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.

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?

The Leader of the Opposition talked about democracy. Here’s a party that has, essentially, an acclamation for their leader. They’ve got a Castro-esque ballot that’s going to be available in March with one name on the ballot—

We’re going to continue to stand up for young families. We’re going to continue to be there for newcomers to Ontario and we’re going to continue to stand up for seniors who want a safe—

Interjections.

We also realized that with the federal government’s new immigration targets, we’re going to have an extra 500,000 people coming to our country—60% of them are going to come to the GTA. We need to ensure that we’ve got a plan in place and looking at areas like this one that former Mayor Ryan aptly articulated as a site that’s been talked about for over 20 years. The conversation around this property preceded the creation of the greenbelt.

I can tell you something, we’re going to continue to put policies in place that get shovels in the ground to build those 1.5 million—

Since we’ve been out sharing the message of how Ontario is open for business we’ve been hearing interesting messages coming back. In a world filled with turmoil, companies see Ontario as a beacon; a sea of calm; a reliable, trusted partner; and a place they can locate their business.

While in Mumbai, 88 Pictures, an animation and media entertainment company, announced Ontario as the location for their first international expansion. Working with our great partner, Toronto Global, 88 Pictures will hire 150 professionals, starting in the new year. They told us that Ontario has everything they need to succeed. It proves that Ontario is open for business. Please welcome us in joining 88 Pictures to Ontario.

We met with leading companies like Essar, ITC Infotech, Tata Elxsi and up-and-comers like Pingkaksho and Witzeal Technologies, all leading India companies looking to locate worldwide. They’re fully aware that Ontario is the number-two tech cluster in all of North America: 20,000 tech companies, 400,000 employees, 65,000 STEM grads, all part of our world-class ecosystem. That’s our competitive edge. That’s why companies from around the world continue to locate in Ontario.

In response to the municipal comments made about Bill 23, Dr. Rob Gillezeau has also said, “It’s disappointing but not surprising to see municipalities come so hard against one of the most effective pieces to lower prices in the new housing legislation.”

The members opposite should be very familiar with Dr. Gillezeau. He’s an accredited economist, but he also works as a policy adviser to the future leader of the NDP.

My question is to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Speaker, it has been very clear that this government does not prioritize Indigenous rights. The failure to engage in dialogue with the rightsholders about the duty to consult and accommodate makes Bill 23 unlawful at worst and undemocratic at best.

Why doesn’t this government just say their housing plan is more important than upholding Indigenous rights? Why don’t you just come out and say you do not care about Indigenous rights? Meegwetch.

To reply, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

My question is for the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. Last week the minister was in India to engage with business leaders and promote Ontario at the Indo-Canadian Business Chamber’s annual convention in New Delhi. This was an opportunity to strengthen relationships with economic partners and continue attracting investments in the manufacturing, technology, and life sciences sector.

We can all agree that our government must continue to ensure Ontario has a strong and competitive tech ecosystem while also ensuring that there are plenty of good jobs for individuals and families across this province. Will the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade please update the House on his trade mission to India?

As the minister correctly stated, Ontario must continue to promote itself as a great place to do business. Can the minister elaborate further on the positive outcomes and future opportunities Ontario can expect due to our trade mission in India?

My question is for the Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Northern Development. Under the previous Liberal government, our transportation infrastructure system urgently needed investment. Unfortunately, this neglect profoundly impacted road safety for many in northern and Indigenous communities.

Communities in northern Ontario face unique challenges and need our government’s support for safe and reliable roadways. Particularly in the north, winter weather conditions can make driving on roads even more challenging. Speaker, can the Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Northern Development please inform the House about our government’s plan to improve access and safety for people travelling across northern Ontario?

It may surprise the member that I don’t see it that way, and neither does our government. We have a pressing and substantial challenge that we’re turning into an opportunity, and that is to build 1.5 million homes over the next 10 years.

We know that across this province, housing shortages are real. They’re real for families living in municipalities, in big cities and in Indigenous communities. That’s why we will move ahead with a balanced approach to build 1.5 million homes in 10 years, to work with our Indigenous communities and their leadership to ensure the housing opportunities are there for them as well. That’s what we’re hearing from them, and that’s what we intend to pursue.

My ministry recently announced more than $6 million for the next fiscal year to continue supporting the construction and operation of a 3,170-kilometre temporary winter road system. These investments link 32 isolated First Nations communities and the town of Moosonee together to the provincial highway network. This improves the health, social and economic prospects and much-needed supplies to serve those communities. It forms the basis for important corridors in the future to serve these communities.

My question is to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. In its response to the government’s proposed repeal of the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve Act, Parks Canada warns, “There is a probable risk of irreversible harm to wildlife, natural ecosystems and agricultural landscapes within Rouge National Urban Park, thereby reducing the viability and functionality of the park’s ecosystems and farmland.”

Parks Canada also says the provincial government has failed to meet obligations under its binding agreement with Parks Canada respecting the Rouge National Urban Park. Why is the minister going so far out of his way to violate so many agreements and break so many promises?

As everyone in this House knows, and as we’ve talked about over and over again, it is this government’s intention to build 1.5 million homes over the next 10 years.

Frankly, the federal government’s opinion on this is somewhat misguided. The park is not attached to the Duffins Rouge. We know that protections will be in place as we go forward, as home builders build these homes that we desperately need. The conservation measures will still be in place; the wetland evaluations will still take place.

There’s an opportunity to solve the problem here. We’re taking that opportunity. We need to take that opportunity. We will take that opportunity.