I would like to invite everybody to go to a celebration in room 230. Emancipation Month Canada will be there, celebrating the one-year anniversary of the first bill in Ontario history that was co-sponsored by members of all four parties with seats in the House. I want to give a special shout-out to MPPs Khanjin, Hunter and Lindo for being a part of that, and I hope you can all go in and wish Emancipation Month Canada well today.

I’d also like to take a moment, as well, on behalf of the entire Green caucus, to thank Kevin Modeste. When we came here in 2018, I had no idea how this Legislature worked, and in the spirit of cross-party co-operation, Kevin was an invaluable guide to me and my team in helping us navigate this place.

I also just want to take a moment to thank all the staff, as well. To the table, custodial services, security and everyone else: Thank you for the great work you do.

And a special shout-out to Jackie, who sat right in front of me for the last few years, for the great work you’ve done. I wish you well in your retirement.

—the sector to ensure that the supports are there for the people who need the supports where and when they need them.

I won’t take lessons from the NDP, who cut—

Interjections.

Building hospitals is a priority for the people of Ontario.

I want to thank the member from Niagara West for his hard work in helping to build key health care infrastructure in the Niagara region.

In our most recent market update, we are advancing on the construction of our hospitals—which includes the South Niagara Hospital project. Once completed, the South Niagara Hospital will be a full acute-care hospital with a state-of-the-art, 24/7 emergency department with diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical service. This is in addition to expanding the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Grimsby—which, by the way, was the very first hospital that our government announced when we were elected in 2018. I’m very excited that we’re making progress on these two projects.

In Brampton, we’re building a new hospital, which will include a 24/7 emergency department.

In southwestern Ontario, we’re moving forward with the widening of Highway 3 from Essex to Leamington.

And in Durham region, the Grandview children’s treatment centre in Ajax is under construction.

There will be lots more to share in the year 2023.

Niagara region is one of Ontario’s fastest-growing regions. Many new Canadians and new families are moving to our beautiful region, and we also have a rapidly aging population. Combined together, these two factors are obviously placing a great deal of pressure on our local health care facilities. Unfortunately, we saw the former Liberal government cancel not once but twice the new West Lincoln Memorial Hospital.

My question to the Minister of Infrastructure: Could she please provide an update to this House about what critical infrastructure investments are being made in health care in the Niagara region?

Addressing the infrastructure needs of our province today is an investment in our future prosperity and in the needs of so many new Canadians.

For too long, communities across this province were neglected by the previous Liberal government, and crucial infrastructure in so many communities fell by the wayside. Key infrastructure requests were delayed, ignored or passed over.

I know that our government is committed to building the infrastructure that is needed in each and every sector and every community of our province.

My question, through you, Speaker: Could the minister provide more information to this House about the investments that are being made in communities across Ontario?

The following are the titles of the bills to which Your Honour’s assent is prayed:

An Act to amend various Acts in respect of post-secondary education / Loi modifiant diverses lois en ce qui concerne l’éducation postsecondaire.

An Act to implement Budget measures and to enact and amend various statutes / Loi visant à mettre en oeuvre les mesures budgétaires et à édicter et à modifier diverses lois.

An Act to amend the City of Toronto Act, 2006 and the Municipal Act, 2001 and to enact the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve Repeal Act, 2022 / Loi visant à modifier la Loi de 2006 sur la cité de Toronto et la Loi de 2001 sur les municipalités et à édicter la Loi de 2022 abrogeant la Loi sur la Réserve agricole de Duffins-Rouge.

An Act to amend the Legislative Assembly Act / Loi modifiant la Loi sur l’Assemblée législative.

An Act to revive 405456 Ontario Limited.

An Act to revive 1204755 Ontario Limited.

An Act to revive Quadcard Entertainment Ltd.

An Act to revive H.B. Arndt & Associates Ltd.

An Act to revive Nextblock Inc.

An Act to revive Welberne Holding Corp.

Au nom de Sa Majesté, Son Honneur la lieutenante-gouverneure sanctionne ces projets de loi.

But one of the things that we have also seen are lessons that have been learned during Ontario’s experience during COVID, and that is what gives me hope and optimism. There are lessons about collaboration. There are lessons about how important it is to have the contribution of science and evidence for decision-making. We’ve learned about our interdependencies, globally and among sectors—social and economic sectors—here in this province. And we’ve learned about the inequities that we all face.

Every time I get invited into this chamber, I walk in with a sense of awe, but I also—and maybe it’s particularly this year—feel a heavy weight: the weight of obligation, the weight of opportunity to protect and nurture something that we all hold so precious, and that’s our democracy. We see a fragility in democracies around the world, and Canada is no different. And yet, we are looked to around the world for the strength of our democracy.

“Democracy” is an interesting word. It’s so much more than a vote; it really is about how we choose to live our lives together in community. Everyone has a role to play in democracy, whether it be the media, the judiciary, civil society and all orders of government.

But there’s something so very special about this place. This is a place where the visions and the voices of Ontarians must be heard. This is a place where thoughtful deliberation of issues that matter is held. This is a place where respectful dialogue is the norm. And this is what Ontarians expect.

As you head home to the embrace and warmth of your family and friends, particularly at this time of year, I hope that you will be able to spare some moments for reflection about the very special privilege that each of us has to protect the democracy that we hold dear. I hope you come back with renewed energy to do that.

Meanwhile, I wish you joy, peace and much good health. Thank you. Merci. Meegwetch.

Her Honour was then pleased to retire.

Government House leader?

Report deemed adopted.

Ms. Bell moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 58, An Act to amend the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 and other Acts with respect to certain categories of evictions and the provision of legal representation with respect to such evictions / Projet de loi 58, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2006 sur la location à usage d’habitation et d’autres lois en ce qui concerne certaines catégories d’expulsions et la représentation juridique en cas d’expulsions de ce genre.

First reading agreed to.

Mr. Speaker, I think if you seek it you will find unanimous consent to see the clock at 1.

This bill enacts the Making Sexual Assault Evidence Kits Available Act, 2022, which requires the Minister of Health to direct every public hospital to have at least 10 sexual assault evidence kits available in the hospital at all times.

Mr. Pang moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr12, An Act to revive Artgem Granite and Marble Inc.

I’d like to thank all the residents of London West who signed petitions to protect the greenbelt.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Bill 23 is the Ford government’s latest attempt to remove protected land from the greenbelt, allowing developers to bulldoze and pave over 7,000 acres of farmland in the greenbelt;

“Whereas Ontario is already losing 319.6 acres of farmland and green space daily to development;

“Whereas the government’s” own “Housing Affordability Task Force found there are plenty of places to build homes without destroying the greenbelt;

“Whereas Ford’s repeated moves to tear up farmland and bulldoze wetlands have never been about housing, but are about making the rich richer;

“Whereas green spaces and farmland are what we rely on to grow our food, support natural habitats and prevent flooding;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to immediately amend Bill 23, stop all plans to further remove protected land from the greenbelt and protect existing farmland in the province by passing the NDP’s Protecting Agricultural Land Act.”

I strongly agree with this petition. I affix my signature and will send it to the table with page Ema.

This petition is titled, “Health Care: Not For Sale.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontarians should get health care based on need—not the size of your wallet;

“Whereas Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones say they’re planning to privatize parts of health care;

“Whereas privatization will bleed nurses, doctors and PSWs out of our public hospitals, making the health care crisis worse;

“Whereas privatization always ends with patients getting a bill;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to immediately stop all plans to further privatize Ontario’s health care system, and fix the crisis in health care by:

“—repealing Bill 124 and recruiting, retaining and respecting doctors, nurses and PSWs with better pay and better working conditions;

“—licensing tens of thousands of internationally educated nurses and other health care professionals already in Ontario, who wait years and pay thousands to have their credentials certified;

“—10 employer-paid sick days;

“—making education and training free or low-cost for nurses, doctors and other health care professionals;

“—incentivizing doctors and nurses to choose to live and work in northern Ontario;

“—funding hospitals to have enough nurses on every shift, on every ward.”

I support this petition and will affix my signature to it.

It’s a great honour to rise and be able to present this petition on behalf of Melanie Duckett-Wilson from Newmarket Ontario. The petition reads, “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the Ontario government announced a 30-day consultation in November on removing approximately 2,995 hectares across 10 municipalities from the greenbelt, which was created in 2005 to permanently protect agricultural and environmentally sensitive lands; and

“Whereas this government also announced another 14,000 hectares of urbanized land to develop, and the regions of Peel, York, Halton and Hamilton recently had their boundaries expanded under provincial approval; and

“Whereas the greenbelt contributes $9.6 billion in GDP and supports 177,700 full-time jobs (Greenbelt Foundation, 2021); and

“Whereas this government intends to spend over $12 billion on the proposed 413 and Bradford Bypass cutting through more greenbelt knowing there are dozens of endangered species at risk;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario that the proposed ... hectares be returned to the greenbelt and the 2005 legislation be augmented to ensure no such future land rezoning takes place in the greenbelt.”

I would be pleased to affix my name to this and send it with page Alex to the table.

I have a petition to raise social assistance rates and would like to thank once again Dr. Sally Palmer, who has literally sent in thousands of names supporting this petition.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontario’s social assistance rates are well below Canada’s official Market Basket Measure poverty line and woefully inadequate to cover the basic costs of food and rent;

“Whereas individuals on the Ontario Works program receive just $733 per month and individuals on the Ontario Disability Support Program receive just $1,169 per month, only 41% and 65% of the poverty line;

“Whereas the Ontario government has not increased social assistance rates since 2018, and Canada’s inflation rate in January 2022 was 5.1%, the highest rate in 30 years;

“Whereas the government of Canada recognized through the 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 increase social assistance rates to a base of $2,000 per month for those on Ontario Works, and to increase other programs accordingly.”

I wholeheartedly support this petition. I will affix my name to it, and hope for Christmas the government will please do the right thing and double the rates.

I move that, at the conclusion of the afternoon orders of the day, the House stand adjourned until 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, February 21, 2023.

I’m co-sponsoring this bill with MPP Stevens. The purpose of this bill is to provide tenants, the 1.4 million households in Ontario that rent, better protections against illegal eviction, because everyone in our province deserves to live in a safe and affordable home.

Ms. Scott moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 59, An Act to require the Minister of Health to direct public hospitals to have a specified number of sexual assault evidence kits available / Projet de loi 59, Loi exigeant du ministre de la Santé qu’il ordonne aux hôpitaux publics de disposer d’un nombre précis de trousses médico-légales en cas d’agression sexuelle.

Before I ask for orders of the day, I have a brief message for the House.

As we leave Queen’s Park to return to our ridings for the holidays, let the light of the season symbolize the hope and promise of good things to come. Amid the darkness of challenges that we have confronted in the past few years, we have found light in our support for one another, the dedication of our front-line workers in all sectors and the promise of the bright future that lies ahead for all of us.

Here at the Legislature, light also symbolizes the work that we do each day. In 2017, the Washington Post adopted the slogan “Democracy Dies in Darkness.” At the seat of Ontario’s Parliament, light reminds us of our commitment to the principles of democracy as we work together on behalf of all Ontarians.

Our work as elected members could not be possible without the dedication of our Legislative Assembly staff, from the cleaners to the Clerks, Hansard to human resources, broadcasters to buyers, protocol to protection services. Thank you all for the work that you do behind the scenes to allow us to do our work in Parliament.

I also want to express thanks to the presiding officer team, the Deputy Speaker and member for Flamborough–Glanbrook, the member for Parkdale–High Park, the member for Ajax and the member for Ottawa–Vanier, who worked to support me in my role as Speaker; and express my appreciation to the members of the Board of Internal Economy, the government House leader as well as the member for Timiskaming–Cochrane. I look forward to working with you in 2023.

To all members on both sides of the House, after a busy start to the 43rd Parliament, I hope you’re all able to rest and reconnect with family and friends as we close out the year.

Merry Christmas, Hanukkah sameach, happy holidays and best wishes in the new year. Thank you very much.

Applause.

Orders of the day? I recognize the government House leader.

The House adjourned at 1255.

This petition is entitled “Stand Up for Early Years and Child Care Workers.” It reads, “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas child care centres across the province are closing rooms and limiting enrolment because they cannot retain staff in their programs; and

“Whereas child care experts and advocates estimate Ontario may need as many as 65,000 new child care workers to meet the expected demand for $10-a-day child care; and

“Whereas without a strategy to recruit and retain child care workers through setting a salary scale, increasing wages, and implementing decent work standards, parents will lose access to affordable child care; and

“Whereas early years and child care workers have long been overlooked in child care policy-making discussions; and

“Whereas the vitally important work of early years and child care workers has been historically undervalued, with low pay, poor working conditions, and high turnover;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to immediately establish an Early Years and Child Care Worker Advisory Commission to develop recommendations on how to support the early years and child care workforce and address staffing shortages, including through a salary scale, increased compensation and improved working conditions.”

I fully support this petition. I have tabled a bill for this and I call on the government to take action.

Recently, I had a group of optometrists drop off this “Petition to Save Eye Care in Ontario.” It reads, “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the Ontario government has underfunded optometric eye care for 30 years; and

“Whereas the government only pays on average $44.65 for an OHIP-insured visit—the lowest rate in Canada; and

“Whereas optometrists are being forced to pay substantially out of their own pocket to provide over four million services each year to Ontarians under OHIP; and

“Whereas optometrists have never been given a formal negotiation process with the government; and

“Whereas the government’s continued neglect resulted in 96% of Ontario optometrists voting to withdraw OHIP services beginning September 1, 2021;

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

“To instruct the Ontario government to immediately commit to legally binding, formal negotiations to ensure any future OHIP-insured optometry services are, at a minimum, funded at the cost of delivery.”

I have affixed my signature to the petition and will send it with page Serena to the table.

No further business.