Thank you to the member from Mississauga–Erin Mills for that question. Know that Ontario set a new record in 2023 on purpose-built rental housing. It was the largest in our history, even above 2022, which was record. CMHA says that we got nearly 19,000 starts last year, up 27%. But we know that much more should be done in that arena and also in all types of housing construction. But results count, and our actions are working. We’ve lowered development charges, we’ve reduced red tape and the costs associated with it, and we’ve removed the HST on purpose-built rentals. Thanks to the Minister of Finance and the Premier for advocating in Ottawa—a job well done.

Speaker, there is much more to do. We know there is, but the best is yet to come.

Last May, Mississauga wouldn’t approve an application for nearly 4,700 units. Why? Because the buildings were too tall. Shadows?

Next, Mayor Crombie also blocked a 703-unit housing proposal that would replace a strip mall. Why? She went on record to say that she opposed the building because her favourite bakery was in the mall.

These actions prevented thousands of people from having a roof over their head. Why? Shadows and cake? Good gracious.

Speaker, Mayor Crombie’s housing record was abysmal. Ontario families cannot afford Bonnie Crombie.

Thank you.

The numbers show that we are investing more in health care in the province of Ontario—and we did that, Speaker, without raising taxes. How did we do that? We did that by expanding the economy to make sure that more people are working in the province of Ontario, to make sure that people are investing in the province of Ontario. And by doing that, we’ve been able to invest and expand the health care budget by over $20 billion.

I’d like to do an introduction for the steelworkers who came down from Sault Ste. Marie. They weren’t able to be here in time for introductions this morning. I want to welcome district director, Myles Sullivan; assistant to the director, Kevon Stewart; Burnie Thorp, of the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees; and, from USW 2251, Joe—you know I know your name—Krmpotich, Rebecca McCracken and Hans De Feyter.

Thank you very much, Speaker. Steelworkers make great leaders.

Welcome to Queen’s Park, Marc.

I am seeking unanimous consent that, notwithstanding standing order 100(a)(iv), five minutes be allotted to the independent members as a group to speak during private members’ public business today.

My question is for the Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity. We know that supporting more women in the workforce benefits Ontario’s economy, especially in in-demand sectors such as the skilled trades.

At the present time, the number of women employed in the skilled trades is well below their male counterparts. In 2022, women accounted for only 8.1% of the labour force in trades, transport and related occupations in Ontario. That’s why it is critical for our government to continue to invest in programs that break down barriers for women so that they have the tools they need to join the workforce.

Speaker, can the associate minister highlight some of the ways our government is expanding opportunities for women to find good work and good pay in the skilled trades?

Speaker, Ontario is facing the largest labour shortage in a generation. With thousands of jobs going unfilled in the skilled trades, it’s critical that we provide supports for women to pursue fulfilling and good-paying careers in these sectors. Can the associate minister share with the House how our government is expanding and increasing training opportunities for women?

Thank you to the member from Oakville North–Burlington for the question.

It’s good to be back in the House to share some of the amazing things that women are building across Ontario, from being 10,000 feet deep in a mine in Timmins and talking to the skilled women working underground, from discussions with the chambers of commerce and boards of trade in North Bay, in Brockville, Kitchener—just to name a few ridings that I’ve had the privilege to visit—I heard how women are being empowered and are helping to build a stronger Ontario together.

Alongside these women, our government is working to build women’s economic opportunities and increase their safety through financial independence. That’s why I was very pleased to recently announce the expansion and call for applications for the Women’s Economic Security Program which will bring us closer to that goal.

It’s time to build on these results. I’m very pleased to announce that our government is increasing the investment to this program by a half a million dollars, bringing our total investment this year to $5.5 million. That marks nearly a 10% increase to the program this year alone. This will allow more women across Ontario to access the supports they need to enter or re-enter the workforce, build rewarding careers and increase their safety through financial independence, because in Ontario we truly believe that when women succeed, Ontario succeeds.

I’m happy to present many registered massage therapists who are with us here today, so bear with me. First, we have Michael Feraday, executive director and CEO of the Registered Massage Therapists’ Association of Ontario. We also have Darren Nixon, Catherine Roe, Richard Lebert, Jenn Hewitt, Don Dillon, Dani Faucher, Brittany Wistuba, Debbie Wilcox, Lily Meyer, Iain Robertson, Nicki Iskander, Laura Tracey, Ian Kamm, Emilie McKay, Kirsten Greenleaf, Renata Deforest, Jules Poulin, David Raniga, Brandy John, Melissa Hampson, Margaret Wallis-Duffy, Dianna Ernest, and Alex Berger.

Welcome to Queen’s Park, to all those registered massage therapists.

My question is to the Minister of Transportation. On February 1 and 2, Kirkland Lake and Temiskaming Shores OPP and enforcement officers from the MTO did a commercial safety blitz on trucks. I’d like to thank the officers. I’d like to thank all the truckers who actually run a safe rig—and the companies. But on February 1 and 2, 75 trucks were pulled over for inspection; 36 were pulled off the road for safety—pulled off the road. Nearly half the trucks on the Trans-Canada Highway that day were pulled off the road under the minister’s watch.

Is that acceptable?

With all due respect, on February 1 and 2, half the trucks on the Trans-Canada were unsafe in a blitz. So it’s safe to assume that the other days, like today, also half of them are unsafe. And another little statistic for Temiskaming: If your car is registered in the district of Temiskaming, you’re four times as likely to die in an accident than if it’s registered in Toronto.

Once again, this was a blitz. But what about when the blitzes aren’t happening? What is this government going to do to ensure that all trucks are safe on the Trans-Canada, not just half?

Mr. Speaker, we have increased enforcement all across the province, especially focusing on the north. Safety is a top priority for this government, and I thank those hard-working officers, the MTO officials that are on the roads and making sure that our roads are safe. We have some of the safest roads in all of North America.

We will continue to do whatever we can to have the highest standards of training, highest standards of road safety—as we have done—whether that be investing in critical infrastructure, expanding highways, investing in keeping those highways safe, like Highway 17. I’m very proud of the work that those officers have done to keep those streets safe and continue to have that compliance and enforcement across our highways, especially in the north, Mr. Speaker.

Safety is a top priority and we will do whatever we can to keep the people of this province safe, especially on our roads and especially our truck drivers and those who travel on those roads.

Mr. Speaker, every measure that we have taken, whether it’s been adding more lights, expanding lanes, the 2+1 pilot that we are running in the north for increased safety—those members right there have voted against it every single time. When it comes to safety, when it comes to increasing enforcement, Mr. Speaker, when it comes to increasing the number of officers that we have on the road, the NDP and Liberals have voted against those safety measures every step of the way. That’s unacceptable, Mr. Speaker.

This government will continue to invest in our enforcement officers, will continue to invest in making our roads safer and the necessary improvements that are needed to support that—

Thank you to the member from Chatham-Kent–Leamington for the question. Boy, he’s doing a great job for his constituents every day, including the people in Wheatley. I know they really appreciate it.

Speaker, recently I had a chance to be in Norfolk with my friend Mayor Martin and her council and members of the fire and rescue staff there for a great announcement: a $2-million announcement supporting municipalities throughout southwestern Ontario, allowing them to purchase protective equipment, like gas monitoring equipment, to ensure plugged gas wells remain safe, providing training to emergency responders, making investments customized to their community that matter most.

I just highlight Wheatley again because recently, Chatham-Kent Fire and Rescue have been handing out personal protective gas monitors for homes. Resident of the town Kellie Adamson said, “It’s nice to have an alarm so we feel safe.” Those alarms are being paid for using a provincial grant from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Speaker, it’s all about keeping people safe in their communities and making investments that matter, like the $23.6 million in our—

Mr. Speaker, we know there is always more work to do on this file. We’ll continue to engage with municipalities, landowners, industry, Indigenous communities and the public as we work to ensure the safety of those in southern Ontario who are counting on us. We’re delivering.

Thank you.

The supplementary question.

I have two members who want to raise points of order, as I understand. The first one is the member for Ottawa–Vanier.

The House recessed from 1143 to 1500.

Madame Gélinas moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 164, An Act to proclaim Massage Therapy Day / Projet de loi 164, Loi proclamant le Jour de la massothérapie.

First reading agreed to.

My question is for the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. Ontario has records for nearly 27,000 oil and gas wells, with a number of them located in my riding of Chatham-Kent–Leamington. In 2021, a devastating explosion occurred in the village of Wheatley because of gas that surfaced through an abandoned well in the area. It was heartbreaking that 20 people were injured from my community and several buildings severely damaged. Our government has since taken robust action in helping my community rebuild and heal, but we must continue to come together, overcome challenges and ensure residents in my riding and across Ontario have a bright and safe future.

Speaker, can the minister please share what our government is doing to tackle risks posed by inactive oil and gas wells?

Speaker, can the minister please elaborate on how our government is working to improve both emergency preparedness and risk prevention for communities across Ontario?

In my role as Solicitor General, it’s my duty to ensure that Ontarians across the province are kept safe.

Monsieur le Président, rien pour moi, en tant que solliciteur général, n’est plus important que la sécurité de notre province.

I take my role very seriously every single day, and today is no different.

Human Trafficking Awareness Day provides an opportunity in which all Ontarians are encouraged to stand up and deliver a powerful message: that human trafficking is unacceptable. This is, without a doubt, one of the most vicious and violent crimes. This horrific crime has never been and will never be tolerated here in Ontario. Our government, under the leadership of Premier Ford, recognizes that these heinous acts are unacceptable—and through Minister Parsa’s efforts and my own, we will continue fighting to eradicate this awful practice.

Human traffickers often target society’s most vulnerable, including young girls, some as young as 13 years old. But it doesn’t end there. This crime does not discriminate. People of all ages and genders and backgrounds can become victims of trafficking. Often, society’s most vulnerable are specifically targeted and coerced into these situations.

Mr. Speaker, it hits close to home. The more I’ve travelled Ontario, the more questions I ask. Last year, when I went to visit my friend our great member from Sarnia–Lambton, we went to the border in Sarnia. I assumed that human trafficking only comes across the borders—but we know it doesn’t; it can be everywhere in Ontario.

When I travelled in the northern part of Ontario to Thunder Bay, I asked the question, “Do you have a human trafficking issue here in Thunder Bay?” It’s everywhere. It’s despicable. Unfortunately, it doesn’t limit itself, as I just said, to one specific area of Ontario or a border.

Unfortunately, the greater Toronto area, an area where my own constituency is, is a hot spot for these organized crime rings to target. So many people call Toronto home for many good reasons, and it’s not right that Toronto—and anywhere in Ontario—can be victimized by human traffickers.

I’ve said this before: Enough is enough. We all have the inherent right to live safely in our own homes and communities. It’s not right that we have human traffickers who prey on the most vulnerable.

It’s no secret that under our government, keeping Ontario safe is one of our top priorities. Daily, I work with my colleagues in government and I work with my colleagues throughout this Legislature to promote public safety. I work to ensure that we’re putting our best foot forward to help protect everyone from exploitation.

It’s important to recognize this today with reflection on why we’re speaking today.

As Solicitor General, we have partnered with Ontario’s Attorney General and my colleague the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services for something that is important. Together, we’re working to develop an innovative, anti-human-trafficking strategy. This will coincide with our government’s Combating Human Trafficking Act that was put forward in 2021. I’m proud to say that we are investing $307 million through this comprehensive strategy. This is something that brings together community advocates and families and governments and all individuals who support the fight to eradicate trafficking of all kinds. This is something that brings together social services and health care providers and law enforcement and justice partners.

I’ll say it again: We will not stop. We can’t stop. How can we stop when we have to eradicate something that is evil? We’re going to close the gaps with shared goals of raising awareness and protecting the victims and supporting the survivors and holding offenders accountable.

I want to repeat that last part: We will hold offenders accountable.

There has never been a government that I am aware of, in my lifetime, that has been more concerned about public safety than our government, led by Premier Ford.

If people think it’s okay to act in a criminal way—it’s not. We will find you, and we will lock you up.

I want to express that our strategy of fostering stronger relationships between law enforcement and justice sectors is absolute. In making these pivotal investments, we’re breaking up these criminal rings.

I want this House to know that we are already seeing the fruits of our work.

One example of our funding is the intelligence-led joint forces strategy. This initiative is prominently between the Ontario Provincial Police and 20 municipal and First Nations police services that have worked to help identify, investigate and disrupt human trafficking organizations operating in Ontario. Established in 2021, the IJFS has been responsible for 147 human trafficking charges and 227 other charges being laid. They have also supported 126 victims of human trafficking, helping them to move forward and take back their lives.

Madam Speaker, when I have gone to events in support of strategies, with victim services, as an example—strategies to combat human trafficking, but events in support of victim services all across our province—it has been a great honour. I go there to listen and to learn.

Our government has taken a tough-on-crime approach—and I’ve said this already—because we all have a right to live safely in our own homes and communities. And we’re not going to stop. Our government knows that somebody who has been through these moments in their life can feel alone and afraid. That’s why we have to come together as a community to stand up against something that is irrefutably awful and evil.

On top of our anti-human trafficking strategy, my ministry has further enhanced its supports by delivering the victim support grants. Since 2022, we’ve announced almost $10 million in grants. Through two grant cycles, we’ve helped support victims and survivors of human trafficking, intimate partner violence, domestic violence and child exploitation. Together, this grant has supported more than 70 projects across the province and provided targeted support to help accomplish our goal.

Law enforcement and the justice sector need the proper tools to improve their ability to identify and target perpetrators. And we’re committed to achieving a safe environment for everyone in our province.

Finally, Madam Speaker, I want everyone in this House and across the province to know that, together, we can intercept human trafficking networks. We can find those people and hold them to account, and we’ll lock them up where they belong.

Public safety is our government’s important and top priority, and I won’t stop, the Premier won’t stop, this government won’t stop, Minister Parsa won’t stop—nobody in this Legislature should and will stop until we have a safe community for everyone. Criminals have no place in our Ontario.

On National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, I want to acknowledge all the first responders, the victims and the survivors, and their families. You matter, and we know it. Together, we will keep Ontario safe.

Next, I’ll recognize the Solicitor General.

I would like to thank Bishop Brigante, who has collected 24,619 names on this petition. This is 7,000 more than what we had yesterday. It reads:

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

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“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” people, “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” more “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 colorectal cancer.”

With close to 25,000—24,619—people, I’m happy to sign this petition and send it to the Clerk with my good page Ella.

Response?

It’s a real honour to speak on this upcoming February 22, which is the Canadian anti-human trafficking day—la journée contre la traite des personnes.

My first encounter with somebody who had been trafficked was at the beginning of the pandemic. There was a family staying in a tent under a bridge in my riding. The mother and daughter had been evicted from their home in the 905, and they had been moved into a shelter in downtown Toronto. While they were in there, the 19-year-old daughter had been kidnapped and trafficked for several months. While she was trafficked, she had been hog-tied and shot with fentanyl to make her addicted to fentanyl so that they would have control over her. They eventually escaped. This was at the beginning of the pandemic. The mother got her back, and the mother and mother’s boyfriend and the daughter were staying in a tent. There was no other place for them to go.

So we need to address root causes, and I’m going to be talking about addressing root causes in this.

There were 4,000 incidents of human trafficking that were reported to police between 2012 and 2022, and 94% of the victims were women and girls, and the average age of recruitment, as we just heard from the government side, is 13 years old. It’s an absolutely despicable crime, and it must be stopped at all levels.

I want to thank my colleagues who were involved in the passing of Bill 41, which is the Protection from Coerced Debts Incurred in relation to Human Trafficking Act. This bill is really important because, besides the sexual exploitation that happens with trafficking, there’s also financial exploitation. Traffickers will often go into a bank and take out a credit card in their victim’s name, and then that victim, after they escape, is left with that debt and the bad credit rating. This is how Richard Dunwoody, who is a resident in my riding—he came across survivors of human trafficking in shelters, and they could not get out of the shelters because of this financial debt. Because their credit rating had been destroyed, they weren’t able to rent a new place. What came of that is a program to support survivors, but also this legislation.

This legislation—if I could make a request to the government—has been passed. We’re waiting for the regulations so that it can be implemented. Those regulations cannot come quickly enough, because right now survivors with these financial debts are denied housing, they’re denied access to school, they’re harassed by credit agencies, and they’re often taken to court. So this legislation needs to get through as quickly as possible.

I also want to talk about some solutions. When I was talking with a woman who works with survivors of human trafficking earlier today, she said you need to address the root causes—poverty, housing insecurity and homelessness—because shelters and encampments are places that traffickers go to recruit and to kidnap people, just like that young woman I met at the beginning of the pandemic.

The other thing she said is that we need to provide escape routes. She said she often gets calls from a survivor, a victim of human trafficking, who wants to escape, and they’re looking for a safe place to go, but when the agency phones, every shelter is full. So they tell the victim this, and the victim says, “I’ll just stay with my trafficker.” If we don’t have an escape route, they can’t escape. The courage that it takes to escape human trafficking is really remarkable, and we need to reward it. We need to make sure that there’s a pathway, and these pathways have to be cognizant of the supports that people who have been trafficked need. As the woman said to me, trafficking is often associated with trauma and substance abuse. The women are often forced to have sex with five to 10 people a night. They’re up all night. The first thing they need to do when they escape is to detox, and there’s a shortage of detox beds in this province. We need low-barrier housing accommodation for the survivors when they’re escaping. The other thing the agent said they need is stable funding.

I heard from the government side that they’re reviewing—there was a five-year, $307-million grant to address human trafficking, and this is under review, but it expires in 2025. The agencies that support people who have been trafficked, who are survivors of human trafficking—to bring an end to human trafficking, those agencies need stable funding. They need to renew leases. They need to retain their staff. They need to do training programs. So it’s absolutely vital that that funding be extended and that the promise of that extended funding be made as soon as possible.

I am pleased to present this petition on paid sick days. It reads:

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas there is overwhelming evidence to show that paid sick days significantly reduce the spread of infectious disease, promote preventative health care and reduce health care system costs; and

“Whereas 60% of Ontario workers do not have access to paid sick days, and cannot afford to lose their pay if they are sick; and

“Whereas low-wage and precarious workers are the most likely to be denied paid sick days; and

“Whereas enabling workers to stay home when they are sick without losing pay helps limit the spread of illness in the workplace and allows workers to recover faster; and

“Whereas during an infectious disease emergency, it is unreasonable and dangerous to public health to make workers choose between protecting their communities and providing for their families; and

“Whereas legislating paid sick days through the Employment Standards Act, with transitional financial support for struggling small businesses, will ensure that workers have seamless, uninterrupted access to their pay;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to immediately amend the Employment Standards Act to provide Ontario workers with 10 employer-paid days of personal emergency leave each year and additional paid sick leave in the case of an infectious disease emergency.”

I fully support this petition, affix my signature and will send it to the table with page Sarah.

It’s my honour to present the following petitions on behalf of Jason “Jay” Staniforth as well as individuals from St. Thomas, Shedden, Port Stanley, London, Aylmer, Grand Bend, Waterloo, and Belmont. This petition is entitled “Keep Classrooms Safe for Students and Staff.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas students and education workers deserve stronger, safer schools in which to learn and work;

“Whereas the pressure placed on our education system has contributed to an increase in reports of violence in our schools;

“Whereas crowded classrooms, a lack of support for staff, and underfunding of mental health supports are all contributing to this crisis;

“Whereas the government of Ontario has the responsibility and tools to address this crisis, but has refused to act;

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

“Take immediate action to address violence in our schools;

“Invest in more mental health resources;

“End violence against education workers and improve workplace violence reporting.”

I completely support this petition. I will affix my signature and deliver it with page Isaac to the Clerks.