Ma question est pour le premier ministre. This morning, the people of Minden have lost their emergency department. There is now a big piece of plywood where a blue H used to be. The emergency departments in Chesley, Almonte, Arnprior and many others are in precarious positions. The hospitals in Fort Erie and Port Colborne went from having a full emergency department to a 24/7 urgent care centre, and now Niagara Health has announced a 50% reduction in the hours of operation. And even with this reduction in hours, they will not be able to cover all the shifts this summer in Fort Erie or Port Colborne.

What is the Premier doing to keep emergency health services going 24/7 in all areas of our province?

Meegwetch, Speaker. Remarks in Anishininiimowin. Good morning.

My question is to the Premier. In 2017, the chair of the Ontario Human Rights Commission toured a provincial jail in Kenora and found that every inmate was struggling with mental health and addictions disorders. Speaker, I was there last week, and I can tell you that that situation is not getting any better. What I saw—it’s as if the people who are there are not human. Ontario needs to act on its promises to provide more treatment in jails, especially as the addictions crisis continues.

Speaker, what is Ontario going to do to ensure inmates in northern jails are getting the mental health and the addictions they need help with?

The lack of resources inside provincial jails is simply a reflection of society—out of sight, out of mind. The answer is not building more correctional facilities. If we had proper addiction and mental health treatment for our communities, there wouldn’t be nearly as many people in jails in the first place.

What is this government doing to ensure that that the addictions crisis doesn’t continue filling Ontario jails, especially in the north, for our young people?

Interjections.

So $27 billion in capital investments across 50 different hospitals, new expanded renovations—including, I might add, a large building build that is happening in Niagara region. Why? Because our government saw from 2018 that lack of investment, lack of foresight ensured that we need to make those investments, and we are. We’ve done short-term, medium-term and long-term investments. And every single time, Speaker, the NDP voted against them. You can talk about status quo. We will move forward with investments, and we will continue to do that work, including in Niagara region, where we have a very substantial hospital build that is happening in his own community.

My question is for the Minister of Education. With Ontario’s population growing rapidly and an increasing demand for workers in many sectors, we need to make sure that our students are properly equipped for the jobs of the future. Sadly, the previous Liberal government failed to update critical elements of the curriculum, which left too many young people unprepared for the emerging global economy.

Since taking office in 2018, our government has demonstrated unprecedented leadership in addressing these urgent needs. Our students deserve to learn fundamental concepts and skills that will prepare them for the workplace of tomorrow. Speaker, through you, can the minister please elaborate on how our government has updated Ontario’s education curriculum?

It’s projected that by 2026, approximately one in five job openings in Ontario will be in the skilled trades sector. That’s why our government must continue to make critical investments that will benefit our students for years to come and will help to strengthen the economy of tomorrow.

Speaker, through you, can the minister please explain what our government is doing to prepare students for careers in the skilled trades and technology sectors?

Back to the Premier: The residents in Fort Erie and Port Colborne deserve health care in the province of Ontario, and you’re causing the crisis right here in this province.

The actions of this government have serious consequences for the people of Ontario; just ask the people of Fort Erie, another community losing access to health care services under this government. Yesterday, Niagara Health announced the Fort Erie Urgent Care Centre would greatly reduce their hours, only operating between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. That’s a 50% cut in hours. Why? Because this government is facing a staffing crisis in health care, one this government is happy to make extremely worse with Bill 124 and Bill 60.

Speaker, will this government step in, repeal Bill 124 and provide the support now to keep the Fort Erie Urgent Care Centre open 24/7 now?

Interjections.

I want to thank the member from Carleton for this question. I think many parent are seized with this question: How are we helping to set kids up for success in this economy? Mr. Speaker, one of the most fundamental ways we can enable the success of young people is to make sure they are learning skills relevant for the job market today. And so in the legislation before this House, the Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, we have a provision that will mandate, as a matter of course, that the government, every three years at the least, must update curricula to keep it relevant to the labour market and to the skill sets young people need to succeed.

In addition, this coming September we’re very proud to be unveiling a new language curriculum that aligns with the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Right to Read report, invoking a phonics-based approach to learning again that’s going to help young people read, particularly children with special education needs. We’re hiring 2,000 more staff, particularly literacy-focused teachers, to get this right. And we know a modern curriculum will help kids succeed in a changing world around us.

This coming September, we have a new technology course being unveiled, and then next September the entire technology curriculum will be unveiled. It’s all part of a broader plan to ensure that, with the disruptions happening in the economy around us, we are ensuring young people have the skills necessary, from financial literacy to coding, learning about skill sets fundamental to help them have a leading-edge job, a good-paying job when they graduate from Ontario schools.

I want to thank my friend for the question. I’ve toured a lot of facilities all over Ontario, and it has been an eye opener for me to see the investments that we made in the facilities to meet the cultural needs of Indigenous peoples there, such as the smudging spaces, the sweat lodges and the teaching lodges.

Mr. Speaker, it has been my honour to meet so many native inmate liaison officers, the NILOs, who are absolutely critical to the chaplaincy and the well-being of those facilities. It has been my honour to meet Elder Cam Goodman in Thunder Bay where I’ve seen for myself.

This is important to our government, and we will continue to act.

Our government shares the concerns that are being spoken of in the House this morning. When you stop and think about the importance of providing culturally safe services that are low barrier to individuals, these are investments that need to be made upstream.

Yes, investments are being made in corrections facilities by increasing the amount of services and supports; transitional housing when individuals come out of the corrections system, but we have to look upstream. We have to look and see what needs to be done in the communities and provide the services where the individuals live, and that’s exactly what we did. The $90-million investment put 54% of the dollars and created 7,000 treatment spots, the majority of which are in northern Ontario. Why? Because we need to deliver supports and services before individuals resort to situations that get them into corrections facilities. We’ve done that in Sioux Lookout, in Thunder Bay, in Sudbury, in Timmins—and the list goes on and on.

We will continue building continuums of care for individuals that are culturally safe and appropriate as close to home as we possibly can.

Mr. Speaker, we stand by everyone who is committed to quality education for the people and the students of this province, and that includes in Waterloo region and in all regions of Ontario, where we value the work of our front-line educators trying to make a difference in our schools.

But Mr. Speaker, if the aim fundamentally is to reduce barriers that impede progress for some of the most at-risk kids in Waterloo or in any region, then the members opposite should explain in the supplemental the logical consistency of opposing the de-streaming of the entire grade 9 curriculum; how the members opposite could pose the question when we are trying to ensure there are more racialized, qualified, merit-based educators in the front of classes where we have some of the highest amount of classrooms with racialized kids.

When we removed O. Reg. 274, it was the Leader of the Opposition, the former education critic, who suggested siding with the education union, saying that’s the wrong policy. Stand up for kids. Make actions necessary to improve the lives of kids. Get over the performative hashtag politics of the NDP.

Interjections.

Interjections.

Interjections.

Interjections.

Earlier this month, the Ombudsman released a report on the Landlord and Tenant Board. In response to questions, the Attorney General stated that Ontario’s tribunals were in shambles when this government took over in 2018; however, the chapter entitled “Issues Contributing to Delay” notes that the problems started in 2019, Mr. Speaker. Delays were specifically attributed to the Conservatives’ decision to leave positions unfilled, presumably waiting for preferred candidates, while experienced applicants were available or could have been renewed.

Mr. Speaker, under this government’s watch, Ontario’s tribunals have fallen into a shambles. Will this government commit to putting aside what the Ombudsman called the “political nature of elections,” especially when tribunals have many unfilled positions, so that people can have timely access to justice?

My question is for the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. With over 300,000 jobs going unfilled daily, we are facing a historic shortage of workers in Ontario. In order to ensure that our economy is strong and resilient, we need more skilled workers to fill labour gaps in key sectors. We must welcome more workers who are best positioned to succeed in critical industries where there are significant labour shortages, including construction, health care and technology.

Our government must do everything we can to ensure that we have the workforce that is needed to help build Ontario. Speaker, can the minister please explain what actions our government is taking to strengthen Ontario’s workforce?

However, for some newcomers who have already settled in Ontario—and many of them settled in Scarborough–Agincourt—there are barriers that, unfortunately, prevent them from pursuing careers in fields that they are trained for and are eager to work in. Currently, only one in four immigrants is able to continue working in their professions when they come to Ontario. That is why our government needs to show leadership and remove obstacles that make it difficult for qualified individuals to apply for work. It costs our province billions in lost productivity when jobs remain unfilled.

Can the minister please explain how our government is eliminating barriers so that skilled immigrants can pursue employment in their professions?

Thank you to the member for this very important question. He’s right: One of the greatest economic challenges we’re facing in Ontario today is that 300,000 jobs are going unfilled. I’m proud that, under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government has landed a truly historic deal with the federal government to double the number of economic immigrants we can select, to a minimum of 18,000 by 2025.

Speaker, this means that we can select more skilled trades workers, more software and IT workers and more health care workers like nurses and personal support workers. We’re tackling our labour shortage head-on and making it easier for employers to find the skilled workers they need to grow and build the future of Ontario.

All across our province there are in-demand and well-paying jobs waiting to be filled. Welcoming more immigrants with the skills we need is a win for workers, businesses and communities in every corner of Ontario.

Our government, through our first Working for Workers Act, made it illegal for regulators to require Canadian work experience. We are leading the way in Canada by eliminating this unfair and truly discriminatory barrier that far too many immigrants coming to Ontario face. The Professional Engineers of Ontario became the first regulator to remove their requirement for Canadian work experience. Every single regulator should follow their lead before our December deadline.

We need all hands on deck to build a brighter future for all of us. This change allows immigrants to start better jobs, earn bigger paycheques and build a better life for themselves and their families. Our government, under the leadership of Premier Ford, is levelling the playing field and bringing the Canadian dream within reach for more people.

The supplementary question.

Start the clock. Supplementary question.

Order. The member for Waterloo will come to order. The Minister of Education will come to order. The member for Hamilton Mountain will come to order.

Are we ready to start again? Start the clock. The next question.

My question is to the Premier. Ontario’s own Education Equity Action Plan directs school boards to undertake work that will “eliminate inequities in the education system.” Most school boards have taken this responsibility to heart. They understand that it impacts student achievement and well-being. But there has been significant and damaging pushback in communities. In Waterloo, both public and Catholic school boards have faced outright vicious hatred.

Boards are doing this important equity work as directed by the government, and yet Ontario school boards are receiving very little support from the ministry. I’m asking today very clearly: Does the Minister of Education stand behind Waterloo public and Catholic school boards, their trustees, their directors of education and their students as they undertake this important equity work?

Earlier this week, when the Premier was asked whether he thinks the York school board should fly the Pride flag in June, he said “no comment.” A failure to comment is a failure to stand up for equity. There are no neutral positions on this.

When those who oppose equity in our schools hear the Premier’s refusal to comment, they feel emboldened. They assume, rightly or not, that he agrees with them and is making space for those voices. Does this government realize the damage caused by saying “no comment” on matters of equality and equity?

Interjections.

Speaker, through you to the Minister of Energy: Yesterday, the body that oversees electricity grids in North America reported that Ontario risks power outages this summer. In fact, Ontario is the only province in Canada that is rated with elevated risk that it can’t meet peak demand. After five years, this government’s policies of cutting funding for efficiency and conservation, of demolishing wind farms and cancelling other renewable projects have led to this.

What will the minister do immediately to protect this province from the risk that he has set up?

Again, what will the minister do today to protect us this summer so that we don’t have those outages?

To reply, the Attorney General.

The Attorney General to respond.

Speaker, my question is for the Associate Minister of Transportation. My community is growing rapidly and they need more convenient ways to connect to their jobs, family, appointments and other communities in the GTA. Whether travelling by car or bus, traffic congestion and gridlock add frustration and unnecessary delays.

Even though our government is making historic investments into new transit infrastructure, Toronto’s north end still needs more transit options. The people of my community and across the GTA are looking to our government for solutions that will make transit easier and more convenient. Speaker, can the associate minister please explain how our government plans to increase the transit options in the GTA?

Interjection: Great question.

Transit upgrades and expansions are needed now to ensure frequent and convenient service for years to come. The previous Liberal government failed to plan for Ontario’s transit needs and failed to invest in building vital transit infrastructure. The investments and construction work that are currently under way to strengthen our province’s transit networks show that our government is getting it done for the people of Ontario. But more can and should be done to deliver on our commitment to these projects.

Speaker, can the associate minister please expand on how our government is making historic investments in building transit networks?

What?

Thanks very much to the member opposite for the question. My number one job is to ensure that we have an energy system here that’s reliable, one that’s affordable and one that’s clean. I’m glad to say it’s an A+ on all three of those categories in Ontario. We have a system that is 90% clean, one that is attracting investment from all around the world. They’re coming here because our system is clean, because it’s reliable and it’s affordable.

If the member opposite was in charge of our energy system—God forbid that that should ever happen—we certainly would become one of the most unreliable jurisdictions in the world because he is against baseload power.