Ontario’s students are struggling, but this government’s cuts to public education mean they aren’t getting the support they need: classrooms with more than 30 kids, EAs trying to support six kids at once, not enough mental health supports or public health nurses. And, now, instead of investing in our schools, this government is abdicating its responsibilities, telling parents it’s up to them to try to track down an hour or two of tutoring.

Why is this government refusing to invest in public education so that our kids get the support they deserve in the classroom?

Good morning, Speaker. People in my riding of Flamborough–Glanbrook rely on transit to get where they need to go every single day, and it’s not uncommon for me to hear about their frustrations with the lack of reliable transit options available in our community. The members opposite had over a decade to address the transit gap that exists in Hamilton, and while they talked a lot about building, they never got it done.

Speaker, can the Minister of Transportation please tell this House what our government is doing to build the transit connections the people of Hamilton deserve?

Hamilton has seen significant growth as a destination to live, work and play. By 2046, the city of Hamilton could see its population grow by up to 35%. If you consider this growth, the need to invest in and build public transit is clear. But it’s not just about accommodating this growth; it’s also about protecting our economy.

Speaker, could the Minister of Transportation please speak about the economic significance of this project?

Thank you to the member opposite. We remain committed to working collaboratively with Indigenous partners and communities to co-develop programs that will improve access to safe and effective health services. We acknowledge that programs and services must be designed, delivered and evaluated in collaboration with Indigenous partners to effectively meet the needs of Indigenous peoples, families and communities.

For example, All Nations Health Partners is an Ontario health team with Indigenous leadership that serves people living in and around Kenora and Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls in northwestern Ontario, including Indigenous and First Nations peoples. Similarly, the Rainy River District Ontario Health Team has Indigenous leadership that will serve people living in and around that area and, most recently, the Maamwesying Ontario Health Team has Indigenous leadership that will serve Indigenous peoples living in 11 nearby First Nations.

We’re also providing $41 million in base funding to Indigenous organizations and communities to support culturally safe mental health and wellness services. We’ll continue to work with Indigenous partners and communities to make sure we have the right services.

Parents are stressed, Speaker. They’re already having to leave work to pick up their kids because of bus shortages. They don’t want to also have to hunt for an hour or two of support outside the classroom. They want those supports in schools.

With $365 million, the government could have added one more EA to every single school in Ontario. They could have put public health nurses and social workers in every school to address mental health challenges. They could have paid education workers a living wage so they can stop using food banks, and we could fill worker shortages.

Why is this government pushing ahead with its poorly designed voucher system, instead of giving our schools the resources they need to help our kids?

The supplementary question.

To reply, the Minister of Finance.

The supplementary question.

Thank you to the member opposite for that question. Of course, the federal government and all parties have launched the committee and the process for that. We’ll let them do their work.

But while we’re at it, Mr. Speaker, what about that carbon tax that the federal government, which this party supports, put on the backs of the people of Ontario? That is causing rising costs and food prices in Ontario.

Mr. Speaker, let me tell you what Ontario has done. Let me take you back to when we reduced the gas tax by 5.7 cents a litre. Let me take you back to when we took licence plate fees off the backs of Ontario drivers. Let me take you to today, when we just increased the minimum wage to the second-highest in the country. Let me tell you what we’re doing tomorrow: We have the staycation tax credit, the seniors tax credit, the job training tax credit, the child care tax credit—Mr. Speaker, we recalled the Legislature this summer to get things going for the people of Ontario. Support us.

Let me tell you, Mr. Speaker, we have a plan for Ontarians. We have a plan to build Ontario. We took that plan to the people of Ontario. It was roundly endorsed by the people of Ontario, as witnessed by all the people on both sides. That plan is to get shovels in the ground to build hospitals, to build highways, to build long-term care, to support labour, to get more workers, retrain workers for the jobs of today and for tomorrow and to help keep costs down for the people of Ontario. We are delivering for the people of Ontario.

I want to thank the member from Thunder Bay–Atikokan. He makes one heck of a neighbour out there in northwestern Ontario, advocating for the people of Thunder Bay.

He’s right: Indigenous businesses have an incredible opportunity. This is an Indigenous-led and -inspired fund through the Chiefs of Ontario and our wealth creation and prosperity table. I had a chance to be with the member from Durham—also a fantastic advocate for his riding and the Indigenous communities there—as we attended, at the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, our announcement to commit $25 million to this Indigenous Economic Development Fund that creates access to business capital—much needed—through loans and grants, supports digitization and e-commerce, supply chain mapping, building on the existing opportunities and understanding where the new opportunities are, economic development training for business capacity, and, finally and most importantly, perhaps, focusing on access to Indigenous apprentices.

Now, I can’t help but think that there is an opportunity, as those businesses and those Indigenous people finish the work there, to start contracting businesses. Mining, forestry and energy infrastructure are all on the table, and do you know what they have in common? They cannot succeed unless we have a robust Indigenous business economic opportunity, trained skilled workers and apprentices getting out there, getting the work done.

We’re proud of the work we’re doing with the Chiefs of Ontario, our Indigenous businesses. We’re going to get this done, and Indigenous communities are going to be the benefit of it.

Speaker, good morning. My question is for the Premier. Ontario families are facing rising prices on every front: rising housing prices, rising energy prices and, perhaps most challenging, rising food prices. We can all agree that eating is no luxury. Ensuring your children have breakfast before school is no luxury. But for many families—families right across this province—the grocery bill at the end of the week is becoming harder and harder to afford.

In these challenging times, instead of competing for customers, Ontario’s largest grocery chains all but admitted that they collude and plan to keep prices at these inflated rates through the holidays. This is unacceptable at any time, Mr. Speaker, but as we consider rising inflation, as we consider the approaching holidays, this becomes that much harder to bear. With rising food prices, what is this Premier’s government going to do to ensure that Ontario consumers—our friends and family and neighbours—are not taken advantage of by some of the biggest companies in this province—

My question: Quebec has passed legislation to prohibit charging consumers a fee to use their credit cards. Will Ontario do the same?

This government is committed to unlocking Ontario’s full economic potential by bringing jobs back to this province. Ontarians need opportunities to participate in our growing economy and ensure a prosperous future for themselves and their families. We know that Indigenous businesses have a lot to offer and can support critical supply chains across different sectors.

Can the Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Northern Development please inform the House on how our government plans to increase economic prosperity for Indigenous people in Ontario?

Can the minister please explain to this House why it is so important for the rollout of this critical funding to be an Indigenous-led process?

Mr. Speaker, at a time of historic high inflation and economic challenge affecting all of our constituents, I find it incredibly offensive that the NDP and Liberals would oppose an investment directly into the pockets of parents, because only a New Democrat and Liberal would believe they know better—a politician, a union president or a public servant—than a parent of this province. There is a reason, Speaker, why our government has an enhanced mandate from the people of Ontario: because they can count on us to invest in them, to provide direct support in parents of this province to support their kids, because we know they play a critical role in the life of their child.

But in addition to providing $200 for every child and $250 for every child with special education needs—now I can confirm 800,000 applicants, as of this morning—we know we can also step up support for our publicly funded schools: 5,000 more staff, including 1,000 more educators in our classroom; better training of our staff; and a modern curriculum focused on skills. This is going to get kids back on track.

Thank you to the member for Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock for raising this important question. This government understands that investments in college and university hospital research not only strengthen Ontario’s existing innovation and commercialization capacity but also grow our province’s skilled workforce and positions us as a global leader. That is why our government is committed to supporting research and innovation that leads to the discoveries and advancements that make a real impact on people’s lives. Whether our researchers are developing new techniques to detect illnesses faster, finding new ways to understand the human brain or working on the latest AI technology, Ontario’s colleges and universities and research institutes are at the forefront.

To help further the great work being done in this sector, our government has invested more than $198 million in 2022 into research projects at colleges, universities and research hospitals across the province. This funding supports 241 research projects across the province and will be integral in building, renovating and equipping research facilities with updated technology as well as attracting new research talent. We will continue to work hard to strengthen Ontario’s college and university hospital research initiatives and thus provide them with the ability to adopt advanced technologies to remain competitive and continue moving Ontario forward.

Ontario has always been a leader in research and cultivation of life-changing and enhancing products. From the latest in technology to life-saving medication, our researchers are at the forefront. With Peter and IPON, Ontario will take the next step and ensure the benefits of this research go on to support future Ontario-based research and that Ontario is the first to benefit. When tax dollars help fund research, taxpayers deserve to see the benefits from it.

To reply, the Minister of Long-Term Care.

My question is to the Premier. It has been a heavy and long journey for the families of those who died at Orchard Villa long-term-care home. Ontario remembers the horrors exposed when the military had to be called to the home. Seventy lives were lost. Families are still forced to fight for justice, and now, instead of grieving and healing, they are fighting to keep Orchard Villa and the for-profit operator Southbridge from being awarded an unfathomable 30-year licence extension and more beds.

Does the Premier think this long-term-care home with such a terrible record deserves a free pass and a generation-long reward?

My question is to the Minister of Colleges and Universities. Our health care workforce faces challenges after a difficult few years, starting with the policies of the past Liberal government and now due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The health care system, neglected by the previous Liberal government, was stretched to the limit. This resulted in many nurses unfortunately leaving the profession when we needed them the most.

Speaker, we need additional health care professionals now more than ever to support the workforce and ensure patients continue receiving the care they need. Can the Minister of Colleges and Universities explain how our government plans to address the nursing shortage and alleviate pressure on our health care system?

Speaker, can the minister explain how our government will start addressing the regional gaps in our health care system and not just open up more seats at schools?

My question is to the Premier. This government is fully aware of the horrific and, in many cases, deadly failures of Orchard Villa during the COVID-19 pandemic because it’s public knowledge. But they’re happy to issue another 30-year licence to this private for-profit long-term-care home. The willingness of this government to grant such a long-term-care-home owner-operator another 30-year licence is unjust, disturbing and, frankly, dismissive and disrespectful to the residents and families who continue to suffer.

Mr. Speaker, 70 people lost their lives at Orchard Villa, some because of dehydration, starvation and neglect. Will this government tell the grieving families of Orchard Villa today that they will not issue a 30-year licence?

I appreciate the question from the member opposite. The member will know, of course, that the licence extension was up for review. Consultations and community input closed—I believe it was on October 18. The ministry is currently undertaking a review of those comments, and we will come back to the House when a decision has been made.

Ultimately, what we’re doing is building a long-term-care system in the province of Ontario that we can be proud of. That is why we have North America-leading levels of care, four hours of care per resident per day, the highest number of inspectors-per-home ratio in the country and over 58,000 new and upgraded beds across the province, so that we can be proud of our long-term-care system. We’re getting it done.

The ultimate goal of our systems, whether it is in long-term care, whether it is in community and congregate care settings, is to provide the utmost level of care to ensure that people who are committed into our care are treated respectfully. When that is not the case, like we do in long-term care, we take action, and we will do that. Again, I thank the honourable member for that very important question.

Speaker, through you to the Premier: Since 2018, I’ve been sounding the alarm about the horrific conditions faced by so many of our most vulnerable citizens living in supportive living accommodations.

Last week, the Toronto Star released an investigative report into SLA homes. They found food with black mould, soiled mattresses and furniture, bedbugs and rats the size of footballs. Residents and former employees report that senior management refused to address these issues, instead telling residents with nowhere else to go to “feel free to move out.”

I appreciate the fact this government supported my private member’s bill to regulate these homes back in 2020, but it was not prioritized and it was never passed.

Through you, Speaker, what action has this government taken since then to protect these vulnerable residents?

At Walnut Manor in St. Thomas, health inspectors went into a supportive living accommodation that reeked of urine and had piles of garbage and rotting food everywhere. The conditions were so horrifying that these seasoned inspectors gagged.

Members of this Premier’s current cabinet have supported this bill in the past, including the current Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. Will the government commit today to support, prioritize and, as quickly as possible, pass my private member’s bill to protect vulnerable residents of supportive living accommodations in Ontario?

When it comes to experiencing the great outdoors, we know that Ontarians from all walks of life enjoy various activities in our province’s forests and wilderness. There’s plenty to enjoy, such as fishing, hiking, birdwatching, biking and camping. In particular, hunting is a much-beloved pastime in Ontario, and continues countless years of tradition. With hunting season occurring now, the safety of all participants must be properly addressed.

Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. What is our government doing to ensure that all Ontarians can experience our great outdoors safely?

Can the minister explain what is being done to ensure that funds collected through fishing and hunting licence fees, fines and royalties are protecting our ecosystems and supporting our communities?

Thank you to the member from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound for that important question. The safety of Ontarians is something our government takes very seriously. Ontario’s forests provide a world-class backdrop for many outdoor activities. At the same time, we know hunting plays an important role in the cultural and economic fabric of our province, and that’s why hunters need to make sure safety is their top priority every hunting season. All hunters must wear solid orange clothing and a hunter orange head cover during seasons for deer, moose and elk. Hunters must handle firearms responsibly and never shoot unless they’re absolutely sure of their target and what lies beyond it. It’s illegal to shoot from a vehicle or carry a loaded firearm in or on a vehicle.

Mr. Speaker, we’re fortunate to have highly trained and dedicated conservation officers all across the province, and we made good on our promise to hire 25 additional officers across Ontario.

Speaker, my ministry is ensuring the responsible management of fish and wildlife in Ontario. Through the province’s fish and wildlife special purpose account, the province spends 100% of hunting and fishing revenue on fish and wildlife management programs. The funds collected are used for programs like fish culture stocking, wildlife population studies, research and enforcement.

Our government has also made life more affordable by putting a stop to hunting licence fee increases for all Ontario residents and removing the $2 service fee. Government also waived fees for resource-based tourism operators during the tough times that we’ve seen in the last couple of years—bait fish operator fees, commercial outpost camp land use fees for 2020 and 2021 waived. And we know the people of Ontario have seen relief by making it easier and faster to buy and print licences online.

Mr. Speaker, there’s more work ahead, but the people of Ontario can rest assured knowing we’re getting it done.

Thank you to the member opposite for telling us about Zoe and her mother. As the member opposite knows, we’ve made significant investments to try to clear the surgical backlog across the board as part of our $3.3-billion investment in the hospital sector. We’ve also dedicated $300 million to reduce surgical backlogs, part of the broader investment of $880 million to reduce surgical backlogs, and specifically we’ve made investments at pediatric hospitals like CHEO, as I’ve said before, because nothing is more important than the well-being of our children.

So I’m sorry to hear about Zoe’s wait and certainly we should make sure that Zoe gets care as quickly as possible. But that’s why we’re investing significantly to address the backlog that has come out as a result of COVID and why we’ve also had dedicated funding of $6.5 billion for pediatric hospitals specifically to address these types of concerns.

But as I said before, we’ve provided $4.6 million more in funding for those hospitals to add an additional nine acute-care beds at CHEO and 10 acute-care beds and three ICU beds at SickKids Hospital. Our government, as we work on addressing short-term stressors on the system, continues to advance meaningful reforms to build a more resilient, patient-centred and integrated system, and we really want to make sure that patients like Zoe do not have to wait in the future.