Thanks for the question. Let me be perfectly clear, as we have been the whole time, talking about this opportunity to build homes for Ontarians: Wetlands are not going anywhere in Ontario. We are going to continue to protect this important part of our province.

We are also going to build 1.5 million homes over 10 years. We are also going to make sure that those homes are protected from flooding and any other natural disasters. We are going to get the job done, Mr. Speaker, both on the home front and on the ecology front, and Ontario is going to be the better for it.

My question is to the Premier. First I’d like to thank the Premier for this lovely gesture of the inaugural speeches that the new members received. That’s a point I’m giving you, but now I’m going to have to take away that point in my question.

I may sound like a broken record here, but I need to, because I’m hearing from all my residents, and actually, all your residents, about—what? The greenbelt. Because the government has misread the room on the greenbelt. You really have. The greenbelt is full of—

Interjection.

Interjections.

We know the greenbelt is full of wetlands and watersheds, areas that protect our province from devastating flooding by absorbing stormwater. As we see more and more natural disasters come our way as a result of climate change—we know what’s going on in Brazil right now; we know what has gone on out west, out east—we should be trying to conserve these areas for all Ontarians. If we pave over them, it puts people at financial and physical risk. The average basement flood is $43,000.

My question to the Premier: Do you believe that the choice to open up the greenbelt for development puts Ontario at risk for more flooding? If not, please explain.

I know all of us here care about farmers. We’ve heard that over and over again: how they feed us every day, how hard they work. Many of us here are connected to farmers and the farming community—

Interjections.

So my question is, why would we remove Ontario’s only agricultural preserve, Duffins Rouge, if we care so much about farmers and farmland and eating? Will you be able to sleep at night knowing that you bulldozed over our last agriculture preserve?

Interjection.