I really appreciate that thoughtful question from the member from Kitchener–Conestoga.

It’s important to recognize that our government understands that to keep our agri-food supply chain strong, farmers across this province need confidence in the fact that they have services when they need it and where they need it. That’s why I am losing my voice—because I am talking so much about the amazing partnership that we have with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities as well as my ministry, OMAFRA.

With the support of our cabinet colleagues, we have introduced a new program. It’s a collaborative program whereby the University of Guelph and Lakehead University are establishing a collaborative doctor of veterinary medicine. This is going to be a 2+2 program, where we’re going to see 20 more veterinary students per year look at the first two years at Lakehead University—the follow-up two years at University of Guelph. This is an initiative that is demonstrating that—

On Monday, we just hosted our second annual Grow Ontario Food Summit, and everybody was buzzing about the fact that we’ve listened and we’ve taken action. But we’re doing more.

Over and above that collaborative partnership between Lakehead University and the University of Guelph, our PA, the member from Elgin–Middlesex–London, is reviewing the vet act. And over and above the program introduced, we’re making sure students are incented, so we’ve introduced an additional $5-million program that’s going to incent and reward people for pursuing a career in large animal veterinary medicine. This is a crisis that we’ve identified, and we’re taking action. This particular incentive program is going to see students who are large animal vets receiving $50,000 over five years for working in remote and underserviced areas in rural and northern Ontario.

Thank you very much. The supplementary question.

This bill is being co-sponsored by Jennifer French, MPP for Oshawa; Lisa Gretzky, MPP for Windsor West; and Jamie West, MPP for Sudbury.

The bill, the Anti-Scab Labour Act, is quite simple. I would like to mention, though, that today is the 10th anniversary of the passing of my good friend Peter Kormos. Peter Kormos presented the anti-scab legislation at every Parliament until he retired, and since he retired, I have taken over.

The bill is simple. The provisions in the bill basically prevent an employer from replacing striking or locked-out employees with replacement workers except in specific emergency situations. As simple as that: no more temporary replacement workers.

“911 Everywhere in Ontario....

“Whereas when we face an emergency we all know to dial 911 for help; and

“Whereas access to emergency services through 911 is not available in all regions of Ontario but most Ontarians believe that it is; and

“Whereas many Ontarians have discovered that 911 was not available while they faced an emergency; and

“Whereas all Ontarians expect and deserve access to 911 service, throughout our province;”

They “petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“To provide 911 emergency response everywhere in Ontario by land line or cellphone.”

I fully support this petition, will affix my name to it and ask Mikaeel to bring it to the Clerk.

It’s my pleasure to present this petition on behalf of Lauren Robilliard of Toronto.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas current legislation does not provide access to post-adoption birth information (identifying information) to next of kin if an adult adopted person or a natural/birth parent is deceased;

“Whereas this barrier to accessing post-adoption birth information separates immediate family members and prohibits the children of deceased adopted people from gaining knowledge of their identity and possible Indigenous heritage;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to extend access to post-adoption birth information (identifying information) to next of kin, and/or extended next of kin, if an adult adopted person or a natural/birth parent is deceased.”

I fully support this petition. I’ll hand it to Mikaeel to deliver to the table.

Thank you, Speaker. I appreciate it. I would just like to welcome to the Legislature a councillor for the municipality of Trent Hills and a fellow Rotarian, Rob Pope. He is joined by two Rotary youth exchange students: Shay, from Trent Hills, who is going to Brazil, and Felix, who is on exchange, visiting us from Lille, France.

My question is to the Minister of Transportation.

The playground at Pape school in my riding is about to become an Ontario Line construction site—construction that will go on for two years. Parents are worried that their children, who lost two years of schooling during the pandemic, will face another lost two years unless there is adequate protection to keep noise levels in the classrooms at an acceptable level.

Will the minister direct Metrolinx to use World Health Organization standards for acceptable noise levels in the classrooms?

But, so far, Metrolinx will not make a firm commitment to the target that will be met in the classrooms so that children don’t go through another two years of disruption.

What I’m asking the minister is to tell Metrolinx to set a standard that they will be held to that will trigger action if it has gone over, because the children need to have a restoration of normality. It can be done. It will require investment. But we need to have an agreed standard—World Health Organization’s is the right one—to protect the children and protect the learning environment.

My question is for the Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity.

Over the past few years, women have experienced hardship as a result of economic insecurity, a greater burden of caregiving responsibilities and, sadly, a rise in incidents of domestic violence. Combined together, these social and economic barriers are significant challenges for many women as they find their economic independence.

Women need to be able to connect to supports to develop their skills, knowledge and experiences in order to find a job or start a small business.

It’s essential that our government takes action to address the unique and disproportionate barriers that women face when entering the job market.

Can the associate minister please explain how our government is supporting women, not just to gain employment, but to increase their financial security?

I also want to thank you for coming to my riding on numerous occasions to meet with young women who are interested in the skilled trades—and what the barriers were to get them to stay in that job. They were such wonderful women. And you just were magnificent at those meetings, so thank you. All women should have access to the services they need, no matter where they live. Particularly in rural and remote communities, long distances and travel are barriers for many women to connect to the supports they need. That was one thing that was brought up in our conversations.

It’s essential that there is access to services and supports for women facing economic and social barriers, including those experiencing gender-based violence and social isolation.

Mr. Speaker, our government must make investments that focus on empowering women to achieve the success they deserve through good-paying jobs.

Can the associate minister please elaborate on how this program encourages overall well-being, safety and economic independence for women?

I would like to thank the families of the following public schools in my riding for this petition: Runnymede, Garden, Warren Park, Annette, Lucy McCormick, King George, Swansea, Humbercrest, Howard, Parkdale, Fern Avenue and Indian Road. These petitions were collected by the Elementary Teachers of Toronto. It reads:

“Petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from the Elementary Teachers of Toronto to Stop the Cuts and Invest in the Schools our Students Deserve.

“Whereas the Ford government cut funding to our schools by $800 per student during the pandemic period, and plans to cut an additional $6 billion to our schools over the next six years;

“Whereas these massive cuts have resulted in larger class sizes, reduced special education and mental health supports and resources for our students, and neglected and unsafe buildings;

“Whereas the Financial Accountability Office reported a $2.1-billion surplus in 2021-22, and surpluses growing to $8.5 billion in 2027-28, demonstrating there is more than enough money to fund a robust public education system;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to:

“—immediately reverse the cuts to our schools;

“—fix the inadequate education funding formula;

“—provide schools the funding to ensure the supports necessary to address the impacts of the pandemic on our students;

“—make the needed investments to provide smaller class sizes, increased levels of staffing to support our students’ special education, mental health, English language learner and wraparound supports needs, and safe and healthy buildings and classrooms.”

I fully support this petition. I will affix my signature to it and thank all the parents and family members who have signed this petition.

The ayes are 65; the nays are 32.

Speaker, the committee on finance and economic affairs.

Point of order.

That, in the opinion of this House, the federal government should halt the carbon tax hike set for April 1, 2023, which will add 14.31 cents to the cost of a litre of gas, and will therefore increase the cost of everything for Ontarians.

I thank the member opposite for his question.

I agree; we have to make sure that all precautions are taken to preserve the safety of the playground at Pape Avenue Junior Public School, and I want to assure the parents there that my ministry is well aware of their concerns and the issues.

To date, all work around the school has focused on ground and on soil investigation, on utility locating and on surveying, but we have full confidence that Metrolinx will be able to ensure that all safety standards are followed. Metrolinx is actively working with the TDSB, with the principal of the school and the parent council to create a construction safety management plan, and it has been conducting regular site visits and safety reviews.

Mr. Speaker, a construction liaison committee—a CLC—has been created and has held two meetings to date to discuss upcoming construction activities, safety and any additional community concerns that have been raised. We are taking these concerns very seriously.

We want to make sure that the environment around the school is safe, and we will be working closely with community leaders and parents on this issue.

We have prepared a draft health and safety plan that was distributed to the CLC in advance of the last meeting, on March 28, to allow the school and attendees time to review the plan that we’ve put forward and to discuss it at that meeting. To further mitigate noise concerns, we’ve committed to placing a noise barrier around the school, and upcoming work has been detailed to the school’s parent council.

I want to assure families that Metrolinx is committed to ensuring that the highest levels of safety standards are maintained throughout construction.

We all agree the Ontario Line needs to be built. It will take 28,000 cars off the road each and every day. That is essential for future generations, and we will get it done.

I rise to recognize that today in Canada is national Doctors’ Day. So to all the physicians who have been on the front lines of the pandemic, who continue to fight for us, I want to say that we see your efforts, we thank you and we salute you.

I’d just like to introduce my brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and nephew from the UK, from London, England: Raj Tangri, Madhu Tangri, and Kumar Tangri, along with my husband, Ashwani Tangri.

Again, colleagues, thank you for another great week here at the Legislative Assembly, on behalf of the people of the province of Ontario.

On Monday, April 3, we will be seized with a motion, which will be tabled later today, with respect to bail reform. I suspect all members will want to have participation on that.

On Tuesday, April 4, in the morning, we will be dealing with a government bill, which will be introduced; in the afternoon, the budget motion; and in the evening, private members’ business, Bill 82, standing in the name of the member for Scarborough Southwest.

On Wednesday, April 5, in the morning and afternoon, we will have a government bill, which will be introduced later on; and in the evening, private member’s Bill 78, standing in the name of the member for Durham, Group of Seven Day Act, 2023.

And on Thursday, April 6, both in the morning and in the afternoon, there will be continued debate on a government bill, which will be introduced; and in the evening, Bill 66, standing in the name of the member from Mississauga–Lakeshore, Heart Valve Disease Awareness Act, 2023.

The supplementary question?

Deferred vote on the motion that the question now be put on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 85, An Act to implement Budget measures and to amend various statutes / Projet de loi 85, Loi visant à mettre en oeuvre les mesures budgétaires et à modifier diverses lois.

Call in the members. This is a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1143 to 1148.

On March 27, 2023, Mr. Bethlenfalvy moved second reading of Bill 85, An Act to implement Budget measures and to amend various statutes.

On March 29, 2023, Mr. Bouma moved that the question be now put.

All those in favour of Mr. Bouma’s motion, please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Mr. Bethlenfalvy has moved second reading of Bill 85, An Act to implement Budget measures and to amend various statutes.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? I heard some noes.

All those in favour the motion will please “aye.”

All those opposed will please say “nay.”

In my opinion the ayes have it.

Call in the members. This is another five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1152 to 1153.

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

Second reading agreed to.

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

Bill 56, An Act to proclaim Flooding Awareness Week and to promote public awareness of flooding issues / Projet de loi 56, Loi proclamant la Semaine de la sensibilisation aux inondations et visant à sensibiliser le public aux enjeux qui leur sont liés.

The division bells rang from 1156 to 1157.

All those in favour will please rise and remain standing until recognized by the Clerk.

Second reading negatived.

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

Bill 79, An Act to amend various statutes with respect to employment and labour and other matters / Projet de loi 79, Loi modifiant diverses lois en ce qui concerne l’emploi, le travail et d’autres questions.

The division bells rang from 1200 to 1201.

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

Second reading agreed to.

The House recessed from 1205 to 1300.

Report deemed adopted.

Madame Gélinas moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 90, An Act to amend the Labour Relations Act, 1995 with respect to replacement workers / Projet de loi 90, Loi modifiant la Loi de 1995 sur les relations de travail en ce qui concerne les travailleurs suppléants.

First reading agreed to.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

Thank you to the member from Etobicoke–Lakeshore for her question and the work she’s doing to help keep women safe in Ontario.

It has been a challenging road to recovery for many women since the onset of the pandemic, but we want all women to know that we are on their side and we’re not going to waver from that support for them.

That is why, earlier this week, I was proud to announce with my colleague the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and the member from Newmarket–Aurora, that our government is expanding the Investing in Women’s Futures Program. We announced 10 new locations in Ontario, and I’m excited about the continued progress that is to come.

Our government will continue to assist women who have experienced social and economic barriers, to access services, develop the skills needed to gain financial security, and live safely with a greater sense of security. This program expansion will help more women across the province access life-changing services that will put them in the driver’s seat of their economic future.

Last month, when I toured northern Ontario, I met with women who had struggled to access much-needed services due to long-distance travel.

Mr. Speaker, women’s geographic locations should not limit their access to services. It is crucial that we focus on getting the right supports in place for women who need them the most. That is why the expansion of the Investing in Women’s Futures Program is particularly important for remote and rural women. The program provides a wide range of flexible services that include access to transportation, developing financial skills, and wraparound supports such as safety planning, business development and so much more. I am proud of these advancements because I know they will help many women across Ontario, includeing those in rural and remote areas.

I truly believe that when women succeed, Ontario succeeds.

I’d like to thank Kate Chung from the Accessible Housing Network for all her advocacy on this petition and making homes accessible.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas:

“—24% of Ontarians have a disability, thousands of them children...; and

“—people with disabilities have been trapped in their apartments during power disruptions;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“(1) Comply with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the Ontario Human Rights Code by amending the Ontario Building Code to make universal design the mandatory standard for 100% of the units in all multi-unit housing developments; and

“(2) Require that any public funds or concessions conferred on municipalities, developers, or any other organization for new housing be exclusively for universally designed housing units; and

“(3) Require that every apartment building ... have on hand a generator capable of powering the elevators and emergency lighting in all corridors for persons with wheelchairs and mobility issues.”

Thank you so much for collecting these signatures. There are also 563 signatures online. I will be giving this petition to page Skyler.

The time for petitions has ended.

Resuming the debate adjourned on March 30, 2023, on the motion that this House approves in general the budgetary policy of the government.