Today I want to talk about above-guideline rent increases. Every week, we talk to residents in buildings who are facing an above-guideline rent increase. When we talk to them, their reaction is fear and worry and confusion, because they already pay rent that is so high, and then they’re getting another rent increase. They’re very worried about it.

A new report just came out showing that it is actually Canada’s biggest and most profitable landlords that are using and abusing the AGI system. They are frequently applying for and getting above-guideline rent increases approved by the Landlord and Tenant Board. Almost all of these companies can easily cover the cost of maintaining their buildings with the millions they collect in rent. They are some of the most profitable companies in Canada. But they are choosing to apply for an above-guideline rent increase because Ontario law lets them get away with it. And it is renters who pay the price.

We have also discovered a very new, worrying trend, which is that once an above-guideline rent increase expires and renters are eligible for a rent reduction, the landlord is failing to tell them about it and not giving them the rent reduction that they are entitled to and deserve.

We raised this issue with the Attorney General. And what was his response? He dismissed it. I think that is a shame.

It is time to bring in strong rent control in Ontario and crack down on AGI abuse. The affordability of our province is at stake.

Earlier this week, constituents in my riding of Mississauga Centre were thrilled to hear that our government has added more than 300 new weekly trips to support two-way, all-day GO. This investment into the Lakeshore West and Milton lines will significantly improve the commute for constituents in my riding, and it demonstrates our government’s commitment to building and investing in Ontario.

Time after time, budget after budget, our government has shown our commitment to building transit faster.

Speaker, I am very proud to inform my constituents about the many ways our government is making life easier and more affordable.

The One Fare policy implemented earlier this year is a prime example, which is saving commuters thousands of dollars annually.

And in last month’s budget, we announced that we are bringing back the Mississauga downtown loop. The Hazel McCallion LRT will now have the downtown loop as part of its official plans, adding a two-kilometre extension looping around Mississauga’s city centre.

This is great news for my constituents, as we continue providing easier and faster access to public transit, right in the heart of our communities.

Mr. Speaker, after years of Liberal indifference, our province was left severely behind other jurisdictions when it came to transit infrastructure.

With the strong leadership of Premier Ford, Minister Sarkaria and Minister Thanigasalam, our government will continue to get it done and keep Mississauga moving.

It’s a real honour today to welcome Young Politicians of Canada, who are here today meeting with members from all sides of the House to talk about how youth can get involved in politics. I’d like to welcome Jaden Segal-Braves, Jake Patrick Medley Barton, Giulia Rachel Di Lollo, Anthony Saiters, Jacqueline Ching Hui Liu and Juan Esteban Loaiza Neira. I look forward to meeting with you this afternoon.

I also want to give a shout-out to the St. Francis Xavier secondary school students from Mississauga who I met with this morning.

I’m delighted to welcome to the Legislature today 60 English students from the Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre, the agency where I used to work as executive director before being elected. They’re here to learn about the Legislature. They’re studying for their citizenship and excited to vote one day. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

The Minister of Long-Term Care.

The member for Sudbury.

I’d like to introduce some of my colleagues from OPSEU/SEFPO who are here: President JP Hornick, Kathleen Arnup, Geoffrey Cain, Sara Fraser and Shannon Morris. I look forward to seeing them and many more of their colleagues next week at the OPSEU convention.

I’d like to welcome my constituents Maria-Luisa Tonelli and Sergio Tonelli, who are here at Queen’s Park today to see their granddaughter Ruby, the head page for the day. Welcome to Queen’s Park, and I wish you a wonderful day.

I’d like to welcome Lorna Hudson and Stacy-Ann Dyer-McNish from YES Employment Services in Thunder Bay. Welcome to the Legislature.

I would like to continue the list from my colleague the member from Sudbury and welcome more folks from OPSEU: Casey McGuire, Andrew Ruszczak, Cody Williams, RM Kennedy and Michael Gilmour, who is watching from home.

I’m also pleased to welcome my friend Tricia Jacobs to the Legislature today, and my executive assistant, Heather Lambert-Hillen, is also joining us today. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Good morning, everyone. I would like to introduce super Seren and fabulous Fatih from the Society of Turkish Engineers and Architects in Canada in our House today.

Also, I would happily meet the member for Willowdale at the reception tonight.

I’m very happy to welcome Samuel Farkas, University of Waterloo. He’s the brother of my hard-working ministry staff Ruth Farkas. Welcome to your House.

J’aimerais souhaiter la bienvenue à l’AFO, l’Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario : M. Fabien Hébert, président; Peter Hominuk, directeur général; et Bryan Michaud, directeur des politiques et des relations gouvernementales. J’ai eu la chance d’avoir de belles discussions avec eux ce matin. J’ai bien hâte de participer à leur évènement ce soir dans les nouveaux édifices du Collège Boréal de Toronto, le cocktail dans le cadre des journées de réflexion sur la santé en français 2024.

Au nom des Franco-Ontariens, merci pour votre travail. Vous êtes toujours bienvenus à Queen’s Park.

It’s an absolute pleasure to welcome the St. Francis Xavier model Parliament to Queen’s Park, with Ananya Agarwal, Caitlyn Chin, Joshua Dcunha, Anushka Desai, Angelina, Arianna, Gunar, Alex, Sara, Larry, Swasti, Jordan, Suriya, Amanda, Hannah, Francis, Aryan, Evan, Zaid, Tiya and everyone. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I, too, would like to welcome the Young Politicians of Canada, who I met with in the office this morning. They’ll be around Queen’s Park, so when you see them, say hello. They’ve got a lot to say.

It’s my pleasure this morning to welcome students from Our Lady of Grace Catholic School in Angus, Ontario. Welcome. Enjoy the session.

From my hometown of Amherstburg in the great riding of Essex, I’d like to welcome Philomena and Larry Elliott. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

As we know, this is National Volunteer Week, and so it’s my pleasure to be able to introduce six students from my community, who are active volunteers in my office: Arthur Chao, Sagan Garg, Armaan Moon, Logan Stitt, Molly Zhang and Emma Wunderlich.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, we launched the largest GO expansion in over a decade: a 15% increase in weekly trips; 300 new weekly trips for trains and for commuters across many lines, whether that’s Lakeshore West, Lakeshore East, the Stouffville line, the Kitchener line. This is our government’s commitment to get people moving. And of course, the NDP wouldn’t support that, just like the previous Liberal government, for 15 years, did absolutely nothing on public transit. I expect nothing less than when we launched the largest expansion of GO rail transit in over a decade that they would oppose that, just like they’ve opposed every one of our investments into public transit and getting people moving faster.

We will continue to invest in public transit and increase services across our networks.

I’m so pleased to introduce the Young Politicians of Canada, who are joining us here today, and students from the model Parliament of St. Francis Xavier secondary school in Mississauga—a group I’ve met with many times—and their accompanying teachers, Mark Saad, Carol Ann McQuaid and Abbie Elsie.

Thank you so much for coming, and welcome to your House.

It’s hard to think of an announcement that this government hasn’t had to reverse in shame.

My question to the Premier is, has his government considered talking to people who actually use transit to get to work instead of their million-dollar man, Phil Verster?

There are 82 Metrolinx vice-presidents on the latest sunshine list—82.

The Premier gave the Metrolinx CEO a 65% raise while he was still fighting to keep teachers and education workers and other public sector workers at 1%. He went to court over that.

Even with all of these highly paid executives, Metrolinx still can’t say when the Eglinton Crosstown P3 is going to open.

So my question is, why does the Premier keep rewarding Metrolinx for failing to deliver for the people of Bloor-Weston?