That concludes our members’ statements for this morning.

Member for Waterloo.

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?

The region of Waterloo passed amendments to build 121,000 additional homes before Bill 23 passed. This government claims they had to strip away the powers of conservation authorities to protect our water to get new homes built, but this does not hold up to scrutiny. The region of Waterloo was already leading.

We know what happens when water isn’t protected in Waterloo region. Elmira’s water sources are still too contaminated to drink and may never be restored after years of weak regulation. Concerns have come from many other regions in addition. The 113 Ontario municipalities within the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative have been examining the impact of Bill 23 and they are raising legitimate concerns.

When will this government put people and the water that they rely on as a priority ahead of your personal private interests?

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.