I thank the member from Milton for his earlier comments on investments in education, building schools instead of closing schools, the Highway 401 expansion and expansion of highways in general, and broadband, which is very important in my riding of Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston.

I’m wondering if the member could tell us how the proposed measures in this legislation fit into the government’s larger plan to build Ontario and invest in the priorities that matter to the people of this province?

In 2021, this government introduced, for the first time, and passed an act to proclaim November 16 COPD Awareness Day.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a serious and progressive disease that causes lung damage and blocks the airways. It is the fourth-leading cause of death in Canada, and it is a leading cause of illness.

The Ministry of Heath has taken significant action on COPD care and prevention, aligned with Health Quality Ontario’s advice, including increasing access to smoking cessation programs for patients in both hospital and primary care settings, including patients with COPD; increasing access to influenza and pneumococcal vaccines among COPD patients; and investing in early detection and treatment to slow the progression of this extremely serious lung disease.

One of our most promising investments has been in the Best Care in Primary Care program, recognized by clinicians and patients as a highly effective, made-in-Ontario, team-based, patient-centred care model. Best Care has successfully reduced emergency room visits by 63% and hospitalizations up to 60% among COPD patients. This program has improved mental health among chronic disease patients who are receiving whole-of-person care for the first time. As demonstrated in peer-reviewed studies, Best Care in Primary Care has saved our health system millions of dollars in cost, alleviated pressures on capacity and significantly improved the quality of care and life for Ontarians living with COPD.

On this World COPD Day, I want to recognize the work of health care professionals, from physicians to nurses to respiratory therapists, who support people living with COPD every day and encourage Ontarians to remember that your lungs are for life.

Thank you to the member from Scarborough–Rouge Park for the question.

As the member noted, some Ontarians, such as those living with dementia, have complex care needs—needs which cannot be adequately met in their current care setting. For these reasons, behavioural specialized units can provide enhanced care in the form of increased staffing, a tailored environment and focused behavioural assessment. Behavioural specialized units offer support to the growing number of Ontarians with dementia and other complex care needs.

As part of our plan to support aging Ontarians, our government is investing in new behavioural support units, ensuring everyone, including those with complex care needs, receives the support they deserve.

Behavioural specialized units ease hospital capacity pressures in two ways: first, by ensuring alternate-level-of-care patients receive specialized assistance in a more appropriate care setting—this has the added benefit of freeing up much-needed hospital beds. Behavioural specialized units are available to members of the community with complex needs, and by providing this enhanced level of care, we can prevent unnecessary hospitalizations.

Our government is investing $3.7 million to create behavioural specialized units at two long-term-care homes in Scarborough—15 beds at Bendale Acres and 32 beds at Extendicare Rouge Valley. These investments contribute to our larger plan to fix long-term care, making up for years of Liberal inaction, and ensuring our elders get the care they deserve.