Thank you to the associate minister for that response, and thank you for his hard work for the people of Ontario.

When the associate minister was appointed, the Premier identified the importance of focusing on solutions to increase the supply of affordable housing. Individuals and families across Ontario deserve an opportunity to find a home that meets their needs. This includes modular homes that could increase the speed of home construction in Ontario, helping to make home ownership attainable for more people. Innovative construction techniques like this could allow Ontario to use manufacturing skills to build factory-made homes more efficiently.

So, Speaker, can the associate minister please update the Legislature on what progress has been made on modular housing construction?

I thank my honourable colleague for the question.

Affordability for the people of Ontario has been our primary focus from the day we got elected. Just recently, I joined the wonderful Minister of Education in increasing the Student Nutrition Program in the province of Ontario by $5 million to help families.

Mr. Speaker, we have either reduced or eliminated the LIFT tax credit, which helps the lowest-income earners in our province; the child care tax credit; the Resilient Communities Fund, which provides $96 million of funding to non-profits in our communities, including to food banks; as well as increasing the minimum wage. We have reduced the gas tax for the people of Ontario. We have removed tolls and removed licence plate stickers.

There’s only one problem here, Mr. Speaker. Do you know the one thing that we have in common here? We’ve done all this to reduce costs for the people of Ontario, and the NDP has voted systematically—

When it comes to the cost of living, I will remind my honourable colleague and everybody across there that we have said from the beginning there is one thing that is raising the cost of everything in this province. The government House leader has even been so gracious as to provide phone numbers to the opposition to call their colleagues in Ottawa to stop the carbon tax, which is adding a cost to everything and is hurting our most vulnerable. It’s time for them to stand up for Ontarians, help us, and tell the federal government—

My question is to the Premier. Last week, there were at least two overdoses at the corner of Church and Wellesley in broad daylight, just three city blocks from this very building. The community members were horrified to learn that getting someone into an addiction treatment and recovery bed takes at least a year, when we all know that mental health and addiction services are provincially funded. This government has been making one-off announcements for one-time funding, and it’s clearly not meeting the basic needs.

Can the Premier explain to this community and to those across the city how someone struggling with addiction is supposed to get help when there’s no shelter and the wait-lists for basic recovery beds are at least one year long?

Maybe the minister didn’t hear my colleague. Two people died just last week, three blocks from this building. Whatever you are doing is not enough. It’s not enough.

Speaker, back to the Premier: People wait months for detox beds, wait again for withdrawal management, and then again for rehab—unless, of course, they can pay tens of thousands of dollars to get into a private clinic. In that time, many relapse or die.

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has shown that Windsor’s SafePoint CTS is safe and effective: Hundreds of visits from people in need of care and referrals to addiction treatment, mental health supports and social services have occurred, in addition to primary care, wound care and foot care on-site. It will close at the end of this year due to the lack of government funding.

The Conservatives haven’t provided a timeline of when the provincial review that was declared in August will be completed, and the longer it takes, the more people will die. Speaker, when will this government finally treat mental health and addictions as a public health crisis and properly fund wraparound supports that will actually save lives?

Thank you for that question. As the member opposite knows, this government, the first government to make such substantial investments in mental health and addiction supports in the history of this province, is making a difference by building a continuum of care in the communities.

What does that mean? Just recently, in February of this year, we opened up 400 new treatment beds, 7,000 new treatment spots to support individuals both with respect to withdrawal management, to support individuals with addiction treatment and, of course, the supportive housing that’s necessary in that continuum of care.

Mr. Speaker, we are serious about the investments that we are making to ensure that every Ontarian gets the support they need, wherever they are in the province of Ontario.

With respect to the CTS site, the member opposite should be familiar at this point that it is under a review as a result of the incident that occurred in Leslieville. That review is ongoing, and it will determine the best course of conduct within the province of Ontario.

Public safety is a priority for this government, and we’re going to ensure that individuals are safe—not just the individuals who are using the consumption and treatment sites but also the people who reside in the areas where they are located. It’s a priority of this government. Until that review is completed—and we will await that review—the member opposite has the ability to also determine and to also participate by contacting the individual at Unity Health through their email address and perhaps engaging with them—

My question is to the Associate Minister of Small Business.

Under the previous Liberal government, supported by the NDP, businesses left our province in droves. In contrast, under the leadership of the Premier, our government has welcomed record levels of investment, job growth and businesses. It’s both unfortunate and sad that the independent Liberals and opposition NDP continue to sit on the sidelines, criticizing our businesses and voting no to measures that help make things better.

Small businesses in my riding have been vocal about the negative impact that increasing taxes and expanding red tape will have on affordability for all Ontarians.

Speaker, can the associate minister please explain the negative impacts of increasing taxes on our small businesses?

While the Ontario Liberals have doubled down on their claims that families and businesses are better off with less money in their pockets, we know that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Speaker, can the associate minister please elaborate on the consequences that increasing taxes, high interest rates and burdensome red tape will have on our small businesses?

From the minister’s response, it’s clear that adopting new innovations and technology processes is crucial to ensuring the continuous growth of our agriculture and food sectors, and she’s absolutely correct: The innovation cluster in Peterborough does a fantastic job of promoting it. But beyond that, I’m going to take a second and say Trent University has an experimental farm that is absolutely fantastic, and invite everyone to come down and see it.

At a time when food security is paramount, meeting the goals of the Grow Ontario strategy remains a top priority. All Ontarians deserve consistent and reliable access to affordable and nutritious food, and that’s why our government must continue to make investments that will support our farmers and food producers to enhance food production.

Speaker, can the minister please elaborate on how the Agri-Tech Innovation Initiative will help to strengthen Ontario’s agriculture and food sector?

Thank you to the great member from Burlington for her unwavering support of her amazing job creators. I know that so many of our small business owners are trying their best to keep their businesses alive. They’re working long hours, paying their bills and doing their part to create opportunities in their communities.

Businesses simply can’t pass the cost from the additional taxes and red tape onto their customers. Many in their communities are already feeling the pinch on gas, on groceries, on heating and much more. The reality that the Liberals and the NDP refuse to acknowledge are the tough choices businesses are making due to higher costs, like having to scale back staff or reduce inventory.

Higher taxes increase costs and negatively impact every single aspect of our economy, from the main streets to the farmhouses. We’re calling on Ottawa to give our entrepreneurs a fair shot at success.

Speaker, it gets even worse: The 2022 report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer showed that the carbon tax will reduce real GDP across Canada by 1.3% by 2030 and could cost us a whopping 200,000 jobs nationally by 2030. That is what this opposition needs to start thinking about: the people of this province. Start making life more affordable and join us in calling Ottawa to scrap the tax now.

I think it’s safe to say that we appreciate very much that farmers are early adopters of new technologies and best practices to drive production numbers, and our processors stand beside them in that regard. I read recently that researchers are forecasting an increase of US$12 billion to be invested in information technology, robotics and sensors that are going to continue to drive innovation, and it’s important that our legislation here provincially in Ontario matches what is happening on the ground.

And so that is why it’s very important that in tandem to investing in significant processes that lead to innovation, we need to make sure we catch up our legislation as well. That’s why I was very pleased to present Bill 155 last week, so we can amend the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario Act and make sure it’s modernized and supporting farmers and processors alike, so we continue to stay on the forefront—

Quickly, the time allocation motions for Bill 150, 154 and 136 exclude 12% of the members in this Legislature. That is undemocratic with an expectation that we’ll vote on third reading. To not let all these members here speak—have two minutes, have one minute—is undemocratic and not in keeping with this House.

For two years and four months, the Spot has been waiting to hear about provincial funding for Sudbury’s supervised consumption site. Last year, Sudbury averaged nine opioid overdose deaths a month. In less than a month, the Spot will run out of municipal funding and their doors will close forever. More people will die in Sudbury.

My question is, will the Premier finally help to save lives in northern Ontario and fund Sudbury’s supervised consumption site?

Crosses for Change is a memorial in Sudbury for people who have died by overdose. Three years ago, there was one cross. Now, there are nearly 250 of them.

Last Thursday, there was a rally in support of Sudbury’s supervised consumption site, and we marched to those crosses. People were asked to speak, but no one could find the words because they couldn’t choke past the tears. Those aren’t crosses; those are people. They’re best friends; they’re work friends; they’re neighbours; they’re sons, daughters, mothers and fathers.

Speaker, how many more people will have to die, and how many more crosses will Sudbury have to raise before the Premier funds Sudbury’s supervised consumption site?

Interjections.

Thank you once again for that question. We are presently in a review with respect to the consumption and treatment sites. We all know what happened in Leslieville. We all know that we need to ensure public safety. We have an independent individual who is reviewing the consumption and treatment sites to ensure the public safety, as well as that the safety of people using the sites is taken care of. Until that decision is made, the decision is on pause as to what will occur. In addition, if there are concerns, I’ve mentioned that there is a possibility of contacting the individual doing the review and providing them with your views with respect to the issues.

But, Mr. Speaker, one thing I have to say is that the situation we’ve had when it comes to addictions and having a treatment continuing—this government is the one government that understands the need and is building the continuum of care to ensure that the needs of individuals are met, wherever they are in the province.

Mr. Speaker, I listen to the questions being raised by the opposite side, and I ask myself, why did we to where we are in the province? You should look at your own record and the reckless nature of the record you had when you were in government and supporting the Liberals in the past.

Interjections.

Interjections.

Interjections.

The ayes are 36; the nays are 63.

Bill 136, An Act to amend the Greenbelt Act, 2005 and certain other Acts, to enact the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve Act, 2023, to repeal an Act and to revoke various regulations / Loi modifiant la Loi de 2005 sur la ceinture de verdure et d’autres lois, édictant la Loi de 2023 sur la Réserve agricole de Duffins-Rouge et abrogeant une loi et divers règlements.

I just want to remind everyone that the Grain Farmers of Ontario will be here this afternoon and please take time to pop by rooms 228 and 230. We’d really appreciate it.

I just want to congratulate our deputy government whip, my neighbour and friend, the MPP from Essex for a wonderful happy birthday today.

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

The Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions can reply.

Deferred vote on the motion for second 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.

The division bells rang from 1144 to 1149.

On November 30, 2023, MPP Glover moved second reading of Bill 148, An Act to amend the Auditor General Act and Members’ Integrity Act, 1994.

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

Second reading negatived.

The House recessed from 1155 to 1300.

Report adopted.

Mr. Kerzner moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 159, An Act to amend the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, 2019 / Projet de loi 159, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2019 sur les services provinciaux visant le bien-être des animaux.

First reading agreed to.

I just wanted to thank Bishop Strachan students, teachers and parents for coming out to Queen’s Park—their House—today, singing the national anthem and also singing wonderful holiday carols at the main staircase over the lunch hour.

Thank you and welcome. I hope you enjoy your tour at your House, Bishop Strachan.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas it has been widely acknowledged that the learning, mental health, safety and well-being needs of Ontario children, including the provision of a ‘normal, stable, enjoyable school year’ are a priority of the Ontario government;

“Whereas we are parents, guardians, education staff and community members concerned about the learning and well-being supports children in Ontario schools are receiving;

“Whereas we continue to experience negative repercussions related to and stemming from the ongoing global pandemic;

“Whereas Toronto, along with Peel region, was most frequently the epicentre of the COVID pandemic (prevalence of the disease on a per-capita basis) in Canada from March 2020 through the Spring of 2022 and, as such, the TDSB worked closely with Toronto Public Health to make modifications to practice in order to keep staff and students as safe as possible;

“Whereas these modifications were associated with significant financial costs to the TDSB and likely to school boards across Ontario;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“—that the Ontario government” is “to reimburse school boards for the COVID-related expenses they paid out of pocket;

“—that the Ontario government continue to provide pandemic funding for the 2023-24 school year, which will prevent the elimination of hundreds of staff positions within Ontario schools.”

I saw this on my desk this morning and I’m more than happy to table these petitions. I’m going to affix my signature and pass them over to Emma for tabling.

I’m happy to read out this petition:

“Petition to Expand Long-Term Care in Sioux Lookout.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the current long-term-care facility at Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre has 21 beds;

“Whereas Sioux Lookout is a hub for 33 surrounding First Nations, 28 of which are not accessible by road;

“Whereas Sioux Lookout has 5,800 permanent residents and thousands of people travel there for medical appointments and social services;

“Whereas the wait time for a long-term-care bed in Sioux Lookout is five to six years;

“Whereas this long wait time puts an additional strain on Meno Ya Win Health Centre’s emergency department and its alternate-level-of-care beds; and

“Whereas these long wait-lists are preventing residents from receiving necessary care in a timely manner in close proximity to their homes;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to commit to building and resourcing 76 long-term-care beds in Sioux Lookout, Ontario.”

I’m happy to sign this petition and give it to page Martel.

I beg leave to present a report from the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy and move its adoption.