Safety is a top priority for this government. As the Minister of Transportation—we have a budget of over $27 billion to invest in our roads, our highways and bridges.

I look forward to working with the member. We have made significant progress on that specific project. We appreciate the challenges that she has mentioned, and we are working with the appropriate partners to ensure that project is well under way.

Unlike the Liberals and NDP, our government is committed to making sure that we’re building highways, we’re building roads, we’re investing in our bridges across this province—$27 billion in our budget over the next 10 years, which both the Liberals and NDP have voted against every single time.

We are saying yes to investing in rural communities across the province—including the Argyle Street bridge, with a new five-span steel arch bridge. The design of the bridge replacement is complete, and our government is in the process of obtaining final approvals to proceed with construction.

Thanks to the Premier and the leadership of this government, we’re investing in our roads, we’re investing in our bridges—$27 billion. That project will be a part of those investments.

Unfortunately, the previous Liberal government had 15 years and did absolutely nothing with infrastructure.

We’re going to continue to make sure we make the necessary investments to build bridges, build roads, build highways and build transit across this province.

My question is to the Minister of Transportation. There’s nothing the people of Caledonia want more for Christmas than to hear that the reconstruction of the Argyle Street bridge will begin. I’ve promised this House I will rise on this matter until shovels are in the ground. This is my fourth question related to the bridge since August 2022.

A few weeks ago, I sat in traffic in the middle of the bridge when the sound of sirens was heard. An ambulance was attempting to get across. Cars had nowhere to go, the paramedics were clearly frazzled, and people were panicked. This should not be happening on any bridge in this province, and yet it has been happening on a daily basis in Caledonia for the past few years.

The people of Haldimand county are fed up and they are tired of this government’s inability to get the job done.

Speaker, through you to the minister: What is the date the reconstruction of the Argyle Street bridge will begin?

The progress—I’d like to know what that progress is.

The ministry kicked Lorrie Harcourt from her home, the toll house, in 2019. She could still be living in her home that she spent 35 years redoing.

The lack of an answer leads me to question, what is holding up the reconstruction? Why doesn’t the minister just tell us? The people of Caledonia are good people, and they deserve a good reason, and maybe they’d be sympathetic if they actually knew what that reason was. But as I warned the previous minister, many fear the bridge is at risk of collapse. No government, no minister wants that on their hands.

Speaker, through you to the minister: Could he clearly articulate why he’s taking this risk and what it is that is preventing the reconstruction of the bridge?

My question is to the Premier. The Ontario Health Coalition released their report today. Just this year in the province of Ontario, there have been closures in 868 emergency departments and 316 urgent care centres.

These closures are affecting my community at the Douglas Memorial urgent care centre in Fort Erie. Nearly half of the population of Fort Erie is over 55. Some 8,000 residents do not have a family doctor, and there is no reliable public transit in town. Having an urgent care centre open 24/7 can mean the difference between life and death for our residents.

Speaker, when is the Premier going to stop fighting nurses in court, repeal Bill 124, properly fund our public health care system and ensure that every community has access to the health care they deserve and need when they need it?

Supplementary question?

Supplementary question? The member for Nickel Belt.

The Minister of Health.

Thank you to the member from Mississauga–Erin Mills for the important question. Our government is on a mission to help our young people enter skilled trades. That is why we’re making historic investments to show our young people that these careers are ones they can be proud of.

The minister was recently in Mississauga, joined by the wonderful Minister of Education, to visit our latest Level Up! skilled trades fair. Across the province, more than 28,000 young people, parents, educators attended our fairs last year, getting hands-on experience in Ontario’s 144 trades. I’m proud to say that under the leadership of this Premier, we are seeing an increase in the number of apprentices signing up across the province, up 24% last year alone.

To the workers of Ontario: We will continue to work with our partners in the industry. We will continue to make investments to fix the system and help more people find good-paying jobs—

Supplementary?

The supplementary question?

My question is for the Solicitor General. Our government recently announced the introduction of Bill 157, the Enhancing Access to Justice Act, 2023. This proposed legislation contains several pivotal changes, including amendments to the Coroners Act.

The Coroners Act currently requires a mandatory inquest for each construction-related death, and Bill 197 will introduce the creation of a coroner-led annual review and public report of multiple accidental construction-related deaths each year. These changes highlight our government’s commitment to the safety and well-being of our workers.

Speaker, can the Solicitor General please explain how the proposed amendments to the Coroners Act will allow for faster and more meaningful recommendations for construction-related death investigations?

Losing a loved one is a tragedy and one of the most terrible things to happen to a family. Anyone who has lost a member of their family in an accident reserves the right and deserves the right to an inquest and to be a part of the process. It is of critical importance that our government provide Ontario families with assurance in upholding their right to an inquest.

Speaker, can the Solicitor General please tell the House how the proposed changes to Bill 197 will help bring justice to families?

My question is to the Premier. Desjardins Credit Union just released a report showing short-term rentals are having a negative impact on housing affordability. The report found that neighbourhoods with a lot of short-term rental listings see their rents rise faster, have lower vacancy rates and higher home sale prices.

To increase the number of homes available for long-term rentals, Desjardins is calling for governments to crack down on short-term rentals in investment properties.

My question is this: Can you move forward on this simple request?

Back to the Premier: Justin is a University of Toronto student living in downtown Toronto. When his apartment was bought by a US investor landlord, he became a victim of illegal harassment to drive himself and his neighbours out of their homes. When his neighbours had given up and moved out, their landlord turned their homes into pricey short-term rentals where you can rent out one bedroom in an apartment by the week. That is the new reality for students in Toronto today.

Justin and his neighbours have called provincial bylaw officers begging for help, and no one has returned their calls. Can this government work with these tenants to enforce our rental laws?

Let me just say this: I too have concerns with that, but at the same time, as we know, coming out of COVID, there are a number of challenges we faced, in particular with respect to the Landlord and Tenant Board. That is why we put significant resources behind ensuring we could catch up.

I’m fully aware of the fact that, in many instances, people have turned to the short-term market because of the challenges with the Landlord and Tenant Board. As the member will know, though, the Attorney General has put significant resources into ensuring that we can bring the case backlog up to date.

Principally, many of these delays were as a result of—as you will recall, Mr. Speaker, we weren’t allowing evictions during that time period. We were ensuring that people could stay in their rental homes. But it’s also about additional supply, and that’s why we’re so focused on building more: 15,000 starts.

But I do share the member’s concerns. I am concerned about that, but I think we have to put in the climate to ensure that people who are in the short-term market feel confident about getting back into the rental market.

My question is for the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. Ontario is experiencing historic labour shortages. There are currently about 300,000 unfilled jobs across Ontario, and many of these vacancies are in skilled trades. Our government must continue to show leadership and take action by working with employers and unions to encourage more people to enter the skilled trades.

By the year 2025, it is projected that about one in five job openings will be in the skilled trades. That’s why urgent action is needed now more than ever. In the next decade alone, Ontario will need over 100,000 more people in the construction industry only.

Speaker, can the minister please explain what actions our government is taking to address labour shortages in the skilled trades?

Given the critical labour shortages that we are encountering, our government must address barriers that are creating challenges for women to enter the skilled trades. That’s why our government must do all that we can to empower the next generation to explore these careers.

Speaker, can the parliamentary assistant please explain what our government is doing to break down barriers for women entering careers in the skilled trades and the construction industry?

Thank you to the member again for that wonderful question. Our government has been clear since day one: Women belong on shop floors and construction sites just as much as men, full stop.

Actions speak louder than words. We have made investments to support the training and retraining of women in the workforce, whether it is $650,000 to introduce them to the electrical trades, $1 million to the Goodwill Amity program, $225,000 to the career accelerator program, $700,000 for the digital project program and many more.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this year the government mandated that employers must provide women on construction sites with personal protective equipment that fits them properly. The steps we are taking are making a difference. We have seen almost a 30% increase in women signing up for apprenticeships. The minister sat with Natasha Ferguson, a young Black woman who has overcome these biases. Under the leadership of this Premier, we are breaking down barriers and working for our workers.

I would like to thank Roger Jankiewicz, who is from Hanmer in my riding, for these petitions.

“Enact Anti-Scab Labour Law....

“Whereas strikes and lockouts are rare: on average, 97% of collective agreements are negotiated without work disruption; and

“Whereas anti-replacement workers laws have existed in Quebec since 1978, in British Columbia since 1993, and in Ontario under the NDP government, it was repealed by the Harris Conservative government;

“Whereas anti-scab legislation has reduced the length and divisiveness of labour disputes; and

“Whereas the use of scab labour during a strike or lockout is damaging to the social fabric of a community in the short and long term, as well as, the well-being of its residents;”

They petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:

“To pass the anti-scab labour bill to ban the use of replacement workers during a strike or lockout.”

I fully support this petition. I will affix my name to it and send it to the Clerk with my good page Leo.

“Saving Organs to Save Lives....

“Whereas there are currently 1,600 people waiting for a life-saving organ transplant in Ontario;

“Whereas every three days someone in Ontario dies because they can’t get a transplant” they need “in time;

“Whereas donating organs and tissues can save up to eight lives and improve the lives of up to 75 people;

“Whereas 90% of Ontarians support organ donation, but only 36% of us are registered;

“Whereas Nova Scotia has seen” an increase “in organs and tissue for transplant after implementing a presumed consent legislation” back “in January 2020;”

They petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:

“Change the legislation to allow a donor system based on presumed consent as set out in MPP Gélinas’s bill, Peter Kormos Memorial Act (Saving Organs to Save Lives).”

I fully support this petition. I will affix my name to it and ask my very patient page Leo to bring it to the Clerk.

“Occupational Exposure Limits for Diesel Emissions Underground....

“Whereas the current Ontario occupational exposure limits (OEL) for diesel ... exhaust, 400 ... total carbon, is unsafe for underground workers;

“Whereas the best current scientific evidence as published by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienist (ACGIH), CAREX Canada and the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) all recommend an OEL based on elemental carbon of 20 ...

“Whereas the proposed OEL of 120 ... elemental carbon poses an unacceptable risk for lung cancer to our highest exposed workers in the province which are underground miners;

“Whereas proposed industry limits will result in hundreds of lost lives, undue harm in our communities and incalculable financial loss due to our health care and WSIB ... ”

They petition the Legislative Assembly as follows: “to lower the occupational exposure limit for diesel emissions to a safe limit of 20 ... for all underground workers in Ontario.”

I support this petition. I will affix my name to it and ask my good page Mustafa to bring it to the Clerk.

« Protéger les jeunes du vapotage ...

« Alors qu’on en sait très peu sur les effets à long terme du vapotage sur les jeunes; et

« Alors que la commercialisation agressive des produits de vapotage par l’industrie du tabac, fait en sorte que de plus en plus de jeunes deviennent dépendants de la nicotine par l’utilisation de cigarettes électroniques; et

« Alors que les leçons importantes apprises sur les effets du tabagisme sur la santé ne doivent pas être répétées avec le vapotage et le principe de précaution doit être appliqué pour protéger les jeunes contre le vapotage; et

« Alors que plusieurs agences de la santé et les Médecins pour un Canada sans fumée appuient pleinement les propositions concrètes visant à réduire le vapotage chez les jeunes incluses dans » mon projet de loi;

Ils et elles demandent à l’Assemblée législative « de demander au gouvernement Ford d’adopter immédiatement le projet de loi » 151, « le vapotage n’est pas pour les jeunes, afin de protéger la santé des jeunes de l’Ontario. »

J’appuie cette pétition, monsieur le Président. Je vais la signer et je demande à mon page Mustafa de l’amener à la table des greffiers.

“Let’s Fix the Northern Health Travel Grant ...

“Whereas people in the north are not getting the same access to health care because of the high cost of travel and accommodations;

“Whereas by refusing to raise the Northern Health Travel Grant (NHTG) rates, the Ford government is putting a massive burden on northern Ontarians who are sick;

“Whereas gas prices cost more in northern Ontario;”

They petition the Legislative Assembly as follows: “to establish a committee with a mandate to fix and improve the NHTG;

“This NHTG advisory committee would bring together health care providers in the north, as well as recipients of the NHTG to make recommendations to the Minister of Health that would improve access to health care in northern Ontario through adequate reimbursement of travel costs.”

I fully support this petition. I will affix my name to it and ask my very patient page Mustafa to bring it to the Clerk.

“MS Specialized Clinic in Sudbury....

“Whereas northeastern Ontario has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Ontario;

“Whereas specialized MS clinics provide essential health care services to those living with multiple sclerosis, their caregiver and their family;

“Whereas the city of Greater Sudbury is recognized as a hub for health care in northeastern Ontario;”

They petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“Immediately set up a specialized MS clinic in the Sudbury area that is staffed by a neurologist who specializes in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, a physiotherapist and a social worker at a minimum.”

I support this petition. I will affix my name to it and ask my good page Scarlett to bring it to the Clerk.

I have a petition entitled “Improve Winter Road Maintenance on Northern Highways.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Highways 11 and 17 play a critical role in the development and prosperity of northern Ontario;

“Whereas the former Liberal government introduced private winter maintenance contracts, and the current Conservative government has failed to improve winter road conditions in northern Ontario;

“Whereas injuries and fatalities are twice more likely to occur on a northern highway than on a highway in southern Ontario, per capita;

“Whereas current Ministry of Transportation classification for winter highway maintenance negatively impacts the safety of drivers on northern highways;

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

“Classify all 400-series highways, the QEW highway and Highways 11 and 17 as class 1 highways;

“Require that the pavement in class 1 highways be bare of snow within eight hours of the end of a snowfall.”

I fully support this petition and will sign and give it to Peter to bring to the Clerks’ table.

I thank the member for this question and for the evolving discussion we’ve had on this topic. It’s important that we recognize that over the past couple of weeks some of those cost drivers, the carbon tax etc.—but having lived in the isolated communities there’s no question that food is very expensive, Mr. Speaker. That doesn’t just go to the cost of the food; it goes to the nutritional standards for the people living in those communities.

The short answer is, absolutely. Food security is ready to move forward. The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund is already supporting communities like Eabametoong First Nation. Neskantaga and Marten Falls have called for this. We have new partnerships with the University of Guelph and a great discussion with the Minister of Agriculture about how we can put these pieces together, provide the capacity to build community gardens, micro-farming and other kinds of techniques—vertical growing—so that that kind of nutritional food can be built potentially year-round in those isolated communities.

I mean, we have reduced the fuel surcharge on planes flying into the isolated communities. Of course, we continue to strenuously oppose the carbon tax, which is going to continue to drive up the cost of gas. I’m not sure what the member’s opinion is, Mr. Speaker, but I can guarantee him that we will continue to focus on reducing costs for isolated and remote communities.

Turning back to food security for a moment, Mr. Speaker: Next week I’ll be attending a conference and an MOU signing with Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment and Training Services, the Mushkegowuk tribal council, the Sioux Lookout area management board, Keewaytinook Okimakanak and the Island Lake communities from Manitoba, who will converge to sign a memorandum of understanding to consolidate their food-purchasing power and to explore options to grow food in their own communities. I’m going to be there, Mr. Speaker, because this is important for nutrition and affordability for isolated communities.

Minister of Northern Development and Minister of Indigenous Affairs.

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

The division bells rang from 1137 to 1142.

On December 4, 2023, Mr. McCarthy moved government notice of motion number 20.

Mr. McCarthy then moved that the motion be amended by adding “and that, in the case of any division related to any proceedings on the bills, the division bells shall be limited to five minutes” at the end of the motion.

Mr. Vanthof then moved that the amendment be amended by replacing the words “five minutes” with “one hour.”

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

All those opposed to Mr. Vanthof’s motion will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Pursuant to standing order 50, I’m now required to put the question on the amendment to government notice of motion number 20.

Mr. McCarthy moved that the motion be amended by adding, “and that, in the case of any division relating to any proceedings on the bills, the division bells shall be limited to five minutes” at the end of the motion.

Is it the pleasure of the House that Mr. McCarthy’s amendment to the motion carry? I heard some noes.

All those in favour of Mr. McCarthy’s amendment will please say “aye.”

All those opposed to Mr. McCarthy’s amendment 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 1147 to 1148.

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

Pursuant to standing order 50, I am now required to put the question on government notice of motion number 20, as amended, relating to the allocation of time on Bill 136, Bill 150 and Bill 154.

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

All those in favour of the motion, as amended, please say “aye.”

All those opposed to the motion, as amended, 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 1152 to 1153.

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

Motion, as amended, agreed to.

The House recessed from 1156 to 1500.

Start the clock.

To the Premier: The cost of living in the north is very high. A 2016 report stated that First Nations families in northern Ontario spend more than half of their income on groceries to meet basic nutritional requirements.

Speaker, last summer I visited Keewaywin First Nation, and I met April McKay, who has a community garden that provides fresh produce to Keewaywin. Is there any way that this government can help other people across the north like April who want to create community gardens and improve food security?

What is this government doing for the people in the north who need affordable gas for sustenance—hunting and fishing?

I’d like to introduce a few people from my riding: Heather Kelley from Fort Erie; Lisa Bowen from St. Catharines, who is in Jennie’s riding; and Sue Hotte from Niagara. They’re from the Niagara Health Coalition. I’d also like to welcome everybody from the health coalition who has come from across the province of Ontario.

On behalf of my colleagues, I want to encourage all parliamentarians to join us for the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the award-winning Tour for Humanity bus by the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies. The bus is here at Queen’s Park. There’s a reception during lunch between 12 and 1. You are encouraged to join us in room 228 as we celebrate the launch of Holocaust education in Ontario.

And how would you know, Speaker?