I want to go back on this. I listened to the minister last week. I listened to him today. I’ve heard about how wonderful things are, how he has things in hand, and how now no one else can do as well as him.

Well, this year he may get the chance to give exactly that same explanation to frail seniors whose air conditioning cuts out because the grid can’t handle the demand. Maybe he’ll get a chance to talk to corner store owners who lose freezers full of food because the power isn’t there. Maybe he’ll get talk to seniors who are overheating because the grid can’t keep up.

Closing his eyes, pointing fingers in every direction, claiming that he’s in great shape isn’t going to make the problem go away.

Speaker—

Interjections.

Interjections.

My question is for the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Numerous families, including Sarah and her son Félix Demers, in Ottawa–Vanier are facing unreasonable challenges with the Ontario Autism Program. Sarah started the process to get help for her son three years ago, but she came across multiple barriers and wait-lists. As a result, her son Félix, who is now five years old, has aged out of programs in school. These children are being left behind.

What measures has the minister taken to address the wait-lists, ensuring timely access to essential support services for children with autism spectrum disorder?

Families face significant uncertainty while waiting for support from the autism program. Families are receiving no assistance and no communication as to when they might be able to get help.

Sarah told me, “We have now been waiting years for help, during the most vital years of our son’s developmental stages and just remain on the OAP’s wait-list as a generic number.”

The lack of communication is distressing and unacceptable. The least the government could do to reduce the distress of those waiting families is to establish a user-friendly communications platform through which families could at least track the progress of their applications.

What steps will the minister take to ensure that families, including Félix’s, have transparent and timely access to information regarding the status of their applications?

I thank the member from Brampton North for the question. He is absolutely right; the people of Ontario and Peel region spoke loud and clear when they re-elected our government with a historic larger majority. They want to see Highway 413 built, and our government is delivering on that commitment. The opposition members who continue to oppose this critical project are obviously individuals who do not live in Brampton or, quite frankly, they just don’t care about Brampton.

Speaker, it seems that every time our government supports projects that make life easier for the people of Ontario, the members opposite find some reason to say no.

Our government highlighted infrastructure projects like Highway 413 in our budget because we know that these are vital to our government’s overall plan for job creation and economic growth.

The people of Ontario can be assured that our government is committed to building important infrastructure, and this includes Highway 413.

I hope that when you met with the sisters, you also reinforced and highlighted the investments that are part of a $48-billion capital build that includes St. Joseph’s health care centre and a facilities redevelopment in that community. I hope you also highlighted to the sisters that the London Health Sciences Centre also has a facilities redevelopment plan in the works, and we’ve expanded the stem cell transplant unit in the city of London.

We are making the investments with publicly funded hospitals who are showing us that they can innovate and do things differently, to make sure that we are serving the people of London and all of Ontario.

To quote Allan O’Dette of the Ontario Medical Association, Bill 60—we believe it will free up hospital resources to focus on emergency, acute and complex cases, while relieving some capacity issues that are big, and they are real.

We know that the waiting lists cannot stay where they are. We understand that the status quo is not an option in the province of Ontario. We are making the investments to ensure that we have not only robust hospital capital expansions but also the ability to have surgical and diagnostic centres expand across Ontario.

I want to thank the member for emphasizing the real importance of getting Highway 413 built and what it means for local communities, but really for all of Ontario. Our government is critically aware of the importance of Highway 413, because we know it will grow our economy and it will support a growing Brampton and a growing Peel region.

Our roads and our highways are critical for keeping goods flowing across the province. An efficient transportation network is key to supporting our economic growth and also to unlocking our economic potential.

Mr. Speaker, we know the consequences of not building Highway 413, and we are determined to make sure that we reverse course on this. We are going to move forward to address congestion, to ensure the efficient transportation and movement of goods. Our government is committed to building critical infrastructure, because it is a solution to accelerate Ontario’s economic growth and our prosperity. Highway 413 is not only a fundamental piece of infrastructure; it is a key part of Ontario’s success and our future.

My question is to the Premier.

I recently met with the Sisters of St. Joseph, who reached out to me to voice their deep, profound disapproval of this government’s Bill 60 and privatization of our health care system. The sisters want government members to stop, listen to their conscience, learn from history and immediately repeal Bill 60. Will this government do just that; listen to your conscience, hit the brakes on greedy profit-making in health care and ensure that every dollar the government spends goes to patient care and not private shareholder pockets?

Sister Mary Giedemann of the Sisters of St. Joseph provided me a letter when I visited. She was worried about how these new private clinics would “rob the system of doctors, nurses, technologists, respiratory therapists” and penalize the poor. Sister Mary also wrote: “It also displays [Premier] Ford failing to keep his promise that privatized surgeries and diagnostic service were not his plan.”

Will this government listen to Sister Mary, keep their promises and repeal Bill 60 so that no one makes money off of someone else’s illness?

The Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.

I couldn’t hear the member for Guelph.

Restart the clock.

The member for Guelph.

My question is for the Premier.

As the climate crisis worsens and smart investors worldwide rush to renewables, Ontario risks being left behind in a cloud of carbon pollution. Global investment in the clean energy transition hit $1.1 trillion last year—$500 billion in wind and solar alone. Why? Because they are the lowest-cost sources of generation. Yet, over the next decade, your government is planning to ramp up expensive, dirty gas plants, increasing climate pollution by 400%, and increasing costs for people to cool their homes and keep the lights on.

At a time when we face a climate emergency, why is the government choosing high-cost, dirty gas plants when smart global investors and businesses around the world are choosing low-cost wind, solar and water power?

Interjections.

Speaker, through you to the minister: Will the government maintain Ontario’s clean-grid competitive advantage by abandoning their scheme to ramp up dirty, expensive gas plants and commit to a clean grid by 2030?

I thank the member opposite for his important question. Northern, remote and regional airports provide a vital transportation link in northern Ontario, and our government has been focused since day one to support transportation in the north.

We’re committed to making sure that airline carriers and passengers have safe and reliable operations available to them, and that’s why our government provides millions of dollars every year to support remote airport operations. This includes funding to facilitate improvements of runways, the replacement of garages, as well as terminal buildings. And we’re continuing to work with the federal government to provide additional funding, over $5 million to phase 3 of the Remote Air Carrier Support Program, which was announced in April of last year.

Mr. Speaker, this issue is national in scope. We work closely with the federal government to take steps to address the challenges that remote airports face, and I thank the member opposite for the question because it’s an important one. Our government’s going to continue to work with local members as well as with the federal government to address the challenges.

My question is for the Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Northern Development. June 1 marks the start of National Indigenous History Month, a time to celebrate rich traditions, heritage and the contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples across the province and across the country. We look forward to many cultural activities and events planned for this month.

With 133 First Nations in Ontario, there are many vibrant communities that are located from Windsor in the south to the northern shores of Hudson Bay. Indigenous communities contribute significantly to Ontario’s economy, with many thriving businesses across a variety of sectors.

That’s why it’s vital that our government remains committed to building and maintaining strong relationships with First Nations and Indigenous partners. Speaker, will the minister please share how our government is working with Indigenous communities to build a stronger Ontario?

As we continue to build partnerships with our Indigenous communities, our government must strive to acknowledge, understand and address their concerns. Our province is enriched because of the accomplishments of Indigenous leaders and communities. First Nations and Indigenous communities deserve only our best and respect when it comes to working together as part of the reconciliation process to ensure a prosperous future for everyone.

Speaker, can the minister please explain what actions our government is taking to engage in meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples?

My question is for the Premier. Youth correctional workers and transfer payment agencies under the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services are not receiving the same rights and protections as their counterparts in OPS. These workers are not covered under WSIB, but OPS workers are. These workers are not covered under the Ontario first responders act or have the same protections and tools that OPS workers do even though they handle the same youth.

Both groups of workers receive government funding and do the same job, yet they are not being treated as such. Can the Premier commit today to eliminating systemic inequities and ensure all youth correctional workers receive the same rights, benefits and protections?

Thank you very much. The next question.

The next question.

Next question.

Deferred vote on the motion for third reading of the following bill:

Bill 112, An Act to provide for the dissolution of The Regional Municipality of Peel / Projet de loi 112, Loi prévoyant la dissolution de la municipalité régionale de Peel.

The division bells rang from 1204 to 1209.

On June 1, 2023, Mr. Clark moved third reading of Bill 112, An Act to provide for the dissolution of The Regional Municipality of Peel.

All those in favour of the motion will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

The House recessed from 1213 to 1500.

Afternoon meeting reported in volume B.

The ayes are 75; the nays are 23.

Thanks to the member for the question. It was great to be at ecobee on Toronto’s waterfront last week to announce the Peak Perks program and to talk about it here in the House as well. This is a program, Mr. Speaker, that’s going to save residents even more money by saving more energy, and it’s also going to save the equivalent of $650 million to our Ontario electricity grid.

But that’s not the only program we announced last week, Mr. Speaker. As part of the government’s $342-million expansion to energy efficiency programming in Ontario, we’re launching three new and enhanced energy efficiency programs for businesses and municipalities that are also going to help them save energy and drive down their costs and save the grid some dollars as well.

You’ll remember, Speaker, the Liberals drove a lot of jobs out of the province, and they raised electricity prices considerably during their time in office. We’re saving businesses and families money.

These programs are going to mean annual electricity savings equivalent to powering approximately 130,000 homes every year and reduce costs for consumers, as I mentioned, by $650 million by 2025. These programs are very important, Mr. Speaker. They’re a win for the people of Ontario. They are a win for the climate—

My question is for a fellow member of the Smitty committee, the Minister of Energy.

Last week, the minister announced the Peak Perks program, an energy-efficiency initiative brought forward by our government. This innovative program provides families with the opportunity to lower their energy bills while also receiving a cash incentive. However, beyond households looking for relief on energy costs, affordable energy remains a serious concern for businesses and municipalities across our province. In order to support the continued economic growth of businesses, it’s vital that our government continues to provide measures that will help them to conserve energy, reduce costs and improve productivity.

Can the minister please explain how our government is supporting businesses in Ontario to save money on energy costs?

Speaker, back in 2003 when the previous Liberal government came to power, Ontario had one of the lowest electricity rates in North America. By the time they were kicked out of government, their legacy was Ontario having one of the highest electricity rates in North America, and that destroyed Ontario’s energy advantage.

I know our government has been working hard to rebuild our energy sector and is committed to bringing jobs back to our province and to making life more affordable. That’s why our government must deliver results. Speaker, can the minister please elaborate on the benefits and advantages of these energy efficiency programs provided by our government for businesses—

I thank the member from Hastings–Lennox and Addington for the question. It is also National Indigenous History Month, and yesterday we were reminded of that by the member from Kiiwetinoong in his member’s statement, and I appreciate his reflections. There’s always more work to do.

But over the course of this month, we’ll have an opportunity to reflect on some of the painful legacies in this country’s history with respect to Indigenous people, but also focus on the opportunities. Those are the things this government has been focused on over the past five years. We’ve made progress, and that was reflected in our discussions yesterday with the Premier, a number of my cabinet colleagues and my parliamentary assistant.

Mr. Speaker, there are a number of events across this province for us all to participate in. I’ve sent out a caucus package. Anybody from the other parties who is interested in events that are in their area, feel free to reach out to me, and we’ll be happy to provide those to you.

Sitting down with the Chiefs of Ontario and setting up a prosperity table led by Indigenous political and business leaders; matching the funding through the Indigenous Economic Development Fund for them to do things like supply chain mapping, to encourage access to capital for Indigenous-owned and -operated businesses: In the past business quarter, we saw a 19% increase in the resources going to Indigenous communities in northern Ontario, to ensure they have the tools moving forward for a prosperous Indigenous community.

But I might say to the member opposite a couple of important points. It was his party that decided to support a carbon tax and fuel surcharges that are driving up those costs. It’s that member opposite who voted against our initiative to reduce the cost of fuel for planes flying into the remote communities. And, so far, we have not been encouraged by the member opposite or his party to build the kinds of corridors that would provide reliable road access into many of our northern communities.

Now, if that member opposite wants to rally around that, planes cannot take in the kind of infrastructure that would put those communities in a better position from a perspective of health, social and economic development—

I think the member opposite knows that the government is always looking at ways of improving conditions for the people that work for us.

Remarks in Anishininiimowin. Good morning. My question is to the Minister of Transportation.

Speaker, you know we have a transportation network as well in Kiiwetinoong. There are 24 airports in Kiiwetinoong, and these airports are owned and operated by the Ministry of Transportation. Airports are critical in the north, critical infrastructure, especially during medical, police and evacuation emergencies—they’re actually lifelines. But if you ask air carriers they say that flying in the north is like flying in the 1950s, because we still have gravel runways, and that’s not acceptable. They’re only 3,500 feet. When is this government going to improve the safety standards of northern airports in Kiiwetinoong?

We need better runways to improve delivery of goods. When is this government going to make the runway improvements needed for better delivery of goods?