Members will take their seats.

Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Thank you very much to the member for the question. I think it’s really important that we understand the circumstances that we are in. Mr. Speaker, we are having economic challenges. Those challenges are not immune to the province of Ontario. The process is before the courts, and the new landowner will be selected, but Metrolinx acted really quickly and brought itself out of the deal in order to protect the infrastructure and protect the transit-oriented community at Mimico station.

Mr. Speaker, we continue to work with the city of Toronto, and we will continue to work with the new landowner to make sure that we build housing, affordable housing, public realm space and, of course, a GO station that the people in Etobicoke rely on.

Mr. Speaker, once again, this is just another opportunity for the NDP to try to oppose Highway 413.

Every step of the way, this government has put forward measures, especially in that member’s riding, as well, removing tolls on the 412 and 418.

What did that member do when they had the opportunity to vote in support of removing tolls on the 412 and 418? She voted against that measure.

Everything this government has done has been focused around putting more money back into the pockets of drivers, whether that’s reducing the fuel tax by 10 cents; removing tolls on the 412 and 418; fighting the carbon tax, which is about to go up 23%—that will not only impact truckers; it’s going to impact every single family in this province.

That is why, under the leadership of Premier Ford, we will continue to make historic investments in infrastructure, build Highway 413, and put more money in your pockets.

And absolutely not—we are going to get shovels in the ground. We’re seeing historic population growth in this province, especially in areas like Peel, especially in areas like Halton and York. We received one of the largest mandates, under this Premier, to build Highway 413, and that is exactly what we will do.

We’re not going to listen to the federal environment minister, who says he’s not going to invest or build any more roads or highways or bridges in this country.

Get out of the Queen’s Park bubble. Hit the roads of Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan and see for yourself the gridlock people—

Interjections.

My question is for the Minister of Energy.

People in my riding tell me daily that they want to be treated equally and fairly when it comes to the carbon tax.

With the carbon tax rate set to increase next month, Ontarians can expect to see a hike at the gas pumps, from 14.3 cents per litre to 17.6 cents per litre. This is absolutely unacceptable. People are already struggling with inflation. It’s unfair that they’re being forced to pay more for gas.

It’s obvious that the independent Liberals and opposition NDP don’t care that this unnecessary tax is making life more unaffordable for their constituents. That’s why our government will continue to support Ontarians and call for an end to the carbon tax.

Speaker, can the minister please tell the House how the federal carbon tax is hurting the hard-working individuals and families in this great province?

Speaker, under the previous Liberal government, people in my riding saw their electricity prices skyrocket because the Liberals insisted on signing energy contracts for power we didn’t need. Since we were elected in 2018, our government has taken a different approach: We’ve worked to make energy more affordable so that hard-working Ontario families don’t have to choose between paying their electricity bills or putting food on the table. Unlike the opposition NDP and the independent Liberals, we will always put Ontarians first.

Speaker, can the minister please explain how our government is delivering the support Ontarians need as they experience more financial hardship due to the carbon tax?

My question is to the Premier.

Metrolinx has just cancelled its plan to build nearly 3,000 homes and upgrade the Mimico GO station after Vandyk Properties went bankrupt. So, what that means is that local residents have been waiting 10 years for a GO station upgrade and all they’ve got is a hole in the ground.

So, my question is to the Premier: How many times does Metrolinx have to fail to deliver on a project before this government holds that transit agency to account?

The member from Whitby is absolutely right once again. The federal carbon tax accomplishes nothing that it intended to do and it’s only hurting Ontario families, Mr. Speaker.

When the federal government introduced the carbon tax, they told us a couple of things: They said applying the additional tax to fuels would help reduce emissions, and they also told us that we would get back more than we paid through the carbon tax rebate. Well, we know that that’s not the truth, Mr. Speaker. We know both of these things have been proven to be untrue. The Bank of Canada says that interest rates have been affected because of the carbon tax. The Parliamentary Budget Officer has said we’re not getting back more than they said we would, and still, members of the Liberal caucus are saying that this the case. The Commissioner of the Environment—a federal agency, Mr. Speaker—has even put out a report saying the federal government will miss their own emission targets. The carbon tax is 0 for 2, Mr. Speaker. The jig is up. It’s time to scrap this harmful tax.

We’re in the midst of an affordability crisis, not just in Ontario but across this country. So, if you were in charge of the federal government in an affordability crisis, would you pause the carbon tax? Would you potentially rewind the carbon tax, or would you do what Jagmeet and Justin are doing, full steam ahead on the carbon tax, in three weeks’ time raising it by another 23%. It’s irresponsible, and it’s—

The supplementary question.

Interjections.

Start the clock.

The next question.

Good morning, everyone. My question is for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. I’m sure the minister fondly remembers last year at committee when I asked him about the major transit station area approvals. It has now been 111 days since the minister told me that sign-off would be soon and that “soon” meant “very soon.”

Well, in those 111 days, not only have the Ontario Liberals released a comprehensive housing plan, including a strong focus on quickly approving and upzoning MTSAs, but also, I have had the time to order a Webster’s dictionary for the minister and I’ve highlighted the definition of “soon.” I’m happy to educate the minister on his vocabulary. “Soon” means “without undue time lapse,” “before long,” “in a prompt manner,” “straightaway,” “shortly”—some time in the 21st century.

Enough of the vague promises and false hopes. We need a specific date and time for municipalities to get shovels in the ground. Speaker, my question to the minister is, when will you approve the MTSAs for Toronto and Ontario?

If the government truly believes that they’re delivering on their housing plan, let’s look at their track record: Limit exclusionary zoning in municipalities through binding provincial action? Nope, hasn’t been done. Allow as-of-right zoning up to unlimited height and unlimited density in the immediate proximity of individual major transit stations? Nope, hasn’t been done. Allow as-of-right zoning up to six to 11 storeys with no minimum parking requirements on all streets utilized by public transit? Nope, hasn’t been done.

I could go on, because they have yet to implement 52 of 55 recommendations from their own housing task force.

Speaker, the Ontario Liberals have a bold housing plan. In 2026, under Bonnie Crombie, we will fix the many, many disasters and crises this government has created—

Interjections.

Interjections.

Our party has opposed the carbon tax right from day one. While the Liberals raise taxes, we continue to lower taxes. We reduced the cost of WSIB premiums by 50%, saving the business community $2.5 billion each and every year. We have put a capital cost write-off in that has saved the business community $1 billion a year. We continue to reduce the burden of red tape; 500 pieces have been reduced, saving almost $1 billion a year.

The carbon tax penalizes business. While the Liberals raise taxes, we continue to lower tax. We ask that we scrap the tax today.

I appreciate the opportunity. Of course, we are working very closely with Mayor Chow on developing approval of those official plans, but at the same time, we understand that, after 15 years of Liberal government, no homes were being built across the province of Ontario. In fact, they took away the dream of home ownership. That is the legacy of the Liberal government when they were in power.

They introduced a housing policy the other day. The new housing critic, what did he say about his own policy in 2022? When asked about major transit station area building, he said he was going to fight against it and use whatever levers he could to stop this outrageous type of development from happening. So on the one hand, the Liberal critic says he wants more, but when he’s in private with his community groups, he calls it outrageous.

Now their Liberal leader, she doubles down. She calls a 12-storey condo unit that she disapproved of and rejected “an abomination.” That’s the Liberal record. They say one thing, they accomplish nothing—

Interjections.

You know what happens, Mr. Speaker, when you increase taxes? You make housing unaffordable. When you put in carbon taxes, you make housing unaffordable. When you increase development charges, you make housing unaffordable. You know what communities have done that? Mississauga did it. That’s why the population of Mississauga decreased. Burlington is doing it, and that’s why they’re missing their housing targets. Where there are Conservative mayors, they reduce taxes; they remove obstacles; and they’re getting the housing done. Stouffville—

Back to the minister: For folks watching at home, there’s a reason why you didn’t get an answer to that question today. The sad thing is, public transit construction in Ontario has been hijacked by a self-serving, overpaid bureaucracy led by a million-dollar man, Phil Verster, that this Premier and that minister will not hold to account.

Are we going to hear another speech, after my supplementary question, about wonderful transit projects to come in 10 years, or is this government finally going to hold a corrupt bureaucracy to account and fire Phil Verster?

I’m actually really pleased to have this opportunity to talk about the transit work that is happening, particularly in the GTA, under Phil Verster’s leadership, under Premier Ford’s leadership and under Minister Sarkaria’s leadership. Eglinton Crosstown West is being tunnelled and approaching Royal York station. The Scarborough subway is being tunnelled and the Ontario Line construction has started, as has construction at Exhibition station. Now, of course, we’re focusing our energies on Yonge North.

This was a subway transit plan that they said would never be done. Work is under way, and we will continue to build stations and public transit in the province of Ontario.

And the supplementary question? The member for Ottawa Centre.

The supplementary question.

I apologize to the member for Beaches–East York. I had to interrupt her because I could not hear her.

Interjections.

Please restart the clock. The member for Beaches–East York.

Please start the clock. The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Interjections.

Start the clock. The member for Brantford–Brant.

My question is for the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. The new Liberal leader has been such a staunch advocate for the carbon tax. She could not be more out of touch with the everyday reality that hard-working families and businesses in this province are facing. They are dealing with higher inflation and higher interest rates. The last thing they need is governments raising costs even more on them. But unfortunately, that is exactly what the Liberals are doing with their carbon tax, which they plan on raising again on April 1.

Our government will always oppose this tax. We are committed to lowering costs for the people and businesses across the entire province. Can the minister please highlight what our government has done to lower the cost of doing business across the province of Ontario.

Thank you for the question. Those millions of workers know that this government has got their back. Speaker, 98% of deals in 2023 were done at the bargaining table. In fact, I’d like to congratulate the Minister of Education, who continues to ensure students will remain in class, because we also land deals with public sector unions.

When it comes to these workers, they know that when given the opportunity, that party opposite vote against the 413, against the record 50 hospitals under construction, and against nuclear refurbishment. They can twist themselves into pretzels all they want, but when it comes to workers and working in Ontario and a prosperous Ontario and the men and women who are going to get it done, it’s this government making the investments to ensure that they can have a better job and a bigger paycheque.

The question I would ask that member opposite is, will you support your NDP colleagues across Canada and fight against the carbon tax that’s killing life for workers?

Mr. Speaker, I visited that member’s community, and they know she doesn’t support our record investments to attract world-class auto manufacturing jobs in their community—the Gordie Howe bridge; the painters and the tapers who we need for that bridge; the hospitals, Speaker. And we just heard again in question period today they would cancel the 413.

That party is broke when it comes to ideas for workers that keep men and women in Ontario employed. Not only are we doing that, Speaker, but we’ve launched a record fund to help workers get better jobs, bigger paycheques. We’ve expanded supports for injured workers. Speaker, all they offer workers is misery because they have no plan to keep Ontario—

Back to the Premier: Last year, in March, my NDP colleagues and I reintroduced anti-scab labour legislation for the 16th time. The Conservatives, once again, voted against it.

Last week, Bill C-58, the federal anti-replacement worker, anti-scab labour bill passed second reading with all-party support. Even the federal Conservatives supported it. They voted in favour of it.

If we were to table anti-scab legislation in this House for the 17th time, will the Premier follow the example of his federal Conservative counterparts and support workers by voting in favour of it?

Shocker, Mr. Speaker—Sault Ste. Marie is getting all the love today. I’m loving it.

Well, Mr. Speaker, I have a very, very important question on behalf of the people of Sault Ste. Marie for our wonderful Minister of Energy. Many individuals and families, particularly those in northern Ontario, rely on fuel to heat their homes. Unfortunately, residents in rural and remote parts of northern Ontario face additional barriers in heating their homes due to the lack of viable alternatives.

Families and businesses in Sault Ste. Marie are telling me that they already feel the carbon tax’s impact on their energy bills every single month, and quite frankly, this has been a pretty warm winter in Sault Ste. Marie and throughout the province. It’s unfair and unjust for them to bear the burden of this regressive carbon tax, yet the Liberals and the NDP are content to see the costs related to the carbon tax raised even higher.

Minister, please let us know how our communities in the north are suffering more because of this unaffordable carbon tax.

My question today is to the Minister of Health. Last month, the government caucus voted down my bill to improve the Northern Health Travel Grant. During debate, the parliamentary assistant to the minister said, “We know that patients can’t afford delays or more talk or endless committees and that it’s time to get it done for families in northern Ontario.”

Speaker, given this statement from the parliamentary assistant, I would ask the minister the following question: How soon will the minister and her ministry get it done for northerners and raise the rates for reimbursement and improve the delivery of the Northern Health Travel Grant?

Speaker, I agree with the member from Sault Ste. Marie when he says, “I think what we need are the experts in the field to tell us what the concerns are and where the potential remedies of those concerns are.”

Minister, the Northern Health Travel Grant and primary care are vital to northerners, and we should hear from them. Who’s right here, Minister? The member from Sault Ste. Marie or your parliamentary assistant?

I couldn’t agree more with my parliamentary assistant, doing excellent work in the ministry. The answer is, we’re already doing it. We have already improved the northern Ontario health travel grant. More work needs to be done, absolutely; I agree on that point.

But while we are improving that system and program available to the people of Ontario, I want to remind the member opposite that the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, a northern Ontario school of medicine that was formed by a Conservative government, has now almost doubled the amount of positions and seats available for people training in the north. What does that do, Speaker? It means that people who train in the north tend to stay in the north and continue their service to the people of Ontario as physicians, as nurses, as lab technicians, as paramedics. We’re putting the effort in to make sure that we expand not only the opportunities for people to train, live and work in the north, but of course, our primary care expansion. I would be remiss—

There were two primary care announcements made that will directly improve access to primary care in Sault Ste. Marie. But that’s not all. In Manitoulin Island, Porcupine, Kapuskasing, Sudbury district, French River, Burk’s Falls, Timmins, Chapleau, Wawa, Powassan and more—I could go on. The point is, we are making the investments in primary care expansion. The recruitment is happening today, and we will see those expansions make a noticeable impact for the people of northern Ontario and across Ontario who want access to a primary care physician—the first expansion of multidisciplinary teams since they were formed in our government.