My question is for the Minister of Health. This summer, we have seen unprecedented levels of pressure placed on our hospitals like nothing I’ve seen in my career. Emergency departments, intensive care units and other critical services are closed due to severe staffing shortages. Nothing on this scale has ever been seen before in our province.

Imagine, Mr. Speaker, that you or someone you love had a heart attack or a stroke. Imagine that you are a mother and your newborn child suddenly seizes before you. And if that isn’t bad enough, imagine now that all of this happens in a community that just lost its emergency department. This is the reality for too many Ontarians this summer, and yet we’ve all heard the minister’s comments.

Speaker, through you, I ask: Can the Minister of Health please finally provide her assessment and explain why she doesn’t think that the current situation in our hospitals is a crisis?

My question is to the Minister of Health. SickKids is one of the best hospitals for children in the world, but the hospital’s ability to help, see and heal children is being put to the test by this government. Demand at SickKids is skyrocketing. Visits to the emergency room are up 47%, and over 3,400 children are waiting for surgery beyond the acceptable timeline for them to wait. No child—no child—should have to wait too long for necessary surgery, Minister. This is my question: What is this government’s plan to address the surgery backlog at SickKids?

Minister, this is my question: Can you increase funding to SickKids to meet the need, to address the staffing shortages, so that children can get the care that they need?

I want to thank the member from Essex for the question. Our government knows how important access to reliable high-speed Internet services is for families, business and farmers, which is why we’re investing nearly $4 billion to make high-speed Internet services accessible in every corner of the province by the end of 2025.

Last week, we announced a huge accomplishment in our broadband strategy that’s connecting as many as 266,000 unserved and underserved homes across 339 municipalities. As part of the reverse-auction announcement, we’re making Internet accessible to as many as 3,970 homes and businesses in Lakeshore, Essex, Kingsville, LaSalle and Amherstburg. This is just one of the many ways our government is addressing the needs of our communities and supporting the good people in southwestern Ontario.

All options are being considered. We are almost at our goal. We will make sure everyone is connected by the end of 2025.

For too long, the people and businesses in parts of southwestern Ontario have been living without access to reliable high-speed Internet. The agricultural sector relies on reliable Internet to operate and to make connections, to make business decisions, market their products, operate on-farm technology and maximize farming techniques, among many other things. Ontario’s agricultural business sector is a leader in modern and innovative technological practices and can no longer rely on old and outdated techniques.

The government recently made an announcement highlighting investments in high-speed Internet infrastructure. Can the Minister of Infrastructure please explain how this will benefit the people of my riding in Essex? Will my farmers be able to access reliable high-speed Internet, and will a promise be a reality?

Unfortunately, for many of my constituents, that is a way of life. Repeated service interruptions, or areas with little connectivity, is something that we have been forced to live with because of the failures of the previous Liberal government.

Speaker, through you, how are we supporting the connectivity needs in areas such as my riding, the riding of Essex, that may not have been covered through the reverse auction? They deserve coverage, and unlike the previous member from Essex—

Thank to the member opposite. Welcome to your new role as a parliamentarian.

Imagine, Speaker, if we hadn’t had a government for years ago who had invested in making sure that we have 3,500 new hospital beds operating in the province of Ontario. Imagine, Speaker, if we hadn’t taken the time to ensure and expand so that we have 10,500 new health care resource people working in community, in hospital, in long-term care. I worry about that. Imagine if we hadn’t had a Premier who had the foresight to say, “We are going to make sure we have the capacity in the province of Ontario to make sure that for any pandemic, any future issues, we have capacity within our health care system.” We have that, and we will continue to work forward with that.

Our government appreciates this, understands it and acknowledges it, which is why we gave SickKids a 4.3% increase to their base operating, which equates to $22 million. We’re going to work with SickKids. We want to make sure that that world-class reputation that we are all so proud of as Ontarians and Canadians continues to be able to offer their expertise to the world.

The auto industry has long been a vital source of jobs, innovation and prosperity in this province. In communities across Ontario, thousands work in auto manufacturing facilities directly or in businesses, small and large, that supply that sector. Under the reckless policies of the previous Liberal government, a carbon tax, red tape, high taxes and out-of-control electricity prices cost Ontarians jobs and left facilities shuttered.

Uncertainty has long been the enemy of investment, and we are in a period of global uncertainty. Mr. Speaker, can the minister provide any comfort to the thousands employed in the industry and in the communities that rely on it that the government will not abandon this sector, as the Liberals did when they declared manufacturing in Ontario to be dead?

The auto sector in Ontario thrives when it’s integrated—when we produce and supply the products and services for all parts of a vehicle. While the Umicore investment is historic in many ways—and a great privilege to be in my own backyard—history has shown that unless it’s integrated into the larger production process, its impact will be limited. I ask the minister: Can you explain the economic spinoffs of this investment?

I want to thank the member from Carleton for the question and congratulate her on her re-election, as well.

Mr. Speaker, I’ll tell you that this year we’ve been able to avoid implementing restricted fire zones, which are an important tool to help prevent forest fires. But, as my colleague reminds us, the situation could change at any time. And, although there are fewer fires burning this year, there are still thousands of hectares at risk across Ontario. We remain at a high level of alert, with ministry fire rangers and our fleet of water bombers and helicopters at the ready.

Again, Speaker, I will remind the member opposite: In fact, we have already increased funding to SickKids in the amount of 4.3%, which equates to $22 million. We’re working with SickKids actively to make sure that anything we can do to assist, to find those opportunities that SickKids provides, incredible opportunities across the world and in Canada—we will continue to work with SickKids to make sure that that opportunity is there for us when we need it.

That is coupled with 52 different hospital expansions that are in process in the province of Ontario. That is unprecedented. When we see the kinds of investments that we are making in our hospitals, in our health care system, it makes me very proud to serve with this Premier, with this caucus, because it means we understand and appreciate that you need to make the investments. You need to build to make sure that we have the health care system we need when people need it. Thank you.

Our government has already started those investments. We have the hospital infrastructure that we want. We have already invested to ensure that we have personal support workers in community, in our long-term care, and we will continue that work because we understand how critically important it is.

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, and I’d like to congratulate him on his election here to the Legislature.

Summer in Ontario means that it is also forest fire season. Last year, Ontario faced unprecedented levels of forest fires in terms of the number of fires and in hectares burned. This year’s fire season has been more manageable, due in part to greater snow melt and rainfall in the spring. However, conditions can change quickly, and we need to be able to respond quickly. Forest fires can be devastating for communities, people and the industry. What steps is our government taking to prevent communities across Ontario from the devastating effects that forest fires can bring?

Often, forest fires are started by human activity. We have all seen media coverage of mismanaged fireworks, simply not making sure a campfire is put out—and who can forget that disastrous gender-reveal party in California that started the destructive El Dorado fire, destroying five homes and, sadly, killing a firefighter?

While it might seem like common sense, can the minister provide some advice to Ontarians who are spending time outdoors this season? And what are the risks to those who are irresponsible with fire?

My question is to the Premier. The Minister of Health said it would be “completely inappropriate” to say our health care system is in crisis. But, right now in Hamilton health care officials describe the situation as increasingly precarious. Both Hamilton General and the Juravinski are running over 120% patient capacity, forced to pay double just to keep emergency rooms open, and code zero events, where no ambulances are available to respond, continue to rise.

Speaker, I ask: How bad is too bad before this government will acknowledge this crisis?

My question to the minister, to the Premier: With Ontario nurses here in the House, why do you continue to deny the reality of the crisis in our health care system?

Ford: $1.8 billion. GM: $2.3 billion. Stellantis: $3.6 billion. Honda: $1.4 billion. LGE: $5.2 billion. Speaker, what should bring comfort is the fact that over the last 20 months, Ontario has attracted a record $16 billion in auto investments. These are game-changing, historic investments, ushering in a new era for Ontario’s auto industry, providing employment for thousands more workers.

Most recently, Belgium’s Umicore announced a $1.5-billion investment to build North America’s first industrial-scale battery materials plant, and they’re doing it here in Ontario. The facility will locate in Loyalist township and provide employment for a thousand people, just for the construction phase. Umicore is here because they saw Ontario reduce the cost of doing business by $7 billion—

So $16 billion in auto investments in 20 months—Speaker, this government is getting it done.

The bill amends the Municipal Act, 2001, and the City of Toronto Act, 2006. It requires that codes of conduct for municipal councillors and members of local boards include requirements for those councillors and members to comply with workplace violence and harassment policies, and creates an integrity commissioner and judicial process to remove them from office for egregious acts of sexual, emotional and psychological misconduct.

Madame Collard moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 6, An Act to establish an advisory committee for foreign credentials / Projet de loi 6, Loi créant un comité consultatif pour les titres de compétence acquis à l’étranger.

We all have a part to play when it comes to preventing forest fires, and one thing that’s important is good forest management: making sure we have robust forest management plans that don’t leave forests with a lot of excess wood.

To the average person out there, I’d say make sure you’re following municipal fire bans, never leave your campfire unattended and make sure you put it out properly when you’re done. If a person causes a fire, they can be held responsible for the costs of extinguishing that fire or property damage incurred by that fire. With that being said, let’s stay diligent. Let’s keep this fire season a mild one.

President of the Treasury Board.

Next question.

Interjections.

Order.

We’ll start the clock.

The member for Niagara Centre.

There being no further business, this House stands in recess until 1 p.m.

The House recessed from 1221 to 1300.

First reading agreed to.

First reading agreed to.

First reading agreed to.

First reading agreed to.

It is my pleasure to reintroduce a bill that was introduced initially in October 2021. The bill enacts the Foreign Credentials Advisory Committee Act, 2022.

The bill establishes a foreign credentials advisory committee to review the legislation and other rules that govern the recognition of foreign credentials in Ontario, make recommendations on how to improve the recognition of foreign credentials in Ontario, and make any other recommendations to make Ontario more prosperous and more inclusive with respect to the recognition of foreign credentials.

The committee is required to provide its recommendations in a report to the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, which must be tabled in the assembly and published on a government website.

Again, I will reiterate: Ontarians continue to have access to the care they need when they need it. That is our priority as a government. Frankly, I’m surprised that the member opposite isn’t talking about the great investments that we are making in the Niagara region with the Niagara hospital. We are making the investments that, frankly, the Liberals and the NDP never did. We’re making the investments because we understand that, in order to keep Ontario strong, we need to build Ontario, and we are doing that. We are doing that economically, in our school system and in our health care system, and we will continue to do that. Why, Speaker? Because we want Ontario to continue to be the best place to live, raise a family and stay healthy. We’ll do that.

The opposition can fight and talk about issues that, frankly, we have already acted on. We are already building in Niagara a world-class health care system. Come join us.

I do appreciate the question from the member, because it is actually a very serious one, despite the catcalling from the opposition.

I want to thank broadcasting services. Trying to keep a building this old running each and every day is truly amazing, and they do extraordinary work.

Just yesterday when you saw the speech from the throne—I’m sure as members were coming here they saw wires all over the place. That’s what it takes to keep a building this old operating. That is why the Premier has made the decision, working together with members on all sides of the House, that it is time for us to look at different options to renovate this building, bring it back to the stature it was when it first opened, to provide the people of the province of Ontario a Legislative Assembly that can be here for the next 150 years.

We are going to work very closely with members on all sides of this House to make sure that we give Ontarians the best possible Legislative Assembly, one that they can be proud of. We’re well on our way to making that happen.

Interjections.

The reality is, the Leader of the Opposition isn’t sitting in his traditional seat, not because the place is too small but because the NDP caucus is small. But we’re going to fix that. We’re going to fix that, because this place needs to be here for the next generation of parliamentarians who sit in this place. Regardless of how they feel about it, this side feels that this place needs to reflect the importance of the province of Ontario.

Again, I want to thank broadcasting services for the work that they do each and every day to keep a building 150 years old operating—

My question is to the Minister of Health. Our public health care system is in crisis because this government refuses to respect and protect our front-line health care workers, like Ashley and Laureen right in St. Paul’s—and the Ashleys and Laureens across Ontario. Our nurses are run off their feet. Their mental and physical health is crumbling. The official opposition; ONA, here today; RNAO; nurses in my riding; patients have sent this government solutions, and we have been ignored.

My question is to the minister: Will this Conservative government repeal Bill 124 and help save our public health care system and the lives of our nurses and their patients once and for all? Will you?

My question is back to the minister: Will you stop the privatization—yes, the privatization—of health care by investing in public sector workers, patients and families and repealing Bill 124? It’s what we’re all asking for. Forget about the official opposition; ONA is asking for it, nurses and patients. Yes or no, will you repeal Bill 124?

This bill would amend the City of Toronto Act, the Municipal Act and other legislation.

The bill and the proposed regulations would give new powers to the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa to support our commitment to build 1.5 million new homes to address the housing supply crisis over the next 10 years, and to help advance other priority projects.

The bill would support efficient local decision-making to help our municipal partners cut through red tape and speed up development timelines.

Thank you, Speaker, for giving me this opportunity.

Ms. Sattler moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 4, An Act to amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000 with respect to paid leave / Projet de loi 4, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2000 sur les normes d’emploi en ce qui concerne les congés payés.