Good morning. Let us pray.

Prayers.

Mr. Calandra moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 134, An Act to amend the Development Charges Act, 1997 and the St. Thomas-Central Elgin Boundary Adjustment Act, 2023 / Projet de loi 134, Loi modifiant la Loi de 1997 sur les redevances d’aménagement et la Loi de 2023 sur la modification des limites territoriales entre St. Thomas et Central Elgin.

Meegwetch, Speaker. Good morning. Remarks in Anishininiimowin.

It’s always an honour to be able to listen about the government’s plan—especially on this Bill 134, Affordable Homes and Good Jobs Act.

In the Far North of Ontario, we have the communities I represent, the reserves I represent. There are 31 First Nations, but there are also 24 fly-in First Nations. There’s a housing crisis happening, and it filters down to the northern municipalities. I know that, for example, in Sioux Lookout, there is a 6,000-person population and there’s a real need for housing, and I’m not sure what the plan is for Sioux Lookout to be able to address the housing crisis.

I’m just wondering if this government would start looking at maybe creating an urban reserve where you give back the land to the people, the land that was taken away long before. Because we’ve got to be part of the solution. We have to be part of the economic spin-off. So, urban reserve—what are your thoughts?

Good morning, everyone—beautiful day to be in here with you.

Mr. Speaker, tell the Premier that instead of holiday bells, I am ringing the alarm bells, because the climate crisis is here and it’s costing Ontarians already. While we wait to hear about the RCMP criminal investigation into the $8.3-billion sale of the greenbelt, the government could and should read the damning report released last week by the Financial Accountability Officer of Ontario. Spoiler alert: There’s a frightening financial impact of the climate crisis on our infrastructure. If we don’t begin to proactively plan and build for the extreme weather events that are definitely coming due to climate change, it will cost an extra $4.1 billion per year.

Interjections.

My question to the Premier is, when will he wake up, smell the wildfires and declare a climate emergency in Ontario?

The FAO report clearly proves that we need to be proactive about this—no more short-term thinking. The fatal consequences of climate change are already in effect. The global mortality rate associated with extreme heat accounts for five million deaths per year. The 2021 heat wave in BC amounted to over 600 people dying. It’s only a matter of time before Ontario faces an extreme heat wave.

My question is to the Premier: Will he commit to an expansive and informative public education campaign and an extensive plan to ready our infrastructure before next summer comes blazing in with potentially deadly temperatures?