Once again, thank you to the great member for the question. Municipalities across Ontario are getting on board, helping to deliver on their housing pledges and to increase supply. But once again, the opposition continues to vote against the best interests of the people across this province. They acknowledged we were in a housing supply crisis, although they can’t seem to agree if it’s real or not, but then voted against our latest housing supply action plan to get more housing supply built. They take to the streets with signs saying they support tenants’ rights, but then they voted no to the single largest renter protection legislation we’ve introduced so far.

It’s our government that’s reducing red tape, we’re freezing costs, we’re giving municipalities the tools needed to build the communities of tomorrow, because we know the NDP—that, once again, no development party—are against getting anything done.

We’re going to continue to work closely with municipalities to address their unique challenges, but we’re going to maintain our laser focus on supporting families and job creators across this province. And I’ll have more to say in supplementary.

Our “helping tenants” package is going to double penalties for unlawfully hiking rents. We’re strengthening those protections against renovictions and we’re giving tenants more rights, including the ability to have air conditioners in their units.

However, if it was up to the NDP, we would have no housing supply, no rental property. It’s this government that’s getting housing built, with the highest yet purpose-built rentals this year. We’re going to continue to do that for the people of Ontario so that we can all benefit.

I really do want to thank the member from Brantford–Brant for this great question. Speaker, we are undertaking thoughtful, impactful actions to address housing affordability and supply for all Ontarians. Our latest action plan allows our government to boost construction while supporting current and future homeowners and renters. It is this government that is protecting tenants from unfair practices. We’re reducing red tape, and we’re assisting first-time buyers, something the NDP once again voted against.

We’ve laid the foundation to increase the supply of market housing so that affordability is within reach for every single community across this province. And, Speaker, I’ve been to Ottawa, Perth county, Wellington and London—right across many communities—and we’ve heard the same about the need and the appreciation for the bold measures our government is taking to combat the housing supply right across this province.

Thank you, Speaker, and good morning. I’d like to thank the member opposite for the question.

Speaker, we all know that Ontario is expected to grow by more than two million people by 2031, with approximately 1.5 million living just in the greater Golden Horseshoe alone. The federal government has also announced that Canada will increase immigration by another 500,000 newcomers by 2025. We know Ontario is expected to get a significant portion of new Canadians, and so we have to start planning now so the next generation of Ontarians have a place to live. The decision we made will result in the construction of at least 50,000 new homes and will expand the greenbelt by approximately 2,000 acres.

Speaker, Ontario’s population reached a historic 15 million people last year, and it’s expected that this growth is going to continue. We are going to get 1.5 million homes built by 2031 because we desperately need it, Speaker.

Speaker, I am so proud to be part of a government that’s taking a responsible, targeted approach to deliver on its plan to build a million and a half homes by 2031. This plan is just part of our larger commitment to make life easier and much more affordable for the people of Ontario.

Speaker, under this Premier and this infrastructure minister, we’re investing more than $159 billion over the next decade to support infrastructure projects including transit, highways, schools, hospitals, long-term-care projects. This transportation minister is building more municipalities while improving local transit. This labour minister—we’re doubling our economic immigrants. And under this economic development minister, we’re attracting $7 billion in St. Thomas.

Speaker, our province is growing. We’re welcoming newcomers. We need to build housing, and we’re going to get it done.

I really do want to thank the member from Brampton North for this very important question.

It was a pleasure to be joined by my Peel caucus colleagues and representatives from the region’s municipalities last month to echo our government’s investment of an additional $202 million every year in our Homelessness Prevention Program and Indigenous Supportive Housing Program. This brings our total annual investment to nearly $700 million. It’s record investments.

But this funding is vital as it helps service managers, like the regional municipality of Peel, provide supportive housing and other supports for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Speaker, we know that supportive housing provides stability that opens doors to better health, employment and independence for those in need. That’s why our government is stepping up and delivering greater investments to the people of this province, which benefit our communities and our economy as a whole.

Our government met with partners and stakeholders right across our province this past fall, and their valuable feedback was key to our improvements to Ontario’s supportive housing system. We recognize that the availability and affordability of housing are closely linked to the supply of homes in our communities. That’s why we’re committed to increasing the supply of housing in the coming 10 years.

We’re pleased to see that many municipalities in Ontario share this goal, like Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon, who have collectively pledged to build a total of 246,000 homes. These pledges demonstrate a solid commitment to increasing housing supply and ensuring that residents have access to affordable housing.

Speaker, only by working together can we ensure that all Ontarians have access to safe, affordable and suitable housing.

I’d like to thank the member from Carleton for her question. This government has been given a strong mandate to ensure that Ontarians have access to safe and secure housing. We’re taking action to deliver on our mandate by encouraging innovative approaches to home ownership and housing supply, including tiny homes, second units and laneway suites.

We regularly update our building code to take advantage of technological advances, innovative new solutions and expert research, all while reducing red tape and making it easier and faster to build new homes. Through our Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, we are also proposing to continue streamlining developments and approvals while making it easier to train and recruit building inspectors.

Our government is committed to keeping Ontarians safe while also laying a solid foundation to address Ontario’s housing supply crisis over the long term.

I want to thank the member from Brantford–Brant for the tireless work that he does, and for this important question.

Our government is committed to providing the resources they need to combat homelessness and poverty. We are investing an additional $1.8 million into that community, bringing the total amount of provincial funding to almost $7 million, a nearly 34% increase, Speaker. This money will be used to fund the Homelessness Prevention Program and the Indigenous Supportive Housing Program, which will provide substantial support to those who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of being homeless.

Our government recognizes the critical relationship between housing supply and homelessness, and that’s why we’re working to ensure that all Ontarians have access to affordable housing and safe housing, no matter where they live.

We’re working with the 29 largest and fastest-growing municipalities to increase housing density around major transit station areas and other priority growth areas like the downtown.

We’re working hard to ensure that all residents have access to the resources they need and we’re committed to providing municipalities with the tools that they require to do so. Since being appointed associate minister I’ve been meeting people in many communities, talking to our great members from this caucus from all of these regions. The consensus is clear: Unlike the previous Liberal government, who neglected communities like Brantford–Brant, we recognize that every community in Ontario deserves the same opportunity to grow and to prosper.

Under the leadership of this Premier and this minister, our government is investing billions of dollars into transit and infrastructure as we accelerate the construction of new homes in all parts of the province. And, Speaker, we’re going to get it done.