I thank the member for the question. I want to make it very clear, we want every child and youth in this province to have a safe, loving, stable home regardless of their circumstances.

The member has probably not paid attention, but I’ve been travelling the province, meeting with families and service providers—and she knows; she’s aware of it because I know that they’re telling her. I know that they’re telling her.

Mr. Speaker, we’ve backed up the work by over $1.5 billion of investment. We have hired more inspectors on the ground to inspect the facilities. Those inspectors are going in unannounced this fall. So there’s not only more inspectors, there are more unannounced inspections that are being done.

We want to make sure that every youth, every child in this province is protected and supported so that they can continue to succeed and thrive in their communities. It’s a commitment we will never waver from.

Interjection.

That investment of $1.5 billion that I mentioned earlier: It’s important to note where it’s going. For the first time in the history of the province, we are making sure that children and youth succeed and thrive not only now but in the future. That’s why we started that support at the age of 13. We continued that support with financial supports up to the age of 23, so that the children and youth that age out of care can have—

Thank you to the member from Carleton for the great question this morning. It appears that our pleas to the federal government have gone unanswered and unheard. I can tell you, a recent Angus Reid poll shows that only 15% of Canadians approve of the federal government’s current carbon tax scheme, and we know that includes all nine members of the Ontario Liberal caucus. The worst part about this tax is that it’s only going to get worse: It’s going to go up again next April.

The worst part about this whole thing is that the environmental commissioner federally has said that it’s not even having an impact. It’s not reducing emissions. But what we’re doing in Ontario is, we’re investing in nuclear. We have the largest procurement for battery storage out in the field right now. Just this morning, we were announcing Hydrogen Innovation Fund investments. At our natural gas facilities at Atura Power, we’re going to be driving down emissions. We have one of the cleanest grids in the world, and we’re going to make sure that it stays that way.

We know the type of waste that comes from a Liberal government. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much to address the affordability crisis in the federal government’s fall economic statement.

We know the damage of 15 years of Ontario Liberals governing our province. But what’s worse is that the current crop of Liberals that are over here are still championing this terrible carbon tax, trying to convince people that Ontarians are better off with a carbon tax than they were previous to the carbon tax coming into effect. I just can’t believe that this crop of Liberals in Ontario, as small a crop as they are—they’re like a backyard garden, Mr. Speaker—

My question is for the Associate Minister of Small Business. Small businesses are the backbone of Ontario’s economy and important job creators in our communities, but sadly, many are often operating on tight margins.

Speaker, not only is the carbon tax creating greater hardship for many small businesses, but many are feeling additional financial pressure with the upcoming deadline for federal loan repayments. Unfortunately, the independent Liberals seem content to stand by as the federal government punishes businesses with more costs. Instead of standing up for Ontario’s entrepreneurs, who are struggling because of the regressive carbon tax, they once again voted no to any measure that calls for its repeal.

Speaker, can the associate minister please share more information about how the carbon tax is negatively impacting Ontario’s small businesses?

Speaker, can the associate minister please explain how our government is supporting small businesses across our great province?

Thank you to the great member from Whitby for the question.

Speaker, I had the privilege of hearing directly from entrepreneurs across the province. Time and again, they express real concern about the burden of rising costs from the federal carbon tax combined with the upcoming deadlines of the CEBA loan repayments.

The carbon tax inflates expenses at every single step of the supply chain. Whether they’re farmers producing food, manufacturers leveraging our skilled workforce or shops anchoring our main streets, Ontario’s job creators all agree: This punitive tax hits hardest just as they’re getting themselves back on their feet. Many business owners have shared fears it is could force them to reduce staff, raise prices or shut their doors for good.

Unlike the Liberals and NDP, our government is listening to entrepreneurs and taking action on affordability. If the opposition truly cared about the businesses in their ridings, they’d join us in calling on Ottawa to scrap the tax.

Every day I meet inspirational entrepreneurs who are pouring their hearts and souls into building something from nothing, providing jobs and providing hope. That’s why we’ve been there for them with our investment in Futurpreneur, which helps young entrepreneurs access financing, mentorship and resources to turn their bold ideas into thriving businesses.

The opposition are concerned about keeping people off the job but it’s this government that works hard to keep the great people of this province on the job. We’ve stepped up to the plate for small business. It’s high time the opposition did the same.

I appreciate the opportunity, Speaker, to stand up in this House today to reflect on the amazing work that our commodity organizations across this province are doing in support of food banks. Just this week alone we had both Ontario Pork as well as our Chicken Farmers of Ontario in this House. We need to celebrate what they’re doing. I hope the member took time to actually meet face to face with real farmers, because if she had perhaps she would have learned that the pork farmers of Ontario donate to food banks every year and Chicken Farmers of Ontario have donated the equivalent of eight million meals.

Our farmers across this province are doing amazing work to support food banks. But I have to share with you: We have a strategy in Ontario supported by our government. It’s called Grow Ontario. We’re increasing our food production and processing in this province by 30% by 2032. We do not have a food security issue in this province, but we—

Point of order, Speaker: I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate the newly acclaimed executive officers of the Ontario Federation of Labour. Congratulations to Team Ignite: incoming president Laura Walton, secretary-treasurer Ahmad Gaied and executive vice-president Jackie Taylor. They are the new executive officers of the Ontario Federation of Labour. Congratulations.

Unlike the previous Liberal government, which drove up the cost of electricity every single year and drove up taxes across our province, unlike the NDP that wanted the highest carbon tax in the world—and we know exactly what impact it’s having because you’ve heard from ministers right across the government this morning on the impact that it’s having on policing, the impact that it’s having on farming and agriculture, the impact that it’s having on forestry and on rural school busing.

Mr. Speaker, what we can do is work together as an Ontario Legislature, and I would ask all members to do this. Now, I know the Liberals from Ontario don’t want to do this. The NDP have shown a little bit of inclination to maybe want to do the right thing here. But let’s come together, Mr. Speaker. Let’s call Jagmeet and let’s call Justin, and let’s make sure they do the right thing and take the carbon tax off home heating for Ontarians—

Thank you to my colleague across for the question. Any death is too many. Any death is a tragedy. And as my friend opposite knows, we do not speak to an ongoing inquest. It would be completely inappropriate. She also knows, Mr. Speaker, that the purpose of an inquest is to determine the circumstances surrounding a death and, if appropriate, make recommendations that may prevent further deaths. Our government continuously works to make sure policies in corrections are in line with best practices.

Again, Mr. Speaker, this is a complex issue, and we cannot speak to an ongoing inquest.

I’ve seen it for myself as I’ve toured our correctional complexes: I have met with the native inmate liaison officers—the NILOs; I’ve met with the chaplains. Mr. Speaker, I stay close in contact with the OPSEU union representatives as well. And at the end of the day, our government is taking this matter seriously, and we will reduce, where possible, and eliminate inmate experiences in segregation conditions.

While this government sits on a multi-billion-dollar slush fund, refusing to help people struggling with the cost of living, food bank use has hit record levels in Ottawa. One in seven Ottawa residents is currently food insecure. In 2023 alone there have been nearly half a million food bank visits in Ottawa. A growing number of food bank users are employed full time and still can’t put food on the table.

When is the Premier going to get serious about solving the affordability crisis by reinstating real rent control, increasing social assistance and raising the minimum wage?

While Ottawa food banks are extending hours into evenings and weekends to accommodate people who have full-time jobs and can’t go at any other time, this government is eroding the social safety net at every turn. We know what the solutions are and the Premier can implement them today if he wanted to. Put a stop to price gouging. Reinstate real rent control. Increase Ontario Works and ODSP. Raise the minimum wage. Why is the Premier busy pretending to be helpless instead of doing his job and helping people?

My question is for the Minister of Energy. We’ve spent much of this week talking about how the carbon tax is raising the cost of everything. That is why our government must continue to work diligently to find practical solutions to make Ontario’s electricity grid more affordable, cleaner and more reliable. For example, the minister has previously explained that installing a hybrid heat pump can save families $280 a year while also cutting their home heating emissions by a third.

Can the minister please share information about the cost-saving energy initiatives that our government has already put in place?

Well, I just want to inform the member—first of all, thank you for the question. I don’t know if you have read the stats on ag production and what we’re shipping out and exporting around the world. We’ve exported, just on ag products, over $20 billion. If you want to add in food, beverage and ag, we’re over $52 billion that we ship out of this province. They have never had a better crop ever than last year.

We’re going to continue supporting our farmers, supporting the workers that are working there. We have a massive industry. It actually goes right down to—6% of our GDP is just ag products alone. It equals about $42 billion overall.

So any time you want to come by my office, I’ll inform you on what we’re doing in the agriculture, food and beverage sector.

The Solicitor General.

Deferred vote on the motion that the question now be put on the motion for third reading of the following bill:

Bill 131, An Act to enact the GO Transit Station Funding Act, 2023 and to amend the City of Toronto Act, 2006 / Projet de loi 131, Loi édictant la Loi de 2023 sur le financement des stations du réseau GO et modifiant la Loi de 2006 sur la cité de Toronto.

The division bells rang from 1143 to 1148.

On November 22, 2023, Miss Surma moved Bill 131, An Act to enact the GO Transit Station Funding Act, 2023 and to amend the City of Toronto Act, 2006.

On November 22, 2023, Mr. Sandhu moved that the question be now put.

All those in favour of Mr. Sandhu’s motion, please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Miss Surma has moved third reading of Bill 131, An Act to enact the GO Transit Station Funding Act, 2023 and to amend the City of Toronto Act, 2006.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? I heard some noes.

All those in favour of the motion will please say “aye.”

All those opposed will please say “nay.”

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

Call in the members. This is another five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1153 to 1154.

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

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

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

The House recessed from 1200 to 1300.

Report continues in volume B.

The ayes are 72; the nays are 27.

Under standing order 59, just to thank colleagues for another productive week.

On Monday, November 27: in the morning—of course, the morning starts at 9 o’clock on Monday—third reading of Bill 135, the Convenient Care at Home Act; in the afternoon, Bill 153, the Building Infrastructure Safely Act; and in the night sitting, Bill 153 again.

On Tuesday, November 28: third reading of Bill 134, the Affordable Homes and Good Jobs Act; in the afternoon, third reading of Bill 146, the Building a Strong Ontario Together Act, which is the budget. At 6 p.m., we will have the private member’s motion from the member for St. Paul’s. In the night sitting, there will be third reading of Bill 146, which is Building a Strong Ontario Together Act.

On Wednesday morning, November 29, it will be Bill 41, Protection from Coerced Debts Incurred in relation to Human Trafficking Act. In the afternoon, we will be debating a bill which will be introduced very soon. At 6 p.m., it’s private member’s motion number 36, and then again, in the night sitting, it will be Bill 134, the Affordable Homes and Good Jobs Act.

On Thursday, November 30, in the morning, we will continue debate on a bill which will be introduced; in the afternoon, back to Bill 142, the Better for Consumers, Better for Businesses Act, 2023; and at 6 p.m., private member’s business standing in the name of the member for Spadina–Fort York.