Speaker, through you to the member for St. Catharines: I’d like to know more information about this eviction issue. Obviously, we have a process in place. We have a rental housing enforcement unit as part of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and in addition there are means with the Landlord and Tenant Board. I’m very concerned about the case that the member opposite has placed on the floor. Rest assured that we will get the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit involved in this case and do further investigation.

The urgency for training new doctors in our province is critical. The people of my riding in Ajax, especially our seniors, experienced first-hand the devastating and negative impacts that medical education cuts by the previous Liberal government had on the quality of their health care. If the previous government had made the badly needed investments in human health resources and medical residency years ago, my constituents and all Ontarians would not be in the position we currently face.

I was really shocked to hear that no other government had invested in creating a new medical school in Ontario, in the GTA, in Canada, for over a hundred years. Speaker, can the Minister of Colleges and Universities please tell the House what our government’s plan is for training more doctors, so that Ontarians can have access to the health resources that they need?

My question is to the Premier. I bring to the floor the heartbreaking experience of ODSP recipients being faced with housing questions and suspect evictions. Too often, I hear about the suspect trend of ODSP recipient evictions because the landlord is moving in family members—by the way, a claim that is nearly impossible to prove wrong until after the fact.

I spoke with St. Catharines resident Brenda LaCrew, who experienced this eviction. She was thrown into a housing market where she now has to borrow money from her friends to pay her new rent rate. Brenda spends 125% of her income on rent right now, forget the food and forget the other costs. That’s the reality for ODSP recipients.

My question is, when will the Premier commit to doubling ODSP rates and support the most vulnerable people in Ontario?

However, we have heard all week about this government’s talking point that the increase to ODSP at 5% is historic. The only thing historic about the increase is how long it took to make any increase. Freezing the rates for as long as you did throughout the pandemic is something we have not seen in decades. So, sorry, Premier, 5% is not historic; it’s actually a slap in the face.

But don’t take it from me; take it from members in my community of St. Catharines and Niagara. Tabitha Thomas is also facing a “family moving in” eviction and has called your increase “proof Ford doesn’t care about vulnerable people.”

Brenda LaCrew said, “Millionaires like Ford don’t care about regular people like me.”

Premier, will you change course and double ODSP rates in the face of your historic freeze to those rates from last term?

I’d like to thank my colleague for her question. Our hearts go out to the victims of senseless violence.

Community safety remains a top priority for this government. Since the member was elected in 2018, our government has invested over $57 million in the Ottawa Police Service.

I recently met with Chief Bell in Ottawa, and I know that we both share a strong commit to keeping our communities safe. But we know that illegal guns continue to cross our international borders and into communities like Ottawa. And that’s why, in my conversations with my federal counterpart, Minister Mendicino, I have stressed that the federal government needs to tighten up enforcement at the border. This is something that we will work on.

Notre gouvernement prend la sécurité de notre province très au sérieux et fera toujours de notre sécurité une priorité absolue.

I very much appreciate the opportunity to clarify. Our government immediately began its mandate in 2018 by increasing the ODSP rate by 1.5%. We then went into a pandemic, and we had the $1-billion social services relief funding. We have now a historic, unprecedented level of spending, an increased investment in ODSP.

But this does not exist alone. We are aligning this to inflation—never been done before. We are creating the micro-credential strategy to make sure people can get back into the labour force; the Roadmap to Wellness, a cross-ministry effort; the $1 billion in child care spaces; the Ontario Child Benefit; the dental care for low-income seniors; the CARE tax credit; the LIFT tax credit; the Ontario Jobs Training Tax Credit; the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit; the minimum wage increase. We are making the largest investment in ODSP rates in the history of this province. We’re aligning them with inflation, and we will continue to do this very important work that the opposition never did.

The supplementary question?

I realize the member was using quotes, but it would be better if we refer to each other, generally speaking, with respect to our riding boundaries as well as our ministerial title, as applicable.

Start the clock.

The response? The Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Ma question est pour le premier ministre. Selon le recensement de Statistique Canada de 2021, la province affiche son pire taux sur les cinq derniers recensements quant à la langue française. Le dernier rapport de l’ombudsman démontre un volume élevé de plaintes de manque de services en français.

Ma question : qu’est-ce que votre gouvernement va faire pour arrêter l’hémorragie du déclin du français en Ontario?

My question is to the Premier.

Speaker, this government has established a pattern of leaving Ontarians in the dark about their plans. This time, they’ve left us in the dark about the grave implications of Bill 7. Ontarians were rightly horrified by how quickly and undemocratically Bill 7 was passed, but the minister tried to pacify us by saying that our concerns about how far people will be separated from their families against their will would be addressed through regulations.

Well, there has been no word about these regulations, but we’re already hearing stories about hospitals putting pressure on patients.

We don’t need to create obstacles for elderly and disabled people to see their loved ones and their valued caregivers.

Will the minister confirm that people will have regular and equitable access to their caregivers and their loved ones?

Speaker, this government refuses to commit to accountability and transparency. They passed Bill 7 without so much as a meeting with unions and front-line workers. They won’t listen to advocates, patients or their families. They’re only concerned about what works for hospital CEOs. The minister denied Ontarians a chance to advocate for themselves and their loved ones through public hearings.

My question is pretty easy: Will the minister deny Ontarians their rightful opportunity to comment on regulations during the public comment period before the regulations are implemented?

I want to thank the member for her question.

Recently, I was in Lambton county on the St. Clair River with our MPP for Sarnia–Lambton, and I was at the exact location where the drone carrying 11 handguns was found in a tree back in May. I saw for myself how close we are to the US border and how easily guns and contraband can get smuggled in our country. It’s no secret where the guns are coming from.

We’ve made enhancements to the OPP-led Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit to combat guns entering Canada and in Ontario. And to keep Ontario safe, our government has invested over $200 million to combat gun and gang violence fuelled by smuggled guns.

Mr. Speaker, we will work hand in hand with local law enforcement to tackle gun and gang violence in Ontario. But this is not enough. We cannot do it alone. We need our federal government to step up now and take measures to improve border security and inspections.

Thank you to the Solicitor General for that response.

Mr. Speaker, the Solicitor General spoke about the issue of smuggled guns coming across our borders. Recently, the National Post published an article titled “A Polite Reminder That Canadian Handgun Crime Is Mostly America’s Fault.” The article notes that 72% of the guns seized from crime by Toronto police this year alone had likely origins in the United States.

Speaker, once again, through you to the Solicitor General, what is Ontario doing to address the issue of smuggled guns?

I want to thank the member for Scarborough–Rouge Park for that excellent question. The simple fact is that as Ontario’s population grows, our housing supply needs to grow with it, and what we’re doing under our proposed Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act is providing the mayors in our two largest cities with the tools that they need to get shovels in the ground faster.

We said to Ontarians during the last provincial election that we were going to present a plan to make sure that we have 1.5 million homes built over the next decade. We have to ensure that the mayors in Ontario’s two largest cities—where we know that over the next decade a third of Ontario’s growth will take place, in those two municipalities—we have to ensure that after the municipal election on October 24 those tools are in place for mayors in Toronto and Ottawa. That’s what we’re doing. We need to make sure they have the tools to get it done.

Ontario’s young families are being frozen out of the housing market due to a lack of housing supply. Ontario’s population is continuously growing, and our current rate of housing construction isn’t keeping up. Young people are already struggling with inflation and the rising cost of living in Ontario. Over the next 10 years, we expect over one third of the new growth will happen in Toronto and Ottawa.

Housing experts have already warned us that Ontario is falling behind in housing infrastructure investment because of the years of red tape and delays caused by the previous Liberal government. Speaker, can the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing tell us what our government can do to empower our large cities, such as Ottawa and Toronto, to increase the housing supply?

The people of my riding want more housing choices, whether it be rental units, semi-detached houses near their workplace or fully detached houses where young Ontarians can grow and raise their families. Speaker, can the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing elaborate on what other steps our government is taking to ensure that the dream of home ownership is attainable for the people of my riding and all Ontarians?

The supplementary question.

The next question.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to recess the House for 30 minutes.

Out of respect and in mourning, I seek unanimous consent that the House do now adjourn until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, September 14, at which time this House will pay tribute to Her Majesty’s incomparable legacy.

Supplementary?

That the bill should be ordered for third reading; and

That the order for third reading shall be immediately called and the Speaker shall immediately put the question on the motion for third reading without debate or amendment. Agreed? I heard a no.

Once again, I’ll remind members—or ask them at least—to remain in their seats after the votes today so that they can hear from the Sergeant-at-Arms the emergency briefing that we need to hear, as well as the subsequent fire drill that will follow.

Deferred vote on the motion that the question now be put on the motion for third reading of the following bill:

Bill 3, An Act to amend various statutes with respect to special powers and duties of heads of council / Projet de loi 3, Loi modifiant diverses lois en ce qui concerne les pouvoirs et fonctions spéciaux des présidents du conseil.

Call in the members. This is a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1139 to 1144.

Interjections.

On September 6, 2022, Mr. Clark moved third reading of Bill 3, An Act to amend various statutes with respect to special powers and duties of heads of council.

On September 7, 2022, Mr. Harris moved that the question be now put.

All those in favour of Mr. Harris’s motion will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Mr. Clark has moved third reading of Bill 3, An Act to amend various statutes with respect to special powers and duties of heads of council. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? I heard some noes.

All those in favour of the motion will please say “aye.”

All those opposed will please say “nay.”

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

Call in the members. This is a five-minute bell.

Interjection: Same vote.

Interjections.

The division bells rang from 1149 to 1154.

On September 6, 2022, Mr. Clark moved third reading of Bill 3, An Act to amend various statutes with respect to special powers and duties of heads of council.

All those in favour of the motion will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

Deferred vote on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 9, An Act to amend the Health Insurance Act and the Health Protection and Promotion Act in respect of addressing gun violence and its impacts / Projet de loi 9, Loi modifiant la Loi sur l’assurance-santé et la Loi sur la protection et la promotion de la santé en ce qui concerne la violence armée et ses répercussions.

Call in the members. This will be a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1158 to 1203.

On September 7, 2022, Ms. Hunter moved second reading of Bill 9, An Act to amend the Health Insurance Act and the Health Protection and Promotion Act in respect of addressing gun violence and its impacts.

All those in favour will please rise and remain standing until recognized by the Clerk.

Second reading negatived.

The House recessed from 1207 to 1400.

This House stands in recess for 30 minutes.

The House recessed from 1401 to 1508.

Before I adjourn the House, I’ll ask the members to rise for a moment of silence in memory of Her Majesty the Queen.

The House observed a moment’s silence.

This House stands adjourned until Wednesday, September 14, at 2 p.m.

The House adjourned at 1510.

I do, Speaker. Thank you very much. On my point of order, I seek unanimous consent that, notwithstanding any standing order or special order of the House, the order for second reading of Bill 18, An Act to proclaim Consent Awareness Week, a timely and urgent bill that makes the third week of September Consent Awareness Week, shall be immediately called, and the Speaker shall immediately put the question on the motion for second reading without debate and amendment; and

That the bill should be ordered for third reading; and

That the order for third reading shall be immediately called and the Speaker shall immediately put the question on the motion for third reading without debate or amendment.

Thank you for the question from the member for Thunder Bay–Atikokan. Opposite to the previous Liberal government, we see the benefits of unleashing the mining sector and re-establishing Ontario as a world-leading destination for mining investment. We have cut red tape and worked directly with companies to find solutions to challenges so companies can hit development milestones.

We have seen the sector responding, with Argonaut Gold building the Magino project, Equinox building the Greenstone mine, and Iamgold’s Côté project finally under construction. The Côté Lake project is a world-class deposit. It has a critical mass of 20 million ounces in resources—a world-class deposit that sat and languished for 17 years.

These are just some of the recent success stories, and we know there are more coming. There is more work to be done, Mr. Speaker, but I look forward to making Ontario the best jurisdiction to invest in the mining industry.

This strategy is backed by investments, including $20 million to find the mines of the future, create exploration jobs in the north and work with the private sector on innovation. Through this strategy, we are building a link between the critical minerals in the north with the manufacturing might in the south. We are working towards a strong supply chain of extraction, processing and manufacturing of clean technologies right here in Ontario. We’ll be the world’s leader in this technology.

This government’s financial commitments and focus on developing clean technologies will lead to further low-carbon economic growth for Ontario, creating more job opportunities in the northern and First Nations communities.

Je remercie le député pour la question. Les données du recensement sur le déclin du français représentent, malheureusement, un phénomène national préoccupant à travers l’ensemble du pays. Nous voyons une diminution du poids démographique des francophones en Ontario, en effet, mais aussi au Québec et dans d’autres provinces.

Notre gouvernement reconnaît l’importance de la francophonie ontarienne. C’est pourquoi nous travaillons sur plusieurs dossiers pour renforcer la courbe démographique de l’Ontario. Notre gouvernement, notamment, reconnaît l’importance de l’immigration pour renforcer cette courbe démographique, et nous utilisons tous les leviers à notre disposition. Sous le Programme ontarien des candidats à l’immigration, par exemple, l’Ontario a toujours dépassé ses cibles.

Nous continuons à travailler avec le gouvernement fédéral et nous lui demandons plus de contrôle sur le processus d’attraction des immigrants économiques francophones en Ontario. Nous lui demandons aussi de mettre en place un corridor en immigration pour attirer des enseignants et des travailleurs de santé francophones.

—le manque de communication en français à Santé publique pendant la pandémie;

—le manque de services en français au ministère des Transports quant aux évaluations médicales dans une région désignée;

—Ontario One Call : aucun moyen de loger une plainte en français;

—la semaine passée, la PPO pour une alerte de sécurité uniquement anglophone émise dans mon comté, avec une population de 60 % de francophones.

J’arrête là parce que la liste est longue. Alors, je vous repose la question, madame la Ministre : qu’est-ce que vous allez faire pour arrêter l’hémorragie du déclin du français en Ontario?

Monsieur le Président, le membre sait très, très bien que notre gouvernement a mis en place des politiques très importantes pour la francophonie ontarienne, notamment la première modernisation de la Loi sur les services en français dans la province de l’Ontario depuis 1986. C’est une revendication de la communauté depuis très longtemps qui aurait pu être faite sous les libéraux, mais malheureusement ils n’ont pas pris un moment pendant 15 ans, quand ils étaient au pouvoir, pour moderniser cette loi. C’est notre gouvernement, sous le pouvoir de ce premier ministre, qui l’a fait.

Mais ce n’est pas la seule chose que nous avons faite. Nous avons, bien sûr, créé et ouvert l’Université de l’Ontario français. Nous renforçons le continuum de l’éducation en français pour assurer l’essor et la vitalité de notre communauté francophone.

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 various statutes with respect to special powers and duties of heads of council / Loi modifiant diverses lois en ce qui concerne les pouvoirs et fonctions spéciaux des présidents du conseil.

Good morning, Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Mines.

When the previous Liberal government was in power, they failed to prioritize the mining sector. Projects like Côté Gold sat on the shelf, collecting dust, because investors did not have a committed partner they could work with. The culture of delay and inaction by the previous Liberal government was unacceptable. Unlike them, our government wants more mines to get built in northern Ontario.

Mining represents a generational opportunity that is already creating jobs and training opportunities, and promises new revenue for Ontarians. It provides the raw materials needed to build clean, sustainable and new green technology, like batteries for electric vehicles.

Mr. Speaker, what has the government done differently to move mining projects forward, and what have been the results?

With Russia’s unprovoked and illegal attack on Ukraine and the growing instability in Asia as the Chinese communist regime attempts to destabilize that region, our global partners are seeking a strong, stable and reliable source of materials. I know the Plan to Build Act lays the foundation for our government to strengthen Ontario’s standing as a critical global mineral leader.

Before the election, our government launched Ontario’s first-ever Critical Minerals Strategy. Speaker, could Minister of Mines update all members on what investments our government has provided to support the Critical Minerals Strategy through the Plan to Build Act, helping to create jobs and opportunities for the people of my riding?