Legislative Assembly of Ontario

The House met at 0900.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Good morning. Let us pray.

Prayers.

Orders of the Day

Consideration of Bill Pr58

Mr. Steve Clark: I seek unanimous consent that the member for Essex be allowed to move second and third reading of Bill Pr58, An Act to revive Lakeside Village Property Owners’ Association Fenelon Township Inc., on behalf of the member for Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Mr. Clark is seeking the unanimous consent of the House that the member for Essex be allowed to move second and third reading of Bill Pr58, An Act to revive Lakeside Village Property Owners’ Association Fenelon Township Inc., on behalf of the member for Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock. Agreed? Agreed.

SOFTWAREREVIEWS.COM INC. Act, 2024

Mr. Kernaghan moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr46, An Act to revive SOFTWAREREVIEWS.COM INC.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

SOFTWAREREVIEWS.COM INC. Act, 2024

Mr. Kernaghan moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr46, An Act to revive SOFTWAREREVIEWS.COM INC.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

Poulak and Rachar Limited Act, 2024

Ms. Brady moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr48, An Act to revive Poulak and Rachar Limited.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

Poulak and Rachar Limited Act, 2024

Ms. Brady moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr48, An Act to revive Poulak and Rachar Limited.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

1485997 Ontario Limited Act, 2024

Mr. Tabuns moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr51, An Act to revive 1485997 Ontario Limited.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

1485997 Ontario Limited Act, 2024

Mr. Tabuns moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr51, An Act to revive 1485997 Ontario Limited.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

MS Remedies Inc. Act, 2024

Ms. Triantafilopoulos moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr52, An Act to revive MS Remedies Inc.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

MS Remedies Inc. Act, 2024

Ms. Triantafilopoulos moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr52, An Act to revive MS Remedies Inc.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

The Abiezer Pentecostal Church (Toronto) Act, 2024

Mr. Rakocevic moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr54, An Act to revive The Abiezer Pentecostal Church (Toronto).

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

The Abiezer Pentecostal Church (Toronto) Act, 2024

Mr. Rakocevic moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr54, An Act to revive The Abiezer Pentecostal Church (Toronto).

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

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The Oakville Players Act, 2024

Mr. Cuzzetto moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr56, An Act to revive The Oakville Players

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

The Oakville Players Act, 2024

Mr. Cuzzetto moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr56, An Act to revive The Oakville Players

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

Judy Hatt Consulting Inc. Act, 2024

Mr. Cuzzetto moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr57, An Act to revive Judy Hatt Consulting Inc.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

Judy Hatt Consulting Inc. Act, 2024

Mr. Cuzzetto moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr57, An Act to revive Judy Hatt Consulting Inc.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

Lakeside Village Property Owners’ Association Fenelon Township Inc. Act, 2024

Mr. Leardi, on behalf of Ms. Scott, moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr58, An Act to revive Lakeside Village Property Owners’ Association Fenelon Township Inc.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

Lakeside Village Property Owners’ Association Fenelon Township Inc. Act, 2024

Mr. Leardi, on behalf of Ms. Scott, moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr58, An Act to revive Lakeside Village Property Owners’ Association Fenelon Township Inc.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

La Ferme Cantin Inc. Act, 2024

Mr. Bourgouin moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr59, An Act to revive La Ferme Cantin Inc.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

La Ferme Cantin Inc. Act, 2024

Mr. Bourgouin moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr59, An Act to revive La Ferme Cantin Inc.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

Skybolt Construction Company Limited Act, 2024

Ms. Pierre moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr60, An Act to revive Skybolt Construction Company Limited.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

Skybolt Construction Company Limited Act, 2024

Ms. Pierre moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr60, An Act to revive Skybolt Construction Company Limited.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

1147946 Ontario Inc. Act, 2024

Ms. Hogarth moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr47, An Act to revive 1147946 Ontario Inc.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

1147946 Ontario Inc. Act, 2024

Ms. Hogarth moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr47, An Act to revive 1147946 Ontario Inc.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Orders of the day?

Mr. Anthony Leardi: No further business.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): There being no further business at this time, this House stands in recess until 10:15.

The House recessed from 0918 to 1015.

Members’ Statements

Holiday messages

Mr. Sheref Sabawy: It is very heartwarming to see the halls of Queen’s Park decorated with festive lights. I have attended a tree lighting ceremony at Celebration Square in Mississauga, and numerous holiday parties are taking place throughout the province. It is clear that the holidays are once again here.

Last weekend, my team and I were out on the streets at the newly renamed Mississauga Auto Mall. It was great to see so many people there for the annual Mississauga Santa Claus Parade. We marched down the street, handed out candies and met with countless people. It was a great time.

Speaker, this season is a time of shopping and gifts, parties and busy schedules, but it’s also time to focus on what matters most: love, joy, hope, family and friends. I encourage everyone to please make the most of this month. Spend lots of time with loved ones. Shop from local small businesses. December 25 is only two weeks away and with Orthodox and Eastern churches, including Coptic, Ukrainian, Armenian, Romanian and Greek churches celebrating on January 7, we are lucky to have an extra two weeks of celebrations.

To everyone in Erin Mills and across Ontario, please accept my season’s greetings and best wishes. Merry Christmas, a blessed holiday season and happy new year.

Homelessness

Mr. Jeff Burch: Richard Tremblay is facing another winter living in his car. His name was added to Niagara’s subsidized housing wait-list last week, and a request for urgent status based on a letter from his doctor is currently under review. Even with urgent status, Niagara residents can remain on the wait-list for a very long time due to a severe lack of affordable housing.

The Premier has said the solution to homelessness is to get an application, drop it off and start working, but according to Feed Ontario, one in four food bank visitors has employment. People with jobs are the fastest-growing demographic of food bank visitors, with a 17% increase since last year.

I wanted to mention some incredible people in organizations doing great work in my community. Jim Butts is from Holy Trinity church and runs a Christmas dinner for those in need. In 2023, they served 500 meals to families throughout Welland, and already have 41 volunteers helping prepare 500 meals this Christmas.

In Port Colborne, the Annual Community Christmas Dinner at Central United Church expects 300 meals to be served. This was started in 1996 by Jack O’Neil, Larry Olm and Mike Feagan. Thank you to them and all the other selfless volunteers giving their time to help those in need this holiday season.

Speaker, there are too many people like Richard without a home. Ontario needs more jobs that pay a living wage, social assistance rates that will keep up so people don’t have to live on the streets, and we need to invest in affordable, social and co-operative housing. We can do better.

Connect4Life

Mr. David Smith: I rise today to recognize Connect4Life, a remarkable organization that has been transforming the lives of people with disability for the past 10 years. This charitable organization is based in the GTA, including Scarborough. Founded by Melanie Taddeo, Connect4Life has opened doors to employment opportunities, enabling individuals with disabilities to actively participate in the community and make meaningful contributions to society.

They also run Canada’s first Internet radio station created for, about and by people with disability in partnership with Voices 4 Ability Radio. Additionally their services have expanded internationally with a new office in South Africa and future work planned with the United Nations.

The need for such organizations has never been more urgent. According to the 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability, 27% of Canadians 15 years and older—approximately eight million individuals—report having at least one disability, a significant increase from 22% in 2017. In Ontario, the disability rate is now 28%, highlighting the growing demand for accessible programs and services, especially in urban areas like Toronto.

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I commend them for the great work they are doing in Ontario, fostering better living conditions for people living with disabilities. Please join me in congratulating Connect4Life on their 10th anniversary.

Government accountability

Ms. Catherine Fife: The scandal surrounding this government is like a Sears catalogue of unwanted gifts. There are questions about how the Premier’s office handles sensitive information after it was revealed just last week that months of the chief of staff’s text messages to Metrolinx disappeared quicker than the ghost of Christmas past. But it’s not the ghost of Christmas future that the Premier has to look forward to—it’s the RCMP, as it continues its criminal investigation into the government’s greenbelt scandal.

The past year has been an endless cycle of lumps of coal by this government. It has promised to address Ontario’s housing crisis and has instead turned it into a humanitarian crisis, with encampments in almost every community across Ontario and 234,000 homeless people. Instead, he has created strong-mayor powers that will only result in shunting our communities’ abandoned citizens from one encampment to another. This solves nothing. Where is the heart, where is the compassion and where is the shame?

Time after time this government is making reckless decisions while ignoring evidence and making Ontarians less safe. The Premier is continuing to spin his festive fairy tale of fiscal responsibility, which has been exposed by the latest FAO report: shunting the Ontario Science Centre to a strip mall and shovelling $2.2 billion of taxpayer dollars into a private Austrian spa.

Apparently, we’re going to have an early election. The people will have their say, and it will be very different than the taxpayer-funded partisan commercials this government has put out, Mr. Speaker.

Bakersfield Public School

Ms. Laura Smith: Recently, Bakersfield Public School, located in the beautiful community of Thornhill Woods beside Sugarbush park, kicked off the season of giving with a very successful toy drive, collecting donations for children of all ages. Let me tell you, the spirit of the season and holiday cheer were on full display. Despite the cold we had a great time. Hot chocolate and coffee were flowing and the music kept things energized. From board games to Lego to Barbie cars, I’m confident that the generous donations collected will make the holidays a little brighter for so many children.

It was great to see such an impressive turnout to donate to a worthy cause. I want to thank the awesome and strong school council for organizing the Toy Mountain toy drive and all those who volunteered, the teachers who pitched in—always want to thank the teachers—and everyone who donated, with a very special shout-out to principal Joe Gold, who makes learning fun and compassionate.

The generosity of Bakersfield does not stop there. They’re currently hosting a food drive until December 13 and there’s still time to donate canned food and boxes of food containers to make a difference in someone’s holiday season.

I want to thank Bakersfield for their continued commitment to giving back to our community. I also want to wish everyone across Thornhill and Ontario a very joyous holiday season, and to all the students, faculty and parents of Bakersfield a great spirit week leading up to their winter break. I want it to be awesome for them.

Be kind, be proud, be Bakersfield!

Health care

MPP Wayne Gates: Closing the wage gap: In Ontario, there’s a crisis in our community health sector. People across this province are facing an affordability crisis. Despite this, workers in our community health sector are more than $2 billion behind in wages compared to their peers in schools and hospitals. Wages for community health centres have essentially been frozen for nearly a decade, making it incredibly difficult for the centres to recruit and retain qualified staff. That means essential health care services will become more challenging for patients and families to access. Already out of control wait times for care will get even worse.

More people end up in emergency rooms for problems that could have been treated earlier at a community health centre. That’s if the Conservatives haven’t already closed their community emergency department. The staff who do this incredible work day in and day out will continue to struggle financially to make ends meet.

I’m calling on this government to support workers in community health centres by closing the wage gap, investing in funding increases, paying the financial remedy for the attacks on workers through Bill 124 and establishing a community health working group to develop solutions for this sector.

If we don’t act now, this crucial sector of over 200,000 dedicated workers won’t be able to continue providing the vital health services people rely on and need.

Arts and cultural funding

Mr. Lorne Coe: I’m pleased to share with my colleagues in the House that the Station Gallery in Whitby has received a grant of approximately $30,000 from the Ontario Arts Council as part of the public art galleries operating program provided through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming.

Speaker, with this funding, the hard-working staff at the gallery will be able to continue presenting high-quality contemporary art exhibitions, showcasing regional and national artists and highlighting and sustaining a sense of community cohesion and pride.

Our government recognizes the vital role that culture plays in communities and that the arts play in strengthening Ontario’s communities. We’re committed to supporting organizations like the Station Gallery, as they enrich lives, boost local economies and sustain cultural vitality.

Job creation

Ms. Stephanie Bowman: Last Friday, StatsCan released its jobs data for November, and it’s a very bleak picture in Ontario under this Conservative government. So while they spend millions on ads to tell us what a great job they’re doing on the economy, the facts from StatsCan tell a very different story: Ontario has lost its edge.

When this government took office, Ontario had the third-lowest unemployment rate in the country. Now, it’s the third-highest. Since this government took office, the unemployment rate is worse; the number of manufacturing jobs—worse; youth unemployment—worse. While they say jobs are coming, they ignore the jobs leaving.

Here are the facts: The unemployment rate of 7.6% is the highest since May 2014, excluding the pandemic. Unemployment in manufacturing is at a 10-year high. This Premier promised 300,000 new manufacturing jobs; instead, 18,000 manufacturing jobs have left under his watch. Some 40,000 construction jobs left Ontario in the last two years, the worst contraction since the 1990s recession. Youth unemployment jumped to 17%, the highest since 2012, excluding the pandemic.

Speaker, this government’s record on jobs is abysmal. It’s hurting workers and families in this province, and it’s time the government admitted it.

Tourism

Mr. Brian Saunderson: In Simcoe–Grey, we are blessed with many natural amenities that make my riding a true four-season destination for thousands of families each weekend.

While Wasaga Beach is home to summertime fun, with the largest freshwater beach in the world, the snow has arrived and it is ski season in the Town of the Blue Mountains and the region. That means the hills of the Niagara Escarpment are filled with skiers and snowboarders, and the trails and woods are filled with cross-country skiers and snowshoers enjoying a healthy and active winter weekend.

For the area’s businesses and merchants, the ski industry plays a huge role in the local economy. Just as Honda Canada continues to turbocharge the economy in New Tecumseth in the south end of my riding with new jobs both direct and indirect, the ski industry fuels the economy in the north end.

The Blue Mountains attracts more than 2.5 million visitors annually to the region of South Georgian Bay. Tourism is a huge driver of the local and regional economy, with Blue Mountain Resort and several private ski clubs including Georgian Peaks, Osler Bluff, Craigleith, Devil’s Glen and Alpine Ski Club attracting thousands to the area each weekend. People visit the area and many decide to move there. That is one of the reasons the area is one of the fastest-growing areas in the province and, in fact, in Canada.

This fall, I’m proud to say that the Town of Blue Mountains received a $25.3-million grant from the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund for a critical expansion of the sewage capacity to enable over 2,000 new housing units. This important investment will allow for new housing, attracting new residents to my riding, so that we can continue to grow in a sustainable and intentional way to meet Ontario’s housing target.

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Speaker, I’d like to wish everyone in this House and in my riding of Simcoe–Grey and across this great province a very merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, and however you choose to enjoy this winter season.

Public safety

Mrs. Daisy Wai: I’m proud to share the ongoing efforts in Richmond Hill to combat auto theft and improve community safety.

As soon as MPP Graham McGregor was appointed as Associate Minister of Auto Theft and Bail Reform, we immediately invited him to be our guest speaker for Monday Matters. Along with York Regional Police, the mayor and council members of the city of Richmond Hill, we discussed strategies to combat auto theft and enhance public safety. We followed up with our full newsletter sharing the strategies, to keep everyone in the community informed and empowered. We received appreciation on the proactive steps we have taken to protect them.

Through initiatives like Operation Auto Guard 2.0, we have recovered 15 stolen vehicles worth approximately $487,000, which resulted in 17 individuals facing 127 charges. Officers also distributed over 7,000 Faraday bags and 10,000 information cards to educate drivers on preventative measures.

Our government will continue to negotiate with the federal government on bail reform and changes to the Criminal Code to keep criminals behind bars. We are committed to ensuring that Richmond Hill and Ontario stay safe, secure and resilient.

Introduction of Visitors

Ms. Bobbi Ann Brady: I’d like to welcome to the House this morning my incredible constituency office staff: Heather Zander, Danielle Kershaw, Tina Gates, and co-op student Leland Cuthbert. They’re the very best team in this province—no offence to the rest of you.

And a special shout-out to Charlie the chaplain, whom I’m going to miss immensely—I wish you well as you embark on your new journey.

Hon. Michael A. Tibollo: Mr. Speaker, this morning, I’d like to introduce IAFNER’s strategic initiatives and social policy unit: Jennifer Cooney; Beatrice D’Angelo; Emmanuel Ilori; Zacchary Innes; Alisha Kaba; Trish Malone; Daniella Marciano; Devon Martin; Ammie Singh-Persaud; Emma Stelter; Abigail Veerasingham; Christopher Wright; and last but not least, my daughter Frances Tibollo. Welcome to your House.

Ms. Sandy Shaw: It gives me great pleasure to introduce to the House this morning my dear, dear friend Cindy Brown.

Although he won’t enjoy it, I would also like to introduce my wonderful, patient, charming spouse, Ted Hoyle. Thank you for all you do for me.

Hon. Michael S. Kerzner: I’m delighted to welcome a great entrepreneur who happens to be my first cousin. Please welcome Harley Zaretsky to the Legislature of Ontario.

MPP Jamie West: Up in the gallery, I see my friend Will Noiles. He’s the president for the Golden Horseshoe ONIWG, here to see the debate this afternoon. It’s good to see you, Will.

Hon. George Pirie: I’d like to take a moment to announce a great friend of Timmins. Al Youmans is in the House today.

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: It’s a great honour for me to introduce my good friends from the ETFO Thames Valley Teacher Local: Mike Thomas, the first vice-president—if you look, you might notice he also moonlights as my stunt double—and also Mark MacLeod, the chief negotiator and grievance officer, a busy guy in today’s education reality. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Logan Kanapathi: I’m happy to introduce and recognize an exceptional individual and also my constituent, Sam Surendra, a distinguished computer engineering professor at a polytechnic institute. With an unwavering dedication to education, Professor Surendra has made it his life’s work to inspire thousands of students in the last 25 years. Professor Surendra’s commitment to the transformative power of education serves as a model for educators across the province. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: I’d like to give a very warm welcome to tenant organizers and housing advocates who are in the chambers today to support Bill 48, Rent Control for All Tenants Act. We have Cynthia Black from Livmore High Park Tenants’ Association; Chiara Padovani from the York South-Weston Tenant Union; Scott Baird from Fair Rent Ontario; Alex Venuto and Jocelyn Reyes Midghall from the High Park Tenants’ Association and Elizabeth Von Symborski from the Ontario renters for fair housing. Welcome.

Ms. Laura Smith: It is my very great honour to welcome to the House, from Thornhill Secondary School, co-op student Michaella Blond-Shalev, and also, from Westmount Collegiate Institute, co-op student Danielle Halperin.

I’m also privileged to have my friend and colleague the school trustee for wards 4 and 5 of Vaughan, Ms. Estelle Cohen, here.

I also want to welcome Sara Ebenezer, who’s the recipient of the prestigious international Diana Award for young change-makers.

Welcome to the Legislature.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): With the indulgence of the House, I would like to continue with the introduction of visitors.

Hon. Kinga Surma: I’d like to announce that Elyse Miller is the page captain today and she’s from Etobicoke Centre. Her grandfather Winston Miller is here and Tracey Miller, who’s a teacher at Our Lady of Peace, is here with her class today. Welcome to the Legislature.

Mr. David Smith: With great pride, I’d like to recognize the founder of Connect4Life, Melanie Taddeo, and her team: Mark Brown, executive director; Steven Christianson, government relations advisor; Aaisha Hussain, program director; Sean Pickard, station manager of Voices4Ability; Viktoria Drozdiak, board secretary; Peter Drozdiak, board chair; and Joy Al-Saady, volunteer coordinator. Welcome to your House.

Hon. David Piccini: I’d like to welcome to Queen’s Park today the Ontario General Contractors Association. They have a reception in room 228, so I encourage everyone to go after question period. I welcome Giovanni Cautillo and Andrew Sampogna and all the other members—I see Al Youmans here as well—to Queen’s Park today; looking forward to meeting with them later.

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: Once again, I’d like to welcome a good friend of mine; he’s on my riding association and I want to wish him a merry Christmas. Willy Noiles, merry Christmas; welcome to your House. Thank you for being here today.

Mr. Rick Byers: It’s my pleasure to welcome students from the John Diefenbaker Senior School from Neustadt, Ontario; they’ll be here shortly. As we all know, John Diefenbaker was a boy in Neustadt—it’ll be great to see the school here.

Ms. Sandy Shaw: It’s a real pleasure to welcome to the House Juliet van Wyk, one of our pages here. Her proud grandmother is here, joining us this morning: Carol Laderoute. Welcome to the House and I’m sure you’re so proud of your granddaughter.

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Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: It’s my great honour and privilege, and I’m thrilled to welcome, from my riding of Pickering–Uxbridge, the proud parents and grandparents of our local page, Jonah.

I want to welcome his parents, Arlene Martin—you’re up there somewhere; there you are, Arlene—and Hieu Van Nguyen—you’re up there too, Hieu—Philip and Winifred Martin, the grandparents, and then finally Margaret Beuershauper, a family friend.

Welcome to Queen’s Park, everyone.

Mrs. Daisy Wai: It is my pleasure to introduce to the House today page Laura Yahlou and her proud parents: her mother, Kathy Padkapayeva, and her father, Siarhei Yahlou; and her sister, Elias Yahlou.

Laura is a dedicated and hard-working individual who has demonstrated exceptional commitment and responsibility as part of the page program. I would like to welcome them here, and especially her proud parents. Thank you, and please join me in recognizing and welcoming our page.

Hon. Stan Cho: This is a real privilege for me; I have the three most important women in my life visiting today: first, the one who gave me life, my mother, Sandy; the one who changed my life for the best, my wife, Carolyn; and the one who is my life, born September 16, at 3:27 p.m., Charlotte Isabel Cho, my daughter.

Question Period

Government contracts

Ms. Doly Begum: In Scarborough Southwest, I recently heard from a constituent about how she used to donate to our local food bank, but now she’s their client. She’s not alone. While families across this province are feeling the pinch at the grocery stores and making tough choices to make ends meet, this government is forcing each household in Ontario to pay $400 for the Premier’s vanity project.

How can the Premier justify spending people’s tax dollars on a luxury spa while people’s budgets are getting tighter every day?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To respond, the Minister of Infrastructure.

Hon. Kinga Surma: Michael Lindsay, the CEO of Infrastructure Ontario, spoke to the costs. These costs are not known; they are not finalized. The figures in the AG’s report are only preliminary.

While the NDP and the Liberals abandoned Ontario Place—left it to deteriorate, left it to be constantly flooded—this government is taking action.

The minister’s advisory panel from 2012 said the following: “Recommendation 15

“To achieve its full potential, Ontario Place must become a more flexible model based on strong private-public partnerships.”

Mr. Speaker, Therme, as per the AG’s report, is investing $700 million into the site, $200 million of which will go to public realm space.

It’s very nice that the NDP is making it clear that they don’t believe that Ontario Place should include 50 acres of public realm space. We disagree. Our government is taking action. After 35 years, we’re finally under construction at Ontario Place.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question?

Ms. Doly Begum: This minister and maybe this government should take a lesson from people in Ontario instead of CEOs and billionaires in this province.

Life is getting harder for people in Ontario: 23,000 residents just in Scarborough Southwest do not have access to a family doctor. People are falling behind on mortgages, on rent payments, yet they are seeing money go out of their pockets for an Austrian luxury spa. Scarborough residents will have to pay over $87 million for this scheme.

Again to the Premier: How does he justify making Scarborough residents pay for a vanity project while they’re waiting for this government to deliver the basics?

Hon. Kinga Surma: Well, let me talk about the NDP and the Liberal plan. The NDP and the Liberal plan was to let Ontario Place fall apart, rot, deteriorate. In fact, the previous Liberal government was criticized because it subsidized the site. It functioned at a loss for many years—not under the Premier’s leadership.

Ontario Place is going to be a vibrant attraction which will bring in $1 billion worth of rent, as well as close to $1 billion worth of maintenance contributions to the site.

So while the NDP and the Liberals failed Ontario Place, this government will bring it back to life and make it an attraction that everyone in Ontario will enjoy.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.

The final supplementary?

Ms. Doly Begum: Speaker, the Conservatives should take a lesson from the Liberals and their gas scandals. This will be their failed legacy.

Housing costs are skyrocketing. Families are—

Interjections.

Ms. Doly Begum: Oh, it hurts. The truth hurts for both the Conservatives and the Liberals.

Housing costs are skyrocketing. Families are having to make tough choices over the holidays—like fewer gifts under the tree, not being able to buy that toy for their kid.

Instead of fixing this problem, the Premier and his government are taking $87 million just from Scarborough to pay for his vanity project.

The people of Scarborough deserve better. Ontarians deserve better.

Is the Premier so obsessed with an Austrian spa that he is willing to take money out of people’s pockets to pay for it?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members will please take their seats. The member for Orléans will come to order.

The Minister of Infrastructure may reply.

Hon. Kinga Surma: Mr. Speaker, we will not be following the actions of the NDP and the Liberals. In fact, polling suggests today that the NDP are in third place in Ontario. So we will not be following in their footsteps.

What this government is focused on is spending $190 billion to make sure that we have the public transit, the highways, the long-term care, the schools in place for families. We are spending $970 million for water infrastructure projects to make sure that municipalities build homes in the province of Ontario. We are making sure that everyone, including those in northern Ontario, is connected to high-speed Internet.

This government is committed to building infrastructure in the province of Ontario, unlike those sitting on the other side of the House.

Northern health care

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Meegwetch, Speaker.

Remarks in Anishininiimowin.

In Sioux Lookout, 3,100 people don’t have access to a family doctor. That’s more than half of the population.

The president of the Ontario Medical Association has compared the competition for doctors in the north to the Hunger Games. People across the north have the worst health outcomes and unacceptable access to health care, compared to the rest of Ontario. Why is this acceptable to this government?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.

Hon. Sylvia Jones: With the greatest of respect, when we expanded the number of medical seats available in the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, why did you vote against it?

We are making those investments. Every single medical school in the province of Ontario has new seats because of the investments we have been able to make in this government, under the leadership of Premier Ford. When we make investments, you continuously vote against it.

The Ontario Medical Association knows full well that we are actively negotiating with them right now. Whether they want to participate in a public participation suggesting that we are not—it’s blatantly false. We are very close to settling an agreement with that first year with the OMA, and the OMA leadership knows that, and they shouldn’t be playing political games with this—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m going to remind the member to make her comments through the Chair and caution her on her choice of words.

Supplementary question?

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: I met with NOSM a few weeks ago, and one of the things that they said is announcements are okay, but they need resources to be able to implement that change.

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Speaker, expectant mothers in the north risk their lives by travelling to bigger centres to give birth and receive proper obstetric care, and that’s if the weather conditions even allow them to travel. At the same time, there are few options for children needing pediatric care. The Trillium reported that the closest pediatric care with ICU beds for children in Kenora is London, Ontario.

Expectant mothers and children need to be closer to home. So I ask, Speaker: Why is this government not providing the ICU beds for children in northern Ontario?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members will please take their seats.

The Minister of Health.

Hon. Sylvia Jones: Two years ago, we made a $330-million pediatric care investment, and the CEO of the hospital at the time in Ottawa said this is the largest historic investment in pediatric care in the province of Ontario ever. So we are making those investments. We are ensuring it through, yes, working with the Ontario Medical Association to make sure that OB/GYN can continue to be offered and available in all of our communities.

But I would again ask the member opposite: Stop voting against these investments. You are not serving your communities well when you go back to your riding and say, “We saw a 78% increase, and I decided to vote against it.” It’s not how we should be working when we’re dealing with this important file, expanding primary care expansion and ensuring that everyone in Ontario has access to services.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. I’m just going to inform the House that if members continue to make their comments directly across the floor instead of through the Chair, I will interrupt you in mid-sentence.

Start the clock. Final supplementary?

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Speaker, the $300 million that she talked about for pediatric services has not made it to the north. It’s very clear. We see it.

But also, Speaker, there’s a health care crisis in the north. There is a mental health crisis. There is an addiction crisis. There is a suicide crisis. The Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre had to convert part of their emergency department to safe rooms, but that’s not enough.

Will the minister commit to funding the in-patient mental health beds in Sioux Lookout that are so desperately needed?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: Under the leadership of Premier Ford, we actually have in Ontario the highest percentage of obstetrics and gynecological specialists of anywhere else in Canada, but we are not stopping there.

Ontario’s investments have significantly increased the supply of specialty physicians. We have seen that for two years in a row: CaRMS matching that ensures that every specialist who is chosen has been able to find a position.

The investments that we are making in Kenora, in Sioux Lookout, in Timmins, in Thunder Bay continue to ensure that people are getting access to care closer to home. As we expand the MRIs; as we expand CTs; as we expand, yes, emergency departments in Thunder Bay, as I announced with Minister Holland earlier this week, those are the investments that are going to make a difference in your community and, indeed, across Ontario.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Hamilton Mountain will come to order.

The next question.

Trucking safety

Mr. John Vanthof: My question is to the Minister of Transportation. Highways 11 and 17 are not only part of the Trans-Canada Highway system, they’re our main streets, but many northerners are afraid to drive on them, and it isn’t just winter maintenance. Every day we hear stories—white-knuckle stories of how we’re pushed off the road by commercial trucks, mostly cross-country ones, and that results in highway closures and accidents.

Sadly, northerners weren’t surprised with the CBC Marketplace article that revealed that there were “allegations of inappropriate and illegal behaviour” at Ontario DriveTest centres. We weren’t surprised at all.

What is the minister going to do to make sure that everyone in Ontario who has a commercial vehicle licence is properly trained and tested?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members will please take their seats.

Minister of Transportation.

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: In fact, this government has one of the most extensive training programs in the province, in the country and in all of North America, and we continue to improve upon that. We do have some of the safest roads in all of North America and we’ll continue to develop and build upon that. That’s also why we’ve invested in infrastructure on Highway 11, on Highway 17—over 30 kilometres widened and opened to traffic since the project was initiated, Mr. Speaker.

Let’s continue to talk about that. We’ve had my colleague from Brampton West table measures on commercial driving in this House that we’re examining at the moment to improve safety on the roads. We’ll continue to do everything we can to ensure that we have the safest roads, especially those who are training our truck drivers as well as those who are on the roads. We have a great team of enforcement officers ensuring that those roads remain safe and we’ll—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you.

And the supplementary question?

Mr. John Vanthof: The minister constantly says that we have the safest roads in North America—that’s cold comfort for people in Timiskaming. If your car is registered in the district of Timiskaming and it gets into an accident on a provincial road, the chances of dying are four times as high as anywhere else in the province. We also don’t have the safest roads regarding commercial drivers, because commercial vehicles in Ontario have a higher injury and fatality rate than anywhere else in the country.

It gets worse, Speaker. According to the Auditor General, there are over 100 carriers who license their own drivers, and 27 of those carriers are among the worst of carriers in terms of at-fault collisions in the province. The Ministry of Transportation itself, in May 2022, stated that MELT is “not an effective program” and that there is “little evidence of road safety benefit resulting from the ... MELT program.”

Making sure that every driver who has an Ontario licence is qualified, trained and safe is a basic premise of government. Why can’t you deliver that?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members will take their seats.

Once again, I will remind members to make their comments through the Chair.

Minister of Transportation.

Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: We require over 103 hours of training as a minimum, Mr. Speaker. That’s the highest in the country and probably across North America.

But here’s the shame: When this government invests in transportation enforcement officers, guess what that member does right over there? He gets up and votes against those measures that will keep our roads safer.

When we put in a $30-million scale in northern Ontario to support highway and road safety, what does that member do? He gets up and votes against that, Mr. Speaker. That’s a shame. That is a $30-million investment in road safety.

When we get up here in the House and we put forward in our budgets and our fall economic statements investments in Highway 11, Highway 17, Highway 144, and other highways across the north, what does that member do? He votes against it.

When we invest $100 million into winter maintenance—over 1,100 pieces of equipment deployed across this province to help and support the winter maintenance and clearing in the north—what does that member do? That member votes against it, Mr. Speaker—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order. The government House leader will come to order. The member for Hamilton Mountain will come to order. The member for Sudbury will come to order. The member for Waterloo will come to order.

The next question.

Job creation

Ms. Laura Smith: My question is for the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. Across the world, there’s been intense competition to attract job-creating investments. Under the Liberals, Ontario’s business environment was the exact opposite of what companies were looking for. Countries across the world were trying to lure in new investments by cutting costs and reducing red tape but the Liberals were scaring companies away with their costly policies.

Our government knew we had to fix the mess the Liberals left Ontario in. If we wanted companies to come set up shop here, we needed to take action, so we reduced the annual cost of doing business by $8 billion annually and have cut over 550 pieces of red tape.

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Speaker, can the minister please tell us how, by lowering costs, we’ve been able to land important investments in my riding of Thornhill and across the province?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Orléans will come to order. The member for Ottawa South will come to order.

To reply, the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

Hon. Victor Fedeli: Invest Ontario, our investment agency, has helped land over $4 billion in investments that have led to the creation of more than 4,000 jobs. Here are some of the historic investments: Hitachi Rail, $100 million, in North York, 100 jobs; Roche Canada, $130 million, in Mississauga, 250 jobs; Hanon Systems, $155 million, in Woodbridge, 300 jobs; Jungbunzlauer, in Port Colborne, $200 million, 50 jobs; Goodyear, $575 million, in Napanee, 200 new jobs. Speaker, these are some of the many companies who have chosen to invest in Ontario and expand and create those great-paying jobs.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Spadina–Fort York will come to order.

Supplementary question?

Ms. Laura Smith: Thank you to the minister for his impactful work for the province of Ontario.

Ontario’s economy was spiralling out of control under the Liberals. Businesses were fleeing our province in droves, taking good-paying jobs with them. But by cutting costs, we’ve restored Ontario’s competitiveness and ability to secure investments. Companies are setting up shop and expanding in our province at record levels.

In our auto sector, we’ve seen $45 billion invested over the last four years alone, and in our life sciences sector, we’ve seen more than $5 billion in new investments. We’ve heard the minister talk about the great things that are happening in these two sectors, but our province’s tech sector is also growing quite rapidly.

Speaker, can the minister please provide the House with an update on how Ontario’s tech sector has been doing?

Hon. Victor Fedeli: Speaker, with more than 420,000 tech workers at more than 25,000 tech firms, Ontario is now the global tech leader. Tech employment is up by 100,000 jobs since we took office.

According to CBRE’s 2024 tech talent report, Toronto added more tech jobs than any North American market over the last four years. That same report also showed that London was one of the fastest-growing tech markets in all of North America—go TechAlliance—with tech employment increasing by 88% since 2018 thanks to added growth in Ottawa and Waterloo.

Speaker, artificial intelligence: We have 85,000 AI workers, 30,000 alone in the last two years. Our tech sector is growing rapidly, and the world is taking note. If you’re a tech worker, a researcher or a firm, there is no better place than Ontario.

Government contracts

Ms. Sandy Shaw: My question to the Premier—good morning, Premier: This holiday season, the Premier is gifting his insider pals with a sweet luxury spa deal and sticking taxpayers with the bill. Ontario taxpayers are on the hook for more than $2 billion to build a private luxury spa on public lands at Ontario Place. This is no way to spend taxpayer dollars.

People in Ontario are worried about finding a doctor. Emergency rooms are closing because of your underfunding. But instead—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’ll remind the member to make her comments through the Chair.

Ms. Sandy Shaw: —of focusing on the concerns of Ontario, the Premier is obsessed with this insider deal.

So, my question: When will the Premier cancel this terrible deal?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Infrastructure.

Hon. Kinga Surma: Mr. Speaker, Ontario Place is under construction at the moment. Do you know what Ontario Place is going to look like thanks to Premier Ford’s leadership? We’re going to have a brand new stage operational 365 days of the year. We’re going to have a brand new science centre. We’re going to have 50 acres of public realm space, which the NDP will not support. We will have a wellness centre and a water park, a brand new marina so that families can enjoy.

Mr. Speaker, Michael Lindsay said these were just cost estimates at the moment. But what’s important is that we have $700 million being invested in this site in order to make it an attraction that families and Ontarians can enjoy.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question?

Ms. Sandy Shaw: Speaker, I have to ask, are we going to change the name of Ontario Place to Austria Place now? Because the people of Ontario are not buying it, but they are sure paying for it.

I mean, the minister herself just admitted to the House that the costs are not known, but what we do know is it will cost $400 for every household in Hamilton. In fact, Hamilton taxpayers are on the hook for a staggering $123 million, and I’m pretty sure that no one in Hamilton asked to pay $123 million for a luxury spa in downtown Toronto, especially while Hamilton hospitals are facing a huge deficit. Cancer clinics are being cancelled. Mental health services are forced to close their doors. We should be spending that $123 million on our health care system.

This is a terrible abuse of taxpayer dollars. So, on behalf of the people of Hamilton, I ask: Will the Premier please do the right thing and fire this minister?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members will please take their seats.

Minister of Infrastructure.

Hon. Kinga Surma: Speaker, let me tell you what the NDP think is a good idea. The NDP think that subsidizing Ontario Place at a loss for years and years is the appropriate action. The NDP believe that closing down and not investing in the site, in a government asset, is the appropriate action. The NDP think that $700 million of private sector investment into the site, $200 million of which will go to public realm space, shouldn’t be accepted. And they also believe that $2 billion worth of revenue over a 50-year term should not be accepted.

The truth of the matter is they have no plan for Ontario Place, and they have no plan to build Ontario, and the people realize this. That’s why they’re not even in second place. They are in third.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Sudbury will come to order. The member for Hamilton Mountain will come to order. The member for Waterloo will come to order.

The next question.

Transportation infrastructure

Mr. David Smith: My question is to the Minister of Transportation. Traffic has been a big problem in Ontario. It slows everyone down. Parents can’t get home on time. Trucks take longer to deliver their goods. Small businesses lose money. People are tired of sitting in traffic.

For years, nothing was done. The Liberals and the NDP did nothing. Roads stayed the same, congestion got worse and families and businesses paid the price. That is why our government took action. That is why we are building the roads and highways to fix the problem of gridlock. Can the minister tell us how our government is rebuilding Ontario?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The parliamentary assistant and member for Hastings–Lennox and Addington.

Mr. Ric Bresee: Thank you to the member from Scarborough Centre for the question.

Gridlock impacts all of us, whether it’s parents who are missing dinners with their kids or the small businesses seeing delivery costs rising. Gridlock is holding back Ontario’s full potential.

That’s why, under the leadership of the Premier, we’re acting decisively to reduce congestion. We’re investing in critical projects like Highway 413, the Garden City Skyway and the Bradford Bypass. Unlike the previous government, which ignored these challenges, we’re delivering real solutions to tackle gridlock head-on. Our government is building a stronger Ontario for today and for generations to come.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question?

Mr. David Smith: I would like to thank the member from Hastings–Lennox and Addington for that response.

Traffic has been a big problem for people in my riding of Scarborough Centre. Roads were crowded. Buses and trains were full. Families wasted hours stuck in their cars. Businesses lost money waiting for goods to arrive. For too long, nothing was done by both the Liberals and the NDP. Projects were cancelled. Promises were broken. Problems only got worse.

But people need results, and our government is acting. We are building new roads and highways. We are building better transit. Our government is delivering results. Can the minister please tell us how our government is building roads, highways and transit to keep Ontario moving?

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Mr. Ric Bresee: Thank you again to the member from Scarborough Centre. We’ve heard the concerns of Ontarians loud and clear. They’re tired of sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic. They’re tired of being stuck on crowded buses and subways. That’s why we have a plan to build Ontario. We’re going to get people out of gridlock by building new highways and more public transit all across the province. The Ontario Line alone will remove up to 28,000 cars off the roads every day.

The NDP and the Liberals voted against these projects. They voted against building new highways. They voted against public transit. We’re the only government with a plan to keep our province moving forward, and we will continue to do so.

Employment standards

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: My question is to the Minister of Labour, Immigration and Skills Development. I heard from Nicholas, a construction worker who never got paid for the last two weeks on the job. He filed a complaint with the Ministry of Labour back in June, but he’s still waiting to hear back.

With the holidays just around the corner, workers like Nicholas deserve to be paid for what they’ve earned. Your ministry’s own records show Ontario workers are owed $60 million in unpaid wages since 2017, and less than 30% of that has been collected. Ontarians deserve a government that works for them. Minister, why are you taking so long to get workers the money they’re owed, especially now, when every dollar counts?

Hon. David Piccini: Thank you to the member opposite for that question. As I said to members opposite, we’re addressing these systemic issues. Now, let’s not forget: How did we get here? Over decades, when that party had the balance of power, they did nothing to the Employment Standards Act. They taxed the trades. They made it difficult for contractors, driving manufacturing out of Canada. We’re fixing that.

We’ve worked on the Employment Standards Act. We’ve worked on the Occupational Health and Safety Act. We’ve attracted more women into the trades, statistically; more under-represented groups into the trades, statistically. We lowered the cost of doing business—very fitting, given general contractors are here today. We know the majority of employers are good actors in the province of Ontario who care deeply about their workers, want them to succeed, and they’re benefiting from a Premier that’s actually getting shovels in the ground, building a stronger Ontario. We’re going to fix that like we fixed the litany of other messes left behind and get this province building.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question?

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: Minister, the systemic issues behind Nicholas’s case are even more alarming. His employer continues to operate despite questionable practices, echoing the findings in a recent report showing repeat violators face little deterrence for wage theft. Worker advocates have called on harsher penalties and proactive investigations to hold bad actors accountable. Will the government commit today to stop wage theft?

Hon. David Piccini: I mean, that member’s got a real opportunity to put her money where her mouth is and support measures we’ve introduced in Working for Workers Six that are getting tough on bad actors, introducing mandatory minimums for those most exceptional cases in the province of Ontario. We’ve taken a number of actions—

Interjections.

Hon. David Piccini: And they’re not interested. You see, Speaker? Especially that member from Windsor. That member from Windsor has done nothing to advance the interest of workers in her community: $14 million in payroll; unions that once supported her that are supporting us because we’re getting the job done, building a stronger Ontario. And we’re coming. We’re coming. This is her last Christmas in this place, potentially, because we’re coming for that member in Windsor. Unions are backing us—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. I have to say that to the Minister of Labour—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Windsor West will come to order. The Minister of Labour, Immigration and Training will come to order.

I consider that comment to be unparliamentary. The Minister of Labour, Immigration and Training will rise in his place and withdraw.

Hon. David Piccini: Withdraw, Speaker.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Start the clock.

Next question.

Medical assistance in dying

Ms. Bobbi Ann Brady: My question is to the Premier. We are supposed to be in the season of hope, but sadly, here in Ontario, we are experiencing what my friend from Guelph has dubbed a crisis in caring. MAID euthanasia was initiated to provide compassion and dignity to those suffering through their final days with terminal illness. However, the horror is clear as we learn people with socio-economic and psychological suffering are literally being driven to appointments with death providers instead of getting the necessary counselling and supports they need.

Ontarians with a history of mental illness, suicidality, substance abuse, lack of housing and social vulnerability see no hope, as their issues are inadequately addressed or ignored in favour of a permanent so-called solution to what could be a temporary or manageable issue. The truth is before us.

Speaker, through you to the Premier: What is this government doing to ensure those marginalized by society are safeguarded with respect to MAID?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.

Hon. Sylvia Jones: As the member opposite would know, medical assistance in dying is of course a federal piece of legislation. We have controls in Ontario to ensure that individuals who request it have to go through an appropriate process to make sure that it is the appropriate way for them to decide to finish their life here in Ontario.

I will say that the investments our government has been making in mental health and addictions, in health care support, ensuring that we have adequate services—almost 400 new treatment beds available in the province of Ontario that didn’t exist before Premier Ford came into government. We are making those investments because we know that every individual deserves the opportunity to have a pathway, hope and treatment.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question?

Ms. Bobbi Ann Brady: It’s interesting the minister says that it is a federal issue, but the concerns I’m raising today are straight from a report from the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario. It’s here on my desk. Last year, a quarter of all MAID providers heard from the coroner’s office about possible violations of criminal law, yet not a single instance was referred to the police. Only one was sent to the regulatory college.

Government should not be normalizing homicide as a medical treatment or allowing it to become an industry. Ontario’s coroner’s office sees problems with the way MAID is being delivered in Ontario. Many examples abound: people requiring cancer care, people with post-vaccine injuries, depression, substance abuse problems and even the homeless. Services are not adequate.

Speaker, I regret that this is far from cheery or merry today at this time of the year; however, people have lost hope with this government, which has had six years to make investments.

So, Speaker, again, through you to the Premier: Should a lack of social supports or health services make someone eligible for euthanasia in Ontario?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: Perhaps it would interest the member opposite to understand that at the last meeting of the provincial health ministers we actually all raised concerns about any expansion that the federal government was considering in medical assistance in dying. To their credit, the federal government has paused any expansion, which obviously is very good news for Ontario residents and indeed across Canada.

We are making sure that we have the services and supports needed to ensure that everyone gets those appropriate services, whether it is expansions in mental health treatment beds, whether it is expansions in our hospital system—50 different capital builds—we are making those investments to ensure that people have that hope and that opportunity to get treatment in their community closer to home.

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Broadband infrastructure

Mr. Dave Smith: I know that it’s almost the Christmas break. There’s a lot of “Bah, humbug” coming from the opposition benches. I’m hoping for a little Christmas cheer from our Minister of Infrastructure.

People across Ontario rely on the Internet every day, whether it’s for work, school or keeping in touch with loved ones. High-speed Internet is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity. For far too long, rural, remote and northern communities have been left out. My riding is no different. The Canadian Shield starts in my riding. We have a lot of rock. We have a lot of trees. I know it’s difficult to run fibre in a lot of those areas.

We’ve been waiting for years for reliable connections. The previous Liberal government made promises, but they simply didn’t deliver. Years of inaction left many in our community behind. But our government is committed to connecting every Ontarian to high-speed Internet by 2025. We’re taking action and delivering results.

Speaker, can the minister please explain how we’re delivering broadband infrastructure to communities across the province?

Hon. Kinga Surma: Thank you very much to the hard-working member for the question. He is correct: We have made a commitment to connect every single Ontarian to high-speed Internet by the end of 2025. We’ve invested $2.5 billion for over 270 projects across the province of Ontario. We’re looking at fibre, satellite, fixed wireless and any innovative solution in order to make sure every premise is connected.

Perth county, Grey county, Six Nations of the Grand River, Timiskaming, White River: These are communities that we have connected thus far and, under Premier Ford’s leadership, we will not stop until every single household is connected to high-speed Internet in the province of Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question?

Mr. Dave Smith: I’m hoping that the minister can spread a little more Christmas cheer for me on this one as well.

We know how important it is to connect every home, business and community to reliable, high-speed Internet. For years, people living in rural, remote and northern communities simply have been left waiting. They’ve heard promises from the previous Liberal government that led to nothing but frustration, delays and the sounds of dial-up. They’ve heard promises from the previous Liberal government that have left them frustrated with those delays.

Our government is committed to doing something better. We’re delivering real results and we’re getting it done. Recently, I heard about a new initiative, a new innovative solution, that’s being used to bring broadband to hard-to-reach places, including using satellite technology.

Speaker, can the minister please tell us more about our government’s innovative new programs and how we’re getting people connected to faster and more reliable broadband?

Hon. Kinga Surma: We are being innovative. We were innovative with the reverse auction, which was successful, and we’re using innovative technology. I had the privilege of going up to Sudbury, where we announced our partnership with Elon Musk’s Starlink, through our ONSAT Program. This will help connect 15,000 premises, particularly in northern Ontario, in rural communities and in remote communities.

We were also able to negotiate additional benefits for Ontarians, and that’s funding for installation, a customer service line, as well as engagement with First Nation communities. In the new year we will be sharing information with Ontarians as to how they can register for this program.

Again, this is a government that shows results and delivers for the people of Ontario. We will make sure that every premise is connected by the end of 2025.

Child care

MPP Jill Andrew: To the Premier: Affordable child care is a game-changer for families. It helps parents, especially women, enter and remain in the workforce, while knowing their kids are well taken care of. It’s critical for single dads, working and middle-class parents, who are also finding it difficult to keep up.

Due to this Conservative government’s faulty child care funding formula, countless parents in my community learned, with little warning, that their daycares, including Curious Caterpillars on College View and many other for-profit providers, will be pulling out of the CWELCC $10-a-day child care program. Michael W., Angel, Melissa, Michael M. and several other parents who have reached out to me say their daycare costs will jump from hundreds per month to thousands per month on January 1, 2025. They can barely afford housing. This is too much.

My question to the Premier: What is the government doing today to help these parents in St. Paul’s who are desperate for $10-a-day child care? Are you going to give it to them?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Education.

Hon. Jill Dunlop: Speaker, when it comes to child care, our government’s commitment is unwavering. A reliable child care program means a stronger Ontario economy. It means that moms can get back to work, dads can get back to work. It supports our families.

Our new cost-based funding formula, which was informed by extensive consultations with the child care sector, prioritizes a simple and easy-to-administer system that is consistent across the province and is representative of the true costs of operating child care centres.

I can assure the member across that we have been working collaboratively with the federal government. I was in Prince Edward Island two weeks ago as part of the FPT, where the provinces had an opportunity to talk with the federal minister collaboratively about what we can do to assure sustainable funding for the CWELCC program, as well as look at flexibility for parents across the system.

I want to assure all members of the House that our new—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Response.

Hon. Jill Dunlop: —support families in ensuring that they have adequate child care spaces across the province.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question?

MPP Jill Andrew: This government is not working for the parents of St. Paul’s who have no daycare for their children.

Wait-lists for subsidized daycare are years long. My families will see their kids in kindergarten before they are accepted into another daycare. Angel is number 17 on a daycare wait-list, with no family in Canada to help them in the meantime. Michael is self-employed and unsure whether he can afford daycare in our area. Sabrina is just trying to survive. Wait-lists are long and there are no spaces available, EarlyON Child and Family Centres have been underfunded for years, and early childhood educators remain underpaid and undervalued by this government—all this, while the Conservative government won’t even keep track of how many child care centres are withdrawing from the $10-a-day program.

My question is back to the Premier. Families in St. Paul’s want affordable child care options, including not-for-profit child care. What is this government doing to increase the availability of non-profit, public child care—or is there interest only in incentivizing for-profit daycares to jump ship and leave the program?

Hon. Jill Dunlop: I know that families not just in St. Paul’s but across Ontario want access to child care spaces and to affordable child care spaces. That’s why we are working with our provincial counterparts and also working with the federal minister, who I actually spoke to yesterday. We are working collaboratively to ensure that we have adequate spaces across the province. That’s why I have asked the minister to be flexible with the ratio so that parents can choose the child care that they deserve.

Mr. Speaker, we will continue to work with the federal government collaboratively to ensure that we have adequate spaces and we have sustainable child care spaces across the province.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Toronto–St. Paul’s will come to order. The Minister of Long-Term Care will come to order.

The next question.

Mr. Michael Mantha: Year after year, we try to raise issues with this government in regard to the state of health care across northern Ontario, particularly in Algoma–Manitoulin. Over 42,000 orphaned patients are facing the lack of doctors who are there. It’s a challenge each and every day. Not only is it difficult for them to obtain a doctor, it’s difficult for them to get to the hospital or to the clinic to meet up with a doctor because of the challenges that we have on our roads.

My question is twofold: What is this government doing in regard to getting more doctors in northern Ontario, and what are they doing in order to give them the safe opportunity to get to their destination in order to get the health care that they’re looking for?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’ll ask the minister to take her seat.

We’ll move on to the next question.

Public safety

Mr. Amarjot Sandhu: My question is for the Associate Minister of Auto Theft and Bail Reform. People in my riding of Brampton West are concerned about the rise in auto theft cases across Ontario. Since 2015, auto theft has risen by 45% nationwide, with Toronto seeing a staggering 328% increase. This alarming surge is a direct result of the federal government’s failure to act on bail reform and their soft-on-crime policies.

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Unlike the federal Liberals, our government takes public safety seriously. We’re doing everything in our power to protect the people of this province from auto theft and criminals.

Can the associate minister please outline the measures our government is taking to combat auto theft?

Hon. Graham McGregor: I want to thank the member from Brampton West for raising this serious question. It’s a fact that after nine years of this federal government, crime is on the rise in our communities, not only here in Brampton, but also all the way across Ontario and across our country. A new study from the Fraser Institute shows that the property crime stats are 27.5% higher than in the United States. This is simply unacceptable.

Under the Premier’s leadership, our government is delivering results by investing in local police forces. In Durham region, auto theft is down nearly 10% this year due to this government’s investment in Project Attire. This initiative targets hot spots and disrupts organized crime involved in vehicle theft and resale.

Speaker, we are committed to protecting the property rights of all Ontarians. We hope the federal government will step up and join us in this effort.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question?

Mr. Amarjot Sandhu: Thank you to the associate minister for the response. My constituents are encouraged to see that our government is taking decisive action to protect the property.

However, Speaker, a critical issue remains: Repeat offenders are out on bail, continuing to commit auto thefts and other crimes. It is clear that we are the only party in this House holding the federal government accountable. That is why Ontarians are looking to our government for leadership. They want to see our government continue to take action that will crack down on repeat offenders.

Can the associate minister update the House on what steps Ontario is taking to ensure repeat offenders are held in custody until their day in court?

Hon. Graham McGregor: It’s frustrating and terrifying for many communities when you see the same repeat violent offenders committing the same offence three, four, five, six, seven, eight different times. We have called for federal Criminal Code reform to our bail system, and we’ve called on the federal government to take reasonable action, including (1) restoring mandatory minimum sentences for gun crime, (2) removing bail availability for offenders charged with serious violent offences and (3) reinstating restrictions on conditional sentences for serious offenders.

Unfortunately, the federal government has not acted on anything in this regard, but our government is stepping up. That’s why our government has introduced legislation to suspend drivers’ licences for those convicted of auto theft, with lifetime bans for repeat offenders, and new penalties for VIN fraud: up to six months in jail and $100,000 fines. We’re also investing $51 million over three years to support police efforts and raise awareness on auto theft prevention.

Ontario, under this government, will always prioritize the safety of law-abiding citizens, ensuring criminals stay behind bars.

Employee ownership

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: Time is of the essence. This chamber just heard the Minister of Labour admitting that there’s an early election in the works when he said to the MPP from Windsor West that this is most likely her last Christmas in this House.

So my question is to the Premier. Over the next 10 years, Canada risks losing $2 trillion in investments. Yesterday, I introduced my motion to keep money and jobs in Ontario, the NDP employee ownership strategy. It would promote, encourage and support employee ownership.

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce said, “By moving forward with this strategy, we can strengthen our economy and our communities for years to come.” Why would Conservatives vote against a plan endorsed by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The government House leader will come to order.

The Associate Minister of Small Business.

Hon. Nina Tangri: I want to thank the member opposite for the question. This Premier and this government are committed to continuing to understand the needs of our businesses right across our province. To do so, I’ve been hosting a series of round tables with key sectors right through our province. We’ve engaged with leaders from many different sectors: manufacturing, construction, trades, incubators in technologies, agriculture, tourism, hospitality, as well as retail and personal services, just to name a few. These engagements created a dedicated forum for me to convene dozens of diverse stakeholders right across all sectors of our economy, helping them build and expand across existing relationships.

These meetings are also providing us with valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities each sector is facing, including succession planning. The feedback we’ve been receiving has been helping shape a small business success strategy that we’re working on diligently. Ontario is going to remain a thriving place for business innovation and continued success today—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much.

The supplementary question?

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: Back to the Premier: This Conservative government claims to support small businesses and workers, yet today, they are the roadblock. The stats supporting the strategy are clear: Employee owners are 92% wealthier. We can preserve jobs, retain local wealth and support business owners to keep their legacy alive by helping them sell to their honoured employees.

My question is back to the Premier: What possible reason could his government have to vote against employees becoming owners?

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The government House leader will come to order.

The Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

Hon. David Piccini: There’s nothing to stop that. I appreciate the question from the comrade opposite—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member will withdraw.

Hon. David Piccini: Withdraw.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): That was an unparliamentary remark. That’s why I asked you to withdraw, in case you’re wondering.

Start the clock. The minister can reply.

Hon. David Piccini: Thank you, Speaker. It’s Christmas.

But I will say that this government will not support a command economy where government controls the means of production and gets involved in private sector business dealings.

I met with businesses this morning—

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: It’s the Ontario Chamber of Commerce—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Hamilton Mountain will come to order. The member for London North Centre will come to order.

The minister may conclude his reply.

Hon. David Piccini: It’s with that passion, that member knows, that that’s how they would control business: in a command economy, where government controls the means of production.

We don’t support that. We create the conditions for jobs, economic opportunity. We’re doing just that in the province of Ontario. We’re not going to get involved in business dealings. We see it all the time where through succession planning, businesses hand the business to their employees. We encourage that through creating competitive—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Ottawa Centre will come to order.

Next question.

Rural economic development

Mr. Brian Saunderson: My question is for the Minister of Rural Affairs. Rural communities like Everett, Lisle, Glencairn, Stayner and Ivy in my riding of Simcoe–Grey are the backbone of Ontario. From small towns to our local farms, they drive our economy and support countless families. But for years, they were overlooked and ignored by the previous Liberal and NDP governments. Many rural areas struggled to attract new businesses, keep young people in their towns and improve local infrastructure.

Our rural communities deserve better. They need programs that create jobs, encourage investment and build a stronger future. That is why our government is committed to supporting rural Ontario and ensuring these areas have the resources they need to thrive.

Can the minister please share how our government is supporting rural economies and ensuring programs like the Rural Economic Development Program are delivering results for our communities?

Hon. Lisa M. Thompson: I totally agree with the member from Simcoe–Grey, because I remember, in 2011, what inspired me to run was the fact that rural Ontario had lost its voice under the Liberal government. I am so proud to stand here today and share with everyone watching and everyone in the House that under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is shining a spotlight on the vitality and the potential of small-town rural Ontario. With supports that we’re bringing through like the Rural Economic Development Program, there’s so much opportunity.

I think it’s important to recognize that since we formed government, since 2018-19, we’ve invested $27.4 million that actually has seen well over $200 million leveraged in investment to attract business, retain business, attract workforces. There’re so many projects, from revitalization in downtown Belleville through destination strategies, like I’ve seen at Hotel Kenney in Leeds–Grenville–Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. There are amazing projects that I look forward to continuing to talk about in the supplemental.

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The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question?

Mr. Brian Saunderson: Thank you to the minister for that answer.

Speaker, rural Ontario is vital to the success of our province. My riding of Simcoe–Grey is home to several vibrant communities that serve as a four-season destination for residents and businesses. All the communities in my riding play an important role in our province’s economic strength. From small businesses to family farms, these communities drive growth and create opportunities, but they also face unique challenges, like attracting investments and supporting local development.

Last week, in my riding, we celebrated a big announcement and saw first-hand how programs like the Rural Economic Development Program can make a real difference. Investments in infrastructure and housing planning services are helpful to strengthen our community and improve the quality of life for all our residents.

Can the minister please share how our government is supporting the city of Collingwood through these important Rural Economic Development Programs?

Hon. Lisa M. Thompson: The project that the member from Simcoe–Grey just referenced is a perfect example of how our government is partnering with local municipalities to ensure that we’re continuing to grow.

The particular rural economic development project that was announced by the MPP from Lambton–Kent–Middlesex and parliamentary assistant to rural affairs with the member, just last week, demonstrated that we understand the importance of streamlining processes so that housing and building can move forward at an effective pace.

I just want to share a quote from the mayor of Collingwood: This cost-share initiative “is an investment in our community that will ensure a quicker development approval process. This means a more affordable housing supply in Collingwood. Thank you” to the member for Simcoe–Grey “and the Ministry of Rural Affairs, for this funding.”

You know, Speaker, I can’t stress enough how important rural economic development is. Over the span of six short years, we have supported 485 ec dev projects in small-town, rural Ontario. Just this past intake alone, we approved 85 projects—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much.

The next question.

Homelessness

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: My question is to the Premier. Ford Conservatives have failed to deliver on housing and as a result, encampments are growing—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’ll remind the member to refer to other members by their ministerial title or riding name, as applicable.

Back to the member for Parkdale–High Park.

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: Speaker, the Premier has failed to deliver on housing and, as a result, encampments are growing.

The Premier’s plan is to remove encampments from parks. Let’s say encampments are cleared from parks and, somehow, the Premier manages to stop people from setting up tents again the next day. Shelters are full. There’s a 10-year wait-list for subsidized housing. So the moment the Premier removes people from encampments, where are the people going to end up—subway stations, coffee shops, people’s backyards?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I will ask members to please take their seats.

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Speaker, do you know what? The member, I think, raises a very important point and really hits the nail on the head. We know that we have to clear encampments. We know that we want our parks back for our children. We want our downtowns and our main streets to be centres of commerce where small businesses can succeed. But we also know that people who are in parks are suffering from mental health and addictions. That is why we are going to ensure tomorrow that we provide additional resources so that we can deal with the challenges that people who are living in tents and parks might be having.

But make no mistake about it, Speaker: We want our parks back, we want them to be safe, we want them to be clean and we want children to return to parks and to have fun. At the same time, we want to ensure that those who need help get the help that they need. Tomorrow, we’ll have some additional answers, some additional resources to do just that.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Hamilton Mountain will come to order.

Supplementary?

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: People should be able to take their children to their parks, for sure, because people should not be living in the parks. But the reality on the ground is that life is unaffordable. Even people who work full-time cannot afford housing. What about people who can’t find a job? Ontario has the highest unemployment rate in the country right now. People have ended up in parks for a reason. The Premier has failed to provide the basic necessities.

The government has an opportunity today. They can close the rent control exemption and ensure that all tenants are protected under rent control so that they don’t end up in encampment parks. Will you support my bill today?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’ll remind members to make their comments through the Chair.

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Look, I agree with the member in the sense that we have to clear out the parks. A park is no place for somebody who is suffering from mental health and addictions to be. A park is for children. A park is where families should go, and people should feel safe in their communities to go to a park. They should feel safe in their communities to go to their downtowns and their main streets. Our business people should not fear having customers come to them.

So, what we’re going to do is this, Mr. Speaker: We’re going to put tools on the table so that our municipal partners and law enforcement can deal with the illegal things that might be happening in encampments. At the same time, before we do that, we’re going to provide additional resources so those who are in encampments can have another place to live, and if they require wraparound services, we’ll have that available to them.

But make no mistake about it: We’re taking back our parks, we’re taking back our streets and we’re delivering a bigger, better—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): That concludes our question period, but I’m going to remind—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members will take their seats. The member for Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas will come to order. The member for Hamilton Mountain will come to order. The member for Toronto–St. Paul’s will come to order.

Visitor

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I believe the member for Parkdale–High Park has a point of order.

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: I missed introducing the parent of our page Ekam Dosanjh, who is page captain today. We are joined by his mom, Margaret Dosanjh. Welcome.

Deferred Votes

Working for Workers Six Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 visant à œuvrer pour les travailleurs, six

Deferred vote on the motion for third reading of the following bill:

Bill 229, An Act to enact the Skilled Trades Week Act, 2024 and to amend various statutes with respect to employment and labour and other matters / Projet de loi 229, Loi édictant la Loi de 2024 sur la Semaine des métiers spécialisés et modifiant diverses lois relatives à l’emploi et au travail ainsi qu’à d’autres questions.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Call in the members. This is a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1147 to 1152.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): On November 28, 2024, Mr. Piccini moved second reading of Bill 229, An Act to enact the Skilled Trades Week Act, 2024 and to amend various statutes with respect to employment and labour and other matters.

All those in favour of the motion will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

• Anand, Deepak
• Andrew, Jill
• Armstrong, Teresa J.
• Bailey, Robert
• Barnes, Patrice
• Begum, Doly
• Bell, Jessica
• Bethlenfalvy, Peter
• Blais, Stephen
• Bouma, Will
• Bourgouin, Guy
• Bowman, Stephanie
• Brady, Bobbi Ann
• Bresee, Ric
• Byers, Rick
• Calandra, Paul
• Cho, Raymond Sung Joon
• Cho, Stan
• Clancy, Aislinn
• Clark, Steve
• Coe, Lorne
• Collard, Lucille
• Crawford, Stephen
• Cuzzetto, Rudy
• Dixon, Jess
• Dowie, Andrew
• Downey, Doug
• Dunlop, Jill
• Fedeli, Victor
• Fife, Catherine
• Flack, Rob
• Fraser, John
• Gallagher Murphy, Dawn
• Gates, Wayne

• Gélinas, France
• Glover, Chris
• Gretzky, Lisa
• Grewal, Hardeep Singh
• Hamid, Zee
• Hardeman, Ernie
• Harden, Joel
• Hogarth, Christine
• Hsu, Ted
• Jama, Sarah
• Jones, Sylvia
• Jones, Trevor
• Jordan, John
• Kanapathi, Logan
• Karpoche, Bhutila
• Kernaghan, Terence
• Kerzner, Michael S.
• Kusendova-Bashta, Natalia
• Leardi, Anthony
• Lecce, Stephen
• Lumsden, Neil
• Mamakwa, Sol
• Mantha, Michael
• Martin, Robin
• McCarthy, Todd J.
• McGregor, Graham
• McMahon, Mary-Margaret
• Mulroney, Caroline
• Pang, Billy
• Parsa, Michael
• Pasma, Chandra
• Piccini, David
• Pierre, Natalie
• Pirie, George

• Quinn, Nolan
• Rae, Matthew
• Rakocevic, Tom
• Riddell, Brian
• Romano, Ross
• Sabawy, Sheref
• Sandhu, Amarjot
• Sarkaria, Prabmeet Singh
• Sarrazin, Stéphane
• Sattler, Peggy
• Saunderson, Brian
• Schreiner, Mike
• Shaw, Sandy
• Skelly, Donna
• Smith, Dave
• Smith, David
• Smith, Graydon
• Smith, Laura
• Stevens, Jennifer (Jennie)
• Surma, Kinga
• Tabuns, Peter
• Tangri, Nina
• Taylor, Monique
• Thompson, Lisa M.
• Tibollo, Michael A.
• Triantafilopoulos, Effie J.
• Vanthof, John
• Wai, Daisy
• West, Jamie
• Williams, Charmaine A.
• Wong-Tam, Kristyn
• Yakabuski, John

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): All those opposed to the motion will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Trevor Day): The ayes are 100; the nays are 0.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I declare the motion carried.

Second reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Pursuant to the order of the House dated December 10, 2024, the bill is ordered for third reading.

Support for Seniors and Caregivers Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 sur le soutien aux personnes âgées et aux fournisseurs de soins

Deferred vote on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 235, An Act to amend the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021 and the Retirement Homes Act, 2010 / Projet de loi 235, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2021 sur le redressement des soins de longue durée et la Loi de 2010 sur les maisons de retraite.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Call in the members. This is a five-minute bell.

Interjection: Same vote.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Same vote? No? I heard a no.

The division bells rang from 1157 to 1158.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): On December 5, 2024, Ms. Kusendova-Bashta moved second reading of Bill 235, An Act to amend the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021 and the Retirement Homes Act, 2010.

All those in favour of the motion will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

• Anand, Deepak
• Andrew, Jill
• Armstrong, Teresa J.
• Bailey, Robert
• Barnes, Patrice
• Begum, Doly
• Bell, Jessica
• Bethlenfalvy, Peter
• Blais, Stephen
• Bouma, Will
• Bourgouin, Guy
• Brady, Bobbi Ann
• Bresee, Ric
• Byers, Rick
• Calandra, Paul
• Cho, Raymond Sung Joon
• Cho, Stan
• Clancy, Aislinn
• Clark, Steve
• Coe, Lorne
• Collard, Lucille
• Crawford, Stephen
• Cuzzetto, Rudy
• Dixon, Jess
• Dowie, Andrew
• Downey, Doug
• Dunlop, Jill
• Fedeli, Victor
• Fife, Catherine
• Flack, Rob
• Fraser, John
• Gallagher Murphy, Dawn
• Gates, Wayne

• Gélinas, France
• Glover, Chris
• Grewal, Hardeep Singh
• Hamid, Zee
• Hardeman, Ernie
• Harden, Joel
• Hogarth, Christine
• Hsu, Ted
• Jama, Sarah
• Jones, Sylvia
• Jones, Trevor
• Jordan, John
• Kanapathi, Logan
• Karpoche, Bhutila
• Kernaghan, Terence
• Kerzner, Michael S.
• Kusendova-Bashta, Natalia
• Leardi, Anthony
• Lecce, Stephen
• Lumsden, Neil
• Mamakwa, Sol
• Mantha, Michael
• Martin, Robin
• McCarthy, Todd J.
• McGregor, Graham
• McMahon, Mary-Margaret
• Mulroney, Caroline
• Pang, Billy
• Parsa, Michael
• Pasma, Chandra
• Piccini, David
• Pierre, Natalie
• Pirie, George

• Quinn, Nolan
• Rae, Matthew
• Rakocevic, Tom
• Riddell, Brian
• Romano, Ross
• Sabawy, Sheref
• Sandhu, Amarjot
• Sarkaria, Prabmeet Singh
• Sarrazin, Stéphane
• Sattler, Peggy
• Saunderson, Brian
• Schreiner, Mike
• Shaw, Sandy
• Skelly, Donna
• Smith, Dave
• Smith, David
• Smith, Graydon
• Smith, Laura
• Stevens, Jennifer (Jennie)
• Surma, Kinga
• Tabuns, Peter
• Tangri, Nina
• Taylor, Monique
• Thompson, Lisa M.
• Tibollo, Michael A.
• Triantafilopoulos, Effie J.
• Vanthof, John
• Wai, Daisy
• West, Jamie
• Williams, Charmaine A.
• Wong-Tam, Kristyn
• Yakabuski, John

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): All those opposed to the motion will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Trevor Day): The ayes are 98; the nays are 0.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I declare the motion carried.

Second reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Shall the bill be ordered for third reading? I heard a no. I look to the minister for a committee referral.

Hon. Natalia Kusendova-Bashta: The Standing Committee on Social Policy.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The bill is therefore referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy.

Employee ownership

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Next, we have a deferred vote on private member’s notice of motion number 152.

Call in the members. This is a five-minute bell.

Interjections: Same vote.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I heard a no.

The division bells rang from 1202 to 1203.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): MPP Kernaghan has moved private member’s notice of motion number 152.

All those in favour will please rise and remain standing until recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

• Andrew, Jill
• Armstrong, Teresa J.
• Begum, Doly
• Bell, Jessica
• Bourgouin, Guy
• Clancy, Aislinn
• Fife, Catherine
• Gates, Wayne
• Gélinas, France

• Glover, Chris
• Gretzky, Lisa
• Harden, Joel
• Jama, Sarah
• Karpoche, Bhutila
• Kernaghan, Terence
• Mamakwa, Sol
• Mantha, Michael
• Pasma, Chandra

• Rakocevic, Tom
• Sattler, Peggy
• Shaw, Sandy
• Stevens, Jennifer (Jennie)
• Tabuns, Peter
• Taylor, Monique
• Vanthof, John
• West, Jamie
• Wong-Tam, Kristyn

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): All those opposed to the motion will please rise and remaining standing until recognized by the Clerk.

Nays

• Anand, Deepak
• Bailey, Robert
• Barnes, Patrice
• Bethlenfalvy, Peter
• Blais, Stephen
• Bouma, Will
• Brady, Bobbi Ann
• Bresee, Ric
• Byers, Rick
• Calandra, Paul
• Cho, Raymond Sung Joon
• Cho, Stan
• Clark, Steve
• Coe, Lorne
• Collard, Lucille
• Crawford, Stephen
• Cuzzetto, Rudy
• Dixon, Jess
• Dowie, Andrew
• Downey, Doug
• Dunlop, Jill
• Fedeli, Victor
• Flack, Rob
• Fraser, John

• Gallagher Murphy, Dawn
• Grewal, Hardeep Singh
• Hamid, Zee
• Hardeman, Ernie
• Hogarth, Christine
• Hsu, Ted
• Jones, Sylvia
• Jones, Trevor
• Jordan, John
• Kanapathi, Logan
• Kerzner, Michael S.
• Kusendova-Bashta, Natalia
• Leardi, Anthony
• Lecce, Stephen
• Lumsden, Neil
• Martin, Robin
• McCarthy, Todd J.
• McGregor, Graham
• McMahon, Mary-Margaret
• Mulroney, Caroline
• Pang, Billy
• Parsa, Michael
• Piccini, David
• Pierre, Natalie

• Pirie, George
• Quinn, Nolan
• Rae, Matthew
• Riddell, Brian
• Romano, Ross
• Sabawy, Sheref
• Sandhu, Amarjot
• Sarkaria, Prabmeet Singh
• Sarrazin, Stéphane
• Saunderson, Brian
• Shamji, Adil
• Skelly, Donna
• Smith, Dave
• Smith, David
• Smith, Graydon
• Smith, Laura
• Surma, Kinga
• Tangri, Nina
• Thompson, Lisa M.
• Tibollo, Michael A.
• Triantafilopoulos, Effie J.
• Wai, Daisy
• Williams, Charmaine A.
• Yakabuski, John

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Trevor Day): The ayes are 27; the nays are 72.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I declare the motion lost.

Motion negatived.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): There being no further business at this time, this House stands in recess until 3 p.m.

The House recessed from 1206 to 1500.

Private members’ notices of motions

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m going to ask for the attention of the House for a moment. As we near the end of this fall meeting period, I’d like to take this opportunity to address a procedural issue which I’ve observed over the course of this Parliament on the subject of private members’ notices of motion.

It is the right of every private member to place notices of motion on the orders and notices paper. There is no limit to the number of motions that may be placed on notice by any one member. However, there are a number of rules governing the orderliness of the motions themselves, some of which are written into the standing orders while others are based on practice and precedent. It may have been some time since members have been advised of these rules, so I’d like to remind everyone of best practices at this time. Fortunately, this House is a body of precedents, which we are able to consult for guidance, as Speakers before me have addressed this very matter on multiple occasions.

It has been well established in this House that all private members’ motions must be worded in such a way that, if they are adopted, they become resolutions or expressions of the opinion of the House. This is achieved by commencing each motion with the words, “That, in the opinion of this House.” Members have been quite diligent in adhering to this formula, and I thank them for that.

Additionally, private members’ motions should not be prefaced by recitals or preambles. This rule goes back to 1901 and is currently captured in standing order 3, which provides certain guidelines for the broad category of substantive motions, a category that includes private members’ motions. The written rule is connected with the principle that motions should not contain arguments, which are more appropriately expressed in the course of debate.

On April 26, 1999, Speaker Stockwell explained this principle to members in a letter, which he followed with a statement in the House. Speaker Stockwell wrote as follows: “Many motions put on the orders and notices paper are technically out of order because they contain long preambles and recitals. Most often, these preambles contain arguments or the justifications for the subsequent resolution; these points anticipate the ensuing debate, and deserve to be raised then, not in the motion itself....

“Ensuring motions are not self-contained debates that precede the main debate they purport to raise is, in my view, in the interests of all members and will make the best use of the time of the House.”

Speaker Carr reiterated this principle in a ruling on October 15, 2001, at page 2,632 of the debates, as follows: “A motion should indicate some succinct, specific opinion that the House agrees to, or some specific action the House agrees should be taken. A motion should not include the arguments as to why an opinion should be adopted, or why a certain action should be taken; those arguments belong in the debate on the motion itself, when members have the opportunity to persuade their colleagues either to accept or reject the proposition. A simple, argument-free proposal before the House gives the House the best chance to clearly decide, and maximizes the chance that the proposal, being uncluttered by extraneous and possibly irrelevant argument, will find acceptance among a large number of members.”

Rather than containing preambles and arguments, a motion should simply be a concise statement of resolve on a single issue that the House can easily debate and decide upon. This gives the House the best opportunity to make clear decisions on the questions before it.

It seems that in some instances we have strayed from these principles, as a number of the motions that have come before the House in this session have been quite lengthy, containing justifications and arguments. It is my intention to ensure that our rules and practices will be more carefully observed going forward.

Standing order 15 provides that, “Whenever the Speaker is of the opinion that a motion offered to the House is contrary to the rules and privileges of Parliament, the Speaker shall rule it out of order....” This authority was exercised in 2001, when Speaker Carr identified several private members’ notices of motion that were out of order and directed that they be removed from the orders and notices paper. It is not my desire to take such a strict approach at this time. However, going forward, I have advised the table that any private members’ notices of motion that do not comply with the rules and practices as outlined today will be inadmissible and shall not be placed on the orders and notices paper. Members would be well advised to consult with the table when drafting motions to ensure that they are in order.

I sincerely thank all members for their co-operation in this matter and for listening to my long speech.

Petitions

Health care

Mr. Ted Hsu: I have a petition today from my constituents in Kingston and the Islands in support of Dr. Elaine Ma, who ran mass vaccination clinics to get thousands and thousands of people vaccinated during COVID. The Ontario Health Insurance Plan decided to audit Dr. Ma and demanded repayment of billings. She appealed to the Health Services Appeal and Review Board, which denied her appeal.

The petitioners ask the Premier and the health minister to demonstrate their commitment to Ontario’s health care workers and those who go out of the way to serve and protect us, and to order OHIP to set aside the HSARB decision and to cease demanding repayment of billings.

Land use planning

Mr. Ted Hsu: I have a petition entitled “No Farms, No Food.” These petitioners ask the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to immediately take steps to stop the expropriation of prime agricultural land, and call on the government of Ontario to have a transparent and collaborative conversation with Waterloo region officials and farmers to promote sustainable development in that region.

Orders of the Day

Consideration of Bill 123

Mr. Steve Clark: I seek unanimous consent for the sponsorship of Bill 123, An Act to amend the Education Act with respect to child sexual abuse prevention and reporting, standing in the name of the member for Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry, to be transferred to the member for Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock and the member for Kitchener South–Hespeler.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Mr. Clark is seeking the unanimous consent of the House for the sponsorship of Bill 123, An Act to amend the Education Act with respect to child sexual abuse prevention and reporting, standing in the name of the member for Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry, to be transferred to the member for Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock and the member for Kitchener South–Hespeler. Agreed? Agreed.

Order of business

Mr. Steve Clark: I seek unanimous consent to move a motion without notice regarding public private members’ public bills.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Mr. Clark is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to move a motion without notice regarding private members’ public bills. Agreed? Agreed.

I recognize the government House leader.

Mr. Steve Clark: I move that, notwithstanding any standing order or special order of the House,

That when the order for second reading of Bill 211, An Act to proclaim Persons Day is called, the Speaker shall put every question necessary to dispose of the second reading stage of the bill without further debate or amendment; and

That, upon receiving the second reading, Bill 211 shall be ordered for third reading, which order may be called the same day; and

That the order of the House dated March 22, 2023, referring Bill 70, An Act proclaim the month of June as Seniors Month to the Standing Committee on Social Policy be discharged and the bill be ordered for third reading; and

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That the order of the House dated March 6, 2024, referring Bill 158, An Act to proclaim Group of Seven Day, to the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy be discharged and the bill be ordered for third reading; and

That the order of the House dated May 30, 2024, referring Bill 118, An Act to proclaim Injured Workers Day to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, be discharged and the bill be ordered for third reading; and

That the order of the House dated October 4, 2023, referring Bill 123, An Act to amend the Education Act with respect to child sexual abuse prevention and reporting, to the Standing Committee on Social Policy be discharged and the bill be ordered for third reading; and

That the order of the House dated March 19, 2024, referring Bill 167, An Act to proclaim Orthodox Christian Week, to the Standing Committee on Social Policy be discharged and the bill be ordered for third reading; and

That the order of the House dated May 14, 2024, referring Bill 183, An Act to proclaim the month of February as Chinese Heritage Month, to the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy be discharged and the bill be ordered for third reading; and

That the order of the House dated November 27, 2024, referring Bill 215, An Act to proclaim the month of September as Ukrainian Heritage Month, to the Committee of the Whole House be discharged and the bill be ordered for third reading; and

That when the orders for third reading of Bill 66, An Act to proclaim Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day and Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week; Bill 70, An Act to proclaim the month of June as Seniors Month; Bill 118, An Act to proclaim Injured Workers Day; Bill 121, An Act to enact the Improving Dementia Care in Ontario Act, 2023; Bill 123, An Act to amend the Education Act with respect to child sexual abuse prevention and reporting; Bill 137, An Act to proclaim Planning for Your Silver Years Awareness Week; Bill 158, An Act to proclaim Group of Seven Day; Bill 167, An Act to proclaim Orthodox Christian Week; Bill 183, An Act to proclaim the month of February as Chinese Heritage Month; Bill 186, An Act to limit the liability in respect of agritourism; Bill 211, An Act to proclaim Persons Day; and Bill 215, An Act to proclaim the month of September as Ukrainian Heritage Month, are called, 15 minutes shall be allotted to debate on the motion for third reading of each bill, with five minutes allotted for members of His Majesty’s government, five minutes allotted for members of His Majesty’s loyal opposition, and five minutes allotted to the independent members as a group.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Mr. Clark has moved that, notwithstanding any standing order or special order of the House,

That when the order for second reading of Bill 211, An Act to proclaim Persons Day is called, the Speaker—

Interjection: Dispense.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Dispense? Dispense.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I recognize the member for Windsor West.

MPP Lisa Gretzky: I seek unanimous consent that, notwithstanding any standing order or special order of the House, the order of the House dated April 10, 2024, referring Bill 173, An Act respecting intimate partner violence, to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy be discharged and the bill be ordered for third reading, which order shall immediately be called; and

That 15 minutes shall be allotted to debate on the motion for third reading of the bill, with five minutes allotted for members of His Majesty’s loyal opposition, five minutes allotted for members of His Majesty’s government, and five minutes allotted to the independent members as a group.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): MPP Gretzky is seeking unanimous consent of the House that, notwithstanding any standing order or special order of the House, the order of the House dated April 10, 2024, referring Bill 173, An Act respecting intimate partner violence, to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy be discharged and the bill be ordered for third reading, which order shall immediately be called; and

That 15 minutes shall be allotted to debate on the motion for third reading of the bill, with five minutes allotted to members of His Majesty’s loyal opposition, five minutes allotted to members of His Majesty’s government and five minutes allotted to the independent members as a group. Agreed? I heard a no.

Orders of the day.

Heart Valve Disease Awareness Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 sur la sensibilisation à la cardiopathie valvulaire

Mr. Cuzzetto moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 66, An Act to proclaim Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day and Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week / Projet de loi 66, Loi proclamant la Journée de sensibilisation à la cardiopathie valvulaire et la Semaine de sensibilisation à la cardiopathie valvulaire.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I look to the member to lead off the debate.

Mr. Rudy Cuzzetto: I’m honoured to rise today to speak on the third reading of Bill 66, the Heart Valve Disease Awareness Act, and I want to thank the members from both sides of the House for their support on this bill through second reading at social policy committee and again here, tonight.

I want to thank the Chair, who is now the government House leader, and the member from Eglinton–Lawrence, for handling clause-by-clause while I was away at the groundbreaking for the new patient-care tower at the Queensway Health Centre.

I also want to thank Ellen Ross and Len Crispino and their team at Heart Valve Voice Canada for all their support, both with Bill 66 and with the free stethoscope check events that were hosted together in Mississauga–Lakeshore and here at Queen’s Park.

And most of all I want to thank all the front-line health care workers, from cardiologists to cardiac surgeons, family doctors and nurse practitioners, for everything they do to care for patients living with heart valve disease and for everything they’re doing to help raise awareness.

In particular, I want to thank the heart valve disease working group at the Canadian Cardiovascular Society for everything they do to help encourage everyone to get a regular stethoscope check, because over one million Canadians are now living with heart valve disease. That includes at least one in 40 Ontarians and at least one in eight seniors over the age of 75. And with Ontario’s aging population, the number of people living with heart valve disease is expected to double by 2040 or triple by 2060.

Fortunately, heart valve disease is a very treatable condition when it’s detected early. Unfortunately, the symptoms are hard to detect, and it is easy to dismiss them as just a normal sign of aging. Fortunately, a simple stethoscope check can detect murmurs and other sounds that can indicate heart valve disease. But unfortunately, only about a quarter of adult Canadians had a stethoscope check in the last year. Speaker, in France, today, over 75% of visits to family doctors include stethoscope checks. We need to do better here in Ontario.

Regular screening is essential and critical to Ontarians at a high risk, including those over the age of 60, those with a family history of heart valve disease and those with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or other risk factors for heart disease.

In my case, I was born with a condition called a bicuspid aortic valve, in which the heart’s main artery has only two flaps instead of three. Arnold Schwarzenegger had the same condition. He had his valve replaced in 1997; I had mine replaced 15 years ago, in 2009. My family doctor, Eric Farkas, and later, Linda Sabetti, diagnosed me with a heart murmur. Then a cardiologist in Toronto, Dr. Peter Fountas, confirmed that my bicuspid aortic valve had to be replaced. Dr. Christopher Feindel, one of the top cardiac surgeons in the world, did the surgery, just across the street at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre. Again, I want to wish Dr. Feindel the best in his retirement, because I’m living a normal and healthy life because of him.

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Since I had my surgery, there has been significant progress on new treatment options. Now, heart valves can be replaced or repaired with only minimally invasive surgery. New valves can be inserted through your artery with just a small incision in the groin. But again, in order to take advantage of this incredible new technology, it is critical to detect heart valve disease early.

In closing, again, I want to thank all the members for their support on Bill 66, and again, I want to encourage here and everyone watching to please get a regular stethoscope check. Listen to your heart. It saved my life; it could save yours. Thank you.

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

Mr. John Fraser: I’d simply like to congratulate the member for Mississauga–Lakeshore for putting this bill forward. I will be supporting it.

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

M^me France Gélinas: And I, too, would like to thank the member for bringing this bill forward. The bill is quite simple: It will make sure that more and more Ontarians know about heart valve diseases. It will make sure that on February 22, which will come soon, of each year is proclaimed Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day, an opportunity for each of us to talk more about the need to get your heart checked, and for this particular line of disease, it’s pretty easy. Anybody who’s used a stethoscope before has been trained to listen to those heart murmurs, and then the treatment can begin.

Not only will we have a date February; we will also have the week of the third Monday of September each year that will be proclaimed as Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week, again, an opportunity for more and more people.

Unfortunately, I and the member, we both know people who had heart valve problems. They did not know they had heart valve problems and died suddenly. All of this can be prevented.

Ça me fait extrêmement plaisir d’appuyer le projet de loi pour proclamer la Journée de sensibilisation à la cardiopathie valvulaire et la Semaine de sensibilisation à la cardiopathie valvulaire. Le projet de loi est très simple. Le projet de loi proclame le 22 février chaque année comme la Journée de sensibilisation à la cardiopathie valvulaire et la troisième semaine du mois de septembre—commençant le lundi—de chaque année comme la Semaine de sensibilisation à la cardiopathie valvulaire.

C’est un problème qui affecte beaucoup de gens, et le plus que les gens savent de se faire vérifier, tout simplement avec un stéthoscope, le plus de vies qu’on peut sauver.

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

MPP Wayne Gates: I’d like to thank the member for bringing this bill forward. He talked about having a heart valve replacement. I had my heart valve replaced 19 years ago, and I was lucky it got caught when I had my open-heart surgery, but it was different back then. They cut me from stem to stern, as they used to say, and it was Dr. Chu from Hamilton. I want to say to Dr. Chu, thank you very much for what you did—to the doctors, to Hamilton Health Sciences.

But what’s happened since then—and it’s always why I’ve always been up here talking about early detection, when I talk about the PSA bill—early detection saves lives. By me getting caught early, I was able to end up in Hamilton, got rushed to Hamilton. They check, they go through the groin, and then they open me up. So it’s important for the awareness, and I can’t say enough about getting checked, because when mine was done, like I said, they opened me right up. But today, because of research and how far they’ve come, they can now either go through your wrist, which is a very small cut; they go through your side now, where they go in; they do it with machines now. It’s incredible what’s gone on, but it’s all about awareness.

All I really wanted to say to all the doctors—I know a lot of people think I don’t have a heart, but they found one. At the end of the day, I want to say to all the doctors and to the nurses in Hamilton—and the other thing I want to say is—and I haven’t said this, I think, publicly before—Dr. Chu, when I went in, I told him I didn’t want to watch all the movies, because I can’t stand blood. I told him, “Just make sure I come out, because it’s close to my birthday.” He worked extra hard on me, because I died on the table, and when I finished my surgery, I had a lump about this big on the back of my head for about three months.

To Dr. Chu: Thanks for not giving up on my heart. Thanks for not giving up on me. Because of you and your staff, I’ve been able to enjoy my family for another 19 years, and my five grandkids. To all those medical people: Thank you very much.

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

Pursuant to the order of the House passed earlier today, I’m now required to put the question.

Mr. Cuzzetto has moved third reading of Bill 66, An Act to proclaim Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day and Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

Seniors Month Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 sur le Mois des personnes âgées

Madame Gallagher Murphy moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 70, An Act to proclaim the month of June as Seniors Month / Projet de loi 70, Loi proclamant le mois de juin Mois des personnes âgées.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): You now have five minutes.

M^me Dawn Gallagher Murphy: I’d like to thank, actually, first off, all of the seniors, because what this bill is all about is it has the goal of formally recognizing everything that seniors have done in our communities across this province. So number one, thank you to all the seniors. You are the ones who have inspired me. Quite honestly, this bill—yes, it’s for you, but it’s for all the generations to come as well, because you have set the pace for all of us. You give back to our communities, and for future generations, this is going to continue.

So what’s important about proclaiming the month of June as Seniors Month? Yes, in many jurisdictions, including our own, it’s “known,” but it’s not formally proclaimed. By formally proclaiming the month of June, this will allow us to really celebrate and recognize everything that seniors have done for our communities and then some. The purpose of it, as well, is to ensure that we promote inclusivity, to ensure that seniors, people are not socially isolated. How do we get seniors moving and being active in their communities, which also includes volunteerism? This is all part of it.

Speaker, I’d like to speak to a couple of things I’ve been doing in my community since the second reading of this bill. In June 2023, I organized a very large round table in my community. I had the Minister of Seniors and Accessibility, along with his parliamentary assistant and 17 different organizations in my community that do work with seniors: everyone from the York Region Paramedic Services to the York region senior services, as well as the Aurora seniors and the Probus men. We had the 108 Health Promotion Association, the Chinese community—because it’s not just Ontarians; there are new people who come to our communities all the time, so recognizing the multiculturalism of our communities and seniors is a critical part of this as well.

Last year, I am proud to say, coming out of that round table, one of the things that was identified is that not enough seniors or their loved ones have a good feel of what’s going on in their own communities, of what they can be doing. So I’m proud to say that last year, I held my first seniors’ expo, where we had 20 different organizations who came together in the location at our community centre in downtown Newmarket.

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In addition, we had speakers come out and speak to people about—for example, the York Regional Police. They spoke about scams—grandparent scams—not that I’d heard of that before, but oh boy, do I know about it now. We also had a professional from IBM talking about cyber security and what older adults need to be aware of. All of these things were so interesting. I have to tell you, there were close to 300 older adults in my community that came out for this event.

Now, one of the most important things I’d like to talk about is at the end of that event when I had a woman, a senior from my community—I was going to my car or I was packing up a few things afterward. She came up to me and she said, “Dawn, thank you. Thank you so much. I’m fairly a new senior,” and she said, “I’ve been staying at home a lot. I’ve been wrestling with becoming a senior. I didn’t know who to reach out to, who to speak to. Do you know what? When I saw your flyer about this event, I thought, you know what, I’ll go and see what it’s about. I’ve got to tell you, I’m so inspired. There’s so much to do. There are so many people to connect with in our community.” I appreciated her coming up to me, because this is also what Seniors Month and proclaiming it Seniors Month is about: to ensure that our seniors are recognized and they know they’re socially connected.

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

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: It’s always an honour for me to rise in the House. Today, I’m going to speak to motion 70 to mark June as Seniors Month. Respecting seniors is absolutely essential. Their contributions have paved the way for us and for future generations. By honouring and learning from seniors, we build stronger, more compassionate communities across Ontario. The number of seniors in Ontario and across Canada is increasing. We also have to look toward the numbers of dementia cases that are increasing according to the Alzheimer Society Southwest Partners. Ontario will have a 202% dementia increase between 2020 and 2050. I’m very pleased that this government is finally providing funding for the First Link Care Navigator program—funding that I’ve been advocating for since 2019. I look forward to future investments to benefit the Alzheimer Society of Ontario.

We have also need to look towards seniors who are having difficulties with long-term-care homes. My constituency office has many people who are reaching out who are waiting for months for a spot in a long-term-care home or they learn that certain homes are at capacity and they have to move their loved ones to a home further away.

Also, food bank usage is on a dramatic rise from the senior population. The Hunger Report from Feed Ontario states, “Last year, more than one million people turned to a food bank for emergency food assistance in Ontario. Unfortunately, this is simply the last in a string of striking, unprecedented milestones....” In 2023, seniors made up 10% of clients accessing the London Food Bank. This is not acceptable. While I’m pleased about proclaiming Seniors Month, I think we also need to do far more for our respected elders and I look forward to bringing future legislation forward that truly respects seniors. Thank you very much.

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

Mr. John Fraser: I’d like to thank the member from Newmarket–Aurora for bringing this bill forward, and especially since it’s the month of June, because I’m a newly minted senior so I can appreciate that.

Interjection: Woohoo!

Mr. John Fraser: Yes, last year in June. I’ll be a senior from now on, I think, for however long that lasts.

All kidding aside, though, it is important that we recognize there are challenges that seniors face: isolation, lack of activity, being connected. Recognizing that and assigning a special month to do that, I think was an important thing to do. Again, I’d like to congratulate you, and I look forward to the vote.

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

Pursuant to the order of the House passed earlier today, I am now required to put the question. Ms. Gallagher Murphy has moved third reading of Bill 70, An Act to proclaim the month of June as Seniors Month.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

Injured Workers Day Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 sur la Journée des travailleurs blessés

MPP West moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 118, An Act to proclaim Injured Workers Day / Projet de loi 118, Loi proclamant la Journée des travailleurs blessés.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): I recognize the member for Sudbury. You have five minutes.

MPP Jamie West: Speaker, we’re here today to discuss Bill 118, Injured Workers Day Act; Projet de loi 118, Loi proclamant la Journée des travailleurs blesses. I tabled this bill, but it’s not my PMB. It belongs to so many more. It belongs to injured and ill workers, to the family and friends who love them, to the allies who are fighting for justice for these injured workers, to all the health and safety reps, to cluster and worker advocates like Janice Martell from McIntyre Powder Project; and Jessica Montgomery, who fought for Neelon Casting workers. I’d also like to thank the Minister of Labour for supporting having the bill debated today, and my colleague, the member for Thunder Bay–Superior North, our WSIB critic, who has worked so hard to listen, amplify and elevate the voices of Ontario’s injured workers.

For over 40 years, people across Ontario have been recognizing Injured Workers Day on June 1, but this day has never been officially recognized, and I’m glad that we can change that today. Injured Workers Day started right here at Queen’s Park—right on the front steps, in fact, Speaker. In 1983, a provincial government committee was working on major changes to the workers’ compensation system, and at that time, more than 3,000 injured workers came here to be heard. The committee responded by holding the deputations on the front steps of the Legislature. That was on June 1, 1983, and it was the first unofficial Injured Workers Day.

Madame la Présidente, les accidents de travail ont des conséquences profondes pour les travailleurs, leurs familles et leurs collectivités. La Journée des travailleurs blessés permet à la province de l’Ontario de reconnaître les personnes qui ont été blessées au travail ou qui ont subi des blessures en raison des conditions existantes dans leurs milieux de travail. Il s’agit d’une journée de sensibilisation aux problèmes liés aux accidents de travail et la situation tragique des travailleurs blessés, et de manifestation d’un engagement en faveur de la prévention de et la réparation des accidents du travail.

This may seem like a small thing, but it’s the right thing to do. It’s an incredibly important thing for injured workers and for their friends and their families. When workplace injuries occur, it takes away so much more than just income, more than your ability to support yourself and your family financially; workplace injuries steal the worker’s pride, their connection, their engagement and their identity. It’s for that reason that setting aside a day to officially recognize injured workers and commit to addressing the impacts of workplace injuries is a significant step towards healing.

I want to recognize our guests in the gallery. We’re joined by Willy Noiles, the vice-president of ONIWG, the Ontario Network for Injured Workers Groups, and Karen Harrison, an injured workers activist for nearly 50 years. As well, there are many people watching on TV because some injured workers can’t travel the distance or can’t access this building, and we know how important this is. I often say that the most powerful voices are the ones that we can echo and amplify.

I want to read a quote from Janet Paterson from the Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups. When I asked about the bill, Janet said, “We’d be so pleased to have the Ontario Legislature finally recognize June 1 as Injured Workers Day. Injured workers often feel invisible, especially those 20,000 workers each year with a severe injury or an illness that ends up as a permanent, life-long disability. We often lose our jobs, our income, our place in life and our social connections. This could be one step forward to help us heal and to create a more inclusive society.”

Sean Staddon is a steelworker from Local 6500—my union, my local. Sean works in the compensation office. It’s his full-time job, along with Selina Clement-Mikkola. They’re two WSIB reps at Local 6500, and they service 2,500 members and nearly 7,000 pensioners. Their average caseload at any time is 294 active and ongoing claims. Sean said, “USW Local 6500 welcomes MPP West’s bill. It will finally recognize the struggle injured workers face. For decades, our union has been fighting to make it socially unacceptable to die, be injured or become ill on the job. Injured workers deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Passing this bill is the first step towards that recognition.”

In closing, it’s my bill, but it’s all of our bill. We all care about injured workers, every single one of us here. I know that from our discussions. We all want things to be better for them. We care about injured workers and we care about their friends and their families. Every single one of us wants to ensure these workers are safe. As we say in Sudbury, the most important thing to come out of the mine is the worker.

I’ll just close quickly with a quote from Janice Martell from the McIntyre Powder Project. She said:

“That’s what happens with injured workers—they quietly go away.

“In many ways our co-workers are like family, yet when they leave, we don’t stay in touch.

“For injured workers there’s a loss of pride, a lack of income.

“They don’t get a retirement party.

“They don’t get to say goodbye.

“They just quietly go away.

“Injured Workers Day is an opportunity for them to not be quiet. It’s another way to be remembered.”

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

Mr. John Fraser: I’d like to congratulate the member from Sudbury for bringing this forward, codifying or making official something that we’ve been acknowledging and recognizing for quite some time. I think it’s important.

We all know someone who has been injured at work, whose life has been changed, or families whose lives have been changed because a life has been lost, whether it be family, a friend or one of our constituents, somebody in our community.

We know the effect that becoming injured at work can have on people—the financial effect; the mental and emotional effect of losing your job and not being able to do the work that you were trained to do.

So the other thing I think that Injured Workers Day should remind us of is that we have to protect injured workers.

I’ve been debating a bill for quite some time, and I’ll take this opportunity to say a couple of words about it. It’s based on the principle that people who do the same job should have equal protections. Right now, workers in residential care—PSWs, DSWs, youth workers—who work in retirement homes and non-provincial-owned facilities aren’t covered by WSIB, but if you work in long-term care or in a provincially run facility and you’re doing the same work, you get covered. That’s not fair. That’s not right. I’m on my fourth Minister of Labour, including one from this side—or that side, when I was over there—and I’ve had assurances that that’s going to change. It hasn’t changed yet. It’s not fair. I wanted to take this opportunity to mention it right now, and I appreciate the fact that I got this opportunity to say it again before we broke for Christmas. If we end up in a new session—whether we prorogue or we have an election, which seems to be speculated about—I’m going to introduce the bill again. That will be the sixth time I’ve introduced it. And if I debate it again, it will be the third time I debate it. I don’t think I should have to do that. I would encourage the government, in the spirit of Injured Workers Day, to address this unfairness.

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

Ms. Patrice Barnes: I thank the member from Sudbury for introducing this important bill to declare June 1 as Injured Workers Day.

Every day, men and women across our province lace up their boots, don their hats and head out to work, contributing to the backbone of our economy. They build our infrastructure, they manufacture our goods, and they provide essential services that keep our society running smoothly.

That is why our government is proud to fully support recognizing the invaluable contributions of injured workers and the importance of fostering a culture of workplace safety across all sectors. We recognize that this bill aligns with our government’s ongoing and proactive efforts to ensure injured workers are treated with the dignity and respect they rightfully deserve.

Over the years, we have implemented significant measures aimed at enhancing workplace safety standards and ensuring robust support systems for injured workers.

As part of Working for Workers 6, we announced how the WSIB is unlocking $400 million to invest in health and safety programs for workers and employers developed by the agency, focusing on mental health, preventive and chronic injury care and recovery to ensure workers have the supports they need to return to work safely and quickly.

One cornerstone of this effort is the expansion of the WSIB’s mental health care programming. We are proud to announce partnerships with 11 public hospitals and their networks of community-based service providers across Ontario. This initiative ensures that workers will receive timely, accessible care tailored to their mental health needs, across various regions of the province.

Additionally, we are launching a new safe business bonus, which will provide an additional $1,000 to eligible employers that create workplace health and safety action plans approved through the WSIB’s Health and Safety Excellence program. This incentive not only promotes safer workplaces, but it also supports businesses in adopting practices that prioritize worker well-being and reduce injury risks.

Recognizing the diverse needs of Ontario’s workforce, we’re also expanding the regulation for properly fitting personal protective equipment. For instance, people like Natasha Ferguson, a champion for women in trades, have had to modify or jerry-rig their PPE to ensure proper fit and safety. This change will ensure that every worker, regardless of their role or background, has access to equipment that fits their needs and keeps them safe.

Through these measures, we’re fostering safer workplaces, reducing injury rates and creating an environment where workers feel valued and supported. By preventing injuries and timely and effective support for those who are injured, we are building a stronger, more resilient workforce in Ontario. That is why we support declaring June 1 as Injured Workers Day, which can serve as a significant and powerful reminder for us of our shared responsibility to protect and support workers. It’s an opportunity to raise awareness about workplace safety and honour the sacrifices of those who have faced challenges related to workplace injuries.

Our government is committed to continuing our collaboration with stakeholders, including employers, workers and advocates, to ensure that Ontario remains the leader in workplace safety and injured-worker supports. This recognition complements our broader efforts to prevent workplace injuries, improve health and safety standards, and create a system that is fair and supportive of all.

We look forward to supporting Bill 118 and recognizing the significance of Injured Workers Day. By recognizing injured workers, we send a powerful message that their contributions matter and they are not alone in their journey to recovery. This recognition would not just give them a voice, but it would also inspire a renewed commitment to workplace safety.

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

Pursuant to the order of the House passed earlier today, I am now required to put the question.

MPP West has moved third reading of Bill 118, An Act to proclaim Injured Workers Day. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

Improving Dementia Care in Ontario Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 sur l’amélioration des soins aux personnes atteintes de démence en Ontario

Ms. Smith moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 121, An Act to enact the Improving Dementia Care in Ontario Act, 2024 / Projet de loi 121, Loi édictant la Loi de 2024 sur l’amélioration des soins aux personnes atteintes de démence en Ontario.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): You now have five minutes to debate.

Ms. Laura Smith: Speaker, it’s truly an honour to rise today and speak to the third reading of Bill 121, the Improving Dementia Care in Ontario Act. Nearly 250,000 Ontarians are currently living with dementia, a population that is expected to rise to over 400,000 by 2030. It’s easy to feel disconnected from these statistics, but when your loved ones are the ones diagnosed, as mine were, these numbers become someone’s mother or father, brother, aunt, and they deserve the best care we can provide them. It’s a culmination of nearly two years of extensive research, consultation and collaboration alongside my friend and colleague, the minister from Mississauga Centre, and it’s always a privilege to present this work in the House.

Bill 121 contains two key components.

Firstly, if passed, the bill would require the Minister of Health to develop a provincial framework for improving dementia care. Implementing this framework would better equip health care providers, care partners and families with the skills and knowledge necessary to provide person-centred dementia care across sectors.

Secondly, this bill would provide that the Ministry of Colleges and Universities review the personal support worker standard to determine whether changes are required to enhance dementia care training, ensuring PSWs have the specialized education and hands-on experience necessary to manage the unique needs of individuals with dementia.

Bill 121 has one simple but very profound goal: to improve the lives of families and patients who are affected by dementia. As I mentioned, this is a cause that I have a strong personal connection to. Not long ago, I was faced with this complex challenge of caring for not one but two close family members, simultaneously, who were diagnosed, and I experienced first-hand the struggles of balancing the needs of loved ones with my roles and responsibilities as a mother of young children, a wife and a business owner. Like so many caregivers, I was consumed by fear that my loved ones would forget me, or they would forget to turn off the stove, or forget to take their medication or their memory pills, as we called them.

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I recall asking myself constantly, “Am I doing enough? Am I going to stretch myself too far? How can I take care of everyone?” Along with these emotional considerations are the very practical decisions that surround a dementia diagnosis. As a caregiver, you’re forced to make difficult decisions and life-altering decisions on behalf of your loved ones, from moving them into a long-term-care home or to finally taking away their car keys, which is something I’ve had to do.

Through my own lived experience, I’ve come to understand that dementia care is not a one-size-fits-all, and that’s why Bill 121 is so crucial. It will provide a practical support for families that are struggling, as mine did, and enhance the care delivered to our loved ones diagnosed with dementia.

The comprehensive provincial framework proposed through this bill will work in an effort so that responsive person-centred dementia care is available in hospitals, long-term-care homes, home care hospices and community settings. We must just not treat the disease but support the individual behind it: their needs, experiences and their dignity.

In 2023, when this work began, the Minister of Long-Term Care and I had a primary goal in mind, to raise awareness. Over the past year and a half, the minister and I have had the opportunity to host several community destigmatizing dementia lunch-and-learns, and I can attest to the meaningful dialogue that truly makes a difference in understanding the many faces of dementia.

Bill 121 helps to raise awareness of critical support services such as First Link, offered by the Alzheimer Society. First Link is a unique program that connects people with dementia and their families with care and education and resources. Had I known about First Link, I’m confident it would have been a game-changer and a valuable tool for myself and my family.

Another notable program is the DREAM program. The DREAM program aims to enhance dementia care within hospital settings, specifically through specialized supports. They embed very learned and knowledgeable people in the emergency sector, and they identify dementia patients right at the beginning. Through advocacy that has been done through myself and the minister, there are now 15 programs within hospital emergency rooms across this province, ensuring Ontarians receive the right care in the right place. The Improving Dementia Care in Ontario Act is about more than just policy, it’s a lifeline.

Once again, I’d like to thank my colleague and collaborator, the minister from Mississauga Centre, for her significant work in the issue of dementia care, specifically the Support for Seniors and Caregivers Act, which takes so much of our work and gives it even more meaningful impact. We have now more than started this conversation. Together, we’re building a system, and the government—

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

M^me France Gélinas: I’m happy to support the act to improve dementia care in Ontario.

I will tell you that, as she just mentioned, the bill has two parts. The first one has to do with developing a framework, and the second part has to do with reviewing PSW work. I have nothing against developing a framework. I have nothing against making sure that PSWs are trained to deal with people with dementia because whether they work in long-term care or home care, there’s a good chance that the great majority of their case loads are people living with cognitive impairment, dementia or Alzheimer’s. So I’m all for it, but there are so many more steps that the government could take right here, right now.

The good member talked about First Link. I remember in the first mandate of this government where they promised $10 million. We are now in year 6.5, and not one penny of that has flowed to First Link. First Link is a beautiful program that helps support families and prepare them. Cognitive decline and dementia are very scary to a lot of people but when you get to learn about it, when you realize that there are some new treatments, that there is a lot you can do to prevent the disease from progressing too quickly—First Link does all of this. But in order for them to do this, they need to get money—money that was promised to them six years ago—and not a penny has flowed so far.

We want a framework—yes, absolutely. But how about we fix our long-term-care system, where 90% of the people of the 78,000 beds in long-term care have cognitive decline, dementia and Alzheimer’s? How about we make PSW jobs good jobs, so that not only do you get very personal support—like the PSWs are the ones that give you your bath, the ones that help you go to the bathroom, the ones that help you clean yourself, feed, etc. How about we have continuity of care so that you don’t have to strip naked in front of a stranger every day? It is the same person who helps you, that you have a relationship with. How do you get this relationship? How do you get this quality of care? Make PSW jobs a career. Give them permanent, full-time jobs.

Why is it so hard to get a PSW a full-time, permanent job? Why is it so hard to give them a decent pay? Why is it so hard to give them sick days and holidays and a few benefits and a pension plan and a caseload that a human being could handle? All of this we know needs to be done. All of this would help dementia care right here, right now. I could go on and on, Speaker.

This is a small step. I will greet the small step with—I will support it having a framework, but what people with dementia, their families, their caregivers really want is they want action. They want home care that shows up when they’re supposed to. They want people who want to keep their loved ones at home. I have them come in my office very often. I had never seen men cry before, but I see this in my office, because they’re looking after their wives with dementia, and they are just burnt-out. They would like home care to show up when they’re supposed to. They would like to have a little bit of respite. They want to keep looking after their wives, but they haven’t slept in I don’t know how many days, and they’re over 80 years old. An 80-year-old person needs to sleep. And in order to do this, somebody needs to look after the person that has dementia. We know how to do that.

So, we’re getting a framework. I’m happy about that. And we’re getting personal worker standards. I’m happy about that too. We need to do way more, but thank you for this small step.

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

Ms. Aislinn Clancy: I do support the framework as well. I know that it comes from a good place. A lot of lived experience and expertise, and there is so much expertise in living through something, especially with your loved ones. I hope that that spirit of hearing the voices of caregivers continues throughout the process, that the way we develop the framework includes all the voices who need to be partners in this work. Why I say that is because I want to hear the voices of PSWs themselves. I want to hear the voices of primary care. I think when we look at building capacity, yes, PSWs need that expertise and more training. It’s rewarding. I know, as a social worker, when I get trained in something, I feel empowered. I feel better at my job. I have more rewards in the work.

But it can’t stop there. We know we have a silver tsunami. We know we have a rising wave of more and more people facing dementia, and it can’t stop at PSWs. It has to include primary care workers. It has to include the team of people who see and work with seniors on a regular basis, because identifying that and having the expertise to treat that is so important. I heard from the experts at our committee that they want to see that dementia care expertise across the primary care field, not just with PSWs, but with primary care practitioners, and for that, they need access. We see too many folks who lack access to their primary care. I don’t know what the stats are. We hear about people getting a diagnosis for cancer when they go to emerg. How many get a dementia diagnosis now, when they go to emerg?

We want to see more prevention. What we heard in committee was that once we get that diagnosis, people can make lifestyle changes. That was the number one way to address dementia. But we have to be sure that people get an early diagnosis, and so they can, you know, drink less and have less to drink and more activity and so on. I know this government wants to invest in recreation for seniors. Let’s also see them invest in reducing the amount that we drink and having more access to active transportation that’s safe so that they can move around.

I do want equity for PSWs. I worked with a lot of single mothers especially. These are women who are often racialized, they’re newcomers and they have a lot on their plate. They’re not paid for the time they spend in their car getting from A to B. They feel vulnerable about losing their job, so can sometimes be mistreated by privatized practitioners. I had a mum one time, during COVID, who was being sent—even though she was in contact with someone with COVID—to a long-term-care home. She was saying, “I don’t want to go, but I’m worried if I say no to my boss, I’ll lose my job.” We walked through that together. Let’s ensure that PSWs get more than a living wage. Right now, they get less than a living wage.

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We also heard from geriatricians. We have 30 geriatrician spaces in this province that go unfilled because of the pay equity that they face, and we need these folks, who are going to be experts to address complex care. So I hope that we can look at the pay equity for all the different professions that work with seniors and ensure that they feel valued in the work that they do.

A friend of mine works in long-term care. He’s a recreation coordinator. He went to college. He hasn’t had a raise in 15 years, so he also needs that pay equity.

And we need to see expanding of care, right? I was hearing from my constituents, people coming to me saying that their bathing and dressing care was no longer covered. So for professionals who have loved ones who are older, having that care cut has a big impact on their lives.

I look forward to this framework. Sometimes we get reports and we don’t follow the recommendations. I hope that we will get a good report—I know we will. I know the member from Thornhill will ensure that we get a good report, and I know that the member from Thornhill and the member from Mississauga will ensure that we do all we can to fund it properly and follow the recommendations, so that this isn’t talk, but this is action.

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

Pursuant to the order of the House passed earlier today, I am now required to put the question.

Ms. Smith has moved third reading of Bill 121, An Act to enact the Improving Dementia Care in Ontario Act, 2023. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

Erin’s Law (Child Sexual Abuse Prevention and Reporting), 2024 / Loi Erin de 2024 sur la prévention et le signalement des mauvais traitements d’ordre sexuel à l’égard des enfants

Ms. Dixon moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 123, An Act to amend the Education Act with respect to child sexual abuse prevention and reporting / Projet de loi 123, Loi modifiant la Loi sur l’éducation concernant la prévention et le signalement des mauvais traitements d’ordre sexuel à l’égard des enfants.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): You now have five minutes to debate.

Ms. Jess Dixon: It is truly an honour, in a way that I’m not even sure how to put into words, to be able to stand up and speak to this bill today. I know I, myself, have long been a champion for protecting children from the worst that this world can bring to their innocent doorstep, and it is such a privilege to be part of this.

But first, I do have to say that I’m standing on the shoulders of giants to do it. I first have to acknowledge the work of Minister Nolan Quinn, who first brought Erin’s Law forward.

Interjections.

Ms. Jess Dixon: Yes. As an advocate for children and a father of three, I know that Nolan was dogged in his pursuit of this bill. When he moved to cabinet, it was then championed by another voice for the voiceless, MPP Laurie Scott. However, I know that were both Nolan and Laurie able to stand here with me today, all three of us would be turning to the real giant, the real hero: the eponymous Erin, Erin Merryn, for whom Erin’s Law is named. Erin, wherever you are, I hope that you know that you have once again fought another dragon, you have accomplished another win, and here we are.

Erin’s Law is straightforward, but powerful. It amends the Education Act to ensure that every school board establishes policies to engage students annually on preventing and reporting child sexual abuse, in a way that is developmentally appropriate. Erin’s Law came from Erin Merryn’s own experience of devastating betrayal as a child, as she was victimized not just by one person, but by two, and remained stuck in this cycle of shame and silence until her younger sister disclosed abuse from the same person. That inspired Erin to start on her path that she has remained on today, with Ontario now another success that she can look to.

I also wanted to say that I have had the honour of being a person that two individuals have disclosed their own childhood sexual abuse to, and when I was told, the feeling I had was wanting to go back in time and be able to protect them then, and I couldn’t. Knowing that I can stand here today and be part of making sure that other children do not experience what they experienced is monumental.

Speaker, child sexual abuse is a hidden crime. In many cases, perhaps even most, it goes unreported. Children are so vulnerable, not only because of their age, but because their abusers so often manipulate the very positions of trust and authority that allow them to be so close. They inspire an atmosphere of fear and stigma and shame, and they control their innocent victims into silence. These people exploit their relationships to manipulate the most innocent, and the cycle continues.

Erin’s Law is about confronting that silence. By ensuring that prevention education happens in schools, it makes sure that all children have the ability to learn how to recognize an unsafe situation and how to report it. By training staff, we create more people that children can disclose to, and by involving parents, we make that protective circle that we want to build around every child even stronger.

This is an evidence-based and essential approach. Statistics show that children who have exposure to this are more likely to disclose and more likely to be able to identify a perpetrator.

It’s also key to understand that this is not about inspiring fear; it is about creating an army of knowledge that can protect our most vulnerable, that can empower them and make sure that no one has to undergo the lifetime of impacts and stigma and shame that so often accompany victims of this abuse. It is a—

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

Ms. Catherine Fife: I, too, would like to thank the member from Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry for bringing forward Erin’s Law to the floor of the Legislature originally.

As we were talking about that bill originally, I have to say I was thinking about our colleague Sol Mamakwa, the member from Kiiwetinoong, who disclosed with such courage what he experienced and what he and his family members and friends experienced in residential schools. It anchors the work that we’re doing here. When those policies, when those procedures, when those laws are not upheld, people are violated, and as the member referenced, it creates a lifetime of trauma that is very hard to build back from. So I just want to say, the member from Kiiwetinoong’s courage and resiliency still impresses all of us, even today.

The theme of the bill, which, of course, we’re going to be supporting, is, if you have the courage to come forward and disclose sexual abuse, that support should be there, as should the training for those supporters. It’s important to note that in Ontario and across Canada and many other jurisdictions, a majority—over 50%—of the disclosures around abuse come through those school systems. This is a key part of addressing the need for disclosure and the need to prevent sexual abuse, so that teacher, that educational assistant, that secretary—these are the very people who, in many cases, are the only trusted people in these children’s lives. We don’t want to talk about that because we’re talking now in our province and across this country about parental rights, but for many children in our society, that grounding anchor for them is found in the education system.

So, 90% of teachers, when they receive their training, which is a key part of the act, feel more comfortable reporting suspicious behaviour, and 93% of teachers who go through a training system recognize the signs of abuse—because sometimes we don’t want to acknowledge it. And then 88% of teachers report that they’re more likely to talk to a child about a child’s sexual abuse after having some training. This makes perfect sense. This is the key part of the legislation, we would say.

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The goals are there. Obviously, the intentions are good with Erin’s Law. But I would also just like to reiterate that, without the supports, without the resources, we may be setting up this law to fail, and that continues to be a concern.

Regardless, though, Madam Speaker, of course we support this law, and we commend the member for bringing it forward.

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

Ms. Aislinn Clancy: I’d like to start off by thanking the member for Kitchener South–Hespeler. This is extremely important. I was a school social worker for 11 years and I was the one who supported education workers when they received a disclosure or supported kids and families when they faced disclosures or the impact of harm.

We know that this is one of the worst traumas anyone could experience—childhood sexual abuse. One in five girls experience childhood sexual abuse and one in 20 boys, and a majority are between the ages of seven and 13. And we know that in Canada, 42% of the women who are trafficked are under the age of 18.

This is a growing concern, I know, of mine and of my colleague from Ottawa–Vanier, who put forward the online harms awareness month, because we have to do all of these things in understanding of the context we live today. So education is one piece, but we also need to make sure that we’re addressing the online landscape.

In Waterloo region, since 2014, investigations of child pornography abuses went up 600%—600%. So we know that the landscape is changing. Three of the top 10 websites are pornography websites. I know, as a school social worker, we have a program called Student Aware at my school board where I worked, and not all school boards have this. What it does is it monitors for kids accessing porn while they’re on their school accounts and it monitors for other things.

So we need to build our capacity to monitor for online harms. Yes, we need the education, but we also need to look at the context and hold those bad actors accountable.

We also need to prevent recidivism. In Ontario, of the programs I know—these are just the ones I know—four programs that prevent pedophiles or sex offenders from repeating their offences have closed down in Hamilton, London, Kitchener and Burlington. One of them is provincially funded and was closed, and three are federally funded. So I think if we really want to prevent sexual abuse, yes, we need kids to understand the language to talk about this, and we need to train and build the capacity, not just with teachers but all of the people working in this sector. I know, social workers, we didn’t know how to talk about pornography. We need to build that capacity across the system—mental health system, education system. But we need to properly fund these recidivism prevention programs.

If we don’t prevent people who have an issue with sexually abusing kids from repeating this offence, then I don’t think we’re better off. So, please, I urge you to come and talk to me about these programs that really need this funding. They’re data-driven. They existed for decades. They had experts who are now moving to the private sector, and that’s a tragedy.

I know one thing we also need is to have that pay equity. In the not-for-profit sector, all the people who deal with complex care—these are folks I know who are experts—they are leaving the not-for-profit sector because they’re being pushed into an eight-week brief system and they’re not getting the pay equity they need as they move through their career. So as they become experts, as they become more talented—talk to the Ontario Association of Social Workers—they move. They move out of the not-for-profit mental health sector, and this is where we treat kids who have experienced sexual abuse.

Also, I want us to remember that teachers need training. What I hear from teachers on a regular basis is that we create new curriculum for them to teach but we don’t pay for them to get the training to teach that thing. This is not an easy topic to talk about and a lot of teachers maybe didn’t learn that in teacher’s college, and it is important that they not have to do this capacity building always outside of work hours. They need that paid time. They need the proper materials so that they can learn this, so they can do it well.

Thank you for this law. It’s a beautiful piece of legislation. I commend Erin for being such a brave hero and doing so much to protect other young people from experiencing these harms. Let’s fund it properly, let’s fund the protections that we need in society to stop folks who sexually offend from reoffending and let’s hold them accountable by properly funding our mental health sector and our court system.

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

Pursuant to the order of the House passed earlier today, I’m now required to put the question.

Ms. Dixon has moved third reading of Bill 123, An Act to amend the Education Act with respect to child sexual abuse prevention and reporting.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

Planning for Your Silver Years Awareness Week Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 sur la Semaine de sensibilisation à la planification de l’âge d’or

Mrs. Wai moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 137, An Act to proclaim Planning for Your Silver Years Awareness Week / Projet de loi 137, Loi proclamant la Semaine de sensibilisation à la planification de l’âge d’or.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): The member now has five minutes for her debate.

Mrs. Daisy Wai: Planning for Your Silver Years Awareness Week will be on the first Monday in November in each year, if this bill gets passed. This bill is an opportunity to empower seniors and their families to explore a multitude of options that will enable them to remain engaged and active members. Let’s help the seniors engage, enrich and enjoy.

Senior citizens are a diverse, vibrant and treasured community. We’ve heard a lot about this just now. They have contributed immensely to the culture and development of Ontario and deserve to live out their silver years comfortably and in an environment that works best for their needs and interests.

There are a lot of varieties for the potential options that can enable seniors to live in their homes and communities as long as they wish. Determining the most suitable environment often requires early conversation. This is what we’re stressing on in this bill. We need them to discuss it with their family, friends and caregivers. It also requires advanced planning and exploring, to ensure that seniors are physically, psychologically and financially prepared for their future.

In many cases, Ontarians are not having the necessary conversations early enough, and the subject becomes more difficult to raise as the seniors get older. We encourage discussions and evaluations to start in the early sixties, when the next generation is old enough to understand and prepare themselves for the responsibility to care for their parents and their loved ones as they age. It allows all family members to discuss the possible challenges they might face and to determine the best way to handle them. That can include deciding the way that they prefer to live as they age. It can be at their home, in the community, in a long-term-care or retirement home. It also can include figuring out the finances the family members will need to achieve that plan. It can be hiring a home helper or leading, if they want, a luxurious lifestyle in a retirement home.

However, all these require planning ahead of time. Regrettably, these conversations are at times only triggered after the seniors are admitted into hospital. When they’re preparing for discharge, then the nurses realize they cannot simply go back to their previous living environment. I was on the board of Mackenzie Health. At that time, the nurses and the CEO were saying that they did not know how to handle all these patients. That is why we are handling the hallway health care, which we’re working very hard trying to resolve.

A lack of preparation can contribute to issues including heightened stress and other mental health issues for seniors and their families. It can also cause challenges with health care services: whether we have enough PSWs, enough nurses—and also to get rid of hallway health care, as we mentioned earlier. It is long-term planning that we can resolve and make sure that our seniors can enjoy their senior life in the way they want. Preparing for the future helps empower seniors and their families, enabling them to stay engaged in their communities so that they can concentrate on doing a lot of things that they enjoy.

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They have a multitude of options, but they will have to understand and know what is available for them ahead of time, whether it is in the community or whatever is available. I’m sure working very closely with Seniors Month and with all the information that they can collect will really improve what they will plan for.

Planning for Your Silver Years Awareness Week is an opportunity to support the seniors in Ontario in living out their silver years with the dignity and respect that they deserve.

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

Ms. Jessica Bell: I’m proud to stand here in support of Bill 137, Planning for Your Silver Years Awareness Week, where the first Monday in November will be that time where individuals can maybe talk with their loved ones, their parents, to really think through how they’re going to plan for their later years in life.

These conversations aren’t easy: people having conversations about wills, about powers of attorney, about burial plans, funeral plans, about living arrangements, assisted living or retirement homes or long-term care. These conversations are not easy to have, and they need to be had well before people are in that tough situation where they need to make the decision within a week or a few days because a health care issue has happened, or someone has fallen and so on. So that is good.

The challenge we have with this—obviously we are supporting it. But the challenge I have with this, what comes into my mind when I’m discussing this bill, is what we as a government can do to make sure people have those options to discuss when they’re thinking about their future years. When I think about that, I think about affordability.

We have a responsibility to make sure that long-term-care homes are properly regulated, so that an individual, if they go into a long-term-care home, is going to be treated with compassion, care and love, and they’re going to have the personal support workers and the nurses available to help them.

We have a responsibility to ensure that our retirement homes are not places where corporate landlords can price-gouge or evict seniors who are living on a fixed income. In Ontario today, that’s happening. It’s happened in Mississauga. It’s happened in my riding. It’s happening in Ottawa right now. It’s hard to prepare for your senior years if you’re facing an eviction notice.

I think about the MPP for Nickel Belt and her summary of what it is like to try and access home care in Ontario today. People want to live at home. Seniors want to live at home, and in order for people to live at home, they need care. They need personal support workers coming in at reliable times so that they can continue to live with dignity in their own home. Unfortunately, in Ontario today, our home care system is not as good as it should be. People are being forced to leave their homes earlier than they should.

I think about affordability, so that people can save up during their working years so that they’ve got choices in their senior years. When I look at how much you receive, the maximum for CPP and OAS is not a lot. The maximum for CPP is about $1,937 a month—that’s the maximum. Then the maximum for OAS is about $784. So you need to do a lot of saving to ensure that you’ve got options available for you in your senior years, and in order for people to save, we need to make life affordable in Ontario today. That means ensuring people have good jobs so they have a good income, and it means ensuring that housing is affordable to rent and to buy.

I want to close by recognizing two seniors in my riding who have very limited options available to them. It doesn’t matter how many conversations they have with their loved ones, their lives are hard and will continue to be hard. I think about Isadoro. He’s 91. He was just, I would say, illegally evicted from his bachelor apartment because their landlord decided they wanted to move in. He has lived in that one bachelor apartment for 20 years. He was evicted by the Landlord and Tenant Board, and he’s in a very tough spot. He’s in a very tough spot.

I also think about Maria. Maria was living in Kensington with her disabled adult son. Her rent for two rooms was approximately $3,000 a month. She lived in a pest-infested building, to say the least. Tragically, Maria was found dead earlier this week, and we’re still trying to work out how to support her adult disabled son. It’s sad to end on a sombre note but that’s the reality of people who are seniors living in my riding who are living on fixed incomes.

There is a lot we can do. Yes, an awareness week—good. Let’s make sure we, as government, can set people up so those conversations are positive and people have options, instead of extraordinarily tough.

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

Pursuant to the order of the House passed earlier today, I am now required to put the question.

Mrs. Wai has moved third reading of Bill 137, An Act to proclaim Planning for Your Silver Years Awareness Week.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

Group of Seven Day Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 sur le Jour du Groupe des Sept

Mr. Riddell moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 158, An Act to proclaim Group of Seven Day / Projet de loi 158, Loi proclamant le Jour du Groupe des Sept.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): The member now has five minutes for his presentation.

Mr. Brian Riddell: I rise today for the third reading of Bill 158, Group of Seven Day Act, to talk about commemorating the Group of Seven and proclaiming July 7 of each year the Group of Seven Day in Ontario.

I would first like to thank my friend and colleague Minister McCarthy for first tabling this bill, and the rest of my colleagues for the opportunity to speak about something that profoundly shaped our nation’s cultural identity, the Group of Seven. These artists, through their dedication and vision, not only captured the beauty of Canada’s landscapes, but also carved out a unique Canadian voice in the global art scene. Today, I want to share what these trailblazers deserve on an annual day to commemorate their invaluable contributions.

The Group of Seven holds a very special significance for Ontario, as it was the province’s various landscapes that served as the Group of Seven’s inspiration for their groundbreaking work. From the windswept pines of Algonquin Park to the rugged beauty of the Georgian Bay shoreline and the majestic vistas of northern wilderness, Ontario’s natural beauty was not only their muse, but also the foundation of a uniquely Canadian art movement. Their vivid descriptions of Ontario’s scenery captured the province’s spirit and introduced the world to its splendour.

We see today what they contributed. Today, their art remains a cultural touchstone in Ontario, drawing countless visitors to the galleries, like McMichael Canadian Art Collection, where their works are prominently displayed and inspire many, many new generations to appreciate and protect the province’s natural heritage.

The Group of Seven faced many criticisms from their contemporaries at the time, who saw their work as too radical. In response to this criticism, the Group of Seven persisted through a belief that Canada’s wilderness was worthy of the artistic celebration. Through their persistence, they gave us more than just paintings. They gave us a medium through which Canadians could see their own identity. Imagine, for a moment, the impact of their legacy. Through their art, they invited Canadians to be prideful of their natural heritage. They inspired generations of artists to find their own voices and celebrate the vast diversity of our landscapes, from the simple elegance of the prairies to the icy spectacles of the Arctic. Even today, their works are internationally recognized, symbolizing Canadian resilience and deep connection to the land.

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I can tell you honestly that I have been personally inspired by their art throughout my life. As a photographer myself, the Group of Seven have shaped the types of photographs I’ve taken through my journeys, capturing the raw beauty of different areas and terrains, which is now very popular among artists and photographers alike. This stems from the work of Group of Seven.

An annual day to honour the Group of Seven would not just be about celebrating art; it would be celebrating Canada’s land itself. It would be a moment to reflect on the beauty of our environment and the importance of preserving it, and it would be an opportunity for communities to come together to host exhibitions, art workshops and discussions that keep the legacy alive. Moreover, such a day would inspire future generations of artists of various natures. By highlighting the Group of Seven, we remind young people of the power of creativity and the importance of seeing the world through their own eyes. We also show them that innovation often starts with challenging the status quo, as these artists go boldly beyond what they did centuries ago.

Today, let’s give the Group of Seven the consistent recognition they deserve. An annual day of celebration would ensure their legacy continues to inspire future generations of Canadians and display the Group of Seven’s work that is connected to our cultural identity of Canada.

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

Ms. Peggy Sattler: It’s a real pleasure for me to rise to say a few words about this bill to declare July 7 as Group of Seven Day. One of the many Ontario art galleries that supports this legislation is Museum London, which hosts an impressive collection of more than 30 works of art from the Group of Seven. This is known as the F.B. Housser Memorial Collection, and it’s considered one of the jewels in Museum London’s holdings.

I spoke with the head of programs, Andrew Kear, at Museum London today. He told me about the astonishing quality and comprehensiveness of the works that make up the collection. He also shared the story of how these works were acquired. In 1944, artist Yvonne Housser gifted the collection to the London Regional Art Gallery, which was the precursor of Museum London. Yvonne was the widow of F.B. Housser, a prominent art critic who had written a definitive history of the Group of Seven in 1926. Although the Houssers did not have a personal connection to London, Yvonne wanted their collection to go to a gallery where it would be displayed and accessible to the public. She chose the London Regional Art Gallery, which had only been established four years earlier, and made a wonderful choice, giving Londoners and visitors to the gallery the opportunity to see these works by the Group of Seven, along with other artists like Tom Thomson and Emily Carr.

Londoners are very proud of this collection, but we are also proud of Museum London’s commitment to displaying the works in dialogue with contemporary artists, in particular, Indigenous and Black artists. While there’s no question about the importance or the significance of the Group of Seven, it’s equally important to situate their works in the context of colonialism and residential schools, and to contextualize the majestic landscapes they painted in relation to unchecked resource extraction and the environmental crisis that faces our climate today.

This is really what excites me about this bill: the potential it offers to raise awareness of the importance of reconciliation, of understanding our province and our country not as a vast, uninhabited and pristine wilderness, but as a place that has been home to Indigenous peoples for time immemorial, where clearcut logging and mining have increased our vulnerability to climate change, and where artists are not only white men, but are also Indigenous, racialized and women. I want to acknowledge the Indigenous Group of Seven, which was established in the early 1970s in Canada.

I had the privilege of attending committee for public input on this bill, and one of the presenters to the committee was the executive director of the Art Gallery of Algoma. She talked about the opportunities that this bill could provide to expand outreach and engagement with young people through summer camp programs, partnerships with the local school board, the college, the university, the Indigenous friendship centre. She talked about the challenges that arts organizations face in doing this important outreach and engagement work.

I know that there are lots of arts organizations across this province that also see this bill as an exciting starting point to be able to engage with their communities, to engage with young people about the beauty of the Group of Seven artwork and also reflecting on the history in which this art was produced. Passing this bill today is a start, but to leverage those opportunities, the arts and culture sector needs stable funding from this government.

I urge the government to increase funding for Ontario Arts Council, to bring back the Indigenous Culture Fund, which was eliminated by this government, in order to realize the potential of the legislation that we have before us today.

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

Pursuant to the order of the House passed earlier today, I am now required to put the question. Mr. Riddell has moved third reading of Bill 158, An Act to proclaim Group of Seven Day. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

Orthodox Christian Week Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 sur la Semaine des chrétiens orthodoxes

Mr. Rakocevic moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 167, An Act to proclaim Orthodox Christian Week / Projet de loi 167, Loi proclamant la Semaine des chrétiens orthodoxes.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): You now have five minutes for debate.

Mr. Tom Rakocevic: Today is a wonderful day. Today, with great pride, I table third reading of our bill to proclaim Orthodox Christian Week each year in Ontario.

I want to thank those here in attendance, who came upon learning of this momentous occasion on such short notice, and all of those watching from afar. Joining us today—there are many but I will name just a few—I want to thank: Zoran Pankerichan, president of the Serbian Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada; Father Jovan Marjanac of the Serbian Orthodox Church; Father Thomas Mamao of the Georgian Orthodox Church; Father Karekin Shekherdemian of the Armenian Orthodox Church; Father Angelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church and all others. Thank you.

I want to thank everyone who has had a hand in bringing this important recognition of Orthodox Christianity in Ontario this far. If you have reached out to decision-makers to tell them why this is so important, thank you. If you have signed petitions in support or spread a good word, thank you. If you have helped in any way, thank you. To all my colleagues, all of them, from across this House on all sides, who have come together to make this a reality, thank you.

To a believer, faith is at the core of one’s true identity. It is central to our culture, our morality. It is a compass that gives us direction, a purpose, a source of relief in the hardest of times and the darkest of hours. It isn’t an answer—it is the answer. It is hope; a promise of a future long beyond our short lives and a chance to be reunited with those we have lost.

When our Orthodox Christian forbearers first reached our shores, they found each other, and they built churches to gather and pray, to remember who they are, where they came from and where they are going.

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And so, we are here today generations of Orthodox Christians who have come here from across the continents of this world, over a million now living in our great country. For generations, we have raised our families here and we have given back to this land that has given us the freedom to practise our faith and our cultures. We are part of the rich cultural mosaic of this great country, and today, with the passing of this bill, we are recognized.

To my Orthodox Christian brothers and sisters, and to all Christians, this day is for you, for our parents, our grandparents and our ancestors before. It is for our children and their future. Congratulations. We did this together.

With the passing of this bill, the first-ever official Orthodox Christian Week in Ontario will commence on April 20, 2025, and will last all of Bright Week, as well as the beginning of every Orthodox Christian Easter hereafter.

Where we go from here and what we do with this annual recognition of our faith in our communities is up to us. But I know it will be great if we do it together.

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

Mr. Sheref Sabawy: I’m splitting the time with my colleague from Mississauga Centre.

I would like to first thank my colleague from Humber River–Black Creek for bringing in this piece of legislation. As a Coptic Christian, one of the oldest Christian groups who received faith in 30 BC—so five years from now, we should be celebrating 2,000 years of Orthodox Christianity—I have the honour to speak to this bill and support my colleague in bringing a very important point, which is the recognition and celebration of the heritage, the faith, and marking a long journey of ups and downs, persecution and discrimination throughout history.

I think, as a Coptic Orthodox Christian—which actually applies for Armenian Orthodox Christians, Greek Orthodox Christians, Romanian Orthodox Christians, Ukrainian Orthodox Christians—it’s well deserved to recognize and raise awareness of our rich and long history.

As a final word, I would like to thank again my colleague for bringing it to the Legislature, and I definitely support it.

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

Hon. Natalia Kusendova-Bashta: I’m honoured to rise in support of my colleague’s bill to recognize Orthodox Christian week in Ontario. I’d like to welcome several guests up in the gallery today: Hegumen Angelos, Father Angelos, from Virgin Mary and St. Athanasius Coptic Church in my riding; His Grace Bishop Athenagoras of Patara; Basil Roccas from the Greek church; and representatives from the Serbian and Georgian churches.

Interjections.

Hon. Natalia Kusendova-Bashta: Yes, absolutely. Thank you for joining us today.

I want to thank the member for Humber River–Black Creek for his incredible work in bringing recognition to this minority community which I am proud to be a part of. I also want to recognize colleagues from the PC caucus: the member for Scarborough–Agincourt who represents the Armenian Orthodox community, as well as the member for Oakville North–Burlington who, of course, represents the Greek Orthodox community.

Orthodox Christians make up an integral part of Ontario and our cultural and ethnic communities. Many of them are community leaders, politicians and volunteers who play a vital role in making our province great. This bill, if passed, will establish the seven-day period of each year, starting on Orthodox Easter Sunday, as Orthodox Christian Week in Ontario.

For myself, I am a new Orthodox Christian, because on my husband’s side—he is Coptic Orthodox, and each year for Christmas we prepare a special Egyptian feast with my in-laws. Since getting married, I’ve come to appreciate many of the deep traditions held by Orthodox Christians.

We hold firm to the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and the 12 apostles who went on to spread the faith across the world. What makes us Orthodox is that we hold on to the unchanging deposits of faith that Jesus gave his followers. These include dogmas such as the Holy Trinity, the Nicene Creed and the seven sacraments. We recognize the sacrament of Holy Communion as the source and summit of our faith, and recognize the priesthood for carrying out God’s grace and ministry to everyone on this earth.

The Orthodox community in Ontario consists of two branches. We have the Eastern Orthodox, which make up our Ukrainian, Greek and Serbian communities, many of which are here today; and the Oriental Orthodox, which make up our Coptic, Armenian and Ethiopian communities.

As I said, we have representatives in the gallery today, but one of my mentors and my leaders is Father Angelos. When I became the MPP for Mississauga Centre, I fell in love with that church and I didn’t know that I would also find the love of my life—my husband, Mina Bashta—in that church. It was truly a monumental moment in my life to be able to get married in the Orthodox Christian church in my riding of Mississauga Centre.

Today is a very special day, and I’m so proud that we can all come together across the aisle to proclaim Orthodox Christian Week in Ontario.

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

Pursuant to the order of the House passed earlier today, I am now required to put the question.

Mr. Rakocevic has moved third reading of Bill 167, An Act to proclaim Orthodox Christian Week. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

Chinese Heritage Month Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 sur le Mois du patrimoine chinois

Mr. Ke moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 183, An Act to proclaim the month of February as Chinese Heritage Month / Projet de loi 183, Loi proclamant le mois de février Mois du patrimoine chinois.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): The member from Don Valley North has five minutes for debate.

Mr. Vincent Ke: I am delighted to be here today to present the third reading of Bill 183, An Act to proclaim the month of February as Chinese Heritage Month in Ontario.

I would like to begin by reiterating the importance of Bill 183 in its quest to recognize and appreciate the significant contributions of Canadians of Chinese origin. Bill 183 is especially important for young people of Chinese descent who need to see themselves reflected in their ancestors and their peers, those who came before them and those who stand beside them now, to show them the power of a dream and to share with them the hope for a better tomorrow.

Speaker, we all know that the children of our great province hold the keys to the promise and prosperity of the future. Today, I ask us all to embrace people of Chinese descent in our province to celebrate their culture and heritage, as they deserve the same rights and consideration as all other Canadians. In Ontario, we strive to achieve that ideal every day in our diverse, multicultural and inclusive society.

Section 3(1) of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act states: “It is hereby declared to be the policy of the government of Canada ... to recognize and promote the understanding that multiculturalism reflects the cultural and racial diversity of Canadian society and acknowledges the freedom of all members of Canadian society to preserve, enhance and share their cultural heritage.”

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Speaker, Ontario is a leader in its commitment to promoting the values of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act by encouraging everyone, including Canadians of Chinese descent, to feel and express great pride in their cultural identity and their heritage.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the support of Bill 183 that it has received from its co-sponsor, MPP Aris Babikian, and my colleagues MPP Kanapathi, MPP Pang, MPP Shaw, MPP Harden and MPP Fraser for their vocal support of the Ontarians and Canadians of Chinese origin who, like me, appreciate the acknowledgement of our experiences, contributions and cultural heritage.

Despite the hardship and challenges Canadians of Chinese origin have experienced since they first arrived in Canada, they have endured to demonstrate that they are resilient, responsible and worthy of respect and recognition. Canadians of Chinese origin occupy an important part of my community of Don Valley North, and indeed, many other communities across Ontario.

Speaker, in passing Bill 183, we have the chance to truly acknowledge the importance of Canadians of Chinese ethnicity and their celebrated heritage. Remember: Acknowledgement is a gift. It is a sign of respect and an act of esteem. Acknowledgement says, “I see you and I hear you.” It says, “I recognize your value and know your worth.” When we recognize Ontarians of Chinese heritage, we are essentially saying, “Welcome home, you belong here,” as valued members of our province and culture.

Thank you for standing with me again today, to make Ontarians of Chinese origin feel worthy of being seen, heard and acknowledged with the support of Bill 183, an act to proclaim February each year as Chinese Heritage Month.

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

Mr. Aris Babikian: I’m going to share my time with my colleague from Markham–Unionville.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with immense pride and gratitude to speak on the third reading of Bill 183, the Chinese Heritage Month Act, 2024. This is a historic moment for Ontario as we move closer to officially designate February as Chinese Heritage Month. With the royal assent, this act will soon become law, cementing our province’s commitment to honouring and celebrating the invaluable contributions of the Chinese Canadian community.

This is a moment of great significance not only for the Chinese Canadian community but for all Ontarians as we are taking a step forward in celebrating our shared commitment to diversity, inclusion and multiculturalism.

As the member of provincial Parliament for Scarborough–Agincourt, I am privileged to represent a riding where over 40% of the residents are of Chinese descent. Their vibrant culture and enduring contributions enrich the social, economic and cultural fabric of our community every single day.

Madam Speaker, as we mark the importance of this act, it is fitting to acknowledge the leadership of Premier Doug Ford and my colleagues in this House. Under the Premier’s leadership, our government has steadfastly supported and championed the values of inclusion, respect and multiculturalism that make Ontario a model for the world. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to these values by officially designating February as Chinese Heritage Month. This proclamation holds deep significance as February aligns with the celebration of the Lunar New Year, a cherished tradition in the Chinese Canadian community.

And Madam Speaker, I would like to pass my time to my colleague from Markham–Unionville.

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

Mr. Billy Pang: I’m honoured to express my full support to the Chinese Heritage Month Act and to thank my colleagues the members for Scarborough–Agincourt and Don Valley North for bringing forward this important private members’ bill.

As a proud Chinese Canadian, born and raised in Hong Kong, this initiative holds a deep personal significance for me. It is an opportunity to celebrate the rich heritage, traditions and values that define the Chinese Canadian community, while recognizing the important contributions we have made in Ontario and to Canada as a whole.

According to the 2021 census, more than 1.7 million people in Canada report being of Chinese origin, with nearly one million people residing right here in Ontario, and in my riding, 66.6%. This is a very vibrant and diverse community that has played a significant role in shaping our collective identity as a province and as a country. From early days of building the Canadian Pacific railways to today’s dynamic presence in sectors such as technology, health care and entrepreneurship, the Chinese Canadian community has helped to create a stronger and more prosperous Ontario.

By designating Chinese Heritage Month, we acknowledge not only the contributions of past generations but also inspire generations to embrace their heritage. Thank you for this opportunity for me to speak in supporting this bill.

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

Mr. Ted Hsu: I’m pleased to stand up and speak in support of this bill to designate February as Chinese Heritage Month, and I want to do so by talking about our Chinese heritage in Kingston.

It begins in the late 19th century, where most of the Chinese in Kingston—

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): I apologize. We’ll have to move on.

Further debate?

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: I’m very proud to rise to speak in support of this motion—the importance of celebrating Chinese heritage in Ontario—and the NDP is very proud to support creating a Chinese Heritage Month in February.

Ontario, as you know, Speaker, is a province built on diversity, enriched by cultures, languages and the traditions of people from across the globe. And among them, the Chinese community holds a unique and profound place in our shared history and present. From the first Chinese immigrants who arrived in Canada in the mid-19th century, often facing unimaginable hardships, to the vibrant and thriving communities of today, the contributions of Chinese Canadians, Chinese Ontarians, have been an integral part of this province’s economic, cultural and social fabric. But beyond contributions, it is the spirit of resilience, the richness of traditions and the stories of triumph over adversity that make Chinese heritage a treasure worth celebrating. These stories include the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, which helped unite our great nation, and for many Chinese workers it meant a sacrifice of their lives.

They also included the tireless efforts of Chinese businesses and families who rebuilt their communities after the discriminatory Chinese head tax and the Chinese Exclusion Act. These are not just stories about the Chinese community, but they are chapters in Canada’s history. I’m very proud of the work that the NDP did in Ontario as well as across the country in securing the Canadian apology for the Chinese head tax and exclusion act.

Throughout history, times of social unrest, economic uncertainty and public health crisis, we have often seen a surge of anti-Chinese racism. During the SARS outbreak in 2003, Chinese communities in Ontario were unfairly stigmatized. Businesses in Chinatowns experienced significant declines as fear and misinformation spread. The same pattern repeated itself throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, when individuals of Chinese descent—and, more broadly, Asian communities—became targets of racism, scapegoating and violence.

But we are resilient, Speaker. The Chinese Canadian, the Chinese Ontarian communities are resilient. And a testament to this resilience can be found in the history of Chinatowns across Ontario, from Toronto’s bustling Spadina Avenue, as well as Broadview Avenue, to Ottawa’s Somerset Street, from Hamilton’s vibrant Cannon Street to smaller communities dotting the entire province, Chinatowns have long served as a cultural hubs and safe havens for Chinese immigrants. These communities are built through hard work, perseverance and a desire to bring a sense of change in the face of discrimination and exclusion.

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Chinese heritage also offers a window into the rich legacy of innovation and knowledge that have shaped the world. For centuries, China has been a cradle of groundbreaking inventions that continue to impact humanity, from paper, printing and gunpowder to the compass, silk, porcelain—these innovations have now transformed how we communicate, navigate and create.

The philosophical foundations of Chinese medicine, as well as other advancements in mathematics, agriculture and astronomy reflect a culture of ingenuity that resonates across time.

Equally remarkable is the incredible diversity within the Chinese culture itself. China is a vast country with 56 recognized ethnic groups, each with its own language and tradition and cultural practices. While Mandarin is the most widely spoken language, the rich tapestry of dialects also includes Cantonese, Taiwanese, Hokkienese, Toisanese, Shanghainese and many others that reveal the complexity of the Chinese linguistic heritage. Traditional attire, music and festivals vary from one region to another, showcasing a dazzling mosaic.

February is a most befitting month for such a celebration. It aligns with the Chinese New Year, or the Lunar New Year. It is the most important and widely celebrated event in Chinese culture, and one of the biggest ones in the world. Declaring February in Ontario as Chinese Heritage Month would not only recognize this important holiday but would also create a month-long opportunity for Ontarians to engage with and celebrate the Chinese community’s past, present and future.

Thank you, Speaker, for this opportunity. I’m very proud to lend my support to this extremely important bill. Thank you.

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

Pursuant to the order of the House passed earlier today, I am now required to put the question. Mr. Ke has moved third reading of Bill 183, An Act to proclaim the month of February as Chinese Heritage Month. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

Growing Agritourism Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 sur le développement de l’agrotourisme

Mr. Rae moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 186, An Act to limit the liability in respect of agritourism / Projet de loi 186, Loi limitant la responsabilité à l’égard de l’agrotourisme.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): You now have five minutes for debate.

Mr. Matthew Rae: It’s an honour to rise this afternoon to speak on my private member’s bill, Bill 186, the Growing Agritourism Act.

Before I begin my remarks, I want to thank Farm Fresh Ontario—now Agritourism Ontario—the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, the Ontario Apple Growers, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the county of Perth, and Perth and Wellington county federations of agriculture for their support on this piece of legislation from day one. I also want to thank Minister Thompson, Minister Flack, Minister Lumsden and Minister Downey for their support as well through this process.

As I mentioned at the Standing Committee on the Interior, I have the distinct privilege to represent over 4,000 farm families from Perth–Wellington in this place. As many of my colleagues know, I’m also a proud son of dairy farmers. Despite my first-hand experience with farming and the agriculture sector, only 2% of Canada’s population lives on a working farm or is directly involved in the day-to-day on-farm operations.

Agri-tourism is one of those ways to ensure more Canadians have an opportunity to learn about where their food comes from in our beautiful province. It’s also an opportunity for our farm families to diversify their incomes by offering tours, pick-your-own experiences or culinary opportunities.

As the 2022 survey commissioned by the OFA found more than 40% of respondents wanted to offer some form of agri-tourism on their farm. During and coming out of the pandemic, we saw a rapid increase in the number of our urban friends and neighbours visiting our rural communities, rediscovering them in their own backyard. In short, agri-tourism in Ontario is ripe for growth, and this assembly only needs to seize this opportunity and vote in favour of my PMB to support farm families.

This act will provide consistency across Ontario agri-tourism providers, ensuring visitors and participants are aware of the inherent risks associated with agri-tourism activities. It will provide reasonable limitation of liability resulting from any harm a participant may sustain during participation in any of these agri-tourism activities. In short, the Growing Agritourism Act, if passed, will remove barriers to investment, provide consistency across agri-tourism operators and help mitigate inherent risk associated with these activities.

There are many great agri-tourism operators in my riding of Perth–Wellington. I think of the Perth Farmhouse. It’s one of the newest agri-tourism operators in my riding. Steve and Casey opened their doors this spring as Perth county’s first-ever winery. They’re setting out to redefine the local wine scene with their sip-and-graze experience, inviting guests all summer to enjoy a self-guided tasting surrounded by picturesque five-acre vineyards, towering willow trees and, of course, baby goats. Bill 186 is for Steve and Casey, and it’s for all those young entrepreneurs in Ontario taking a leap to open new businesses and open their homes to build a bridge between our urban and rural communities. They are the future of our agricultural sector, and I am proud to stand in this place every single day to fight for them.

I grew up in rural Ontario, and I moved back to rural Ontario after completing my schooling. I am betting on rural Ontario to lead not only our province, but our country in years to come in economic growth, job creation and prosperity. The Growing Agritourism Act will help strengthen our rural communities and unlock the potential for both economic growth and tourism in our rural and northern communities. Together, we can build a stronger and more prosperous rural Ontario.

Since I have one minute left, I want to recognize someone who has been there from day one, supporting me in my crazy life that we all have here in this assembly: my spouse and wife, Meghan Thomson, everyone. Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Further debate? Further debate? Further debate—I’m sorry; not a third “further debate.” I apologize. I’m jumping over to the member for Timiskaming–Cochrane.

Mr. John Vanthof: It’s always an honour to stand in this House, today to support the Growing Agritourism Act and thank the member from Perth–Wellington for bringing it forward. The official opposition, although it’s our job to officially oppose, have always supported this bill.

I am a farmer myself, and even in the short time that I’ve been involved in agriculture, the gap between the farm community and the urban community has grown. Anything that we can do to help people understand what agriculture is really like, where their food comes from, and to enjoy that experience is what agri-tourism is all about, and we’re very supportive.

There is an inherent risk when you go to a farm, when you pet an animal, but it’s a risk you need to be made aware of and it’s a risk that you need to limit. This bill does that. Again, we’re in support.

It reminds me of a couple in my riding. Leisure Farms in Sturgeon Falls is a very big market garden and pick-your-own facility. They run pumpkin fests. They run field-to-fork. They have an on-farm bakery. This will help them. Carnor Farms is a dairy farm, but they also run a sunflower field and they sell flowers. Again, they bring a lot of people to the area. Also Breault Family Farm—that’s just a couple of examples. This bill will help people in the agri-food industry build a bridge with the urban, and if there’s one thing I can say that is very important, it’s that.

I’ve got a couple of minutes left. I’ve told this story before, but when we had the dairy farm, we ran lots of farm tours too, and I’ll give you an example of a possible liability issue. For some reason, one of the tours we ran, a young man decided to kiss my wife’s horse and, at that point—

Interjections.

Ms. Catherine Fife: I wasn’t expecting that.

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Mr. John Vanthof: At that point, we all discovered that he was severely allergic to horses. It ended up well, but that’s something you could never have—and we were fenced properly. But that’s the type of thing that this bill—like, who would think that someone would do that? But anyway.

I’d just like to take this opportunity—this is the last time I’m going to be able to speak in this House before we break. I would just like to wish everyone merry Christmas. We oppose each other sometimes, work together, but we are all trying to do the best thing for Ontario.

Congratulations to the member for Perth–Wellington, and have a happy new year.

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

Mr. Mike Schreiner: I want to thank the member from Perth–Wellington for bringing forward Bill 186, the Growing Agritourism Act, a bill I’ll certainly be voting for.

I just want to say that the previous member from Perth–Wellington and I—if you ever want to check out TVO blind date, you’ll see our time together, visiting fantastic farms in Wellington county. I know the current member from Perth–Wellington was behind the scenes helping make that day happen.

One of the farms we visited that day is Thatcher Farms, a farm just outside of Guelph in Wellington county, that does amazing work around agri-food tourism. One of the reasons I think it is so important to promote agri-food tourism is not only to help local farmers but to also help people understand where their food comes from and how it was grown. I can tell you that, as somebody who grew up on a farm myself—grain and cattle, so maybe not a lot of tourists on the farm—knowing that you were coming up with ways that farmers, who tend to be price takers, have an opportunity to be price makers, that makes a huge difference. When you can add value and diversify your revenue streams, for some farms that’s the difference between making it financially and not making it financially.

As the member from Timiskaming said, there are liability challenges that farmers face. So, for the member to bring forward this bill to help protect farmers in that way and help farm families diversify their incomes and have some opportunities to maybe enhance their profitability I think is a good thing, and I hope all members will support this bill.

I want to make one final plug. The member and I share a trail together, the Guelph-to-Goderich trail, which goes through some of the most beautiful farmland in all of southwestern Ontario. I think there is a great opportunity for those of us to work across party lines to support things like the G2G trail and to integrate it into agri-food tourism. I can imagine hikers and people cycling on that trail, stopping at farms, enjoying maybe a nice beverage, a little bit of food, a little bit of agri-food tourism. I know that’s something I’m hoping we can work together on because I think this bill helps unlock agri-tourism opportunities on the G2G trail.

I want to make a final plug for the role that the University of Guelph—proudly in my riding—plays in supporting things like agri-food tourism and culinary tourism. I know the member is a proud graduate of the University of Guelph, and I’ll be supporting this bill.

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

Pursuant to the order of the House passed earlier today, I am now required to put the question.

Mr. Rae has moved third reading of Bill 186, An Act to limit the liability in respect of agritourism. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

Persons Day Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 proclamant la Journée de l’affaire « personne »

Ms. McMahon moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill 211, An Act to proclaim Persons Day / Projet de loi 211, Loi proclamant la Journée de l’affaire « personne »

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Pursuant to the order of the House passed earlier today, I am now required to put the question.

Ms. McMahon has moved second reading of Bill 211, An Act to proclaim Persons Day.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Second reading agreed to.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Pursuant to the order of the House passed earlier today, the bill is ordered for third reading.

Persons Day Act, 2024 / Loi de 2024 proclamant la Journée de l’affaire « personne »

Ms. McMahon moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 211, An Act to proclaim Persons Day / Projet de loi 211, Loi proclamant la Journée de l’affaire « personne »

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): The member now has five minutes for debate.

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: Today, I’m proud to speak to my private member’s bill, Bill 211, Persons Day Act.

Firstly, thank you to my co-sponsors, the amazing member from Kitchener Centre, the terrific member from Toronto Centre, as well as the fantastic member from Haldimand–Norfolk, who has been steadfast in her rock-solid support. I am honoured to work with all of you, and I’m happy to be able to make some herstory with you here today.

If passed, the bill would proclaim October 18 in each year as Persons Day.

On October 18, 1929, five very courageous Canadian women succeeded in having the word “persons” defined as always meaning both women and men. This decision of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council of Great Britain, Canada’s highest court of appeal at the time, delivered the first significant legal declaration that men and women are equal. Hurray.

Emily Murphy, Louise McKinney, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Irene Parlby and Nellie McClung, known as the Famous Five, challenged the meaning of the word “persons” under the Constitution, which at the time prevented women from being appointed to the Senate of Canada. As a result of what became known as the Persons Case, both women and men could be appointed to the Senate of Canada, thus enabling most women to participate more fully in public and political life.

Individuals and groups have been able to build on the initial success of the Persons Case, thanks to the Famous Five, and significantly achieve equality in other areas, including securing women the right to vote and run for MPP. The Persons Case also introduced the concept of our Constitution as a living tree that is able to evolve and adapt to the changing times.

Marking October 18 as Persons Day aims to inspire more girls, women and gender-diverse people to be nation-builders, and to expand the circle of leaders so that everyone can contribute to building their communities and their country, and benefit from being a Canadian.

It is because of the Famous Five that I am able to stand here today and serve my community of beautiful Beaches–East York. I’m happy to work alongside so many strong, powerful women and gender-diverse people, and I am forever grateful for the work of all those who came before me.

I hope we can all work to be good role models to the next generation of leaders. I’m looking at you, pages.

Thank you to the government for your support of Bill 211, Persons Day Act. I hope we can continue to work together on legislation.

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

Ms. Aislinn Clancy: It’s an honour to rise and speak with you today.

I’m grateful to the member from Beaches–East York and the member from Toronto Centre for including me in this amazing work.

For far too long, a limited version of history was told. I never learned about these women, and I’m so proud to learn about them today. Emily Murphy, Louise McKinney, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Irene Parlby and Nellie McClung were courageous back then, and I admire their courage. I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for them. So I’m eternally grateful that women and gender-diverse people can be leaders in political life.

We know we have work to do. Still, there is a wage gap. Still, there is a gap for women taking leadership roles. We know there are more CEOs named John than there are CEOs who are women. So I encourage all of us to continue with this good work.

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I want to thank my family, who put up with a lot: Ryan, Zidra and James. I am from a matriarchy of lots of strong-headed women. I think we all have people in our lives that were role models, encouraged us to be determined, not to be discouraged, to be tough and to keep going. I know that many of us in this place do that every day to live our values fully.

I look forward to enjoying this with all the organizations in my riding: Spectrum, Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region, SASC, YWCA, Marillac Place and so many others that work every day to ensure that women and gender-diverse people see their own value and worth, have what they need to thrive and feel comfortable to take on these challenges. Thank you to all those who made October 18 Persons Day from this day going forward.

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

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: It is with extreme pride that I rise to speak in support of Bill 211, a bill that was co-sponsored with the member for Beaches–East York and the great member of Kitchener Centre. This bill, when passed, Speaker, as you know, will create a Persons Day every October 18.

The name Persons Day originates from a pivotal moment in Canadian history. On October 18, 1929, the judicial committee of the British Privy Council ruled in the Famous Five’s Persons Case that women were legally recognized as persons under Canadian law, granting them the right to participate fully in public and political life. This monumental victory, spearheaded by the Famous Five—Nellie McClung, Emily Murphy, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney and Henrietta Edwards—reshaped Canada’s legal landscape as we know it and it took a giant, crucial step towards women’s rights and equality.

However, as groundbreaking as that day was and as that case was, we must recognize its limitations. It did not include women of Asian descent. It did not include women of Indigenous identity and others. The Persons Case primarily benefited white middle- and upper-class women, while many other women and girls and gender-diverse individuals still continued to face discrimination. That was the case after the ruling.

If we are to create a Persons Day in Ontario, I would imagine it would be much broader. It would have a bigger understanding of equality, one that now includes everyone, including those that continue to face additional barriers. So let’s take a moment, Speaker, to look forward on what this bill can do.

We must recognize that women, particularly those from racialized, Indigenous and immigrant backgrounds, continue to earn much less than their male counterparts. According to information and data collected by Statistics Canada, women in Ontario make 87 cents on the male dollar, and that gap widens when you factor in women of colour, Indigenous women and women with disabilities. We must be able to do everything we can to close those gaps, to make sure that we end discrimination. We advocate for stronger pay equity laws, workplace inclusion policies and better access to child care.

One in three women in Canada experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, and these numbers are even higher for Indigenous, transgender women and non-binary individuals. A Persons Day would highlight these realities and push for increased funding for shelters, housing, counselling and justice reforms to protect survivors and hold perpetrators accountable.

And despite advances, Speaker, we still know that in Ontario women make up less than 40% of elected officials, and that number is even significantly lower for racialized, BIPOC and gender-diverse individuals. By celebrating the accomplishment of diverse leaders on Persons Day, we can inspire the next generation to see themselves in positions of influence while also advocating for systemic change that will level the playing field.

We also know that many individuals in Ontario—many, many women—face health care inequities and insufficient mental health resources, limited access to reproductive and abortion care, inadequate services for transgender individuals. A Persons Day will help us amplify and remind ourselves of the work that we still need to do to address health inequities.

A Persons Day will also allow us to think about how we are to move towards reconciliation in Canada, how we will address the truth and reconciliation calls to action. It will allow us to amplify the calls for justice, reconciliation and equality for everyone. The living tree concept from the Persons Case taught us that the law and society must evolve to meet the needs of the present. In the same way, Persons Day can be an important catalyst for growth and transformation in Ontario, ensuring that everyone, regardless of gender, race, socio-economic status or identity, can thrive.

In conclusion, establishing a Persons Day in Ontario is about more than commemorating history—so much more. It’s about building a future for true equality by acknowledging the barriers that persisted and that continue to persist. By committing to remove them, we honour the remarkable legacy of the Famous Five, ensuring the tree of equality continues to grow in Ontario, its branches reaching even further and farther than their foremothers ever imagined. Let us celebrate this together. This is a great—

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

Ms. Jess Dixon: It’s an honour to join my colleagues that sponsored this bill in speaking to it today, and commemorating Persons Day from here on after.

As I thought about what to say, I reflected not just on their achievement but on the emotional strength, the determination and the courage that it would have taken them to get there. As a woman in leadership—I know many in the room will resonate with this—I have had the experience of being told I’m too emotional to be an advocate, too emotional to lead—just too much. I thought about what the Famous Five did and what drove it, and it was emotion. It was determination, first of all—a conviction that they deserved equality, not at some point in the distant future, but now in their own time.

It was frustration and anger—two of my personal favourites. Of course, they were angry. They were angry at being told that they were less than men. They were angry at being told to stay out of the decision-making in a society that they helped build. They did what I personally myself love to do with anger, which is turn it into fuel and bring it with you to a fight.

Throughout history and now, emotion, I think, has been stigmatized, and women particularly have been dismissed as being too emotional: too emotional to lead, too passionate, too much—again. The Famous Five proved that emotion is not a weakness. It is a strength. Passion, frustration, hope—all of those are emotions that drove what ultimately became one of the most significant legal victories in Canadian history. Being told now that we’re too emotional is an attempt to diminish our credibility, to silence us.

Let’s be clear: Emotion is what drives change. It sparks movements and then it sustains them as you fight for them. In taking on the fight that the Famous Five took on, they had to step into a spotlight. I’m sure that they endured ridicule and resistance. They were probably called “naive.” They were called “radical.” They were called “loud.” They were called “disruptive.” In whatever parlance of the day, I’m sure they were called “too much.”

In commemorating Persons Day and celebrating it, we celebrate women: human beings who felt fear and doubt and anger and joy and probably, if I guess correctly, joy at a fight—because I certainly recognize that—and we honour that.

If this legacy of the Famous Five—what it should do on Persons Day as we celebrate it is challenge us and call on us to challenge the perceptions of women in leadership and women in advocacy. If a woman fights for justice, if she shows frustration, if she speaks with passion, she is still far too often dismissed as too emotional.

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But the Famous Five showed that emotion is what is needed to get up every day and to fight. The Famous Five showed us that we can channel our anger at injustice, our stubborn hope for better futures and our determination, and really build something from it. For us to build on the legacy of the Famous Five, we have to remember that progress doesn’t happen in spite of emotion; it happens because of it. And so, every day, but especially on Persons Day, I will be encouraging all the other women who have been told they’re too much to stay angry, to stay too much, and to really live out the legacy of the Famous Five.

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

Pursuant to the order of the House passed earlier today I am now required to put the question.

Ms. McMahon has moved third reading of Bill 211, An Act to proclaim Persons Day.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

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

Mr. Sabawy moved third 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): The member has five minutes for debate.

Mr. Sheref Sabawy: For 130 years, Canada has become a safe haven and destination for 1.25 million Ukrainians seeking a better life. That’s not new to Canada, as Canada has been the beacon of peace, that safe haven for many refugees across the world and throughout history. From Armenians to Greeks to Portuguese, Syrians, Somalis, Iraqis, Afghanis, every community came, integrated and brought to Canada part of their heritage with them, here to Canada. That’s what made Canada this mosaic of different cultures that form the cultural fabric of Canada.

Ukrainian Canadians have a rich cultural heritage here in Canada. Because of the time they were here, they established community. They have been contributing to the Canadian environment, the Canadian economy, Canadian culture with their art, their food, their music, their history, their legacy. A Ukrainian Heritage Month would be an opportunity to celebrate Ukrainian heritage, learn more about their culture and their history, and acknowledge what is accomplished by this community.

Madam Speaker, I have been honoured to have a great Ukrainian community in my riding of Mississauga–Erin Mills. We have the biggest long-term-care senior home, Ivan Franko, which I have been working closely with. I learned a lot about Ukrainian history, about Ukrainian heritage and culture. It is to my honour, to my advantage, to deliver this small token of appreciation for all the Canadians from Ukrainian heritage who have been serving the country in multiple levels.

September, specifically, is a very unique month for the Ukrainian community because it holds—the 7th of September is the first documented date for Ukrainians arriving to Canada 130 years ago—the Holodomor commemoration in September, the independence of Ukraine in September. So September is a great month to proclaim it as the heritage month for Ukrainians in Canada. It’s an opportunity for the Ukrainian community to showcase, raise awareness, teach the rest of Canadians about their rich culture, about their rich history. And there will be never better timing than now to proclaim that month, to come up with this bill, to support Ukrainians during this critical time in their existence, in their fight against the invasion of the Russians. It is showing solidarity with the Ukrainian community here in Canada, showing that all Canadians appreciate their work and their contributions and stand with them, support them, and we are all together in this. Ukrainians, the diaspora, are big supporters for their country, for their people under fire now in Ukraine.

So it is my honour to show this appreciation to the Ukrainian community, and I would like to thank all my colleagues for supporting it with me.

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

Mr. Chris Glover: It’s always an honour to stand in this House, and it’s especially an honour to stand here for third reading—and the eventual passing, hopefully—of the declaration of September as Ukrainian Heritage Month. I’m honoured to be standing here, as a member of the NDP, to declare our support for this important motion.

There are a lot of ties between Canada and Ukraine. There are 1.3 million Canadians who have declared Ukrainian heritage; there are 376,000 Ontarians. And there are 3,670 Ukrainian Canadians in my riding of Spadina–Fort York.

Ukraine is known as the breadbasket of Europe, and Canada is known as the breadbasket of North America, and these two things are not independent of each other. In 1891, Ukrainians began immigrating to the Prairies and settling the Prairies, and they helped to develop our wheat industry in the west.

In every province where Ukrainian Canadians have a substantial population, they have made a real impact.

In every province where Ukrainian Canadians have a substantial population, there has been a Ukrainian Canadian Premier. They helped to found the CCF and the NDP. Among the NDP Premiers were Roy Romanow, the former Premier of Saskatchewan; Ed Schreyer, the former Premier of Manitoba and the former Governor General of Canada—and there were also Ed Stelmach from Alberta, Gary Filmon from Manitoba, and Ernie Eves from Ontario.

There are 60 NHL players who have Ukrainian Canadian heritage. If you know NHL trivia at all, here’s an opportunity for you.

The Leafs won the Stanley Cup in 1942, 1947, 1948, 1949. Who was the goaltender? Does anybody know? Turk Broda. And what do you think his heritage was?

Interjection.

Mr. Chris Glover: Ukrainian.

In 1961 and 1964—and the backup goalie for 1967. Who was the goalie for the Toronto Maple Leafs when they won the Stanley Cup those three times?

Mr. Robert Bailey: Johnny Bower.

Mr. Chris Glover: Johnny Bower. Somebody got it over there. Good one. His original name was Kiszkan. He had Ukrainian heritage.

In 1967, who was the goalie in game 6, when Toronto beat the Montreal Canadiens and won our last Stanley Cup? Terry Sawchuk, another Ukrainian Canadian.

So one of the lessons I learned while doing this research is—for goodness’ sake, Toronto Maple Leafs, would you please look for another Ukrainian Canadian goaltender? We need another Stanley Cup in Canada, and that seems to be the ticket.

There are many, many famous Ukrainian Canadians—among them, Alex Trebek of Jeopardy and Roberta Bondar, the first Canadian woman astronaut.

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But Ukraine’s history has not always been easy. In 1919, they managed to achieve independence from the Russian Empire, but a couple of years later, they were invaded again. On August 24, 1991, they finally got independence from the Soviet empire. They’ve been fighting for their independence ever since. In 2014, they were invaded again by Russia. On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine again and launched a massive assault.

This is the time that we all need to stand with Ukraine because Ukrainians are not separate from us; they are our brothers and sisters here in Canada. They’ve helped us to develop our wheat industry. They’ve helped us to win Stanley Cups. We need to stand with them in their time of need.

I’m glad that there are so many Ukrainian Canadian organizations standing up for them. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress has the #StandWithUkraine campaign. They are saying that 14.6 million Ukrainians, 40% of the Ukrainian population, are in need of humanitarian aid. The Canada-Ukraine Foundation is providing surgical services and fighting for the repatriation of the 744,000 children who have been abducted by Russia. Operation Ukrainian Safe Haven is helping to settle refugees. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is rallying Canadian businesses to support Ukraine. There are 151,000 Ukrainian who have arrived as refugees recently. I’m very proud to say that Canada has committed $12.4 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

We must stand with Ukraine now, in their time of need, because they are our brothers and sisters, and they are an important part of our history in Canada and in Ontario.

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

Pursuant to the order of the House passed earlier today, I am now required to put the question.

Mr. Sabawy has moved third 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 carry? Carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

Third reading agreed to.

House sittings

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Orders of the day?

I recognize the government House leader.

Mr. Steve Clark: Speaker, I just want to announce to the House that the night sitting for this evening—the midnight sitting—is cancelled.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Orders of the day?

Mr. Steve Clark: If you seek it, you shall find that there is unanimous consent to see the clock at 6.

The Deputy Speaker (Ms. Donna Skelly): Is there unanimous consent to see the clock at 6? Agreed.

Report continues in volume B.