I listened to the member, and I know he talked specifically about long-term care, the health care system, some of the front-line workers. I have spoken with many paramedics recently who told me about the mental health crisis they’ve been going through over the past couple of years especially and how it has increased. Some of them can’t even go back to work because of the struggle they’re facing. Then obviously what we’re seeing with our health care crisis and the need for staffing, which really is the biggest problem with our health care—it’s not the need for privatization, let’s be honest.

My question to the member is, why is the government fighting health care workers in court, wasting tax dollars, taxpayers’ money on court cases, battling health care workers once again when we are facing a health care crisis?

I’m glad to be able to weigh in on this budget debate for budget 2023, which is indeed disappointing for a lot of folks across communities. I’m pleased to share some of their voices in this space, because many of them were not heard.

I will say that it has been a disturbing trend for quite some time that many community groups and agencies and voices are directed to a different door when it comes to presenting to this government. The finance committee, as we know, is a multi-party committee that travels across Ontario—arguably not enough. However, they travel to communities and hear from folks.

But then there’s this side process where the Minister of Finance and government MPPs invite folks to this community chat, community consultation, where agencies might get three minutes each to share with the minister, and then people think, after they’ve done that, they’ve spoken to the Minister of Finance and to various local MPPs, that they’ve made a presentation on the budget. What they don’t realize is there’s no record of that that is public, whereas if they present to the finance committee, there’s a record that the opposition parties have a chance to hear, have a chance to ask questions. There’s Hansard—thank you to the folks who travel with committee and keep track of the voices—but these folks are directed to that side door that says, “Hey, come and present on the budget.”

Disappointingly, there are a number of our community agencies in Durham who have been rerouted and their voices did not make it into the committee hearings, so I wanted to share a few of those folks. But I just wanted to say, Speaker, I think that is really problematic. Now, I will say, it’s always important, if you get a chance to talk to the minister face to face, you take it. But in addition to that, there is an accountable process that folks have been routed away from, and that is—well, I think it’s a bit dirty, but anyway, it isn’t how this place should work.

Some of the things that are missing from this budget are important to the folks in Durham region. There are seven members of this Legislature who represent at least part of Durham region—seven of us. I am the only non-government member, so my office is busy hearing from people who have concerns when it comes to government priorities.

I would like to share that something that was missing from this budget was funding to get the wheels turning for a new Lakeridge hospital. I want to read here from the Durham Business Alliance, which, as they say, represents the eight chambers of commerce and boards of trade of Durham region and a combined membership of approximately 2,500 local businesses and organizations.

They have said, “We are following up on our previous letter today to express our deep disappointment in the recent budget announcement which made no provision for funding a planning grant for a new regional hospital and trauma centre for Lakeridge Health in Durham region. We believe that the lack of funding for a new hospital is a major oversight in the budget. Durham region, with its growing population, is in dire need of additional hospitals,” and they list the various reasons.

They’ve said, “A new hospital for Lakeridge Health would not only address the issue of aging infrastructure, but also provide much-needed capacity to serve the growing population of Durham region. Lakeridge Health is ready to meet these demands ... we urge the government to recognize Lakeridge Health’s recommendation and reconsider its decision and allocate funding for a planning grant for the new hospital in Durham region,” and they said “no later than” the fall economic statement.

Of course, I support that, Speaker. As I said, there are seven of us in this chamber who are hearing the need is great and to not see it reflected in the budget is too bad, but there is a chance for this government to course-correct.

We’ve also been talking about mental health and health care in this House. I wish, though, that we were seeing more funds directed to places that would make a difference.

Here I have a submission from Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, affectionately known as Ontario Shores. They have said, “Despite the urgent need, Ontario Shores does not currently have an emergency department to provide the necessary acute mental health care to Ontarians in need. We are requesting funding and approval from the government of Ontario to build and construct Canada’s first emergency psychiatric assessment, treatment and healing unit,” or EmPATH for short. “EmPATH is a psychiatric emergency care model that is transforming mental health care in the United States.

“We require a $1-million capital planning grant and approval of our stage 2 submission with the Ministry of Health.” They go on to explain how this model sets itself apart from others and would make an unbelievable, immeasurable difference in our community, but beyond our community, in the province.

It says, “The benefits of an EmPATH emergency department at Ontario Shores would have wider implications for Ontario’s health system. A model like this at Ontario Shores would reduce the strain on the province’s emergency rooms, allow for better, more specialized care for people in mental health crises, and free up resources for other emergency services.

“As one of only four provincially specialized mental health hospitals in Ontario, we are uniquely positioned to introduce this concept to Canada and are requesting a capital planning grant for this project as part of the upcoming Ontario budget....” They go on to say they have support from the “Durham MPPs, mayors of Oshawa, Whitby, Pickering, Durham regional chair, health care professionals, staff, and people in the wider community supporting our vision of transforming mental health care in the province. Partners such as Durham Regional Police Service and Region of Durham Paramedic Services have endorsed this project....” They’ve garnered over 8,000 signatures of Ontarians who want to see this first EmPATH emergency department built at Ontario Shores.

But alas, it was not in the budget. I would love to know why. If mental health is actually a priority for this government, here is a really big opportunity, and this would be a significant ribbon to cut for this government, but more importantly, would have remarkable impacts on people in need.

Speaker, I also wanted to raise the topic of hospice. I had actually a quick chat with Joyce Marshall in our community the other day at a community event, and she was very excited to be an ambassador for Hospice Whitby. They have decided on a name and unveiled that: the Hospice Whitby–Roger Anderson House. A lot of community care and interest and involvement in this project, but Whitby and Clarington hospice folks are asking for money. I know that they asked at these community consultations I was telling you about, that were a side process to the budget hearing. They did not actually get to present to the finance committee because they didn’t know they hadn’t—they thought this community consultation was sufficient. Hopefully, it was. And yet, the money isn’t in this budget.

I hope that the two or two and a half million each that they are asking for is something that this government can figure out, because what hospice would mean and those beds and that care for the community of Durham—as we have seen, Port Perry is a good-news story, the hospice there. As someone who has seen hospice up close and personally when my mother passed, and I know how important it can be and I know, frankly, how beautiful that the pieces that they add to a very challenging time for families can be, I do believe that this should be a priority for this government or any government.

Speaker, I want to go on to also share how challenging it is for folks. I got a letter from someone named Jennifer in Owen Sound. She had seen remarks that I made in this Legislature and said, “As you are aware, life on ODSP is hard. But the real nightmare is living with the knowledge that life will only get harder. A few years ago my fridge broke so now I use my 12-year old-freezer and a cooler, my shoes are coming apart so I hot-glue them back together, my electric kettle can take anywhere from five to 15 minutes as it shuts off repeatedly before the water boils. But I wait for the day the freezer breaks down, when my shoes are too bad to be glued and the kettle doesn’t boil at all. And that day is coming.

“I appreciate that you ... see myself and people like me as persons who are doing all they can and wish every day that we could do better. But the fact that we can’t shouldn’t mean we live everyday with the terror of a hard life becoming an unbearable one.

“Thank you for fighting for us to live without this fear,” wrote Jennifer from Owen Sound.

Speaker, people are hurting, as we have talked about with food banks. I have a really thoughtful letter from Ben Earle, the executive director of Feed the Need in Durham, who laid out recently in the paper for us about: “more clients than ever before who are fully employed, who own their” own “homes, and who would have historically been able to meet the demands of their household budgets. That is no longer the case.” Speaker, there is need in this province not being met.

Questions? The member for Whitby.

I appreciate the question from the member from Whitby. Of course, we share Durham region and are grateful for any measures that keep us safe. But I also wanted to respond back with what I have heard from victim services about the need. Those impacted by violence—their needs are not being met. Victim services’ core funding across the province—they have not had reasonable core funding increases in years, and the funding formula is not tied to the numbers of clients. So they’re still receiving the same amount of funding today to serve 10,000 clients in our region that they were when they were serving only 3,200.

When we talk to the folks who do that unbelievable work for victim services, they are bringing real solutions to the table. And I would ask this government to consider how we retain that staff to do that unbelievable caring work when they are paid $37,000 yearly. The burnout and turnover is astronomical, and this is a government that is choosing to let that happen.

I have here some speaking remarks from Eva Reti, the Durham Region Hospice board chair. She had presented to council in Ajax and talked about the future of the 10-bed hospice residence in Whitby, which is one of three locations approved by the Ministry of Health. She outlined the challenges, that their original tender process in January—well, the project came in approximately $3.5 million more than originally estimated, which is a reflection on the broader world, the current construction situation since the pandemic. And so it’s back to the drawing board, it’s back to the door-knocking, and it’s back to the fundraising. They are plugging away, but to know that they had the government supporting them in a very real way that would bring this care and benefit into the community and to more communities—what a difference that would make in Ontario.

When you talk about the impacts of poverty when it comes to health, I want to read from a letter here, a family physician has written a prescription about a patient. He said this man, his patient, “has requested this letter of support regarding income security programs. He is currently receiving benefits under the Ontario Disability Support Program. With the rising cost of housing, rent, energy, utilities, food etc., he and others on ODSP are struggling to maintain good health. These individuals invariably reside in small, congregated or at times poorly maintained housing units which can have a negative effect on their mental and physical health. Spending most of their monthly benefit on rent leaves limited funds for proper nutrition and recreational activities. A poor, nutritionally depleted diet is a risk factor for many chronic diseases leading to increased morbidity and mortality and subsequent increased cost to the health care system.”

His doctor is writing doctor’s notes about how bad it is for patients in poverty.

I truly appreciated the story that you shared from your constituent who is on ODSP with a kettle that doesn’t work, with shoes that she needs to glue back together in order to be able to have decent shoes, with the different problems directly linked to poverty. We all know that poverty is the number one determinant of health. For every $5,000 more you make a year, we can see the improvement in the health of each and every one of us. Could you share with us how much money there is in the budget to help your constituent on ODSP receive enough money so that she can live a healthy life? How much money is in the budget so that she receives enough money to be out of poverty?

Thanks to the member from Oshawa for really addressing the issue of hospice care and the desperate need for addressing the funding formula and making it more fair and actually meeting the operational costs of hospices across the province.

We heard at finance committee that every dollar invested in compassionate palliative care really also saves the health care system so much money. But I think when she commented on her own mother and sharing that experience with all of us, it’s very personal. We know this to be very true, that dying in Ontario can be a really horrendous experience if you’re not supported and you don’t get the grief counselling that you need. And so I wanted her to address, please, the fact that hospices are only funded 60% of operational costs. How does that impact equity of access to those services across Ontario?

Thank you, Speaker, and through you: This budget, the budget bill that we’re talking about today, included $13.4 million as part of the Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy. The member for Oshawa will know well the level of investment historically that this government has taken, including this new money that will be going into the good work that the Durham Regional Police Service will be doing with this funding.

Does the member from Oshawa agree that this level of funding for the Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy will continue to have the level of effectiveness in the region of Durham that we’ve known for the last eight years?

I come from the Essex region, and in Essex region, we used to have General Motors, but as a result of the lack of automotive policies from the Liberal government, General Motors left the Essex region. The member from Oshawa was speaking—and the member from Oshawa is very fortunate, because not only is General Motors still in Oshawa, but based on the remarkable economic governance of the province by this PC government, General Motors has committed an additional $2 billion to Oshawa and Ingersoll in automotive investments. That’s $2 billion more. Will the member vote in favour of keeping automotive investment in Oshawa based on this government’s policies?

Questions?

I live in Oshawa, where we have a long history of automotive excellence, and we will have a long future, thanks to the workers, the product that they put out. Silverado sales are up; that’s great. This is a government, though, that—I stood here opposite them when we were in crisis and had to listen to “the ship has left the dock,” and that there was no point in hope, that I was peddling false hope. I was glad to stand with the community at that time, and I always will.

This is a government that ripped out charging stations when the automotive industry was saying the future is electric—well, it is electric. In fact, the Premier did a fun little dance the other day and finally has acknowledged that. So I look forward to working towards the infrastructure that will support that industry in our community—

Thank you to the member opposite for his comments. I listened to what the member had to say, but I earlier heard from the member from Carleton, who gave a great speech talking about all of the investments that this government has made in the Ottawa area. The president of Invest Ottawa had a great quote: “With hundreds of tech companies, innovative R&D facilities and a world-class workforce, the Ottawa region is a global tech hub with the highest concentration of tech talent in North America. This government budget firmly secures the key role we play in our community and Ontario, enabling us to serve more high-growth entrepreneurs and companies that fuel our economy. It will help us to achieve an even greater economic impact and ensure that innovative businesses in Ottawa continue to grow and succeed today and for years to come. We’re grateful to the government of Ontario for this critical investment in our community.” Why isn’t the member opposite grateful for these kinds of investments?

Thank you. Further debate?

It’s a great pleasure to rise and speak to the budget measures act for fiscal year 2023-24 this afternoon.

Although the province faces skyrocketing costs of living, unaffordable housing and a health care system in crisis, budget 2023 offers no relief as more and more Ontarians struggle each and every day just to get by. It’s a budget that tells Ontarians that they’re on their own.

I want to start by discussing how the residents of Ottawa are once again being forgotten by this Conservative government. In the 2023 budget, there was announced $202 million per year in new funding for supportive housing and homelessness projects, but the city of Ottawa’s allocation is disproportionately small. Ottawa is, of course, the second-largest city in Ontario, only after Toronto. Although the city of Toronto has a population three times the size of Ottawa, it’s receiving 60 times more funding than the nation’s capital. It’s absolutely unacceptable that Toronto has received over $40 million for the same program, while Ottawa is set to receive a comparatively measly $845,100. The Premier ignored Ottawa during the occupation, he abandoned farmers after the derecho storm left them in crisis, and he is now, once again, abandoning the city as we have people who need affordable housing options and are living on the street. This insufficient funding could force the city of Ottawa to cancel 54 supportive housing units that were expected to become operational over the next 18 months, and it will severely compromise Ottawa’s 10-year housing and homelessness plan to build between 570 and 850 new affordable housing options. According to Ottawa’s mayor, based on Toronto’s allocation, Ottawa should be getting in the range of at least $16 million, but they’re only receiving $845,000. Ontario’s second-largest city should be treated fairly and should be provided with sufficient funding to meet the needs of its residents.

The 2023 budget also does not include any funding for the victims of the 2022 derecho storm in Ottawa—one of the most notorious storms in Canadian history. In fact, the storm was ranked as the sixth-costliest natural disaster in Canadian history, amounting to over $875 million in damage. The storm caused widespread damage to residential and commercial property, farms and public utilities, killing 11 people and leaving 1.1 million without power. To put it in context for some of the members from the GTA, the derecho surpassed the damages incurred during the devastating 2005 flooding here in Toronto. Buildings in these Ottawa-area communities like Navan and Carlsbad Springs still have holes in the walls or are without roofs because of the lack of disaster relief from this government. We’ve heard a lot from this government about how they support small, rural communities, but when it comes to rural communities in Ottawa, that support is non-existent. And let’s not forget: In addition to denying homeowners and farmers the opportunity to apply for provincial disaster relief funding, the Premier has yet to fulfill his promise to the city of Ottawa or to Hydro Ottawa to help with the costs of cleanup. The city and hydro have spent upwards of, if not more than, $50 million to recover from the storm, without any provincial support. Despite the Premier stopping in to station 53 in Orléans during the election to thank firefighters for their cleanup efforts, he still hasn’t put a single provincial dollar behind it. So what’s the message being sent to first responders? “I’ll come for the photo op, but I won’t deliver the goods.”

The cold shoulder being shown to Ottawa doesn’t stop there. It’s even bigger. Ontario is facing—and Ottawa is facing—a massive shortage of family doctors and a high demand for primary care.

Just to list a few challenges that family doctors are facing across the province and in the nation’s capital: human resource challenges; shortages of nurses and administrative staff; a rise in the severity of illnesses due to deferred procedures or delays in seeking treatment throughout the pandemic; and ongoing financial pressures as commercial rents go up and up and up.

These problems, in addition to many other factors, are affecting the quality of care for patients and contributing to emergency backlogs in our hospitals, and the government continues to do absolutely nothing to support primary care in Ottawa.

Instead of addressing the lack of family doctors, the government has announced their plan to increase private, for-profit medicine. And while the long-term impacts of this are not yet clear, what is evident is that it will not help address the shortage of family doctors or the decision many of them are making to close their practices. There is nothing in the budget to help family doctors continue to do what they do and what they love to do, and that’s help us stay healthy.

Un autre échec important dans le budget de 2023, c’est le manque de financement pour le MIFO, le plus grand centre culturel francophone de l’Ontario. Le MIFO offre des programmes artistiques et éducatifs à la communauté francophone, et le bâtiment actuel est extrêmement obsolète, madame la Présidente, et ne répond pas aux besoins de la communauté. Le MIFO a un projet d’expansion audacieux qui lui permettrait de fournir des services plus efficaces à un plus grand nombre de personnes dans l’est de la ville et, vraiment, tout partout dans l’Ontario. Ce projet est essentiel à la croissance de leur organisation et au succès de la communauté francophone d’Ottawa. Le MIFO a fait de nombreuses demandes au gouvernement pour les fonds nécessaires pour cette expansion, mais jusqu’à date il n’y a aucune réponse positive de ce gouvernement.

The government is also failing Ontario’s municipalities by leaving them high and dry with Bill 23. Last fall, when the government introduced Bill 23, experts and planners warned the government that there would be consequences with removing development charges without compensation for municipalities. Development charges are what municipalities use to build complete communities. They help pay for new roads and new sidewalks and new parks and new rec centres and new fire stations and police stations. It’s what helps cities build complete communities.

And once again, the government didn’t listen. The government, in November, said that they would be conducting audits in municipalities and, based on those results, may step up and help support them financially for their loss. But six months later, the only audits announced are those in—guess what?—Toronto and Peel region. Once again, Ottawa is ignored, and there’s no indication whether or not municipalities, including the city of Ottawa, will get their audit in order to evaluate the loss of revenue as a result of provincial policy.

So as you can see, Madam Speaker, budget 2023 will not make life more affordable for anyone. Ontarians are in desperate need for support during these challenging times of runaway inflation and the affordability crisis that we’re all facing, but this government is turning a blind eye. With the cost of groceries going up, with the cost of hydro going up, with the cost of gas going up, with the cost of everything Ontarians buy each and every day going up, the government has done nothing. They’re saying you’re on your own, and that’s what getting it done looks like, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. I believe the member from Orléans had the floor. Please respond.

Further debate? The member from Mississauga–Malton.

Please continue.

Thank you to my friend from Orléans for his comments. I’m glad he mentioned the failure of the government to reimburse municipalities for the billions of dollars in revenue that was lost, even comparing municipalities the other day in question period to beggars going hat in hand to the province.

What are some of the negative effects if Ottawa is not reimbursed for the revenues that they lost in terms of tax increases and service cuts?

When the derecho hit Ottawa and devastated communities right across the city, when it knocked out hydro to tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of people across our city, the community was devastated. And then, a couple of days later, the Premier came—

Interruption.

When the Premier came to Orléans after the derecho to visit the fire station, there was great hope that there would be investment from the province to help farmers recover, to help Hydro Ottawa pay for the tens of millions of dollars they spent cleaning up from the storm. Unfortunately, while there was a lot of talk and there were a lot of photos to try to help their Conservative candidate win in the Orléans riding, none of those promises were backed up in real life. There is not a single dollar to help the city of Ottawa or Hydro Ottawa from the derecho as part of this budget.

In fact, the biggest critic of the current industrial policy to help the automotive industry here in Ontario, Madam Speaker, is the leader of the Conservative Party; he’s the biggest critic of the plan to invest in Ontario’s auto sector—

This question is for the member. The previous government has a long history of spending way more than its income. In 2003, when they were in government, the provincial debt was $138.8 billion, and when they stepped down in 2018, the provincial debt was $323.8 billion; it increased 133%. Their accumulated debt is way more than the accumulation of hundreds of years of debt. Theirs is such a record of spending and no investment, and this is a budget that can effectively bring in billions, billions, billions of dollars of investment, so I want to see why the member opposite is not supporting this budget.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I wanted to hear from you the best riding: Mississauga–Malton, the home of the greater Toronto airport—you’ve been there, I’m sure.

It is always a pleasure to rise in the House to discuss the important work that we are doing, like today, budget 2023, and all the things this government, under the leadership of this Premier, is doing for the workers and the families of our great province.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, every day when I drive to Queen’s Park, I see the infrastructure. I see the beautiful buildings. But I have to say this: It didn’t happen overnight. It didn’t happen by itself. It was built by hard-working Ontarians over many, many generations.

So as always, I’d like to start by thanking the Indigenous community for taking care of this land for thousands of years. Thank you for allowing us to meet here. And thank you to all the immigrants who came to Canada before I landed and after I landed, especially those who came 300 or 500 years back and worked hard to build our country. Many of their descendants are the MPPs, my colleagues here, so I just want to say thank you as always to your ancestors for their hard work.

Madam Speaker, since 2018, that is exactly what this government is also doing: building a strong Ontario, an Ontario which allows everyone to realize our dreams. But it’s not going to happen by itself; to do this, we need to build. To build, we need skilled workers, and to ensure workers are given every opportunity, pathway and skill they need to secure better jobs with bigger paycheques.

Through this bill, government is working with workers by committing an investment of $224 million in the upcoming fiscal year to establish a groundbreaking initiative within the Skills Development Fund, a new capital stream to help build the necessary infrastructure to ensure Ontario’s economic potential. This transformative capital stream would harness the power of sector-specific expertise and bolster our existing training infrastructure, including union training halls, to create more accessible and flexible training opportunities for our valued workers.

Madam Speaker, in this rapidly evolving world of work, it is essential to equip our workforce, including those who are thinking about upskilling and advancing their careers, with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in the ever-changing job market. Through the Skills Development Fund’s new capital stream, we will expand the capacity of training centres across our province, ensuring that workers get the skills they need for these in-demand careers. Our investment will not only support the expansion of physical infrastructure, but also fuel the development of cutting-edge training programs. Investing in our training centres and union training halls equips students with the hands-on learning opportunities needed to develop the skills of our future.

And why is this important, Madam Speaker? It is important because it impacts all of our members. It impacts all of Ontario. Why? Because every worker deserves the opportunity to reach their potential, and this investment reaffirms our commitment to provide accessible, flexible and high-quality training options.

As a first-generation immigrant, I know how difficult it is sometimes to adjust to a new place. Family reunions and far distance are some of the big challenges. I’ll give you an example. My mother, for example, is in India, and last month she was not feeling well. Well, as I was celebrating Mother’s Day, I was happy I spoke to her, but I was concerned about her health. But I couldn’t travel because of the commitments with work and family here. These are some of the challenges we see, and we have to make the balance.

Another example I was thinking about is that whenever we talk about every day passing that brings us one day closer to the end of our lives, it is a reminder to cherish each day and make the most of the time we have.

Madam Speaker, I believe in personal heroes. They’re like a GPS, helping us to navigate through our life. My personal hero, for example, is Bhai Kanhaiya, “a soul so kind, served all the love, with no one left behind.” He believed that God lives in all of us. If we want to serve God, the best way is to serve people. When we serve people, we serve God. That is why it is important, when we come here, that we work and we’re able to get opportunity to serve the people.

Under the leadership of this Premier, our government is investing an additional $25 million over the next three years to enhance the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. Ontario has long been recognized as a destination of choice for skilled immigrants, and with this enhanced program, we aim to further strengthen our position as a hub of talent and innovation. The investment will allow us to streamline and expedite the immigration process, making it more efficient for skilled workers to come to Ontario and contribute to our vibrant labour market. Madam Speaker, receiving the important investment, we’re able to help over 18,361, which is double what we have today under this program.

Providing the Ontario bridge training program with $3 million this fiscal year will help internationally trained immigrants find jobs in their field. We’re also investing $32.4 million over the next three years to support 6,500 high-quality research internships.

Madam Speaker, health care is another big focus for our government. We are providing an additional $425 million over three years to connect more people to mental health and addictions services; accelerating investments to bring funding in 2023-24 to $569 million, including nearly $300 million to support contract rate increases to stabilize the home and community care workforce; and investing $3.3 million over three years for expanding health-care-related courses for 1,400 secondary school students.

Simply put, this budget delivers a loud and clear message, a message that we, as a government, are building up this province of Ontario with prosperity.

To everyone watching across the globe, if you’re looking to invest, then this is the province. This is the place where you have a business environment that is welcoming and you have a government that is progressive.

If you’re an immigrant looking to build a life, come to Ontario. We have a government that is providing support to you and will help you upskill and build a life you will be proud of. We can’t wait to welcome you to join us in this journey to make Ontario stronger.

Madam Speaker, I encourage everyone in this House, if you want to build a better Ontario, a strong Ontario, vote in favour of this bill to build a stronger Ontario.

Thank you to the member opposite for the question. When we talked about supporting Ontarians and I said that supporting all Ontarians—and you actually answered it somewhat as well, that we have increased support by 5%, and not just supporting only one time with a 5% increase. It is actually connected to inflation, so that going forward, whatever the inflation rate is, it gets increased by a similar amount.

Madam Speaker, that is what we’re doing with this budget: We’re actually investing. We’re making an historic investment in the whole community, and we will continue to do so to build a stronger Ontario.

Madam Speaker, the member was talking about the youth and the services, so I just want to quote some of the quotations. I’m going to read from the CEO of Safehaven, for example: “Safehaven is incredibly grateful for the funding commitment from” the minister and Premier Ford. This government’s support of the most vulnerable will impact the lives of many children, “ensuring that Safehaven has the capacity.”

And then another one, from the Child Welfare PAC and a former youth in care: “By implementing the Ready, Set, Go framework, the Ontario government is beginning to break down the complex barriers faced by the youth from care” whose experience is helping and supporting the people in Ontario.

Madam Speaker, these are some of the things we’ve been doing—