My question is for the Solicitor General.

All Ontarians deserve to feel safe in their communities. That’s why it’s concerning to hear from individuals and families in my riding that they’re worried about reports of increasing crime and violence throughout Ontario. The public safety of all Ontarians must be our government’s highest priority. The people in my community and all Ontarians are counting on our government for support and solutions. While there has been progress in taking down gangs and cracking down on firearms, our government must do more to prevent and reduce criminal activity.

Can the Solicitor General please explain what actions our government is taking to increase safety in communities across Ontario?

Since 2018, under the leadership of our Premier, our government has made it clear that gun and gang violence will not be allowed to thrive in Ontario. Our province continues to see positive results from investments made by our government that support our front-line police and the justice sector. However, we must continue to provide more resources that will help dismantle criminal activity.

Speaker, can the Solicitor General please explain how our government is supporting our front-line police officers in responding to and preventing crime and violence in Ontario?

I always look forward to an opportunity to speak about how we’re actually saving the science centre. The science centre, although a safe facility that continues to operate, is an old facility. What we’re trying to achieve here is build a new facility with more exhibition space that will be around for young people and Ontarians for the next 50 years. We’re very pleased that we’re bringing the science centre to Ontario Place, keeping it alive, and bringing Ontario Place alive as well.

Again, Speaker, that’s an odd question coming from a member who was running for the leadership of the Liberal Party but dropped out of the race so that he could support a candidate who was raising principally all of her money from developers, the same people that he was just criticizing—the same candidate who is the only candidate who actually wants to still build on the greenbelt. It is a very odd question coming from that particular gentleman. He had other people he could have supported in the Liberal leadership, but he chose to support the one person who is doing everything that he is critical of right here in the House—the pot calling the kettle black. Boy, I get it as it is over there.

Mr. Speaker, for the Premier: Just two months after the release of the Auditor General’s and the Integrity Commissioner’s damning greenbelt reports, the government is acting like all is forgiven. Well, the people of Ontario don’t see it that way, and neither does the RCMP.

Our province was taken on a wild roller coaster ride while a handful of developers hit an $8.3-billion jackpot. This isn’t a casino in Las Vegas; this is the people’s House. And as the government members are learning, the number one rule in gambling is that the House always wins.

Between the greenbelt debacle, the RCMP criminal investigation, the appointment of a special prosecutor, the urban boundary flip-flop and three ministers resigning, I’ve never seen a government try so hard to make their losses look like wins.

With so much money and time wasted, so much to undo and cover up, why should the people of Ontario believe this government can fix health care, housing and affordability?

My constituents in Don Valley East know they aren’t getting the full story on the destruction of the science centre. Where is that business case the Minister of Infrastructure promised us?

Amidst the greenbelt scandal and the urban boundary flip-flop, it’s clear this government is using wedge politics to distract from the RCMP criminal investigation to divide and misdirect us.

Speaking of misdirection, yesterday the government tried to put forward a motion begging the federal government to help them clean up their own affordability mess. The Premier could focus on things like rent control, the Ontario child tax benefit or boosting social assistance instead.

Mr. Speaker, when will the Premier tell his government to start doing and stop distracting?

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

I appreciate the question from my colleague. She’s right: Public safety matters to everyone in Ontario and our government takes it very seriously. We’re taking action to protect the people of Ontario, and that’s why the government created the Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy. We’re reducing illegal gun and gang violence by providing the resources to local police, prosecutors and community partners across the province, and I’m really proud of this. The strategy funds several initiatives that deliver strong enforcement and prosecution, proactive gang disruption and tailored youth and adult violence prevention. The amount that we have supported in this fund together with our federal partners is over $256 million.

And most importantly, Mr. Speaker, we are a government that has the backs of everyone that keeps Ontario safe.

At the end of the day, we have a right to live safely in our own homes and communities. That’s why our government will always have the backs of everyone that keeps Ontario safe.

My question is to the Premier. From the greenbelt grab to MZOs to private evangelical colleges, this government has shown that if you are a friend of the Premier, you will get their special attention.

A phone transcript has revealed that the previous Minister of Colleges and Universities, who is the current chief government whip, had assured the Premier’s friend Charles McVety that McVety’s private evangelical college would get university status regardless of the independent application review process. At the same time, that minister was telling this House that they “don’t meddle with procedural fairness” and that there was “no way to stand in the way of an independent process.”

Speaker, did the Premier know what his minister was promising to Charles McVety?

I think I’ve been extremely clear: The former minister received PEQAB’s recommendation and accepted those recommendations years ago. The Court of Appeal then dismissed Canada Christian College’s appeal. We’re moving forward.

What this ministry is doing is looking at making investments, ensuring that we have more nurses across this province. We’re increasing the number of medical seats. We have new medical schools being built in Brampton as well as Scarborough, the first medical schools we’ve seen in the GTA in over 100 years. This is the focus of what this ministry is doing: ensuring that we have trained professionals in all fields across this province.

I want to acknowledge the question from my friend opposite. Our government finds it unacceptable that every 40 minutes somewhere in Ontario a car is stolen. That’s why we made a record investment of over $51 million to provide the technology and grants for the municipal services and the OPP to combat this.

Mr. Speaker, just two weeks ago, the Attorney General and I were in Bromont, Quebec, for the federal, provincial and territorial meeting, and I asked my federal colleagues to step it up at the border and step it up at the port of Montreal. It’s completely unacceptable that our cars are going out through the port of Montreal.

I want to acknowledge the announcement made yesterday by the Toronto Police Service, with a record bust: Over a thousand cars were identified and recovered. Thank you to Chief Demkiw and thank you to everyone at the Toronto Police Service who is working to keep our communities safe.

It’s important to note that we want to keep these violent and repeat offenders off our streets, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do. At the end of the day, our government cares deeply about our public safety. We will do everything we can to keep Ontario safe.

My question is for the Associate Minister of Housing. Ontario’s housing crisis is having a profound impact on people all across our province. Parents are worried that their children may never be able to afford to live near them. Young families are struggling to save enough for a down payment. Seniors on fixed incomes worry about being displaced. Everyone in Ontario deserves to have a place to live that fits their needs and their budget. Individuals and families are looking for real solutions in finding affordable housing, and they need answers now. That is why our government must continue to focus on addressing the housing crisis.

Speaker, can the associate minister please explain what actions our government is taking to increase the supply of housing across the province of Ontario?

Speaker, can the associate minister please explain what actions our government is taking to open opportunities for Ontarians to find homes that fit their needs and their budgets?

My question is for the Solicitor General. The issue of cars being stolen in the GTA has worsened. The CBC has cited an increase of 48.3% year over year in Ontario alone. This also happened to my close personal friends Allan, Neio and Alex etc. The same article also stated that 80% of stolen vehicles are leaving the country and much of the profits are used by organized crime rings to fund illegal activities like drug and gun trafficking.

Speaker, I have heard the growing safety concerns from the constituents in my riding of Don Valley North, and some of these crimes have escalated into more violent robberies, even break-ins to houses to obtain car keys. My question is: What is this government doing to ensure Ontarians feel safe again?

Canada needs updated vehicle theft prevention regulations, as well as strong enforcement at our borders. My follow-up question to the Solicitor General is, how can the multi-levels of government coordinate with each other to resolve this public safety issue?

Thank you to the member for Brantford–Brant. I know he has children who live in this province who want to stay in this province. We cannot let the dream of home ownership be extinguished.

Speaker, our plan is working: 11% of our 1.5-million-home target has already been achieved, 165,000 homes—up, I might add, 20,000 per year than what the previous government achieved. Our plan is working: 14,000 new rental starts year over year, up an impressive 43.5% over last year. Our plan is working, but we know that much more needs to be done. For example, working with the Minister of Infrastructure, we are looking at surplus government lands where we can build affordable and attainable homes for all our people: seniors, students, newcomers and, yes, first-time homebuyers.

Speaker, we will not let the dream of home ownership be extinguished.

We also know that government cannot solve this crisis on its own. That is why we are convening a comprehensive housing summit in late November, a call to action by all stakeholders. Bold, innovative and deliverable results will be achieved. We’re looking at all partners, whether municipal, not-for-profit, modular home builders, community home builders and, yes, the private sector, because we believe the private sector is a key component to getting these houses built in the next 10 years.

Speaker, we have a bias for action. We have a sense of urgency. Under this Premier and this government, we will not let the dream of home ownership be extinguished.

I’m going to caution the member on the use of her language.

The Minister of Colleges and Universities can respond.

My question is to the Premier. In my community, in Niagara-on-the-Lake, people are facing challenges accessing front-line health care services. More than one in every three residents, many of whom are seniors, don’t have a family doctor. Getting a nurse practitioner back in the town would help fill this gap in services. The town has reached out to the Minister of Health, who confirmed they would be getting the nurse practitioner services they need. But the town hasn’t heard back in a year.

Why is the government refusing to help the Lord Mayor, the town council and the people of Niagara-on-the-Lake get the health care they need and deserve?

The ayes are 88; the nays are 4.

An Act to amend the Remembrance Week Act, 2016 / Loi modifiant la Loi de 2016 sur la semaine du Souvenir.

An Act to amend various statutes with respect to employment and labour and other matters / Loi modifiant diverses lois en ce qui concerne l’emploi, le travail et d’autres questions.

An Act to revive 1105954 Ontario Limited.

An Act to revive League Technique Inc.

An Act to revive Ice Hockey Resources Ltd.

An Act to revive Parrington’s Food Market Limited.

Back to the Premier: Minister, you made a promise to the Lord Mayor and the council. Please deliver on that promise.

Niagara-on-the-Lake isn’t the only community suffering due to this government’s mishandling of health care. In Fort Erie, residents are dealing with a reduction in the hours at the Douglas Memorial urgent care. Residents who show up late at night in need of help are being turned away.

We know that this government’s actions like Bill 124 and underfunding hospitals by billions have worsened the staffing crisis in our hospitals. When is this government going to address the staffing crisis, stop fighting nurses in court and ensure Fort Erie gets back 24/7 urgent care services today?

It’s time for a real question. A couple of weeks ago, I had the honour of representing our great Minister of Long-Term Care at the grand opening of the West Perth Village, an upgraded long-term-care home of 128 new beds in my riding of Perth–Wellington. It was a great day, Speaker. I want to give a shout-out to the West Perth community and all the volunteers that came together to make this project a reality.

The board began this project many, many years ago. It’s unfortunate, under the previous Liberal government, supported by the NDP, there was no movement—none, Speaker—on getting these 128 beds built.

Can the Minister of Long-Term Care please inform this House on what our government is doing to get long-term care homes built across my riding of Perth–Wellington and Ontario?

The minister alluded to some of the other great projects in my riding. I’m pleased to say, under this Premier and this Minister of Long-Term Care, we are going to build, and are in the process of building, 943 new long-term-care beds in my riding alone. Speaker, as we know, under the previous Liberal government they built 611 beds in the entire province.

As many people in this place will know, interest rates are higher, there’s a rising cost to construction, but that’s not stopping us, Speaker. We’re going to continue to get long-term-care beds built across Ontario.

Can the minister please share with this House what our government is doing to continue to support our long-term-care sector to get it done?

My question is for the Premier: 212 days ago, my private member’s bill, Bill 74, Missing Persons Amendment Act, 2023, was ordered to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy. That was seven months ago.

Since then, there have been numerous vulnerable missing persons reported across Ontario. Some have died. Some have been found and reunited with their loved ones. Others have yet to come home. These cases have shaken neighbourhoods, and the search continues to this day.

Bill 74 is a solution that, since read into this Legislature on March 6, has come up time and time again as a viable option and resource for our communities. It addresses the safety and well-being of lost vulnerable persons.

So I ask the Premier, when will you join the over 100,000 Ontarians who have signed petitions, bring Bill 74 to committee and pass this important legislation?

Bill 74 fills a gap and adds another tool to the tool box during the most critical time when a loved one goes missing: the time when they may still be close to home, confused, scared and trying to find a familiar face; a time when neighbours can help the search, increase their awareness and check their familiar areas like their backyards, the bus routes and the parks.

So I ask again, for all Ontarians, including our most vulnerable populations, when are you going to pass Bill 74 and support the expanded alert for vulnerable missing people?

Mr. Speaker, everyone has a right to live safely in their own homes and communities. I want to give a shout-out today, because it’s important, to thank the 911 call operators, the telecommunicators. They keep Ontario safe each and every day. Just this past Saturday night, I toured late in the evening the comm centre in Peel.

But, Mr. Speaker, whether you are a senior, whether you are a person with an exceptionality, whether you are a young person, everyone has an equal right to be safe in our province. We take our public safety concerns extremely seriously, and I want to reassure everyone in Ontario that we will always have the backs of everyone who keeps this province safe.

Everyone has a right to be safe in our province and that’s why our government has made unprecedented investments to put more boots on the ground: to keep our communities safe, to fight auto theft and to keep the violent and repeat offenders off our streets. To this government, our public safety matters.