According to the final report on the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, your government is failing on every measure to make Ontario barrier-free by 2025. Perhaps it’s not surprising, then, that your government hid this report for six months. Frankly, it’s unacceptable that you aren’t going to reach this target, and it’s unacceptable that you have been hiding the truth. You owe people with disabilities an apology and you owe them action.

Will the government finally agree to work with the AODA Alliance and make Ontario barrier-free for the nearly three million Ontarians with disabilities?

Thank you for the question. The AODA is driving change in Ontario every day. The feedback provided by the fourth legislative review is a great example of how Ontario is continuously working to identify barriers, to listen to feedback and make Ontario accessible.

Mr. Speaker, I’m happy to report that we are doing what was asked. Thanks to the feedback from the fourth legislative review, our government is taking action on new initiatives that will provide direct experience on AODA issues from people with those disabilities. This is exactly what the AODA meant for us to do.

My question is for the Minister of Energy. We all know that the federal carbon tax is making life more expensive for everyone in the province of Ontario. Families and businesses across the province already feel the carbon tax’s impact on their energy bills every single month. With another increase shortly approaching, people are angry that the federal government continues to ignore their concerns. They think it’s unfair that the pause on the carbon tax doesn’t apply to over 70% of Ontarians that use more environmentally friendly forms of energy like propane and natural gas for home heating.

The people of Ontario deserve to be treated fairly. Speaker, can the minister please explain the impact that the next carbon tax hike will have on Ontario?

Speaker, can the minister please explain why Ontario families cannot afford the tax hikes that the Liberals and the NDP are planning?

Interjections.

I appreciate the opportunity to address the member’s question. The member knows—I’ve said it on numerous occasions, and given his proximity to previous Liberal members and the previous government, he will know—that we inherited a housing crisis, ostensibly because of the obstacles that were put in the way of building homes across the province of Ontario.

Part of our housing supply action plan since we came into government back in 2018 has been to remove those obstacles, and we are starting to see, month after month, progress on that. Housing starts have continuously increased. I’m very confident that we will have met our target for last year, and we have seen some strong results in January despite the fact that a federal Liberal government with high inflation, high interest rate policies has obviously caused some challenges. We will overcome those challenges, Mr. Speaker. We will continue to build a strong foundation for building more homes across the province of Ontario and more homes across all categories. That’s why we’ve been so excited by what we’re seeing on the purpose-built rental side, Mr. Speaker. We’re going to double down and we’re going to continue to make progress, because all Ontarians need us to do that.

In fact, a very good friend of mine, a young gentleman who is just starting off his career, Nicholas Quadrini, was talking to me just the other day about the importance of giving him the opportunity to be able to buy a home. It is a dream that his parents have had. It’s a dream that Ontarians have come to this province for, Mr. Speaker.

But this is a member who talks about the costs associated with buying a home. This is a member who supports a carbon tax. This is a member who votes in favour of every single obstacle and tax that is in the way of people buying homes. The result—high inflation, high interest rates—is what is forcing people out of the market, Mr. Speaker.

We are going to do our best to make it more affordable. But more importantly, we’re going to remove the obstacles that have gotten in the way of building homes. We have been doing that, and we’re seeing the results of that.

Thanks to the member opposite for the question. April 1 is the date of the carbon tax increase by the federal government, and that’s no joke, Mr. Speaker. It’s not just a carbon tax that’s costing gas customers more, it’s driving up the price of everything. The Minister of Agriculture knows just as well as anybody that it’s driving up the cost of fuel for tractors. It’s driving up the cost of fuel for drying the products as they come off the fields. It’s driving up the cost of all those trucks that are transporting to the distribution centres and then the cost of the trucks to get them to the grocery stores. It’s driving up the cost at the grocery stores because they pay carbon tax too.

There’s one party in this Legislature that’s opposed to the carbon tax, and that’s Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. On April 1, we have to, as a group here in this Legislature, pressure the federal government not to cause an increase to the affordability crisis for the people of Ontario and for the people of Canada.

While the NDP have waffled around a little bit on whether or not we should be removing the carbon tax off the price of gasoline and home heating fuels, one party has remained steadfast in their support for the federal carbon tax, and that’s Bonnie Crombie and the Liberal Party of Ontario. As a matter of fact, members have stood in this House from that caucus and said that the people of Ontario and people of Canada are better off as a result of having a carbon tax than they are in eliminating that carbon tax.

We will stand every day in opposition to this crippling carbon tax that’s driving up the price of not just—

Interjections.

I want to welcome everyone back, especially my new colleague from Kitchener Centre.

My question is for the Premier. Your government is not getting it done when it comes to the housing crisis. Instead of building homes ordinary people can afford, you’ve wasted time and money on backroom deals for speculators.

I’ve put forward a common-sense bill to quickly build more homes and lower costs without expensive sprawl onto farms, forests and wetlands. Speaker, will the Premier say yes to legalizing housing by ending exclusionary zoning, so we can build as-of-right fourplexes and four-storey homes that people can afford in the communities they know and love?

Speaker, will the Premier say no to speculators by saying yes to homes people can afford, by legalizing fourplexes and four-storeys as of right in neighbourhoods across this province in the communities people love?

Once again, I’ll remind the members to make their comments through the Chair.

To reply, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

The Minister of Energy.

The next question.

I beg leave to present a report from the Standing Committee on Social Policy and move its adoption.

Your committee begs to report the following bill without amendment:

Bill 153, An Act to amend the Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012 / Projet de loi 153, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2012 sur un système d’information sur les infrastructures souterraines en Ontario.

Bill 149, An Act to amend various statutes with respect to employment and labour and other matters / Projet de loi 149, Loi modifiant diverses lois en ce qui concerne l’emploi, le travail et d’autres questions.

I want to make two important introductions today: my policy adviser, Paulina Awwadeh, who has done an incredible job helping with the introduction of the next piece of legislation; and Dakota Brasier, who is also here to support and for all of her help with the media side.

MPP Hazell moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 163, An Act to amend the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 / Projet de loi 163, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2006 sur la location à usage d’habitation.

The bill amends the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, to provide for a residential rent freeze for the calendar year 2025, subject to specified exceptions, and to provide that no landlord shall terminate the tenancy under sections 48 or 49 of the act during the same period, subject to specified exceptions.

Thank you to my colleague from Brampton North for his question. Improving the health and well-being of our next generation has been our government’s priority since day one and we remain committed to doing so.

Last Monday, the Minister of Long-Term Care and I joined our provincial colleagues in Halifax to announce the expansion of Jays Care to Nova Scotia. Our government is pleased to support the charitable works of the Jays Care Foundation and the interprovincial framework that expands access to the Jays Care 50/50 raffle. It’s a raffle that uses the power of sport and play to improve the lives of youth across the country. This is the first time Canadians outside of Ontario have been able to take part. This is a model that is a first in North America, Mr. Speaker, and I’m proud to say that this type of work can only be done when we come together as a team.

Speaker, our government is leading the way in helping more young people stay active and healthy in their everyday lives. Our announcement in Cole Harbour last Monday, along with Minister LeBlanc, is a first of a kind. I’ll have more to say in supplementary.

That’s what it’s all about: the children in our communities. Affordability is an issue these days, and this will help. Building strong communities and improving the lives of people, Jays Care supports 59,000 kids in Jays Care programs. Just last year alone, in 2023, 2,399 coaches and leaders were trained, 15 more baseball fields were refurbished or built, and the list goes on. This interprovincial agreement will allow more people to get involved in the big game. Whether you’re in Ontario or down east in Nova Scotia, you can participate and support more kids and youth in sports.

By expanding access to Jays Care 50/50 in Nova Scotia, the Jays Care Foundation is supporting our mission and, likewise, the great folks in Premier Houston’s government. Mr. Speaker, I think there’s no doubt: We hit this one out of the park.

I beg leave to present a report on Value-for-Money Audit: Conserving the Niagara Escarpment, 2022 Annual Report of the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario, from the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and move the adoption of its recommendations.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the permanent membership of the committee and substitute members who participated in the public hearings and report-writing process. The committee extends its appreciation to officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and the Niagara Escarpment Commission.

The committee also acknowledges the assistance provided by the Office of the Auditor General, the Clerk of the Committee and legislative research.

With that, I move adjournment of the debate.

I’d like to introduce two visitors from my riding of Sarnia–Lambton, here for the tributes later this afternoon: Mr. Dave Brown and his son Taylor, from Sarnia–Lambton and Toronto, respectively. Thank you, and welcome to Queen’s Park.

Your government pledges equity and education, but the ministry doesn’t set or track standards. Support for every single special-needs student is undermined every time this government cuts funding to education, and it has cut funding again.

Six months ago, your Minister of Education was again asked by Ontario parents of visually impaired children to address the serious shortage of positions for teachers of blind students in our schools and substandard training for them. They have not yet seen any action or received a response.

Premier, will you direct your Minister of Education to meet with this parent group and solve this problem that has festered for over half a decade?

Mr. Speaker, we are doing what the AODA meant for us to do. Our government is taking action on new initiatives that will provide direct experience on AODA issues from people with disabilities. We are building evacuation plans for all government buildings to ensure safe evacuation of people with disabilities. We’ll ensure all government procurement complies with the AODA. We are using recommendations from the fourth legislative review to achieve and exceed the goals of the AODA. We are getting it done.

It’s great to be here with everybody.

My question is for the Attorney General now. Thanks to the Liberal carbon tax and inflation, the cost of living is out of control. For many families in Ontario, the cost of programming is actually the biggest barrier in accessing physical activity programs for their children.

Organizations like the Jays Care Foundation, a Toronto-based registered charity, work to level the playing field for children and youth in the country. Over the years, kids in our province have enjoyed the safe and accessible programs Jays Care offers to build friendships and develop recreational skills.

It’s important our government continues to support initiatives that enable children to stay healthy and active. Speaker, can the Attorney General please share our government’s efforts in helping Ontario youth get active through collaborating with the jares care foundation?

I want to thank the Attorney General for his response. It’s great to see our government demonstrate outstanding leadership in connecting more children and youth to sport and recreation opportunities.

Physical activity plays a significant role in strengthening kids’ overall well-being. However, many families are not able to enrol their children in sports programs due to financial constraints.

Jays Care creates programs that are accessible and provides pathways for kids to enjoy sports and play with their peers. I encourage everyone in this House to learn more about the Jays Care program and how you can help one more kid build their happy and healthy future.

Speaker, can the Attorney General elaborate on how this historic deal supports Ontario’s children and youth in sports?

It gives me great pleasure to introduce the one and only, hip-hop artist from Ontario, Bishop Brigante. He’s here with his wife Melanie McVey, his dad, Oscar Parra, and his friend Atiba Roach. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

“Lowering the Age Criteria for Colonoscopy Testing to Save Lives.

“Whereas colorectal cancer is the leading cause of death for men, and early detection is crucial for successful treatment; and

“Whereas we believe it is time to change the age criteria that doctors use to determine when patients should undergo a colonoscopy; and

“Whereas individuals are considered eligible for a colonoscopy at the age of 50. However, alarming statistics show an increasing number of young adults, both women and men, being diagnosed with this deadly disease; and

“Whereas screening at an earlier age can detect and treat colorectal cancer in its early stages, significantly improving survival rates and reducing the burden of this devastating disease; and

“Whereas expanding access to colonoscopies for men and women in their thirties can identify precancerous polyps and detect early-stage cancers that may otherwise go unnoticed until they become more advanced and difficult to treat; and

“Whereas it is essential to address the rising incidence of colorectal cancer among younger individuals and take proactive measures to protect their health;”

They petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:

“To lower the age criteria for colonoscopy testing and promote greater public awareness of the importance of early detection of ... cancer.”

I fully support this petition, Speaker, will affix my name to it and send it to the table with page Isaac.

I would like to thank again the family behind this petition, who joined us today, for all their efforts. Thank you for what you did.

The supplementary question?

The House recessed from 1146 to 1500.

Debate adjourned.

Report adopted.

Report adopted.

Mr. Sarkaria moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 162, An Act to enact the Protecting Against Carbon Taxes Act, 2024 and amend various Acts / Projet de loi 162, Loi édictant la Loi de 2024 sur la protection contre les taxes sur le carbone et modifiant diverses lois.

First reading agreed to.

First reading agreed to.