Thank you to the member opposite for the question. So, actually, I just wanted to provide some information. We’ve actually increased educational spending, despite the fact that there are less—we used to use the term “bums in seats” when I was in education. We’ve increased education every year. It’s been something that has been at the forefront, and actually, it’s one of the reasons I’m here right now. These are important initiatives because we do have to help our kids and it’s important that they be given the opportunity.

Now, saying that, I also want to actually address the fact that there’s been a 555% increase in mental health spending with respect to schools when you compare us to the last government. So I actually have to perhaps say that that’s probably a very positive thing for our children in school today.

We’ve got a number of great industries in our neighbourhood, and the Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit is so important to bolster Ontario’s economy to create more jobs. So this credit will help local manufacturing companies invest and expand in their own businesses. Now, this is a key sector and contributor to the economic success of the province. In 2018, employment in Ontario’s manufacturing sector declined by over 300,000 workers, but now, we’re continuing to bring manufacturing back to Ontario and support local businesses with these kinds of measures. And we’re going to, especially in Ontario—we want to keep all of those businesses here in Ontario—

I would like to thank the government for recognizing the issue of PTSD. It is one that the official opposition championed. Unfortunately, the government, at the time, left out nurses as individuals who suffer from PTSD, which is shocking. However, I think it is good that the government increased the amount the CMHA was asking for, but they only gave them 5% when they were asking for 8%.

The member from Burlington talks about mental health supports in schools. Let’s talk about more than just the curriculum. Let’s make sure that there are social service workers accessible to students when and where they need them, because unfortunately, that is not the case in schools across Ontario. We know school violence is at an all-time high. This government has chosen to disregard that, to ignore it. We hear presenters time and again feel as though this government was deliberately ignoring education and deliberately cutting and underfunding the public education system in favour of private schools.

In Kingston, we saw that the municipality there invested $18 million per year in wraparound supports. That’s something that should be supported across the province by this government—but, further, making sure that there’s investments in other mental health supports and other supports that this government talks about but doesn’t invest in.

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.

This bill, which was first introduced by my predecessor, the former MPP for Kingston and the Islands, Sophie Kiwala, and also introduced by the former Premier of Ontario, Kathleen Wynne, requires boards of education to develop policies and guidelines with respect to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, FASD. Teachers’ colleges and early childhood education programs shall be required to provide training with respect to FASD.

Ms. Bowman moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr22, An Act to revive League Technique Inc.