Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Report continued from volume A.

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Resource Management and Safety Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 sur la gestion des ressources et la sécurité

Continuation of debate on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 228, An Act to enact the Geologic Carbon Storage Act, 2024 and to amend various Acts with respect to wildfires, resource safety and surveyors / Projet de loi 228, Loi édictant la Loi de 2024 sur le stockage géologique de carbone et modifiant diverses lois concernant les incendies de végétation, la sécurité des ressources et les arpenteurs-géomètres.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Questions?

Mrs. Robin Martin: Thank you to the MPP for Thunder Bay–Superior North for her comments.

Safety is always a legitimate concern, but the environmental lobby—the members on the other side, with the opposition and the Greens and the Liberals—are always pushing back against change. A prolonged opposition to all types of new technologies—like nuclear energy, for example, or carbon capture and storage—has actually caused profound, tangible harm to the very goal of emission reduction and clean energy in Ontario and around the world.

As rising energy demands crash into emission-reduction targets, now we can no longer afford to say no to these technologies. Will the opposition get on board and make Ontario have a future that is clean, that is green and that is successful and prosperous? Will you get on board with the carbon capture and storage technology?

MPP Lise Vaugeois: It’s interesting to me, because it’s clear from your remarks that you’re ideologically opposed to anything from the environmental movement. That’s unfortunate, because, again, it’s a very one-sided view of the possibilities before us for the kind of substantial changes that are actually needed in this society to have a chance of a so-called clean, green and beautiful future.

And frankly, the description of nuclear energy as clean, green and beautiful—please. You must account for the mining of uranium and the holes that are left in the ground in northeastern Ontario that are very unsettling for the people who live there, and the burying of nuclear waste, which will continue and continue and continue—

Mrs. Robin Martin: We’re getting greenhouse gases underground.

MPP Lise Vaugeois: You’re getting rid of greenhouse gases, but you’re creating another problem.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Questions?

Ms. Aislinn Clancy: The Auditor General, in 2022, did a value-for-money audit on management of hazards and emergencies in the environment. It stated that while British Columbia had over 150 FireSmart communities when the report was published, Ontario had one.

I’m glad they’re trying to put a plan together for fire, but what’s your take on the last six years of planning for fire season, and where is this going to get us?

MPP Lise Vaugeois: Thank you for the question. Unfortunately, I think the government has been pretty much missing in action on this file. We’ve seen so much avoidance about taking up the issues of wildland firefighters, let alone the challenges of municipalities. Many of these municipalities are actually really struggling with major infrastructure challenges.

We do need the government to be proactive about funding and delivering FireSmart programs to municipalities, but unfortunately the commitment has not been there to do that. I hope it’s here in this bill, but the mechanics are not in the bill, so we don’t actually know if it’s going to happen or not.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Further questions?

Ms. Laura Smith: Speaker, Ontario’s professional land surveyors are essential to getting the job done, and the growing demand for land-surveying services is driven by our government’s actions to create economic growth and prosperity. But sadly, the Surveyors Act has changed little since 1987.

Al Jeraj, the executive director of the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors, has said that he’s very “pleased to see the Ministry of Natural Resources’ proposed changes to the Surveyors Act,” because they believe this will expand the scope and allow for more surveyors, which are desperately needed to grow this province. So as the demand for safe, affordable housing and infrastructure continues to rise, land surveyors will remain essential in building the future of our province.

The member opposite says they want to support Ontario’s rapid infrastructure and housing development needs. My question to the member opposite is: Will she support the proposals in the bill to help attract more surveyors to the profession, to support their key roles in helping ensure access to safe and affordable housing options?

MPP Lise Vaugeois: Well, I’m not sure if the implication is that we don’t have safe, affordable housing under this government because we don’t have enough surveyors; I don’t think that is the issue. As I said in my discussion, probably we do need more surveyors. Probably it’s a good thing to bring them in from other places. I just want to be confident that when a surveyor comes here, they have the local knowledge.

Again, you present a huge bill. We need to be able to discuss the details, resolve questions and then move forward. It’s not a question of being opposed to having more surveyors; of course I would love to have more surveyors. It’s only a question of just being confident that we are actually bringing due diligence to each question.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Questions?

Mr. Ted Hsu: There was a press release two days ago, and I just want to quote from it to give context to this question. It said regarding carbon storage that this would also lower carbon costs for Ontario industries by nearly $1 billion per year. The problem with that, which I think makes it misleading, is that nobody has any idea exactly what the final cost of carbon sequestration will be. That’s the result that you can draw from the many pilots that have been ended or have been stopped. That’s why we have to keep doing research.

So there’s no way you can put a number to it like $1 billion. I was wondering if the honourable member would like to comment on that. This press release was actually from the Ontario government two days ago, with regard to this very bill.

MPP Lise Vaugeois: Thank you very much for the question. We often see these big numbers put out, but we need to actually see the sources, the evidence. It sounds like the knowledge is actually there. The government isn’t telling us, really, what it’s going to cost, what it has cost in other places, what is the potential cost here or what are the geological issues here for our part of the world, our part of the province.

So, yes, the lack of costing is very concerning. If it has been a problem elsewhere with cost overruns or unsuccessful pilot projects, why are we pushing ahead at breakneck speed with something that there are good reasons to have concerns about?

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Further questions?

Mr. Guy Bourgouin: Thank you for your speech. We’ve seen in this bill that it says “adequate consultation” with First Nations. With the history of this government with consultation with First Nations—this storage will be done on traditional territories of First Nations, and we’ve seen, what, seven First Nations communities now suing the government because they haven’t consulted? One example is all the mining claims they have done without consulting with First Nations. There are thousands of mining claims without consultation.

Do you feel comfortable that the language that is in this bill will address the concerns of First Nations about consultation with First Nations?

MPP Lise Vaugeois: Thank you very much for the question, to the member from Mushkegowuk–James Bay, if I got that right.

Mr. Guy Bourgouin: Mushkegowuk–James Bay.

MPP Lise Vaugeois: Ah, Mushkegowuk.

But thank you for the question, and no, I don’t think it’s okay. The government likes to talk a big game about its relationship with First Nations, but in fact, there have been many, many First Nations who are deeply unhappy with the bulldozer approach of this government. When you use a word like “adequate” instead of “free, prior, informed consent,” that’s already a signal that you’ve given yourself a free pass to actually do what is required.

So, yes, I’m very concerned about that. We have situations—for example, Ginoogaming with the bridge that’s not working, really unable to get the province and federal government to solve the problem. I’ll stop there.

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The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Questions?

Mr. Deepak Anand: The question to the member is about, again, the Geologic Carbon Storage Act. If you go on ontario.ca, you will see the discussion paper started on January 2022, so almost over two years—close to two years. And followed by clarifying the intent and demonstrating, and then we came to this conclusion.

So on one side, we hear all the time about carbon-emission reducing, and now we’ve got an opportunity. Why are you not—

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Back to the member for a response.

MPP Lise Vaugeois: I guess my question is—you’ve had two years to think about it. Why can’t we at least get a full debate and have fulsome consultations? That’s what we’re asking for. Why is the government pushing this through and trying to do it without adequate consultation and debate?

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Further debate? I recognize the member from Mississauga–Malton.

Interjection.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): I apologize. I’m going to have to recognize the member for Kingston and the Islands.

Mr. Ted Hsu: Thank you very much, Speaker.

I’m very happy to rise to speak to this bill, and I believe that this bill largely does useful things. In a lot of ways, Ontario’s way of managing wildfires and the wildland firefighting system and abandoned wells needs updating. Climate change and global heating force us to improve wildland firefighting, and the climate emergency forces us to seriously try out carbon sequestration. I look forward to watching this bill progress through debate in committee, where certain clauses can be thoroughly scrutinized, and I want to talk about that later on—two issues arising from schedule 1 and schedule 2 of the bill.

But before talking about schedule 1, which is regarding wildland fires, I just want to pause and recognize the wildland firefighters—the crews on the ground, radio operators, pilots—who all work very hard when they need to fight fires. And to recognize that one of the things we need to do to deal with the shortage in skilled workers, people is to have good pay and working conditions. So I want to recognize them for the work that they do before I dive into this legislation.

Now, one clause I’d like the committee to look into when we go into committee stage is the additional powers given to a wildland fire compliance officer; this is a term that’s used in the legislation. There are powers to inspect computers, which I’ll talk about, and while I understand that these powers may be similar to those in other acts, I think that we should verify through witness testimony at committee—instead of cancelling witness testimony, which was done to speed Bill 223 through committee.

I want to quote from the legislation about the powers during inspection. It says that “the wildland fire compliance offer may”—and I’m going to skip a few lines—“use or require the use of a computer system for the purposes of”—one of the things is—“producing a readable record from the computer system.” This is a computer system of a person that the inspector thinks is necessary to question.

In fact, another question that we should investigate in committee is the fact that this wildland fire compliance officer may “remove any computer hardware, software and any other data storage” hardware in the act of doing this investigation.

The power to look at somebody’s computer, look at your computer, or to take it away in order to extract information, that’s a pretty serious power. Perhaps it is structured in a way that is okay, but I think that in committee we should be calling on a witness, just to check and make sure that we’re not violating any rights, or maybe requiring that a court get involved to say that it’s okay to produce a warrant—a search warrant, for example. I think we need to just make sure, to make that check so that we’re not creating any powers that can be abused.

Again, what I’m worried about is that I want to ask the government not to curtail the ability of witnesses to come and give us this information, as they did with Bill 223. I think there are a lot of people who have experiences with regard to Kingston’s Integrated Care Hub, and testimony from those people and people like them won’t be heard regarding Bill 223.

I want to turn now to carbon capture and sequestration, which is an important topic. The idea is that we would be capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing carbon dioxide, which causes global warming, in deep underground rock formations, preventing them from entering into the atmosphere. Geologic storage of carbon is important, because we have a serious problem: the heating of the earth because of the burning of fossil fuels and the accumulation of gases like CO₂, which cause heat to remain trapped on earth.

Now, I’m glad that the regulatory framework in this bill makes special reference to research and evaluation. The reason is that, to date, attempts at carbon sequestration—and there have been pilots in Canada and elsewhere in the world—have been foiled by the cost of sequestration. It doesn’t mean we should stop. It doesn’t mean it’s not going to work. It means we do have to continue to do research and evaluation of what technology has worked well on the first try or been inexpensive at the beginning.

But it’s important to remember that carbon sequestration works well if it can pay for itself. If the cost of sequestration does not exceed the economy-wide price put on greenhouse gas emissions in the first place—because you always have to ask the economic question: Which way is cheaper, putting a price on emissions or paying to bury them after the fact? The research and the evaluation is going to answer that question. People are going to try different things. I hope they try it out in Ontario, because I want Ontario to be a place where people do research and do innovative things, and invest in research and innovation, but it’s really important to keep this idea in mind.

Now, the government has said something very irresponsible, I think, and unjustified in its press release dated November 25, just two days ago. Let me just quote from that press release: “The government projects that carbon storage could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5 to 7 million tonnes annually while creating approximately 4,000 short-term jobs. This would also lower carbon costs for Ontario industries by nearly $1 billion per year, positioning the province as a global leader in clean resource management.” That’s a quote from the government’s press office.

However, nobody knows—nobody has any idea—what the cost of carbon sequestration will be in the end. Right now, it’s not cost-effective. You don’t know what the price is going to be at the end. You don’t know how economic it’s going to be. You don’t know how much carbon you’re going to be able to sequester at what price, so this statement from the government of Ontario in its press release is misleading. The bill may be sound, but this government’s spin is misleading and it’s completely unjustified, and I think it’s a dangerous thing to say.

Now, I want to talk about a detail in the bill that needs to be checked in committee. This is, again, schedule 2 regarding carbon sequestration. There were some things that any carbon sequestration project—

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): I apologize to the member. We cannot use the term “government spin.” It is misleading.

Mr. Ted Hsu: Okay. I withdraw “government spin.”

In schedule 2, certain regulations do not apply to certain kinds of injection of carbon dioxide into the ground. It makes sense in a way. I’m referring to—and I’ll just quote from the legislation—“(a) the injection of carbon dioxide underground as part of a project to enhance oil or gas recovery undertaken in accordance with the Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act.”

Carbon dioxide storage has to be regulated very carefully, because it has to be permanent. By “permanent,” I can actually put a number to that. It’s thousands of years, because that’s how long the excess CO₂ will stay in the atmosphere. In order to permanently reduce the heating of the earth, the carbon dioxide has to stay in the ground for a few thousand years.

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Subsection 11(1): Those rules about any carbon sequestration project don’t apply to carbon dioxide injected into the ground for oil and gas extraction. If that is the case, we have to make sure that there will be no credit—and these are the carbon credits—given for such injection because they aren’t going to be checked to be permanent or not. Remember that these credits are sometimes what oil and gas companies are looking for to incentivize, to help pay for underground storage of carbon dioxide in oil- and gas-bearing formations. We just have to make sure that this isn’t a loophole, which is why it would be a good idea to hear witnesses at committee, and why I call on the government to not cancel any witness testimony for this bill as they did for Bill 223.

In conclusion, Speaker, I think that there are some good things in this bill. I think in principle it is supportable, but we really do have to look at some details in committee. It is, as my honourable colleague from the NDP mentioned, a bill with a lot of pieces. We’ve got to hear from stakeholders and experts, just to check that all of the pieces of the bill do what we think they’re going to do. Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): It’s now time for questions.

M^me Dawn Gallagher Murphy: To the member opposite, I appreciate your comments this evening, speaking specifically about carbon management strategies. As you know, decarbonizing energy-intensive industries with large, fixed infrastructure is technically very challenging. And yet, these industries do need to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions to help jurisdictions in which they operate so that they can achieve these important climate goals and themselves remain competitive.

Now, in jurisdictions like here in Canada that have imposed—the federal Liberal government has imposed a federal carbon tax on industrial carbon emissions. Lowering these emissions is definitely economically important to—

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Response?

Mr. Ted Hsu: I thank my honourable colleague from the government side for bringing up this point—in fact, my point—which is that we don’t know if carbon capture and storage in deep geological formations or any other kind of carbon sequestration will be, in fact, more expensive than what we might be paying for right now.

That’s why we have to do the research and evaluation. I think that’s a good part of this bill, that it sets aside special rules for research and evaluation. But it could well be—we don’t know yet—that it will actually be more expensive to do carbon sequestration. I’m not saying that it is, but you can’t complain about cost in the economy right now for carbon emissions, because you have to realize that other methods of dealing with emissions may be more expensive.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Further questions?

Ms. Sandy Shaw: I want to pick up where you left off answering that question. There are so many unanswered questions in this bill, and I think, really, what we need to have clarity on is that the government is putting this forward as essentially the only solution to be net-zero. They do nothing around conservation; they do very little around renewable. And then they—listen to us talk about abandoned oil and gas wells that are an example of putting all your eggs in one basket in technology.

It’s still costing taxpayers in that they haven’t done their due diligence when it comes to whether or not this is actually going to be an effective technology. And really, how much is this going to cost taxpayers? We don’t know.

Mr. Ted Hsu: Yes, it is very sad that we may have to pay a lot of money to deal with old, abandoned gas wells, for example. We don’t quite know what caused the big explosion in Wheatley, but it could be related to extraction of fossil energy in the past. This just tells us that if we aren’t careful today, people generations from now will have to pay a very high cost.

To be fair to the government, I don’t think, as my honourable colleague from the NDP said, that this is the only thing the government is doing. I would say the government is doing other things, but they need to do more of the other things. I just think some of the rhetoric expects too much from carbon sequestration before we know how cost-effective it will be.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Further questions?

Ms. Laura Smith: As Ontario is Canada’s largest economy, and Ontario is facing higher emissions from its industrial sector than the rest of the country, and this bill presents a proven solution to address those emissions—initial commercial-scale carbon storage projects in southwestern Ontario alone could reduce our total annual emissions by 3% to 4% while directly contributing to our climate targets.

Given all of this, Speaker, can the member opposite please explain to the House if they would support a bill that supports our industries and helps Ontarians meet our climate targets with a solution that’s already proven in other provinces and around the world?

Mr. Ted Hsu: Okay. I don’t think—the member may not have heard everything that I said earlier, but the point is, it’s not proven. The member mentioned other provinces. There was a pilot in Saskatchewan that wasn’t successful in terms of the cost of sequestration.

We know that we can sequester carbon dioxide in geological formations—yes, we do—but, so far, it has been too expensive. It may not be expensive after we do research and evaluation and try out new techniques. I like that about the bill, that it takes that into account. But it is wrong to say that this is a proven technology because it has to be proven in terms of cost before any industry would pay the cost to sequester carbon in this way.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Further questions?

Mr. Deepak Anand: My question is to the member.

As we know, each year the Ministry of Natural Resources protects people, property, communities and economic activity from the threat of wildfires across the province and often sends resources around the country. We heard that recently.

This government is making a historic investment to keep the people of Ontario safe. A commitment to fire and life safety is in this bill, so my question to the member is very simple: Are you going to support the proposals made in this bill to maintain public safety, protect communities and ensure the safety of all wildland firefighters and staff?

Mr. Ted Hsu: It would be hard for anybody to be voting against safety.

When I look at this bill, I can see that at second reading, it could be supported, but I think we need to look at the details because this bill is quite long and has a lot of words in it.

That’s why in my speech, I called upon the government to not cancel witness testimony like it did for Bill 223. There are a few things—and I pointed out a couple of them—that I would like to check from experts, from stakeholders, just to make sure that there aren’t any hidden things in this bill that we have to amend.

M^me Dawn Gallagher Murphy: Thank you again to the member opposite for his speech this evening. Something I’d like to highlight—

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): We only have 20 seconds left. Quick question.

M^me Dawn Gallagher Murphy: What I’d like to ask—

Interjection.

M^me Dawn Gallagher Murphy: Am I too late? Can I ask?

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): We have 10 seconds.

M^me Dawn Gallagher Murphy: Well, no. Thank you very much.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Would you like to say anything? You have seven seconds.

Mr. Ted Hsu: I enjoyed this debate and the questions from the Progressive Conservative members.

Second reading debate deemed adjourned.

Private Members’ Public Business

Ukrainian Heritage Month Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 sur le Mois du patrimoine ukrainien

Mr. Sabawy moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill 215, An Act to proclaim the month of September as Ukrainian Heritage Month / Projet de loi 215, Loi proclamant le mois de septembre Mois du patrimoine ukrainien.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Pursuant to standing order 100, the member has 12 minutes for his presentation.

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Mr. Sheref Sabawy: In his maiden speech to Parliament, Senator Paul Yuzyk said, “In Canada, we have the world in miniature. World peace and order could be achieved if the principles of unity in continuing diversity, brotherhood, compromise, and the recognition of the freedom and dignity of individuals and nations are honestly applied.”

Senator Yuzyk was a second-generation Canadian of Ukrainian ethnicity. He was nicknamed the “father of multiculturalism” because he recognized that every group of Canadians, regardless of their race or ethnicity, bring value to our common heritage.

In fulfillment of this multiculturalism, and with the goal of continuing this tradition of respect and diversity, I am happy to rise in the House to put forward the Ukrainian Heritage Month Act, 2024. This bill would, if passed, proclaim September as Ukrainian Heritage Month in Ontario. This would be an opportunity to recognize the amazing accomplishments of Ukrainian Canadians and celebrate Ukrainian culture and heritage.

Madam Speaker, Canada and Ukraine have a unique and special relationship. Canada was the first country to formally recognize Ukraine following its independence in 1991. Today, our two countries have strong economic ties and trade, and we are allies in the fight to protect human rights and maintain international peace. Ontario will always stand alongside Ukraine as partners in international peace and prosperity.

Ontario is home to over 340,000 people of Ukrainian heritage; Canada as a whole has over 1.2 million. In fact, outside of Ukraine, Canada is home to the second-largest diaspora of Ukrainians. A large community of Ukrainian people have settled here because they knew that Ontario is a place of peace, freedom and opportunity. In turn, Ukrainian Canadians have made significant contributions to our society, and they have made many accomplishments of note.

The Ukrainian community in Canada includes philanthropists, religious leaders, business owners, veterans, political figures and even a Supreme Court justice. Whether in the courtroom or in Parliament or on the beaches of Normandy, Ukrainian Canadians have fought for our rights and freedoms. From rural farms to the big cities, Ukrainian Canadians worked hard, built businesses and strengthened our economy. Through community organizations and not-for-profit and religious institutions, Ukrainian Canadians built strong bonds with local communities and lent a helping hand to those in need.

There is much more that could be said about the successes and accomplishments of Ontario’s Ukrainian community. But most importantly, they have exemplified the promise of Canada. Canada was and is a multicultural community where we embrace our differences, and where everyone deserves a safe, free, comfortable life.

Madam Speaker, Ontario has been a safe haven for many Ukrainians fleeing violence and persecution, and even for many who were seeking a better life. The first Ukrainian immigrants, beginning in 1891, were predominantly agricultural workers. They travelled to Canada because they saw it as a place for opportunity and prosperity. Later, immigrants arrived here to escape fascism, communism, violence, persecution and war. Ontario protected them and provided them opportunity. In return, these Ukrainian Canadians contributed positively to the social, cultural, political and economic fabric of our province. The process of immigration and integration exemplifies the best of Ontario multiculturalism.

Unfortunately, for many Ukrainian Canadians, war and violence remain an ever-present challenge. In recent years, the unlawful invasion of Ukraine has wreaked havoc on that country. Many more Ukrainians came to Canada for safety. Speaker, Ontarians stand firm in supporting the sovereignty of Ukraine and its right to defend itself, and we continue to call for an end of this unlawful war.

Canada is an important safe haven for those fleeing conflict and oppression. We embrace this multiculturalism and inclusivity.

Speaker, I am very grateful for the many Ukrainian Canadian individuals and organizations that have worked alongside me to make this Ukrainian Heritage Month possible. In particular, I would like to thank the organizations we managed to get help from and we got advice from—not to put aside anybody, but these are the organizations who came and helped us:

—Taras and Bohdan of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress–Ontario Provincial Council;

—Peter of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress–Toronto Branch;

—Oleh Nikolenko, the Consul General of Ukraine in Toronto;

—Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce;

—Ukrainian National Federation of Canada;

—the League of Ukrainian Canadians;

—the League of Ukrainian Canadian Women;—Ukrainian War Veterans Association;

—International Organization of Ukrainian Communities Fourth Wave;

—Canada-Ukraine Foundation;

—Toronto Ukrainian Festival, Bloor West Village;

—Ukrainian Youth Association of Canada;

—CYM Canada, the Ukrainian Youth Association; and

—PLAST Ukrainian Youth Association of Ontario.

There are also many Ukrainian churches. This includes some who are with us today, including: Bishop Peshko of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, Eastern Eparchy and the Rt. Rev. Yanishevsky of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada.

I also want to mention an important Ukrainian community in my own riding of Mississauga–Erin Mills: Ivan Franko Homes. Not only do they provide a place for Ukrainians to live when they retire, it also serves as a cultural hub for the Ukrainian Canadian community in my riding. I was first introduced to the Ukrainian Canadian community when I met with the community at Ivan Franko Homes eight or nine years ago. I sat with them, got to know them and they explained to me about their concept of a campus of care. In the years since then, I have learned more about the Ukrainian community, culture, art and history, and about Ivan Franko Homes’s vision of a connected community.

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Last year, we broke ground on the Campus of Care, a new long-term-care home in Mississauga with 160 new beds. I am delighted to see construction continuing. I can’t wait until we are able to open this facility very soon. I have even said that Ivan Franko Homes is where I would wish to retire one day. Thank you to Ivan Franko Homes for their hard work.

There are many more Ukrainian organizations I haven’t named that are continuing to make a positive impact throughout our province. Ukrainian Canadians are a tight-knit community. They work together, help one another, and serve a wider community as well. Thank you to every organization and individual that has contributed to this rich cultural heritage.

Bill 215, the Ukrainian Heritage Month Act, would, if passed, give us another opportunity to recognize the amazing contributions of Ukrainian people here in Canada. September will be an exciting month for the Ukrainian Canadian community. Celebrations will begin with the Independence Day of Ukraine and then continue for a full month, with anniversaries such as September 7, the arrival of Ukrainians to Canada in 1891. This great initiative is important to recognize the contributions and heritage of Ukrainian Canadians. After all they have done for us, I am very happy to express my support for the Ukrainian Canadian community in this small but meaningful way. I look forward to hearing my colleagues discuss this further and I thank them in advance for their support.

And just in the final few seconds, I would like to address the Ukrainian Canadian community here in the House and abroad: You are the hope for your people in Ukraine. Resistance is not only on the front line. Every Ukrainian Canadian or Ukrainian all over the world has a duty to support their nation and their people, to make sure that the people know that we are here and we stand along with them.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Further debate?

Mr. Chris Glover: I ask unanimous consent of the House to wear a vyshyvanka pin while I give my speech.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): There is no unanimous consent during private members’ business, but we will allow it.

Mr. Chris Glover: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I’m not the most agile at this.

It’s an incredible honour to stand in this House and speak in favour of this motion to declare September Ukrainian Heritage Month in Ontario. We are absolutely in support of this, and there are incredibly strong bonds between Canada and Ukraine.

Last week, I was at the Holodomor commemoration. There’s a statue in front of the CNE. It’s called Bitter Memories of Childhood. It’s from the Holodomor, and it’s a statue of a young girl and she’s holding a sheaf of wheat. In the commemoration, each of us took a turn laying a sheaf of wheat at the base of the statue.

I was thinking about this afterwards, and I was thinking about the importance of wheat in Ukraine, because Ukraine is the breadbasket of Europe. I was thinking about the relationship between Canada and Ukraine. It’s not only the breadbasket of Europe; in the 1890s, Ukrainian immigrants began arriving in Canada and they settled in Ontario, where wheat was the major agricultural product at the time. They settled in the Prairies, in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta—yes, and I see somebody from the Prairies there—and they brought their expertise in farming, and they helped develop our incredible agriculture and our wheat products. Canada is now the breadbasket of North America. The parallel here is that both countries produce somewhere around 30 million tonnes of wheat per year. The reason that we are able to do that is in large part to those Ukrainian pioneers who came to Canada.

I would also say there’s a relationship because Toronto and Kyiv are sister cities, and so there’s a strong relationship between Toronto and Kyiv and between Ukraine and Canada.

The impact that Ukrainian Canadians have had is exposed in just this one fact: In every Canadian province where there’s a significant Ukrainian population, there’s been a Ukrainian Canadian Premier: Ed Stelmach, from Alberta; Roy Romanow, from Saskatchewan; Gary Filmon, from Manitoba; Edward Schreyer, also from Manitoba, and he was also a Governor General of Canada; and Ernie Eves from here in Ontario.

Ukrainian Canadians have made contributions to our country in so many ways, it’s just impossible to count them all. I’ll just highlight a few Ukrainian Canadians. Many of you may not know that these famous Canadians actually have Ukrainian heritage: Alex Trebek, the Jeopardy! host; Roberta Bondar, the astronaut; Joshua Kutryk, who plays defence for the Colorado Avalanche currently; Luba Goy, the actress and comedian; Gloria Kaye, the singer; Kyle Dubas, the hockey executive; William Kurelek, the painter.

And there are more than 60 NHL players who are of Ukrainian Canadian descent. I was looking through the list of them, and the one thing that really struck me was that a lot of them played for the Maple Leafs in the heyday when we were actually winning Stanley Cups in the 1960s in Toronto. I’ll just give a shout-out to the—we may not have had a wheat industry without Ukrainian Canadians; I don’t know if we would have had Stanley Cups in Toronto without Ukrainian Canadians. Let me just give out some of the names: Turk Broda, Eddie Shack, Terry Sawchuk, Johnny Bower. And then, of course, there’s—not of that era but a little bit later—Dave Andreychuk and also Dale Hawerchuk, who didn’t play for the Leafs but I really liked his playing. He’s one of the great players.

And of course, the most famous Ukrainian Canadian hockey player—what’s his name, everybody? Wayne Gretzky, the great one, the GOAT, is Ukrainian Canadian.

On this side of the House, we’re with the NDP. Ukrainian Canadians played a major role in the formation of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and later of the NDP.

Every 24th of August, we celebrate Ukrainian Independence Day. We do it out here in front of the Legislature. It’s an honour to be there every year to celebrate, and it’s become much more poignant now since the invasion, I must say. Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union after decades—70 years—of oppression, on the 24th of August, 1991. This wasn’t its first declaration of independence. In the early 1900s, they declared independence from the Russian Empire, but then they got taken over again. But I think it speaks to the fierceness with which the Ukrainians fight for their independence.

I mentioned at the beginning of my speech that last week we commemorated the Holodomor. For those of you who don’t know, the Holodomor was a deliberate starvation of people of Ukraine by the Soviet Union in 1932 and 1933. Millions of people starved to death. One of the gentlemen who was there and comes every year—I believe he’s 97 now—Mykola Latyshko, he’s still a firebrand. He’s one of the few eyewitnesses to the Holodomor who’s still there. He talks about how the Russian soldiers, the Soviet soldiers would come to their farm and scour the house and look for any food that was left over. They would steal the food and leave the people to starve. The only way they survived is they buried food in the forest outside of their farm. The Soviet soldiers would come later with trucks and just throw the bodies on the backs of the trucks. Just how horrific that Holodomor was is exemplified in some of the stories that he told about how sometimes there would be people who were starving but still alive and they would throw them on the back of the truck. Somebody would say, “Hey, that person is still alive,” and they said, “Well, we can’t come back.” That’s how horrible genocide is. That’s how horrible this kind of thing is.

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I want to salute the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and all the other Ukrainian Canadian organizations for educating all of us about the Holodomor, because all of us must remember the Holodomor to make sure that it never happens again. When I was—

Interjections.

Mr. Chris Glover: Thank you.

When I was down at the memorial last week, there was a Holodomor bus, and it’s travelling around and it’s educating another generation, and not just of Ukrainian Canadians, because it’s all Canadians who must learn about the Holodomor. I want to salute the Ukrainian Canadians who have organized that, and I want to salute the government for their funding of this bus to educate this generation about the Holodomor.

On February 24, 2022, the Russians invaded Ukraine again. I think one of the most shocking things for the people of the world was the fierceness and the courage with which Ukraine fought back. At the very first day, Zelenskyy was asked, “Do you want a plane ticket? Do you want to escape?” He said, “I don’t want a plane ticket. I want bullets.” That phrase will go down in history.

We in Canada must do everything we can to make sure that Ukraine is victorious in fighting back against this Russian invasion. Canada has provided howitzer M777s. They’ve provided drones and access to satellite imagery. They’ve helped clearing of landmines. They’ve provided humanitarian aid, and I know last week they were talking about just sending generators over to keep power going through the winter months.

There are over 200,000 Ukrainian refugees now in Canada, but there is more that we must do. We must not rest until Ukraine is free and independent once more, because this fight is not just for Ukraine. We must reward their courage by providing our support because if we do not stop Russia in Ukraine, then the next battle will be in Poland or Lithuania or Latvia or any of the other Eastern European countries. We must stand up and fight with Ukraine.

I am so glad that this government brought forward this motion to recognize Ukrainian Heritage Month. We can celebrate all of the contributions that Ukrainian Canadians have made in 130 years of settlement in Canada, and we can also stand with our brothers in Ukraine as they fight against this oppressive invasion from Russia. Slava Ukraini.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Further debate?

Hon. Michael Parsa: I’m incredibly honoured to rise today in support of Bill 215, introduced by my awesome colleague the member for Mississauga–Erin Mills, to proclaim September as Ukrainian Heritage Month in our province.

This bill is a heartfelt acknowledgement of the cultural, social and economic contributions of the Ukrainian community to our province and, indeed, our country.

Ontario is home to over 375,000 Ukrainian Canadians, the largest population in Canada and one of the largest Ukrainian communities outside of Ukraine. This community has been a cornerstone of Ontario’s success for well over 130 years. It dates back to the 19th century, when the first wave of Ukrainian immigrants arrived, seeking freedom and opportunity. These values resonate with all Canadians, and they remind us that Ontario is and must continue to be a welcoming place for those fleeing persecution.

In my riding of Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill, the Ukrainian community is vibrant and deeply engaged in enriching our society. From hosting cultural festivals to contributing to social causes, their efforts demonstrate a commitment to building a stronger province. Their traditions, such as the artistry of the pysanky eggs and the energy of Ukrainian dance ensembles and the joy of shared meals like the borscht and the varenyky connect us all to the heritage that has become an integral part of our province’s history and identity.

Madam Speaker, this bill also underscores our government’s commitment to celebrating diversity and strengthening cultural ties.

As we seek to proclaim September as Ukrainian Heritage Month, we reaffirm our dedication to fostering an inclusive province where every community has the opportunity to thrive and to succeed.

The contributions of Ukrainian Canadians extend to every sphere. From the arts and education to politics and science, they have helped shape Ontario’s success. Figures such as Dr. Roberta Bondar, Canada’s first female astronaut of Ukrainian descent, and William Kurelek, whose paintings capture the immigrant experience, show the extraordinary talent within this amazing community.

As we honour Ukrainian heritage, we must also recognize the challenges the Ukrainian people face today. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has united Ukrainian Canadians and all of us in an inspiring display of solidarity. Here in Ontario, they have led efforts to raise millions of dollars in humanitarian aid, welcomed refugees and advocated for freedom and justice on the global stage. These actions reflect the values of compassion, resilience and determination that have long defined the Ukrainian Canadian community and that have resonated deeply with all of us here in this province.

Madam Speaker, proclaiming September as Ukrainian Heritage Month is not just about honouring the past; it is about building understanding and unity for the future. It is a recognition that Ontario thrives when we celebrate and uplift all communities, and it is a reminder of the role we must play as leaders to protect and promote the diversity that is our strength.

I encourage all Ontarians to participate in Ukrainian Heritage Month. Attend festivals, learn about Ukrainian history and culture, or explore the beauty of their language and traditions by joining their community events.

Let us celebrate the remarkable legacy of the Ukrainian people, honour their resilience, and reaffirm our shared responsibility to preserve and promote cultural heritage. Together, we can continue to build a province that embraces and values the contributions of all its people.

Thank you so much, Speaker, for the opportunity to support this very important bill, which will help move our province forward with pride, unity and a commitment to the values that we all share here in Ontario.

Thank you so much for being here. Thank you so much to my colleagues.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Further debate?

Mr. Ted Hsu: This bill seeks to proclaim September as Ukrainian Heritage Month. September marks when the first immigrants came to Canada from Ukraine, so it’s fitting that September be the month to recognize Ontario’s Ukrainian population and heritage. This designation will honour the rich history and cultural heritage of Ukrainian Canadians, who have made invaluable contributions to our province’s social, economic and cultural fabric.

My colleague from Spadina–Fort York mentioned a number of famous Ukrainian Canadians, and it’s hard to top that list, but I will mention Canada’s first grandmaster in chess: Abe Yanofsky, who is a Ukrainian Canadian.

Speaker, I really don’t have to look further than my own community for that invaluable contribution. The Ukrainian club of Kingston has a long history in my riding. Every year, in June, the Ukrainian club of Kingston puts on a multi-day festival called Lviv, Ukraine Folklore Festival. It’s a vibrant celebration featuring traditional Ukrainian music, dance, food and crafts that I’ve attended several times. At the festival, you can watch performances by the local Ukrainian dance group that’s run by the club; you can eat authentic Ukrainian cuisine, including perogies and kielbasa; and you can explore a variety of handcrafted items, from traditional Ukrainian embroidery to modern art. But more than just taking in the culture, you can also get an opportunity to talk with the local Ukrainian community at the festival. The local Ukrainian community has changed enormously in the last few years, with new immigrants and refugees. This festival is one of the oldest Ukrainian festivals in Canada—not just Ontario, but all of Canada. Think about that for a minute. There are Ukrainian festivals everywhere across our country, but one of the longest in the country is right here in Ontario. And 2024 was the festival’s 55th year—older than Toronto’s and almost as old as Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival in Dauphin, Manitoba, which celebrates 60 years next year.

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My community, our province and our country have a long history of welcoming Ukrainian immigrants. In 1991, Toronto became a sister city with the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv. And today, on day 1,008 of the illegal war against Ukraine, it’s important for us to make sure that our support for Ukraine and Ukrainian heritage is as strong today as it was when we welcomed the first immigrants to Canada 130 years ago. By recognizing Ukrainian Heritage Month, we are acknowledging the resilience and spirit of the Ukrainian people, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This bill is a testament to the strong bond between Ontario and Ukraine; it’s a positive step towards fostering understanding, empathy and solidarity with the Ukrainian community. I’m proud to stand as a representative of a community, Kingston and the Islands, that has a strong Ukrainian connection, and I’m proud to support this bill, put forward by my colleague from Mississauga–Erin Mills.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Further debate?

Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos: It’s an honour today to rise in support of Bill 215, the Ukrainian Heritage Month Act, and I’d like to thank my colleague MPP Sabawy for introducing this important legislation. I’d also like to acknowledge members of the Ukrainian community from Oakville North–Burlington, who have joined us today:

—Father Jaroslaw, from St. Volodymyr’s Orthodox Ukrainian church;

—John Holuk, who leads Hearts4Ukraine, a critical refugee resettlement program in Halton, along with his wife Nina; and

—Taras Antoniw, a good friend and a community leader.

This bill is about recognizing vital contributions of Ukrainian Ontarians, a community that has been an integral part of our province for well over a century. From the first settlers who arrived in the late 19th century to the waves of immigration throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, they have built businesses, established institutions and raised families whose achievements have shaped the Ontario we know today. This legacy is reflected in landmarks, such as St. Volodymyr Cathedral of Toronto, built in 1948. The community also established St. Volodymyr’s cemetery in 1984 and, four years later, built St. Volodymyr Cultural Centre—all within my riding. And St. Joseph’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, founded in 1956, today serves over 500 families.

Canada and Ukraine share a bond rooted in history and shared values. In 1991, Canada proudly became the first Western nation to recognize Ukraine’s sovereignty. But this bill is about more than history; it’s about resilience, both in the face of past hardships and in confronting today’s challenges. On November 23, we observed Holodomor Memorial Day so as not to forget the millions of Ukrainians who perished in the genocide by famine under Stalin’s regime. That dark chapter reminds us of the immense suffering Ukrainians have endured and the strength they have shown in overcoming it.

That same strength is evident today. On November 19, we marked 1,000 days since Russia’s full-scale, illegal invasion of Ukraine. The courage and sheer grit of the Ukrainian people continue to inspire us. I have had the privilege of visiting Ukraine twice, travelling to Kyiv and Lviv, two cities rich in cultural history. Sadly, today landmarks are being damaged, lives are being shattered and cultural heritage being shattered by the missile attacks there.

Yet, even amidst such devastation, the Ukrainian people endure. Here in Ontario, we see that resilience in the families who fled the war. Our government is proud that Ontario has become a safe haven for many newcomers. In my community, hundreds of Ukrainian families have been welcomed. I will never forget attending Christmas celebrations at St. Volodymyr’s with some of these families. At the celebration, Father Jaroslaw shared how Ontario has provided a desperately needed sense of community and safety amidst the horrors of war.

In designating September as Ukrainian Heritage Month, we affirm their place in Ontario’s history and acknowledge the profound contributions made to the province. Passing this bill ensures that the stories of Ukrainian Ontarians—stories of courage, sacrifice and faith—become an indelible part of our shared heritage. It honours their past, celebrates their present and commits to their future.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Further debate?

Ms. Christine Hogarth: It is my great honour to rise today to support Bill 215, which speaks to proclaim September as Ukrainian Heritage Month in Ontario. This bill is more than a symbolic gesture, it is a profound acknowledgement of the contributions of the Ukrainian Canadian community and an affirmation of our province’s unwavering support for freedom, resilience and cultural diversity.

For over 130 years, Ukrainian immigrants have enriched our social, cultural, political and economic fabric of Ontario. From entrepreneurs and educators to artists and veterans, Ukrainian Canadians have shaped our shared history in immeasurable ways.

In my riding of Etobicoke–Lakeshore—and I know there are many of you right in the gallery up there—we are proud to have a vibrant Ukrainian Canadian community.

The Ukrainian Catholic church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of St. Demetrius are not only places of worship but also cultural hubs where traditions are celebrated and they are preserved.

The League of Ukrainian Canadian Women continues to speak up in defence of human rights and Ukraine’s right to freedoms.

Local businesses, cultural organizations and dedicated individuals in Etobicoke–Lakeshore have made significant contributions, including helping hosting newcomers from Ukraine seeking refuge. I thank them from the bottom of my heart for their help. Their resilience and generosity reflect the very best of our community and serve as a testament to the enduring spirit of Ukrainian Canadians.

Last week I had the honour to pay tribute with my colleagues to the victims of the Holodomor, the genocide that took millions of innocent Ukrainian lives through forced starvation. I, along with members of this House, pledged to never forget their suffering, and I was very honoured to stand with Minister Lecce when he was Minister of Education at St. Demetrius school to announce that this is now going to be embedded in our curriculum, so forever, students will never forget that historic past.

This bill is a testament to the fact that we will all stand with Ukraine in the fight against oppression and injustice. Through this bill, we care not only to celebrate Ukrainian heritage, but we are standing in solidarity with Ukraine in its darkest hour. For more than 1,000 days, Ukraine has faced a brutal, unprovoked war, a war that has displaced millions, claimed innocent lives and tested the limits of human resistance.

Despite the unimaginable hardship, Ukrainians have shown the world what it means to fight for freedom and democracy. The blue and yellow flag of Ukraine remains a beacon of hope and a symbol of unyielding courage. This bill recognizes not only the past contributions of Ukrainian Canadians but also the enduring spirit that connects all of us as Ontarians.

By proclaiming September as Ukrainian Heritage Month, we honour a community that has given so much to our province and we send you a powerful message to Ukrainians everywhere: You are not alone.

Slava Ukraini.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Mr. Sabawy now has two minutes to respond.

Mr. Sheref Sabawy: I am pleased to hear that there is so much support in this chamber for Ukrainian Heritage Month. Now more than ever, Ukrainians deserve our continued support. Ukrainian Canadians are an important part of the cultural fabric of our society. In Ontario, here is the only place in the world where every community has the opportunity to showcase their culture, their art, their music, their history, their traditions, their food, and that’s how we learn from each other.

This heritage month is an opportunity for all Canadians to learn about the deep history of Ukraine, the heritage, the cultural traditions of the Ukrainian Canadians who are a part of our cultural fabric.

I would like to thank all of the members for their support, and I can’t wait to celebrate with everyone next September for the first ever Ukrainian Heritage Month. I would like to thank the Ukrainian individuals and organizations that have worked hard and advocated for this.

I now put this bill forward to the House for consideration. I would like to thank all of the Ukrainian Canadians who joined us today; hopefully, this is a historical moment. I would like you to join us in this moment. Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): The time provided for private members’ public business has now expired.

Mr. Sabawy has moved second reading of Bill 215, An Act to proclaim the month of September as Ukrainian Heritage Month. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carried? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Pursuant to standing order 100(h), the bill is referred to the Committee of the Whole House, unless the member would like it referred to another committee.

Mr. Sheref Sabawy: Committee of the Whole House.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): It will remain in the Committee of the Whole House. Congratulations.

All matters relating to private members’ public business having been completed, this House stands adjourned until tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.

The House adjourned at 1842.