I’d like to welcome a couple of people from the Peterborough firefighters’ association, Mikaela McGill and Captain Jim Woodley.

I too would like to welcome all the firefighters to Queen’s Park today, as well as a good friend, Jim Corcoran, who’s here from Northumberland–Peterborough South.

I would like to introduce the Barrie firefighters Eric Webster and Joey Baker. Welcome and thank you.

I just want to give a quick shout out to Waterloo firefighter Adam Overgaard for answering my many questions, and Cambridge firefighter John Holman for being one of the two-man team who built my Santa Claus parade float.

I want to take a moment to welcome Matthieu Quirion from the constit office in Timmins, Ontario. Welcome, Matthieu.

I would like to give a warm welcome to one of my amazing volunteers, Adam Rodreigo. Welcome to the Ontario Legislature.

I’d also like to extend a warm welcome to the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters, and in particular Tori Goulart, as well as vice-president John Maclachlan. I look forward to our discussion this afternoon.

I am also delighted to welcome the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association here, Local 3888, but more specifically Andrew Curtis and Bill Morris to the House here. I’m sure they’re somewhere around in one of the galleries.

I think it’s always important to hear from citizens, Ontarians, about their life experiences, and that’s why our government has made a decade’s—a historic investment in ODSP. It is historic, the largest increase in decades, and we’ve indexed that to inflation—never been done before in Ontario’s history. We’ve raised the threshold and created an earnings exemption that we quadrupled from—well, quintupled from $200 a month to $1,000 a month.

These are all measures that we’re taking to help people who can work, but we’re also helping people who can’t work and we’re continuing to use a multi-ministry, cross-government effort: the micro-credential programs, the mental health programs, the child care benefits, the LIFT and CARE tax credits, the minimum wage. These are all things that we have done to improve the lives of citizens across Ontario, particularly those who are vulnerable and dependent on support from government. But we’re enabling people, creating meaningful and purposeful employment and filling the jobs that exist today, putting them back into—

“We are pleased with the announcement. This means more money in the pockets of the people we support, as well as improving their quality of life. We thank the government of Ontario for their continued support.” That’s Valérie Picher, chair of the board, Community Living Toronto.

“This announcement is a signal from the government that they are listening. This is a definite step in the right direction. We look forward to continuing our work with the government,” says Chris Beesley, CEO of Community Living Ontario.

“A game-changer and change in a very, very significant way,” says Mark Wafer, interim CEO of the Abilities Centre.

We’re making positive change, Speaker—

I want to welcome to the House the Ontario Clean Air Alliance.

Also, Ryan Morrison and Steven D’Aloisio from the professional firefighters’ association. I’m looking forward to meeting you later this afternoon.

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?

Our government is taking the measures necessary after decades of neglect by the previous opposition and the NDP. Speaker, it was the Liberals who had the chance to raise rates. In fact, they waited until they were about to lose an election to even suggest it. The NDP had a chance to make it a priority when they propped up the Liberals for three years, while they chose to sit on the sidelines and didn’t make it an issue. And while they talked, it was our government that acted. I just find it incredible, the investments that we’re making, that you could have done and you never did. You abandoned it when you could have done it.

We made the investments in social assistance and we’re investing again. We’re indexing rates to inflation. We’ve made historic raises. We’re calling on the federal government to commit to their promise of a Canada Disability Benefit. We’re continuing to make the necessary changes to support people—

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?

My question is to the Premier. In Durham, there is a layer of protection around the greenbelt called the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve Act. This Premier is peeling it back in Bill 39.

The minister’s public justification was a letter from the former mayor of Pickering. However, late the other night, Pickering city councillors unanimously decided they don’t support the repeal of the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve Act. The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has no justification for removing the ag preserve protections from the greenbelt, and now he doesn’t have the support of council.

Will the Premier let the member for Pickering–Uxbridge side with his community, abandon his assault on the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve and choose to protect prime farmland in perpetuity as promised?

My question is to the Premier. The government has said it is looking at continuing its assault on democratic norms by bringing strong-mayor powers to more regions, including Halton, Durham, Niagara, Peel, Waterloo and York. We do not have to sacrifice democratic norms to address our housing crisis.

Instead of doubling down on minority rule, can your government withdraw Bill 39 immediately?

The minister and this government can spin it as they like, but the facts remain: Bill 39 undermines democracy, it undermines environmental protection, and it does nothing to provide affordable housing.

It also undermines locally elected councillors. I know there are multiple Scarborough MPPs here whose counterparts, the councillors in those regions were some of the signatories to the letter that was recently sent out to the Premier to reconsider Bill 39. They haven’t even gotten a chance to sit down and have a meeting about Bill 39 because this government spent last night ramming it through.

My question is, have the Premier and this Minister of Municipal Affairs listened to some of the Scarborough members on his side, especially the Minister for Seniors and Accessibility? Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Final supplementary: the member for Thunder Bay–Superior North.

I remind the members to please make their comments through the Chair.

Minister, please conclude your answer.

Restart the clock. Supplementary question: the member for University–Rosedale.

And the supplementary, the member for Ottawa West–Nepean.

Participants in the NDP’s round table who have disabilities shared that they would love to be working, but they can’t because of their disability. Parents who are full-time caregivers for children with disabilities are forced to live on Ontario Works, unable to even buy diapers or other supplies for their children because the rates are so low. This government’s policies are forcing people with disabilities to live in deep poverty.

But as Paul, an ODSP recipient, said, “Becoming disabled can happen to anyone. It could happen to you.” Why is the government making people with disabilities live in poverty instead of doubling the rates?

Speaker, my question is to the Premier. The verdict is in on this government’s so-called housing plan, and it’s damning. Mayors, councils, experts and community groups are all united against this so-called plan.

Bills 23 and 39 are undemocratic. They will financially devastate municipalities. They’re harmful to the environment, and they won’t build the homes that people need. Will this government finally listen to Ontarians, and repeal Bill 23 and withdraw Bill 39 before it’s too late?