Thank you to the member opposite.

Merci beaucoup pour cette question très importante pour nous dans cette Chambre ici. Comme le leader a dit, nous avons un plan pour le peuple de l’Ontario, sans doute—un plan pour bâtir l’Ontario. En ce qui concerne la « sunshine list » et tout ça, c’est très important que nous, ensemble, travaillions pour bâtir un Ontario propre, un Ontario fort.

Et comme le leader de cette Chambre a dit : We’ve balanced the budget three years earlier, not just for some Ontarians, but for all Ontarians, so that we can build Ontario today and deliver a better Ontario to future generations.

Thank you for that friendly question. The number of things that we’re doing is phenomenal. We have put resources into reforming the system, in how it operates—the backbone of the system—but the opposition voted against it. And then we put resources into recruiting more adjudicators and more back office staff, but the NDP voted against it. And just yesterday, with the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, we announced that we’re doubling the number of full-time adjudicators so that we can speed things up for the independent tribunal that sets its dockets, to protect both landlords and tenants.

This member has a habit, near our housing supply bills, to make statements that simply aren’t true, and this is one of them.

We have not made any changes—

We have not made any changes to these bylaws that are in effect for those municipalities. They remain in place. Despite this, this member and the opposition continue to falsely tell tenants that we have removed—

In fact, we announced yesterday that we are proposing to explicitly require that municipal replacement bylaws include compensation.

So we’ve been clear on our consultations on setting common rules in the province.

This member continues to oppose—

Thank you to the hard-working member from Brantford–Brant for that question.

We really appreciate the federal government working with us in a number of areas that help Ontario families, Ontario workers and, of course, businesses right across this province. Together, we have attracted billions of dollars in investments, putting Ontario and Canada back on the map as an automotive powerhouse—including Volkswagen’s recent announcement that it has chosen St. Thomas as the new home of its first-ever offshore battery plant. When we work together, we can accomplish great things.

That’s why it’s good to see the federal government’s 2023 budget providing support in responding to the US Inflation Reduction Act.

Ontario is leading the way in getting good jobs, manufacturing jobs back to Ontario for now and for the future. Ontario, as was evidenced by the employment numbers this morning, is leading the country in job creation.

First of all, housing: We expect that the federal government will work with us on the housing affordability crisis that we talk about every single day in this House. And we continue to call on the federal government to defer the harmonized sales tax on all new, large-scale, purpose-built rental housing projects to help spur the construction of more rental units.

Next, the Ring of Fire: The Ring of Fire wasn’t mentioned once in the budget. This is a missed opportunity for workers, for Canada’s growing electric vehicle and battery supply chains, as well as northern Ontario and Indigenous communities.

Just a few days ago, I released Ontario’s 2023 budget. While our government is working hard to build a strong Ontario for today and for tomorrow, we know that governments make faster progress when they work hard together. So please join us in working hard together for all Ontarians.

The House leader was asked a very simple question there and failed to provide an answer.

My question is to the Premier.

Last weekend, I joined hundreds of people from 25 St. Mary Street and 145 St. George Street who were rallying to save their homes and their buildings from being demolished and turned into condos. These people are stressed and worried because they fear this government is going to gut Toronto’s rental protection laws and make it practically impossible for them to return to their homes once the construction of the new building is complete. Over 3,441 affordable, purpose-built rental homes are at risk of being demolished and turned into condos. We cannot afford to lose these homes, Premier.

Will this government commit to preserving Toronto’s rental protection laws so these people can keep their homes?

I want to talk about the Landlord and Tenant Board. New evidence shows that tenants are being pushed to the back of the queue and are waiting twice as long as landlords to get a decision at the Landlord and Tenant Board. I would call that discrimination.

What is this ministry going to do to reform the Landlord and Tenant Board so everyone can get access to a fast and fair hearing equally?

My question is to the Premier.

Life is becoming more and more unaffordable. Even for Ontarians in the first few months of life, the lack of affordability is affecting their lives.

Deb’s grandson was placed on Enfamil A+ formula at three months of age. She wrote to me about the price gouging her family is struggling with while they search for baby formula. She said, “My daughter and son-in-law are always scrambling to locate a store that has it on the shelf. When they do find it, the price has doubled.”

Children in Ontario are going hungry while this government makes excuses.

When is this government going to stop gouging and make sure every family who needs it has access to affordable baby formula?

Deb wrote, “At first it was about $37 for a box, my daughter just found some at Shoppers Drug Mart ... priced $67 a box. On Amazon? $77 a box.” This concerned grandmother asks, “How are these companies allowed to claim shortages and then price gouge young parents? This makes me so disgusted.”

I will ask you her question. Deb would like to know, “How are single parents making minimum wage supposed to feed their child?”

I appreciate the question.

Of course, Health Canada is the lead on this and has been working very closely to ensure that there is a stable supply of formula on the shelves. It is something that the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Health have been monitoring very closely.

At the same time, let me assure the people of the province of Ontario that we are working very closely with Health Canada, we are working very closely with federal health officials. We are assured at this time that, unlike the challenges that the federal government had early on when it came to pediatric medicines, we are not in the same position right now.

I do appreciate the question from the member opposite. She has our assurance and all parents across the province of Ontario have our assurance that we’re working very, very closely with Health Canada to ensure that we have a stable supply.

To reply, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

The supplementary question.

Thank you very much. The next question.

Mr. Speaker, it would be nice if the minister actually answered the question.

A food program in my riding, Spadina-Fort York, saw a record number of users in the previous month, and one is a senior, Carolyn. She’s using a food bank for the first time. She wrote, “It is sad and shameful that we are in this situation and the cost of everything is impossible to live on”—because of the cost of rent and food.

The five biggest grocery retailers have been making record profits while the people buying groceries can no longer afford the food they need.

Will this government address record grocery chain profits, or will they continue to depend upon charities and food banks to feed the people of this province?

This is to the Premier.

At home in St. Paul’s, the lineup around our Beeton Cupboard Food Bank, run by St. Michael and All Angels, routinely wraps around the block. I remember the first time I handed food to a child.

According to the Daily Bread Food Bank, one in four food bank users are children.

This Conservative government has made things worse. They failed to act on the affordability crisis. Children are paying the price. They’re paying the price in food banks, while this government eats steak.

Will the Premier finally take responsibility for the affordability crisis so kids aren’t lining up at food banks, or will they keep passing the buck—on a full stomach, I might add?

Thank you to the amazing member from Mississauga Centre for the question.

While April 7 remains a difficult day for many people and families, it has also become an opportunity that many others have embraced to raise awareness for organ donation, marking this day as Green Shirt Day in honour of the Logan Boulet effect.

Just like Logan and his family, everyone who is comfortable and willing to sign up for donation has the power to save the life of another. And my ministry continues to work tirelessly to ensure that Ontarians have every resource necessary to stay informed and access this service if they choose to do so.

If you want to register to donate, you can do so in person at any ServiceOntario location near you, or go online at serviceontario.ca/beadonor and check whether you have already registered as a donor, or update an existing registration, as long as you are an OHIP-eligible Ontarian age 16 and up.

I’m proud to stand in this House and share that over 4.6 million Ontarians are registered as organ and tissue donors. It is a reminder of the selfless nature that makes us the proud, vibrant and community-oriented province that we are. I’m proud that my ministry has enabled over 1.1 million registrations, checks and updates through the online donor registration service and more than an additional 3.3 million in-person registrations at our ServiceOntario locations. Each and every one of those individuals has the power to perhaps one day save the lives of up to eight people and impact as many as 75 others.

Today, I want to also to remind Ontarians that April is Be a Donor Month. In memory of Logan, the Humboldt Broncos and their families, I hope Ontarians continue to raise awareness and remind others that they, too, can give the gift of a second chance at life.

Thank you to the member opposite for that very important question.

With the cost of everything going up, our children are paramount in this country and this province. That’s why we have to be very focused on the issue of affordability.

While many are feeling the pinch, and while we’ve done many things, I would just point to one aspect of food inputs, which is, frankly, the federal government and their carbon tax. They just increased the carbon tax again by three cents. Not only is that a challenge for many at the pump, many who take their children to school or drive to work, but it’s also a major input in the cost of groceries and the cost of food.

When you keep increasing taxes, that’s hurting people—as opposed to this government, which reduced the gas tax to help people.

Mr. Speaker, I come back to what I just said: We are taking action on a lot of fronts, including supports for low-income seniors, including lower taxes through credit rebates for low-income workers. But the federal government could do their part and lower the carbon tax. We did that—we dropped the gas tax. We’re doing it for the whole year. That’s how we’re helping people.

My question is for my great colleague in Mississauga, the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery.

On April 6, 2018, Ontarians were heartbroken to hear the news of the devastating bus collision carrying the Humboldt Broncos hockey team. Speaker, 16 of the 29 passengers lost their lives, and the 13 who survived will bear physical and emotional scars for the rest of their lives.

Humboldt Broncos defenceman Logan Boulet succumbed to his injuries the following day, on April 7, and Logan’s parents, Bernadine and Toby Boulet, courageously offered to donate his organs so that six people could live. What an incredibly difficult decision for any parents to have to make. For the Boulet family, their decision represents the difference that can be made through the act of giving.

Speaker, currently in Ontario, there are 1,600 people on the waiting list for an organ transplant.

Can the minister please speak to the significance of this day and the importance of continuing Logan’s legacy of organ donation?

Speaker, I’m proud to be part of a government that works to raise awareness about organ donation and how these efforts can make a difference in saving lives.

As a nurse working on the front lines, I have personally seen how organ donations can restore hope and provide a future.

However, we know that the number of patients who need a life-saving transplant is greater than the number of organs and tissues that are available. While almost 90% of Canadians say they support organ donation, only 32% have registered their intent to donate.

I also wanted to praise the great work of the Trillium Gift of Life Network and their Be a Donor campaign, which is taking place this week.

Can the minister please elaborate on what our government is doing to support organ and tissue donation registration?

Specific to the question with respect to that formula, we understand. It is something that the Minister of Agriculture was immediately alerted to—and contacted Health Canada and federal officials to ensure that there was a stable supply for the people of the province of Ontario.

I think the question in itself, though, highlights some of the other challenges that we’re having. The member highlights that when there is a lack of supply, prices increase and things become unaffordable. It’s at the heart of everything that we’ve been doing since 2018, here in the province of Ontario, because we understand that the way to bring costs down for the people of the province of Ontario is, in part—when it comes to housing, for instance, having more supply will reduce the costs for the people of the province of Ontario. And they have not been in favour of that.

We also understand that when it comes to red tape—by reducing red tape and obstacles, it helps bring the costs down.

At the same time, we brought in things like doubling of the ODSP.

We brought in, of course, the LIFT tax credit. We are there.

The Minister of Education, of course—bringing in a nation-leading child care program which is half the cost for the people of the province of Ontario.

So—

Thank you very much for the question.

I’d certainly be happy to look into this case, if you want to talk to me about it afterwards.

Nothing is more important to all of us than protecting the health and well-being of Ontarians, and especially our children.

We’re working with pediatric hospitals to ramp up their capacity wherever possible, and that means making permanent investments to increase the number of critical care beds at CHEO, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario; McMaster Children’s Hospital; London Health Sciences Centre Children’s Hospital; Hospital for Sick Children; and the Kingston Health Sciences Centre.

This government has invested almost $1 billion in the surgical recovery funding. We will continue to make the investments necessary and spare no expense to make sure that the people of this province, and especially our children, continue to have access to the quality care that they know and expect.

Stop the clock.

Order.

Start the clock.

Supplementary question.

I’d like to thank the incredible member from Thunder Bay–Atikokan for this question. Mr. Speaker, I was recently in Thunder Bay with him and I can tell you how truly impressive the sites are.

The ultimate goal of our correctional infrastructure projects is to create a safer environment for our correctional staff and those in our custody.

Not only have we expanded the current Thunder Bay Correctional Centre, but we’ve added a 50-bed new, modular, state-of-the-art build. We’ve also started breaking ground on the $1.2-billion correctional complex in Thunder Bay.

Mr. Speaker, public safety is the utmost priority for our government.

Monsieur le Président, pour moi, c’est personnel. Grâce au travail des services correctionnels, les Ontariens se sentent en sécurité dans leurs communautés.

I am truly excited by this project because we’re replacing out-of-date infrastructure that goes back to the 19th century. This new, modern facility will provide staff with the tools and technology and a healthy work environment to do their jobs safely and effectively.

And it has been an honour, I might say, to meet many native inmate liaison officers during my visits. These are truly amazing people.

Our new facility in Thunder Bay, due to be completed in about four years, will have a 345-bed capacity to address the pressures, create additional space for programming, and expand supports for inmates with mental health issues.

Monsieur le Président, je suis fier de notre personnel correctionnel tous les jours. Ce sont des gens formidables qui nous protègent au quotidien.

Deondra is a four-year-old child who has severe sleep apnea. A sleep test showed that 85% of Deondra’s airway is blocked by adenoids when sleeping, and she was referred for urgent surgery. Her surgery was scheduled for March at SickKids but was cancelled, and the reason given for the postponement was the COVID surgical backlog. Worse, a new date was not given. SickKids have told the family that they’re trying to get through as fast as they can. We know they have a backlog of 12,000 surgeries.

Speaker, Deondra has had to be resuscitated at least once after nearly suffocating to death while sleeping.

My question is, how long does the Premier think is an appropriate time for Deondra to wait?