Thank you for that question. But I don’t know where the member has been for the last three years.

There is the Roadmap to Wellness, which is a plan that was developed by this government, backed by a $3.8-billion investment—$525 million in annualized funding—to deal specifically with mental health in the province of Ontario. So we have a plan, and we have been standing behind the plan and developing, over the lifespan, supports for children and youth, for adults, for people with addictions; building treatment and recovery strategies and continuums of care to ensure that anyone gets the support where and when they need it. Not only have we done it in southern Ontario but, recently, a $90-million investment brought us—56% of which is invested in northern Ontario, which is 400 new treatment beds and 7,000 new treatment spots.

So I don’t know where the member has been, but we’ve been active in ensuring that we build a system for all Ontarians—

We’ve had discussions about the needs of our children and youth—ensuring that we build systems that give youth the supports where and when they need them. We’ve invested heavily, as a government, in developing, at this point, 12 plus eight—there will be 22 in total, with an additional eight being slated to be developed—youth wellness hubs that are providing care, both primary care to children and youth, providing them the opportunity to get supports for eating disorders.

Under the previous government, we spent more money shipping kids to the United States for help rather than investing in our province to ensure that every child has those opportunities for help when it comes to things like suicide and other issues that affect our youth.

It’s a tragedy when we lose even one child. But we are making the investments to ensure that the supports are there that are age-appropriate and that ensure the kids get the supports where they need them, whether it be in Indigenous communities, rural communities or in our urban centres. We are making that difference, as a government, because our Premier and our government believe in—

Speaker, through you: Clearly, the associate minister and this government are standing behind a plan that is coming up short.

The CMHA indicates that a quarter of Ontarians are seeking mental health support; that’s one in four.

Jordan Thomas of the London Centre for Trauma Therapy said, “We’ve seen ... a lot of depression, a lot of hopelessness, a lack of vitality, a loss of ... optimism about the future.”

Will this government increase funding and expand OHIP coverage so Ontarians get the mental health care that they need?

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.

Thank you again to the member for the question.

The remarkable and inspiring graduates of Ontario’s world-class colleges show how our colleges are preparing students with the skills, the knowledge and experience they need to have rewarding careers, supporting the workforce of today and tomorrow.

The Premier’s Awards for Ontario College Graduates recognize individuals who have not only demonstrated outstanding achievement within their college experience but who have also made significant social and economic contributions to their communities and beyond. Their incredible achievements—from developing career-training programs for young Black professionals to adding Canada’s Indigenous communities to Google Maps and Google Earth—are helping to strengthen our economy and make very real and tangible differences in the lives of Ontarians. The recipients of the Premier’s Awards for Ontario College Graduates are perfect examples of the potential our college students have and why we should all have confidence in every student’s future.

Speaker, college students are making a lasting impact, and we are so proud of what these incredible young Ontarians are accomplishing.

To the Premier: Eight thousand Ontarians with mental illness or disabilities are experiencing homelessness. And 216 people experiencing homelessness died on the streets of Toronto last year.

Two nights ago, I was speaking with a young man in front of a shelter. He had been beaten up. He had a broken rib and a broken cheekbone. He had been discharged from the hospital, and he was sleeping on the street in front of a shelter that had just been closed. I phoned shelter services to see if they had a bed, but there was nothing available. All the shelters in Toronto were full.

The Minister of Children, Community and Social Services has been boasting about a 5% increase to ODSP rates, which is actually an inflationary cut.

To the Premier: Are you not ashamed that your government’s destitution-level ODSP rates are leading to homelessness and death for Ontarians with mental illness and disabilities?

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.