What is clear, Speaker, is that legislating Ontarians into deep poverty is having profoundly negative effects on their physical health, their mental health and their emotional well-being. Tracey has to live on egg salad sandwiches or spaghetti for weeks on end because that’s all she can afford on $80 a month. Jordan has to skip meals to provide for his daughter and can no longer afford to pay for her swimming lessons.

The minister can throw around the word “historic” all she wants. What’s clear are the results. People are suffering. Will the government listen to their voices and double the rates?

Back to the Premier: It’s not just Pickering city council that voted against Bill 39. Last week, Ottawa’s new city council voted unanimously in support of a motion condemning Bill 39 and its attack on democracy. Ottawa residents are furious that this government is trampling on basic democratic principles, imperilling affordable housing, destroying wetlands and costing our city millions of dollars with its Bills 23 and 39.

My question to the Premier: Does the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services stand behind those bills or does she stand with her constituents, the people of Ottawa?