Speaker, through you to the Premier: Last year, I asked the former Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing about a minister’s zoning order issued in Oro-Medonte for a medical innovation park. The innovation park was never built. Instead, the owners attempted to sell the land, unchanged, for about 10 times what they paid for it before getting the MZO. The former minister said he would revoke the order, but he never did.

Why is the Premier allowing this speculator to keep the profits from an MZO for a medical innovation park that was never built?

This Premier has said they have: “The most ethical, most transparent and most accountable caucus” he’s ever seen. Well, that was before a damning Auditor General’s report that highlighted a pattern of preferential treatment and deleted emails, that was before a minister broke ethics laws twice—and let’s not forget the fact that this government is currently under an RCMP criminal investigation for its dirty deals.

Speaker, my question is for the Premier: Would the Premier like to take the opportunity to correct the record?

Interjections.

Speaker, this question is for the Premier. The NDP has found that the Premier has issued as many fast-track minister’s zoning orders benefiting just the guests alone at the Ford family wedding reception as the previous government issued during its entire 15 years in power—18 MZOs.

Speaker, my question is for the Premier: Why is the Premier’s government handing out MZOs to his friends like party favours?

To the Premier: Did Mr. Rehmatullah get these MZOs because he is the Premier’s friend?

To the Premier: Did the government give preferential treatment to the Cortellucci family, Mr. Nigro or any of the other guests at the reception?

As we’ve said the entire time, we will assist the RCMP in its work, but that’s not going to stop us from doing what we set out to do: That is ensuring that we build more homes across the province of Ontario.

Look, we’re encouraging and inviting over a million people to come to Ontario each and every year. That is a million people who will help build our economy, who will help build our province to make it a bigger, better, stronger Ontario, but, at the same time, we have to worry and help those who want the dream of home ownership.

I was just out on Sunday, I came across a young Ontarian who has done everything right: Christina. She said the same thing: “I’ve done everything right. I had a 20% down payment, but the increase in interest rates is hurting me. It’s hurting my family. You have to do something about it.” We’re doing something about it. We’re reducing taxes for all the people in the province of Ontario. The Premier has shown leadership with encouraging the Bank of Canada to stop its rapid rate increase. We’re going to continue to do everything we can to support Ontarians and the economy.

It is no secret that we inherited a government and a province that was really hurting. We were the most indebted jurisdiction. We were the highest-taxed jurisdiction. We were the most over-regulated jurisdiction in Canada. We had out of control hydro rates. People had to choose between heating or eating. Companies were fleeing Ontario. Investment was fleeing Ontario. All of that changed in 2018 when Ontarians elected a strong Progressive Conservative majority.

What have we done? We’ve put in the environment to create 700,000 jobs. We’ve reduced taxes, eliminated useless red tape. We’ve cut the cost of doing business in Ontario by $8 billion while at the same time, cutting taxes for the lowest-income Ontarians and building, with the largest investment in transit and transportation in the history of the province. We’re getting the job done for the people of the province of Ontario and we will not stop.

I can tell you, as the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, I will not stop on that mission to ensure that we can meet our goal of building 1.5 million homes, because they may want the next generation to live in their parents’ basement, we want the next generation to have all of the same advantages that we have had: The dream of home ownership to become a reality, and we will not let obstacles stand in the way.

In her own question, she highlights just how bad the previous Liberal and NDP coalition government was. They got nothing done for the people of Ontario. We’re doing just the opposite. We’re getting it done.

Now, the member opposite might be opposed to that, but in my community, we are very much in support of that. Do you know why, Mr. Speaker? Because more purpose-built rentals and more seniors-focused housing means more homes available for the next generation who want to get out of their parents’ basement and into the community. That’s why we’re doing MZOs.

The member is opposed to that. I am not; this Premier is not; this Conservative caucus is not. We’ll get the job done for the people of the province of Ontario. We’re in a crisis, and we will ensure that we meet the goal of 1.5 million homes.

But when we’re talking about building homes, what you see is that municipalities, towns, are asking us to bring these MZOs. There is a favourable motion from their council because they want the exact same thing: They want to build homes for people. This Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade and this Premier are bringing billions of dollars of investments to communities across the province, and they need housing. When long-term-care homes are built with four hours of care, that means more nurses, more PSWs. They need to have a place to live. We’re building that in different communities, and we’re going to continue to get the job done.

We have so much to untangle, left behind by the previous Liberal and NDP administration, but we’re on the right path: 700,000 jobs, 700,000 people who have the dignity of a job who had lost the dream of that under the Liberals and NDP, who were moving to every other part of this country because they didn’t see Ontario as a place to live, work, invest or raise a family. That all changed in 2018. We’re on the right path, and we will not be distracted by the opposition.

I want to thank the member from Brantford–Brant. You’re doing a great job out there. I hear it when the calls are coming in.

The carbon tax—and I’ve said it from day one—is the worst tax you could ever put on the backs of people, on the backs of businesses. It’s making us uncompetitive around the world. It is a tax imposed by a bunch of elites and extremists on one side of the aisle that hurts working families across our province. When I heard what the Parliamentary Budget Officer said, I couldn’t believe it. Ontario families will be out nearly $2,000 a year once 2030 comes around because of the carbon tax. It’s unbelievable: $2,000. And by the way, that’s after-tax dollars, Mr. Speaker. This is wrong. It’s not fair to the people. The carbon tax is making life more expensive every single day in every part of our province—

Now it appears that the NDP and the Liberals are trying to confuse Ontarians about their record when it comes to their support of the carbon tax. The Liberals now seem to be uncertain about where they stand. We saw just last week that the Liberal member from Orléans voted in favour of our motion to remove the carbon tax on groceries—thank you, my friend; I appreciate it—while the rest of the six members that they have voted for it. Even the NDP members voted this one time against the carbon tax and they have the carbon tax king sitting over in the corner that has voted for the highest carbon tax—

My question is to the Premier. I introduced a motion last week to recognize Indigenous determinants of health across ministries. Speaker, the health care system in Ontario does not work for Indigenous people. Not doing enough to improve that makes this government part of the problem.

The chiefs of the Sioux Lookout area declared a public health emergency and social crisis related to mental health and addictions. Will this government support the motion to improve Indigenous health outcomes in Ontario? Yes or no?

Interjections.

Whatever this government thinks they’re doing isn’t happening fast enough. Will this government support my motion to recognize colonialism in being an Indigenous determinant of health? Yes or no?

Interjections.

The supplementary question.

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

And the supplementary question.

The next question.

The Minister of Northern Development and Indigenous affairs.

To reply, the Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.

My heart goes out as well to the young lady, to the family and to the entire community with respect to the grave loss that occurred on Sunday.

Mr. Speaker, we know that there are gaps in care that are faced by Indigenous communities and those in the north, and we have been and will continue making investments to ensure that these gaps are filled. In August I was in Sioux Lookout to announce the opening of new safe, sober and withdrawal-management supportive treatment beds with an investment of over $4 million.

In addition to that, annually, we’re investing $40 million in Indigenous care organizations and are building productive working relationships to ensure that Indigenous communities throughout the province have access to culturally appropriate mental health and addiction supports.

We know that more needs to be done, Mr. Speaker, and we are working to ensure, through the different investments that are being made, that the care that is culturally safe and appropriate is being provided to all communities in the province.

If you’re a friend of the Premier, this government will hand out MZOs like candy, but if you’re building affordable housing, this government makes you wait. Years ago, the city of Toronto requested MZOs to fast-track several affordable housing projects. Unlike many of the MZOs this government gives out to its friends, there was public consultation, a staff recommendation and council approval. The government approved all the city’s MZO requests except one, an affordable housing building at 175 Cummer in Willowdale. It remains in limbo to this day.

Speaker, will the Premier tell us, did the government single out that affordable housing project for delay because it was opposed by the PC donor who is building luxury homes across the street? Yes or no?

Interjections.

So let me get this straight, colleagues. Let me just get this straight, because they are flipping and flopping all over the place, the NDP, right? Now he wants me to do an MZO, but he’s against the hundreds of social housing that Toronto did get and is building and has completed because of an MZO in their own communities, in some of their own backyards.

What is it? Do you want an MZO, or do you not want an MZO? This is the dilemma of the NDP. One day they want a carbon tax; the next day they don’t. But hallelujah, last Thursday, they voted with us to repeal the carbon tax. So we’re making progress; we’re making progress. But let me tell the member opposite, I’m encouraged by the fact that despite what his leader has said, he is in favour of doing MZOs to build the communities faster. The division within that party continues, but he can count on us to get the job done.

My question is for the Premier. Premier, the impact of the carbon tax is truly devastating for all Ontarians. Canada’s Parliamentary Budget Officer has warned that the federal carbon tax will cost the average Ontario family far more than they would ever get back in rebate cheques. The average Ontario household will have a net loss of $478 in 2023 thanks to the carbon tax, even after the rebate. But things are going to get much worse. The original carbon tax is going to keep going up until 2030, and the carbon tax on gasoline will also keep rising. According to the same Parliamentary Budget Office report, the carbon tax hikes will turn a $478-a-household loss this year into a staggering $1,820 loss in 2030.

Speaker, can the Premier please share his views on what impact the carbon tax is having on the people of Ontario?

Speaker, can the Premier please share his views on the opposition once again saying no to making life more affordable for the people of Ontario?

Thank you.

Supplementary question?

The next question.

To reply, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Let’s start again. The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has the floor.

Mr. Speaker, kids pay the price when the NDP sit on the sidelines and do not urge their union friends to get a deal with this government that keeps kids in class. That’s when they pay the price, when you lack the courage to urge your union federation friends to get off their hands and sign a deal that keeps kids in class. They pay the price when you vote against a budget that increases funding to a historic high of $700 million more this year just compared to last year. They pay the price when the NDP and the Liberals vote against 2,000 additional front-line educators supporting our kids with an emphasis on literacy and math. Mr. Speaker, you pay the price. These kids pay the price when they oppose our efforts to go back to basics in the classroom, which every parent in this province wants.

We’re going to stand up for common sense in our education system, for a more quality-focused system that lifts standards on reading, writing and math. We’re going to stand up for students and demand better for the people of this province.

We’re going to go back to basics. We’re going to increase funding and increase staffing, and we’re going to demand better for Ontario’s students in this province.

Our kids deserve support, but this government is critically underfunding schools across the province. Despite years of high inflation and the need for greater supports, education spending is down $1,200 per student, thanks to this government.

The minister’s attempts at creative accounting and messaging can’t hide the impact, and it’s our kids who are paying the price. Will the government commit to restoring per-student funding to where it was before their cuts?

Teachers and education workers are united in fighting for better conditions for our schools. They’re looking for more supports for our students with special needs, mental health resources, a strategy to address violence in schools and for an acknowledgement of the staffing crisis that we are facing. Both the elementary teachers’ federation and the Catholic teachers have won strong strike mandates.

Will the minister finally come to the table now and bargain in good faith to protect our kids’ school year?

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the member from Peterborough is correct yet again. The Prime Minister clearly stated that this pause that was announced last week to the federal carbon tax is only going to apply to those who use home heating oil, which is only 2.5% of the people in Ontario, Mr. Speaker.

The vast majority of the people in Ontario—more than 70% of them, Mr. Speaker—are using lower-emission forms of energy, like propane and natural gas, and what they’re going to see is the carbon tax continue to go up and up and up. That means more money out of their pockets, Mr. Speaker, at a time when affordability is tough for people across Ontario.

As the Premier just mentioned, the carbon tax is driving up the price of gasoline—it’s driving up the price of housing, it’s driving up grocery prices, Mr. Speaker.

This change from the federal Liberal government—the government of Canada, Mr. Speaker—is too little, too late. They need to start acting like the government of Canada—

Just this year alone, the federal tax is adding almost $300 to households on their natural gas heating alone, Mr. Speaker. That’s more than $24 a month. The same goes for households that heat with propane, which are already paying $250 more in taxes this year.

But it’s not going to stop there, Mr. Speaker. By 2030, the federal government—with the opposition parties’ support here at Queen’s Park that includes the current Liberal caucus and the NDP opposition, Mr. Speaker—wants to nearly triple the carbon tax across Canada. The feds aren’t done yet, is the bottom line.

Ontarians can’t afford higher taxes, especially at this time, Mr. Speaker, and these parties—the Liberals, the NDP and the federal Liberals—couldn’t be more out of touch. While we’re reducing the cost of living, they’re continuing to make it more and more expensive for the people of Canada.

Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Energy.

Last Thursday, the Prime Minister finally recognized what the Premier has been saying for years: The carbon tax is raising the price of everything. After years of pushing energy costs higher, the Prime Minister has finally announced he was pausing the carbon tax—but only on home heating oil and only for three years.

Over the weekend, I heard from many of my constituents who heat with natural gas or propane, who are concerned that the federal government is leaving them out in the cold this winter. No one should be choosing between heating and eating.

Speaker, to the minister: Is it true that the federal government is going to continue to raise the carbon tax on my constituents who heat with natural gas or propane?

I truly do not understand why the federal government is intentionally leaving out Ontarians from relief on their federal taxes on their energy bills.

Families and businesses in my riding have told me that they’re already feeling the impact of the carbon tax on their bills every single month. They can’t afford higher taxes that the opposition Liberals and the NDP want to impose.

Speaker, does the minister know how much higher the good people of Peterborough–Kawartha can expect their energy bills to go if the federal government continues to deny any relief to Ontario?

Speaker, do you know the last time I was afraid? It was in 2018, when we had to look at the books of the province of Ontario.

Now, let’s listen to what the member opposite just said—and to be clear, the Leader of the Opposition today doubled down on this. They have both said that long-term-care homes are not homes. Well, let me tell you something: When I was the Minister of Long-Term Care—and this Minister of Long-Term Care is doubling down because, you know what, it is a home. It is a home for every single—

Interjections.

Interjections.

Good morning, everyone.

My question is for the Premier. The government is scared. They’re scared of what the RCMP criminal investigation might uncover about the $8.3-billion greenbelt deal. They’re scared of what might be revealed in the 7,000-page FOI to be released later today. They’re scared that they just can’t maintain their promise to get 1.5 million homes built by 2031. They’re scared that they just don’t have it in them to get it done. That’s why they have to water down the deal.

Mr. Speaker, a bed is not a home, and it should not count as such. We desperately need more long-term-care units, but classifying them as housing is complete malarkey, as experts and analysts did not include these much-needed beds in Ontario’s housing needs. The Premier himself has said that the target numbers actually should be 1.8 million homes, given recent population growth. So why water it down now?

My question—

Enough of the distractions, Mr. Speaker. The bottom line is, this government is failing on its promise to build homes. The province is relying on accounting trickery, and it’s not even Halloween yet. Rather than actually moving forward with getting homes built, they find loopholes to attempt to reach their goal, like counting long-term-care beds.

Can we just, for once, stop with the distractions, with the debauchery, with the dynamics and focus on the task at hand: to actually build housing—in a housing crisis, no less? There are simple solutions. Be bold. Legalize building up on transit corridors and on provincially owned lands. Start with Danforth Avenue, which runs through the middle of my riding.

My question to the Premier is: When will the government commit to building up along transit corridors and building in our own backyards on provincially owned lands?

The member asked for some numbers. Let’s give him some numbers, shall we? The 15 years when they propped up the Liberals, they build 611 beds for seniors in this province. That’s over 15 years. This government, since 2018, has built or shovels in the ground, 18,000.

Now, the member questioned counting those spaces in long-term-care homes as homes. Well, I dare the member to go to Pleasant Manor in Niagara Falls, where we just announced hundreds of new beds, and tell the amazing seniors who live there that they are not living in homes. Because our government disagrees, Speaker. They are absolutely homes, and we are building 58,000 of them under this Premier’s leadership. We are not going to take lessons from NDP. We’re going to make sure the seniors in this province have the respect and dignity they—

Interjections.

I dare the member to walk into Niagara, because here are the new homes we are building: Extendicare St. Catharines; Foyer at Welland; Welland extended care unit, Niagara Health system; Southbridge Niagara; Royal Rose Place; Westhills; Pleasant Manor; Garden City Manor; Linhaven long-term care; Fairview. Speaker, walk with me into those homes and tell those hard-working seniors who built this country, who built this community and who gave us our lives as we know it, that they’re not living in a home.

We’re going to continue to make sure we take care of our seniors. They took care of us. We’re going to take care of them. We’re not taking any lessons from the member opposite.

Interjections.