I thank my colleague for the follow-up. Mr. Speaker, our government believes that no student should go to school hungry. That’s why we’ve partnered with organizations—including the Arrell Family Foundation, the Breakfast Club of Canada, the Schad Foundation, and the Grocery Foundation—to improve these programs. The $1.67 million already raised by partners, alongside our government’s $5-million investment, shows how public and private entities can come together to make a meaningful impact on the lives of Ontario students. I’m grateful for the generous support, and I encourage all Ontarians to get involved and support the success of our students. Together, we can provide a strong foundation for their academic achievement and overall well-being in the province—because, again, they’re 100% of our future, and we need to continue to invest in them.

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

What we will continue to do is to provide MZOs when it helps move the province of Ontario forward—MZOs for long-term care, MZOs to build hospitals, MZOs to build supportive housing in the city of Toronto.

Will I stop issuing MZOs when it supports the priorities of the province of Ontario, when it helps people in the province of Ontario, when it helps job creation, when it gives people their first home? No. I won’t stop doing that. Will I continue to issue MZOs when it means an old long-term-care home can be torn down and replaced by a brand new one? No. I’ll continue to do that.

They want to stand in the way of all of that; I won’t.

In fact, some of their own members have asked me for MZOs in their own ridings, so that we can get long-term-care homes, so that we can get socialized housing in their homes.

So I say to the member very clearly, for the caucus members around you: I will continue to issue it when it is in the best interests of the people of the province of Ontario.

What you’re hearing from the opposition is continued frustration that what we are doing is using the tools that we have to help build a stronger economy, to help restore confidence in industries that had lost it. This is a party that worked with the Liberals to drive out manufacturing. We lost 300,000 manufacturing jobs. The Liberals and the NDP said that we should transition our economy to a service economy.

What we’re doing is building a better, stronger Ontario—$27 billion in investment; over 700,000 people have the dignity of a job. And I will do whatever I can, along with this caucus, to support that.

My question is to the Minister of Natural Resources. The Espanola Domtar mill is set to idle its operations, starting next month, for an indefinite period of time. The impending stoppage has caused a lot of concern and frustration for people across the town of Espanola, Manitoulin and the North Shore area. Arrangements have been made to help employees with the transition and to safely idle the mill’s operations. However, there are still many unanswered questions about the fibre that has been unused and left at roadside.

To the minister: What is the government’s plan to ensure that this fibre does not simply rot and go to waste?

Forestry is vital in the Algoma area, and this minister needs to show leadership during this difficult time.

Minister, who will pick up the bill for the unused fibre, and how will these forestry companies be compensated for work that has already been done?

When we heard that the Domtar mill was idling, we took action right away, reaching out to community officials and having conversations with them about how this could affect them; reaching out to the company to say, “How can we keep this conversation going, and what can we do to facilitate the re-energization of this mill in the future?”

Mr. Speaker, we remain very concerned about the businesses that are attached to this mill—not just the 450 jobs at the mill, but the secondary and tertiary companies that supply the mill and the forestry sector all throughout Ontario. We have taken action when we heard this news. We will continue to work with all parties involved to make sure we get the very, very best outcome, not only for Espanola but for the entire forestry sector. We will continue to work with all these parties as closely as we can every single day.

We have a fantastic forestry sector here in Ontario, and we are extremely proud of it. We’ll continue to make sure that that forestry sector remains strong.

As I said in the original answer, we continue to work with all sectors of our forestry partners that are affected by the closure of this mill, and that includes the operators that the member has spoken about.

We continue to make investments in the forestry sector. Our $20-million forest biomass program is an unprecedented investment to drive the sector forward. Our Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program, $10 million—again, to drive the industry forward. We want a strong industry so all the players in the industry have a chance to succeed, and we continue to make those investments. We continue to work with everyone involved.

Last week, I actually joined the member on a call with members from Espanola and the community there to talk about what we can do to assist. So we’re there; we’re helping; we’re making sure the forestry sector in Ontario continues to succeed.

Last week, the Auditor General’s office confirmed that they are investigating minister’s zoning orders.

MZOs create a two-tier planning system where favoured developers can skip the planning rules that apply to everyone else.

A couple of years ago, in this House, the member for Waterloo asked the Premier about a large number of MZOs that went to his friend Shakir Rehmatullah, who has received more MZOs than any other landowner.

The Integrity Commissioner is now investigating whether MZOs are being improperly issued to favoured developers, overruling responsible municipal planning.

Will the Premier stop overruling critical wetland and farmland protections to benefit his friends?

Without building a single new home or business, an MZO increases the value of a property instantly by generating enormous speculative profits for the owner.

The NDP looked at every MZO this government has issued—more than 100—and in most cases, we were able to find a personal, political or donor tie to the Premier or the PC Party.

Does the Premier finally understand why Ontarians have lost trust in this government?

Thank you to my great minister.

These additional investments made by our government will help to expand access to nutritious food for students across our province.

However, the reality is that there are children in our communities, including those in my riding of Richmond Hill, who are at risk of going to school hungry every day.

Access to nutritious food helps students to be more alert and ready to learn, and helps to improve their overall physical health and well-being.

Our government’s investments will go a long way in helping to provide students with nutritious food at school.

Can the minister please explain how our government is working with all levels of government, community agencies and partners in support of student nutrition programs?

The member from Thornhill is absolutely correct; the previous Liberal government refused to find solutions to gridlock or build any public transit. They sat by and did nothing.

But thanks to the advocacy of the member for Thornhill and other members in Toronto, we’re not going to stick to the status quo. That’s why we’re building long-overdue projects like the Ontario Line.

The Ontario Line will take 400,000 people off the road every single day. The Ontario Line will reduce crowding on the TTC in some of the busiest stations and keep people moving across this province.

Unlike the previous Liberal government in the 15 years, we’re going to continue to invest in the infrastructure that we need to keep people moving in this province.

As I was in the north last week talking with forestry companies about the previous question, I was also there to make a very important announcement—an announcement of $20.5 million further investment in helping us fight wildland fires in Ontario, an investment that looks to the future and recognizes that we may have some challenging fire seasons ahead of us, so we need more technology like aerial drones that can help us with detection and suppression; supporting attraction and retention of forest firefighters; also, making sure that they have a good mental health program attached to that position.

Mr. Speaker, we continue to make investments to ensure that communities, people and infrastructure in Ontario remain safe—and again, $20.5 million will help advance that. And this is in addition to the over 90% increase that we’ve included in base budgeting since we took office in 2018. We are—

Also, as I mentioned, the historic $20-million investment in the forest biomass program and the streams within it—we had an application process open until the end of September. It’s all full up—because innovation in the forestry sector is here in Ontario. We are driving this sector forward, and it will prosper here in this province.

Thank you. The supplementary question.

Order.

Interjections.

Start the clock.

The next question. The member for Thornhill.

My question is for the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. The minister recently provided an update on the measures that our government is implementing to strengthen our wildland fire preparedness levels.

This year, Ontario and Canada experienced one of the most challenging fire seasons in recent memory. That is why our government must not lose focus on the importance of keeping people and property safe. The people of Ontario are counting on our government to dedicate the resources that are necessary to ensure Ontario’s fire rangers and communities are safe.

Can the minister please explain what actions our government is taking to improve and modernize how we fight wildland fires?

Our government must continue to explore long-term strategies that will help to deliver economic benefits to all Ontarians. At the same time, our actions must help to sustain the forestry sector, reduce emissions and support the environment.

Can the minister please explain how our government is strengthening Ontario’s forestry sector?

My question is for the current Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

It has been five years and four ministers, and this government has still only managed to have the same number of children enrolled to receive needs-based core autism services before they changed the program five years ago. Five years ago, there were 23,000 families waiting for these services; now, there are over 60,000. That’s more than will fit into Rogers stadium, Speaker. How is this better? Can the minister please tell us where the progress is?

According to the reports based on a freedom-of-information, the minister’s own transition binder says, “Most children and youth will not receive core clinical services funding in the short to medium term.”

What does this minister have to say to the families who are here, who are left struggling? And please, for the love of children—not the same old talking points that we’ve been listening to for the last five years.

Interjections.

My question is for the Minister of Transportation. Toronto’s population is growing rapidly. As our city grows, transportation infrastructure also needs to expand. People need more convenient ways to connect to their jobs and family and other communities in the GTA.

Unfortunately, the previous Liberal government, supported by the NDP, failed to plan ahead for the transit needs of our communities. They left people on crowded subways and buses and stuck in traffic.

That is why our government must continue to implement solutions that will improve transportation options for the people of the GTA and beyond.

Can the minister please provide us with an update on how our government is addressing the need for more public transit?

I’m really proud to present on behalf of 926 people in Sudbury who have signed this petition: “Save the Spot,” the supervised consumption site.

“Whereas Sudbury’s overdose rate is three times the rate of the rest of Ontario;

“Whereas an application was submitted to the government in 2021 for funding of a supervised consumption site in Sudbury called the Spot;

“Whereas the Spot is operated by Réseau Access Network with municipal funding that ends on December 31, 2023, the province must approve funding very soon, or the Spot will close putting many people at risk of death;

“Whereas in 2023 alone, the Spot had” over “1,000 visits, reversed all 17 on-site overdoses, provided drug-checking services and prevented many deaths;”

They “petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“Immediately approve funding for the supervised consumption site in Sudbury to save lives.”

I fully support this petition, will affix my name to it and ask Gurkaram to bring it to the Clerk.

“Ontario Dementia Strategy....

“Whereas it takes an average of 18 months for people in Ontario to get an official dementia diagnosis, with some patients often waiting years to complete diagnostic testing and more than half of those suspected of having dementia never get a full diagnosis;

“Whereas a PET scan test approved in Ontario in 2017, which can be key to detecting Alzheimer’s early is still not covered under OHIP and research findings show that Ontario will spend $27.8 billion between 2023 and 2043 on alternate-level-of-care (ALC) and long-term-care (LTC) costs associated with people living with dementia;

“Whereas the government must follow through with its commitment to ensure Ontario’s health care system has the capacity to meet the current and future needs of people living with dementia and their care partners;”

They petition the Legislative Assembly as follows: “to develop, commit to, and fund a comprehensive Ontario dementia strategy.”

I fully support this petition, Speaker. I will affix my name to it and ask Gurkaram—I got it better, eh?—to bring it to the Clerk. I’m practising his name.

« Réparons les subventions aux résident(e)s du nord de l’Ontario pour frais de transport à des fins médicales...

« Alors que les gens du Nord n’ont pas le même accès aux soins de santé en raison du coût élevé des déplacements et de l’hébergement;

« Alors qu’en refusant d’augmenter les taux des subventions aux résidents » et résidentes « du nord de l’Ontario pour frais de transport à des fins médicales ... le gouvernement Ford impose un lourd fardeau aux Ontarien(ne)s du Nord qui sont malades;

« Alors que le prix de l’essence est plus élevé dans le nord de l’Ontario; »

Ils et elles demandent à l’Assemblé législative de l’Ontario « de créer un comité ayant pour mandat de corriger et d’améliorer » le programme. « Ce comité consultatif ... réunirait des fournisseurs de soins de santé du Nord ainsi que des bénéficiaires » du programme « pour faire des recommandations à la ministre de la Santé qui amélioreraient l’accès aux soins de santé dans le nord de l’Ontario grâce au remboursement adéquat des frais de déplacement » et d’hébergement.

J’appuie cette pétition. Je vais la signer, et je la donne à Trent pour l’amener à la table des greffiers.

“Whereas highways play a critical role in northern Ontario;

“Whereas winter road maintenance has been privatized in Ontario and contract standards are not being enforced;

“Whereas per capita, fatalities are twice as likely to occur on a northern highway than on a highway in southern Ontario;

“Whereas current MTO classification negatively impacts the safety of northern highways;”

They petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:

“To classify Highways 11, 17, 69, 101 and 144 as class 1 highways; require that the pavement be bare within eight hours of the end of a snowfall and bring the management of winter road maintenance back into the public sector, if contract standards” cannot be met.

I fully support this petition, will affix my name to it and ask Clara to bring it to the Clerk.

I want to thank the member opposite for the question.

First off, I want to express gratitude to the ECEs of this province for working hard, giving back and really committing themselves to our youngest learners. During the pandemic, when so much closed, our child care centres stayed open. We are grateful for them every day.

Our government’s commitment was to reduce fees, increase spaces and lift wages—and we are doing each and every one. In fact, when we started in 2018—when the Liberals and New Democrats coalesced and fees increased by 400%, making the false choice for so many families of their child being in care or a parent, particularly women, working in the economy—we’ve ended that by cutting child care fees by 50%, saving $8,000 to $12,000 for every single child in this province.

With respect to the workforce, whom we value, we’ve increased wages by $1 per hour each year—for the agreements that we signed with the federal government. And we’ll continue to go further to ensure we lift wages, retain these workers and create good value for them within our child care sector.

You are in no position to lecture any government. You enabled a 400% increase in child care fees—the most expensive in the federation.

This Premier, this government is committed to cutting fees, increasing wages and increasing spaces, and we will take no lessons from the NDP.

Speaker, I want to congratulate him on his leadership.

Speaking of leadership, under the leadership of the Premier and this minister, our government is making historic investments that send a clear message that public transit infrastructure is a priority. The investments we’re making today will have a lasting impact on future generations.

However, the need for new public transit is urgent, and calls for greater action and investments are growing.

The Toronto Region Board of Trade recently stated: “As the fastest-growing metropolitan region in North America, the Toronto region urgently needs an expanded transportation network.”

Can the minister please provide an update on the progress of the Ontario Line and what steps our government is taking to build better transit faster?

Supplementary.

There being no further business this morning, this House stands in recess until 3 p.m.

The House recessed from 1147 to 1500.

We continue to make very strong progress on our priority subway plans.

Just recently, I joined the Premier and the Minister of Infrastructure as we visited the future Ontario Line at Exhibition Place. Shovels are in the ground on early works, and the full procurement of the Ontario Line is nearly complete. This is a testimony to the unprecedented speed at which we are delivering this project—and that wasn’t by chance. Through the Building Transit Faster Act, we cut delays and unnecessary red tape.

However, the members opposite—both the opposition and the Liberal Party—refused to support any measure to build transit faster. They voted against the $70-billion investment to increase public transit investment in this province. They refused to vote for the Building Transit Faster Act in this province.

Mr. Speaker, we are going to continue to focus our efforts on building Ontario and keeping this province moving.

My question is to the Minister of Education. Today is Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day, and the stakeholders and ECEs are here today, but I’ve not been hearing that they’re actually feeling valued.

For over a year, we’ve been raising alarm bells that the workforce crisis threatens child care in this province. Early childhood educators are leaving the field faster than they can be trained.

Back in January, the ministry held consultations on a child care workforce strategy, yet the sector is still waiting for the province’s plan. Meanwhile, local child care programs are forced to close rooms and limit enrolment at a time when more parents are hoping to gain access to affordable child care spaces. When will this government release their report and actually act on the recommendations in that report?

The Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care, the Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario and experts and workers have told the government that a $10-a-day child care program is under threat because of low pay and poor working conditions, with the average ECE in the field for just three years. The minister’s own summaries on the consultation showed the government was overwhelmingly told variations of “increase ECE pay.”

Ontario is one of the four provinces that still has not introduced a salary scale or a wage grid as part of the Canada-wide early years and child care plan—and the wage floor is the lowest in the country.

The minister promised ECEs a wage increase in June—yet months later, no word.

Will the minister commit today to a salary scale of at least $30 per hour for RECEs, $25 for non-RECEs, to get the program back on track and get parents the affordable child care spots they need and deserve so parents can get back to work?