My question is for the Premier. This week is National Medical Laboratory Week. Instead of celebrating their important work, the Conservative government is discussing the potential closure of six of the 11 Public Health Ontario labs. Those are labs in Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, Orillia, Hamilton, Kingston and Peterborough.

The mission of Public Health Ontario is to enable informed decisions and get actions that protect and promote health and contribute to reducing health inequities. Closing six of 11 community-based PHO labs goes against that mission. Many of these labs are hundreds of kilometres and several hours from the next closest location.

Closing public labs will increase health inequities and will endanger northern and rural families. We deserve access to the free diagnostics and testing needed to be healthy.

Speaker, not everyone in Ontario knows where Walkerton is, but we all remember what Walkerton was. Seven people died, and 2,300 people became ill.

My question is, will the Premier learn from Walkerton and keep these labs open? Yes or no?

My question is for the Minister of Energy. Ontarians need access to affordable electricity. They never want to return to the days of the skyrocketing hydro rates we had under the previous Liberal government.

People want their homes and their businesses powered by clean and sustainable power. At the same time, they also want to be sure that our government continues to fight the costly Liberal carbon tax and keep costs low.

Can the minister share with this House what our government is doing to ensure Ontarians have clean, reliable and emissions-free energy while the opposition wants to take a step backwards and lean on a terrible carbon tax?

We know that these refurbishments are massive undertakings, and by completing them ahead of schedule and on budget, we are demonstrating that major energy infrastructure projects can be built here in Ontario on time and on budget. That’s why it’s disappointing to see the opposition completely neglect Ontario’s nuclear industry. They would rather support a regressive carbon tax that punishes hard-working individuals and families in Ontario.

Can the minister explain what the NDP and Liberal opposition to our nuclear sector means for our Ontario skilled nuclear workforce and the businesses that make up our nuclear supply chain?

Members will take their seats.

Interjections.

Minister of Transportation.

Please stop the clock. We are 15 minutes into question period and there are a small number of members who are repeatedly ignoring my requests to come to order like I’m not even here. I am here. We’re going to revert to warnings if you completely ignore my requests to come to order. We know where that leads.

Start the clock. The next question.

The supplementary question? The member for Hamilton Mountain.

Thanks to the great member from Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock for the question this morning.

We are continuing to increase the province’s supply of clean, affordable, reliable and safe nuclear power in the member’s own region with four small modular reactors—world-leading small modular reactors that are going in at the Darlington OPG site. We’re refurbishing the Candu reactors that are there. OPG and our building trades and skilled trade workers and engineers are ensuring that those refurbishments aren’t just on time and on budget, they’re actually ahead of schedule and on budget, which is a tremendous success story, and that’s given us the confidence to move forward on the refurbishment of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station.

Just yesterday, I was down announcing a $1-billion refurbishment of the Sir Adam Beck hydroelectric facility in Niagara Falls—clean, reliable water power for our province’s future. We’re building out a clean grid, but it’s the queen of the carbon tax, Bonnie Crombie, and her friend Justin Trudeau, that are increasing the carbon tax, driving people into poverty.

Speaker, 76,000 people are working in Canada’s nuclear sector every day, and 68,000 of them are working in Ontario’s sector, in the supply chain and operating the plants. Those are hard-working people—skilled trades, engineers and plant operators—who get good paycheques every single day. They’re providing almost 60% of the province’s baseload power—clean, reliable, affordable electricity.

It’s our party, it’s our government, under the leadership of Premier Ford, that is supporting not just the current crop of skilled trade workers and nuclear operators, but those who are training to become nuclear engineers in our universities and who are going to be operating the new Candu or large nuclear plants that are being built at Bruce, and the small modular reactors, which are world-leading in the G7, that are coming online later this decade, that are going to continue to provide our province with the clean, reliable, affordable electricity we’ll be able to count on for decades to come.

Yes, I listened to the federal budget yesterday, like a number of Canadians across the country who were disappointed in what they saw.

Listen, massively increasing taxes—not helpful to getting more homes built; massive inflationary spending—not helpful to getting more homes built; inflationary spending, which leads to higher interest rates—not helpful to getting more homes built; not eliminating the carbon tax—not helpful to getting more homes built across the province of Ontario; no path to a return to a balanced budget—not helpful to getting more homes built.

What we saw in yesterday’s federal budget is a government whose spending is out of control, not focused on what matters to the people of the province of Ontario, which is affordability, giving them the opportunity to buy homes and giving the people who build the homes the opportunity to build those homes. We need lower interest rates, Mr. Speaker. We can’t accomplish that with a federal government whose spending is out of control and who will not reduce taxes for the people of the province of Ontario so that we can get our economy moving.

They’re dividing provinces against each other. That’s not what a federal government does. It’s up to Ontario again to lead the way and we will.

Now, Mr. Speaker, where the NDP can be helpful—but we know that they won’t be helpful, colleagues, because unless it’s increasing taxes, unless it’s making things more unaffordable for people—they just talked against the 413, even though they got wiped out in the last election about it. They’re talking against building communities. But where they can be helpful is picking up the phone, calling Jagmeet Singh and saying, “Do not support a budget that does not make the appropriate investments in getting shovels in the ground and making life more affordable for the people of the province of Ontario.” We can move forward with a government in Ottawa that—

Now, we went to Ottawa. We signed a new deal with Ottawa which was roundly applauded by the mayor of Ottawa and which was applauded by the community as a whole. Now a guy who built a train in Ottawa that does not work is giving us advice on infrastructure, coming from a party who, when asked to build bridges in the province of Ontario, built them upside down. So I’ll tell you what we’ll do—

Interjections.

The federal budget came out yesterday, and I’m worried Ontario is going to miss out because the Conservatives are failing to be bold on housing. There is federal housing infrastructure funding available for provinces that say yes to fourplexes and legalizing gentle density, which means this government has two choices: You can either continue saying no to more housing, or you can say yes to fourplexes, to ensure Ontario gets its fair share of infrastructure funding. What is this government going to choose?

Ontario wants you to show leadership on the housing file, and for that to happen you need to make a deal. Is this government going to make a deal with the federal government? Yes or no?

My question is for the Premier. Ontarians know all too well that the Premier’s gravy train is running down the tracks, and it’s filled with his friends, his family and his insiders. In an attempt to make some more friends, the gravy train stopped in Ottawa a couple of weeks ago, where the Premier promised to re-upload Highway 174 to the province. The problem, Mr. Speaker, is that the communications department said things like “potential provincial ownership of the road” and that the deal would “explore and assess the considerations related to ownership.”

Further, Mr. Speaker, the Deputy Minister of Finance signed an agreement that says, relating to Highway 174, “in the event that an asset transfer is considered”—that sounds like a lot of wiggle room for the gravy train to backtrack.

Ottawans know that the Premier often likes to say one thing while his government does something else. So will the Premier commit—yes or no—to re-uploading Highway 174 back to the province before the next election?

Interjection.

Thank you to the great member from Etobicoke–Lakeshore for a very good question. If I could give advice to everybody in the chamber here today and everybody watching on TV: Fill up your cars today. Gas is going up 14 cents a litre tonight, and Bonnie Crombie and the federal Liberals and provincial Liberals do not care.

When we put forward motions and legislation that would keep costs down for Ontarians, the Liberals showed their true colours by voting against every single measure. Even the independent Bank of Canada has come out and said that the carbon tax drives up inflation, yet somehow, the Liberals continue to support it.

Instead, our government is focused on keeping costs down, extending our gas tax cut until the end of the year, helping families save hundreds of dollars. This government and this Premier are the only ones who are standing up for the hard-working people of Ontario.

The Liberals in Ontario are taking their cues from their federal cousins and playing politics that are costing the people of Ontario way too much. But this government won’t stand by and allow Ontarians to be hurt further by the queen of the carbon tax, Bonnie Crombie, and her Liberal Party.

Unfortunately, the federal budget yesterday did not eliminate the punitive carbon tax. Premiers from different political parties across Canada have demanded the government scrap the federal carbon tax, yet the provincial Liberals are playing politics and still not condemning the federal carbon tax. That is why our government is ensuring that no government can ever bring in a punitive carbon tax without first holding a referendum.

Speaker, it’s time the independent Liberals put partisan politics aside and stand with us as we continue to call to scrap the tax.

To reply, the parliamentary assistant and member for Oakville.

Supplementary question?

The next question.

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing can reply.

Interjection.

Supplementary question?

Again, not only are we going to upload Highway 174, we’re going to make sure that transit and transportation in Ottawa actually work. For 15 years, the members opposite had the opportunity to do anything, but they did nothing.

But we’re not only doing that. On the advice, of course, of the members of provincial Parliament from the Ottawa area, we heard about the need to make investments in law and order in some of the parts of Ottawa, in social housing in those areas. I want to thank the member for Nepean and for Carleton for bringing those forward. They played a critical role in helping us negotiate a deal with the city of Ottawa, which the city of Ottawa has said will move that city forward, will ensure that we have a national capital that we can continue to all be proud of. We’ll have safer communities. We’ll have better transit and transportation.

The member for Nepean was fighting for how many years to get an interchange off of—what was it?

My question is for the Minister of Energy, who is always bringing good news to my residents in Richmond Hill.

I wish the federal government could also bring good news to us by scrapping the carbon tax. The carbon tax is making life more expensive for everyone. Residents in my riding of Richmond Hill have raised concerns over the high cost of groceries and gas. They want the federal government to scrap the carbon tax. Unfortunately, their plea fell on deaf ears.

What’s worse is that, under the leadership of carbon tax queen Bonnie Crombie, the independent Liberals continue to endorse this terrible tax. While they choose to ignore the hardships Ontarians continue to face as a result of the carbon tax, our government is fighting for the people.

Speaker, can the minister please tell the House how our government is supporting Ontarians and making life more affordable?

We know it’s really bad news as we go to the pumps. Experts, provincial governments and Ontarians have been clear: The carbon tax is making life more and more unaffordable. Families and businesses feel the burden on their energy bills every month.

Unfortunately, the Liberals are not listening, and they do not care. Earlier this month, they went ahead with a 23% hike on the carbon tax. Speaker, that is ludicrous. The last thing Ontarians need is another tax hike. The carbon tax must be scrapped.

Can the minister please explain why people and businesses in Ontario cannot afford the Liberal carbon tax?

Barnsdale.

I read the same articles about the federal government not appointing enough judges, but we’re not going to stand by and let that be the cause of anything.

When we put $72 million into the criminal backlog strategy, they voted against it. When we hire crown attorneys, when we hire case management coordinators, critical homicide assistants, community justice coordinators, bail vettors, the Ontario Victim/Witness Assistance Program, they vote against it.

We’ve hired over 350 additional full-time people, and we have done things that have changed the system—the digital evidence management. We are the second-largest front line in the government, and our people are working hard. We’re adding to their resources. We’re making sure that they have what they need.

I can’t even believe that the member opposite voted against supporting independent legal advice for sexual assault survivors. They vote against everything that we do. I’ll tell you what they do want, which is to defund police so there are less cases in the system.

I’m going to bring some more good news for the residents of Richmond Hill this morning: Our government is actually trying to make life more affordable for people by reducing the cost of gasoline by 10.7 cents a litre.

Unfortunately, I do have to deliver some bad news, but it’s not because of anything our government is doing. If you heard the organization this morning, Canadians for Affordable Energy, on news, on TV and radio this morning, they’re talking about a 14-cent jump at the pumps tonight.

Part of this is because of the federal carbon tax that increased a couple of weeks ago—a carbon tax that Justin Trudeau, when he had the opportunity to hit the pause button or take it off of the cost of living in Ontario, decided, “No, I’m going to increase it by a whopping 23%.” So, tonight, we’re going to see the price of gas go to a buck 80—a buck 80, on average, across the province. And the teeny, tiny Liberal caucus here is more than happy to support Justin Trudeau’s carbon tax—

Yesterday, the federal Liberals up on Parliament Hill had an opportunity in their budget to provide some relief for the people of Ontario, and they didn’t provide any relief. And now, as a result, tonight, we’re seeing the price of gas increase by 14 cents a litre to a buck 80. It would be a buck 90 if we weren’t taking 10.7 cents a litre, approaching $2 a litre, but that’s what Justin Trudeau and that’s what the queen of the carbon tax, Bonnie Crombie, want to do. They want to make the price of gas more expensive. That’s why they’re putting this federal carbon tax on there, and the queen of the carbon tax is happy to have that federal tax in place.

It’s unacceptable for people who are living in an affordability crisis in Ontario and across the country to have this punitive carbon tax in place. Do what we’re doing: Try and make life more affordable for the people of Ontario.

My question is to the Premier. An Ontario family that has been waiting three years for the trial of the reported murder of their beloved brother has just been told that they’ll have to wait another year, and this is because that is the next available date at the Toronto Superior Court.

Last week, yet another child sexual abuse case was thrown out at the Toronto Superior Court, once again due to court delays. This is all happening under the Premier’s watch.

The first step to getting help is admitting that you have a problem. Yes or no—question to the Premier: Will the Premier admit that public safety is in chaos because the Ontario courts have not been his priority?

We have a record-high historic backlog. This is the worst record across the country. But this government works harder at putting out press releases than they do at fixing the courts. They search for old funding announcements so that they can reannounce them again instead of finding qualified workers to actually staff the courts.

Nathaniel Brettell’s murder trial was delayed yet one more year. His sister told CTV, “My life has been on hold for three years.... I’m suffering badly with survivor’s guilt. Now, with another year on top of that, I’m not in a good place.”

For the families watching: Does the Premier believe that it is reasonable to make Ontario families wait four years for a murder trial date?

Again, my question is for the Premier: The Premier and his government and too many politicians in Ottawa are grasping at straws if they think that a fake deal to upload Highway 174 that won’t happen for years is going to convince anyone.

Just about two years ago, the government published the transportation plan for eastern Ontario. It’s 35 pages on how the government plans to prepare for the future, connect people, improve safety etc. And you know what, Mr. Speaker? You know what there’s no mention of in that transportation plan for the future of eastern Ontario? Highway 174. Highway 174 and 17, which connect eastern Ontario from Hawkesbury through Alfred and Wendover and Rockland and Cumberland and Orléans and all the way into Ottawa—not a single mention in the master transportation plan for the province.

Since the Premier won’t commit to uploading the highway before the next election, will his government commit to updating the plan to ensure that the improvements that are needed for 174 actually happen?

Interjection.

The member for Nepean is warned.

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing can reply.

The supplementary question?

I just got back from Sudbury and Nickel Belt. On a beautiful spring day in northern Ontario, there was lots to say about that, but I think it’s important to just have some context here, Mr. Speaker.

The nation was in the grips of a soap opera called the carbon tax paradise. Trouble in paradise last week as Jagmeet was unsure of his commitment and Justin was confused with the position. By Monday, a tired, broke nation from paying the carbon tax found out that Jagmeet reaffirmed his commitment, embracing the carbon tax on families, communities and businesses.

The next episode started this morning, when Premier Furey from Newfoundland said that he felt baited by the Prime Minister, Mr. Speaker. He says he’s being “very sclerotic in his approach” to this ideological marriage.

Mr. Speaker, we’ve divorced ourselves from the carbon tax fully and completely. We stand up for families and businesses in northern Ontario who are probably looking at a $2-per-litre gas price tomorrow, Mr. Speaker. Scrap the tax.

In Sudbury and Nickel Belt yesterday, I spoke to a young couple who started up a new business, and they’re bringing out all the trail groomers from ski hills and snowmobile trails from across northern Ontario—from Kenora and Timmins all the way down to Sudbury for repairs, okay? And I said, “What is this costing your business?” He said, “It’s almost out of reach.” It doesn’t make financial sense to get this heavy machinery down to their shops in Sudbury.

Mr. Speaker, whether they’re steel fabricators in Nickel Belt or folks that do the real work, preparing for mining equipment—

My question is to the Premier. Every single day, every single question in this House is met with the same response, and we see it again this morning: the carbon tax. So let’s actually talk about it. It’s a distraction from the real issues, like the greenbelt scandal, the health care crisis, the $9.8-billion deficit, the increase in the Premier’s office staff, many of whom are enjoying an income greater than a combined income of families in my riding of Haldimand–Norfolk.

In January, I launched a petition calling on this government to follow the lead of Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe—no response except for carbon tax referendum legislation that does absolutely nothing to help the people of Ontario today. It’s a publicity stunt. So who is actually playing politics with the carbon tax here at Queen’s Park? If the carbon tax is front and centre here at Queen’s Park, then obviously the members opposite could take real action.

Speaker, through you to the Premier: Will this government follow the lead of Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, who is providing real relief to the people of Saskatchewan today?

Interjections.

What this government doesn’t talk about is that it has its own carbon tax on industrial emitters, a result of the scrapping of Ontario’s cap-and-trade system. This government collects compliance payments from the biggest industrial producers of greenhouse gas and will rake in nearly half a billion dollars by 2030. What is happening with that money?

Members opposite might find it cute that they count how many times they say the word “carbon tax” during question period. What I don’t find cute is the families who come to me telling me they’re choosing between heating and eating. If this government will not provide meaningful relief for Ontario families and has no other plan against the carbon tax other than to consult, it’s time you stopped talking about it and focused on the issues you can control here in Ontario.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has truly taken Ottawa on—