My question is to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Ontario is fortunate to have a rich and diverse agri-food sector. In my riding, farms and food producers contribute to the strength of this industry. Across the regions of our province, farmers and food producers contribute significantly to Ontario’s GDP.

However, over the past few years, our hard-working and dedicated farmers have experienced challenges and difficult circumstances. To ensure that our food supply system continues to be competitive, our government must maintain its commitment to promote Ontario’s products and support our agri-food sector.

Speaker, can the minister please explain what action our government is taking to ensure that our farm products can be accessed by international markets?

Ontario possesses strong agricultural production capabilities and technologies to enhance competitiveness and strengthen the sector. With more than 200 commodities that contribute over $19 billion in agri-food exports, Ontario’s producers are ready to expand into international markets, like Japan and Vietnam.

Speaker, can the minister please elaborate on how our government promotes Ontario commodities abroad?

My question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. We completed a scan of municipal property tax hikes across the greater Golden Horseshoe area, and we found that nearly every single municipality is being forced to hike property taxes with no improvement to service because this government chose to give big developers a tax break with Bill 23 and is now forcing Ontarians to make up the difference.

Interjection.

Minister, you promised to make municipalities whole. Are you going to keep your promise?

Our government has made the largest increase in ODSP in the history of this program. We raised the rates when we first came to government. We’ve raised them by a historic amount again. We’ve tied that to inflation. We’ve added in the increase to the earnings exemption threshold—an increase of 400%. We’ve created training programs to help people understand how they might be retrained and be able to enter into the job market, to provide meaningful jobs and a meaningful purpose for people who want to work who are on ODSP.

And for those who cannot work, we have made the measures to make sure that we have the proper supports for them, with ODSP, with discretionary benefits, with micro-credentialing strategies for those who can work, understanding the mental health supports that are available, working across ministries to provide improved lifestyle for them and provide the essential basics for them. The LIFT tax break, the CARE tax break—really making sure we look at this from a holistic point of view and provide the—

As I said, this is one program, and that’s why we need to take this program in the context of all the other supports that are being provided to improve peoples’ lives, to increase their ability to have a job and to be retrained. So these are all areas that we’re continuing to contribute to, whether it’s increasing the minimum wage, the job training tax credit, the $1 billion in social services relief funding that we’ve put through during COVID, the Ontario Trillium Foundation efforts, the Feed Ontario programs, the Student Nutrition Program—the list goes on and on. ODSP is one program in the context of many others, and we’ll continue to make the investments that we have promised.

Speaker, I want to tell you about Kyle from Sudbury. He is on the Ontario Disability Support Program, and it has never been enough for him. Kyle has been trying to find work, but hasn’t been successful. In his own words, he said, “There is little accommodation for people with disabilities in the modern workforce.” Everyone knows that ODSP has never been enough. And as food and rent become even less affordable, Kyle is facing homelessness.

My question to the Premier: Will the Premier finally listen to the NDP and immediately double ODSP rates so that people like Kyle can afford food and rent?

Speaker, it is time for the Premier to admit that ODSP has never been enough. Will the Premier immediately double ODSP rates and save disabled Canadians like Kyle from homelessness?

The Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

The supplementary question?

The supplementary question?

The next question.

My question is for the Premier. Mr. Speaker, everyone in Ottawa knows that the Premier and this government abandoned the nation’s capital during the convoy occupation last year. In fact, Justice Rouleau said, “I find the province of Ontario’s reluctance to become fully engaged in such efforts directed at resolving the situation in Ottawa troubling.”

A few weeks later, the Premier and this government would abandon Ottawa again when a massive windstorm with winds of 190 km/h ripped through the city and left 180,000 residents without power. Ottawa taxpayers are collectively on the hook for tens of millions of dollars for the clean-up of the storm and from the convoy.

Individual farmers and homeowners in Glengarry–Prescott–Russell have holes in the walls of their barns and in the roofs of their barns, Mr. Speaker. This winter, instead of storing equipment and hay, those barns are expensive storage for snowdrifts.

So when Ottawa is in crisis, why does this government always turn its back and say no?

Ottawa taxpayers were hit again with the funding formula change to Ottawa Public Health. In fact, the chair of Ottawa Public Health says that will add $3 million to Ottawa taxpayers’ responsibilities if this isn’t addressed by the government.

Ottawa taxpayers simply can’t fulfill the bill that this government wants to send them. So, given the economic damage they’re already creating in Ottawa and with the upcoming budget, will the government reverse course on the public health funding formula and ensure Ottawa isn’t shortchanged $3 million?

My question is for the Minister of Mines. The mining industry is vital to our province’s economic prosperity, creating 75,000 jobs and contributing almost $13 billion to Ontario’s GDP. Our government understands and appreciates the value and the importance of the mining industry, especially in the north. When a mine opens in the north, a place like my hometown of Sault Ste. Marie wins.

Early exploration is the first step in locating new critical mineral mines that will help secure our supply chain for battery technology and electric vehicles. The strength and potential of the mining industry should not be underestimated, and our government must continue to make strategic investments.

Can the minister please explain how our government is supporting the exploration for critical minerals?

The opposition keeps talking about our More Homes Built Faster initiative, but again, they’re very selective in sections of the report. So to answer the question, I’m going to read exactly what’s in this report, on page 18:

“Reduce the costs to build, buy and rent.

“The price you pay to buy or rent a home is driven directly by how much it costs to build a home. In Ontario, costs to build homes have dramatically increased at an unprecedented pace over the past decade.”

Speaker, again, our government is committed to ensuring that non-profit housing, purpose-built rental—we want to make sure that everyone that wants a home that meets their needs and their budget. Again, this is what motivates me—these young people in the gallery. I want to ensure that they have a home that meets their needs and their budget.

We’re committed to build 1.5 million homes over the next 10 years—

Thank you for the question from my friend and the member from Sault Ste. Marie. We joined the Premier in Sault Ste. Marie to announce a $5.8-million investment through the Ontario Junior Exploration Program—because it starts with exploration. You know the genesis of Algoma Steel in the discovery of iron ore in Wawa—and Wawa right now is thriving on the basis of exploration and development activity. From Wawa back over to Dubreuilville and over to Marathon, it starts with exploration. That’s why we have funded 32 mining companies and have invested an additional $12.5 million in private capital to find critical minerals.

Here’s the kicker, Mr. Speaker: The opposition voted no to these investments. They voted no to jobs in northern communities and they voted no to finding new critical minerals. This government, under the Premier, is taking decisive action to secure our supply chain and our future, and it all starts with exploration.

My question is for the Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. Just last week, one of my constituents from Sarnia–Lambton shared the heartbreak that their family experienced. Their 15-year-old son is no longer able to focus or get out of bed to attend school because of an ongoing mental health challenge he is facing. Anxiety Canada estimates that about 25% of youth will engage in school-refusal behaviour during their schooling years. This behaviour, also known as school avoidance, is related to mental health issues and is not the same as truancy.

All children in our province need accessible and reliable services in order to grow and develop into healthy adults. What is this government doing to improve the mental health of the children and youth of our province?

In Sarnia–Lambton, as the minister said, we are looking forward to the opening of a youth wellness hub, where my granddaughter Janessa has played a major and pivotal role in its design. I look forward to the minister coming down. We’re confident that it will provide much-needed support for children and young people in our community.

Children and youth have a wide variety of needs, depending on their individual circumstances, and some rural and remote areas of our province may not have a youth wellness hub. Children and youth, no matter where they live in our province, deserve access to services and programs that will support their health and well-being.

Speaker, can the associate minister please explain what our government is doing to meet the diverse needs of young people across Ontario?

Well, I think the honourable member knows that, top line, we are investing over $13.5 billion to improve long-term care across the province of Ontario, and that does include over 27,000 additional health care workers, PSWs, nurses and allied health professionals.

But I do understand the challenges with agency staffing in long-term-care homes. It is something that I’ve been hearing from our stakeholders. That is why, of course, I have asked the deputy minister, and the deputy minister has brought together the technical advisory committee on my orders to ensure that we get input from the Ontario Long Term Care Association, AdvantAge, from staffing agencies themselves, to also review what other jurisdictions are doing on this, but it is also recognition they are an important part of the health care system. But I do understand that there are challenges with the long-term-care homes.

When I speak to some of the individuals who are with staffing agencies, a lot of times they’re telling me they want more flexibility in how they’re staffed, on how their hours are—

The member and his party have voted against the billions of dollars in investments in health care in his own riding. Then the member has the nerve to get up here and claim that care is somehow threatened.

You know what I’m hearing from staff? I’m hearing that they want more flexibility than they are being provided right now under the contracts that they have signed. We’re looking at that. That is why I have ordered the advisory table to give me recommendations to look at what is happening across other jurisdictions, and we will ensure that our seniors are first.

My question is to the Premier: $150 an hour—that’s what some staffing agencies are charging not-for-profit long-term-care homes for a registered nurse. That’s what the agency charges, not what the registered nurse is being paid. This government has made working conditions so bad, ignoring our staffing crisis for so long, they’ve created a profitable business model for their friends, taking advantage of a health human resource crisis.

Does the Premier or anybody on that side believe that companies should be charging $150 an hour and taking advantage of a crisis they’ve created in long-term-care homes?

Back to the Premier: The minister can stand up and pretend like this crisis has been resolved, but we all know that in this case, it has not.

We should try listening to health care workers. You created a situation so extreme, with staffing shortages and Bill 124, that one not-for-profit home is spending $3 million on agency employees—10 times what they budgeted for. Agencies are waiting in the parking lot after they finish their shift to approach staff when they leave to join the agency. This will reduce the care in our homes. People will suffer; seniors will continue to die.

At what point will this government wake up, recognize that the long-term-care staff are burnt-out and start showing them some respect?

Mining is the number one employer in the great riding of Timmins. I am proud of what mining means to my community and to the north. Our investments have been hailed by industry. But don’t just take my word for it; listen to how impactful $400,000 can be for a junior mining company.

Dr. Michael Gunning, president and CEO of VR Resources—and VR Resources has a remarkable rare earth discovery just north of Timmins—said, “For a small company like mine, doing the front-end R&D of exploration—funding matters. It takes courage and it takes money to make these discoveries.... OJEP has made a difference to my company and is making a difference to the industry.”

The importance of these investments cannot be overstated, and the industry agrees. With our investments, these companies will find mines in the future while helping us to secure Ontario’s future.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage the opposition to vote for us the next time we make vital investments in this in-demand sector of our economy.

I’d like to thank the member for Sarnia–Lambton for this very important question. Since 2019 we’ve invested over $130 million in mental health and addiction services for children and youth through the Roadmap to Wellness. Last year, we invested an additional $31 million in annual funding to reduce wait-lists and support the mental health and well-being of children and youth, with another $170 million set to be invested over the next three years through the road map.

More tangibly, something which we’re extremely proud to be supporting are our youth wellness hubs, one of which is slated to open in Sarnia just this spring. To date, we’ve provided funding for 22 youth wellness hubs, all of which provide mental health and addiction supports, primary care and early intervention to those aged 12 to 25 on a walk-in basis.

Mr. Speaker, we’re working every day to make sure that children and youth in the province of Ontario can get the care they need when and where they need it.

Thank you to the minister for the response. When a mine opens in northern Ontario, Ontario wins. Think of all the items we use every day: From smart phones to electric vehicles, from steel to diamonds and gold, it all comes from a mine.

Our government is building Ontario, and in order to continue getting it done, we need a strong mining sector and a well-integrated supply chain. Look no further than my home of Sault Ste. Marie, where steel made at Algoma Steel, beams from SIS, concrete pumpers from Apex Cranes, belts from Belterra are all critical to building our mines in northern Ontario. Speaker, I could go on and on and on.

Investments in northern Ontario’s mining sector support so many local businesses and the thousands of people they employ. Can the minister please elaborate on how new businesses in the north are responding to investments that are being made through our Ontario Junior Exploration Program?

The supplementary question?

The supplementary question?

The member is always advocating for Oakville, and once again, he’s doing it with that question this morning. Thank you.

Just last week, Thursday, February 23, our government, in partnership with our municipal and federal counterparts, unveiled the initial batch of Oakville Transit’s first-ever zero-emission, battery electric buses. That’s a major milestone, and it’s part of our $4.4-million investment in 27 electric buses for the town of Oakville. Our efforts will help provide safe, reliable transit service for Oakville riders, all while lowering emissions and producing less noise on local roads.

What’s more, investing in these low-carbon transportation options demonstrates that our government is laser-focused on reaching its goal of reducing Ontario’s emissions by 30% by 2030. Our government is helping transit providers shift to modern, efficient fleets that will improve people’s quality of life and travel, both today and for many—

But to the member’s point, electrification is an important part of that process. We need to reduce emissions and our public transit system is an important part of that. That’s why we trust that the opposition, as we move forward and green our fleet and grow our fleet, will support us. It’s unfortunate that they voted against every single transit expansion measure that this government has taken, but the good news for Ontarians is, there’s a lot more to come. I hope they’ll support it in the future and do the right thing.

My question is to the Associate Minister of Transportation. Our government continues to demonstrate strong leadership by ensuring that our energy system is sound, reliable, affordable and environmentally clean. We should all be proud of the fact that our electricity grid is over 90% emissions-free.

While this is promising news for our energy sector, our public transit must follow this standard. Diesel fuel is one of Oakville’s largest greenhouse gas emission sources. That is why our government needs to take action to move public transit vehicles away from diesel fuel power to a more environmentally friendly source. Can the Associate Minister of Transportation explain what our government is doing to help our local transit agencies become more environmentally sustainable?

Can the Associate Minister of Transportation explain what our government is doing to ensure that our entire GO Transit network will continue to meet the needs of the people of Ontario?

Mr. Speaker, I will remind the member opposite that she wholeheartedly—her and her party —supported our program that we brought forward to support workers during COVID. We were the first jurisdiction in the country to bring in job-protected leave. We were the first jurisdiction to bring in paid sick days in the province of Ontario to protect those workers during the pandemic.

We are continuing to bring forward initiatives to support workers. One of the things I’m really excited about and proud of and that I hope the opposition will support is our plan to bring in portable benefits to millions of workers in the province today that don’t have health and dental benefits.

Mr. Speaker, we will continue having the backs of workers every single day.

But, Mr. Speaker, the NDP have really changed over the years. They’ve abandoned workers in this province. For example, when we hired 100 new health and safety inspectors in this province to bring the inspectorate to the highest in provincial history—

Interjections.