During pre-budget consultations, the finance committee had the opportunity to hear from people across the province who are struggling. Despite living in the richest province in Canada and during a cost-of-living crisis, our provincial government skimps on paying for the services that people need right now.

Educators in my community are running their classrooms on as little as $100 per year. How does that set kids up for success? Boards are running massive deficits while the government refuses to cough up money for legally mandated increases to CPP and EI. Conservatives are failing.

Education is an investment. Decades of Liberal and Conservative disinvestment and cost-cutting targeting Ontario’s youth have resulted in an education system on the brink. Remember when a Conservative minister admitted on a hot mike they were deliberately creating a crisis in education so they could cut, destroy and privatize? Here we are again.

Children are our greatest resource, yet governments reward their rich buddies while Ontario’s kids go without. School violence is at an all-time high and kids aren’t getting mental health supports. Conservatives pretend there are supports in schools, but no one across the province said they could access them. Ontario is dead last when it comes to post-secondary funding—dead last. Conservatives are getting an F grade in education.

Stabilize the system. Give kids the tools to succeed. Reverse the $1,200 cut per elementary and secondary student you’ve made since 2018. Help post-secondary institutions make young people’s dreams a reality by increasing funding with annual compounded increases of 11.75% for the next five years.

You have the money. Spend it on kids. It’s their future. You can do it in budget 2024.

Today, I rise to recognize a great Canadian and Taiwanese hero, Dr. George Leslie Mackay. As we take the opportunity to celebrate him today, on what would be his 180th birthday, his legacy of service to the people of Taiwan has never been more prominent.

George Leslie Mackay was born and raised right in Oxford, near the village of Embro. Mackay charted new paths as the first Presbyterian missionary to Taiwan. He went on to establish a mission in the town of Tamsui, which remained his home for the rest of his life.

Mackay embraced the island’s customs, traditions and people. His generous and accepting spirit compelled him to serve his community any way that he could. He spent almost 30 years building schools, founding churches and practising dentistry in his adopted homeland.

Mackay advocated for women’s rights and spoke against discrimination and championed public health care. Some of his most notable accomplishments include building Taiwan’s first school for girls and a major hospital in Tamsui.

On his birthday, we celebrate Mackay’s legacy of investing in Taiwan. Having laid the foundations for innovative education and a cutting-edge health care system, Mackay would be proud to see Taiwan reap the benefits of its now prosperous and mature democracy.

As our trade ties become stronger every year with increasing bilateral investments, I’m grateful to Dr. George Leslie Mackay for helping to establish an enduring friendship and shared confidence between Taiwan and Ontario.

This morning, I want to share examples from my riding of why privatization of the health care system is harmful. We all know that when the Conservative government of Mike Harris was in power, they privatized home care. Private companies were going to make home care more efficient, serve more people, offer more care. None of that is true. The privatization of home care made hundreds of millions of dollars for private companies’ shareholders and dire repercussions for people needing care.

Take Tina Senior’s beautiful six-year-old son Alex. Bayshore gets paid for 1.5 hours of nursing care daily when Alex is in school, but they only schedule the nurse for 15 minutes. What happened? His mom, Tina, a nurse with over 20 years’ experience, had to quit her job to keep her son safe.

Mrs. C from Hanmer agreed to take her husband home from the hospital while he awaits placement in a long-term-care home with home care services. Of course, home care never shows up when they’re supposed to. But get this, Speaker: They have a meeting, and her daughter mentioned that she would be there after work to help care for her dad. Now the only time Bayshore is available is after 4, when the daughter is there and when the family said, “We don’t need you.” Bayshore takes that as refused care, a cancelled appointment. They get paid, and the family gets zero care. This woman is burning out.

The list goes on. The privatization does money for shareholders, suffering for people who need care.

I rise today to recognize the Burlington Lions Optimist Minor Hockey Association. I’d like to congratulate BLOMHA for being a successful recipient of the government of Ontario’s OTF capital grant. BLOMHA received $25,000 for new hockey equipment to promote more participation of goaltenders in minor hockey. This funding will help break down barriers for players who don’t have access to goalie equipment, allowing all players the opportunity to participate in goaltending.

Hockey is an integral part of the Canadian cultural identity that brings together communities and creates lasting bonds. Players develop confidence. They learn good sportsmanship, camaraderie and a sense of community. Youth leagues like BLOMHA teach players valuable life skills, promote active lifestyles and contribute to mental health and well-being. That’s why our government continues to support organizations like BLOMHA to ensure aspiring players and goaltenders have the opportunity to reach their potential goals.

Seniors in my riding of Ottawa West–Nepean are being gouged by Alavida Lifestyles, and this government is letting Alavida get away with it. Residents at Park Place and the Ravines are being told that they need to pay thousands of dollars more per month in order to retain their housing. In one case, an elderly woman has been served notice of an increase of $27,000 more per year. Another resident has received notice of a $24,000 increase. Speaker, I doubt that there are many of us who are working who could afford to pay that kind of increase in our housing costs, and these are seniors on fixed incomes.

These residents feel like they are being forced out of their homes, forced to abandon their friends and their community. Some of them are also feeling so scared and isolated by the high-pressure tactics that Alavida has been engaging in that they are having trouble eating and sleeping.

I reached out to the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority, who said that it’s not their problem. I reached out to the minister of seniors and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to ask them to shut down this predatory behaviour. They literally responded with talking points, saying that retirement homes can charge whatever fees they want.

This is completely unacceptable. Seniors deserve a dignified retirement, not to have their home held hostage to increase the profits of a private developer.

Shame on this government for siding with a developer rather than with the seniors. It’s time that they actually stand up for seniors and come up with a plan to stop this kind of price gouging.

I stand today to applaud our government’s $70-billion transportation investment across Ontario, including the Scarborough subway extension, which serves Scarborough and beyond.

Our Premier’s leadership of this ambitious effort enhances connectivity, minimizes travel times and reduces congestion for residents and tourists alike. Educational, employment and recreational amenities will be easily accessible.

Transportation infrastructure improves economic growth by attracting investments and creating jobs. The extension improves public transit accessibility for all residents, especially those with mobility difficulties. The Scarborough subway extension is a major step toward a more integrated, active and sustainable Scarborough and greater Toronto area.

I appreciate the Minister of Transportation, his associate minister, Scarborough MPPs and the Metrolinx team for inviting us to attend the site visit progress update—great work. We are getting it done for the people of Scarborough and beyond.

I rise today with profound gratitude for our government in securing uninterrupted learning for Ontario’s students. For the first time in nearly a generation, our government has successfully negotiated agreements with four of Ontario’s teacher unions, ensuring stability for families and students alike.

As a parent of four children, I recall the challenges we faced during teachers’ strikes. Balancing responsibilities while scrambling to secure child care is not an easy feat. I do not want my children to go through similar hardships with their own children.

We are committed to equipping our young learners with the foundational skills necessary for academic success. The back-to-basics approach is well received by all parents in my riding of Richmond Hill. They say, “Finally, we have the crucial skills in reading, writing and math for our children. Yes, it lays a solid groundwork for our students’ future academic endeavours.”

On behalf of Richmond Hill, I express my heartfelt appreciation to Minister Lecce and our Premier for championing these initiatives. Together, we are ensuring that Ontario’s students receive the education they deserve—one that prepares them for the challenges of tomorrow while fostering a love for learning.

If there are no objections, I’d like to continue with introduction of visitors.

Il me fait plaisir de vous présenter l’Association des gestionnaires de l’éducation franco-ontarienne : Jean-François Bard, président de l’AGÉFO et surintendant de l’éducation pour le Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est; Jennifer Lamarche Schmalz, direction générale de l’AGÉFO; Jean-Guy Fréchette, Grande-Ourse Consultation; mais en particulier Guylaine Scherer, qui vient de mon comté, qui vient de Kapuskasing. Bienvenue, Guylaine. Elle est la vice-présidente de l’AGÉFO et direction des communications au conseil scolaire public du nord-est. Bienvenue à Queen’s Park.

I’d like to welcome to the House Director General Jin-Ling Chen and members of the Taiwanese community who are here to celebrate the birthday of George Leslie Mackay. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I, too, on behalf of the official opposition, would like to welcome the director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Toronto, Jin-Ling Chen; staff Ethan Liao; and the rest of the members from the Taiwanese community. Welcome.

It’s with great pleasure that I welcome Julia Martin and Elizabeth Martin, who I think will be here shortly. Julia is the mom of Christopher, one of our pages. We’re very happy that you’re in the House today. Thank you for coming.

And Speaker, I’d be remiss, even though he’s not here in person—today is Ed Broadbent’s birthday, and he’s with me right here.

I’d like to welcome some members from my community who are here today and who were instrumental in getting me here in this seat today. I’d like to welcome Blake Koehler, Adam Mobbs, Damon Liu, John Fiorni, Matt Buist and Stephanie McCleave. Welcome to your House.

I’m happy to introduce and welcome Harold Wang, lead counsel for the Audemus Law Firm located in my wonderful riding of Markham–Thornhill. Trained in Canadian, American and Chinese law, he also serves as vice-president for the Canadian Fujian Business and Trade Association. He’s joined by his assistant, Ashley Kwan Yi Mui, and Zijian Cui, my wonderful student assistant. Welcome to the Legislature of Ontario.

It’s my great honour to welcome the amazing crew from NDP Western who are visiting Queen’s Park today, including Austin Wang, Liam Solomon, Alex Wild, Marek Brooking, Can Batili, Nicholas Pestill and Ismael Sayal. You’re all an inspiration.

I’d also be remiss if I didn’t welcome members of my legislative and constituency team, Marie Rioux and Sarah Lehman.

I hope you have a great visit today.

Mr. Speaker, this morning I would like to give an extra special welcome to my remarkable staff member Brooke Campbell, who also brought her father, Jim Campbell, and her brother Matthew Campbell to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’d like to introduce folks from the Lake Simcoe area who have travelled here to recognize World Water Day: Ann Truyens, from AWARE Simcoe; Linda Wells, from Barilla Park Residents Association; Penny Trumble, Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation; Rostyslaw Pityk from Innisfil District Association; Jean Ucar, Innisfree cottagers; Jack Gibbons, Lake Simcoe Watch; and Katharine Harries, Midland field naturalists. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

From the ZAKA search and rescue organization, I’d like to welcome Irene Nurith Cohn to the Ontario Legislature.

Speaker, following the lead of my colleague from Hamilton west, I’d also like to welcome Erik Schomann, Donna Deneault and Verne Deneault from Save Our Water Tiny township, and the Thomas Moore from Simcoe County Kairos. Welcome to the Legislature.