-anticipated Ontario Learn and Stay Grant. Months of hard work and dedication led up to what was a very successful launch of the program, with over 700 students applying to the Learn and Stay website within the first 24 hours. This is a win-win for both post-secondary students and underserved communities across the province. Not only does it offer a sizable financial contribution for students, it also has the power to make a significant impact in the local communities that need it most.

Speaker, it’s clear that students are eager to begin their careers in nursing, and I’m confident our government’s approach of offering financial support will make all the difference between someone considering a career in health care and someone who actually pursues it. This grant clearly demonstrates that, unlike previous governments, this government is taking concrete—

My question is to the Minister of Colleges and Universities. All Ontarians deserve to have access to the health care they need when they need it no matter where they live. In my riding of Chatham-Kent–Leamington, my constituents are looking for connected care and services that are close to home, in Wheatley, in Leamington, Blenheim, Ridgetown and beyond. Unfortunately, because of the destructive policies of the past Liberal government, many parts of our province are in desperate need of more health care professionals to provide that care. Our government must take decisive steps now to educate and retain more health care workers across the province to make immediate impacts in our local hospitals, long-term-care homes and other health care facilities.

Speaker, can the minister please explain what our government is doing to expand opportunities to educate more health care professionals?

Thank you.

The supplementary question.

We certainly share the concern of the rise of crime and violence taking place in communities across the country, and we’re seeing impacts in our school communities, affecting staff and, of course, our kids.

It’s why, from 2018—where I think many members opposite will speak to root causes—when it comes to mental health supports, pre- and post-pandemic, the Premier and the government increased funding from $18 million to $114 million in student mental health, a 550% increase in support to help that school and every school afflicted by the rise of violence, behavioural issues and other concerns impacting kids. We’ve increased the amount of caring adults in the room. There are nearly 8,000 more staff, notwithstanding there’s been a flat number of students within our schools. We’ve also enhanced the mental health literacy, mandatory learning—more people, more literacy, more curriculum and, of course, more mental health supports to keep students safe in their schools.

We’ve increased funding in mental health. The overall funding envelope in education is up for the coming September by $690 million. The overall education budget, when you compare to the peak of spending under former Premier Wynne, is 27% higher.

I recognize fully that we’re going to continue to do more. In every single budget, we’ll increase funding. We’ll continue to hire more people. And we’ll continue to make the case, as a former school board trustee, that the school boards involved, everyone involved in public education, should be doing better, which is why I urge the members opposite, if they want a better school, they should vote for the Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act to demand better for children in this province.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member from Scarborough Centre for the question and recognizing that that might be an issue, but last year, our domestic film and television productions were very strong, contributing over $1.2 billion to Ontario’s economy—an increase of 25% over the previous year. Our homegrown creativity, talent and self-reliance give us a measure of insulation from external factors like the US writers’ strike.

But I have a little story, Speaker, and I won’t make it long. About two weeks ago, I was at one of Ontario’s outstanding world-class destinations for tourism—the ROM—at a reception. And on my way walking back later in the evening, there was quite a bit going on in the park outside, so I wandered over to see what was going on, and there were lights and so many people. It was production—TV production—outside. Workers working, talent running around—watching it happen is pretty special—

This draws people to our province to do their productions, from the United States. This drives business, drives jobs—not talking about the talent, but the jobs, the careers, Mr. Speaker. It’s not just getting someone in working for a day; it’s long-term careers thanks to many of the people within our ministry—I’m sorry, in our—what do we call it? What do we call this thing? Our party? Yes. Our party drives jobs, Mr. Speaker, and the film industry is the beneficiary of it, as is television.

My question is to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

Since the beginning of May, the Writers Guild of America has been on strike. This strike by the screenwriters is having an impact on film and television shows in the United States. It is a concern that the strike in America will have a negative impact on the film and television industry in Ontario. With many productions that are filmed in Toronto, we know that these projects help to support our economy.

Speaker, can the minister please tell us if the strike in America will affect the film and television industry in Ontario?

Speaker, can the minister please tell us how our government is supporting more film and television production made in Ontario?

I’m proud to introduce the Hands Off the Greenbelt Act, 2023. This bill amends the Greenbelt Act to restrict the minister and the Lieutenant Governor in Council from removing land from the greenbelt area, removing land from the application of the greenbelt plan and removing a designation of land as protected countryside. These new restrictions apply retroactively as of December 13, 2022.

Mr. Schreiner moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 110, An Act to amend the Greenbelt Act, 2005 to provide for a prohibition on controlled-access highways in the Greenbelt Area and make related amendments / Projet de loi 110, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2005 sur la ceinture de verdure pour prévoir une interdiction portant sur les routes à accès limité dans la zone de la ceinture de verdure et apporter des modifications connexes.

A consequential amendment is made to section 9 of the act which will restrict the minister from making an order under either that section or section 47 of the act that would have the effect of contravening the prohibition on controlled-access highways.

Mr. Schreiner moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 111, An Act to amend the Greenbelt Act, 2005 to provide for a prohibition on pits and quarries in the Greenbelt Area and make related amendments / Projet de loi 111, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2005 sur la ceinture de verdure pour prévoir une interdiction portant sur les puits d’extraction et les carrières dans la zone de la ceinture de verdure et pour apporter des modifications connexes.

I thank the member for the question. What we have done in the ministry and across government is we have made sure that the services and the funds that the service providers need are there for them. One of the first things that we did when we formed government is we looked at some of the challenges that service providers were facing, which were the same ones that they had been facing 10, 15 years prior to us forming government. That wasn’t good enough for us. What we said we were going to do is work with the service providers to make sure that the services that the children, youth and families are in need of are not only there, but there for families faster and in a way where they need it and in a way where it’s expedited and processed faster.

We’ve been working directly with service providers to make sure that happens. We’re making sure that the funds are there for the service providers and we’ll make sure that the services and the supports the families rely on are there now and into the future.

We had to look at redesigning a system that was left neglected by the previous government. Unfortunately, throughout their time, your party supported them. You didn’t do anything about it. It was this government that had to step in and fix the mistakes of the previous government and we’re doing that. How are we doing it? In collaboration with service workers, by listening to families and by listening to those who need the services. We will not let them down in—

Thank you to the great member for Brampton North. I look forward to being with the member next week. We’ll have the opportunity to visit one of the recently announced expansion locations for the Investing in Women’s Futures Program. This amazing program is expanding to 10 new locations across the province, and Brampton is receiving one of them.

Mr. Speaker, we’ve heard first-hand accounts from women of some of the unique and disproportionate economic barriers women face when starting, growing or scaling up their businesses. That’s why our government is taking a multi-prong approach to unlock more opportunities for women in the post-pandemic economy. We are supporting women as they enter and re-enter the workforce with programs like the Investing in Women’s Futures Program and the Women’s Economic Security Program, and we’re opening opportunities for women to pursue entrepreneurship as a flexible career path with the Regional Innovation Centre and Small Business Enterprise Centre networks. Because of this, women are breaking down barriers, growing their businesses, and getting it done for themselves, their families and Ontario.

I’m telling you, I’m on a mission to get more women into the trades, because when you’ve got a trade, you’ve got a job for life, according to our Premier, and he’s right too.

Our government is investing a historic $1.5 billion over four years into the Skilled Trades Strategy. Many initiatives will support women and girls in exploring the skilled trades, like the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, the Pre-apprenticeship Training Program, and the Achievement Incentive Program. Thank you to our minister of—the long acronym. These investments enhance opportunities for girls and women to tour college trade programs, participate in workshops, and be mentored by female apprentices and journeypersons.

That’s why I will continue to work alongside the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and with our partners in labour unions and businesses to change the skilled trades culture to ensure that women who enter the trades stay in the trades.

When women succeed, Ontario succeeds.

This question is to the Minister of Community and Social Services. The Galbraiths have been waiting for an assisted living space for their son since 2014. Imagine, day after day, year after year, writing letters and emails, making phone calls and hearing nothing but crickets.

Can the minister tell this family when they will be offered an assisted living space for their son?

Can the government tell us, really, when people can expect to have the services delivered? Eight years is far too long for a family to be waiting to receive supports.

I would like to thank Lorraine Rocheleau from Alba in my riding for this petition.

“911 Everywhere in Ontario....

“Whereas when we face an emergency we all know to dial 911 for help; and

“Whereas access to emergency services through 911 is not available in all regions of Ontario but most Ontarians believe that it is; and

“Whereas many Ontarians have discovered that 911 was not available while they faced an emergency; and

“Whereas all Ontarians expect and deserve access to 911 service, throughout our province;

They “petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“To provide 911 emergency response everywhere in Ontario by land line or cellphone.”

I support this petition, will my affix my name to it and give it to my good page Claire to bring to the Clerk.

And the supplementary question.

The next question.

There being no further business this morning, this House stands in recess until 3 p.m.

The House recessed from 1141 to 1500.

Mr. Hsu moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 108, An Act in relation to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) / Projet de loi 108, Loi concernant l’ensemble des troubles causés par l’alcoolisation foetale.

First reading agreed to.

First reading agreed to.

Mr. Schreiner moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 109, An Act to amend the Greenbelt Act, 2005 to impose limitations on the exercise of powers conferred by the Act / Projet de loi 109, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2005 sur la ceinture de verdure pour imposer des restrictions à l’exercice des pouvoirs conférés par la Loi.

First reading agreed to.

First reading agreed to.

First reading agreed to.

I’m happy to say that, starting this September, students from the member’s riding of Chatham-Kent–Leamington will be eligible to apply for the grant. This grant will touch every corner of the province and that includes ridings held by members of the opposition, with 49 eligible programs at institutions in those ridings currently included in the program.

Where, specifically, do you ask? Ottawa West–Nepean, Mushkegowuk–James Bay, Timiskaming–Cochrane, Thunder Bay–Superior North, Kiiwetinoong, Algoma–Manitoulin, Ottawa–Vanier, Windsor West, Kingston and the Islands, London North Centre and Sudbury. With a constituency week coming up, I hope that each of the members representing the ridings I just mentioned, as well as the other members, will continue to talk about this grant in their ridings, because Premier Ford and the PC government are delivering for their communities.

Mr. Speaker. I’d just like to take a moment to wish the Minister of Red Tape Reduction a very happy birthday.

I just wanted to introduce a very special person from the city of Ottawa. A 21-year veteran of the Ottawa Police Service, deputy police chief Steve Bell, has joined us here in the Ontario Legislature today. Welcome.

Thank you, Speaker. I would like to welcome Lorne Brooker, host of the Lorne Brooker Show on 800 CJBQ, and his very capable assistant, Jim Gibbs. I thank all of the members of the Legislature who joined us for his broadcast this morning in the government House leader’s office. And thank you to the government House leader for letting us use your boardroom this morning.

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

Women entrepreneurs are an integral part of Ontario’s economy, accounting for nearly 20% of all small and medium-sized businesses in Ontario—and I’m very proud to consider that my mother, Lesley, is one of that 20%. Speaker, 20% is a big number, but I think all members of the House could agree that that number could be quite a bit higher.

The reality is that women continue to encounter social and economic barriers when it comes to starting and growing their businesses. While recent numbers show that there is an increase in overall employment for women, more must be done to increase opportunities for women entrepreneurs.

Could the minister please explain what actions our government is taking to unlock even more economic opportunities for women?

There are over 370,000 jobs that are going unfilled in the skilled trades today, with one in three journeypersons over the age of 55, and many of them are heading towards retirement. Over the next decade, Ontario will need 100,000 workers in the construction sector alone to meet this growing demand.

The unfortunate reality is that women currently account for only 5% of the skilled trades workforce. Our government must act now to ensure that we address the labour shortage and help more women to pursue these in-demand, rewarding and well-paying careers.

Building a stronger Ontario means that we need more workers to help grow our businesses, our communities, and our economy.

Could the minister please explain how our government is expanding opportunities for women to pursue careers in the skilled trades?

Mr. Speaker, I wish to remind everybody about the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs reception that’s happening in rooms 228 and 230 just following these proceedings.