Our recent sales mission to Asia focused on strengthening relationships with our partners and attracting new investments in key sectors, including electric vehicles, life sciences and tech.

While in South Korea, we joined LSK Investment to announce their new $100-million life sciences fund for Ontario companies. This new fund will support early-stage life sciences companies with a focus on developing new therapeutics. LSK also announced their plans to open the first overseas office worldwide—and their first North American office—here in Toronto. This investment will strengthen Ontario’s growing life sciences sector. With Ontario’s talented workforce, the best R&D facilities and 65,000 annual STEM grads, more overseas companies are coming.

Speaker, companies around the world continue to choose Ontario for their future because our government has reduced the cost of doing business by $8 billion every single year.

School bus cancellations have thrown thousands of Ottawa families into chaos this September, because the Minister of Education cut $6 million in transportation funding to Ottawa school boards. When the boards rightfully complained, the minister offered just $1.8 million in a one-time transfer, but only if the boards agreed to use key messages praising the government.

Why does the minister think it’s okay to demand praise while Ottawa parents scramble every day to get their kids to school?

The minister created this problem with his funding cut. What is he going to do to fix it?

Speaker, I just find it pretty rich coming from the Liberals, who had scandal after scandal for 15 years; cost the taxpayers billions of dollars; changed the greenbelt not once, not twice, not three times, but 17 times for your buddies, building mega-mansions.

Mr. Speaker, when we took office, as I said earlier, we inherited a bankrupt province from the Liberals and the NDP supporting them. We have turned things around. My friends from Arizona—we’re the number-one trading partner to 19 states, number-two to nine other states. We’re an economic powerhouse in North America. We do $460 billion a year with the United States. We would be the third-largest trading partner in the world to the US. We have an incredible relationship, shipping car parts back and forth up to seven or eight times.

But do you know something, Mr. Speaker? Last month, the numbers came out: We created more jobs in Ontario than all 50 states combined. That’s what we’re doing for the people of Ontario.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker, we’re going to move the province forward. We’re going to create the 1.5 million homes. We’re going to make sure that we create economic development and job creation so that we’re leading North America. We’re going to focus on the $184 billion of infrastructure that the Liberals and the NDP failed to do. They didn’t build the 413. They talked about Highway 7; they did absolutely nothing. They talked about Highway 3 and did absolutely nothing. We’re building the Bradford Bypass.

And guess what? As the hospitals were crumbling, we’re putting $50 billion into building 50 new hospitals or additions to hospitals, and that’s the tip of the iceberg. But thank you for the question.

My question is for the Premier. Last week, the Premier’s $8.3-billion gravy train derailed, and Speaker, what a mess: three cabinet ministers lost in a month, and the Premier’s office is right in the thick of it. Amin Massoudi and Jae Truesdell were both on that infamous Vegas trip with that developer friend of the Premier’s. And then the Premier’s ex-executive assistant, Nico Fidani-Diker, was working with Mr. X to crack open the greenbelt, and that same Mr. X, an unregistered lobbyist, was passing brown envelopes. And of course, we have the Premier’s hand-picked chief of staff for the minister of housing, Ryan Amato, the one who the Premier wants us to believe was the lone wolf in this whole thing.

Speaker, it’s clear to all of us here and all Ontarians that all roads lead to the Premier’s office in this scandal. Why won’t the Premier apologize to Ontarians for trying to pull an $8.3-billion fast one on them?

So what is this really all about? It’s about how the Premier thinks he can do business in this province. It’s all about what his priorities are, and it’s very clear his priorities are rich, well-connected insiders and putting them ahead of all Ontarians.

So I’m going to ask once more: Why won’t the Premier just apologize and admit that he was wrong? And let’s actually put this to committee, so we can have some witnesses in about what happened in this greenbelt scandal.

Supplementary question.

Interjections.

Interjection.

Interjection.

Start the clock.

Interjections.

Start the clock. The supplementary question.

It’s equally imperative that we make targeted investments in First Nations communities across northern Ontario. In the fiscal year 2022-23, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund invested $17 million in more than 61 First Nations projects, leveraging $30.9 million and creating or sustaining more than 110 jobs.

What does this look like on the ground, Mr. Speaker? The Biigtigong Nishnaabeg outdoor arena and upgrades to their community centre to improve their training capacity, the Matawa Wellness and Training Centre, the Mattagami First Nation Fishing tournaments and improvements to their waterfront development, and the list goes on.

What’s changed about a new-look Northern Ontario Heritage Fund is that we’ve gone from just under 1% in the previous government to up to 19% of those investments annually into First Nations communities in northern Ontario. We’re changing the game, Mr. Speaker, investing in their businesses and investing in their communities for a greater sense of prosperity across northern Ontario.

Mr. Speaker, when our government increased funding for student transportation by $111 million, what did the NDP and Liberals do? They voted against the investment.

When our government increased funding to Ottawa school boards, $75 million this school year, what did the member opposite do when given the chance to support her own community? She voted against it.

Interjection.

What did we do, Speaker? We increased funding across the board. We increased funding specifically to accommodate the increase in inflationary costs with respect to commodities. In addition, we increased drivers’ pay by 17%. In addition, we gave $1.8 million to Ottawa specifically, and the French school boards in Ottawa were able to deliver transportation, but not the English.

Why doesn’t the member opposite stop politicizing an issue that disrupts parents’ lives, get on board, hold the school board to account and demand better for the people of Ottawa?

Instead of justifying the inaction of the board and consortium, stand up for constituents and demand better for Ottawa students.

Interjections.

The supplementary question.

First, I’d like to congratulate my good friend the member from Willowdale on becoming the Minister of Long-Term Care—and now I’m going to grill him with a question.

In June, I was privileged to have the Minister of Long-Term Care come to my community of Peterborough to announce the construction of 416 new long-term-care beds at the Marianhill Nursing Home and Extendicare in Peterborough. These critical investments by our government are positive and are welcomed by the people of both Peterborough and Pembroke, but there’s still more that needs to be done to increase capacity in long-term care to help support Ontario’s seniors. That’s why it’s so important that our government continues with our plan to invest in the infrastructure that’s needed to care for our seniors.

Speaker, can the Minister of Long-Term Care please explain how our government is increasing the number of long-term-care homes across Ontario?

However, rising interest rates and construction costs are making it more expensive to finance crucial infrastructure projects. With pressing needs in communities across our province, it’s positive that our government introduced an additional top-up to the construction funding subsidy to support the costs of developing or redeveloping long-term-care homes.

Speaker, can the minister please provide an update on the benefits of this funding strategy in supporting solutions that will meet the needs of our seniors in Ontario?

Le 30 juin dernier à 17 h, avant le jour du Canada, comme pour passer inaperçu, la ministre des Collèges et Universités refuse officiellement le financement d’une université par, pour et avec les Franco-Ontariens et Franco-Ontariennes : l’Université de Sudbury.

Le gouvernement dit qu’il se base sur plusieurs rapports, dont le rapport final du PEQAB, pour justifier le refus du financement. Pourtant, lors d’une demande d’accès à l’information de mon bureau, nous nous sommes vu refuser l’accès au même document qui devrait justifier la réponse du gouvernement.

Alors, pourquoi ne pas autoriser le partage du rapport du PEQAB pour que la communauté comprenne la décision du ministère? Madame la Ministre, qu’avez-vous à cacher? Est-ce encore une autre situation comme la ceinture de verdure?

Let’s start with what a shift this is, under the leadership of this Premier and this wonderful former Minister of Long-Term Care, building record homes in this province.

Let’s just take Peterborough, Pembroke and surrounding areas as one example: 416 new, safe, modern long-term-care beds. This is the tip of the iceberg, though, Speaker, because our government is supporting another six projects in Renfrew county and four more in Peterborough county. That’s a total of 1,400 new and upgraded long-term-care beds. What a stark contrast, just in that area alone, compared to what the Liberals did for the better part of a decade, a net 611 new beds.

In fact, I have a bigger update for this House, Speaker. Since taking office, under the leadership of this Premier, since 2018, 18,000 beds have been completed or are under construction. That is fantastic news for our seniors. They took care of us; we’re going to take care of them.

The program he’s speaking of is the construction funding subsidy, or the CFS. Some 67 projects have been approved under the CFS. This will add over 11,000 new and upgraded long-term-care beds across the province, despite the challenges they’re having with the construction issues.

This is one of the largest long-term capital development projects in this province’s history, in this country’s history, part of a larger plan to build 30,000 new long-term-care beds and improve 28,000 additional, for nearly 60,000 in added capacity. Compare that to the track record of the last government.

But more importantly, we need to make sure these beds are actually staffed: $4.9 billion to establish four hours of daily care per resident in our great province.

Speaker, I’ll say it again: Our seniors took care of us. It is our responsibility to take care of them.

Thank you for the question from the great member of Carleton, a great friend indeed. The member is absolutely right. We’re in a housing supply crisis that we’ve never seen in this province ever, ever. That is why, on the first day of my job, I was joined by Mayor Vrbanovic and MP Chagger where we provided more residents of Kitchener an affordable place to call home at the historic St. Paul’s church.

Speaker, we are providing over $1.4 million to support the construction of 21 affordable housing units that will give seniors in their community a safe and affordable place to call home. Projects like St. Paul’s are exactly what we need to improve the housing crunch in Kitchener and, indeed, across this province. We all know there is much more work to be done. This government will keep cutting red tape, and we will keep working with all partners to get the job done. And yes, Speaker, we will succeed as we act, as we achieve and remain accountable to the people of Ontario.

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Associate Minister of Housing. For too many Ontarians, including young people, newcomers and seniors right here in Ottawa, finding the right home is still a major challenge. While our government is taking meaningful measures to address housing supply through new legislation, the scale of this problem calls for continued action and leadership. More resources are needed to build upon the work already under way and to bring forward more measures to address this serious issue. Finding solutions means working in partnership with all levels of government in order to produce results.

So Speaker, through you, can the associate minister please explain how our government is getting more homes built?

While it is encouraging to hear about the progress our government is making to advance housing construction, there is still more work that needs to be done, not just in Ottawa but across the province.

The commitment by municipalities and the federal government to work collaboratively with our government in developing strategies that will provide real and long-term housing solutions is important and essential. In order to meet our goal of significantly increasing our housing supply, decisive action need to be taken.

Mr. Speaker, through you: Can the associate minister please explain how our government is supporting municipalities across our province, including the great city of Ottawa, so they can deliver on their housing commitments?

Le gouvernement conservateur prend ses décisions en secret, sans consulter et surtout sans tenir compte de la réalité des Ontariens du Nord. La réalité, c’est que les Franco-Ontariens du Nord veulent une université par, pour et avec les francophones à Sudbury, pas à quatre heures de Sudbury.

Ma question est pour le premier ministre : quand est-ce que le gouvernement conservateur va financer l’Université de Sudbury?

Early in September, the Premier claimed that teachers and school boards are indoctrinating children. The Premier’s words do matter. My constituent Rebecca reached out to me after the protest last week: “I am the parent of a trans child. I was called garbage, a pedophile and an indoctrinator when I joined the counter-protest. One chant recited, ‘Trans kids are not kids.’” This constituent broke down and cried.

Speaker, the Premier must correct the record. It is the government’s own curriculum that the schools are actually teaching. Will he apologize and correct the record that Ontario schools are not indoctrinating our youth?

Thank you to the member from Burlington.

Mr. Speaker, this past summer, I had the privilege of meeting with hundreds of women who are entering the workforce thanks to the programs and investments made by our government in supporting training and skills development. This includes promoting a wide range of fields and careers to women and girls, especially in sectors where the need is greatest, like STEM and the skilled trades. That’s why our government is investing $1.3 million to prepare women from under-represented groups for in-demand careers such as the trucking industry. Only 2% of Ontario’s truck drivers are women, which is why this program will reimburse up to $4,500 for child care and other living expenses for women who enter.

We are making workplaces safer for women, and we’re building a province where everyone can thrive once again.

I’m so proud to share that we are already seeing positive impacts from our investments. Last year, labour force participation rates for Ontario mothers reached the highest levels on record since 1976, and the labour participation rate for mothers with children under the age of five increased by 2.4 percentage points.

Colleagues, our government is on the right track. Last year, Ontario achieved an historic increase in skilled trades apprenticeship registrations, including a 28% increase in registrations for women alone.

Mr. Speaker, it’s never been clearer that when women succeed, Ontario succeeds, and we’re getting it done for the people of Ontario.

My question is for the Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity. Our government must build a province where all women and girls are empowered to succeed. We know that Ontario and our economy benefit by supporting more women in the workforce, especially in leading-edge industry, including occupations in the skilled trades. Unfortunately, the number of women employed in the skilled trades sector is well below their male counterparts. With more than 100,000 unfilled skilled trades jobs, it’s critical that we attract more women to pursue good-paying jobs in these sectors.

Speaker, can the associate minister please explain how our government is helping women across Ontario develop their skills so that they can enter these in-demand careers?

Speaker, can the associate minister please elaborate on how our government is removing barriers and creating more economic opportunities for women and girls?

Thank you again to the member opposite. By providing funding to municipalities, local leaders have the freedom to choose projects that will work best for their own communities. It puts the decision-making in the hands of those who know their neighbourhoods best. We are investing another $42 million through the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit to support municipalities across the province by providing urgent assistance to the rapidly growing number of asylum claimants.

This housing crisis requires all hands on deck. We are getting it done for seniors; we are getting it done for students, for newcomers and first-time homebuyers. We are getting shovels in the ground and building the homes all Ontarians deserve. We remain committed to building at least 1.5 million homes by 2031. That is our duty. That is our mandate. It’s results that count, and we will get the job done.

We believe every single student in Ontario, irrespective of their differences in their faith or heritage, sexual orientation or gender, place of birth, colour of skin—it does not matter. Every child should feel affirmed, respected and safe. We absolutely agree with that conviction.

Now, we also believe as Progressive Conservatives that parents have a foundational role to play in the life of their kids. Those concepts must co-exist. We believe parents are at the centre of Ontario’s publicly funded school system. With respect, we don’t claim to know better than the NDP. We actually believe and trust parents to love and support their kids. We will stand up for them and ensure every child is safe in the province of Ontario.

We also believe, as Progressive Conservatives, as Canadians, that parents have a fundamental role in the life of their children. They are the centre of Ontario’s publicly funded school system. We just passed a bill, Bill 98, the Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, that literally strengthens and enshrines the voices of parents. The NDP and Liberals actually voted against that principle. How can you explain to your constituents that parents should not have more involvement in the lives of their children?

We will stand up for parents, we will, yes, stand up for human rights and we will ensure kids and schools get back to basics—

Interjection.