The member from Perth–Wellington.

Speaker, as you know, the bill and the greenbelt, as it was contemplated back in 2005, ensures that important pieces of infrastructure can be built within the greenbelt area lands. We’re not changing that. Obviously, it’s very important that, as I said in my speech, with the Golden Horseshoe to expand to 15 million people by 2051, they do need to have opportunity to move around the province and get product to market. We will continue with the 413 because it’s an important piece of infrastructure.

I’ve used ministerial zoning orders and will continue to use ministerial zoning orders to help ensure that housing gets done faster. That includes social housing and affordable housing across the province of Ontario. Our housing supply action plans have been moving forward each and every year, and of course the Housing Affordability Task Force—we are well on our way to accomplishing a number of the recommendations there.

We are not stopping building homes. In fact, we have the highest level of starts in over 30 years and the highest level of purpose-built rentals in over 30 years. I think the policies that we’ve got in place are working very well, but we have to double down and do even more.

I listened intently to the speakers this morning and I was thinking about back in my area of Essex county, about all the great builders we have in Essex county—and I’ve mentioned them here in this House before. I have mentioned the builders who are building homes, like Norville Construction and others. Many, many projects are going up in Essex county, including multi-level and multi-unit residences. Those are going to provide great homes for people who want to retire and stay in their communities, but also possibilities for people who are just starting out.

I’m wondering if any of the speakers would like to stand and elaborate on what the government is doing to help people who want to retire and perhaps downsize remain in the communities where they lived and grew up.

I would like to direct my question to the parliamentary assistant, given that I know he is a young Ontarian and I know that across Ontario, including in my hometown of Windsor–Tecumseh, our communities are growing. They’re growing phenomenally, at a great pace like I’ve never seen. Ontario’s population surpassed 15 million people for the first time ever last year. We know that this growth is continuing, with another four million new Ontarians projected to arrive by 2031. At the same time we know that young Ontarians like the parliamentary assistant—students, young hard-working professionals and new families—are being priced out of the housing market and finding it difficult to find a home that they can afford.

I’m wondering if the parliamentary assistant can explain how this new legislation, if passed, will build on our work to keep Ontario the best place to work, live and raise a family. How does this legislation, if passed, complement the other work our government is doing to create a better future and more opportunities for future generations?

It’s definitely an interesting time in the Ontario Legislature. Once again we’re watching the government walk back legislation and moves that they have been working on for the past two years and, quite frankly, wasting time for people who are desperate for housing. The housing calls come to our office—and people seriously desperate, with five children, living in tents, with fears of children’s aid societies taking their children from them.

My question is a very serious question to this government: We hear a lot of lip service, but when are they actually going to provide the immediate housing that the people in the province need today? Not plans for the future; no more wasting time like we’re doing now, backtracking on their bad legislation.

Thank you to the member from Whitby for his very important and good question. The review is in the act right now, as the member may know, but we’re going to, obviously, codify the greenbelt in legislation. That review will consult with environmental experts. It will consult with, as the minister mentioned as well in his remarks, the Indigenous community. And it will consult with the municipalities in the greenbelt, obviously, as well, ensuring that all voices are heard through the process and ensuring that we have a robust greenbelt for years to come.

They are very important points raised by the member from Windsor–Tecumseh. As another young member, if I can be so bold as to say that, of our caucus, I am really focused on ensuring, as I mentioned in my remarks, that home ownership remains a reality for Ontarians, ensuring that new Canadians are able to purchase their own homes.

As well, Speaker—I mentioned a bit of it in my remarks, and to answer my colleague’s question—some of the changes were made around life leases. Life leases and an ownership in one of those communities provide an avenue to build some equity, to start that process for young people in that community. I know our government remains focused on ensuring that those are viable options, to ensure that we have housing for all individuals in Ontario.

I appreciate the question and I understand the concern. We are conducting a housing summit later in November, bringing all partners together to determine action plans going forward. We will be focused specifically on modular, attainable and affordable housing in all regions.

I would also point out that 10% of the Building Faster Fund will be delegated to smaller and rural municipalities to help with infrastructure, to help with building more homes faster. There are a number of tools in the tool box. Stay tuned. We have a full-fledged plan coming forward.

It’s time for questions.

I won’t select which person I need a response from, but the question I have for the government is—I appreciate the rollback of the attack on the greenbelt. I want to ask why the lands that are part of the greenbelt that are going to be destroyed by Highway 413 aren’t being protected in this bill.

As part of the restoring of protections and policy of the Greenbelt Act in its entirety, the government has also included a need for a review every 10 years. Can the parliamentary assistant to the minister expand on what this review will look like and some of the underlying principles that guide that work?

Good morning. Remarks in Anishininiimowin.

I wish I was standing up here this morning to share good news, but the news from the north is sad today.

Elaina Beardy, age 11, took her own life in my home community of Kingfisher Lake First Nation.

At this time, words are not enough. Her family, classmates and all of Kingfisher Lake and Sachigo Lake are affected. Their grief is unimaginable.

I am going to share what was sent out by her family:

“Elaina was always a happy young lady, always had a ready smile for everyone. She was always willing to lend a helping hand, especially to her friends that she left behind. We called her Princess Elaina or ‘Baby,’ because that was who she was with us. She loved everyone around her. Princess Elaina will be forever missed and will be forever in our hearts.”

Her family requests continued prayers for her friends.

Meegwetch for listening, and if you have a moment today, think of Elaina, her family and friends. Our hearts and prayers are in Kingfisher Lake and Sachigo Lake today.

Applause.

Again, we’ve increased funding by over $200 million to a record-setting level of over $700 million for immediate housing. At the same time, we’ve asked our federal partners to assist in communities across the province that are having challenges. We’ve acted unilaterally in that instance with a $49-million fund, including in the member’s community, to ensure that the underhoused have access to housing. At the same time, we are continuing with our housing supply action plans to make sure that we actually build the 1.5 million homes—

I did not hear an answer to my question. We have people in tents across this province. Winter is literally on our doorstep. Families have nowhere to go. They cannot afford the rent. What is the plan for immediate housing for these people who are in crisis?

Thank you to the member from Essex. There’s lots we’re doing to help seniors. I’ll give you an example. We own a lot of land in this province. We’re looking at opportunities where we can repurpose surplus lands and get modular, attainable, affordable housing, not only for new homebuyers but for newcomers and seniors who want to downsize. Because we understand that seniors that want to downsize don’t have the option today. In our community, for example, where I live, a lot of seniors want to downsize, but they have to spend as much for a smaller home as they do for the one they have.

If we have more options, we’re going to get the job done. I’m convinced, as the days go by and months go by, we’re going to see lots of new housing opportunities on the grounds that we own in this province.

I hosted my very first community event last week, which is admittedly a little bit delayed, as I was elected in June 2022, but it takes me a while to get around to these things. It ended up being absolutely wonderful, and I have a lot of people to thank.

We held it at Steckle farm, which is a beautiful heritage working farm in my area, and I can thank my friend Corey for that idea. For those who are old hat at holding MPP community events, I look forward to the day where I have your outlook. We were doing a pumpkin patch and funnel cakes, courtesy of the Funnel Cloud. I had some moments of extreme fear where I thought it was just going to my dog George and I sitting alone on 200 pumpkins, eating funnel cakes for an entire community, and no one would come. But that did not happen. We had an absolutely wonderful turnout of people from the community.

I have to give a ton of thanks to a lot of people. My dad, as always, was a huge help in that, and also my friend Corey and her husband, Todd, who brought all the pumpkins, and my volunteers Bonita, Monica, Gerry, Marie, Angie, Megan and Steph. It was wonderful to see people from the community come out. We had Fauzia from Cambridge Muslim women and Wisam from the coalition of Muslim women, and it’s just lovely to see people that I’ve spoken to coming to my event.

Anyway, thank you so much to everybody that helped me put it on and make it such a success.

The Associate Minister of Housing.

Second reading debate deemed adjourned.

The sad reality is that such tragedies happen far too often. Last year, in Ontario, 52 women, which is nearly one per week, were killed at the hands of their intimate partners, and by September of this year, there were already 46 similar cases.

Shelters and support organizations are overwhelmed by the demand for help, and these numbers are not going down; they are on the rise. Over 30 municipalities in the province have already declared intimate partner violence an epidemic.

The Renfrew county inquest last year made 86 recommendations. The first recommendation was for Ontario to formally declare intimate partner violence an epidemic, which this government has refused, arguing that intimate partner violence isn’t an epidemic because it’s not an infectious disease that spreads from person to person. This kind of petty debate over language in the face of such tragedy is ridiculous. Declaring intimate partner violence an epidemic is important because it means the government acknowledges the urgency of the problem and is committed through resources to address a very real threat facing women and families.

I urge this government: Show some leadership. Declare intimate partner violence an epidemic. We don’t have time to waste.

It’s always great to stand and speak about the great things that are happening in Etobicoke–Lakeshore. First of all, I’d like to recognize Pat and Murray Wood, who reside in Tapestry at Village Gate West retirement home. They were recognized for the good work they did to make their home a better place. It was recognized by the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority’s 2023 Resident Champion Award. I had the opportunity to have coffee with Pat and Murray, and what a lovely time it was to learn about their residence and what they do to make everyone’s lives that much better in our community. So thank you to both of them.

I also want to congratulate the team at MABELLEarts. I had the opportunity to join a seniors’ chair yoga class, and what a great time that was. That yoga class was made possible by our own Raymond Cho and a seniors’ grant. I want to thank the Minister for Seniors and Accessibility for ensuring that our seniors can be active in their residences. I had a great time too, and I’m not a senior just yet.

Then I walked across the street to see the community centre that they’re building. It’s under construction, but I want to thank our government for an almost $200,000 investment into this wonderful place, which is going to be a meeting place for the community members to have barbecues, to watch plays, just to get together and have that conversation, because so many of our seniors out there need that companionship.

Lastly, I know Remembrance Day is coming up, and I’d like to take the time to remember and honour those who have fought for our freedoms and continue to keep us safe. May they never be forgotten.

I rise today to celebrate the recent graduation of 10 new recruits to the Thunder Bay fire service. These recruits, now qualified firefighters, have gone through an extensive 14 weeks of training and education, clocking in over 500 hours each. I stand with much respect reflecting on their graduation, as the recruits have now stepped into their roles protecting and serving the residents of Thunder Bay.

Speaker, becoming a firefighter is not a job; it is a calling. It is a commitment to protect and serve others, often in the face of great personal danger. It’s about providing comfort to someone in their darkest hour, offering a helping hand in times of need and being a pillar of strength when all is lost. It is a vocation that demands unwavering courage, compassion and selfless dedication to public safety.

Throughout my 21 years as a firefighter, I have experienced the camaraderie, sacrifice and determination alongside my fellow service members, and I have been blessed with being part of the fire service family.

This province has a long history of supporting our first responders, and I’m proud to say that these new firefighters are a valued addition to the family. To the most recent graduates in Thunder Bay, welcome to the noble profession of firefighting. May you return home safely at the end of every shift.

Last weekend, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association organized a charity youth run in Mississauga to raise funds for the Trillium Health Partners cancer research program. These enthusiastic youths are making a difference in our community—an example of the amazing things that Ontario’s youth can offer, and it reminds us that it continues to be our responsibility, as leaders of this province, to show them our full support.

I recently joined the Minister of Education and the member from Brampton West for the grand opening of a new daycare campus in Peel—the largest child care centre in Canada. Lullaboo child care is just one of the many organizations that are supporting our children in Mississauga and across Ontario. Our government has cut child care fees by 50%, and our investments are continuing to support children and families. I thank the minister for his dedication to this important cause.

I was honoured to be joined in my riding on October 27 by the Minister of Long-Term Care for the groundbreaking of a new long-term-care project. Ivan Franko Homes long-term care’s new campus on Winston Churchill Boulevard, with 160 modern beds, will provide seniors with convenient and culturally connected care. This plan was over six years in the making, and now it’s finally under way. This is a great success for Mississauga–Erin Mills and a success for all of Ontario—yet another promise made, promise kept.