Speaker, I believe the associate minister understands the seriousness of this crisis, but I do not believe the government understands the urgency needed, the scale and scope of the crisis, the funding that is necessary. Ontario’s Big City Mayors called for a meeting—an emergency meeting—this summer because they’re saying that cities and communities across this province are being overwhelmed with a crisis of homelessness, mental health, safety and addictions. Every $10 invested in permanent supportive housing saves government $21.72 in other costs.

The government has pulled out all the stops to push seniors out of our hospitals. Why won’t they pull out all the stops to make the investments in our communities the Ontario big city mayors are calling for? I ask the Premier: Will the Premier at least meet with the mayors to discuss how to respond to this emergency?

The Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.

The supplementary.

I do want to thank the member from Thornhill for this question. I think many parents of this province have perhaps never been more excited for these kids to get back to class, as are the children of this province. It’s been two difficult years. I think the number one thing we can do as a Parliament is to ensure the kids get to school in September and they stay in school without disruption right to June. That requires all of us to work together to ensure the kids have a plan in place to catch up, to get back to basics on the fundamentals of learning, reading, writing and math.

That’s why, Speaker, we’ve unveiled a plan that puts a greater emphasis—that restores the full learning experience: the clubs and sports, the extracurriculars, music and arts, the elements that create well-rounded leaders in this province.

We’ve also unveiled a nation-leading tutoring expansion plan, $175 million—the largest in this country—designed to help kids have the support they need, and a mental health investment building on the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions’ response. We have a 420% net increase, all this designed to ensure kids get back to a normal and stable, more enjoyable—

We deserve that. Our parents and our children deserve that, Speaker. It’s why, when we look at September, we’re really restoring the same experience they had in June. We’ll continue to provide rapid tests. We’ll continue to have 100,000 HEPA filters in schools, the largest ventilation improvement in the nation. We’re also ensuring that screening takes place, enhanced cleaning of our schools and buses. And likewise, we have another $300 million provided by the Premier specifically to hire literally over 2,000 additional custodians and EAs and educators to make a difference in our schools.

Mr. Speaker, we’re excited for September. We’re going to stay focused on keeping kids in school right to June.

My question is for the Premier. Good morning, Premier.

Marilyn Matheson, the executive director of the Caldwell Family Centre, runs a community kitchen and food bank in the west end of our community. The centre has benefited from COVID-19 disaster funding relief, and it’s used that to feed people in need.

It’s a success story for our province. It feeds up to 600 meals a day right now for people who are suffering from the prices of high rent and high food. But last week, Marilyn said they may have to shut their doors if that funding doesn’t continue, which will end early September, and that will disadvantage, as she was saying at the time to the media, 340 families and almost 1,000 individuals that she was serving in that particular week.

Speaker, this is a success story to deal with poverty. I’m wondering if the Premier today can commit to us that these sorts of community food agencies will have consistent, stable funding going forward.

J’aimerais remercier M^me Simone Mathieu de Gogama dans mon comté pour ces pétitions.

« Centre de soins infirmiers de Gogama....

« Alors que Gogama est une communauté isolée au nord de l’Ontario avec de nombreux aîné(e)s et résident(e)s qui ont besoin d’accès à des soins primaires;

« Alors que le Centre de soins infirmiers de Gogama a donné accès à des soins primaires de qualité pendant des décennies, mais que le service est inconsistant et irrégulier depuis le début de 2018;

« Alors que les résident(e)s des communautés isolées du nord de l’Ontario méritent un accès équitable aux soins de santé; »

Ils pétitionnent « l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario de s’assurer que le Centre de soins infirmiers de Gogama soit financé, doté en personnel et pleinement opérationnel pour fournir des soins primaires de qualité », et ce, « de façon constante. »

J’appuie cette pétition, monsieur le Président. Je vais la signer et je la donne à Liliana pour l’amener à la table des greffiers.

This is a reintroduction of my bill from the previous session, and it amends the Highway Traffic Act. If a person causes or contributes to causing an accident which causes death or serious bodily harm and, at the time, the person was contravening the Highway Traffic Act or its regulations, then the person is guilty of an offence.

The court may sentence the person to a fine of up to $50,000 or to imprisonment of up to two years or both. The court may also suspend the person’s driver’s licence or permit.

We all know that bad things can happen on the roads when people violate the Highway Traffic Act. However, as it stands now, in the event that someone dies or is significantly injured as a result, there is not a significant penalty that can be given upon sentencing.

This bill would increase penalties if someone on the road breaks a driving law and hurts or kills someone. This bill would give the court options during sentencing so that families might no longer suffer insult after suffering injury.

Ms. Vaugeois moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 16, An Act to amend various Acts with respect to racial equity / Projet de loi 16, Loi modifiant diverses lois en ce qui concerne l’équité raciale.

There are three parts to this bill. The first is to develop and publish a strategic action plan that aims to ensure that Ontario’s public health care system is actually prepared to deal with the climate crisis.

The second part is to set up a climate crisis strategy for the public sector to maximize the impact of the public sector on preparations for the climate crisis and to mitigate the effects of increased emissions.

Lastly, it’s to set up a select committee of this Legislature to put together a plan for Ontario as a whole to take on this issue.

Ms. French moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 15, An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act to create an offence of contravention causing death or serious bodily harm / Projet de loi 15, Loi modifiant le Code de la route pour ériger en infraction le fait d’avoir causé un décès ou des blessures corporelles graves pendant la commission d’une contravention.

To the Premier: Bill 7 is a give-consent-or-go-broke government bill. It is poised to strip ALC patients and families of their dignity by allowing seniors and patients with disabilities, among others, to be forced into long-term-care homes some hundreds of kilometres away without consent. Through Bill 7, patients could be forced into for-profit long-term-care homes, which we know are more likely to be understaffed and underfunded. During the pandemic alone, for-profit private homes have accounted for thousands of patient deaths, far outnumbering those of publicly funded and operated homes.

My question is to the Premier. Does this government think their plan to strong-arm seniors, patients, away from family and community-based services is best for their physical and mental health? Is this what the doctor ordered?

My question—Speaker, through you—is back to the Premier: Why does this bill not make any reference to home care, the number one choice of seniors and advocates like TAIC, SPRINT Senior Care, Seniors for Social Action (Ontario), the OVCO seniors’ working group, the Reena Foundation, Community Living Toronto—I could go on and on—folks who want seniors to receive care while aging in place in their homes and communities for as long as possible? Why does a bill saying that it’s going to do better care not include home care? Why is home care absent?

Many of the people in Brantford–Brant have raised concerns to me about the status of the Ring of Fire development. Their doubt is not without merit, as the previous Liberal government failed to develop a strong direction on the project. Our government has made significant advancements on this file, but concerns remain over delays in negotiations due to COVID-19 and that we are still waiting for federal funding.

We know that obtaining money from the federal government is essential for building infrastructure and roads in the region. Can the Minister of Mines address these concerns and update the chamber on this development?

In the past, the provincial government’s approach to this file fuelled disagreements and deadlock that resulted in further delays. Can the Minister of Mines explain to the Legislature what our government is doing differently? How are we avoiding the mistakes made by the previous Liberal government and moving this project forward in partnership with First Nations communities?

It is my honour to be a co-sponsor of this bill, along with my outstanding colleagues from Kitchener Centre and Toronto–St. Paul’s.

This bill, An Act to amend various Acts with respect to racial equity, looks to amend various acts with respect to racial equity in the education system.

A number of amendments are made to acts including the Education Act, the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Act, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act, the Ontario College of Teachers Act and the Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Act.

Mr. Mantha moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 17, An Act to proclaim Abuse Prevention Week and to establish an Abuse Prevention Framework Advisory Committee / Projet de loi 17, Loi proclamant la Semaine de la prévention des mauvais traitements et constituant un comité consultatif du cadre de prévention des mauvais traitements.

Speaker, through you to the honourable member: The minister was correct in the first answer. The social services relief fund has helped Ontarians during the pandemic in a very meaningful way. We made a decision when we first announced the program that we wanted to make it flexible. So, many service managers targeted the issues that Minister Fullerton spoke about: food insecurity and ensuring that those who were less fortunate had that opportunity.

Some of the tranches of this funding—I think we’re now up to five times that we’ve distributed these dollars—was not cost-shared by the federal government. We have a situation where, based on our core housing need, based on our need in the province of Ontario—that is far, far greater than any other province or territory in Canada—the federal government has shortchanged us some $490 million. We need that member and his party to support our call to the federal government for our fair share.

While I appreciate that answer from the minister on behalf of the Premier, I want to point out that this social services relief fund has been doing incredible work in our community and I think it’s something we should be celebrating. However, if the funding is about to run out, it’s not going to continue that legacy of success.

I want to talk about Erica Braunovan, who runs the Ottawa Community Food Partnership. It’s a local initiative that brings together 20 food businesses and 30 social service agencies that has been helping people by producing 4,000 meals a week. This is another one of the organizations that will have their funding run out soon. But this is a situation where businesses are getting jobs—newcomers to our country, in many cases—and people in need who are hungry and who will starve without these programs get instant relief.

Again, Speaker, my question to the government once more: This social services relief funding is about to run out: Will you let Ottawa, will you let the rest of Ontario continue the success story by making this funding permanent? Yes or no, please?

I also wanted to specifically thank Mr. Eric Rennie from assembly protocol, who has been a huge help to our friends who are here from Uganda, who are excited to meet you all after.

Mr. Dennis Ong is in the assembly. He is a member of the Aviva Trial Lawyers’ team and a deputy judge of the Small Claims Court.

Mr. Tabuns moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 14, An Act to enact the Climate Crisis Health Action Plan Act, 2022 the Ontario Climate Crisis Strategy for the Public Sector Act, 2022 and the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Act, 2022 / Projet de loi 14, Loi édictant la Loi de 2022 sur le Plan d’action sur la crise climatique et la santé, la Loi de 2022 sur la Stratégie du secteur public de l’Ontario relative à la crise climatique et la Loi de 2022 sur le Comité spécial de l’action relative à la crise climatique.

The ayes are 74; the nays are 32.

The bill enacts the Abuse Prevention Week Act, 2022.

The act proclaims the week beginning on the first Sunday in October in each year as Abuse Prevention Week. The act establishes an Abuse Prevention Framework Advisory Committee to provide recommendations to the Minister of Education, and requires the Minister of Education to issue curriculum guidelines respecting abuse prevention in accordance with the committee’s recommendation. The curriculum is required to be taught during Abuse Prevention Week.

Thank you for the question from the member for Brantford–Brant.

Immediately after I was appointed Minister of Mines I joined our great Minister of Energy at the Canadian Energy and Mine Ministers’ Conference in St. John’s. At the conference, I was excited that Minister Wilkinson shared my sense of urgency for developing critical minerals that we know are necessary for a low-carbon economy. We can’t go green without mining and we know the critical minerals in the Ring of Fire represent a nationally, if not globally, significant opportunity.

Our government committed almost $1 billion for infrastructure and community supports, but we need the federal government to come to the table with the funding. Based on my early discussions with the federal government and Minister Wilkinson, I believe they are a willing partner and will come to the table as a full partner.

Our government ended the regional framework in favour of bilateral agreements with First Nations to understand their unique priorities and perspectives. Our government signed historic agreements with Webequie and Marten Falls First Nations, who are proponents for their community projects on the Northern Road Link.

Speaker, the results have been fantastic. First Nations-led environmental assessments are now under way for two road projects in the Ring of Fire. By working in partnership with First Nations, we are building momentum on this project and charting a plan forward to economic reconciliation.

In fact, it’s only the opposition who are suggesting that our seniors should be strong-armed. In fact, we’re doing just the opposite. We’re providing different opportunities and solutions for those people who are being discharged from hospital and who are on the waiting list for long-term care.

Now we’re going even a step further, Mr. Speaker: In addition to the four hours of care that we’re already moving towards, through this legislation we are providing additional resources for dementia care and over $60 million in resources for Behavioural Supports Ontario on an ongoing basis. We’re providing kidney dialysis, for example, in homes. Only the opposition would suggest that we should bring somebody from a hospital to a home and back and forth.

We think our long-term-care homes can do better. That’s why we’re providing those additional resources to do that. It is about working with patients in hospital who want to be residents of a home, working side by side with their family, because we know how important family is to the well-being of their loved ones in long-term care, and that’s—

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

The supplementary question.

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

Bill 2, An Act to implement Budget measures and to enact and amend various statutes / Projet de loi 2, Loi visant à mettre en oeuvre les mesures budgétaires et à édicter et à modifier diverses lois.

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

The division bells rang from 1140 to 1145.

On August 11, 2022, Mr. Bethlenfalvy moved second reading of Bill 2, An Act to implement budget measures and to enact and amend various statutes.

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

Second reading agreed to.

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

Bill 7, An Act to amend the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021 with respect to patients requiring an alternate level of care and other matters and to make a consequential amendment to the Health Care Consent Act, 1996 / Projet de loi 7, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2021 sur le redressement des soins de longue durée en ce qui concerne les patients ayant besoin d’un niveau de soins différent et d’autres questions et apportant une modification corrélative à la Loi de 1996 sur le consentement aux soins de santé.

The division bells rang from 1149 to 1150.

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

Second reading agreed to.

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

The division bells rang from 1154 to 1155.

“To the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario:

“We, Her Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, now assembled, beg leave to thank Your Honour for the gracious speech Your Honour has been pleased to address to us at the opening of the present session.”

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

Motion agreed to.

“To the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario:

“We, Her Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, now assembled, beg leave to thank Your Honour for the gracious speech Your Honour has been pleased to address to us at the opening of the present session.”

There being no further business at this time, this House stands in recess until 3 p.m.

The House recessed from 1159 to 1500.

First reading agreed to.

First reading agreed to.

First reading agreed to.

First reading agreed to.

This petition is titled, “Petition for an Official Statement of Apology on Behalf of the” Government “of Ontario to the McIntyre Powder Project Miners.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas over 25,000 Ontario mine workers were subjected by their employers to mandatory, non-consensual inhalation of finely ground aluminum dust known as ‘McIntyre Powder’ between 1943 and 1979, as a scientifically unproven industrial medical treatment for the lung disease silicosis; and

“Whereas the government of Ontario supported and sanctioned the McIntyre Powder aluminum prophylaxis program despite the availability of safe and proven alternatives to effective silicosis prevention measures such as improved dust control and ventilation, and also despite expert evidence from the international scientific and medical community as early as 1946 that recommended against the use of McIntyre Powder treatments; and

“Whereas the miners who were forced to inhale McIntyre Powder experienced distress, immediate and long-term health effects from their experiences and exposures associated with aluminum inhalation treatments, as documented through their participation in the McIntyre Powder Project;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to provide an official statement of apology to the McIntyre Powder Project miners.”

I completely agree with this petition. I affix my name and present it to page Juliet to bring it down to the Clerks’ table.

“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 agree with this petition, will affix my name and present it to, again, page Juliet to bring it down to the Clerks’ table.