Today, I would like to recognize some remarkable non-profit organizations in Markham–Unionville that enrich our community:

Founded in 1919, the Unionville Curling Club embodies more than just a sport. It’s where friendships flourish and a strong sense of community is nurtured. Thanks to a recent generous grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the club will be able to upgrade their facilities and equipment. It will continue to thrive as a hub of curling passion and community spirit.

The Unionville community centre, another vital non-profit in my riding, serves as a vital community connector. The centre offers diverse programs that promote seniors’ well-being, fitness and social engagement. With funding support from our government, they have extended their reach through virtual programming to meet our seniors’ evolving needs. Their work ensures our seniors stay active, healthy and connected.

There is also our cherished Markham Museum that bridges the past and the present. It preserves Markham’s history while showcasing the tools shaping our ever-changing world. This government acknowledges the importance of supporting organizations like the museum, which enrich the lives of Ontarians. They have recently secured a Seniors Community Grant to craft tailored pottery programs for our seniors.

Speaker, I’m immensely grateful for the positive impact these organizations have on Markham–Unionville. Their dedication strengthens our community. I am glad about our government’s support to them and extend my heartfelt thanks for their invaluable work.

October is Islamic Heritage Month here in Ontario, and that was made possible by the member from London–Fanshawe, who graciously invited members from other parties to sign onto her bill. It was unanimously passed in this Legislature. What it’s done is it’s created a time for Muslims across Ontario so they can celebrate and share their history and culture with all Ontarians.

The five pillars of Islam are: shahda, faith; salah, prayer; saka, almsgiving; salm, fasting; and the hajj, pilgrimage.

During my first three elections, the holy month of Ramadan fell, and so I’ve been to a lot of iftars and a lot of breaking of fasts. What it taught me, what I learned was the openness and welcoming of Muslim communities in my riding. And it’s not just in my riding; it’s across Ontario.

So I’d like to say in particular a word of thanks to these communities in my riding: the AMA community, or the Mosque of Mercy; the Assalam Mosque; the Ali Masjid mosque; and also the Ismaili community centre on Conroy Road. Thank you for all that you’ve done to build community in Ottawa South by opening your doors and welcoming people and supporting us during COVID and many other things that have come along.

I’m looking forward this weekend to Celebrating Muslim Women in the Arts and Sciences this Sunday afternoon at the AMA mosque.

From the University of Ottawa, de l’Université d’Ottawa, j’aimerais présenter M. Jacques Frémont, recteur de l’Université d’Ottawa; Jill Scott, provost et vice-rectrice; et Kathryn Moore, directrice des relations gouvernementales.

Welcome to Queen’s Park. Bienvenue à Queen’s Park.

I want to welcome to the House my good friend Dr. Saeed Faizi and all the colleagues from the Al-Nadwa Educational Islamic Centre from Richmond Hill: Dr. Luqman Khan, Dr. Sarah Azhari, Afnan Akhzar, Omar Ahmad, Tariq Husain, Mubeen Siddiqui, Nurul Ain Ashraf, Abid Hussain Nadwi and Uzair Arif Qureshi. Welcome to the House and I look forward to meeting with you afterwards.

I’d like to welcome to the House Andrew Yang, who is a volunteer researcher in my office and is now going to a new job in Ottawa, and also Simon Ding, who has recently moved to Ontario from British Columbia. Welcome to your House.

I want to welcome the team from Scooty. We’ve got Shoaib Ahmed, Yashin Shah, Moaz Ahmad and Wasif Khan. Welcome to the Legislature.

I’d like to welcome some of my friends from Brampton I brought today, as well as Bradford. I’d like to welcome the deputy mayor of Bradford, Raj Sandhu. I’d like to welcome Swami Sampuran Anand, who is visiting us from Haryana, India. I’d like to welcome Gurpreet Chahal from the transportation industry, J Line transportation; Satnam Sarai from Sarai trucking and transportation; Vipin Mishra, who’s visiting us from Germany; Bob Dosanjh Singh, who we all know is a well-known media personality in our community; and, as well, Jaswinder Sidhu. Thank you for joining us and welcome to Queen’s Park.

I would just like to take a moment to welcome Warren Kinsella to the House today.

I would like to welcome Monsieur Eric Larocque and Monsieur Jean-Michel Fournier. Mr. Larocque is the long-term-care administrator at the Prescott and Russell Residence in Hawkesbury. Mr. Fournier is the housing services supervisor. They’re looking forward to the opening of the new 224-bed long-term-care facility next summer in Hawkesbury. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

It’s my pleasure to recognize and welcome to the House Senator Leonidas Raptakis, the state senator from Rhode Island, who is also the president of the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association. Welcome.

Kirk Markowski is here, originally from Dryden. He works in the city and he’s a first cousin to our page Paxten, from Fort Frances. Welcome, Kirk.

I just also wanted to welcome everyone from the University of Ottawa here today and remind everyone that the University of Ottawa is having a reception, so come join us. As a University of Ottawa alumna graduate, it is the best university in Ontario.

I’d like to welcome a few individuals from my riding of Milton, representatives from the Landscape Ontario horticultural trades association: Joe Salemi, Jon Agg, Chris Morrison and Gerald Boot. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

This question is for the Premier. Early last year, the government’s own hand-picked Housing Affordability Task Force made 55 recommendations to encourage new housing supply. The task force said that a shortage of land was not the cause of the housing crisis. They recommended, in fact, that the greenbelt and farmland be protected.

Instead, the Premier and his government went ahead anyway and they tried to make their friends richer. Now they’re being investigated by the RCMP.

To the Premier: Why did his government rig the system to benefit a select few insiders instead of the people of Ontario?

The documentary The Movie Man made its way to its home in Kinmount at the Highlands Cinemas this fall. The premiere of the movie was hosted by what is arguably the most unusual movie theatre in North America, perhaps the world. For 40 years, the Highlands Cinemas has been a landmark, entertaining locals, tourists, camp-goers, prime ministers, rock stars and movie stars themselves. With five screens and over 550 seats, the theatre can host its entire town and more.

This would not have been possible without Kinmount’s own Keith Stata, the Movie Man himself. When movies premiere in the big city, they also premiere at the Highlands Cinema. Yes, even Barbie and Oppenheimer debuted there. As movie theatres closed in North America, Keith collected relics of cinematic history, imagery and pop culture, creating a museum of movie memorabilia that is a must-visit.

The director of the film, Matt Finlin, was inspired by Keith when he could come to the theatre in Kinmount as a young boy. The resulting work captured the whimsical uniqueness of the theatre and the thrilling experience of going to the movies.

As The Movie Man makes its debut this spring, be sure to see it at the Highlands Cinemas in Kinmount for the best movie museum experience and, of course, the best popcorn you’ll ever eat. See you at the movies.

That concludes our members’ statements this morning.

I beg to inform the House that pursuant to standing order 9(g), the Clerk has received written notice from the government House leader indicating that a temporary change in the weekly meeting schedule of the House is required, and therefore, the afternoon routine on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, shall commence at 1 p.m.

We also have with us a former member of the Legislature who served the riding of Kitchener Centre in the 38th, 39th and 40th Parliament, John Milloy. Welcome back to the Legislature, John. Good to see you.

Members will know that traditionally, British Speakers have had a dangerous job as messenger to the monarch, and some of them actually lost their heads in the course of their duties. In Ontario—

Interjections.

I’d like to introduce some very special people in my life: my wife Ria, my daughter Vicky and her partner, Joe Mascaro.

Government House leader and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Supplementary question?

The Premier.

Interjections.

The final supplementary.

Speaker, this government’s greenbelt grab, their MZOs, their urban boundary changes: They’re not about building housing at all. One of the task force’s recommendations was to allow four-storey multiplex housing in every neighbourhood. The NDP tried to add this into the government’s most recent housing bill and the government said no. In fact, the member for Perth–Wellington said the government was doing just enough—enough. Doing enough to address the housing crisis? Doing enough while housing starts across the province are going down and not up?

Back to the Premier: When will he start putting people’s needs ahead of his own backroom deals?

The Premier has wasted over a year enriching his friends, throwing the planning system into chaos and making it harder to build the homes that Ontarians actually need, in the neighbourhoods where they want to live. Back to the Premier: How many homes would have been built by now if he hadn’t put shady backroom deals first?

Speaker, expert after expert has shown that we need to build at least 1.5 million new homes. The Ontario NDP supports this goal, but so far the government has relied entirely on half measures. Their whole housing plan is predicated on backroom deals, and now they’re under an RCMP criminal investigation. According to the government’s own figures, housing starts in Ontario—as I said—are projected to go down, not up. Clearly this government’s plan is not working, so back to the Premier: Will he get his government out of the backrooms and off the massage tables and start building the homes our province actually needs?

So back to the Premier: Will he support the NDP’s solution to build the non-market housing that our province so desperately needs?

Interjections.

Interjections.

Housing is a human right, just like health care and education and retirement security. If the private sector won’t build enough homes that are affordable for everyone who needs one, then the public sector must step up. It is clear this government’s plan isn’t working, Speaker. Those of us on this side of the House, we want to make sure every Ontarian has a good home they can actually afford.

Interjections.

Interjections.