I am pleased to share with my colleagues that $476,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation will be directed toward five non-profit organizations in the town of Whitby and other parts of the region of Durham, ensuring safe and accessible programming, activities and spaces for local residents. Whether it’s purchasing the equipment, building new spaces or completing renovations, these grants will have a positive impact on the region of Durham.

Now, the organizations receiving these grants—WindReach Farm, the Sunrise Developmental Support Services group, County Town Singers and the Whitby Curling Club—all play a pivotal role in enriching the lives of Whitby residents and contributing to a strong and prosperous region of Durham.

Speaker, these grants go beyond financial support. It’s about making life better for people in the region of Durham. It’s about creating opportunities for communities to thrive.

I rise this morning as a Delhi girl to honour a hometown boy who served and protected members and staff at Queen’s Park for nearly 32 years, up until his recent retirement. That hometown boy is none other than Rick Boon, here in the gallery today with his wife, Gina, and dad, John.

A tireless worker, Rick was passionate about the assembly’s responsibility in supporting the function of Parliament, and he did his utmost to uphold the critical importance of this assembly’s autonomy, independence and neutrality.

Although his illustrious career saw him wear many hats, Rick is most proud of serving as a member of the armed response unit, as well as operations manager within precinct properties branch and commander of the service’s public safety unit.

Alongside his countless accomplishments within this building, Rick was awarded the Diamond Jubilee Medal and Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal. When I arrived at Queen’s Park on the heels of the 2022 election, it was Rick who first knocked at my door to ensure I was settling in and to ask if there was anything I needed.

Rick sends gratitude to the members who improved security and building services, and he conveys special thanks to former Sergeant-at-Arms Dennis Clark and director Jelena Bajcetic for their support and inspiration. He offers thanks to the MPPs that he had the honour of serving, even those he had the pleasure of arresting.

Speaker, I’ve known the Boon family since I was a child—a family that is loved and respected in our neck of the woods. I think we are truly blessed that the Boon family shared with us their son, husband and father for so many years.

Rick Boon: an exemplary employee and a very true friend. Enjoy retirement, Rick.

As was already mentioned in the House today, and as most of you know, we lost a great Canadian this month. Daryl Kramp was a member of this House in the last term. He was also a federal member for 11 years and a member of municipal council for two terms. It was Daryl who encouraged me to run and to seek this role as he was retiring.

Over the past many years, I’ve heard a particular phrase from Daryl many times in his speeches and in general conversation. It was a piece of advice that he gave to me, and I believe it was a mantra in his own life. He said, “Lead with your heart.” With the love of his life, Carol Ann, at his side—always at his side—Daryl led with his heart in his faith, in his love for his family and his community, and in absolutely everything he did.

A few minutes with Daryl and you knew he was genuine. A mutual friend once described him as “a man who you instinctively wanted to follow because of the warmth of his voice, and the twinkle in his eyes.” He worked to improve whatever he set his mind to, and he always worked well with all of those around him engaged. He achieved many great things for his beloved country, province and his home. I personally am better for having known him, for having learned from him, and I will miss him dearly.

On behalf of my wife, Heidi, myself and the people of Hastings–Lennox and Addington, I would like to express our greatest condolences to the entire Kramp family. Thank you so much for sharing Daryl with us for so many years.

I wanted to welcome Torin Peters-Millar from Huntsville in my great riding of Parry Sound–Muskoka. He’s joining us today. He’s up in the gallery, and I think he’s one day away from a birthday tomorrow, so happy birthday in advance, Torin.

I would like to welcome page James Teng from the great riding of Mississauga–Erin Mills and his parents, Jeniffer Teng and Michael Teng, who are here today in the gallery of members. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Again, I’d like to welcome back to Queen’s Park long-time assembly staffer Rick Boon; his wife, Gina; and Rick’s dad, Mr. John Boon, who at 90 years young has many talents and gifts, but above all, is an incredible musician. Welcome back to Queen’s Park. Enjoy your day together.

I’d like to welcome Astrid Krueger, who has been my OLIP intern for the past few months. Team Ottawa West–Nepean is really, really going to miss you, Astrid. Thanks for all your hard work, and good luck in your next placement.

I’d like to welcome to the Legislature some journalism students and staff from Durham College in my riding. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Good morning, powerful people. It’s lovely to see you all again.

They’re not in the chamber but they’re coming, so hopefully we’re behaving when they come. It’s my clever and creative kids from sensational Secord public school in the east end.

I, too, want to join in welcoming the Bowman family who are here this morning for Bill 149 third reading, in addition to members of the Welland firefighters who are here. We value the work that that they do.

Greg Horton, I believe, just joined us, from the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association. Under Greg’s leadership, firefighters have done so much over the last few years in presumptive coverage, and I thank him for his advocacy. Thank you for being here today.

As I look around the gallery, I see Peter Garrett here with a crew of students from Durham College. He, of course, works in the office of the president. As always, glad to welcome you to Queen’s Park.

As the Speaker of this provincial Parliament, I’m pleased to have a colleague at the far side of the chamber today. In the lower gallery is my friend the MLA from Olds–Didsbury–Three Hills, Speaker Nathan Cooper of the province of Alberta. Speaker Cooper is currently one of the longest-serving Speakers in Canada. He is joined by the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Shannon Dean; his chief of staff, Lianne Bell; and parliamentary and engagement coordinator Andrew Koning. Welcome to Queen’s Park. We’re delighted to have you here.

Minister of Colleges and Universities.

It gives me enormous pleasure to welcome members of my family, the Bowman family. I want to welcome Alisen, Lexi and Colin. They are the family of our fallen hero, Captain Craig Bowman.

I just would like to share that my dad and your dad, Carol, came together on the boat when they first came from the UK, so we have long ties, and it’s really wonderful to see you here. I’m going to thank the minister for the work that he’s done on behalf of firefighters.

Good morning, Speaker. Our public colleges and universities are nearing the breaking point after decades of underfunding, while for-profit career colleges have been seeing a massive expansion under this government.

Yesterday, we got a hint about why in a report that was done by Trillium. They found out that government members have raked in more than $151,000 in political donations from private college operators since 2018. One of the biggest beneficiaries? The local campaign of the Minister of Colleges and Universities herself. That’s thousands of dollars in donations from the very same insiders who stand to benefit directly from her decisions as minister.

To the Premier: Is it acceptable for the Minister of Colleges and Universities to take donations from people lobbying her office on behalf of private colleges?

Interjections.

Private colleges have existed for years, but under this government, they have exploded, so much so that even the Auditor General flagged it. Speaker, is this really how things are going to be done in today’s Ontario?

Interjections.

I’d like to talk about the international students and the chaos that the federal government has caused in the post-secondary sector across Canada—absolutely no consultation with the provinces or the institutions themselves.

I am hearing from ministers on this side about the impact that this is going to have in their ministries. In fact, the Premier and the Prime Minister just signed a historic health care deal. Where do you think the PSWs and the nurses are going to come from that the Minister of Long-Term Care and the Minister of Health are going to need? Where are we going to find the skilled trade workers that the Minister of Labour and the Minister of Infrastructure are going to need to build the houses, the roads, the schools, the hospitals in this province?

Mr. Speaker, absolutely no consultations with the provinces or these institutions themselves—absolutely disgusting from the federal government.

Speaker, it’s pretty clear who can get it done under this government: anyone willing to fork over the cash. They started handing out licences to private health care companies after receiving thousands of dollars in donations from clinic owners and investors looking to set up private hospitals. And now, here we are. We can connect the dots again: massive donations to the PC Party, massive expansion of private colleges.

How can the Premier defend a return to the bad old days of Liberal cash-for-access culture, where policies are decided by how much you’re willing to hand over to the governing party?

Interjections.

My question is for the Premier. What exactly are attendees getting out of spending $1,000 to attend the minister’s mental health mixer?

To the Premier again, and I hope he answers this question: Why is this government and this minister playing a cash-for-access game with the mental health of Ontarians?

Interjections.

I think the government needs to wake up. Ontarians have caught on to this government’s backroom deals and their insider favours. There are communities all across this province that are waiting for an answer from this government about funding for critical services, and that minister is holding a mixer tonight—$1,000 a pop—to raise money for his own campaign coffers while the mayor of Belleville is so desperate they’re willing to go it alone.

Is this how people are supposed to finally get action on the mental health crisis facing their communities, or the education crisis, the university students? I mean, my goodness.

My question to the Premier is, what next? Are toddlers going to have to give up their toys for child care spaces? What is next? That’s my question to the Premier.

I don’t know if the Leader of the Opposition has done anything to lobby for additional seats in this province, but we on this side have been working hard at that. In fact, I’ve met with the tourism industry and the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. The number of workers that your ministry needs alone—look at March break coming up: the resorts, the front desks, the ski hills. The workers that we need in this province—it’s absolutely incredible.

We are disgusted with the federal government for dropping this on the provinces with no consultation. The Minister of Labour and I tried to meet with the minister months ago and were not able to because they kept cancelling on us. We have been there, working with our stakeholders, the colleges and universities, to ensure that we have a pathway forward as we deal with the disgrace that the federal government has dropped on us.

Mr. Speaker, I sympathize with the Leader of the Opposition. She is correct that under the previous Liberal government, these types of programs became endemic, and we didn’t see, of course, any results with the previous Liberal government.

I remind the Leader of the Opposition that she and her party supported the Liberals throughout that time when they actually held the balance of power. What is so disappointing about that is that during that time of support, we didn’t see investments made in health care, transit, transportation. We didn’t see investments made to build new subways. In fact, they left us the most indebted sub-sovereign government on the planet. They left us the most over-regulated jurisdiction in Canada. They scared away 300,000 jobs. Throughout all of that, the NDP supported them. That’s the legacy of the previous Liberal government.

I’m glad the Leader of the Opposition finally recognizes the destructive nature of the—

There are so many people who have come to me—and I’m very passionate about this—and talked about the failings of the previous Liberal government which have left their families, their children without the ability to get care. And through it all, the NDP supported them.

Interjections.

Members will please take their seats.

Minister of Colleges and Universities.

I’m having difficulty hearing the Leader of the Opposition ask her question, so I’d ask the House to come to order so that I can.

Restart the clock. To respond for the government, the government House leader.

The government House leader will respond.

Start the clock. Supplementary question.

The Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.

The final supplementary.