The ayes are 34; the nays are 68.

Order.

The next question.

Solicitor General.

It is my privilege to say a word of thanks to our legislative pages. Our pages are smart, trustworthy and hard-working. They are indispensable to the effective functioning of the chamber, and we are indeed fortunate to have had them here.

To our pages: You depart having made many new friends, with a greater understanding of parliamentary democracy and memories that will last a lifetime. Each of you will now go home and continue your studies and no doubt will contribute to your communities, your province and your country in important ways. We expect great things from all of you. Who knows? Maybe some of you will some day take your seats in this House as members or work here as staff. No matter where your path leads you, we wish you well.

Please join me in thanking this group of legislative pages.

Applause.

I’ll start with the member for Kingston and the Islands.

I would ask the minister to give the House some indication as to when the response is likely forthcoming.

Deferred vote on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 67, An Act respecting the licensing and regulation of temporary nursing agencies / Projet de loi 67, Loi concernant la délivrance de permis aux agences de soins infirmiers temporaires et la réglementation de ces agences.

The division bells rang from 1211 to 1216.

On November 1, 2023, Mr. Shamji moved second reading of Bill 67, An Act respecting the licensing and regulation of temporary nursing agencies.

All those in favour will please rise and remain standing until recognized by the Clerk.

Second reading negatived.

Deferred vote on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 142, An Act to enact the Consumer Protection Act, 2023, to amend the Consumer Reporting Act and to amend or repeal various other Acts / Projet de loi 142, Loi visant à édicter la Loi de 2023 sur la protection du consommateur, à modifier la Loi sur les renseignements concernant le consommateur et à modifier ou abroger diverses autres lois.

The division bells rang from 1220 to 1221.

All those in favour of the motion will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Second reading agreed to.

There being no further business at this time, this House stands in recess until 1 p.m.

The House recessed from 1225 to 1300.

Report deemed adopted.

Mr. Bethlenfalvy moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 146, An Act to implement Budget measures and to enact and amend various statutes / Projet de loi 146, Loi visant à mettre en oeuvre les mesures budgétaires et à édicter et à modifier diverses lois.

First reading agreed to.

First reading agreed to.

I’ll remind members it’s best just to read the explanatory note when you explain your bill.

Mr. Glover moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 148, An Act to amend the Auditor General Act and Members’ Integrity Act, 1994 / Projet de loi 148, Loi modifiant la Loi sur le vérificateur général et la Loi de 1994 sur l’intégrité des députés.

First reading agreed to.

I certainly will. The bill amends the Auditor General Act. Subsection 10(1) of the act is re-enacted to provide that the duty to furnish information applies to documents and information that are otherwise confidential or subject to certain privilege rights.

Subsection 10(2) of the act is also re-enacted to provide that the Auditor General’s right to access information applies despite other rights of privacy, confidentiality and privilege.

The bill also amends the Members’ Integrity Act, 1994. Clause (a) of the definition of “family” in section 1 of the act is amended to include adult children, siblings and parents.

Section 2 is re-enacted to provide that a member of the assembly shall not make a decision or participate in making a decision that would lead to the reasonable perception that there is an opportunity to further the member’s private interests or improperly to further another person’s private interests.

The bill adds section 6.1, which provides that no member of the assembly shall in the exercise of an official power, duty or function give preferential treatment to any person or organization based on the identity of the person or organization.

Section 31 of the act is amended to allow the commissioner to conduct an inquiry if the commissioner determines it appropriate to do so, even in the absence of a referral from a member of the assembly or the executive council. At any time before the conclusion of the inquiry, the commissioner may expand the scope of the inquiry if the commissioner determines it is appropriate to do.

I want to give a warm welcome to the president and CEO of Ontario Forest Industries Association, Mr. Ian Dunn. Welcome to the House.

Speaker, this afternoon I’d like to welcome representatives of Together We Stand: Richard Seymour and Eleanor Millar.

Speaker, I just wanted to introduce my page’s—her mom and sister’s names into the record. It’s Niti Bhatt and Shriya Bhatt.

Speaker, I will elaborate in a ministerial statement shortly.

MPP Andrew moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 147, An Act to provide for updates to training requirements with respect to Black, Indigenous, racialized, natural and textured hair styles in the film and television and live entertainment industries / Projet de loi 147, Loi prévoyant la mise à jour des exigences en matière de formation relativement aux types de cheveux des personnes noires, autochtones et racisées, et aux types de cheveux naturels et texturés dans l’industrie du film et de la télévision et l’industrie du spectacle vivant.

Applause.

It gives me great pleasure to rise today on behalf of the Premier and our government to deliver our 2023 fall economic statement, Building a Stronger Ontario Together.

J’ai l’immense plaisir de prendre la parole aujourd’hui, au nom du premier ministre et de notre gouvernement, afin de présenter notre exposé économique de l’automne 2023 : Bâtir un Ontario fort ensemble.

Ontario is growing rapidly.

Last year alone, 500,000 more people chose Ontario as home.

There are 4,400 more businesses operating in our province today than there were last year, representing over half the new businesses that opened in the entire country.

And these new businesses mean new jobs ... in fact, 170,000 net new jobs since January.

While this is good news for Ontario, we cannot take this growth for granted.

As I have said many times before, Ontario is not immune to the risks of an economic slowdown.

High inflation and the Bank of Canada’s rapid interest rate increases are weighing on Ontario’s outlook for the remainder of this year, and into next year.

Russia’s war on the Ukraine and the recent horrific terrorist attack against Israel means continued heightened geopolitical uncertainty.

With these economic and geopolitical challenges, there comes a choice: We can go back to a time when manufacturing jobs left the province in droves; when gridlock brought our communities and our economy to a standstill; when workers worked harder and harder but life became tougher and tougher. Or we could continue on our path, a path that involves creating better jobs and bigger paycheques, a path that is building infrastructure we need to serve a growing population that is fiscally responsible.

And that includes a path to balance the budget.

Mr. Speaker, our path and our road ahead is clear.

We must continue with our government’s responsible, targeted approach.

We must continue with our plan to build a strong Ontario.

Nous devons poursuivre notre plan pour bâtir un Ontario fort. Et nous devons le faire ensemble. And we must do it together.

Mr. Speaker, we are attracting new jobs and new investments.

We are building the critical infrastructure needed to support our growing communities.

We are training workers to fill the jobs needed in key sectors like health care and the skilled trades.

We are putting money back into the pockets of the people of Ontario, during a time of high interest rates and inflation.

And we are providing better public services as well as supporting our most vulnerable.

Mr. Speaker, due to a slowing economy impacting revenue and increasing our flexibility to respond to risks, our government is now projecting a $5.6-billion deficit in 2023-24.

In 2024-25, we are forecasting a deficit of $5.3 billion, followed by a balanced budget in 2025-26.

And as we deal with the uncertainty ahead, Mr. Speaker, our government will never hesitate to do what is necessary to support the people and businesses of Ontario.

Face à l’incertitude qui nous guette, monsieur le Président, notre gouvernement ne manquera pas de faire ce qu’il faut pour soutenir la population et les entreprises de l’Ontario.

Mr. Speaker, our government is building Ontario.

It starts in the north, where we are unlocking the incredible potential of critical minerals and finally building the roads to the Ring of Fire, in partnership with Indigenous communities.

Critical minerals are key to positioning Ontario as a global economic powerhouse, ready to seize the electric vehicle revolution and energy transition and be a serious player amidst geopolitical change.

That’s why I’m pleased to announce that we are proposing to enhance the Ontario Focused Flow-Through Share Tax Credit to encourage more critical mineral exploration.

Mr. Speaker, our story starts in the north, but it leads to the south, where we are connecting these critical minerals to our province’s leading electric vehicle manufacturing sector. It’s no secret that the previous government decimated manufacturing in Ontario. Jobs left the province in droves. Well, under this government and this Premier, manufacturing is back in Ontario and it’s stronger than ever.

Over the last three years, our government has attracted more than $26 billion in transformative auto and electric vehicle battery-related investments to Ontario.

From Algoma to Windsor—

Interjection.

I want to thank the member opposite. Let me be clear: There is no excuse for violent crimes. There is no excuse for intimate partner violence. We take this matter very, very seriously. As I said prior, we are engaging all partners to act, and we’re doing so with a very broad lens. That’s why we have invested over $55 million in various grants, including supporting 45 victim services grants to help communities throughout Ontario. We will also hold offenders accountable. And we are taking further action at the Ontario Police College by having mandatory training for our cadets there to learn about intimate partner violence.

At the end of the day, intimate partner violence is completely unacceptable.

Our thoughts are with the families in Sault Ste. Marie for this heinous crime that was committed on them. It is undeniably tragic.

Mr. Speaker, $55 million is being invested in programs that will have tangible benefits. Training at the Ontario Police College will have tangible benefits. Supporting 45 projects through victim services grants will have tangible benefits. Holding the people to account will.

Tous ont le droit de se sentir en sécurité chez eux et dans leurs collectivités. Et, monsieur le Président, rien pour moi n’est plus important que la sécurité de notre province.

My question is to the Premier. Sault Ste. Marie declared gender-based violence an epidemic, adding to more than 63 municipalities across Ontario that have formally declared this truth. To date, 2023 has seen more than 50 femicides, more than one per week, all while this Conservative government continually fails to mobilize the resources—from affordable housing, to pay equity, to community crisis and response funding—needed to reverse this tragic course that Ontario is on.

To the Premier: Will he take the first step to ending gender-based violence by declaring it an epidemic, one requiring real action from this Conservative government?

This would make training on how to style and care for Black, Indigenous and racialized people’s natural and textured hair types mandatory for all practising hairstylists within the sector, to protect the health and safety of performers, boost Ontario’s economy and work toward addressing racism in the province of Ontario.

In short, this bill would prevent the inequity of Black and other racialized performers, already underpaid, having to pay for their own hairstyles on set and backstage. I want to thank union leaders, I want to thank my constituency and I want to thank community members, hairstylists, performers, allies, store owners and all of those who have made it possible to work with me on this piece of legislation.

Thank you to the member from Brantford–Brant. I’m very happy that you’re bringing this topic up because nobody else in the House seems to bring it up. The opposition Liberals and NDP don’t want to go here.

Our government has led the charge, starting in 2018, to fight against this harmful carbon tax. We are proud that we have fought against this tax, Speaker, which we know would lead to poorer outcomes for the people in this province. The carbon tax is, sadly, contributing to the overall inflation rate, which is growing rapidly in this province. That, in turn, is causing interest rates to go up, and that, in turn, is causing Ontarians who have a hard time paying off their mortgages more money to pay every single month.

If we can eliminate this tax, we can untangle our economy from the grip of inflation and make it easier for the people of Ontario to buy the goods and services they require. This is why our government continues to urge the federal government, and we would love our opposition members right here in this House to join us and fight this punitive tax.

Councillor Angela Caputo, who moved the unanimously adopted Sault Ste. Marie motion, has a message for this House after their recent and heartbreaking mass murder-suicide: “I ask Premier Ford to reconsider the stance”—of his government. “Angie Sweeney deserved better. Those three innocent children deserved better. Women in this province deserve better.”

Speaker, on Monday, we were absolutely shocked to hear the Solicitor General dismiss the top recommendation from the Renfrew inquest as an empty gesture of symbolism.

My question to the Premier is, will he join the 63 municipalities that have already adopted similar motions by substantially declaring intimate partner violence an epidemic and committing the necessary resources to keep women and children safe in Ontario?

Interjections.

My question is for the Minister of Finance. A month ago, the Bank of Canada reported that the federal carbon tax was responsible for a mere 0.15% increase in inflation. Researchers sought an explanation, only to discover that these calculations were not accurate. Now, the figures have changed. The governor of the Bank of Canada now says that the original number did not account for the years of tax increases and revealed that the correct impact of the carbon tax is actually four times higher, at 0.6%.

It is clear that the federal Liberals and the Bank of Canada are out of touch when it comes to understanding the harmful impact of the carbon tax. Speaker, can the minister please explain how this regressive tax is creating economic hardship for Ontario?

I respectfully request that Bill 142 be referred to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy.

That’s our member from Windsor there—Ontario is becoming the heartland of the electric vehicle and clean steel manufacturing revolution.

D’Algoma à Windsor, l’Ontario est au coeur de la révolution qui s’opère actuellement dans la fabrication des véhicules électriques et d’acier propre.

And, Mr. Speaker, this is just the beginning.

Our Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit is helping manufacturers lower costs, innovate and maintain a competitive edge.

And to keep up the momentum, today, our government is providing $100 million in new funding to Invest Ontario.

To attract more investments and more jobs, right here at home in Ontario.

And we are supporting all of this by continuing to invest in Ontario’s clean energy advantage.

Mr. Speaker, all this growth means we need more infrastructure.

We need more highways to transport the goods we are producing.

We need more transit to get people to where they are going.

We need more hospitals and we need more schools to serve our growing population.

But a growing economy and population is not the only reason we need to build. After decades of previous governments saying no, we inherited an infrastructure deficit in this province, and that’s why we are building Ontario.

We are building more highways, like Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass.

We are investing in more transit, like the Ontario Line and the Northlander.

Across the province, we are building hospitals, long-term-care homes, schools and child care spaces.

But as hundreds of thousands of people move to Ontario each year, existing infrastructure is becoming more and more strained.

Despite our historic and unprecedented $185-billion capital plan, Ontario must build even more.

And Ontario taxpayers can’t shoulder the costs alone.

That’s why I am pleased to announce that today, our government is launching the Ontario Infrastructure Bank.

Monsieur le Président, je suis heureux d’annoncer qu’aujourd’hui notre gouvernement lance la Banque de l’infrastructure de l’Ontario.

Following in the steps of many other jurisdictions around the world with similar entities, the bank will attract trusted institutional investors to help finance essential infrastructure that would otherwise not get built.

A new, arm’s-length agency, the bank will leverage investments by public sector pension plans and other trusted institutional investors to help fund large-scale infrastructure projects right across the province.

At the outset, the projects financed through this new agency will be focused on long-term-care homes, energy infrastructure, affordable housing, municipal and community infrastructure and, yes, Mr. Speaker, transportation.

Canada is renowned for one of the strongest pension systems in the world, including what we call the Maple Eight, the largest funds in Canada and some of the most influential investors in the world. We’ve heard from these funds that they are looking for more opportunities to invest workers’ savings in Canada and right here in Ontario. With the Ontario Infrastructure Bank, we’re creating opportunities for these Canadian pension funds to seize our home field advantage and invest right here at home.

The federal government also has to do its part.

We are calling on Ottawa to invest in a new, next generation infrastructure program that provides adequate funding to address the critical infrastructure needs of provinces and municipalities.

In the meantime—

Interjections.

Responses?

First, I’d like to offer our genuine hope that your mom has a full recovery. I think that that’s very important.

But I will say this government continues to deliver one disappointment after another. The people of this province are facing extremely tough times, Speaker, and it seems to me everyone but this government understands that these are extraordinary times. Cost of living is through the roof. The cost of living has been going up and up and up, and rent and housing prices are simply out of control.

Ontarians are fed up. They’re stressed, and they’re worried. And this government just doesn’t seem to get that. They’re so preoccupied with making their insider land-speculator friends richer, they’re simply not able to see how hard people have it right now.

Just last week in this House, Theresa, 92 years old—being renovicted, considering medical assistance in dying. Those are real people with real issues, and this government is making a choice not to make her life easier. They’re making it harder.

During economically harsh times like these, we wanted to see more from today’s fall economic statement, but it delivered absolutely nothing to shift away from the status quo. All the people of this province got today was ordinary and bland. Nothing in today’s statement met people where they’re at. Nothing spoke to the struggles of the people of this province—ultimately, nothing meaningful to allay their concerns and win back the trust this government has eroded over the past five years.

While we managed our expectations, people thought that this government would recognize that keeping people housed in rental units during a housing crisis should be prioritized. Did this government listen to that? No, they did not. We’ve been calling on this government to reverse the rent control that they removed. That decision has hurt so many people in this province. Housing costs continue to be the biggest drivers of affordability in this province—more than ever, in fact. Rent control is a step they can take right now, today, to help Ontarians. But no, this government did not choose to do that.

People are struggling with high grocery costs and, while CEOs rake in billions, this government is not doing a thing to tackle price gouging. In fact, we have a bill before us which misses the mark entirely.

I mean, housing and food costs are the cost drivers for Ontarians right now and this government couldn’t even mention the word “farmer” in the entire nearly 200-page report. Farmers are an important part of the economy in the province of Ontario.

This is certainly not a government that’s making life easier. In fact, it’s really shocking—it is really shocking, Speaker, that the government has made a choice to not invest in critical services, but they are bloating up their contingency fund to the tune of $5.7 billion in the face of emergency room closures, in the face of a child care crisis, autism—I mean, you name it—emergency off-loads for ambulances.

A fiscally responsible government would not hoard billions of dollars while cities across the province are seeing days without any ambulances. We see historically long wait times at emergency rooms, child care, students—four to five students in a one-bedroom apartment because they can’t afford the rent. This is a big issue in Kitchener-Waterloo.

The people of Ontario know that this government has been in the driver’s seat for five years and, for five years, they have actively chosen to help their insider friends over the people that we’re elected to serve. The contingency fund is downright irresponsible, hoarding money instead of investing in key critical services people rely on like health care, nurses, PSWs, child care, child care workers.

One quick example: 2.1 Ontarians do not have a doctor. The Ontario Medical Association has requested an investment in reducing administrative burden that would free up 2,000 more doctors—19 hours a week they spend on administrative duties instead of seeing patients. This is a solution right before you.

So, Speaker, this government clearly is completely and utterly out of touch with the people of this province, and this is what we are faced with even while an RCMP investigation is criminally investigating this government. Today’s fall economic statement was an opportunity to win back trust, to see their struggles and see people that we serve. This government made a choice not to do that, but don’t fear: The Ontario NDP is on your side. We see you and we’re going to keep fighting for you.

Yes, I heard a clap.

In the meantime, I’m announcing a new investment of $200 million over three years in a new Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund.

This fund is another step in helping to unlock new housing opportunities by ensuring water infrastructure that is necessary for new housing developments gets built.

To the people of Ontario listening today, I want you to know that building a strong Ontario together means your government is working for you.

Bâtir un Ontario fort ensemble signifie que votre gouvernement oeuvre pour vous.

It means more training for workers to fill in-demand job, better public services for more people, and keeping costs down for your and your family.

Mr. Speaker, I’ve spoken a lot about building the economy and infrastructure, as has the Premier, as has everyone of my colleagues, and it is workers who are getting it done.

We are working for workers.

We have invested over $1 billion so more people can get a head start.

We are partnering with private sector unions to train people for in-demand careers.

And we are also helping workers plan for their retirement.

Target benefit pension plans are offered by a union or association to ensure their members have a secure retirement.

They are common for workers in the skilled trades.

Mr. Speaker, the previous government overlooked and undervalued target benefit pension plans by refusing to put a permanent regulatory framework in place for these plans. Our government is changing that.

We are proposing a much-needed new permanent framework for target benefit pension plans.

The new framework would help to protect the retirement security of workers, while making a career in the skilled trades even more attractive.

While we are working to safeguard the retirement security of workers in the long run, we also acknowledge the significant impact of inflation on people today.

When inflation began to rise globally, we acted quickly and early to put money back in people’s pockets.

We eliminated licence plate renewal fees and stickers, saving the average family $600 thus far.

We increased the minimum wage.

And of course, Mr. Speaker, we temporarily cut the gas and fuel tax rates.

Inflation remains elevated. People and businesses continue to feel the pinch, particularly as the federal carbon tax makes everyday life more expensive. That is why today we are proposing that the gas tax cut be extended through to June 30, 2024.

That way we can put more money back in people’s pockets, where it belongs.

Mr. Speaker, growing communities need housing.

Since last fall, we have been calling on the federal government to remove the HST builders pay on new purpose-built rental housing.

Mr. Speaker, I’m glad to inform the House that the federal government answered Ontario’s call and as we committed, our government is removing the provincial portion of the HST on these projects.

By encouraging builders to build more rental units, our government is helping people in Ontario find and afford a place to live.

Mr. Speaker, as we help keep costs down for people, we are also providing more convenient and better services.

Like in health care.

Through our actions, pharmacists can now prescribe treatment for 19 common minor ailments.

And, Mr. Speaker, through the leadership of the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, the wait-list for surgeries has been reduced by more than 25,000 from the peak in March 2022.

And beginning in fall 2024, women age 40 to 49 will be able to self‐refer for a mammogram to screen for breast cancer.

Our government continues to build a more connected and convenient health care system for the people of Ontario.

But let me tell you, Mr. Speaker—and to the people of Ontario—the road ahead will not be easy.

The economic challenges on the horizon underscore the need to remain fiscally disciplined and responsible.

And by maintaining our path to balance, that is what our government is doing.

We have seen what the people of Ontario can accomplish when we come together.

Nous avons été témoins de ce que les Ontariennes et Ontariens peuvent accomplir lorsqu’ils s’unissent.

Together, we can overcome any obstacle.

Together, we can face this economic uncertainty.

Together, we can build the critical infrastructure we need to support our growing communities.

Mr. Speaker, we can build a strong Ontario, together.

Thank you very much.

This petition is entitled “Support the Port Colborne Urgent Care.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the Niagara Health System reduced overnight service hours at urgent care centres in Fort Erie and Port Colborne starting July 5, 2023;

“Whereas the current Niagara Health System restructuring plan approved by the Ontario Ministry of Health does not include Port Colborne urgent care centre, creating inequity of health care services in south Niagara;

“Whereas the NHS is already experiencing a 911 crisis in EMS, a shortage of beds and unacceptable off-loading delays in its emergency departments across the region;

“Whereas the population in the Port Colborne urgent care catchment area is both aging and growing;

“Whereas the Ontario Legislature passed motion 47 from the 42nd Parliament by Niagara Centre MPP Jeff Burch on April 13, 2022, to provide a firm funding commitment and clear timeline for capital and operational support of the Niagara Health System as part of an overall effort to serve the growing population of the region, increase hospital capacity, create jobs and offer the important, high-level front-line service” the people of Niagara need;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:

“To work with the Ontario Ministry of Health and the Niagara Health System to ensure 24-hour services are maintained at the Port Colborne urgent care centre.”

I affix my signature and send it to the Clerk.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the current Niagara Health System restructuring plan approved by the Ontario Ministry of Health includes removal of the emergency department, emergency surgical services and associated beds and ambulances service from the Welland hospital site once the Niagara Falls site is complete, creating inequity of hospital and emergency service in the Niagara region and a significant negative impact on hospital and emergency outcomes for the citizens of Welland, Port Colborne and all Niagara;

“Whereas the NHS is already experiencing a 911 crisis in EMS, a shortage of beds and unacceptable off-loading delays in its emergency departments across the region;

“Whereas the population in the Welland hospital catchment area is both aging and growing;

“Whereas the Ontario Legislature passed a motion by Niagara Centre MPP Jeff Burch on April 13, 2022, to include a full emergency department and associated beds in the rebuild of the Welland hospital;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:

“To work with the Ontario Ministry of Health and the Niagara Health System to implement motion 47 from the 42nd Parliament to maintain the Welland hospital emergency department and adjust its hospital plan accordingly.”

I’ll affix my signature and send it to the Clerk.

Point of order, Mr. Speaker.