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?

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?

I know this isn’t really a point of order today, but I would like to wish my number one supporter, my husband, my best friend and the first lady of St. Catharines a very happy 60th birthday.

“Whereas Ontario’s social assistance rates are well below Canada’s official Market Basket Measure poverty line and far from adequate to cover the rising costs of food and rent: $733 for individuals on OW and soon $1,227 for ODSP;

“Whereas an open letter to the Premier and two cabinet ministers, signed by over 230 organizations, recommends that social assistance rates be doubled for both Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP);

“Whereas the recent small budget increase of 5% for ODSP still leaves these citizens well below the poverty line, both they and those receiving the frozen OW rates are struggling to live in this time of alarming inflation;

“Whereas the government of Canada recognized in its 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 double social assistance rates for OW and ODSP.”

I will sign this petition wholeheartedly and pass it on to Keira to send down to the table.

I think this is a great question. When I went to Renfrew county to see the reveal, it was very clear that femicide doesn’t just hurt those families, it hurts a whole community.

Mr. Speaker, we are taking action. On February 10, the government did provide only part 1 of Ontario’s response to the Office of the Chief Coroner, and that reflects the progress we’re making so far. Across government, we are taking action to make sure women are kept safe. We are investing in programs and organizations, like some of the many who came here today, to see that women are given the freedom and the opportunity to be free and live in their communities, like our investments in the Investing in Women’s Futures Program, like our investments in just so many others. Mr. Speaker, we take this very seriously. We believe women should be safe, and we did send the national action plan to the FPT for the justice ministers, with a written request that they commit to taking further action to improve the justice system responses—

I’ve got two young people participating in the 2023 Legislative Assembly of Ontario: Zainab Mohammad and Shlok Panchal. Welcome to Queen’s Park. I’ll see you later tonight.

And we’ve got Maya O’Brien, who is now a legislative page here at Queen’s Park for the next few weeks.

Welcome, everyone.

Mr. Clark moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 63, An Act respecting the adjustment of the boundary between the City of St. Thomas and the Municipality of Central Elgin / Projet de loi 63, Loi concernant la modification des limites territoriales entre la cité de St. Thomas et la municipalité de Central Elgin.

Mr. Cuzzetto moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 66, An Act to proclaim Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day and Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week / Projet de loi 66, Loi proclamant la Journée de sensibilisation à la cardiopathie valvulaire et la Semaine de sensibilisation à la cardiopathie valvulaire.

Today we have a guest from the greatest riding in Ontario, the great riding of Brampton North: my dear friend and the founder and publisher of Road Today. His daughter Saanvi is in model Parliament here today. Please give a warm welcome to my friend Manan Gupta. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Thanks, Speaker. The proposed legislation, the St. Thomas-Central Elgin Boundary Adjustment Act, 2023, will help secure new investment opportunities for a land site that has the potential to create thousands of new jobs in southwestern Ontario. We’re proposing to move the site, which currently straddles two municipalities, into one municipality, St. Thomas. This would reduce red tape and help ensure the site is shovel-ready for future investment by helping to ensure that all needed permits and site changes can be approved faster. The proposed actions show that the government is ready and willing to take the steps needed to compete in the global marketplace for the jobs and investment Ontario needs.

MPP Wong-Tam moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 64, An Act to proclaim Chosen Family Day / Projet de loi 64, Loi proclamant le Jour de la famille choisie.

I want to thank the member for the question. Our thoughts continue to be with the victims, the families and friends and all those impacted by the tragedy.

Everyone has a right to feel safe in their own home and their own community, free of intimidation and the threat of violence. The Ministry of the Solicitor General has provided an interim response to the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario. We will continue working across government to provide updated responses in advance of the anniversary date of the verdict’s release. This will allow the time needed to continue to carefully review and consider recommendations, provide a whole-of-government response and ensure meaningful steps can be identified and taken to address these issues. Mr. Speaker, we are going to get it right.

To reply, the Solicitor General.

The House recessed from 1208 to 1500.

First reading agreed to.

First reading agreed to.

First reading agreed to.

First reading agreed to.

Again, I want to thank my honourable colleague for the question. In addition to the record purpose-built rental starts that we had last year, our latest piece of legislation, More Homes Built Faster Act, offers incentives for the construction of more rental units by reducing development fees: 25% on three-or-more-bedroom units, a 20% discount on two-bedroom units and a 15% discount on one-bedroom units.

To further increase rental supply, we also introduced as-of-right policies in our most recent bill to allow for more units to be constructed on existing residential lots. Other legislation allows for basement apartments, garden houses or main residences to have up to three rental units without obtaining additional building permits or paying any additional development fees.

Ontarians deserve to have affordable options when it comes to housing, and as we’ve said before, we’re going to continue fighting for every Ontarian to make sure they do in this province.