This petition is called “Pass Anti-Scab Labour Legislation”—Speaker, as you know, very dear to my heart. The short version of this as a summary is that without anti-scab legislation, strikes, labour disputes and lockouts tend to last a lot longer. The ACTRA lockout is a great example of that because they’ve been locked out now for more than two years.

What they’re asking for is for legislation that would be similar to British Columbia and Quebec’s and, probably by the end of the day, Speaker, legislation that will be at the federal level as well, with the passing of the federal legislation. They ask for the support on this to shorten strike and labour disputes and lockouts, and also to give the collective power to the workers to be able to negotiate fair contracts.

They have asked specifically for the legislation that existed under the previous NDP government to be reinstated and to support and pass provincial anti-scab labour bills, like NDP Bill 90, the Anti-Scab Labour Act, which—

One of the main concerns has to do with the water testing. If that wasn’t provided, it would cost people about $150 to have it done. As well, they provide all the medical testing that many of us got to be aware of during COVID-19. They’re concerned about closing six of the 11 Public Health Ontario labs and what that effect would have in rural and northern Ontario communities, especially the inequities that a lot of these communities have.

I’m proud to support the petition. I’ll affix my signature and provide it to page Tristan for the table.

This petition is entitled “To Raise Social Assistance Rates.” It illustrates that during CERB, the basic income was basically pegged at $2,000 a month and compares it to the income for OW at $733 a month or $1,308 for a single individual on ODSP. It been signed by 230 organizations. They recommend that the social assistance rates be doubled for both Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program. It also points out that it is a time of startling inflation. It has become more urgent than ever.

I support this petition. I’ll affix my signature and provide to page Farhan for the table.

The petition is calling for the establishment of a committee with the mandate to fix and improve the Northern Health Travel Grant. This committee would make recommendations to the Minister of Health to improve access to health care in northern Ontario through adequate reimbursement of travel costs.

It’s a very reasonable petition. I support this. I’ll affix my signature and provide it to page Jasnoor for the table.

The petition is requesting that they pass legislation to help provide safety zones and form an advisory committee to be struck to protect 2SLGBTQI+ communities from hate crimes.

I support this petition, I’ll affix my signature and provide it to page Ethan for the table.

Basically, it talks about the cost of tuition and the increase. What they’re asking for is ultimately free and accessible education for all to drive our economy and our province forward; a transition to grants instead of loans; and they want to ensure that students continue their right to organize, as was upheld in the courts recently.

I support this petition as well, I’ll affix my signature and provide it to page Farah for the table.

This really is about helping people who are struggling to survive at a time of just alarming inflation increases. The people on the petition are petitioning for the Legislative Assembly to double social assistance rates for both OW and ODSP.

I support this petition, I’ll affix my signature and provide it to page Tristan for the table.

Resuming the debate adjourned on February 22, 2024, on the motion to recognize newly elected members of provincial Parliament.

Thank you to my colleagues across the aisle for talking about this. I know previously in debate there was a lot of focus on farming, because of the member who was speaking. I appreciate the conversation about pets.

I have two rescue dogs, and my wife really loves Petsave. One of the dogs came from Petsave. A lot of the work they do for these dogs who have been really abused, abandoned or just simply neglected is that they work with vet techs and veterinarians to provide the care and services they need. These vets and vet techs have the ability to donate their time to help these animals recover and have better lives.

I’m just wondering: In the bill, will this allow the flexibility for vet techs and veterinarians to be able to continue to provide these services or perhaps be able to do more of this sort of work?