The tourism industry is vital to our economy, and I think everyone knows that. It supports almost 400,000 jobs across this great province.

Tourism activity is rebounding, yet when I speak to tourism operators and employees in my community, they express concerns about the future. Operators wonder what the future may hold for the upcoming tourism season. As well, job seekers, particularly students already trying to plan for summer jobs, wonder whether tourism is a good option to explore.

Can the minister please provide information on the status and outlook for our tourism sector?

Many people in my riding, again, rely on tourism for their jobs and have appreciated the various support grants that the ministry has provided that saw them through tough times of lower attendance at their venues and activities.

Tourism is vital to our province’s overall economic prosperity and is helpful in enhancing the overall quality of life and well-being of Ontarians.

As a government, we must continue to provide investments and supports where needed, as I know we have done.

Can the minister please explain how this government is supporting and collaborating with the tourism industry?

In the middle of a mental health crisis, Hamilton is losing two critical mental health agencies due to chronic underfunding by these Conservatives. The Canadian Mental Health Association will now be required to take on these services, but this is an agency that is also struggling to keep up.

We put forward a very important motion to offer emergency stabilization funding for CMHA, and the Conservatives—wait for it—voted no.

Why are you adding to the crisis by denying funding for these vital services?

Mr. Speaker, I think the Attorney General answered that—

Interjection: Wow. Fascinating.

Mr. Speaker, I can confirm for the NDP that the people of the province of Ontario relegated the Liberals to just seven or eight seats again, reduced the size of the official opposition, and increased the size of the Conservative government on this side of the House and that side of the House because they like what we are doing: bringing prosperity, hope and optimism back to the province of Ontario.

But you can continue to weave that tale that somehow that’s what it was.

We’ll continue to work hard for the people of Ontario, and I suspect the people of Ontario will continue to show their support for this government.

As the member opposite knows, I can’t speak directly to the case, as it’s still in front of the courts. We will appeal the matter. I can tell you that we were disappointed with the results, and we look forward to the dissent being given proper care at the Supreme Court.

In the year leading up to the last election, this Conservative government passed legislation that used the “notwithstanding” clause to strip Ontarians of their right of free speech. It suppressed the right of environmentalists, education and health care workers, and others to pay for advertising critical of the government.

The Ontario Court of Appeal has just ruled that the Conservatives’ legislation trampled on Ontarians’ right to vote in the last election.

Will this government apologize to the people of Ontario for robbing us of our democratic right to a fair election?

The Conservative government is politicizing the appointment of judges, allowing it to appoint Conservative-friendly judges.

Three times, this government has used the “notwithstanding” clause to strip Ontarians of their legal rights and fundamental freedoms under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The Court of Appeal has just ruled that the Conservatives violated Ontarians’ right to vote in the last election. Is your appeal of that decision an indication that you intend to not respect the democratic rights of Ontarians in the next provincial election?

Thanks again for the question from my colleague.

Our government, under Premier Ford’s leadership, has a very clear vision for this province. We are the first government focused on connecting supply chains in the north and south, so Ontarians across the province can share in economic benefits. Unlike previous governments, we are leveraging Ontario’s strengths in the mining and manufacturing sectors to build an integrated supply chain for EVs.

That’s why our government launched our Critical Minerals Strategy, and we will continue to execute on this plan.

I had the privilege of announcing the next round of recipients of the Critical Minerals Innovation Fund at PDAC this week. This fund leverages the expertise and innovation we have in Ontario’s critical minerals sector by funding research and development projects to secure the supply chain for critical minerals. The projects range from mining and mineral processing to the recovering and recycling of critical minerals. There are too many successful projects leveraging this fund to talk about in this short time, but what I can say is Ontario is taking action by making strategic investments—

Supplementary.

Thank you for the question.

From when this government was first elected, it made a point of making substantial, unprecedented investments in mental health and addictions. It worked with all of the stakeholders and continues to work with children and youth mental health, CMHA and all the other agencies to build a continuum of care.

This is the government that created the Roadmap to Wellness. This is the government that created a ministry to work specifically on mental health and addictions and create the networks necessary to provide the supports for individuals.

We have identified where those gaps exist, and with a $525-million investment on an annualized basis, we’re building the system, filling the gaps, and ensuring that everyone in this province gets the support, the care, the help they need when and where they need it.

My question is for the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Ontario is known for its rich and abundant natural resources. Our province is truly blessed with more than a quarter million lakes, shoreline access to four great lakes, and more than 490,000 kilometres of rivers and streams offering residents and guests exceptional fishing opportunities, which I personally enjoy. We appreciate that our neighbours and many of our other tourists want to share in these resources.

People travelling to Ontario to participate in hunting and fishing are required to follow a different set of regulations than residents. Questions have arisen about the potential strain and impact of outdoor recreation tourism on wildlife and the environment.

Can the minister please explain how our government is responding to the growth in Ontario’s natural resources tourism?

With the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s family fishing days, more Ontario families and friends can enjoy fishing anywhere in the province without having to purchase a licence or carry an Outdoors Card. Free fishing periods make it affordable and easy for people to enjoy a fun activity while experiencing this beautiful province.

The people of my riding of Cambridge are interested in learning more about the opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Can the minister please explain how Ontarians can access information about recreation opportunities in communities across the province?

Thank you to the member for that question.

Building on the 14,000 nursing registrations in the province last year alone, our government is investing in a range of initiatives to track, train and retain even more nurses. As I mentioned earlier, this year alone in universities—this doesn’t even include colleges—over 109,000 registrations in September 2022.

We are seeing an increase year over year of students entering into the nursing profession.

Look at the investments that are being made in long-term care alone—60,000 new and upgraded beds, and the beds that the parliamentary assistant to health mentioned earlier in hospitals. The investments being made into the health care system are encouraging new and current nurses in the system. They want to be in nursing.

We expanded the new Learn and Stay program to include nurses, paramedics and lab technicians.

This is an exciting field that students are wanting to get into—health human resources—and this government is making the investments to ensure that they are successful.

Thank you to the member from Cambridge for the question.

We are so blessed in Ontario with those beautiful lakes, rivers, streams, forests full of abundant and diverse wildlife, and we work hard every single day to sustainably manage those resources for future generations.

Mr. Speaker, one of the things we do through hunting and fishing regulations and licences is to make sure we reinvest that money back into these programs, such as stocking eight million fish in over 1,200 water bodies every year. In addition, we invest millions of dollars—$2 million per year—to support ongoing research, management and mitigation of invasive species across the province. These investments are important to the sustainability of the natural resources tourism sector.

Anglers spend more than $1.6 billion a year, so thank you to the member from Cambridge for being part of that and creating jobs in northern Ontario.

The free fishing weekend we just had on Family Day, by the way, was a great success. I had an opportunity to be out in the great community of Brechin, meeting with families who were out on the lake trying fishing for the first time. It was amazing.

The Toronto Sportsmen’s Show is coming up. It’s an excellent opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts to gather and share their passion for hunting, fishing, camping, boating and the great outdoors. It’s happening from March 16 to 19 in the Mississauga–Malton area, so a shout-out to the member for hosting such a great event in his area. There are lots of vendors there, including the Great Ontario Salmon Derby, Destination Ontario, Ducks Unlimited Canada, and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. I encourage everyone who’s there to stop by our Ministry of Natural Resources booth and meet some of the incredible people doing incredible work, like our conservation officers, and see a cooking demo. You can even drop a line and angle for live fish right there. It’s an excellent opportunity to showcase what’s happening in Ontario. I encourage members and all—

Over a year ago, I learned that nursing students were quitting the profession immediately after their hospital placements because of the relentlessly exhausting workload they both experienced and witnessed during their placements.

Fortunately, there are still a few new nurses entering the profession, but this week I was told about entire hospital units that are being staffed entirely by new nursing graduates because there are no senior nurses left to supervise or mentor them. Surely this is a health and safety risk for patients and for the new nurses.

The mass exodus of experienced nurses is surely a direct consequence of this government’s continued attacks on public health care workers.

What I would like to know is—

What is this government doing to attract experienced nurses back to our public health care system?

At one hospital, 66 nursing graduates were just hired who did a significant amount of their clinical training online. You heard that correctly: new nursing graduates with next to no hands-on experience. Again, this calls patient safety into question.

How long do you think new nurses will stay in the profession when what few mentors they have had leave the profession out of compassion fatigue and exhaustion?

Again, this situation is a direct result of the government’s strategy to undermine public health care.

Will the government stop wasting public dollars on its appeal of the unconstitutional Bill 124, revive the late career initiative, and create a strategy to attract experienced nurses back into our hospitals?

A direct consequence of your fearmongering.

My question is for the Minister for Seniors and Accessibility.

Across our province, seniors deserve to live fit, active and socially connected lives. It is important that our government prioritizes support for our seniors to remain healthy, to socialize and take part in community life.

The support demonstrated by this minister for investments that help seniors is commendable and appreciated in communities across our province. I know that many communities are appreciative of the funding provided by our government from the seniors community grants. These funds will certainly benefit seniors in their communities, through programs and educational activities.

Can the minister please describe the importance of investments made by our government to support seniors in our communities?

Ontario’s seniors are the province’s fastest-growing demographic. By the end of this year, there will be three million Ontarians over the age of 65. With the investments made through the support of this minister, our government is taking real action to further empower seniors in their own communities.

Our government must continue to prioritize providing seniors with high-quality supports that contribute to their physical, mental and social well-being.

Can the minister please elaborate on the benefits of these grants for our seniors in communities across the province?

Same vote.

Yes, the same point of order.

Thank you, Speaker. I know that during question period you had made a comment with respect to your ability to adjudicate such things.

I would also remind the House that, in many circumstances in debate in this place—on both sides of the House—things that we may disagree with have been levelled across the floor. We spent a good number of weeks early on in this session talking about a wedding, for instance. We may disagree on things, but it is the opposition’s right to bring that forward.

As you said at the beginning, when that was raised, it is not within your purview to assert what a member has or hasn’t done. If the member has some issues with that, then he is certainly welcome to take that up outside of question period with the appropriate authorities that are available to him.

Let me again just thank all members for what has been a very productive week in the House.

If I may just take a moment to also congratulate my assistant Rolando Ong Jr.—this is his last day in the underpass today as my assistant. He is receiving a well-deserved promotion, Mr. Speaker. I hope you’ll indulge me. This is a kid who comes in every day, two hours, from Barrie to be at the House leader’s office at 6:45 every morning—and has been just an absolute awesome person. I wish him very well in his well-deserved promotion. Congratulations.

Of course, the Attorney General and I can talk about him stealing my great staff, but anyway—

Interjection: Solicitor General.

On Tuesday, March 21, in the morning and afternoon sessions, we will be debating a bill which will be introduced. And in the evening, we will be debating Bill 70, Seniors Month Act, standing in the name of the member for Newmarket–Aurora.

On Wednesday, March 22, both in the morning and in the afternoon sessions, we’ll be debating a bill which will be introduced. And in the evening, we will be debating the member for London–Fanshawe’s motion number 34.

On Thursday, March 23, in the morning, we will continue a bill which will be introduced; and in the afternoon, at 4 o’clock, the Minister of Finance will present the 2023 provincial budget.

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

Bill 71, An Act to amend the Mining Act / Projet de loi 71, Loi modifiant la Loi sur les mines.

This petition’s entitled “Implement the Renfrew County Inquest to End Femicide in Ontario.”

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas since 2015, the same year of the tragic femicides of Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk, and Nathalie Warmerdam in Renfrew county, there have been at least 273 women killed in acts of femicide in Ontario;

“Whereas the Renfrew county inquest was published in June 2022 outlining 86 recommendations, 68 of which are under provincial jurisdiction, in order to respond to and prevent intimate partner violence and femicide;

“Whereas the provincial government has yet to respond to the Renfrew county inquest recommendations in any meaningful way;

“Whereas Black women, Indigenous women, racialized women, trans women and non-binary folks, unhoused women, women with disabilities, and women living in rural or remote communities are at a greater risk of femicide due to systemic discrimination and structural inequities that make accessing resources far more difficult;

“Whereas femicide is an epidemic;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to respond and report publicly on the findings of the Renfrew county inquest with specific and timely plans of action and accompanying budget to support implementation of the report’s recommendations to eliminate intimate partner violence in Ontario.”

I fully support this petition and I will pass it to page Charlotte to take to the table.

“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 affix my signature to this petition and I will give it to the page Vedant.

The Standing Committee on the Interior.