I appreciate the question from the member opposite. If the member would like to help, she could support, the NDP could support, the Liberals could support, the Green Party could support—but they don’t. They don’t support any of the investments that we’ve made.

We have doubled the number of adjudicators. Last year we have taken in more cases than any time in the last 15 years, and we’re up on case intake by 31%, but we’re up on resolution by 45%, Mr. Speaker. So, we are fixing the system that they left in shambles, and we will take no lessons from the Liberals chirping over there.

I would ask the new Green member to please join us in making investments so that individual renters and landlords can actually get their cases heard fairly and quickly.

There are some bad actors on both sides, and the only way to resolve it is not political interference; the way to resolve it is to have an independent tribunal, have a hearing, with evidence, so that they can make a decision. That’s what we’re doing. We’re taking no shortcuts.

The NDP and the Liberals, during COVID, said, “Stop all hearings. Stop everything.” Well, we didn’t stop everything.

We do have a backlog, but we are getting it down in a fair, equitable, fast way. We are putting the resources in. We doubled the number of adjudicators. We put a new back-end system in. We hired more administrators. And we are getting the job done.

Thank you to my amazing colleague from Mississauga Centre for raising an issue that’s facing so many small businesses across Ontario.

Speaker, I have been hearing from entrepreneurs and job creators across our province about the devastating impacts the federal government’s punishing 23% carbon tax increase to $80 per tonne will have on their operations and bottom lines. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business warns that over half of small firms will be forced to raise prices and the other half will need to freeze or reduce wages. These are real, on-the-ground effects of this tax increase, with small businesses being forced to make difficult decisions that could impact their ability to support many families. This tax hike is not just a financial burden for these businesses; it’s a threat to the livelihoods of hard-working entrepreneurs.

Unlike the opposition Liberals and NDP, this government and this Premier will continue being the voice of Ontario’s small businesses and will continue to tell Ottawa to scrap the tax.

My question is for the Associate Minister of Small Business.

Speaker, small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and this was so evident when the minister and I visited a small family-owned business in my riding called Palma Pasta. Congratulations to the Petrucci family for being a staple of Italian cuisine and Italian culture in Mississauga.

However, the federal government is making it even harder for small businesses to survive and thrive with its massive 23% hike in the punitive carbon tax, to $80 per tonne. This job-killing tax is already increasing the cost on everything from heating to electricity to transportation and raw materials. Small businesses are already struggling under the weight of high inflation, supply chain disruptions and labour shortages. This new carbon tax increase is yet another burden.

Can the associate minister please further explain the impact the carbon tax has had on Ontario’s small businesses?

The contrast couldn’t be more clear. Under the leadership of the Premier, we are supporting small businesses across the province.

With many small businesses already struggling to repay their CEBA loans, the carbon tax is only adding further challenges. They need relief, not more taxes.

Speaker, the opposition used to be all talk and no action, but now, all of a sudden, they’re staying silent when the federal Liberals are hiking this job-killing carbon tax, and so is the queen of the carbon tax, Bonnie Crombie. I think her new name should be carbon Crombie, because there isn’t a single tax that she doesn’t love.

Our government has the backs of our hard-working entrepreneurs and job creators, and we’ve got the record to prove it, but we know that more must be done. Can the associate minister tell the House how our government is pushing back against the carbon tax and its negative impacts?

Imagine signing a contract for a preconstruction freehold home. You put down large sums of money during these tough times, and after waiting years, you’re shocked to find out in the media that the project has been cancelled.

This continues to happen under this government, and the government regulator will only post cancellations for condos, but not freehold homes. This information is vital for consumers, so they can make the most informed choice when choosing a builder. Why is the government letting their regulator cherry-pick the information it discloses to consumers on the builder directory?

What is taking the government so long in fixing the builder directory, so consumers have the absolutely necessary information they need to make the best decision in purchasing a newly built home?

My question is for the amazing Associate Minister of Transportation. Families in my community of Oakville North–Burlington need immediate relief from the carbon tax. When people are already struggling to pay their bills and keep food on the table, the carbon tax only adds further strain to their household budgets, and yet, the NDP and the Liberals think now is the time to raise taxes. Our government knows that the people of Ontario deserve better.

Speaker, can the associate minister please explain what steps our government is taking to fight the carbon tax?

Speaker, can the associate minister tell the House how the Liberal tax hike is hurting Ontarians?

Thank you to the member from Oakville North–Burlington for her advocacy and for that question. Unlike the NDP and Liberals, we are fighting to put more money back into the pockets of hard-working Ontarians. That’s why Premier Ford announced our government is extending the gas tax cut to help make life more affordable.

The Liberals and NDP are ignoring the people of Ontario. The Liberals and NDP do not care that people cannot afford groceries. I invite the opposition—come to Scarborough. You will hear from families upset as they pay more at the pumps and see their shopping cost more than ever before.

Liberals want higher taxes, and they refuse to axe the carbon tax. We are the only party fighting to keep costs down. Our message is clear: Scrap the tax.

Mr. Speaker, their response to longer food lines? Raise taxes. Their response to higher fuel costs? Raise taxes. That is not leadership. Here in Ontario, our PC team will continue to put more money in the people’s pockets, and we will say no to a carbon tax.

Again to the great member: Our government has been listening to the concerns of small business owners and entrepreneurs about the devastating effects of the federal carbon tax increase. Unlike the opposition, we understand that overly burdensome taxes and costs make it harder for these job creators to survive, let alone invest in growth. It’s simple economics, Speaker.

CFIB estimates each business is owed approximately $2,637 in rebates, and yet the Liberals and NDP have been completely silent. Well, our government has had the backs of Ontario’s two million hard-working small business employees and owners from day one. That’s why we will continue to send another letter to my federal counterparts demanding Ottawa finally return the $2.5 billion it has withheld in promised carbon tax rebates to small businesses since 2019. We will keep pushing the federal government relentlessly—

I thank the member for Humber River–Black Creek for the question. Our government understands that the purchase of a home, particularly a first home, is one of the most important transactions that any of our citizens can engage in in their entire lives. That is why we work closely in my ministry with two of the 12 administrative authorities that are devoted to consumer protection when it comes to new home purchases. That’s the Home Construction Regulatory Authority and Tarion.

Tarion provides deposit protection so that consumers can get their deposits back, despite the illegal activities of some home builders. We continue to work closely with Tarion to ensure that Ontarians get the very best protections when they’re spending their hard-earned money in our great province.

Contrary to years of weak consumer protection by the former Liberal government, we have beefed up protections for consumers with Ontario’s new home warranty protection program.

The system works. The Home Construction Regulatory Authority acted on this matter, in particular Mariman Homes—and let’s call that out, because it’s a public matter. HCRA suspended the licence of that organization on December 5, 2023, citing in the proposal that what occurred there was illegal, or without proper authorization, building and selling. Reinstatement of that licence is contingent on proof to HCRA that there has been compliance with legal obligations with the capability of fulfilling obligations to consumers by June 30, 2024. The system works.

Obviously, the position of the NDP has changed during question period, colleagues, so apparently now a retirement home is a home for the NDP, because long-term care isn’t a home, but now a retirement home is, so I guess we’ve got two minutes left to see what their position will morph into then.

What we’re doing for the people of the province of Ontario, including our seniors, is not only investing in long-term care, we’re investing in all types of homes—because I think the member hits the nail on the head. One of the reasons why we brought in as-of-right three across the province is because we heard from seniors that they wanted to be in the communities that they helped to build. That’s why we build long-term-care homes in smaller communities across the province. That’s why we’re allowing garden suites in homes for people, because a lot of people have said, “Listen, we want our family member to be with us.” We agree with that. That’s why we are building more. We are meeting our targets.

But ultimately, we ensure that tenants are treated fairly. We are making investments in the long-term-care board to ensure that that happens. We will treat all Ontarians with the respect that they deserve, Mr. Speaker.

I share the disappointment of the member opposite with respect to Mississauga’s complete inability to build more homes of all types for their community. We saw that in Mississauga, towards the end of last year. I think they had like 12 new home starts in that community. But we’re making substantial investments across Mississauga to ensure that we can build more homes—all types of homes. It is why we’re investing in as-of-right three. It is why we’re making more long-term-care homes available. It’s why we’re building more affordable homes. It is also why the associate minister is working on the attainable housing program. Because what we want to do is build 1.5 million homes of all types across the province of Ontario. It’s why we’re investing in infrastructure, investing in transit and transportation, investing in health care, because all of that matters in helping build communities. That is what we want to do for all of the people of the province of Ontario, build—

I’m pleased to welcome member companies from the Ontario Road Builders’ Association and the Ontario Asphalt Pavement Council and their board to Queen’s Park today. The member companies are active throughout the province to keep Ontario competitive by building our transportation infrastructure.

Thank you for being here today and thank you for all your work across the province.

I apologize; at the beginning when we did introductions, I did not welcome the Ontario Provincial Council of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada and welcome the Niagara member. Thank you for coming to your House.

I would like to take the opportunity to welcome St. Aloysius Gonzaga secondary school, who are visiting Queen’s Park from my riding of Erin Mills. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

It’s my pleasure to welcome to the Legislature this afternoon Caroline Tolton from the Vimy Ridge Foundation, as well as Craig Oliver, Shelly Sing, Vic Sing and PJ O’Neill from the Royal Canadian Legion, District D. Welcome to your House.

It is an honour to rise in this House today to mark the 21st Vimy Ridge Day. Recognized annually on April 9, this day commemorates the members of the Canadian Armed Forces who were killed or wounded during the Battle of Vimy Ridge and reminds us of the courage and sacrifice shown by all who have fought to secure our freedoms and our country, whether it was on the slopes of Vimy Ridge, the beaches of Normandy, in Korea, the Middle East, or anywhere in between.

Speaker, 107 years ago today, on a cold and snowy Easter Monday outside the village of Arras in northern France, the four divisions of the Canadian Armed Forces assembled. Fighting together for the first time as one, they faced a formidable task: to dislodge the entrenched and fortified German forces from Vimy Ridge and to secure the crucial high ground for the Allies.

Prior to Canada’s advance in April 1917, the Allies had made numerous attempts to capture the ridge, all of which ended with high casualties and the ridge remaining in German hands. The most notable of these efforts came in the fall of 1915, when both the French and British launched an offensive with the same objective faced by Canada two years later: to dislodge the enemy and secure the ridge for the Allies. This attempt was met with fierce resistance and led to over 150,000 Allied casualties.

Speaker, 100,000 men strong, and armed with meticulous planning, new tactics and lessons learned from the British and French, Canada’s four divisions stood ready to do what had previously proven impossible. At 5:43, as dawn broke, on Monday April 9, 1917, a massive artillery campaign began firing. Heavy artillery hammered German defensive positions while light field guns fired a mere 100 yards in front of advancing soldiers, providing much-needed cover for their advance. Just before 6:30 a.m., three of the four Canadian divisions had secured their first objective, and by mid-afternoon, they had reached their second objective.

On the morning of April 10, fresh reinforcements were brought to the front to assist in the next wave of the attack. After an intense artillery bombardment, Hill 135 and the town of Thélus had been captured, and all that remained by day’s end was the fortified German high point on Hill 145.

After intense fighting on April 11 and into April 12, the Canadians were finally able to dislodge the Germans from their fortifications on Hill 145, brought on by yet another artillery barrage from the British. By sundown on the 12th, Vimy Ridge had been secured for the Allies and would remain in Allied hands until the end of the war. The battle was over. And the impossible had been realized.

Nevertheless, when the dust finally settled, the true cost of Vimy Ridge came to light, with the four divisions suffering over 10,000 casualties, including the 3,600 fatalities and the over 7,000 soldiers who were wounded.

And while the price paid for this victory was great, the importance of Canada’s success at Vimy Ridge cannot be overstated. Not only were they able to do what had previously proved unattainable, but news of this achievement spread up and down the Western Front. And before long, Canadians were viewed by allies and enemies alike as a formidable and independent fighting force. To quote former British Prime Minister Lloyd George, “Whenever the Germans found the Canadian Corps coming into the line, they were prepared for the worst.”

Canada’s story, not unlike the stories of other countries, is made up of moments and events that forever alter the nation’s fabric. While not always obvious at first, upon further reflection, the significance of these points in time becomes increasingly clear.

It can be said and has been said that on the slopes of Vimy Ridge that day, Canada emerged as a nation unto itself and one that was distinct from our British cousins.

In his memoirs on World War I, a brigadier general and member of this Legislative Assembly of Ontario for the riding of Kingston wrote about the Battle of Vimy Ridge, saying, “In those few minutes, I witnessed the birth of a nation.”

As a day of remembrance, Vimy Ridge Day calls on to us to take a moment to pause and reflect on those who made the ultimate sacrifice to secure the ridge all those years ago, and on all who have worn the Maple Leaf and served the cause of freedom. The freedoms we enjoy each and every day have been paid for through the courage, sacrifice and loss shown by brave Canadians from coast to coast to coast. Vimy Ridge Day is a reminder that the act of remembrance is not confined to 11 days in November, but rather is an ongoing and year-round process.

Today, nearly 107 years since the Battle of Vimy Ridge, we no longer have any veterans left who were there and lived through the realities of those days. Nevertheless, we all share in the responsibility to keep their stories and experiences alive and to remind the next generation of their sacrifices.

In February, I was proud to host a Remembrance Day round table alongside the Minister of Education. Together, we were joined by representatives of the Royal Canadian Legion, Historica Canada, the True Patriot Love Foundation and the Vimy Ridge Foundation, as well as members of the Canadian Armed Forces and Cadets Canada—an organization that is very close to my heart, as I was a part of them for a number of years. As a group, we discussed the importance of keeping the essence of Remembrance Day alive, especially for youth and young people, as more and more time passes since these conflicts. We also discussed the need to reframe how remembrance is approached. And while a century has passed since Vimy Ridge, veterans continue to walk among us, having served in Canada’s more recent engagements as peacekeepers in the Congo, Somalia, Rwanda, as well as in the ongoing fight against ISIS and alongside our allies in the war in Afghanistan. We have a shared responsibility to acknowledge the sacrifice and courage by those who are with us, in the same way we do for those who have fought at Vimy Ridge, in World War I and World War II.

As a government, we remain committed to raising awareness and to ensuring Ontario’s young people can engage with this history in a way that reflects Canada’s more recent military history, and is informative, engaging and impresses upon them the significance of moments like the Battle of Vimy Ridge, not just to the war effort, but to a moment that fundamentally impacted Canada’s growth and development into the country we all live in today.

A little over two weeks ago, the House voted to pass the Murray Whetung Community Service Award Act following third reading, and it awaits Her Honour’s royal assent. This new honour and the legacy of Mr. Whetung—one of over 7,000 Indigenous veterans who fought for Canada during the First World War and Second World War. Once established, the award in his honour will recognize an outstanding air, army and sea cadet from each of Ontario’s cadet squadrons who have gone above and beyond for volunteerism and contributions in their community.

In November, my colleague the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development announced an investment of over $4 million to provide men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces who are transitioning to civilian life with access to skills training and resources to find new, in-demand jobs and careers.

Our government knows that we must continue to educate the next generation on the sacrifices and all that our veterans do, but also that we must empower and support those who have served courageously so that they too may find success and opportunity upon returning to civilian life.

Speaker, in closing, I want to leave this House with a line from Canada’s most famous wartime poem, In Flanders Fields by John McCrae: “To you from failing hands we throw / The torch; be yours to hold it high.”

On Vimy Ridge Day and every day, let us continue to carry the torch forward, to honour the memory and courage of those who fought and died for our freedoms, and to recommit ourselves to keeping the stories and the memories of those who have fought and died for our freedoms alive for the next generation and generations to follow.

Lest we forget.

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

Thank you very much.

The next question.

That concludes our question period for this morning.

This House stands in recess until 3 p.m.

The House recessed from 1213 to 1500.

Report adopted.

Report adopted.

MPP Hazell moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 184, An Act to amend the Metrolinx Act, 2006, the Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act and the Shortline Railways Act, 1995 with respect to transportation / Projet de loi 184, Loi visant à modifier la Loi de 2006 sur Metrolinx, la Loi sur l’aménagement des voies publiques et des transports en commun et la Loi de 1995 sur les chemins de fer d’intérêt local en ce qui concerne les transports.

First reading agreed to.

Your committee begs to report the following bill, as amended:

Bill 66, An Act to proclaim Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day and Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week / Projet de loi 66, Loi proclamant la Journée de sensibilisation à la cardiopathie valvulaire et la Semaine de sensibilisation à la cardiopathie valvulaire.

Bill 137, An Act to proclaim Planning for Your Silver Years Awareness Week / Projet de loi 137, Loi proclamant la Semaine de sensibilisation à la planification de l’âge d’or.

This bill amends several acts.

The Metrolinx Act, 2006, is amended to add a new object for Metrolinx requiring it to promote and facilitate the integration of routes, fares and schedules of municipal bike-share systems. Section 29 is amended to require Metrolinx or a subsidiary corporation to ensure that any assets sold or disposed for the purpose of building residential units include at least 20% affordable residential units.

The public transportation and highway maintenance improvement act is amended to specify mandatory maintenance standards for Highways 11, 17 and 69.

The Shortline Railways Act, 1995, is amended to re-enact section 10 of the act, which was repealed by the Getting Ontario Moving Act (Transportation Statute Law Amendment), 2019. The re-enacted section establishes requirements that apply to shortline railway companies that wish to discontinue the operation of a railway line.

Responses?

I rise today to recognize and pay tribute to the brave Canadians who fought valiantly and sacrificed so much during the Battle of Vimy Ridge, a defining moment in our nation’s history.

Speaker, 7,004 Canadians were wounded in the Battle of Vimy Ridge on another continent over a century ago; 3,598 Canadians died. When we take a moment and think of the weight of the sacrifice to Canada, a country, at that time, with just a fraction of our current population, it is staggering. It was a sacrifice that was felt in every corner of our country, as its weighty cost was felt across all communities, within all households.

The price paid by these young Canadians for our freedom was indeed heavy. These were young individuals—some lying about their age. They were not from professional military backgrounds. However, they were our brothers, our fathers, our sons. They were regular people from our streets and from our neighbourhoods. They were called upon to act with duty, to act with courage and to safeguard the homes so many left behind.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge, which occurred between April 9 and April 12, 1917, fought on the already war-scarred landscape of northern France, was a moment that now has become a symbol of Canadian courage in the face of conflict. It is why on April 9 each year, we take a moment to reflect, to take a moment to thank and, most of all, to remember—to remember and to feel the pain of so many.

Speaker, only a few years ago, our nation, our province and our municipalities celebrated the centennial of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

I recall when Niagara spent nearly 10 years and countless hours of work in preparation for celebrating the 100th anniversary of Vimy Ridge—a piece of Canada’s history that was painstakingly restored in Niagara in order to provide a public viewing. At the Lake Street Armoury in St. Catharines, an unveiling of the Vimy Ridge gun, a German artillery gun captured by Canadian soldiers during the battle of Vimy Ridge—the restoration, spearheaded by the Lincoln and Welland Regiment Foundation, involved countless hours steeped in the efforts of our region, showcasing Niagara’s commitment to the honouring of our past. It is a source of pride to honour the citizens, honour the soldiers and the peacekeepers who served. In Niagara, veterans and community members alike stood shoulder to shoulder in our collective recognition for those important events. This is a story from my community about the efforts to recognize and honour those who made the greatest sacrifice at Vimy Ridge.

Each one of us here in this chamber has similar stories. Each community has made similar efforts. Honouring those who have made the great sacrifice is the greatest unifier.

Today, as we reflect on the significance of Vimy Ridge, let us also celebrate the unity and the resilience that have come to define us as Canadians.

Today, Canadian families with a present military tradition or civilian families—together, we all remember that Vimy Ridge defined our nation. Let us remember the lessons of our past, the bold actions and the pivotal moments that define our nation. Their commitment to peace, democracy and justice is the legacy of Vimy—a legacy we continue today as peacekeepers in our Canadian military.

As we honour the memories of those who fought and fell at Vimy Ridge, let us renew our pledge to one another. The imprint that the battle had on Canadian families continues to ripple through all of our communities even today, almost 107 years later.

In closing, as we take a few moments of silence, when you bow your head, try to say, “We will remember them,” but try to feel the fear, the brotherhood and the unity of our heroes, our Canadian military. Let us acknowledge how fortunate we are, as Canadians—for the breadth of the sacrifices of real lives at Vimy Ridge and the high price that was sacrificed. Let us pay gratitude to those who have since paid the ultimate sacrifice, to those who have served our military, and to all who continue to do so today.

As we look forward to the future, let us embrace the legacy of courage and honour, recognizing that Vimy’s legacy is one of peace, solidarity and prosperity.

Lest we forget.