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.

My question is for the minister of mental health.

When people, especially young people, can’t get the help they need, they turn to our emergency departments. But we know that these Conservatives have underspent on our health care by almost $6 billion, and emergency workers, as we know, are struggling.

The tragic story of Gord Lewis and the not-criminally-responsible verdict for his son has to be the most unimaginable consequence of your underfunding. The Lewis family shared that Jonny went to 10 emergency rooms seeking help in the 36 hours before Gord was killed.

In light of these tragedies, why are you closing your wallets and closing your hearts to people who are suffering?

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—

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.

The ayes are 75; the nays are 22.

The works of the Group of Seven are internationally recognized. They are all recognized as artists from the early part of the 20th century. The works have captured the magnificent landscape of Ontario. Mr. Speaker, if it pleases the House, my bill will proclaim that Group of Seven day be declared annually on the 7th day of July. This date is to acknowledge the legacy and the works of the Group of Seven artists and their contributions to the province of Ontario from a cultural and artistic and historic perspective.

Ms. Ghamari moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr18, An Act to revive 2253697 Ontario Inc.

The Supply Act is one of the key acts in the Ontario Legislature. If passed, it would give the Ontario government the legal spending authority to finance its programs and honour its commitments for the fiscal year that is to close at the end of March.

Mr. McCarthy moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 78, An Act to proclaim Group of Seven Day / Projet de loi 78, Loi proclamant le Jour du Groupe des Sept.

The supplementary.

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

The division bells rang from 1150 to 1155.

On March 7, 2023, Mr. Pirie moved second reading of Bill 71, An Act to amend the Mining Act.

On March 8, 2023, Mr. Saunderson moved that the question be now put.

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

Mr. Pirie has moved second reading of Bill 71, An Act to amend the Mining Act. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? I heard some noes.

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

All those opposed will please say “nay.”

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

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

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.

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

Bill 62, An Act to provide for the development of a farmland and arable land strategy and an advisory committee on farmland and arable land / Projet de loi 62, Loi prévoyant l’élaboration d’une stratégie en matière de terres agricoles et de terres arables et la création d’un comité consultatif des terres agricoles et des terres arables.

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

The division bells rang from 1205 to 1206.

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

Second reading negatived.

Interjection.

The House recessed from 1209 to 1300.

Report deemed adopted.

Mr. Sarkaria moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 77, An Act to authorize the expenditure of certain amounts for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023 / Projet de loi 77, Loi autorisant l’utilisation de certaines sommes pour l’exercice se terminant le 31 mars 2023.

First reading agreed to.

First reading agreed to.

First reading agreed to.

Motion agreed to.

Point of order.

While I didn’t have to stand today to ask for unanimous consent on anything, I would like to take this opportunity to remind the House that two years ago, almost to this day, we all agreed and voted in favour of having the Franco-Ontarian flag displayed permanently in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a reminder of the important symbol and the importance of our Franco-Ontarian community. I think it’s a moment we can all be proud of. So thank you very much. Merci à tout le monde.