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?

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.

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.

My question is to the Premier. All of Toronto city council opposes the government using Bill 23 to carve up the greenbelt. A majority of council is against Bill 39 imposing minority rule on the people of Toronto, including councillors from Etobicoke. Thousands of Etobicoke residents have signed petitions calling on the government to withdraw both bills.

Premier, have the members of the Etobicoke ridings shared the concerns of their local councillors and constituents, and advocated for them with you?

Supplementary?

Supplementary, the member for Humber River–Black Creek.

Again, I’ll remind the members to please make their comments through the Chair.

Interjections.

Interjection.

Start the clock. The next question.

C’est formidable d’entendre que notre gouvernement est déterminé à soutenir les travailleurs du nord de l’Ontario. Les communautés du Nord sont uniques et diversifiées, pas seulement sur le plan géographique. Les besoins des collectivités nordiques et autochtones en matière de soutien des entreprises, des chaînes d’approvisionnement et de l’infrastructure sont différents.

Monsieur le Président, le ministre du Développement du Nord et des Affaires autochtones peut-il nous en dire davantage sur ce que fait le gouvernement pour soutenir les communautés du Nord?

—à Hearst, on a investi non seulement dans les institutions communautaires, mais aussi dans la stratégie touristique francophone;

—à Sudbury, au Collège Boréal, nous avons investi dans une infrastructure essentielle pour le campus principal; et, bien sûr

—à la Rivière des Français, avec leur Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l’Ontario, pour établir leur Centre de développement jeunesse, économique et communautaire.

In my riding of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound and across our province, many Ontarians are looking to join the workforce. However, those with prior involvement in the criminal justice system often face barriers to finding work. As Ontario continues to address our most significant labour shortage in a generation, our government must provide the necessary tools for individuals looking to gain secure employment.

Speaker, can the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development please share with this House what our government is doing to empower individuals, helping them to get a second chance?

Speaker, the members from Etobicoke support Mayor Tory. They want Mayor Tory, who received a strong city-wide, democratic mandate on October 24, to have the tools to get the job done to be able to make sure that he does his share of the 1.5 million homes we need to build by 2031.

My question back to the New Democratic Party members from the city of Toronto is, why don’t you support Mayor Tory? Why are you not supporting measures that Mayor Tory needs to help with our housing supply action plan?

He also argued that the opposition’s criticism of Bill 23 is too focused on a populist narrative and forgets about “important implications for housing supply, housing prices and inequality.”

The opposition talks a good game but here’s their own NDP policy person, Dr. Gillezeau, arguing against the policy—

Interjections.

Interjections.

My question is for the Minister of Transportation. On August 31, I asked the minister why the reconstruction of the Argyle Street Bridge in Caledonia was being held up. I appreciated the minister’s response, that the reconstruction is a top priority for this government. The minister also spoke about the need for due diligence on a laundry list of tasks that need to be undertaken before reconstruction can begin—tasks I believe had already been completed prior to my question in August.

Speaker, I’m in Caledonia often, but I’m not there every single day, like the people who live there, like the people who own businesses. They tell me there has been no work done on the bridge over the past three months.

The people of Caledonia, the people of Haldimand county, would appreciate an update from this government: What due diligence is still required before shovels are put in the ground?

The Argyle Street Bridge in Caledonia serves both local and commercial vehicles. The ministry imposed a weight limit on the bridge some time ago, and I believe the ministry is collecting fines on anyone who exceeds that limit. I’d love to know how much money the ministry has raked in.

This century-old bridge collapsed in 1925, and I’m fearful that a bridge deemed to be in state of deterioration in 2001 will be another headline at some time.

Speaker, when I asked my original question in August, the minister pointed the finger at the previous government for not taking action, and we all know what happens when you point the finger. Yet today, we see the member opposite pointing the finger again. This government has had four years to begin reconstruction on this bridge, and all that has happened is a woman has been kicked out of her home on the north side.

Speaker, through you to the minister, what is the date the people of Caledonia can expect the bridge to begin reconstruction?