We could have 20 minutes of questions, Speaker. Look, I have a lot of respect for that member. He knows that. But earlier, two of your colleagues, the member from Beaches–East York and the member from Scarborough–Guildwood were talking about highways.

The member from Scarborough–Guildwood was bringing up some of the safety concerns along Highway 69. You know, good concerns, talking about how that highway needs to be twinned, good concerns, talking about some of the other highways in the north that need to be twinned. But then the member from Beaches–East York talked about how Highway 413 shouldn’t be built, how it’s a bad highway, talked about the climate crisis that would come if we built those highways. So my question is—and I didn’t get an answer when I posed it to those two members—what does the Ontario Liberal Party stand for? Do you want to build highways or not? Yes to highways or no to highways?

The member from Scarborough–Guildwood brings up the twinning of Highway 69—an important issue; this government has done more than half of that—and also brings up several other highways because we regard twinning highways as important because people need to get from point A to point B. But what I’m confused about is that the member right next to her just says how it’s no good to build any highways throughout this province. So one member is saying, “Build the highways, expand the highways,” and the member right next door is saying, “Don’t build highways, don’t extend the networks.” So I’m trying to square this.

Speaker, the question back to either member is, which do you stand for: no highways or more highways?

Speaker, I am very happy to keep talking about Scarborough, and let’s get to it, because there’s a lot happening in that member’s riding.

Let’s talk about crews widening the Sheppard Avenue West bridge between Bakersfield Street and Chesswood Drive, for the increased future service that GO expansion is bringing to the Barrie line. In fact, construction is well under way and slated to continue until September this year, with bridge installation set to begin shortly thereafter. This is another vital infrastructure upgrade for our government that we are delivering: game-changing transit, Speaker, that includes GO expansion that will see riders benefit from more than 6,500 weekly trips on the GO network. When you break it down Speaker, what this really means is that we’re ensuring that more people can connect to local transit, work, health care, education and other critical services across the entire region.

Speaker, the Premier said it best: The members opposite did nothing to build transit in this province. That includes the fine people of Scarborough. We’re doing things differently. We’re getting it done for commuters.

The opposition left a giant transit deficit in this province. We’re filling that gap and we’re building record transit—

It is a good question, because we need to increase those transit options. Minister Mulroney and I recently gave official direction to develop an initial business case for an extension of the Sheppard subway. Let’s break it down, Speaker. We’ve asked officials to examine extending the Sheppard line eastwards from its current terminus at Don Mills station to the future Scarborough subway extension, which would serve that very member’s community. But that’s not all.

While the initial business case will focus mostly on the eastward route, we’ve also tasked agency officials to investigate a possible western extension from Sheppard-Yonge station to Sheppard West station. This potential east-west expansion would create a game-changing transit corridor across Toronto’s north for riders across Scarborough, North York and beyond. This is a stark contrast to the Liberals and the NDP who, for decades, did nothing to build transit in any meaningful way. We’re not only cleaning up their mess; we’re building that transit for riders today—

But to turn those plans into reality, we have to get through the red tape. I know the Liberals love the colour red, whether it be ties or tape, but we’ve got to cut through that to actually build that transit. That’s why we passed the Building Transit Faster Act. That’s why our four priority subway projects are well under way. That includes the Sheppard subway east extension’s initial business case by examining track alignments, grade options, storage facility requirements and technology regimes of the potential extension. Speaker, we’re dedicating $1 million to the early planning work on this.

All that is to say, these aren’t just plans; these are reality. We’re bringing transit in a meaningful way to the great people of Scarborough and across this entire province.

Thank you to the member from Scarborough Centre for his question and his non-stop work on behalf of everyone in his constituency.

Speaker, last week the Minister of Transportation and I toured Union Station to see the fantastic improvements that our government is delivering. Some of the terrific enhancements to Union Station include creating two new, wider GO train platforms with canopies; building two new south tracks; and establishing a new south passenger concourse spanning between Bay Street and York Street, so that when the Raptors win the championship or the Leafs win the cup, you can get in and out of the arena a lot easier. In short, these improvements will make travel easier, safer and faster for thousands of riders who rely on the GO Transit network through Union Station each and every single day.

Unlike the NDP, who supported the Liberals when they did nothing to build transit, this government is getting it done for commuters.

Whether you’re coming from Barrie or Hamilton, Bowmanville or from my fine friend from York Mills Collegiate—go Titans—you should be able to get from point A to point B seamlessly.

We have a transit gap that was left by the opposition after decades of building zero transit. This government is filling that gap.

The Ontario Line alone will have trains picking up passengers every 90 seconds.

The Scarborough subway extension will make 34,000 jobs accessible within a 10-minute walk from transit.

The Eglinton West extension, which will finally connect us to Pearson International, will reduce travel times from Yonge and Eglinton to Square One by nearly 15 minutes.

What’s more, Union Station improvements will enable two-way, all-day rail service every 15 minutes or better along the GO rail network.

Unlike the opposition, we believe in building the biggest transit expansion in Canadian history. This government is going to get it done.

That member works really hard for the people of Scarborough, and I thank him for that question.

I’m very happy to inform that member that yesterday we announced that we are allocating up to $505 million so that municipalities can keep local transit systems alive and deliver safe, reliable transit services to the hard-working riders across this province, including those in Scarborough. We heard from our municipal partners, and we are stepping up to the plate once again with historic funding delivered through phase 4 of the Safe Restart Agreement. For instance, nearly $348 million is now being given to the city of Toronto to support the TTC. This is on top of the $1.2 billion we’ve already committed to the city and the TTC through prior Safe Restart funding.

Speaker, improving the transit network isn’t just about laying down track or providing discounts and more options to pay. It requires supporting transit agencies so that hard-working people can get from point A to point B and do it seamlessly.

This is just the beginning. With this funding, we’re making sure that we protect transit. We’re getting it done for commuters in this province.

These most recent investments will make sure we boost ridership in Scarborough, as well as around the province, to ensure that riders get reliably and safely to wherever it is they need to go.

It’s unfortunate that the NDP and the Liberals voted against our previous Safe Restart funding, and given their track record, they’d probably say no to the recent $505 million.

However, unlike the opposition, we will continue to say yes to building world-class transit, yes to connecting the grid, yes to supporting transit agencies. Speaker, this is the only government that’s going to get it done for commuters in Ontario.

It’s an ironic question from the member opposite.

Let’s start with the fact that, as the member should well know, construction project costs around the world are facing economic pressures, with rising inflation and supply chain challenges.

I’m glad, though, that the member brings up the Ontario Line, because this government is the only government that is filling the transit gap that was left by the NDP and Liberals for decades. We’re taking action to fill that gap and putting forward the largest transit expansion plan in Canadian history, to the tune of $61 billion.

Let’s look at the facts. The Ontario Line will see almost 400,000 passengers every single day. It will reduce crowding on existing subways. This will put 57,000 jobs within 45 minutes—commuting to Toronto, and it will put 227,000 people to work.

We’re not going to take any lessons from the NDP on building transit. They simply didn’t do it.

Speaker, that member and that party not only voted against the Ontario Line; they voted against the Eglinton West extension getting us to Pearson airport; they voted against the fine people of Scarborough with the Sheppard East extension; they voted against the Yonge North extension and, of course, the Ontario Line. They even voted against $1.6 billion in Safe Restart funding to keep transit agencies alive during the pandemic.

The reality is, if the NDP had it their way, there would be no transit in Ontario.

This is the only government getting it done for commuters in Ontario.

Thank you very much for the question—and those are the great people of Scarborough calling the member. He’s doing great work. He’s answering that call.

Speaker, we recently marked a crucial milestone in the building of the Ontario Line, the crown jewel in our multi-billion-dollar GTA transit expansion plan. I’m glad to inform the member that on November 9 our government awarded the Ontario Transit Group the contract to design, build and finance the south portion of the Ontario Line, from Exhibition and Ontario Place to the Don Yard portal. We also recently issued two qualification requests for the Ontario Line’s northern segment to support underground station and tunnel building between the Gerrard portal and the Don Valley bridge, as well as the construction of three kilometres of elevated tracks in Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park.

Speaker, for 15 years, Torontonians were stuck with zero transit growth from the NDP-backed Liberals. Well, with this milestone, our government is filling the transit gap that we inherited from the Liberals by building a world-class relief line that will connect riders to the grid and get them from point A to point B.

What’s more, Speaker, riders from Thorncliffe Park, who have needed transit for way too long, will be finally able to commute to the downtown core in speedy time: 26 minutes, from 42.

To the member’s point, it’s called the Ontario Line, and it benefits all Ontarians by supporting 4,700 jobs a year during construction, cutting overall fuel consumption by more than seven million litres a year and generating up to $11 billion in economic activity for our province. In fact, every $1 billion invested in transit helps support 10,000 jobs and boosts Ontario’s real GDP by another $1 billion.

Unlike the Liberals and NDP, we’re saying yes to building transit, yes to connecting the grid, yes to the people of Ontario and to the great people of Scarborough.