Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to introduce two constituents today—

But anyway, I want to introduce two constituents from the great Kenora–Rainy River riding: Henry Wall is here, the chief administrative officer of the Kenora District Services Board, and my favourite—no offence, Henry—Christy Radbourne, the director of education for the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board. We welcome them to this magnificent place.

As the Leader of the Opposition knows full well, this government has been focused on building homes since day one. The Premier has been very, very clear on that. Since 2018, we’ve brought in housing supply action plans each and every year of our mandate. Because of those positive builds, we have seen housing starts increase to their highest levels in over 15 years, and that includes purpose-built rentals.

With respect to the greenbelt, we have also been clear that we made a public policy decision that was focused on building more homes faster. The policy decision was obviously not supported by the people of the province of Ontario. That is why there is a bill before this House to restore those lands to the greenbelt, but to go even further: to provide an additional layer of protection on the lands, layers of protection that have never been the case ever before. We’re quite proud of that. But at the same time, we will double down and make sure that we build those 1.5 million homes for the people of the province of Ontario.

Having said that, Speaker, we are very focused on building 1.5 million homes, on eliminating the obstacles that have been put in the way by the previous Liberal and NDP coalition in this province, which saw housing starts fall to their lowest in years. On top of that, the policies supported by the Liberals and NDP—high debt, high taxes, red tape and out-of-control spending—have led to an inflation crisis across Canada, which has led to the most rapid increase in interest rates that we’ve ever seen in this country. We are also fighting back on that.

But having said all of that, I am very encouraged. We’re still seeing housing starts remain very, very strong, so the people of the province of Ontario can still share in that dream of getting out of their parents’ basements, where the NDP would like to keep them, and having the dream of home ownership be theirs.

What we are doing is this: We are building a strong Ontario. We have cut taxes and eliminated red tape. We have brought bills before this House to improve home care and long-term care. We are building roads, bridges, hospitals. Employment is at its highest—

Interjections.

I’m incredibly grateful for the tremendous contributions of Ontario’s public sector workers, and I appreciate the opportunity given to me by the Leader of the Opposition to highlight some of the significant investments our government has made and is continuing to make in high-quality services that Ontarians deserve.

When it comes to health care, we’re making record investments in a system that was neglected by the previous government, propped up by the NDP. Our investments have built 3,500 hospital beds across the province. We’ve launched the largest medical school expansion in this province’s history. We’ve registered 63,000 new nurses and we reduced the surgical backlog to pre-pandemic levels. We’re continuing to get shovels in the ground on 15 new hospital developments across the province.

These are critical projects that the NDP and the Liberals have voted against consistently. We will continue to deliver for Ontarians.

Three cabinet ministers have resigned or run for the exit. From stag and does to Vegas vacations to secret USB keys, there are still so many unanswered questions. Ontarians deserve answers.

Staff in the Conservatives’ inner circles are leaving under a cloud of suspicion and they’re lawyering up. The Premier has said the buck stops with him, so let’s hear from him. Will the Premier finally come clean and explain his personal involvement in the greenbelt scandal?

Interjections.

Interjections.

The government said they were going to clean things up. That’s what the Premier said when he ran, and now he’s embroiled in a scandal that has seen ethics laws broken. Both the current and former ministers of housing confirmed that interviews with the RCMP were ongoing. My question is for the Premier: How many current or former cabinet ministers or political staff have been questioned by the RCMP?

This government talks a good game when it comes to workers, but their actions tell a really different story. Ontario’s nurses fought hard to secure wage increases above the limits imposed by this government’s Bill 124, that unconstitutional bill. And since then, other deserving public sector workers have won back some of the wages that this government tried to suppress. They had to take this government to court to do it, though.

My question is to the Premier: Will the Premier finally repeal his unconstitutional Bill 124?

To the Premier again: Has the Premier finally realized he can’t push around working people in this province, or is he going to try it again?

This week in Ottawa, they’re debating Bill C-58. It would prevent replacement workers—let’s call them scabs—from being brought in and prolonging labour disputes. The Premier’s friend, Mr. Poilievre and his Conservatives, have been completely silent on this. Will the Premier stay silent as well, or will he support the NDP’s bill to ban replacement workers once and for all in the province of Ontario?

Interjections.

Talking about our relationship with unions, I’m very proud to confirm that this government got a deal with the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, delivering stability for 950,000 children—

Interjections.

I’m going to caution the Leader of the Opposition on some of the language that she’s using.

I’ll allow the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to reply.

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Interjections.

Start the clock. Leader of the Opposition.

Next question?

We can start the clock. The Minister of Education can reply.

The final supplementary.

I guess the minister forgot that the Conservative government voted against anti-scab legislation when I was a worker standing over here while scabs were crossing my picket line.

In the gallery, Speaker, we have members from ACTRA representing 6,000 of their members, who have been locked out for 18 months while wealthy ad agencies are demanding wage cuts and an end to benefits and retirement contributions. And then, because Ontario doesn’t have anti-scab legislation, they locked them out and hired scab labour to do the work.

Instead of standing with these workers, the Conservative government keeps buying ads from union-busting ad agencies. For 18 months, the Premier has turned his back on these workers. For 18 months, the Premier has been proud to use ad agencies using scab workers in government-funded ads.

My question: Will the Conservative government finally stand with these 6,000 workers instead of wealthy union-busting corporations and pass the NDP’s anti-scab legislation?

Interjections.

No, we won’t be supporting that piece of legislation. When the opposition held the balance of power and had the opportunity to introduce this over 15 years, they didn’t.

But what this government has done is that we’ve created unparalleled economic opportunity. You know who wins when we create that economic opportunity? Unions, labour, unionized jobs. We’ve created the conditions for incredible economic growth that’s seen Unifor workers on the job. Labour unions recognize that when our economy succeeds, they succeed.

We’ve been investing in training and skills development that’s lifting people up and supporting unions in the process. That’s why, in the last election, we were endorsed by eight of them. I know members opposite are really struggling. They’re caught between the woke ideologies of folks in downtown Toronto and their labour roots, and they’re being pulled apart at the seams. That’s why that leader ran unopposed in the last leadership.

Speaker, we’re going to stay focused on working with labour unions, supporting labour, creating unparalleled economic growth so that unionized—

Folks in Sudbury know that my office door is always open to support those capital projects for unionized workers. We’re going to keep creating those opportunities, and when he stands up another quarter from now, hopefully we will have approved some of those projects to get those union—

Interjections.

Speaker, I’m hearing stories of refugees, asylum seekers, given opportunities to work in union training centres. I’m hearing contractors who are working hand-in-hand with unionized workforces to create opportunities in this great province that is Ontario, Speaker. Perhaps that member should walk around and talk to the auto workers who, thanks to the leadership of this Premier and this Minister of Economic Development, have tons of jobs in creating the electric vehicles, the batteries and the EV automotive jobs of the future being done by workers here in Ontario, thanks to the leadership of this Premier.

Ontario used to have anti-scab legislation that was brought in by an NDP government. However, the Harris Conservatives got rid of that straight away, and ever since, workers and those who respect them have been fighting to reintroduce protections against the use of replacement workers.

This minister is a big talker, but I wonder if this new Minister of Labour would walk a strike line and hear how ugly working conditions can be and maybe understand how scab labour leads to higher-conflict picket lines, jeopardizes workplace safety, undermines the bargaining power of workers and drags out strikes.

I am proud to have co-sponsored Bill 90, which is the 16th time that the NDP has brought anti-scab legislation to this House. I hope the government will pass Bill 90 today. My question is this: Why won’t this minister and government support workers and support anti-scab legislation?

Interjections.

My question is for the Minister of Finance.

The governor of the Bank of Canada now says that the correct impact of the carbon tax on the inflation rate is actually four times higher and far more significant than his previous estimates. In my conversations with constituents, they tell me about the unnecessary harm that the carbon tax is creating, and they have asked me to continue raising their concerns about the negative impact of the federal government’s regressive tax. Across this province, many households are struggling to make ends meet, and businesses continue to face economic uncertainty due to the ongoing global supply chain challenges.

Speaker, can the minister please explain the impact of the carbon tax on the people of Ontario?

The Prime Minister needs to step up and do the right thing and eliminate the carbon tax, because Ontarians are suffering. As the finance minister so eloquently put it, everyone everywhere is fully aware that the carbon tax is hurting our economy and driving up prices. Speaker, we know that the carbon tax is not only affecting the price of energy and gas, but also the price of food and housing and so much more. The people of Ontario are looking for financial relief. But the reality is that the federal government is not willing to do the act, and neither are all the members of this House.

Speaker, can the minister please advise how our government is providing support to the people of Ontario during this economically challenging time?

Thank you to the member for that question. The member is absolutely right, and we know that now is not the time for punitive and costly taxes that make life more unaffordable for the people here and across the country.

But Speaker, it’s unfortunately not just the federal Liberals that are supporting a carbon tax. Just this week, the majority of Liberal members chose to once again vote against our motion on the removal of the carbon tax on all home heating fuels. Mr. Speaker, somehow everyone but the Liberal Party seems to know that this carbon tax is hurting the pocketbook of Ontario families and making their lives more unaffordable.

The Bank of Canada has said it drives up inflation. The Parliamentary Budget Officer shows that it results in income loss for average Canadians. Our constituents tell us every day, Mr. Speaker, how it makes things more expensive, and it’s time for all parties to join together in agreement that this carbon tax—

Interjections.

Just last week, Mr. Speaker, the Liberal member from Kanata–Carleton said that the vast majority of Ontario households are better off with a carbon price. This is despite all the evidence to the contrary. And welcome to the House.

Interjections.

We will not stop the work to fight the carbon tax and make life more affordable for the people of Ontario.

In 2015, when I was Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, we gave Canadians fair warning that this carbon tax was going to be the single biggest reason for increase in the cost of goods and services this country had ever seen. It has come to fruition—on a collision course with inflationary times.

Out in northwestern Ontario, I can’t help but say, with our friends from the district services board and school boards here today, that it costs more to fuel buses; it costs more to send kids from one school to another school some 215 kilometres away for a football game or a basketball game. When those ambulances go out much farther distances than other regions in this province, it costs more money. With gas at $1.70 a litre right now in Dryden and Kenora, and the deep freeze setting in of winter, I can’t help but think that we’re going to be bearing more and more costs as the carbon tax goes up and up.

Mr. Speaker, this ludicrous tax needs to go. Let’s scrap the tax.

The problem is, it has fallen on deaf ears. The federal government has no plans to eliminate the carbon tax on the cost of fuels to energize our communities up north or the cost of goods. It’s a ludicrous tax. It needs to go. Let’s scrap the tax.

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

Interjection.

The member for Niagara Falls will complete his question.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to thank the member opposite for the question. I see a little bit of tone in his voice; maybe it’s because the Argonauts didn’t make it to the Grey Cup this year, but there’s another year at some point.

The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport supports 16 agencies and attractions across Ontario. And let me not forget maybe the most important thing: They are huge drivers and supporters of tourism for this province. That drives billions of dollars, not only to that marketplace, but around Ontario. So we’ve got to make sure we don’t forget that.

Changes to the members and leadership of Ontario’s agencies and boards are a common occurrence, and we typically don’t take out billboards or run ads when it happens.

Mr. Maves has done a lot of great work, and we appreciate the time he spent with us.

Well, there have been changes. Boards get changed all the time. Things happen. There is absolutely no reason for us to centre anybody out at any time. They commit their time and their efforts to make things better. The member identified how great it has been there, and it will continue to get even better, because of the people who take the time out of their daily lives and their jobs to sit on boards, to support the agencies and drive tourism in Niagara parks and in the Niagara region.

My question is to the Premier.

We’ve learned that former Conservative MPP and lobbyist for local developers Bart Maves was quietly removed as vice-chair from the Niagara Parks Commission by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport with two years left on his term. Maves was also removed from the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission. The move to strip Maves of his appointments to both commissions was done with no notice or explanation.

This week, when questioned by the media, the minister refused to explain why the government would remove one of their political allies.

My question is simple. Why was Maves removed from the Niagara Parks Commission and the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission by this government?

The Niagara Parks Commission is a key part of our tourism industry in Niagara, and it supports 40,000 jobs. They generate tens of millions of dollars each year in revenue and have an operating budget of nearly $120 million—equal to the city of Niagara Falls—supporting over 1,700 jobs in our community, while also preserving the natural and cultural heritage of the Niagara River.

In Niagara, we expect the parks to run free from political interference. Yet this government has been stacking the Niagara Parks Commission with failed PC politicians and friends. So it’s odd that you would suddenly remove a—

Interjection.

My question is for the Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Northern Development.

Speaker, residents in northern Ontario and Indigenous communities are being negatively impacted by the carbon tax. The rising costs associated with the carbon tax, particularly in transportation and supply chain activities, are posing challenges for individuals, families and businesses. Given the current reality of higher expenses for transporting goods in northern Ontario, the carbon tax only serves to make the situation worse. As a result, people are experiencing increased financial burdens at the gas pumps and in grocery stores. There are unique circumstances in the north that must be considered, particularly when it comes to travel.

Speaker, can the minister please explain how the carbon tax is negatively affecting northern and Indigenous communities?

Speaker, it is disheartening that instead of providing support to northern Ontario, the previous Liberal government, with the backing at the time from the NDP, chose to label the north as a “no man’s land.”

Northern Ontario faces distinct challenges, especially when it comes to the cost of fuel. Speaker, can the minister please elaborate on how this regressive carbon tax is impacting northern Ontario?

Good morning, Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Speaker, there isn’t always public transparency about the evidence used by this government to make their decisions. The Chiefs of Ontario have asked this government to meet with them, as they have concerns about Métis consultation, with no answer. When will this government sit down with them and discuss Ontario’s identification of Métis communities?

I’ll touch on the greenbelt for a second and the double standard here. You changed it 17 times, but no one said anything, because you were taking care of the environmentalists. That’s one thing.

Talking about raising taxes, our government has never raised a tax on the backs of the people of Ontario. We’ve never raised a tax on the backs of businesses. To the contrary, we lowered taxes to the tune of $8 billion to attract the companies that they chased out of our province. They chased out 300,000 jobs as we created the environment for 715,000 jobs.

We’re putting money back into peoples’ pockets, as you increased taxes by billions and billions of dollars and made this the worst—

Interjections.

Anyway, we inherited a mess. The province is going in the right place. We hear—not just from everywhere around Canada and around North America, but the entire world—that we’re the hottest place in the world to invest in, no matter if it’s life sciences, technology or EV batteries.

Well, what the member and I can agree on is the fact that the federal government has introduced legislation that is problematic between Métis communities and First Nations communities across this country. Furthermore, it lacked the kinds of consultations with provincial and territorial governments, First Nations governments and, quite possibly, Métis governments. We don’t have a record of those consultations. We just know that we weren’t addressed with regard to it.

That said, it is not the style of this Premier or our government to be divisive. We understand the balance that we have to strike between the Métis communities and the First Nations communities, and we encourage the leadership of the Métis Nation of Ontario and the Chiefs of Ontario to get in a room together to have a discussion and look for solutions and opportunities in this important debate.