Mr. Speaker, let me just say this: If the member really wants to do something about affordability then he can join us in calling on the federal government, supported by the NDP, to at least pause the 14% increase in the carbon tax hitting the people of the province of Ontario on April 1.

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 want to pose a question to either of the independent members who just spoke. I know in my riding of Essex people are very, very concerned about the carbon tax. I speak to my greenhouse growers and it’s driving up the cost of vegetables; I speak to my grain farmers and it’s driving up the cost of grain. I’ve spoken to the Minister of Agriculture and she’s shared the same concerns with me about the carbon tax driving up the cost of food every day.

My question to the independent members is this: Since you have influence with the federal Liberal Party, which is imposing the carbon tax, will you meet with your colleagues at the federal level and ask them to pause the carbon tax?

Speaker, point of order: We are debating motion 11 today.

If the member would like to talk about what we need to do to cut carbon tax and cut our greenhouse gas emissions, I think we could have some meaningful dialogues about that, if the government would talk about what they’re doing to invest in green energy. I think this budget falls far short of that. We know there’s a lot to do. We know that the government cancelled wind projects. They cancelled solar projects. Those things would have helped us get to a place where we have fewer carbon emissions. We can talk more about what the government needs to do on reducing our carbon emissions, and I’m happy to do that sometime, Speaker.