My question is to the Minister of Health. While the government is proceeding with its for-profit surgery plan, there are operating rooms in Toronto that are empty. SickKids hospital is not able to open two of their operating rooms because of staffing shortages, at a time when 3,400 children are waiting for necessary surgery.

Minister, why are you proceeding with for-profit surgery delivery when we have operating rooms sitting idle in public hospitals?

I want to go back to the Minister of Health. This isn’t just an issue with SickKids. The University Health Network told me their ability to meet overwhelming surgery demand is not because of a lack of operating rooms; it’s due to a staffing shortage. UHN is cancelling scheduled surgeries because they don’t have the staff. Allowing for-profit surgeries is not going to alleviate the staffing shortage. It’s just not.

Minister, my question to you is this: What is your plan to solve the staffing crisis in public hospitals in order to increase operating room capacity in public hospitals?

Thank you to the minister for his response. Businesses are only part of a vibrant economy, and there are additional ways to amplify prosperity and build up all of Ontario. Indigenous communities and organizations are providing leadership in developing infrastructure and growth plans to build businesses and create employment opportunities. Investments with First Nations partners will ensure long-term economic growth for Indigenous communities and for all of Ontario. Let’s continue investing in Indigenous communities and creating more opportunities for everyone.

Can the minister please explain to the Legislature what our government is doing today to support prosperity in Indigenous communities?

I want to thank the member opposite for the extraordinary work he does on behalf of his constituents in southwestern Ontario.

I’m so proud to serve with a Premier and a caucus that has put a particular emphasis and a top priority on economic development and prosperity for Indigenous communities across this province. Let the record reflect now-National Chief RoseAnne Archibald’s idea to develop a wealth and prosperity table with Indigenous business leaders and political leaders across the province and Regional Chief Hare’s suggestion that that manifest itself in a fund to ensure that Indigenous businesses have a place in the supply chains in every sector of economic opportunity in the province.

They’re manifesting themselves. We’re pleased to work with them as full partners, and our own ministry has come up with two exciting programs to ensure that Indigenous communities and businesses play an integral role in Ontario’s economic prosperity.

We heard loud and clear in Greenstone, just a week or two ago, that the Kenogamisis development corporation has got a lot of opportunities there for growth in that region, but they need a building to operate and to be fully integrated, not just on-reserve, but off-reserve, where all of the action is taking place in and around their communities.

Full partnerships with Indigenous communities and their economic development corporations is what this government’s priorities are moving forward so we can ensure Indigenous businesses and communities are fully integrated into economic prosperity for this great—

Ontarians deserve a transit system that is reliable and safe to use, and right now, our focus is on ensuring that the Eglinton Crosstown is safe when it is complete. Speaker, we’ve learned from the experiences in Ottawa with the Ottawa LRT that you cannot rush a transit system to open before it is ready to do so.

The project is currently in one of its most critical phases that will inform with greater certainty exactly when we can say that it will be complete. But progress has been made. We’re seeing major intersections along Eglinton open, including Mount Pleasant and Brentcliffe Road. This is good news for businesses, for residents, for commuters.

We know this is frustrating. That’s why our government has provided funding for businesses that have been affected. But, Mr. Speaker, let me be clear: We are focused on getting it open as soon as it is safe to do so.

Interjection.

Mr. Speaker, I have said since the beginning that I understand the frustration and we are working very hard—Metrolinx is overseeing the projects—to ensure that it opens in a way that is safe for transit riders. That is what Torontonians deserve. And from the member opposite who knows how important it is to not rush a transit system to open before it is ready, it is ironic that he is asking such a question. I wonder if he has actually read the recommendations and the report that came out of the public inquiry into the Ottawa LRT.

Mr. Speaker, we are focused on make sure that Torontonians get the transit system they deserve, even though the members opposite keep voting against it.

My question is to the Minister of Energy.

Ontario has one of the world’s cleanest electricity systems, with over 90% of power generation creating zero emissions. Because of our government’s leadership and support, we’re fixing the mess in our energy system that the previous Liberal government created. When energy is reliable, affordable and clean, our whole province wins.

We’ve heard from the minister many times that nuclear power and hydroelectricity are the backbones of our energy system, as they provide low-cost, reliable and emissions-free electricity.

Speaker, my constituents want to know what leadership our government is demonstrating in seeking innovative energy solutions for the future.

I’d like to thank my friend our member from Kitchener–Conestoga for his excellent question. Our government has revamped training for police, who are now better prepared to identify situations where people are in mental distress.

I want to highlight and showcase the Ontario Police College in Aylmer, Ontario, a place that does extensive training for over 1,500 amazing cadets that will graduate this year to keep Ontario safe. And we’re not stopping there. Ontario is currently funding 18 mobile crisis response teams to ensure better outcomes and appropriate responses, and we’re investing more than $4 million over two years to keep all of Ontario safe.

Monsieur le Président, ce sont des gens formidables qui nous protègent au quotidien.

The crisis diversion program engages mental health professionals in the Waterloo Regional Police communications centre, with the goal of diverting appropriate mental health-related calls away from traditional dispatch police response. Waterloo Regional Police Service is a leader in addressing mental health through the lens of public safety, and we are grateful for their partnership in this issue.

Back to the minister, actually, because it was the minister that answered the question from Toronto-St. Paul’s, but I didn’t get an answer.

The minister said yesterday in this House—she was asked why Metrolinx was directed to withhold information from my colleague from Toronto-Danforth and my colleague from Toronto Centre about the Ontario Line. She told this House in her answer that that was an unacceptable act that she did not condone.

But what we just learned from CityNews is that this has happened again. Information has been withheld from the public about the Eglinton Crosstown LRT at the direction of this minister and at the direction of the Premier. Speaker, why is this minister demonstrating a pattern in this House of withholding information to the public about transit systems? We need an answer to the question this morning.

I’m sure the member opposite appreciates and understands that nursing agencies and health care agencies have been in operation for many, many decades in the province of Ontario. They are a way to deal with surges and challenges that we have when we see a disproportionate rise in illness or issues.

I must say, I find it interesting that the member opposite would choose to focus on something that exists in the province of Ontario. We have 800 community surgical diagnostic clinics in the province of Ontario—which, by the way, the previous Liberal government approved and allowed to operate for many, many years. Why? Because I think they do understand that there is value and there is a place to ensure that people have access in their community, in a timely way. We will continue to do that work.

The supplementary question.

To reply, the Minister of Transportation.

Supplementary question, the member for Ottawa Centre.

My question is for the Solicitor General. I first want to take a minute and thank the courageous and dedicated police officers from the Waterloo Regional Police Service. Every day, these men and women put their lives on the line for our community, not only in Waterloo region but across the province.

Minister, just recently, Waterloo region police chief Mark Crowell stated that his officers respond to a minimum of 3,000 mental health calls annually. According to a report by Waterloo region police, their officers attend about nine to 10 mental health calls and five to six attempted suicides each day. These calls represent complex issues, Mr. Speaker, and our officers need the appropriate tools to support and address them. Through you to the minister, what is our government doing to help our officers appropriately respond to these types of calls?

I did want to just highlight a couple of more things that Chief Crowell has mentioned. He further indicated that a different approach for police officers to respond appropriately to mental health issues is needed. Chief Crowell stated that “if we can find any ways to off-board the call to an alternative response, whether it’s a non-police response [or] a follow-up from a mental health professional, that’s” the direction “where we want to go.” The chief also stated that there’s still room for improvement, with the police service aiming for greater alternative service deliveries.

Through you again, Mr. Speaker: How is our government supporting our front-line officers in responding to the increasing number of mental health-related calls?

Thanks to the member from Whitby for the question.

From small modular reactors to battery storage, our government really has embraced innovative and bold energy solutions. That also includes last week’s announcement of a new Hydrogen Innovation Fund. This fund is $50 million that’s going to be invested over the next three years to kick-start and develop new opportunities for hydrogen to be integrated into Ontario’s clean energy system, including hydrogen electricity storage. This launch marks another milestone in the implementation of our low-carbon hydrogen strategy, positioning Ontario as a clean manufacturing hub for hydrogen. This fund is going to help us lay the groundwork for hydrogen to contribute to our diverse energy supply that we have in the province, Mr. Speaker, and it’s going to help us build on the clean-energy advantage that we now enjoy in Ontario.

By making these investments early, we’re paving the way for the growth of our own hydrogen economy in Ontario. We’re cleaning up the mess that was left by the previous Liberal government and bringing a stable Ontario energy supply to Ontario. It’s just one more part of our plan to build Ontario’s clean energy advantage and to make Ontario a leader in the latest frontier in energy, and that would be the hydrogen economy.

The supplementary question.

Frankly, I reject the premise of that entire question. Our government is implementing a world-leading program that has been created by the autism community for the autism community. It is a comprehensive needs-based program.

We are meeting our benchmarks, as we said we would. All children, as of the beginning of this year, have received an invitation. If anyone hasn’t checked their email box or answered the phone or received a letter, then they need to do so to make sure that they can get into the program.

This is a comprehensive program with mental health, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy. This is an ongoing effort to create the supports that vulnerable children and families need, and our government is continuing to do that work. We have been doing that work throughout.

The issue is, unfortunately, there is information that goes out into the media that is perhaps incorrect. We need to look into that and find out what is true in that statement, so thank you for bringing it to my attention.

Interjection.

Absolutely, we listened. The autism community wanted a new program. We developed a new program that is world-leading, and we are implementing that program. AccessOAP is responsible for intake. That is happening.

Despite what the member opposite says, I can tell the public with all complete honesty that we are implementing the program by the autism community, for the autism community—that they asked us to change. We’re doing exactly that, and we’ll continue this important work.

My question is for the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. Children and parents are being betrayed by this Conservative government’s autism program. A recent news report shared the story of a mother who has moved out of province for better services after being told her child would have to wait until 2027 for a determination of needs assessment. Another mother was forced to take a leave from work simply because she had to sit with her son in school, because he is stuck on a wait-list with no end in sight.

Speaker, it is beyond clear that this government and this minister have failed. What is the minister going to do to overhaul this broken system?

What does it say about Ontario that this Conservative government is knowingly depriving children with autism of the supports they need to reach every opportunity for a good life?

For five years, this Conservative government has been announcing and re-announcing changes to the Ontario Autism Program, and yet children are falling further and further behind.

This minister promised to fund 8,000 kids into core clinical services by fall of 2022, but in October, just 1,511 children had entered into service agreements—that’s agreements; that’s not actual service. This is 19% of their target. This government has failed to reach its own benchmark.

Can the minister provide families with any guarantee that children will receive services in a timely manner? Yes or no?

I want to thank my honourable colleague from Eglinton–Lawrence not only for the question but for the great work that she does on behalf of her constituents.

Speaker, I actually had the opportunity and the pleasure to speak at the event that the member is referring to. In my remarks, I emphasized just how important it is for us to continue building on our collective effort to increase housing supply.

Increasing supply is a big part of the solution to the housing crisis, and our government, under the leadership of Premier Ford, alongside the municipal affairs and housing minister and the parliamentary assistant, will continue to introduce policies that will get more shovels in the ground, for us to build homes faster.

I’m proud to say that last year we saw the most purpose-built rentals on record, with just under 15,000 homes. Let that sink in for a second. We set the record for the most purpose-built rentals ever recorded here in the province of Ontario.

So it’s clear our policies are working—

Back to the minister, Speaker: What’s clear is that our government must support innovative investments in clean technologies like hydrogen that will position Ontario as an energy leader.

As we have seen, energy prices and the stability of our energy grid are linked directly to Ontario’s economic competitiveness. Under the previous Liberal government, surplus electricity generation from Ontario’s nuclear and hydroelectric fleets was sold at a loss to competing jurisdictions. Ensuring we have the right energy supply mix is critical to restoring Ontario’s economic and competitive edge.

Speaker, can the Minister of Energy please elaborate on how our government will ensure we have the right energy supply mix and how this will benefit hard-working families here in Ontario?

My question is to the Associate Minister of Housing.

The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board recently published its 2023 Market Outlook and 2022 Year in Review reports. These reports indicate that high borrowing costs have resulted in a market shift from home ownership to rental demand.

Other industry voices such as the Building Industry and Land Development Association and the Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario are urging all levels of government to take action regarding policies that will promote purpose-built rental development.

We as a government need to take these matters seriously and take action to ensure families and individuals can still access our housing market.

Speaker, can the associate minister please share what our government is doing to address this market shift?

Heart valve disease is one of the most common heart problems today, affecting over one million Canadians, including one in every eight people over the age of 75. With Ontario’s aging population, the number of people affected is growing. Cardiologists have described this as the next epidemic of heart disease. When left untreated, the mortality rate is up to 50% every year. When it’s detected early, treatments are effective, but the symptoms are often dismissed as a normal sign of aging. A stethoscope check can detect heart murmurs and other sounds that indicate valve disease. That’s why regular scanning is critical, especially for people at high risk. Unfortunately, only a quarter of adults had a stethoscope check in the past year.

By proclaiming Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day and Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week, the bill would help raise awareness of the risk of the symptoms of heart valve disease, and ultimately, it would help to improve the detection and treatment of this condition.

I appreciate the opportunity to ask this question of the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. I am so proud that agriculture is one of the largest economic sectors in my riding of Brantford–Brant, with ginseng crops being a major product. Our farmers work day in and day out to get Ontario-made products to market that help support our economy. And, from the bottom of my heart, to all the farmers in my riding: Thank you for putting the best-quality food on our tables every single day.

But over the past few years, our ginseng growers have been hit by significant challenges in their primary overseas markets due to supply disruptions as a result of COVID-19. Our government must show leadership by recognizing, appreciating and understanding the complexities and uniqueness of ginseng.

Speaker, can the minister please share how our government is supporting the sustainable growth of this industry?