My question is for the Minister for Seniors and Accessibility.

Seniors in Ontario want the ability to live their lives independently and to be active and socially connected in their communities.

In fact, just last night I had a wonderful opportunity to listen to Nadia, who lives in East Riverside, about how important support for seniors really is—especially their ability to socialize.

Across our province, many seniors are currently struggling with the high costs of food, everyday goods and services. For seniors with limited incomes, the current economic climate translates into ongoing hardship and difficulty. Seniors across Ontario are looking to our government to put forward measures that will provide them with the direct help and support that they need.

Can the minister please explain how our government is working on behalf of seniors during these uncertain economic times?

It is truly reassuring that our government is focusing on actions and investments that will support vulnerable low-income seniors by expanding and annually indexing the GAINS program.

Under the strong leadership of the Premier and this minister, our government is demonstrating respect for the hard-working men and women who have built our province.

As Ontario’s population continues to age, our government must continue to respond to the needs of seniors and provide them with the support that will improve their overall quality of life.

Can the minister please explain more about the expanded GAINS program?

I have some more petitions from the Wolfe Island ferry and Glenora ferry workers.

“Petition to the Legislative Assembly...:

“Whereas the Wolfe Island ferry and Glenora ferry have had serious service disruptions due to a staffing crisis created by the Ontario government; and

“Whereas residents and visitors to Wolfe Island have been trapped on the island for up to 12 hours with no way to leave, even for emergencies or work; and

“Whereas Glenora ferry has had a reduced schedule during this year’s busy tourism season, creating hours of lineups and delays for passengers; and

“Whereas the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) ferry workers are drastically underpaid in comparison to the rest of the marine industry, causing recruitment and retention issues; and

“Whereas instead of paying competitive wages and hiring more permanent staff, MTO has contracted out the work to Reliance Offshore,” which is “an out-of-province, private temporary staffing agency, which charges up to twice as much hourly as ministry staff earn; and

“Whereas contracting out the work is a waste of our public funds on a stopgap solution that doesn’t provide long-term stability to our ferry system;

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

“(1) Fix our ferries—stop the service disruptions and reductions caused by ministry understaffing.

“(2) Repeal Bill 124, which has imposed a three-year wage cut on already underpaid ferry workers during high inflation, and pay them fair, competitive wages”; and finally,

“(3) End the outrageously expensive contracts with private temporary staffing agencies and hire permanent Ministry of Transportation ferry workers to work and live in our communities instead.”

I fully support this petition, Speaker. I’ll have page Keya bring it to the table.

I just want to correct my record from earlier. In response to my honourable colleague from Thunder Bay–Superior North, I indicated that there was an increase of $2.2 million in supportive housing—in fact, it’s $202 million of increase. Thank you very much—

Interjections.

I’m very proud to rise in this House to present this petition on behalf of Churchill Public School, as well as the Elementary Teachers of Toronto.

“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 ... 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 will proudly affix my signature to this petition and send it with page Skyler back to the centre table.

I will read in my petition:

“Whereas in the First and Second World Wars, over 7,000 First Nation members, as well as an unknown number of Métis, Inuit and other Indigenous recruits, voluntarily served in the Canadian Armed Forces; and

“Whereas countless Indigenous peoples bravely and selflessly served Canada at a time of great challenges for Canada; and

“Whereas this spirit of volunteerism and community marked the life of the late Murray Whetung, who volunteered to serve in the Second World War; and

“Whereas many First Nations individuals lost their status after serving in the wars off-reserve for a period of time; and

“Whereas despite this injustice, many continued to recognize the value in continuously giving back to their community; and

“Whereas the values of volunteerism and community are instilled in the army, air, and sea cadets across Ontario; and

“Whereas the Murray Whetung Community Service Award Act establishes an award for the cadets and tells the story of Indigenous veterans’ sacrifice and mistreatment;

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

“To urge all members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to support the passage of the Murray Whetung Community Service Award Act, 2022.”

I will affix my name to this and give it to—

Petitions.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas in the First and Second World Wars, over 7,000 First Nation members, as well as an unknown number of Métis, Inuit and other Indigenous recruits, voluntarily served in the Canadian Armed Forces; and

“Whereas countless Indigenous peoples bravely and selflessly served Canada at a time of great challenges for Canada; and

“Whereas this spirit of volunteerism and community marked the life of the late Murray Whetung, who volunteered to serve in the Second World War; and

“Whereas many First Nations individuals lost their status after serving in the wars off-reserve for a period of time; and

“Whereas despite this injustice, many continued to recognize the value in continuously giving back to their community; and

“Whereas the values of volunteerism and community are instilled in the army, air, and sea cadets across Ontario; and

“Whereas the Murray Whetung Community Service Award Act establishes an award for the cadets and tells the story of Indigenous veterans’ sacrifice and mistreatment;

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

“To urge all members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to support the passage of the Murray Whetung Community Service Award Act, 2022.”

It’s a very valid petition, Mr. Speaker. I sign my name and give it to page Jonas.

I really want to thank Dr. Sally Palmer for her advocacy and for getting these petitions and presenting them to me. This petition is, “To Raise Social Assistance Rates” in Ontario.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontario’s social assistance rates are well below Canada’s official Market Basket Measure poverty line and far from adequate to cover the rising costs of food and rent: $733 for individuals on OW and soon $1,227 for ODSP;

“Whereas an open letter to the Premier and two cabinet ministers, signed by over 230 organizations, recommends that social assistance rates be doubled for both” OW and ODSP;

“Whereas the recent small budget increase of 5% for ODSP still leaves these citizens well below the poverty line, both they and those receiving the frozen OW rates are struggling to live in this time of alarming inflation;

“Whereas the government of Canada recognized in its CERB program that a ‘basic income’ of $2,000 per month was the standard support required by individuals who lost their employment during the pandemic;

“We, the undersigned citizens of Ontario, petition the Legislative Assembly to double social assistance rates for OW and ODSP.”

I certainly support this petition, will be signing it and giving it to page Mikaeel.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas in the First and Second World Wars, over 7,000 First Nation members, as well as an unknown number of Métis, Inuit and other Indigenous recruits, voluntarily served in the Canadian Armed Forces; and

“Whereas countless Indigenous peoples bravely and selflessly served Canada at a time of great challenges for Canada; and

“Whereas this spirit of volunteerism and community marked the life of the late Murray Whetung, who volunteered to serve in the Second World War; and

“Whereas many First Nations individuals lost their status after serving in the wars off-reserve for a period of time; and

“Whereas despite this injustice, many continued to recognize the value in continuously giving back to their community; and

“Whereas the values of volunteerism and community are instilled in the army, air, and sea cadets across Ontario; and

“Whereas the Murray Whetung Community Service Award Act establishes an award for the cadets and tells the story of Indigenous veterans’ sacrifice and mistreatment;

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

“To urge all members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to support the passage of the Murray Whetung Community Service Award Act, 2022.”

I will affix my name to this petition and give it to legislative page Jonas to bring to the table.

J’aimerais remercier la D^re Claire-Lucie Brunet, ainsi que des centaines d’autres résidents de Nickel Belt, pour cette pétition.

« Investir dans les arts et la culture de l’Ontario.

« Alors que le secteur des arts et de la culture contribue 28,7 milliards de dollars au PIB de l’Ontario et crée plus de 300 000 emplois; et

« Alors que le budget du Conseil des arts n’a pas été augmenté au taux d’inflation de l’Ontario, ce qui exacerbe la précarité du revenu des artistes et des travailleurs » et travailleuses « culturels, dont certains gagnent moins de 25 000 $ par année, et encore moins pour ceux » et celles « qui appartiennent à des groupes méritant l’équité; et

« Alors que la précarité des revenus a été aggravée pendant la pandémie par des problèmes d’injustice réglementaire dans le secteur des arts et de la culture, ce qui a eu un impact disproportionné sur le secteur des arts de la scène et sur les groupes prioritaires déterminés par le CAO, notamment les artistes et travailleurs » et travailleuses « culturels BIPOC, autochtones, femmes, personnes handicapées et LGBTQIA2S+; »

Ils et elles demandent à l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario « de maintenir le budget de 65 millions de dollars du Conseil des arts de l’Ontario dans le budget provincial ... et d’investir adéquatement dans le secteur des arts et de la culture, notamment en soutenant les groupes qui méritent l’équité, les petits et moyens collectifs dans nos communautés, ainsi que les artistes individuels afin d’assurer leur survie personnelle et économique. »

J’appuie. Je vais la signer et je demande à Evelyn de l’amener à la table des greffiers.

We’re going to move to questions for the member.

I thank the member for his presentation. He always is very well rehearsed and speaks so well here in the House.

My question is—you speak to everyday Ontarians, families and individuals in your community. We are now in the midst of an unprecedented affordability crisis and this is a very, very, very tough time, coming out of an even tougher time as well, from the pandemic. Do everyday residents in your community express hope with this budget? What are they saying to you?

During this budget, building highways, transit and infrastructure projects are the main keys of this budget. We are going to deliver the most ambitious capital plan in Ontario’s history, with planned infrastructure spending of more than $184 billion over 10 years, including:

—$27.9 billion to support planning and construction of highway expansion;

—$70.5 billion for transit over the next 10 years;

—over $48 billion in hospital infrastructure over the next 10 years;

—$15 billion in capital grants over 10 years, supporting a full continuum of care of first responders who have experienced post-traumatic stress injury and other current mental health disorders.

Madam Speaker, through you, I want to ask the member opposite why he is not supporting this great initiative.

It’s an honour to rise for second reading of Bill 85, the government’s budget bill, which comes at a critical moment in time for people in this province. People are still dealing with the effects of the pandemic. Inflation is affecting cost of living, and a possible looming recession is providing a lot of anxiety.

With multiple crises that are resulting from this, Speaker, I believe this budget fails to meet the moment, especially when it comes to addressing the housing affordability and cost-of-living crisis: the fact that people on ODSP and OW are living in legislated poverty, being particularly affected by inflation and cost of living; the fact that our health care, education and mental health systems are suffering from a lack of people and investments in the people who deliver those services; and finally, the cost of the climate crisis that’s already affecting us.

Speaker, the government talks about fiscal prudence, but oftentimes fiscal prudence requires us making investments with a rate of return that improves people’s lives. I want to give you a few examples.

Every $10 invested in supportive housing saves $21.72, yet this government fails to make the investments needed for that rate of return. Poverty costs this province $33 billion a year, and yet this budget continues to force people with disabilities on ODSP and Ontario Works to live in legislated poverty, especially at a time when inflation is creating a cost-of-living crisis for everyone in this province.

Speaker, we will not address the crisis in our health care system and in our mental health system if we don’t actually invest in the people who deliver the care, who care for our loved ones. And yet, this bill does nothing to say, “Hey, we’re going to stop wasting taxpayer dollars appealing Bill 124 and actually start paying nurses and front-line health care workers fair wages, fair benefits and provide better working conditions.”

Finally, we’re already facing a climate crisis. According to the Financial Accountability Officer, this decade alone, the next seven years, the climate crisis is going to cost public infrastructure alone $26.2 billion. Most of that’s going to fall on the backs of our municipalities, who own most of that infrastructure. There’s nothing in this budget to prepare our communities, to prepare our transportation systems, our buildings, our storm and water systems for the crisis that is already here.

Speaker, we have to wake up. The government has to get its head out of the sand and make the investments our communities and our people need.

I also just want to say, the poor people on Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Payments—who can survive, Speaker, on $731 a month, or $1,200 a month? We are better than that in Ontario. I know we are better than that. We can double social assistance rates, improve peoples’ lives and save the province $33 billion a year.

This budget provides critical funding to support us in developing a partnership between the University of Guelph and Lakehead to address the shortage of veterinarians, especially in northern Ontario and especially when it comes to large-animal agriculture. That is something I do support in this budget, even though there are things in this budget I don’t support. I want to thank the member for the question.

That concludes the time we have available for petitions this afternoon.

Resuming the debate adjourned on March 28, 2023, 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.

My question to the member opposite is around the Ontario Veterinary College, which is in his riding. I’m sure he’s aware of the crisis that we have on our hands with regard to the need for more large-animal veterinarians. In this budget, we are demonstrating that we’re listening and we’re working for people across this province, introducing new skills and opportunities to meet the needs.

I ask the member opposite, surely you’re going to support this bill because you understand the need for more large-animal veterinarians and that by having the 2+2 program, seeing the University of Guelph and Lakehead University collaborate to address this crisis—I know we can count on your support. Is that not right?

It’s an honour to rise here today and take some time to recognize the many important investments and changes that our government is making to build Ontario. I’d also like to say, Speaker, that I’ll be sharing my time with my great colleague from Markham–Thornhill as well.

All of us here today and all Ontarians can be proud that Ontario is seen as a leader and as a role model not only by other Canadian provinces but jurisdictions around the world. This reality reflects just how hard our government is working to make sure Ontario is a world-class place to live, work and play. Having said that, Speaker, our work is far from finished, and indeed we are just getting started.

With the federal government announcing a plan that would see half a million new immigrants to Canada each year by 2025, it’s imperative that we create an environment here in Ontario that is welcoming to new Canadians and provides opportunity to prosper. Just a few weeks ago, Speaker, Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, alongside the federal Minister of Immigration, announced Ontario will be doubling the number of economic immigrants it accepts to 18,000 people by the year 2025. In this budget, Speaker, we’re also investing an additional $25 million over three years to ensure that as we welcome more people to our province, especially skilled workers, we provide the supports they need. All of this is to say that, while our government has taken important steps already to promote new jobs and promote innovation in a variety of sectors, there’s much more to be done to build an Ontario that can fill the dreams of hundreds of thousands of new Canadians that will call Ontario home in the years to come.

It’s not easy to pick up your life and move across the world to a different country, but our government has taken action every step of the way to ensure every new Canadian who looks to call Ontario home is supported and has opportunities to succeed. We’re building a strong Ontario in order to welcome new Ontarians who will help us build an even stronger Ontario in the years to come.

So let’s take a trip and look at exactly how our plan put forward in the Building a Strong Ontario Act will address current priorities and support the dreams of all those who will come to call our province home. While many newcomers to our province will likely fly into Toronto Pearson International Airport, they might soon decide they want a quieter lifestyle outside of the big city of Toronto or the GTA—no offence to my GTA colleagues in the place today. They might look to places like St. Marys or Palmerston, each unique in their own ways but with a growing immigrant population. They may even decide to call these rural communities their new home.

Well, that’s good news, because, as our government has outlined in our plan to build a strong Ontario, this plan benefits all communities across the province of Ontario. This budget highlights supports for all Ontarians looking to start a family, grow in their chosen trade or profession and play an active role in their community. In communities like mine, our government’s investments in the Dual Credit Program to expand the veterinary training and rural infrastructure will help build a strong Ontario.

Speaker, our government has overseen the licensing of over 13,000 internationally trained nurses, with over 3,100 soon to receive their licence to practise in Ontario. Beyond that, we have taken significant steps to expand training and employment opportunities for health care workers right across the province. The Ontario Learn and Stay Grant: Our government is targeting up to 2,500 post-secondary students in nursing, medical laboratory technologists and paramedic programs aimed at reinforcing our health care capacity in under-served communities in rural and northern Ontario, benefiting Perth–Wellington directly as well.

To ease the pressures faced by nurses and other health care workers on the front lines, our government is more than doubling our previous investment by allocating an additional $100.8 million over the next three years to expand and accelerate the rollout of undergraduate and post-graduate seats at Ontario medical schools. We’re also investing an additional $33 million over three years to add 100 undergrad seats beginning in 2023—this year, Speaker—as well as 154 post-graduate medical training seats to prioritize Ontario residents trained at home and abroad beginning in 2024 and going forward.

We’re taking steps to further alleviate pressures on our health care system by investing an additional $3.3 million over the next three years to expand access to the Dual Credit Program and health-care-related courses. Our government is investing in supporting an additional 1,400 secondary school students across Ontario to get their career started in health care. So not only does our government have a plan to license and integrate internationally trained health care workers into our hospitals and long-term-care spaces in Perth–Wellington and right across the province, but our plan protects and expands the capacity of our health care system now and well into the future.

Connectivity is an important part of ensuring high-quality care for all those who need it. We all know too well the devastating impact that mental health crises are having in our communities across Ontario, and I’m sure that every one of us in this place today knows someone in their life who has struggled with mental health issues. It’s not an issue that is exclusive to one group of people. The unfortunate reality is that mental health struggles have taken root in each and every one of our communities. That’s why our government is providing an additional $425 million over three years—in addition to our $3.8-billion commitment in previous budgets—to address mental health and addiction supports.

Community-based mental health and addiction services provide crucial supports, ensuring a swift delivery of care to those who need it and where they need it most. To that end, Speaker, our government recognizes that those who struggle with mental health and addictions are often some of the most vulnerable in our communities. That’s why we’re also investing an additional $202 million each year in the Homelessness Prevention Program and the Indigenous Supportive Housing Program.

More than just a roof over their head, the supportive housing initiatives our government is establishing are directly integrated with mental health and addiction supports, job training and providing a springboard for vulnerable Ontarians to recover. This approach is supported by experts, municipalities and other stakeholders. In addition to reducing costs in other sectors, supportive housing provides people in Ontario with an opportunity to live happier, healthier and fulfilling lives.

In rural Ontario, part of what makes us a healthy, happy and fulfilling place to live is our agricultural roots in our communities. For generations, we have taken pride in the fact that many of us make a living growing our crops and raising livestock, not only for our own communities, our cities in the province of Ontario, but across the world.

The people of Perth–Wellington and across rural Ontario know just how complex and integrated our agri-food sector is, and while our farmers themselves play a central role, they also rely on food scientists, transport workers, engineers and veterinarians, to just name a few.

With that in mind, this budget is addressing the pressing issues faced by our agriculture sector, including improving access to veterinary care for our livestock farmers. Speaker, our government is investing $14.7 million over two years to launch a collaborative doctor of veterinary medicine program at the University of Guelph, of which I am a proud alum, and Lakehead University—a crucial step in the right direction to protecting and expanding our agriculture sector in southwestern Ontario and right across the province.

Veterinarians play an important role in our agricultural sector. Speaker, at the most basic level, vets are there to make sure farmers can be confident in raising healthy livestock by diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders and advising farmers on hygiene and general strategies for their animals. At a broad level, vets are stewards of the food safety and security standards we have here in Ontario and that we expect and are so proud of.

To this point, I was encouraged to hear some of our agriculture stakeholders’ comments surrounding these important investments. For example, Peggy, president of the OFA—many in this place know her—and these are her comments: “Limited veterinary capacity leaves people, animals and ultimately our food system at risk and this multi-faceted approach will help maintain healthy, safe and sustainable food protection.”

Speaker, another quote which I found encouraging: Jack Chaffe, Beef Farmers of Ontario, president and also a constituent of mine, “The commitments included in the 2023 Ontario budget to improve access to veterinarian education and service capacity come as welcomed news to BFO and Ontario beef farmers, particularly those in underserviced regions of the province.”

Speaker, by engaging the University of Guelph with this initiative, our government is expanding our partnerships with an institution already well recognized around the world. In my community and communities across Ontario, the Ontario Agricultural College at the University of Guelph is a recognized and trusted source of capable workers for the agricultural sector, and I can tell you our communities are so happy to see further investment in this industry.

At the same time, Speaker, our government is looking out for our farmers and farm families that work on the front lines, feeding our communities and protecting our food safety and security. We’re especially aware of the evolving role advanced technologies play in large- and small-scale agricultural operations.

We owe it to our family operators, those who choose to invest in Ontario’s agriculture sector to ensure we have reliable, high-speed Internet across the province, including in rural communities such as mine in southwestern Ontario. That’s why our government is taking concrete action through an investment of nearly $4 billion to ensure every community—urban, rural and remote—has access to high-speed Internet by the end of 2025. Just to frame this closer to my home in my riding: The residents of southwestern Ontario can expect to see more than $63 million invested through our government going directly to support more homes, businesses and farms across our region through the Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology, or SWIFT, initiative.

Speaker, for those who already live here and for those who dream of starting a life here, our plan is to build a strong Ontario that shows our government is taking the right actions at the right time.

Having said that, let’s pass this budget. Let’s build a brighter future for a strong Ontario for our grandparents, parents, my generation and for generations to come in Ontario. Let’s get it done.

Thank you to the members opposite for their debate. The member for Perth–Wellington had talked about mental health supports, and it’s always great to hear about funding for mental health supports. What makes me nervous, though, is that on September 10, 2020, the Premier and a couple of ministers were at NISA, the Northern Initiative for Social Action, in Sudbury, announcing $14.75 million for mental health supports. Just two months ago, I was at NISA asking them how the money has been helping them. They said they’ve never received any of the money. That was two years, six months, 18 days ago.

During the announcement, the Premier said, “We know mental health is just as important as physical health. Everyone, including our heroic frontline workers, can sometimes experience burnout, depression or anxiety. Even though you may feel alone or helpless, we want you to know that we have your back. If you need someone to talk to, please reach out to one of these amazing mental health and addictions organizations. They are caring, compassionate and knowledgeable people who can help.”

How much money will NISA get out of this funding announcement?

Thank you to my colleague from Perth–Wellington for sharing the time with me. I’m honoured to rise today about budget 2023, Bill 85. This is a people’s budget. This budget has brought hope and optimism to all Ontarians. This budget gives a sense of relief to the people of Ontario when the world is still facing many economic challenges. We have been through many difficulties, like the COVID pandemic, for the last three years; rising cost of living, hunger and homelessness; as well as global issues, including geopolitical challenges like the war in Ukraine, rising levels of inflation and the disruption of the supply chain.

In spite of all odds, our government is able to propose a feasible budget for our people of Ontario. Madam Speaker, Ontario is not an island. We are connected to the North American international economic nerve. Despite all the economic turbulence, we came out triumphant, strong and resilient to protect our Ontarians. Thank you to the Minister of Finance and his wonderful PAs and his team for their hard work and bringing robust revenue growth, fiscal prudence, disciplined planning and clear priorities.

Ontario is the fastest-growing province in Canada and also the economic engine of Canada. This budget favours not only the immigrant settlement in Ontario, but also doctors, nurses, seniors, teachers, students, homebuyers, people with disabilities, small businesses and so on and so forth. Through this comprehensive budget, we are investing in housing, highways, transit, education, health care and skilled trades, manufacturing and mental health. Madam Speaker, that is what the people of Ontario want.

Let me explain the salient features of this budget. How are we going to address health care? We are spending an additional $15.3 billion in the budget. Ontario is investing $200 million to extend supports to address immediate health care staffing shortages, as well as to grow the workforce for years to come.

We are supporting more than 3,000 internationally educated nurses to become accredited nurses in Ontario through the Supervised Practice Experience Partnership. It’s never happened before—the first time happening in Ontario, opening the door for internationally trained nurses. More than 2,000 internationally educated nurses have enrolled in this program, and over 1,300 of them are already fully registered and practising in Ontario.

Through 50 new major hospital development projects, our government will add another 3,000 new hospital beds over the next 10 years. The government is reducing the wait times for people across the province by investing an additional $72 million in 2023-24 to make more surgeries available at community surgical and diagnostic centres to connect people to care faster. Doctors like my wife, Dr. Rajes Logan, are getting phone calls from patients, and they are on the waiting lists to get into surgeries. Most of the doctors are going to be happy about this budget and about this news.

In education, the government will enhance supports under the Plan to Catch Up, including early reading enhancements, which will invest $25 million over two years to provide support for students in senior kindergarten to grade 2. Students will be assessed twice a year for their reading skills, using evidence-based screening tools. The government plans to work with the school board to establish a consistent set of recommended screening tools. Targeted math supports include an additional $12.6 million investment over two years to double the number of school math coaches, who will be responsible for implementing early intervention strategies and providing other math-related supports for students at targeted schools across the province.

Preparing more students for the jobs of the future will involve creating stronger links between classroom learning and good-paying careers. Over three years, our government is investing $6.2 million in targeted supports for students with disabilities or intellectual challenges to pursue co-operative education opportunities. Continued curriculum updates will focus on life and job skills by revising the curriculum in language; science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM; and skilled trades. This includes a new computer studies and revised technological education curriculum, beginning with the implementation of new grade 10 courses in September 2023 and revised grade 9 and 10 courses to be offered in September 2024.

Ontario is providing more hands-on learning opportunities for post-secondary students to develop the skilled workforce of the future. This is why the government is investing an additional $32.4 million over the next three years to support about 6,500 high-quality research internships through the Mitacs program.

My colleague from Peterborough eloquently talked about how we are continuing to provide more than $6.5 billion a year in electricity price relief for both consumers and job creators under the comprehensive electricity plan, Ontario Electricity Rebate and other targeted programs for eligible low-income households and on-reserve First Nation consumers, as well as eligible rural or remote customers.

We are continuing to cut the gas tax and fuel tax rate until December 31, 2023.

We’ll eliminate the double fares for most local transit services in the greater Golden Horseshoe for commuters using the GO Transit network. It will help in my riding of Markham because of the less effective public transportation system in Markham. We’re reducing child care fees for children aged zero to five by 50% and working toward further reducing fees to an average of $10 per day by September 2025.

How we are helping on ODSP: The government increased the Ontario Disability Support Program income support rates and the maximum monthly amounts for the Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities Program by 5% in 2022.

We are addressing homelessness through Supportive Housing Ontario, which is investing an additional $202 million each year in the Homelessness Prevention Program and Indigenous Supportive Housing Program.

What is in the budget for seniors? The Guaranteed Annual Income System program, GAINS: To ensure that more seniors who need financial help get it, the government is proposing to make changes to expand the eligibility for GAINS starting in July 2024, which would see about 100,000 more low-income seniors receive payment, for a 50% increase in recipients. It’s very welcome news for many seniors in Markham–Thornhill.

We are not only helping seniors, but our government is investing over $170 million over three years to improve outcomes for youth leaving the child welfare system and set them on a path to financial independence and fulfilling careers.

Our plan is a responsible, targeted approach to help people and businesses today, while laying a strong fiscal foundation for future generations.