My question is for the member from Peterborough–Kawartha.

You spoke about the need to attract more jobs.

I recall, as a reporter, reporting on the number of jobs that fled Ontario under the previous Liberal government due to what I believe were some of the worst pieces of legislation ever introduced in the province of Ontario, including the Green Energy Act. For so many years, business owners—women and men who played by the rules, worked hard and simply wanted to take care of their families, and who created jobs for others to take care of families—felt like they were under attack. Every possible barrier that could be brought forward to stifle them from growing their business was introduced.

But our government has turned the corner, and we have done so much to create more jobs.

Could the member please expand on the initiatives in this budget that attract more jobs and encourage more people to get into the manufacturing sector in Ontario?

My question is to the member for Peterborough–Kawartha.

When I looked at the budget, one of the things I noticed is that when you look at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s budget, you see a $124-million cut. That’s on top of the $5-billion loss in infrastructure spending that is occurring across Ontario because of this government’s Bill 23.

What is this government’s plan to properly fund affordable housing projects so that they can actually get built?

Everything I’m seeing in this budget is looking like a cut.

I thank the member for his heartfelt comments on behalf of his riding and community. It’s very important that we listen and learn.

I want to ask, specific to the bill that we are debating, Bill 85, budget 2023: Will he and his colleagues in His Majesty’s official opposition support the increase in the investment in homelessness prevention and the Indigenous Supportive Housing Program, which is proposed to be over $200 million annually, to give more people a safe place to call home?

Meegwetch. Reserves were created to get us off the lands where the resources are. Where I grew up, it became a reserve in 1976, and they moved there in 1966. We never had welfare. We were never homeless. In the context of homelessness, I think you can talk about the four walls, but the land is our home. We’re not homeless. The land is our home, and people are going back to the lands. That’s where our home is. Meegwetch.

We’re going to move to questions.

It’s always an honour to rise in this House after remarks from our friend from Kiiwetinoong.

In 2019, we saw the second hunger strike of the former Attiwapiskat chief, Theresa Spence. I had the honour of meeting her briefly during the Idle No More movement, when the chief came to our community and told us about the living conditions of her community versus the diamond mine that was being created, which had fresh water, which had food.

When you talk about the juxtaposition of the four-year-old children who have rashes on their skin, when you’re talking to the people in Neskantaga and other places, is this what you’re hearing from community members—that they fear this constant pattern of discrimination is going to be repeated? What’s talked about is prosperity, as you said, but what gets delivered to people in the communities is just a repeat of this continuing. I was wondering if you could elaborate for our benefit.

Tragically, we have lost an amazing young woman in our community, Melinda Moote. Friends and family described her as “the best humanity has to offer.”

Melinda suffered from a rare disorder which was in remission, but symptoms recurred and she went to emergency in medical distress. There were only three triage nurses working, with 34 people waiting in front of her. Despite her life-threatening condition, she waited for hours. Finally, a nurse found her vomiting blood in a garbage can and barely conscious. Everything that could go wrong did—the long wait; important blood tests and plasma treatments missed. The family left wondering if this could have saved her life.

Melinda used her last days to write about our health care crisis from her hospital bed. True to her kind nature, she began by thanking the overwhelmed nurses and strangers who came to her aid. But she warned that our health care system is a broken system. Melinda said, “I’m hoping to add my voice so people know how bad it is. People aren’t dying from mysterious illnesses, it’s from lack of accessible preventable care.” She herself died a few days later.

This government’s cuts are literally letting people die needlessly—good people, our loved ones.

So for anyone hearing our pleas or the pleas of Melinda’s family, if your loved one has struggled with the health care system, join us in demanding urgent action. It’s going to take all of us to speak up, just like Melinda did in her dying days.

I do thank the member opposite for his very heartfelt remarks this morning. We heard them all.

I want to raise two things—first of all, a comment about the incremental support in this budget for the RAISE program, racialized and Indigenous supports for entrepreneurs, at $15 million. In particular, I want to comment and confirm the additional $25.1 million in the budget to support identification, investigation, protection and commemoration of residential school burial sites. I respectfully ask whether that additional investment is sufficient to allow the member to support the budget as tabled.

On April 2, we celebrate Education and Sharing Day to honour the work and teachings of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Established in 1978, it pays tribute to his endless commitment for better education for the children of North America.

The seventh leader in the Chabad-Lubavitch dynasty, Rabbi Schneerson was born in Ukraine in 1902 and moved to New York to escape the Holocaust.

If the Holocaust showed the world the evil of which human beings are capable, the Rebbe reminds us of what good people we can be.

He was devoted to teaching the infinite value of every human life and the practice of loving your neighbour. The Rebbe inspired millions, not only with his wise words, but with his actions.

He created a global network of Chabad emissaries in over 100 countries, offering social service programs and humanitarian aid all around the world.

A tireless advocate for youth, he promoted education as a cornerstone of humanity, and in an era when a woman’s education was not valued the same as a man’s, the Rebbe staunchly created more educational opportunities for girls. He was even known to write, “There must be a girl!” on educational materials that only depicted boys.

April 2 will mark the Rebbe’s 121st birthday. In Hebrew, we say, “Ad meah v’esrim,” which means “until 120.”

The Rebbe may not have reached 120, but his legacy certainly lives on.

Thank you very much to the member for Kiiwetinoong for those comments. I learn so much from your remarks in this House, and I really appreciate the reminder of how badly we are failing on two fronts: first, how long we have failed to meet our treaty obligations; and, second, having acknowledged that we did harm and committed to reconciliation, how we are failing to make good on that commitment because we are allowing this persistence of two Ontarios, two standards of living, and completely different expectations and treatment for Indigenous peoples in this province.

What measures would the member like to have seen in this budget that would have actually made a meaningful step toward meeting our treaty obligations and commitment to reconciliation?

Working closely with the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus administration, we are establishing the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health, the first-ever medical school in Scarborough.

Remarkably, the last time a medical school was built in Toronto was in 1843, almost two centuries ago.

The Scarborough medical school represents more than a symbol of progress; it’s a beacon of hope for our long-neglected community. By training health care professionals who understand the unique needs of Scarborough, we can deliver top-quality, comprehensive care.

Our government’s recent budget plan allocated an additional $100 million to expand and accelerate medical education across Ontario. Moreover, they have invested $33 million to create 100 postgraduate seats and 154 undergraduate seats in the next three years.

This initiative is a core component of our government’s plan to solidify and strengthen health care in Scarborough for generations to come.

Next question?

Second reading debate deemed adjourned.

It’s an honour to rise today to share with the Ontario Legislature important news from Sarnia–Lambton. I’m extremely pleased to inform the members of this Legislature that Ontario’s Minister of Health recently appointed Dr. Karalyn Dueck as the new, permanent medical officer of health for the county of Lambton. Dr. Dueck previously served as the acting associate medical officer of health for the Middlesex-London health unit. She has also worked in public health roles in Peel and York region, and as a family physician in both Guelph and Bramalea.

Dr. Dueck’s appointment is key to helping the hard-working team at Lambton Public Health advance important public health programs and services that support the positive health and well-being of our community.

I’m extremely pleased to welcome Dr. Dueck into her new role. I look forward to working together with Dr. Dueck and the Lambton Public Health team in the coming weeks and months.

Congratulations, Dr. Dueck, and best wishes for a great future in your new role.

I rise today to recognize a great man who passed away on March 12, in his 99th year.

Arthur Boon was a skilled hockey and baseball player. He was invited to the Detroit Red Wings camp, and for many years he played senior A hockey in New Hamburg. He continued to play hockey every Sunday night until the age of 84. He was also a member of the Stratford Nationals in the Intercounty Baseball League, until a broken ankle ended his career. However, that did not stop him from playing slo-pitch until he was 71. He also coached minor baseball and was there to watch his sons, Art Jr. and Rick, play their games, and eventually his grandchildren.

Speaker, in addition to these sports accomplishments, and being a loving husband and father, he was also a World War II veteran. At the age of 15, Art signed up and eventually joined the 19th Canadian Army Field Regiment. His first action in the war was the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. He would fight in many battles up the coast of France, through Belgium, Holland and eventually Germany.

After returning home, Art proudly served with the Perth Regiment, eventually retiring as chief warrant officer.

Art was given the Order of Military Merit, the Order of St. John and the French Legion of Honour.

For over 75 years, Art organized and played a major role in the Remembrance Day service in Stratford.

We owe a great debt to Art, his family, and his fellow veterans. We will remember them.

Merci beaucoup.

Speaker, I would like to take the opportunity to make the House aware of a very sad day in Timiskaming–Cochrane. Today at the Floyd Hembruff Civic Centre, people are about to pay their respects for the passing of Victor Lei. Victor was born in Timmins on August 24, 1994. He studied pharmacy at the University of Waterloo, gaining his doctor of pharmacy in 2018. He worked at the Guardian Pharmacy in Iroquois Falls. In northern Ontario, where we’re so short of primary health care, pharmacists are lifelines, and he was a true lifeline.

On Wednesday, March 22, while going home from work, at 28 years old, Victor lost his life on the Trans-Canada Highway. The accident is still under investigation. But we need to remember that the Trans-Canada Highway—for Victor, for us—is our main street.

I’d like to take the opportunity on behalf of everyone here in the House to pay our respects to Victor’s family, friends, his loved ones.

Thank you very much for your attention.

I never tire of saying that Brantford–Brant is home to world-class athletes.

Today in the House, I welcome champion marathoner Krista DuChene and her family.

Krista’s esteemed athletic career started with high school track and later being named the MVP for Ontario University Athletics top scorer for the University of Guelph hockey team.

In 2005, Krista was the first Canadian woman to cross the finish line at the Boston Marathon.

Krista won the Mississauga Marathon on Mother’s Day in 2009.

In April 2015, Krista raced in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to become the first Canadian in 20 years to qualify for the Olympics in the women’s marathon. Her time of two hours, 29 minutes, 38 seconds was her second-fastest marathon.

Krista currently holds the record for the fastest 50-kilometre race in Canada for women, with a time of three hours, 22 minutes, 22 seconds.

Krista ran all six marathon majors: London, Boston, Berlin, Chicago, New York, and Tokyo. Tokyo was the last on the list for DuChene, and she finished in a stellar two hours, 38 minutes and 53 seconds—the only Canadian to break a record in that race.

Krista’s favourite quote is, “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast! And when I run I feel his pleasure.”

Krista, you make Brantford–Brant, Ontario and Canada proud.

The greatest challenge we have in our hospitals right now—indeed, in our health care system—is not having enough people to care for those people who need care. There is a health care human resources crisis in Ontario, and what it means is, we’re not fully using our operating room capacity, we still have emergency room closures, and the surgical backlog from the pandemic persists, all because our hospitals are desperate for nurses, doctors and other front-liners.

Bill 60, as it stands, risks setting up a parallel for-profit system that is only going to make it harder for our hospitals to retain and recruit the people they need to clear that surgical backlog. It will pit patients’ interests against the interests of shareholders. If we’re going to effectively cure the backlog and reduce wait times, Bill 60 must be amended.

Il existe une crise des ressources humaines dans le secteur de la santé en Ontario. Les temps d’attente restent élevés et l’arriéré chirurgical dû à la pandémie persiste parce que nos hôpitaux ont désespérément besoin d’infirmières, de médecins et d’autres travailleurs de première ligne.

Le projet de loi 60, dans sa forme actuelle, risque de mettre en place un système parallèle privé. Cela ne fera que compliquer la tâche de nos hôpitaux, qui auront du mal à recruter les personnes dont ils ont besoin pour résorber l’arriéré—

March 31 marks the International Transgender Day of Visibility. This is a day to celebrate the achievements of transgender people and raise awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide. This day encourages us to recognize that trans and non-binary individuals continue to resist oppression by simply being who we are.

Challenges, however, do exist. This is exactly why we are seeing a rampant rise of bigotry and violence against trans, non-binary and queer communities. Driven by irrational fear and destructive political gamesmanship, there are 431 pieces of legislation pending across America that target transgender people—those numbers are hard to get out, Speaker.

A week ago, the Ugandan Parliament passed anti-homosexual legislation that imprisons people for just identifying as 2SLGBTQ+. Some offences carry the death penalty. Such a hateful and violent law must be condemned by every parliamentarian in this House.

Here in Ontario, we have the opportunity to be a world leader on trans human rights, starting with improving access to health care this year, with my private member’s bill, the Gender Affirming Health Care Advisory Committee Act.

And don’t forget, this government could show its commitment to trans health care today by committing to restart the Connect-Clinic with an alternative funding plan so that everyone in Ontario, no matter how remote-access they are, has access to gender-affirming care.

To all my trans and non-binary community members in Ontario: The Ontario NDP sees you, supports you and values you today and every other day.