My question is for the Premier. Hamilton Health Sciences has 270 patients waiting in hospital who cannot be discharged because they are waiting for alternative kinds of care, such as long-term or home care. This has gotten so bad that Hamilton hospitals have resorted to keeping these patients in a satellite health facility. Clearly, Bill 7 and its promise to free up bed space by sending seniors up to 70 kilometres away is not working for Hamilton.

It has been four years of empty promises from this government. Will the Premier commit to repealing Bill 7 and finally focus on providing the funding our health care system needs?

These problems are getting worse, not better. Why is the Premier sitting on $3.5 billion in contingency funds instead of ensuring we have a strong health care system that people can rely on?

My question is for the Minister for Seniors and Accessibility. First of all, thank you for your visit to my riding on Friday and meeting with some of the town seniors.

One of the concerns our seniors brought forward is accessibility barriers which keep them from being socially connected and affect their physical and mental well-being. Inclusive communities mean accessible communities, and they want our government to continue to champion accessibility, ensuring our province is welcoming and accommodating for everyone.

Speaker, can the minister please explain to the House how our government is ensuring that our province is accessible for everyone?

Under the previous Liberal government, the needs of seniors and people with disabilities were, unfortunately, not a priority. That is why the funding our government is providing through the Inclusive Community Grants Program is significant for supporting all Ontarians, including the people in my riding. Funding from this program will ensure that individuals will be able to remain active and connected within our community of Ajax and the Durham region.

Speaker, can the minister please elaborate on how the Inclusive Community Grants Program is helping to create a barrier-free environment for the people of my riding?

The supplementary question.

Start the clock. The next question.

Thank you to the minister for her response. Rural and remote regions have struggled for many years to attract the health care professionals their communities need. That’s why our government must ensure that Ontarians, regardless of their community size, receive the required health care support. While the Learn and Stay grant is a very promising program, students and the local health care system in Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound need reassurance that they will receive the necessary support from our government as we move forward.

Can the minister please explain further about this program and how interested students can apply?

Of course I would not repeal Bill 7, because it’s actually working for the people of Ontario. It’s what we said right from the beginning: We wanted to bring a better quality of care closer to home for people, the right care in the right place at the right time.

As I have been travelling the province, I have been visiting a lot of long-term-care homes, and one unique feature in every home that I visit is people who come up to me and say, “My mom was in the hospital” or “My dad was in the hospital and we’ve transitioned into a long-term-care home. I don’t know why we waited so long to do it because the quality of care is so much better.” Just two weeks ago the same story, but this time from somebody who was a patient in a hospital, said the same thing—that the quality of life that she has is so much better. She’s made friends. She’s out and about more. She has seen a real change in her own attitude.

We’re going to continue to do more. How the member could help is by voting in favour and supporting some of the investments that we’re making in long-term care. We’ve added 58,000 beds, many in her own riding, but she’s voted against all of those investments. Hopefully, she will see differently in future.

When it comes to ALC, Speaker, here are the numbers: We’ve helped place over 5,400 ALC patients into long-term care. Over 4,800 ALC patients—have added more long-term-care beds. We have added over 2,100 beds to the long-term-care system. These are beds that have been taken out of circulation for isolation for COVID.

But let’s hear what people are saying. The CEO of Windsor Regional Hospital: “Every bed is a valuable bed, and as I said, when dealing with three viruses, had we not done this we would have been in a crisis.”

Let’s look at what the member for Nickel Belt, France Gélinas, said: “Alternate level of care. It’s a fancy word that means that you really would like ... to be supported someplace else, but you have no choice but to stay at the hospital.” I completely agree with her. That’s why we brought it on.

Catherine Fife, the member for Waterloo: “These are patients who should not be in a hospital. They should be in long-term care or in retirement or assisted living options.” I agree with her and that’s why we’re making these investments.

Interjections.

Thank you to the member for asking such an important question. The member from Ajax is doing a marvellous job championing accessibility for everyone.

It was my pleasure to join the MPP from Ajax to announce $15,000 in funding as part of our Inclusive Community Grants Program. Thanks to the leadership of the Premier, since 2018, we have invested over $2 million into 60 Inclusive Community Grant programs like this one, to help build inclusive and accessible communities across Ontario. This program is here to help build a better Ontario for communities across the province.

It does not matter how big or small a community is, we can all work together to build a better Ontario that is inclusive for all.

My question is to the Minister of Infrastructure. Reliable access to high-speed Internet is a necessity for all Ontarians. It keeps family and friends in touch with each other, helps us work and study, and connects Ontario businesses with customers worldwide. Connecting people in rural, remote and Indigenous communities from every part of our province to reliable high-speed Internet will help create good jobs and ensure that we build an economy that remains a world leader.

Speaker, can the Minister of Infrastructure please elaborate on what investments our government is making to ensure that the people of my riding have access to high-speed Internet service?

We know that Internet is not a luxury in this day and age; it’s a necessity. Access to fast, reliable Internet ensures that everyone is connected to vital services like health care and education, and allows everyone to participate in the digital economy.

I understand that the Ministry of Infrastructure has taken a new, modern approach to procurement—an approach that guarantees fiscal responsibility for the taxpayer of Ontario. Could the Minister of Infrastructure elaborate on what her ministry is doing to expand Internet service for all families across Ontario?

I would like to introduce the students from the elementary school Paul-Demers from my riding. They’re visiting Queen’s Park. Welcome to the Legislature.

I will just be quick. I want to welcome the students participating in the program today for Black students in the Legislature. Welcome to the Legislature.

I move that the following change be made to the membership of the following committee:

On the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, Ms. Begum replaces MPP Kernaghan.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas in the First and Second World Wars, over 7,000 First Nation members, as well as an unknown number of Métis, Inuit and other Indigenous recruits, voluntarily served in the Canadian Armed Forces; and

“Whereas countless Indigenous peoples bravely and selflessly served Canada at a time of great challenges for Canada; and

“Whereas this spirit of volunteerism and community marked the life of the late Murray Whetung, who volunteered to serve in the Second World War; and

“Whereas many First Nations individuals lost their status after serving in the wars off-reserve for a period of time; and

“Whereas despite this injustice, many continued to recognize the value in continuously giving back to their com-munity; and

“Whereas the values of volunteerism and community are instilled in the army, air, and sea cadets across Ontario; and

“Whereas the Murray Whetung Community Service Award Act establishes an award for the cadets and tells the story of Indigenous veterans’ sacrifice and mistreatment;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“To urge all members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to support the passage of the Murray Whetung Community Service Award Act, 2022.”

I will sign my signature and—

After decades of gridlock in this city, our government put forward a transit plan for the city of Toronto and York region, and our government brought that plan forward to the city of Toronto. In November 2019, when the member opposite was a member of city council, they know that when we put that forward, city council had a chance to review it—and, in fact, even to vote on it.

After we got the city of Toronto’s support for it, we brought that plan forward to the federal government. And after we reached an historic agreement with York region and the city of Toronto and the federal government on our subway plan for the greater Toronto area, we’ve been consulting non-stop with the city of Toronto and with York region. We’ve been looping in our federal colleagues, Mr. Speaker, because we know how important it is to have all parties and all levels of government aligned.

Over 100 consultations have been held with the city since we reached that agreement, and we will continue to operate in a transparent and open way with the city of Toronto.

Speaker, on February 9, in a radio interview on NewsTalk 1010, the member from Toronto Centre said, “We have been aware that there was going to be some removal of trees. Our community has been in consultation and communication with Metrolinx.”

The member opposite wants to put forward a narrative against the building of the Ontario Line because they voted against it when it was brought to city council. But our government will not be deterred. We are going to address the transit deficit that was left by the previous Liberal government and we’re going to build the Ontario Line—

Interjections.

Thank you so much to the member opposite for that question. I know how important it is for the members of your community.

Prior to COVID, we had 700,000 residents—constituents—across the province that did not have access to high-speed Internet. Our government invested $4 billion to make sure that we connect everyone in the province of Ontario by the end of 2025. Mr. Speaker, that includes investments into SWIFT and EORN. We also worked and developed a partnership with the federal government to the tune of $1.3 billion. All of those investments will connect 375,000 people in the province.

This was such an innovative process that we actually won a silver medal in the CCPPP conference for innovation and excellence. We have 40,000 to 60,000 premises to go and we will not stop until every single person is connected in the province of Ontario.

Madame Gallagher Murphy moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 70, An Act to proclaim the month of June as Seniors Month / Projet de loi 70, Loi proclamant le mois de juin Mois des personnes âgées.

President of the Treasury Board.

The House recessed from 1141 to 1300.

Miss Surma moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 69, An Act to amend various Acts with respect to infrastructure / Projet de loi 69, Loi modifiant diverses lois sur les infrastructures.

First reading agreed to.

First reading agreed to.

On the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, Ms. Begum replaces MPP Kernaghan.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

First, I want to thank Grace Bruno of Ottawa for sending this petition in. It’s a very important petition to extend access to post-adoption birth information.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas current legislation does not provide access to post-adoption birth information (identifying information) to next of kin if an adult adopted person or a natural/birth parent is deceased;

“Whereas this barrier to accessing post-adoption birth information separates immediate family members and prohibits the children of deceased adopted people from gaining knowledge of their identity and possible Indigenous heritage;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to extend access to post-adoption birth information (identifying information) to next of kin, and/or extended next of kin, if an adult adopted person or a natural/birth parent is deceased.”

I fully agree with this petition. I’ll sign it and give it to page Rohan to deliver to the table.

The bill proclaims the month of June in each year as Seniors Month.

Seniors Month will place a greater significance on the health and well-being of our seniors and will serve as a catalyst to keep our older adults socially connected and engaged in their respective communities.

My question is to the Premier. Recently, the city of Toronto has created a subcommittee out of frustration and the need for more insight and input into the massive Ontario Line project. This means that they’re going to have to dedicate city staff and other resource time to make sure that they can actually staff those committee hearings.

They’ve slammed Metrolinx and the provincial government, who are charged with building the subway line, for being too secretive.

When will the government finally give public answers about when they expect the Ontario Line to be completed and how much it will cost?

The Ontario Line has already doubled in cost. It is going to be the most expensive and overpriced transit line in the history of Ontario. Local businesses and taxpayers want to know—they demand an answer: Are they going to get a good deal from this government, especially since the notifications around tree removal and other types of construction headlines are being blocked by someone in the ministry?

My question is: Will this government actually provide the information that the city of Toronto and the residents deserve? Will they give it to them in a timely fashion and when will my community get an apology for the fact that they were blocked from notifications for the removal of the trees in Osgoode Hall as well as Moss Park?

I want to thank the member for Nickel Belt for her work on this petition to keep the Noëlville OPP detachment open. It’s important to many people in that area, including Robert Mayer from Sudbury and my in-laws, who actually live in Noëlville.

“Whereas insufficient communications and consultations have taken place with communities and relevant stakeholders concerning the OPP Noëlville detachment’s continuing operations; and

“Whereas the residents and visitors in the municipalities of French River, Markstay-Warren, St.-Charles, Killarney and Britt-Byng Inlet as well as the First Nations of Dokis and Henvey Inlet deserve equitable access to a reliable, timely and efficient police response;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to direct the Ministry of the Solicitor General and the Ontario Provincial Police to continue having Ontario Provincial Police officers reporting to an operational detachment location in Noëlville.”

I support this petition, Speaker. I’ll affix my signature and give it to page Liyao.

Our government will continue to make historic and unprecedented investments into the health sector across this province. Just last year, we invested an additional $5.2 billion to support the delivery of health care services all across this province. That included investing and making sure that we increased or actually opened up additional medical seats for those in the north to ensure that there was better care for residents across all parts of this province.

We’re continuing to ensure that we make the necessary investments in health human resources: over 12,000 nurses were registered, a record year in this province. We will continue to make sure that those investments are being made all across this province.

Mr. Speaker, our government will continue to make these historic and unprecedented investments across this province. We ask the members opposite to stop voting against many of those measures that we have put up, including this historic investment of over $5 billion in additional support, and join our government in increasing investments in health care across this province.

This petition is entitled “Make Registered Psychotherapy Services Tax-Free.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas mental health ... is health care;

“Whereas the mental health crisis facing Ontarians has gotten worse with the pandemic;

“Whereas BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+ folks, women, and people with disabilities have historically faced significant barriers to accessing equitable health care services due to systemic discrimination;

“Whereas registered psychotherapists provide vital mental health services, especially as an early intervention;

“Whereas a 13% tax added to the cost of receiving psychotherapy services is another barrier for Ontarians seeking this vital care;

“Whereas registered psychotherapists are still required to collect HST from their clients, while most other mental health professionals have been exempted;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to pass the Making Psychotherapy Services Tax-Free Act” by MPPs Andrew and France Gélinas “immediately, to remove this barrier to access to mental health services.”

I firmly support this petition. I have affixed my signature and will hand it to Wyatt for the table.