Assemblée législative de l'Ontario

The House met at 1015.

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

Prayers.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): We’ll now have a moment of silence for inner thought and personal reflection.

I want to acknowledge that we are meeting on lands traditionally inhabited by Indigenous peoples. We pay our respects to the many Indigenous nations who gathered here, and continue to gather here, including the Mississaugas of the Credit. Meegwetch.

This being the first Monday of the month, I ask everyone to remain standing and join in the singing of the Canadian national anthem, followed by the royal anthem.

Singing of the national anthem. / Chant de l’hymne national.

Singing of the royal anthem. / Chant de l’hymne royal.

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Wearing of T-shirt

MPP Jamie West: Point of order.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Point of order. The member for Sudbury.

MPP Jamie West: I’m seeking a UC motion to wear a “FightStrong” T-shirt during members’ statements.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Sudbury is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to wear a T-shirt for his statement. Agreed? Agreed.

Members’ Statements

Research and innovation

Mr. Lorne Coe: I’m proud that our government is supporting Ontario-made innovation, with an investment of more than $198 million in research projects at colleges, universities and research hospitals. Speaker, we know, as we continue to respond to the impacts of COVID-19 across all sectors, how important it is to foster research and innovation to help boost our economic development in areas like Whitby and other parts of the region of Durham. That’s why I’m pleased that Durham College in Whitby has received approximately $788,000 to create a resource for Ontario’s small and medium-sized enterprises to evaluate, develop and deploy cybersecurity systems, helping them to detect, prevent and respond to cyberattacks more efficiently.

These Ontario research funds will add new infrastructure to the Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation at Durham College, giving them access to the technology and equipment necessary to make them absolute leaders of innovation. This also ensures that hard-working students from across the region of Durham have access to the research and innovation that supports them to remain competitive and to advance in today’s job market.

Halloween message

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: Halloween is a time for spooky stories, and I have a spooky story about a place where scary things were happening—and it only got scarier. The place was one that should have been bright and happy, but its environment was being attacked, dooming the people to unprecedented storms. Beautiful, sunny farmlands and wetlands were cruelly gutted, wildlife scattered from the only homes they had ever known, to make way for highways.

They suffered from a deadly pandemic. Heroic front-line workers bravely fought to keep people safe. But they became exhausted, barely hanging on as their pay was slashed. People tried to call 911; they heard the phone ring and ring—and then it picked up. They took in a breath, ready to finally get the help they needed, but they were trapped on hold.

Something terrifying was climbing, climbing ever higher: It was the cost of living. People saw the value of their hard-earned wages plummeting. Children, hungry for education, sat packed together in their classrooms, watching their teachers vanishing one by one.

The spookiest part of the story is that it’s a true story. But it’s not too late for things to be fixed. We can fix it together.

Happy Halloween, Ontario.

Diwali / Bandi Chhor Divas

Mr. Hardeep Singh Grewal: Over the last few weeks, South Asians across Ontario, most prominently from the Sikh, Hindu and Jain communities, celebrated Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas. Many witnessed the five-day festive season, which was full of home-cooked meals, sweets, gifts distributed to friends and family, the illumination of lights, firecrackers and diyas.

Diwali symbolizes light over spiritual darkness, knowledge over ignorance and the victory of good over evil. And Bandi Chhor Divas is a celebration of the occasion on which Shri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji gained freedom from the unjust imprisonment and refused to accept his release until all 52 fellow political prisoners were released with him at the same time. We admire Guru Sahib Ji on his firm stance to protect freedoms and rights of others at his own cost, and determination to fight tyranny and injustice.

I hope that everyone enjoyed this year’s Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas celebrations and, once again, wishing all Ontarians a very happy and joyous Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas.

And, Speaker, today is October 31, Halloween, and I also want to wish all trick-or-treaters across Ontario a very spook-tacular Halloween.

Employment standards

MPP Lise Vaugeois: While in Thunder Bay this weekend, I learned that our hospital is already overflowing with COVID and flu cases and that RSV, the virus that threatens young children, is spreading rapidly. This is concerning.

Between the deliberate underfunding of health care and the calculated imposition of Bill 124, our hospitals and clinics are losing staff in droves and, as a result, we are losing the experience of those most qualified to mentor the next generation of health care workers. The health care crisis will continue until the Ford government decides to value those already working in the system.

Sadly, today, we are again seeing this government’s callous disregard for workers. For months, our lowest-paid education workers have been trying to negotiate a living wage, and now, rather than negotiating in good faith, the Ford government is set to crush education workers by again taking away their bargaining rights and imposing an unfair settlement.

To health care workers, education workers and all workers keeping our province operating: Thank you for your care, compassion and dogged persistence. We see you, we appreciate you and we stand with you.

Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: Tomorrow is the beginning of the ninth annual Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week, which was created as part of my private member’s bill, the Hawkins Gignac Act. This act is named after the Hawkins Gignac Foundation started by John Gignac.

John was the uncle of dedicated OPP constable Laurie Hawkins, who tragically passed away due to carbon monoxide poisoning along with her husband and children. The exhaust vent that funnelled carbon monoxide from the fireplace through the chimney was blocked and allowed dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide to spread throughout their home for days.

In memory of the Hawkins family, Ontario homes with fuel-burning appliances or attached garage are now required to have a carbon monoxide detector installed. John has also been instrumental in increasing awareness of the carbon monoxide alarms across Canada, along with the help of fire departments and the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

Carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer, because it is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas. I encourage all Ontarians to check their alarms and ensure that vents and chimneys are clear and that fuel-burning appliances are serviced this week. The more we raise awareness about the dangers of carbon monoxide, the more lives will be saved.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to use this time to raise awareness of carbon monoxide safety and to keep Ontarians alive.

Mélisa Kingsley

MPP Jamie West: Speaker, today I wear an MK23 T-shirt with the words “FightStrong” on the back. MK stands for Mélisa Kingsley, 23 was her jersey number, and she did fight strong.

Mélisa Kingsley was a dedicated straight-A student and an exceptionally talented athlete. She was a cherished daughter of Gilles and Lianne Kingsley and a loving sister to Mathieu and Mireille.

During her young life, Mélisa played many sports, and she excelled at hockey. She graduated from the Sudbury Lady Wolves hockey program to earn a scholarship at the University of Ottawa Gee Gees women’s hockey team.

In 2016, Mélisa was diagnosed with sarcoma and began extensive treatments. In 2018, Mélisa lost her battle with cancer, and Sudbury lost a phenomenal member of our community.

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Today marks the fourth year of her tragic passing, and although she’s no longer with us, Mélisa’s memory is very much alive in Sudbury. In her honour, the Mélisa Kingsley Memorial Scholarship fund was established. This fund is awarded to student athletes pursuing a post-secondary education who demonstrate Mélisa’s passion for hockey and dedication to learning. As well, with help and contributions from the many, many friends and family of Mélisa Kingsley, the Sudbury Lady Wolves and countless community members, the Women’s Hockey Academy in Sudbury now hosts yearly MK23 Memorial Tournaments for female hockey players. All proceeds are donated to the Mélisa Kingsley fund.

Today I wear an MK23 T-shirt with the words “FightStrong” written on the back. MK stands for Mélisa Kingsley, 23 was her jersey number, and, Speaker, she continues to fight strong.

Events in Etobicoke–Lakeshore

Ms. Christine Hogarth: I’m so glad to be back in the House today. During our time away, I had many opportunities to reach out to my constituents and enjoy the many community events while connecting with the residents of Etobicoke–Lakeshore.

Speaker, there has been plenty of good news to share. The long-awaited construction of not one but two Etobicoke–Lakeshore schools has begun. Thanks to the parents, the faculty and, of course, the Minister of Education for helping to make this happen.

St. Leo Catholic elementary school has broken ground, supported by an investment of $22.7 million, which includes additional funding of $10.3 million. The redevelopment will also include the renovation of the school’s heritage piece, which allows the students to learn what happened in the past. The new school will include 500 student spaces, three new child care rooms and one new EarlyON Child and Family Centre.

Our second school that broke ground is Holy Angels Catholic School. It’s being rebuilt and is supported by a government investment of $22.5 million, and it will include 600 student spaces, five child care rooms and 88 child care spaces.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to fill my schedule with meetings with constituents and going to many community events such as the Long Branch Tree Fest, the 15th anniversary of the conferment of the US Congressional Gold Medal on Tibet’s Dalai Lama—the Building Up training centre.

And this weekend I was at the Mimico market, where I picked up these earrings.

Please make sure to support your local markets this Christmastime and pick up those extra gifts. Support local, and have a great time in your communities.

Reese Fallon

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: Mr. Speaker, at the young age of 18, Reese Fallon had a fiery passion for politics and making her community a better place. She radiated positivity and kindness and never failed to light up any room she was in. Reese would have been 22 years old this year and a recent graduate from the McMaster nursing program. She was an active member of the Beaches–East York community and, ultimately, a force to be reckoned with.

Sadly, her life was tragically cut short on July 22, 2018, in the Danforth shooting. While there will never be enough words to describe the profound loss this was, there continues to be an outpouring of love and support to honour Reese in our riding.

This November—next week, actually—the Reese Fallon Laneway will be unveiled. It is located south of Gerrard Street East, just a hop, skip and a jump from Malvern Collegiate Institute, where Reese was a dedicated and engaged student. With over 3,000 signatures obtained for its creation, the laneway is a testament to the impact Reese continues to have in our community and amongst family and loved ones. This laneway will create space for future generations to remember Reese’s legacy. It is a special location that pays homage to a spot where she spent much of her childhood playing with her sisters and friends. It will be a place for people to celebrate, reminisce and feel her presence and comfort.

To her loving family, Claudine, Doug, Quinn, Riley and Sadie, we promise you that we will continue to honour Reese’s legacy in everything we do.

Pelee Island

Mr. Trevor Jones: Of the many unique and beautiful features of my riding, Pelee Island maintains a special place in my heart. At 42 square kilometres, Pelee Island is the largest island in Lake Erie and the southernmost populated place in Canada. Pelee Island is a peaceful, nature lover’s paradise and one of the most species-rich biodiverse regions in Canada.

The brilliant sunrises over Pelee Island’s 200-year-old lighthouse and natural beaches have been enjoyed and photographed for generations, while the evening sunsets over the west shore are shared with family and friends at the popular Pelee Island Winery Pavilion. With a tradition of grape growing and winemaking that dates back 170 years, Pelee Island is the birthplace of Canada’s wine industry. Here, Pelee Island Winery sustainably operates and cares for over 700 acres of meticulous farmland in Canada’s warmest wine-growing region, and many of the carefully curated wines have won international awards and continue to be the favourites of connoisseurs around the world.

Accessible by ferry, private boat or plane, the island’s charm, hospitality and tranquility inspired our legendary Margaret Atwood to take up and maintain a residence there.

Although permanent residents number less than 300, seasonal tourism that includes open air music festivals, an annual half marathon, and the famous fall pheasant hunts currently ongoing and dating back to 1932, grow the population to nearly 1,500 during peak times.

This year, Pelee Island made history again by electing its first female mayor, Cathy Miller. Mayor-elect Miller is a seasoned media professional turned innkeeper of the beautiful and historic Wandering Dog Inn. The community and the entire region are fortunate to have such a capable, caring and hard-working community advocate to serve as leader.

If you’re in need of some respite from the city and are seeking fresh lake air and a unique, affordable and family friendly holiday, I encourage you to consider the jewel of Lake Erie, where you can set your watch to island time, explore eco-tourism at its finest by bicycle or golf cart, and enjoy the food, wine and warm hospitality of our special community.

Remembrance Day

Mr. Graham McGregor: Today is Halloween, the spookiest day of the year. I want to commend the residents of Brampton North for beautifully and creatively decorating their homes. Decorations may seem small but they go a long way, showing community spirit and adding to the vibrancy of our neighbourhoods. I wish my constituents a happy and safe Halloween.

I would also ask everyone to resist the urge to pull out their Christmas decorations and “deck the halls” tomorrow or the next few days following. I respectfully ask that we wait instead until after November 11, Remembrance Day. Instead, let us all attend services in our communities to honour our heroes and reflect on the many brave souls who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we live in a proud and free country. And out of respect for them, let’s hold off on the Christmas lights.

Speaker, I am fortunate to have been born and raised in Brampton, a city that cherishes our diversity, celebrates our culture and values our freedoms. But these values have come at a cost—a proud military tradition of sacrifice in the pursuit of peace. We see their heroism in moments of free speech and free expression. We feel their sacrifice in our places of democracy, including right here in this legislative chamber.

I invite the residents of Brampton to attend services at Chinguacousy Park or at the Ahmadiyya Mubarak mosque on November 6, and especially the ceremony at the memorial cenotaph on Remembrance Day itself where, together as a community, we will remember.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): That concludes our members’ statements for this morning.

Introduction of Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m please to inform the House that we have a former member with us in the chamber today in the visitors’ gallery west, the MPP for Stoney Creek in the 38th Parliament, Jennifer Mossop. Welcome back.

M^me France Gélinas: I would like to welcome Julie Aube. She’s the executive director of Maison McCulloch Hospice in Sudbury. We also have Rick Firth, who is president and CEO of Hospice Palliative Care Ontario, as well as Melissa Horner and Jennifer Mossop, who are both from Hospice Palliative Care Ontario. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

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Hon. Graydon Smith: I’d like to welcome Donna Kearney, executive director, and Doug Crichton, board member, from Hospice Muskoka, who are here for palliative care day. Welcome to all the folks who are here for this important day. Welcome, all, to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Joel Harden: It’s a great pleasure to welcome Sharon Lee to the Legislature today. Sharon is an old intern. We’re very happy she’s going to be working with the Ottawa Centre MPP team.

Welcome, Sharon, and thank you for joining us.

Mr. John Fraser: I, too, would like to welcome our friends from Hospice Palliative Care Ontario: Jennifer Mossop, former member for Stoney Creek; Rick Firth, president and CEO; and everyone here from Hospice Palliative Care Ontario.

The member from Nickel Belt gave a great introduction, but she missed one thing: that in rooms 228 and 230, there’s pizza and there’s candy. So everybody should stop by and have some pizza and candy.

Hon. George Pirie: I want to introduce Gregory Dunkley, who is here visiting Queen’s Park today because his son Jacob Dunkley is serving as page for this season. He attends O’Gorman Intermediate Catholic School. I’ve known the family for quite some time. I went to high school with his grandmother Vera and his late grandfather Henry. They’re marvelous people from Schumacher. I want to congratulate them and say how proud I am that we have a page serving from the great riding of Timmins.

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: I’d like to give a warm welcome to Téah U-Ming, who will be part of our Parkdale–High Park team at Queen’s Park this term, as part of her OLIP placement.

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: I want to introduce the full complement of my terrific team today: energetic Ellen Pisani, magnificent Maisie Harrison, notable Noor Samiei, marvelous Marietta Fox, sensational Selena McCuaig, our York University intern—the famous five. I’m looking forward to changing the world with you.

Mr. Andrew Dowie: I’d like to acknowledge, in the east members’ gallery, my brother Jim, from Tecumseh, who’s visiting here for the very first time.

My executive assistant, Rachel Haddad, also of Tecumseh, is here in her permanent capacity.

And I want to wish a warm introduction to Sophie Williams, of Peterborough, who has joined our office as part of the Ontario Legislature Internship Programme.

A warm welcome to all of them for visiting here.

MPP Jill Andrew: I’d like to welcome the parents of the Toronto–St. Paul’s fabulous page, Sofia Marra. Her mother, Mahira Mohtashami, is here; her dad, Frank Marra; as well as her grandmother Farangis Manoochehri-Kashani. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Adil Shamji: It gives me great pleasure to introduce two individuals from my office. The first is Ben Iheagwara. He’s an outstanding intern with a background in political philosophy, who, I worry, is actually teaching me more than I am teaching him; so I thank you for that.

I’d also like to introduce Hamish Gilleland, a young, bright volunteer in my office, also from my riding, who will be joining me in between his classes at U of T to help advocate for a better Don Valley East.

Mr. Rudy Cuzzetto: Today I’d like to introduce my OLIP intern, Alia Mufti.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: I’d like to welcome Michau van Speyk from the Ontario Autism Coalition to the gallery today.

Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: I would like to welcome an amazing family from the wonderful riding of Kanata–Carleton, the Kam family. Their son Conner Kam, is the captain of the pages today.

Mr. Hardeep Singh Grewal: I’d like to welcome my executive assistant, Anthony Goncalves. He’s here in the House for the first time today.

Mr. Sam Oosterhoff: I’d like to join the chorus of voices recognizing those from Hospice Palliative Care Ontario. Today we have, from the Niagara region, Pamela Blackwood with McNally House. We also have Annalise Stenekes with Mariposa hospice, Beth Ellis from Haldimand Norfolk hospice, Debbie Kesheshian from Hospice Huronia, Rick Firth with HPCO, Amanda Maragos from Emily’s House and Kerri VanSickle from the Stedman hospice, as well as Jennifer Mossop, the former member for Stoney Creek. Welcome to the Legislature today.

Mr. Nolan Quinn: I’d like to welcome Lucas Fisher. He’s part of the internship program, and he’s from Davisville in Toronto.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): That concludes the time we have available for introduction of guests. I’ll remind members that if they can keep their introductions of their guests as brief as possible, that would be helpful. It’s very exciting to have guests in the chamber again, but if we can keep them brief, we’ll get more introductions in.

Question Period

Labour dispute

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Speaker, my question to the Premier: Yesterday, Ontario’s lowest-paid education workers—educational assistants, custodians and early childhood educators—told the government to get serious about negotiating a fair deal. But instead of respecting the process, today the education minister will move to impose a contract on these workers and ban their right to strike. His actions have brought us to the brink of disruption in our schools. He is creating an unnecessary crisis for families and for education workers.

Will the Premier stop these reckless actions and get back to the bargaining table today?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the Minister of Education.

Hon. Stephen Lecce: Mr. Speaker, our government is unyielding in our commitment to keep kids in the classroom. That is the most important thing we can do. Children have faced perhaps some of the most difficulty in modern history. Their mental and physical health, their social and emotional development, and their academic success are at risk.

The union confirmed yesterday that they’re on a path to a strike, effective this Friday, and so yesterday the government reached out to this specific union with the intent of offering a better deal: 10% over four years, maintaining the best pension and benefits and 131 days of sick leave in this country. That is a reasonable offer, because nothing should come in the way of a child’s right to learn.

It has been so difficult for children, and that’s why we’re standing up. We’re making it clear we will do everything possible to keep kids in the classroom.

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

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Speaker, again to the Premier: It’s this government that’s getting in the way of making sure our schools are open and in good shape. Students deserve a government that invests in ensuring there are enough caring adults in schools, and our education workers deserve a decent wage.

Education workers are integral to our schools, but because of chronically low wages, half have been forced to take a second job just to make ends meet, and a quarter have either cut back on purchasing food or have had to use a food bank. Does the Premier think it’s acceptable to pay education workers so little that they have to rely on food banks?

Hon. Stephen Lecce: What is unacceptable is New Democrats’ and Liberals’ support of a strike this Friday. Mr. Speaker, we believe children deserve to be in class. That’s why we gave CUPE an opportunity yesterday. We presented a better deal: 10% over four years; the maintenance of the best benefits, pension and sick leave programs in the nation.

Our workers do important work in our schools. We value what they do. It’s why we’re offering them an increase every single year over the course of their program. We said to them yesterday, “Work with us. Rescind your commitment to strike on Friday and bargain to get a deal.” They decided that they’re going to proceed with a strike on Friday, imposing further hardship on children who have faced unprecedented difficulty in this province. This government believes children should be in school, and we will stand up to ensure they remain there, without disruption, right to June.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The final supplementary.

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Again to the Premier: I gather that hunger is acceptable. That’s the one thing that we’re going to let pass.

Last year, the government posted a $2.1-billion surplus, and the Financial Accountability Office has projected that this government will run surpluses for the next six years, totalling about $25 billion. But at the bargaining table, the minister says the cupboard is bare for Ontario’s lowest-paid education workers. Education workers support students and schools every day, but this government would rather cry poor than pay them a fair wage and protect education.

Why is this government so intent on shortchanging our schools and our education workers?

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Hon. Stephen Lecce: We are committed to keeping children in class. We made a clear commitment to the people of this province that we will stand up and ensure kids are in school without disruption right to June. Nothing should get in the way of that commitment. Mr. Speaker, we gave the union an opportunity, and with great regret they said no. They are going to proceed with the strike on Friday and impose further hardship on the children we all represent.

We have to speak for kids in this debate. We have to give them a voice in this discussion. We have to ensure they are able to be in the classroom learning the fundamentals they have missed over the past two to three years, keeping in mind, Speaker, that just three years ago they faced union-driven strikes and then a global pandemic. We are going to do everything possible, as we have to date, to ensure children remain in class—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Member for Davenport, come to order.

Hon. Stephen Lecce: —with their friends, getting back on track.

Labour dispute

MPP Jamie West: Education support workers are the backbone of our schools, but most can’t make ends meet. In August, I told the Premier about Charity. She was the full-time education support worker who relied on food banks to help feed her children—food banks, Speaker. I asked the Premier then if he would commit to a pay increase so that education support workers like Charity wouldn’t have to rely on food banks, and today that answer is a resounding no.

The Conservative government is set to impose a contract on education support workers, denying them the right to bargain a fair wage. Speaker, why does the Conservative government think it’s acceptable to force workers to work for so little?

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

Hon. Stephen Lecce: We are firmly committed to keeping kids in the classroom where they belong. We believe that that is so important to helping these kids catch up. Mr. Speaker, we have heard from leaders and pediatric experts about the challenges of mental health on children: their physical health, their social and emotional regression, and their academic regression taking place as a result of learning delays.

When you hear these stories of individual children and the plight they have faced over the past years, it is incumbent on everyone in this Legislature to ensure that they are in a classroom, supported, loved and cared for by their educators and with their friends. Our plan to catch up is premised on keeping them in the classroom. So yes, Speaker, we are going to stand up and ensure children remain in school without disruption right to June.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Sudbury: supplementary question.

MPP Jamie West: Speaker, the minister wants to talk about children. These are children’s parents that have to go to food banks in order to feed them, and he ignores it and looks the other way.

Last week, I met with a roomful of education support workers, and Kori was one of them. She is a single mom of two. She loves her job as a cleaner and works hard to ensure that students are safe and that they have a healthy school environment. Kori told me she recently had to move in with her parents just to make ends meet. Kori is underpaid and she’s overworked, Speaker. She wants a fair wage so she can support her children while doing a job she loves—a job that is important.

Will the Conservative government and the minister finally recognize that education support workers like Kori deserve more than a nickel so they can support students’ success?

Hon. Stephen Lecce: We are absolutely committed and will take action to ensure that children remain in the classroom where they belong. Mr. Speaker, yesterday we went to the union and we offered them an increased offer from the last that we have tabled: 10% over four years, maintaining the best—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Member for Ottawa Centre, come to order.

Hon. Stephen Lecce: —the best sick leave program of 131 paid days, in addition to the best pension.

Mr. Speaker, when we gave the union an offer to avert a strike, to withdraw their commitment to strike on Friday, they regrettably doubled down on their demand for a nearly 50% increase in pay—a $19-billion increase for the taxpayer when applied sector-wide, because we know whatever we do with education workers becomes the minimum standard with our educators and those unions. So, Speaker, we brought forth a reasonable offer that preserves in-class learning and protects the rights of children to learn. We’re going to continue to do everything possible to keep kids in the class.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The final supplementary.

MPP Jamie West: Again, to the Premier—it would be lovely if he could answer. Good morning, Premier. It’s good to see you.

Speaker, this is not how you build a quality education system. Our kids will have less support in schools if the Premier keeps chasing away education workers with these poverty wages. CUPE will be at the table all week, ready to negotiate with the Conservative government. Will this government commit to not tabling pre-emptive legislation and instead return to the table and bargain a fair deal that will invest in our schools and education support workers?

Hon. Stephen Lecce: Mr. Speaker, we are firmly committed to doing everything humanly possible to keep kids in the classroom, and that’s why we have been clear on that commitment from day one with all education unions, which we’ve been bargaining in good faith with the intent of landing a voluntary deal.

But what we will not accept is a strike on children after this global pandemic and recent strikes by the unions just two to three years ago. Children should be in the classroom, and our government will do everything possible and take the action that families want to keep their kids in front of their teachers in the classroom in every region of this province.

Interjections.

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

I’m going to ask the House to come to order, and I have to say this: If members continue to ignore my requests to come to order, I will move to warnings—no choice—and then we know what happens after that if I’m ignored.

Start the clock.

Health care funding

Ms. Catherine Fife: My question is to the Premier.

Ambulance shortages have recently become a recurring problem in Waterloo region and across Ontario. Two weeks ago, during a code red, ambulances were coming into Waterloo region from Guelph-Wellington for backup—only for Guelph-Wellington to end up in a code red the following day. At one point, 600,000 people did not have access to an ambulance or a paramedic. In Waterloo region, we’ve lost 17 paramedics since January, largely due to burnout and lack of time off.

It’s literally a matter of life and death that Ontario is this ill-equipped to care for its growing and aging population. So I ask the Premier, I ask the minister, I ask anyone on that side of the House: How would you feel if you and your loved one experienced a medical emergency and no one was there to answer the call? What would you do? Because that’s where the province of Ontario is at right now.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Eglinton–Lawrence and parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Health.

Mrs. Robin Martin: Thank you to the member opposite for the question.

Obviously, we’re doing everything we can to make sure the ambulances are there when they’re needed, and we have a four-point strategy in place to decrease ambulance offload times, which is holding up some of the ambulances, including: returning ambulances to the communities faster; providing timely and appropriate care in the community; increasing non-ambulance transport services for medically stable patients; and we’re maximizing health human resource capacity.

We’re doing all of those things as well as updating O. Reg. 257/00 under the Ambulance Act, which allows other health care professionals, including physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists to provide patient care in addition to paramedics in air ambulance or other configurations where that is necessary.

We’re going to make sure that we build a better health care system here in Ontario.

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

Ms. Catherine Fife: Well, Mr. Speaker, code red, code black, code zero—it all means the same frightening thing: that not a single ambulance is available for the entire region.

According to Dave Bryant, who is the co-VP of CUPE 5191, the Region of Waterloo Paramedics Services, they have the highest number of code reds the region has ever had within a 24-hour period on September 26. A local paramedic told me that, at one point, there were five full hours where no ambulances were available, and offload times ranged from seven hours to 22 hours.

When the minister—or the parliamentary assistant—says that they’re doing everything they can, clearly that is not correct, because you have Bill 124 on the books. This is wage-suppression legislation. It is pushing health care workers and nurses out of the province of Ontario. And with all due respect, you actually have the money to recognize and respect health care workers in Ontario.

So how can this government continue to sit by idly when another crucial part of our health care system is collapsing and you are sticking to your speaking points?

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

The member for Eglinton–Lawrence to reply.

Mrs. Robin Martin: Thank you again to the member opposite.

After decades of underfunding, it is this government that has made unprecedented investments in our health care system. We’re investing $77.5 billion into our health care system this year. Health care funding has increased at 6.2% year over year, the largest increase on record, including an over $5-billion increase in base funding and 8.9% increase in base funding, which is unprecedented. No previous base funding increase has been that increased year over year.

We’ve added 3,500 new hospital beds; we’re in the process of adding another 3,000. We’ve added 11,700 health care workers. The College of Nurses of Ontario recently said that they’ve added over 12,800 new nurses before the year ends—the most ever recorded. This government will get it done.

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Economic development

Ms. Natalie Pierre: My question is for the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. Last week, the minister and I were in Burlington at the Cultivated B to announce the opening of a new 130,000-square-foot manufacturing and innovation hub. This company is performing ground-breaking work in the field of biotechnology and cellular agriculture. Not only are they true leaders in innovation, but their over $50-million investment will bring 200 jobs to my community.

Speaker, will the minister tell us why the Cultivated B, a German company, chose to invest here in Ontario?

Hon. Victor Fedeli: The Cultivated B’s expansion into Ontario is game-changing for the people of Burlington and their entire region. Their $50-million investment will create 200 well-paying jobs and boost the local economy, and it will secure Ontario’s position as a global leader in biotechnology.

When companies look for investment opportunities, they look for a place that has a skilled workforce, supports growth and investment, and is open for business. That’s the message we heard from Cultivated B and other German companies when we were on our recent mission to Germany and Austria. They want certainty. They want a reliable, stable business environment, and they want safe communities for their employees. This exciting investment by the Cultivated B sends a really strong message that Ontario is the perfect place to invest and grow.

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

Ms. Natalie Pierre: Thank you to the minister for his answer. It’s great to hear that Ontario is seen as a competitive and supportive place for businesses to invest and create jobs.

I’m proud to represent the great people of Burlington, a city that is home to a thriving and innovative economy of entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, under the previous Liberal government, the goal of entrepreneurship was not supported. Many hard-working individuals faced excessive red tape, barriers and obstacles.

Speaker, will the minister please explain what our government is doing to help entrepreneurs in my riding start and grow businesses?

Hon. Victor Fedeli: Our entrepreneurs are critical to the prosperity of Ontario families. We all know that the Liberals and the NDP made entrepreneurship too difficult and costly. Under the previous government, hydro, red tape and taxes quickly spiralled out of control. By lowering the cost of doing business in Ontario by $7 billion every single year, and every single year coming, we’ve seen businesses coming back to Ontario in record numbers. Another company, AceAge, announced a $1.5-million health care technology project, bringing 25 good-paying jobs to Burlington with the help of $600,000 in provincial funding.

We also invested $415,000 in Burlington’s small business enterprise centre to offer entrepreneurs everything they need to turn their ideas into a business and another $106,000 for their Summer Company to help students and young entrepreneurs start their business. This is how our government is helping entrepreneurs.

Employment standards

Ms. Doly Begum: Last week, the Toronto Star revealed that workers who were forced to work in deemed-essential manufacturing jobs died in larger numbers from COVID than any other sector, more than even our embattled health care workers. Under this government’s watch, hundreds of vulnerable workers in Ontario were dying while making things like floor tiles, bubble gum and jerry cans.

Throughout the pandemic, Speaker, I have asked the member opposite to provide clarity on what criteria defines “essential,” and they’ve failed to answer. But surely, the Premier of this province would know something as critical as the meaning of “essential work,” based upon which a policy, a major policy of life and death, was determined.

My question is simple: Premier, please define what is “essential work.”

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

Hon. Monte McNaughton: The priority of this government is to ensure that when workers go to work, they come home safe after the end of a hard day’s work. The pandemic was certainly challenging for the entire world, but we were the first in Canada to bring in job-protected leave. If anyone needed to stay home because of the pandemic, their job would be protected.

Furthermore, we hired more than 100 new health and safety inspectors to ensure that workplaces are safe in this province. We’ve done more than 100,000 health and safety inspections to ensure that employers and workers are working in a safe manner, and we’re going to continue every single day, ensuring that workers in this province have the safest workplaces in the country.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question? The member for London West.

Ms. Peggy Sattler: Again to the Premier: At least 108 Ontario workers died from work-related COVID infections under a government that for more than a year denied workers paid sick days so that they could recover and keep their co-workers safe. The evidence is clearer than ever that paid sick days save lives. This government waited far too long to introduce temporary paid sick days and then didn’t provide enough days for sick workers to get well, forcing them to go back to work sick and putting their co-workers at risk.

Will this government pass my bill, the Stay Home If You Are Sick Act, this month so that every Ontario worker can access the 10 permanent paid sick days they deserve?

Hon. Monte McNaughton: We’re going to continue ensuring that workers in Ontario have the safest workplaces in the country. That’s why at the beginning of this pandemic we were the first in Canada to bring in job-protected leave. We were the first province in the country to bring in paid sick days. In July, I extended those three paid sick days for workers in this province to the end of March next year.

Mr. Speaker, we’re going to continue every single day to have the backs of workers in this province to ensure that when they go to work in the morning, they come home safe to their family at the end of a hard day’s work.

Green power generation

Mr. Lorne Coe: Ontario is seeing strong economic growth and great new manufacturing investments. We only have to look at the $5-billion investment made by Stellantis in building a new EV battery plant as a positive example. This trend toward a greener electrical transportation sector and the return of manufacturing jobs to Ontario is positive news, Speaker.

As the economy grows and greater electrification of industry continues, my constituents in Whitby are wondering about the strength of our energy grid for the future. Can the Minister of Energy assure my constituents and all Ontarians that we will have the power we need for the future?

Hon. Todd Smith: I want to assure the member from Whitby that, yes, the power is going to be there and the lights will go on when they flick the switches in Canada’s clean energy capital in Durham region.

We’re taking action to ensure that our electricity grid can support the incredible growth and the electrification that we’re seeing in Ontario. Our work includes announcing Canada’s first grid-scale small modular reactor on the site not too far from his riding, in Darlington. Just last week I was pleased to join my federal counterpart, Minister Wilkinson: $970 million is on its way to that project from the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

We’re supporting the continued operation of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station. We’ve increased efficiency programs—$342 million to expand those efficiency programs. We’re re-contracting biomass and hydroelectric, and our ongoing competitive procurement that’s in place is going ensure we’re getting the reliable and affordable electricity that we need to power this province.

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

Mr. Lorne Coe: Back to the Minister of Energy: Minister, you mentioned Ontario’s competitive procurement processes, and I’d like to ask you further about it. I’m glad to see that we have a plan to secure the electricity this province needs to keep powering our growth and prosperity for the future.

My constituents are pleased that Ontario is increasing the electrification of our energy grid, from transportation and increased EV uptake to green steelmaking. However, my constituents want to know why the province will procure some natural gas generation as a component of the overall procurement strategy.

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Minister, is procuring natural gas generation a step in the opposite direction?

Hon. Todd Smith: Thanks for the thoughtful question.

The experts at Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator have been clear: Generation from natural gas plays a key role as a flexible, adaptable source of electricity that can respond quickly to periods of heightened demand.

The member is correct that we can’t move backwards—and we’re moving forward on the days that we’re bringing manufacturing jobs that were once fleeing our province back to our jurisdiction and sent electricity prices skyrocketing.

That’s why we’re looking at every option to ensure that Ontario doesn’t experience blackouts and brownouts. By maintaining our reliable and affordable grid, we’re also enabling electrification in other sectors, like transportation, resulting in a net reduction in emissions in Ontario.

Just one example is green steelmaking. As he mentioned in his previous question, Algoma and Dofasco switching to electric arc furnaces is going to mean emissions reductions equivalent to taking two million cars off the road.

We’re going to ensure that we have the reliable, affordable, clean and safe power that Ontario needs to keep our economy moving forward.

Government accountability

Mr. Joel Harden: My question is for the Premier.

It’s Halloween and Ontarians are accustomed to seeing and hearing about spooky things today, but nothing prepared me for a video I saw this weekend. I saw a video of Tyler Russell, an organizer with the hate group Canada First, receiving a call from what sounds like this Premier on February 11, 2022. After our exchange, Speaker, I’ll be posting this video to my Twitter account. This happened on February 11, in the middle of the convoy. If it is in fact the Premier taking this call from Mr. Russell, promising Mr. Russell, as you will see, that it was about ending vaccine mandates and COVID restrictions—that was his priority.

Can the Premier confirm if this in fact was him and why this conversation was even happening when my city was under siege?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Mr. Speaker, as you know, last week Commissioner Carrique was before the federal inquiry into the federal government’s really historic first-time use of the federal Emergencies Act. That testimony will continue. And I’m sure the commission will report back to the Parliament of Canada on the federal government’s use of the federal Emergencies Act.

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

Mr. Joel Harden: Well, Speaker, I have one more reason now to want the Premier to take me up on my offer to give him a ride to Ottawa. We can work on the playlist together. We can figure out a way to do it together.

The people of Ottawa need you, Premier—Speaker, through you, we need him to come clean on whether this in fact was a conversation he had in one of our worst moments of the convoy occupation crisis. I want to know if there were other members—did the Premier talk to Pat King? Did the Premier talk to Tamara Lich? Did the Premier talk to some of the people who were organized at a high level, infiltrating our city, blocking our city, harassing residents? It is a matter of public interest.

The Premier has been silent beyond talking about policing and jurisdiction. Other members of Parliament, other political office-holders who are not members of federal jurisdiction have had the courage to come testify in Ottawa.

Again, is this the Premier in this video? Will he come to Ottawa to testify?

Hon. Paul Calandra: As I’ve said on a number of occasions, of course, it is a federal inquiry.

As you know, Mr. Speaker, when a state of emergency was on in the province of Ontario, we had a select committee that would review the state of emergency in the province of Ontario. That select committee met on a monthly basis. I appeared in front of that select committee during that time when the protests were happening in Ottawa. The Solicitor General at the time appeared in front of it. Prior to that, the Minister of Health and Deputy Premier appeared in front of it. Other officials from the government of Ontario were in front of it.

As you know, when the state of emergency provincially ended, there were two reports issued and debate in this House. On both occasions, debate collapsed in this House when the NDP agreed that it was the right course of action.

Having said that, we still are ensuring that we are working with and assisting the commission by providing cabinet-level documents to the federal inquiry, as well as ensuring that the Deputy Solicitor General and the commissioner of the OPP, who recently testified, are made available.

Climate change

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: My question is for the House leader. Across the world and in Ontario, we are seeing effects of climate change, with extreme heat, floods and forest fires. These events rip through communities, costing people their well-being, money and, in severe cases, their lives. Experts like the Insurance Bureau of Canada are sounding the alarm. The Intact Centre at the University of Waterloo tells us that for every dollar invested in climate adaptation, the return is $3 to $8 worth of cost avoidance.

Recently, I announced the creation of an all-party climate change committee. Emergency preparedness is a non-partisan issue, and we need to work together to ensure our residents are aware and ready and protected for the future. My proposal reflects the House, with four Conservative members and one member from each of the other parties, reaching out to stakeholders and reporting back within six months.

Will the government put forward my all-party climate change committee motion to show the people of Ontario that they are serious about climate adaptation and emergency preparedness?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Hon. David Piccini: I appreciate the interest from the member opposite.

When it comes to adaptation resiliency, investing in the future, this Premier is taking decisive action, be it in manufacturing of clean steel—we’ve taken decisive action that has resulted in the equivalent of over two million cars off the road—be it the first-ever Critical Minerals Strategy that is working in partnership with Indigenous leaders in the north to ensure that we’re going to continue being a leader in electric-vehicle manufacturing and attracting over $16 billion in investment into this province.

We’ve also—working with stakeholders like the insurance bureau on the climate change impact panel—worked on the first-ever adaptation climate report in the province’s history, and we’ll continue working with all levels of government to ensure that we build resiliency and adaptation, not just today but for generations to come.

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

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: Mr. Speaker, I’m perplexed by this government. They pride themselves in being fiscally responsible, and yet continually disregard the facts and figures presented to them. The climate crisis is already costing us: Homes are becoming uninsurable, residents are being faced with colossal damage bills and people are being displaced unnecessarily. We need to get ahead of this situation and focus on preventive measures.

The benefits of climate mitigation are global; the benefits of climate adaptation are local. My all-party climate change committee would focus on the local to ensure Ontarians are ready, aware and protected. Why wouldn’t you want this for your riding? Why not work collaboratively across party lines, with keen members all across the chamber who have already shown interest? Why not save the people of Ontario hardship, finances and unnecessary grief by planning ahead with protection in mind? And why not show true leadership and actually lead on emergency preparedness and climate adaptation?

Hon. David Piccini: Speaker, let’s talk facts. Under that independent member’s previous party’s rule, they drove jobs out of this province. Manufacturing fled Ontario. How does that help adaptation and resiliency when people are forced into poverty because of your reckless policies? The facts are, under this Premier, we’ve attracted $16 billion in green, clean jobs, positioning us not just today but for the future.

If that member wants to be part of action, then join and actually act. Work with your local organizations’ Canada-Ontario agreements, the Great Lakes Local Action Fund. Work with local groups on the many funding envelopes open today to take meaningful climate action. The reason she is not is because they’re not actually interested in that; they’re interested in cheap political points. We’re interested in clean jobs of the future, taking meaningful climate action, and we’ll continue to do that.

Immigrants’ skills

Mr. Rudy Cuzzetto: Our province’s labour shortage is impacting the financial well-being of families across Ontario. Our labour shortage increases the cost of items they purchase every day. It is disrupting businesses and the supply chain and threatens economic stability.

The Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement nominee program is vital to help fill critical vacancies in our labour market and help support jobs in my riding. Unfortunately, this agreement will expire this fall. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development: What is our government doing to not only renew this program but help to expand it?

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Hon. Monte McNaughton: Thank you to the member for Mississauga–Lakeshore for this very important question. Ontario proudly welcomes more immigrants than any other province. However, we are only able to select 5% of them, less than any other province in Canada. To build a stronger Ontario that works for everyone, we need to double the number of skilled immigrants we can select. That is why in our ongoing negotiations with the federal government, we have been calling, since day one, for 18,000 nominations. We need all hands on deck. That’s why we are working to welcome those with the skills Ontario needs.

Mr. Rudy Cuzzetto: Thank you to the minister for that answer. I’m pleased that our government is advocating for the significant expansion of the number of skilled immigrants selected by Ontario. However, I often hear from my constituents in my riding that it takes months, or even years, to get applicants processed. Many of these people are eager to start work now, and local businesses in Mississauga–Lakeshore are ready to hire them now.

Mr. Speaker, my question again is for the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development: What is our government doing to help speed up this immigration process?

Hon. Monte McNaughton: Thank you again to the member for this very important question. In our conversations with the federal government, we proposed expanding work permit eligibility. Ontario supports the recent change by Ottawa to allow international students to work more than 20 hours a week. However, Speaker, there is a lot more work that needs to be done.

On average, our government, under the leadership of Premier Ford, is processing immigration applications within 90 days—so within three months. But then it takes Ottawa up to 42 months to do their part. We are never going to resolve labour shortages if it takes four years to get a skilled worker into Ontario.

Mr. Speaker, we have offered our processing capacity to the federal government to help speed up the process. We want to work together to resolve these challenges and to help fill the 400,000 jobs that are going unfilled every single day in Ontario.

Hospice and palliative care

M^me France Gélinas: Bonne Halloween. Ma question est pour le premier ministre.

Members of Hospice Palliative Care Ontario are at Queen’s Park today. Their message is really clear: Annualized operating funding increases are needed now to prevent the collapse of the lower-cost, highly valued hospice sector.

Does the Premier think that palliative care patients should do grocery shopping, cook their own food, wash their own dishes? Does he think that they should change their own bed and do their own laundry? Does he think that they should clean their room, wash the floor, take their trash to the curb? Does he think that palliative care patients should pay for heat, hydro, telephone, cable, Internet? Then why is it that the Premier does not fund any of these basic services in Ontario hospices?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Member for Eglinton–Lawrence.

Mrs. Robin Martin: Thank you to the member opposite for the question. This government, this Premier and the Ministry of Health are committed to supporting high-quality palliative end-of-life care for all Ontarians who need it, and I think we’ve done more than any government in recent history to support that initiative.

In 2019-20, the ministry provided Hospice Palliative Care Ontario with $1.7 million in additional funding over two years to support initiatives related to advance care planning. In October 2021, Ontario introduced a one-time investment of $23 million in hospice residences across the province to help them continue to provide high-quality, compassionate end-of-life services and care to people and their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ministry is also supporting new hospices across Ontario by contributing to the cost of operating and constructing new and existing facilities. This government is making historic investments in palliative and end-of-life care, and we will continue to do so.

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

M^me France Gélinas: The government funds 50% of the operating cost of our hospices. The community-funding model that the hospices depend on is broken. The words “hospice palliative care” are nowhere in the last budget that this government tabled. The reality is that the costs continue to escalate while community donation power is challenged by economic realities, including the pandemic.

Hospices are not only a pressure valve for emergency room crises, but they’re an access point for grief, for bereavement, for mental health services. Members of Hospice Palliative Care Ontario are here to remind us that hospice palliative care means system savings and efficiencies. It means improved patient care and caregiver experience. Nobody should spend their last day alive washing dishes.

Can your government commit today to funding hospices to a minimum of 70% of their operating costs?

Mrs. Robin Martin: Thank you again to the member opposite. Again, I would say our government has done a lot to support palliative care and end-of-life care in Ontario. In December 2021, thanks to the great work of the member from Niagara West-Lincoln, the ministry introduced the Provincial Framework for Palliative Care, following his Compassionate Care Act, as a tool to help provide better-connected care across the province and guide future work to ensure all Ontarians receive the respect, dignity and care that they deserve at every stage of their life and across the continuum of care. The province has increased dedicated investments in hospice expansion and palliative care quality improvement initiatives, from $67 million in 2018 to over $74 million in 2022.

This government and Ministry of Health recognize the important role that hospices play in helping people live well from the time of diagnosis to a terminal illness at the end of life and while grieving a death. We continue to look for other opportunities to work with and implement the province’s palliative care framework and to work with Hospice Palliative Care Ontario.

Northern Ontario film and television industry

Mr. Kevin Holland: With its beautiful diverse landscape, it’s no surprise to see why northern Ontario is becoming a highly sought-after destination for many film production teams aiming to create high-quality content. Unfortunately, the film industry experienced challenges during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. We as a government must make the necessary investments now to ensure that the film and entertainment industry in northern Ontario remains competitive.

Can the Minister of Northern Development please share how our government is supporting this vital industry?

Hon. Greg Rickford: I want to thank the member from Thunder Bay–Atikokan. Since joining our caucus, he has been a tremendous influence. He has presided over consultations that are bringing home to bear an important sector emerging in northern Ontario, and that is the film and television industry.

At the last NOHFC meeting, we announced more than $6 million for film and television production. Some of those resources are going to support production companies that would book no more than 10 major productions moving forward. That’s significant, Mr. Speaker. If you look at the numbers, we’ve invested more than half a billion dollars in the new-look Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, which has leveraged more than $1.82 billion in investment and created more than 7,500 jobs. The film and television stream of the NOHFC has been redesigned to expand the industry across northern Ontario, create more jobs and create better film and television seen the world over.

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

Mr. Kevin Holland: Thank you, Minister. With the skilled labour shortage in the north, we must create jobs in the film and entertainment industry so our local economies can thrive once again.

Northern Ontario truly represents a unique part of the world. We have a unique cultural contribution to the filmmaking and entertainment sector, with individuals representing Indigenous, French and English communities, as well as new Canadians. Together, the north contributes to producing unique, high-qualify film and entertainment content that the world enjoys.

Once again, can the Minister of Northern Development please outline the investments our government is making for this sector and how they will benefit northern communities?

Hon. Greg Rickford: The important point here is that film production companies are moving into northern Ontario—not for cheap tax credits or a money grab; they’re building a platform. Canadore College in Nipissing, North Bay, Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie are becoming destinations for major television and film production.

The member is on to something. We saw first-hand how this helps local residents. Young people are going to college in northern Ontario to work on stages in northern Ontario. From construction to production, from stagehands to stars, from the landscape to “lights, camera, action,” people in the filming sector are talking about Hollywood North, Mr. Speaker; it’s just that it’s Hollywood Northern Ontario.

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Housing

Ms. Jessica Bell: My question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Toronto has a homelessness crisis. The wait-list for supportive housing is 21,000 people long, and we only housed 185 people last year. Our shelters are full.

The Premier has set a goal of building new homes for Ontarians. But if the Premier is so concerned about building new housing, why is he cutting over $100 million from the province’s housing program to build affordable housing?

Hon. Steve Clark: Thanks for this question. I’ve answered it many, many times.

We take the approach in the housing space that every government needs to do their part, whether it be municipalities—and I look forward to hopefully having your support for Bill 23 in a few minutes—but also with the federal government. Over time, federal-provincial cost-share programs come and they go.

We’re at a crisis point with the federal government. We obviously want to work collaboratively with them—for their $4-billion Housing Accelerator Fund. The Premier’s office and the Prime Minister’s office have had some great preliminary conversations.

This member knows the answer to this question. I’ve asked many, many times for her party to support our call to the federal government. You know the housing need; you just articulated it in your question. We’re being shortchanged $480 million by the federal government.

When are you going to join us and support our call for more dollars?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’ll ask the members to make their comments to the floor.

Supplementary question? The member for Toronto Centre.

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: I recognize that the Premier is in his chair today, so hopefully we can get an answer from him today. Nevertheless, my—

Interjections.

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

Start the clock.

I recognize the member for Toronto Centre.

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam: Thank you very much. My question for the Premier is: Chronic homelessness and encampments are growing across Ontario in every big city, including Toronto and including my riding of Toronto Centre. Temporary COVID hotels are getting ready to close. This includes the Novotel and the Bond hotel, which will take 610 shelter beds out of the system when the system is already oversubscribed.

Bill 23 does nothing to house a single homeless person in encampments. Bill 23 does nothing to end homelessness or the mental health or the opioid crisis that 29 big mayors have spoken to.

Why is the Premier cutting $100 million from Ontario’s housing program when we need more investments and not less for deeply affordable housing in Ontario right now?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Steve Clark: Again, Speaker, we’d be a lot closer to having those extra federal dollars if we got some co-operation from the NDP. They consistently talk a good game in the Legislature, but when we ask them to put partnership over partisanship, this is the kind of rhetoric that we get from this group.

We put our money where our mouth was in our term of our new Homelessness Prevention Program. We consolidated three supportive housing programs and added an additional $25 million to our municipal partners. When we started the social services relief fund at the very start of the pandemic, who would have thought that we would have supported our municipal colleagues to the tune of $1.2 billion? In addition, our suite of homelessness programs now equals almost half a billion dollars. But we still are short $480 million from the federal government. And I think Ontarians would love to have support from that party on the opposite side.

Housing

Mr. Amarjot Sandhu: My question is to the Minister of Finance.

I hear concerns from my constituents about the housing market. Parents ask me how their children will be able to afford family homes in their communities. Young individuals are worried about their future in this province and if they will still have an opportunity for home ownership.

Speaker, I won’t mince words. Many people are worried about the housing situation they currently face in Ontario. That is why our government tabled our most recent housing plan last week. An essential part of this plan is increasing the non-resident speculation tax rate.

Can the Minister of Finance please explain why it was essential to increase the rate to 25% when it was just increased to 20% in March of this year?

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Thank you to the member from Brampton West for that question—and all the members from Brampton that are surrounding me here.

We know the people of Ontario are facing the rising cost of living and shortage of homes, and our government has a strong mandate to help the people of Ontario find a home that is right for them. Ontario needs more housing, and we need it now.

We are building a durable foundation for action that will increase housing supply and attainability over the long term. That is why we announced an increase to the Non-Resident Speculation Tax to 25% to prioritize Ontario families and homebuyers. Mr. Speaker, this increase means Ontario has the most comprehensive NRST in the land.

And finally, Mr. Speaker, let me be clear: As part of this commitment to tackle Ontario’s housing crisis, we are prioritizing Ontario families and homebuyers, not speculators.

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

Mr. Amarjot Sandhu: I would like to thank the minister for that answer.

Speaker, the federal government recently introduced in the 2022 budget a ban on foreign investors buying Canadian residential property. The federal government plan would completely restrict foreign buyers from purchasing a property anywhere in our country, effective January 2023.

With our government increasing non-residential speculation tax rates at the same time as the federal government introduces their restriction on foreign buyers, it appears that this is creating an overlap in regulations.

Speaker, could the Minister of Finance please tell us how our plan differs from what the federal government is proposing and how this will help my constituents enter the housing market?

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Thank you again to the member for that question.

The foreign buyer ban the federal government is proposing would be temporary, and some proposed exceptions appear to still permit residential property purchases in Ontario that may be subject to the NRST.

But, Mr. Speaker, while we support the federal government’s actions following Ontario’s lead in addressing housing supply, this government knows the housing crisis is not temporary. It is a long-term challenge that requires long-term solutions. That is why we increased the NRST to 25% and eliminated loopholes by focusing relief eligibility to newcomers who commit to laying down roots in Ontario long-term so that Ontario has the most comprehensive Non-Resident Speculation Tax in the land.

Mr. Speaker, all levels of government need to work together to co-operate and address the housing crisis.

Sexual assault

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: My question is to the Premier. In September, alongside my colleague from Toronto–St. Paul’s, I wrote to you about reports that Niagara hospitals turned away sexual assault survivors from receiving a local sexual assault evidence kit due to staffing shortages. Over the last three years, nearly 30 Niagara survivors had been asked to travel as far as Burlington or to come back later. Survivors need to be put first, not have their justice put at risk.

Niagara Health is seeking additional funding to support their staffing shortages for their sexual assault hospital program. They’ve heard nothing from this government. Today, will you approve that funding request? And will it explain why survivors in Niagara are being left behind?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: I appreciate the question from the honourable member. She will of course know that across both sides of the House, we have constantly taken this issue very, very seriously. That is why we are putting a significant amount of resources into health and human resources into our hospitals.

I know it’s a cross-government approach. It’s not just about this instance, but we want to make sure that across the province of Ontario, in every region of the province, that the issues raised in the member’s questions are being addressed.

That’s why we’re looking also outside—the Minister of Colleges and Universities has a bill before this House, I think, that moves the bar further, Speaker.

But having said that, the member raises a very important point, which we are dealing with, which we are addressing, and we are ensuring that, not only in her region but across the province of Ontario, we can help to ensure that all people have access to the important services that the member raises.

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

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: Minister, whatever it is that you’re doing is not good enough.

New Brunswick as well reported that survivors had been turned away. However, last week they announced sweeping changes. Simply, this is about priorities. It’s about women. It’s about justice. Niagara Health, our nurses and front-line staff are going above and beyond, doing the best they can. However, they need more support. They need more funding.

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Can the minister assure women that Ontario’s hospital response programs are not understaffed across this province, and that it will find ways to make sure this situation never, ever happens again?

Hon. Paul Calandra: Again, I appreciate the member raising the question. It is, of course, what we’ve been focused on. We knew, as we came out of the pandemic, that there would be challenges across many different areas of the government’s responsibility, the same types of challenges that our partners in jurisdictions around the world are facing. But that is why we have brought a comprehensive health and human resources policy in front of the House.

I know the Minister of Colleges and Universities has been working very closely with the Minister of Health, and we’re seeing record numbers of people who want to get into nursing through our colleges and universities. We’re seeing records of new people hired into nursing programs. We’re hiring hundreds of PSWs. We’re expanding health care across the province of Ontario. In Niagara, we are adding a new hospital—also, the transition to Ontario health teams to have a seamless continuity of care.

The member is right, but that is why we are putting all of these historic resources into rebuilding a health care system that, for so long, was ignored by the previous government. We’ll get the job done for all Ontarians.

Protection of privacy / Protection de la vie privée

Mr. Matthew Rae: Speaker, as our lives become increasingly reliant on technology, the threat of cybercrime becomes a more significant concern that, we all understand, needs to be better addressed. Cybercrime is no longer just suspicious emails from people claiming to be your long-lost royal relatives from faraway countries. Cybercrime violates individuals’ privacy as well as their security of data. Our government must support Ontarians in identifying and avoiding digital threats.

Can the Solicitor General please share with us what our government’s plan is to increase awareness around cybercrime?

Hon. Michael S. Kerzner: I’d like to thank the member, my friend from Perth–Wellington, for his question. If you believe you’re a victim of cybercrime, please reach out to the OPP toll-free at 1-888-310-1122 to report this matter.

Cybercrime is a serious issue and should not be overlooked. That’s why our government is investing more than $1.6 million to help fight cybercrime. This funding will support local organizations and their police services to work together to increase awareness about these horrible crimes and prevent them from happening in their communities.

Monsieur le Président, nous continuerons de faire ce qui est difficile, et nous continuerons de réaliser ce qui est difficile, pour assurer la sécurité de l’Ontario.

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

Mr. Matthew Rae: The people of my riding, in Perth–Wellington, are concerned about cybercrime’s impact on them. Seniors are worried about being victims of fraud schemes. Parents are worried about criminals contacting their children over social media. Small businesses are worried about being targeted and shut down by ransom IT attacks. And we are all concerned about the rising threat of online hate crimes.

Speaker, can the Solicitor General inform this House how our government’s $1.6-million investment will translate into local support, improve cyber security and protect my constituents?

Hon. Michael S. Kerzner: Once again, I’m grateful for the question from the member for Perth–Wellington. We continue to take action to prevent cybercrime. We’re especially focused on crimes such as Internet fraud schemes, the luring of young people via social media that can lead to human trafficking, online scams and hate crimes.

This $1.6-million investment is being allocated to 18 community-based organizations. I’m pleased—the member for Perth–Wellington will be happy to hear—that we’ve allocated $100,000 to Crime Stoppers Guelph Wellington. This organization will work with the OPP and Victims Services Wellington to increase awareness about cyber safety.

Monsieur le Président, rien pour moi, en tant que solliciteur général, n’est plus important que la sécurité de notre province.

Automobile insurance

Mr. Tom Rakocevic: My question is for the Premier. Auto accidents were down by 40% last year compared to 2019, yet premiums keep going up and insurance company profits hit 27.6%. The cost of living in Ontario is unbearable, and drivers continue to be gouged. Auto insurance companies are regulated by this government, so will they do the right thing and return these excess profits back into the pockets of drivers?

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

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Thank you for the question. I’m sure he’s noting my tie and saying it’s very scary. Of course, it’s for Halloween, not for your party.

The member asks an important question about auto insurance rates, and he will remember that through the pandemic, it was this government, working alongside industry and others, that had no changes to premiums in 2020 and very limited changes in 2021, producing over a billion dollars in savings for auto drivers in this province.

I’m sure the member opposite will remember it was this Premier and government that took the licence plate stickers off the drivers—that’s eight million people in the province.

And, of course, this member will remember those tolls that the previous government put on the 412 and 418. They’re off, they’re done, they’re gone.

I’m sure this member has read the budget, where we have a plan for auto insurance. Please take the time to read it.

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

Mr. Tom Rakocevic: This government had an opportunity during the pandemic to give a break to drivers, but instead, the only breaks they gave out were to auto insurance companies that keep making record profits.

Speaker, drivers in GTA communities like mine continue to be ripped off simply because of where they live, compared to other drivers with similar records in different parts of the city. I tabled the bill to end this unfair treatment. Will the government pass it into law immediately?

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy: Mr. Speaker, again, through you to the member opposite: As I referenced in the budget, we have a plan to deal with auto insurance. It’s very clear in there. We’ve got a plan to deal with fairness. We have a plan to deal with choice. We have a plan to attack fraud and abuse in the system. In fact, we have engaged the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario, FSRA, to start collecting the data so we can go after the bad actors, because it’s this government that will have the backs of the drivers and all the good, hard-working people who have to go to and from school and to work every single day, and make sure we have their backs.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): That concludes question period for this morning.

Notices of dissatisfaction

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Pursuant to standing order 36(a), the member for Scarborough Southwest has given notice of her dissatisfaction with the answer to her question given by the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development concerning essential workers. This matter will be debated Tuesday following private members’ public business.

Also, pursuant to standing order 36(a), the member for St. Catharines has given notice of her dissatisfaction with the answer to her question given by the government House leader concerning sexual assault survivors’ kits. This matter will be debated Tuesday following private members’ public business.

Egg Farmers of Ontario

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I understand the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has a point of order.

Hon. Lisa M. Thompson: I do. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

If everyone in the House tomorrow morning would like to get an “egg-cellent” start to your day, I would like to invite everyone to the breakfast that is being hosted tomorrow morning by the Egg Farmers of Ontario. It’s probably one of the best breakfasts of the year, so I hope to see you in the legislative dining room at 7:30.

Deferred Votes

More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 / Loi de 2022 visant à accélérer la construction de plus de logements

Deferred vote on the motion that the question now be put on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 23, An Act to amend various statutes, to revoke various regulations and to enact the Supporting Growth and Housing in York and Durham Regions Act, 2022 / Projet de loi 23, Loi modifiant diverses lois, abrogeant divers règlements et édictant la Loi de 2022 visant à soutenir la croissance et la construction de logements dans les régions de York et de Durham.

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

The division bells rang from 1149 to 1154.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): On October 26, 2022, Mr. Clark moved second reading of Bill 23, An Act to amend various statutes, to revoke various regulations and to enact the Supporting Growth and Housing in York and Durham Regions Act, 2022.

On October 27, 2022, Mr. McGregor moved that the question be now put.

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

Ayes

• Anand, Deepak
• Bailey, Robert
• Barnes, Patrice
• Bethlenfalvy, Peter
• Bouma, Will
• Bresee, Ric
• Byers, Rick
• Calandra, Paul
• Cho, Stan
• Clark, Steve
• Coe, Lorne
• Crawford, Stephen
• Cuzzetto, Rudy
• Dixon, Jess
• Dowie, Andrew
• Downey, Doug
• Dunlop, Jill
• Fedeli, Victor
• Flack, Rob
• Ford, Doug
• Ford, Michael D.
• Fullerton, Merrilee
• Gallagher Murphy, Dawn
• Ghamari, Goldie
• Gill, Parm

• Grewal, Hardeep Singh
• Hardeman, Ernie
• Harris, Mike
• Hogarth, Christine
• Holland, Kevin
• Jones, Trevor
• Jordan, John
• Kanapathi, Logan
• Ke, Vincent
• Kerzner, Michael S.
• Leardi, Anthony
• Lecce, Stephen
• Lumsden, Neil
• MacLeod, Lisa
• Martin, Robin
• McGregor, Graham
• McNaughton, Monte
• Mulroney, Caroline
• Oosterhoff, Sam
• Pang, Billy
• Parsa, Michael
• Piccini, David
• Pierre, Natalie
• Pirie, George
• Quinn, Nolan

• Rae, Matthew
• Rasheed, Kaleed
• Rickford, Greg
• Romano, Ross
• Sabawy, Sheref
• Sandhu, Amarjot
• Sarkaria, Prabmeet Singh
• Sarrazin, Stéphane
• Saunderson, Brian
• Scott, Laurie
• Skelly, Donna
• Smith, Dave
• Smith, David
• Smith, Graydon
• Smith, Laura
• Smith, Todd
• Surma, Kinga
• Tangri, Nina
• Thanigasalam, Vijay
• Thompson, Lisa M.
• Tibollo, Michael A.
• Triantafilopoulos, Effie J.
• Williams, Charmaine A.
• Yakabuski, John

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

Nays

• Andrew, Jill
• Armstrong, Teresa J.
• Begum, Doly
• Bell, Jessica
• Blais, Stephen
• Bourgouin, Guy
• Bowman, Stephanie
• Burch, Jeff
• Collard, Lucille
• Fife, Catherine
• Fraser, John
• French, Jennifer K.

• Gates, Wayne
• Gélinas, France
• Glover, Chris
• Harden, Joel
• Hunter, Mitzie
• Karpoche, Bhutila
• Kernaghan, Terence
• Mamakwa, Sol
• Mantha, Michael
• McMahon, Mary-Margaret
• Pasma, Chandra
• Rakocevic, Tom

• Sattler, Peggy
• Schreiner, Mike
• Shamji, Adil
• Stevens, Jennifer (Jennie)
• Stiles, Marit
• Tabuns, Peter
• Vanthof, John
• Vaugeois, Lise
• West, Jamie
• Wong-Tam, Kristyn

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Todd Decker): The ayes are 74; the nays are 34.

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

Mr. Clark has moved second reading of Bill 23, An Act to amend various statutes, to revoke various regulations and to enact the Supporting Growth and Housing in York and Durham Regions Act, 2022. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? I heard some noes.

All those in favour of the motion will please say “aye.”

All those opposed will please say “nay.”

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

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

The division bells rang from 1159 to 1200.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): On October 26, 2022, Mr. Clark moved second reading of Bill 23, An Act to amend various statutes, to revoke various regulations and to enact the Supporting Growth and Housing in York and Durham Regions Act, 2022.

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

Ayes

• Anand, Deepak
• Bailey, Robert
• Barnes, Patrice
• Bethlenfalvy, Peter
• Bouma, Will
• Bresee, Ric
• Byers, Rick
• Calandra, Paul
• Cho, Stan
• Clark, Steve
• Coe, Lorne
• Crawford, Stephen
• Cuzzetto, Rudy
• Dixon, Jess
• Dowie, Andrew
• Downey, Doug
• Dunlop, Jill
• Fedeli, Victor
• Flack, Rob
• Ford, Doug
• Ford, Michael D.
• Fullerton, Merrilee
• Gallagher Murphy, Dawn
• Ghamari, Goldie
• Gill, Parm

• Grewal, Hardeep Singh
• Hardeman, Ernie
• Harris, Mike
• Hogarth, Christine
• Holland, Kevin
• Jones, Trevor
• Jordan, John
• Kanapathi, Logan
• Ke, Vincent
• Kerzner, Michael S.
• Leardi, Anthony
• Lecce, Stephen
• Lumsden, Neil
• MacLeod, Lisa
• Martin, Robin
• McGregor, Graham
• McNaughton, Monte
• Mulroney, Caroline
• Oosterhoff, Sam
• Pang, Billy
• Parsa, Michael
• Piccini, David
• Pierre, Natalie
• Pirie, George
• Quinn, Nolan

• Rae, Matthew
• Rasheed, Kaleed
• Rickford, Greg
• Romano, Ross
• Sabawy, Sheref
• Sandhu, Amarjot
• Sarkaria, Prabmeet Singh
• Sarrazin, Stéphane
• Saunderson, Brian
• Scott, Laurie
• Skelly, Donna
• Smith, Dave
• Smith, David
• Smith, Graydon
• Smith, Laura
• Smith, Todd
• Surma, Kinga
• Tangri, Nina
• Thanigasalam, Vijay
• Thompson, Lisa M.
• Tibollo, Michael A.
• Triantafilopoulos, Effie J.
• Wai, Daisy
• Williams, Charmaine A.
• 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.

Nays

• Andrew, Jill
• Armstrong, Teresa J.
• Begum, Doly
• Bell, Jessica
• Blais, Stephen
• Bourgouin, Guy
• Bowman, Stephanie
• Burch, Jeff
• Collard, Lucille
• Fife, Catherine
• Fraser, John
• French, Jennifer K.

• Gates, Wayne
• Gélinas, France
• Glover, Chris
• Harden, Joel
• Hunter, Mitzie
• Karpoche, Bhutila
• Kernaghan, Terence
• Mamakwa, Sol
• Mantha, Michael
• McMahon, Mary-Margaret
• Pasma, Chandra
• Rakocevic, Tom

• Sattler, Peggy
• Schreiner, Mike
• Shamji, Adil
• Stevens, Jennifer (Jennie)
• Stiles, Marit
• Tabuns, Peter
• Vanthof, John
• Vaugeois, Lise
• West, Jamie
• Wong-Tam, Kristyn

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Todd Decker): The ayes are 75; the nays are 34.

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? The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Steve Clark: Yes, we would like to refer the bill to the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The minister has referred the bill to the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy.

Jenny Fortin and Andrew Preston

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Sudbury has a point of order.

MPP Jamie West: I would like to take this time to congratulate my amazing CA Jenny and her partner Andrew on the birth of their identical twin girls, Molly and Alice.

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

There being no further business at this time, this House stands in recess until 1 p.m.

The House recessed from 1204 to 1300.

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy

Mr. Hardeep Singh Grewal: I beg leave to present a report from the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy on the estimates selected and not selected by the standing committee for consideration.

The Clerk-at-the-Table (Mr. Christopher Tyrell): Mr. Grewal from the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy presents the committee’s report as follows:

Pursuant to standing order 63, your committee has selected the 2022-23 estimates of the following ministries for consideration: Ministry of Transportation; Ministry of Infrastructure; Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries.

Pursuant to standing order 64(a), the 2022-23 estimates of the following ministry and office not selected for consideration are deemed to be passed by the committee and are reported back to the House:

Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism: 4601, ministry administration, $2,388,200; 4602, Anti-Racism Directorate, $28,068,900; 4603, citizenship and inclusion, $25,837,600; Office of the Lieutenant Governor, 1701, $1,903,500.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Pursuant to standing order 64(b), the report of the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy is deemed to be received and the estimates of the ministry and office named therein as not being selected for consideration by the committee are deemed to be concurred in.

Report deemed received.

Introduction of Government Bills

Keeping Students in Class Act, 2022 / Loi de 2022 visant à garder les élèves en classe

Mr. Lecce moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 28, An Act to resolve labour disputes involving school board employees represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees / Projet de loi 28, Loi visant à résoudre les conflits de travail concernant les employés des conseils scolaires représentés par le Syndicat canadien de la fonction publique.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? I heard some noes.

All those in favour of the motion will please say “aye.”

All those opposed will please say “nay.”

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

Call in the members. This will be a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1303 to 1308.

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

Mr. Lecce has moved that leave be given to introduce a bill entitled An Act to resolve labour disputes involving school board employees represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

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

Ayes

• Anand, Deepak
• Bailey, Robert
• Barnes, Patrice
• Bethlenfalvy, Peter
• Bouma, Will
• Bresee, Ric
• Byers, Rick
• Calandra, Paul
• Cho, Stan
• Clark, Steve
• Coe, Lorne
• Crawford, Stephen
• Cuzzetto, Rudy
• Dixon, Jess
• Dowie, Andrew
• Downey, Doug
• Dunlop, Jill
• Fedeli, Victor
• Flack, Rob
• Ford, Doug
• Ford, Michael D.
• Gallagher Murphy, Dawn
• Ghamari, Goldie
• Gill, Parm

• Grewal, Hardeep Singh
• Hardeman, Ernie
• Harris, Mike
• Hogarth, Christine
• Holland, Kevin
• Jones, Trevor
• Jordan, John
• Kanapathi, Logan
• Ke, Vincent
• Kerzner, Michael S.
• Leardi, Anthony
• Lecce, Stephen
• Lumsden, Neil
• Martin, Robin
• McGregor, Graham
• McNaughton, Monte
• Mulroney, Caroline
• Oosterhoff, Sam
• Pang, Billy
• Piccini, David
• Pierre, Natalie
• Pirie, George
• Quinn, Nolan
• Rae, Matthew

• Rasheed, Kaleed
• Rickford, Greg
• Romano, Ross
• Sabawy, Sheref
• Sandhu, Amarjot
• Sarkaria, Prabmeet Singh
• Sarrazin, Stéphane
• Saunderson, Brian
• Scott, Laurie
• Skelly, Donna
• Smith, Dave
• Smith, David
• Smith, Graydon
• Smith, Todd
• Surma, Kinga
• Tangri, Nina
• Thanigasalam, Vijay
• Thompson, Lisa M.
• Tibollo, Michael A.
• Triantafilopoulos, Effie J.
• Wai, Daisy
• Williams, Charmaine A.
• 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.

Nays

• Andrew, Jill
• Armstrong, Teresa J.
• Begum, Doly
• Bell, Jessica
• Blais, Stephen
• Bourgouin, Guy
• Bowman, Stephanie
• Burch, Jeff
• Collard, Lucille
• Fife, Catherine
• Fraser, John

• French, Jennifer K.
• Gates, Wayne
• Gélinas, France
• Glover, Chris
• Harden, Joel
• Hunter, Mitzie
• Karpoche, Bhutila
• Kernaghan, Terence
• Mamakwa, Sol
• Mantha, Michael
• McMahon, Mary-Margaret

• Pasma, Chandra
• Rakocevic, Tom
• Sattler, Peggy
• Schreiner, Mike
• Stevens, Jennifer (Jennie)
• Stiles, Marit
• Vanthof, John
• Vaugeois, Lise
• West, Jamie
• Wong-Tam, Kristyn

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Todd Decker): The ayes are 71; the nays are 32.

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

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Would the minister care to briefly explain his bill?

Hon. Stephen Lecce: The Keeping Students in Class Act, 2022, would, if passed, keep kids learning in school without disruption, critical to catching up on their studies, along with supporting their mental and physical health.

This legislation will prohibit strikes and lockouts during the term of operation of the collective agreement and require termination of any strikes already under way, following over two years of learning loss.

This legislation would, if passed, ensure students remain in class with a refocus on learning, catching up on extracurricular activities and quality education.

This legislation will protect the interests of two million children, their working parents and the communities that depend on equitable access to nutrition, mental health supports, developmental services and, quite simply, access to a safe place. It is for them, Speaker—it is for all students—that we are acting to keep kids in class.

Interjections.

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

Introduction of government bills? Introduction of bills? Statements by the ministry? Motions? I recognize the government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Speaker, I’m seeking unanimous consent that, notwithstanding any standing order or special order of the House, the House continue to meet tomorrow, Tuesday, November 1, 2022, beyond the ordinary hour of adjournment until midnight.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The government House leader is seeking the unanimous consent of the House that, notwithstanding any standing order or special order of the House, the House continue to meet tomorrow, Tuesday, November 1, 2022, beyond the ordinary hour of adjournment until midnight. Agreed? I heard a no.

Government House leader?

Hon. Paul Calandra: Speaker, I am seeking unanimous consent that, notwithstanding any standing order or special order of the House, tomorrow, Tuesday, November 1, 2022, the House shall meet at 5 a.m. for orders of the day.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The government House leader is seeking the unanimous consent of the House that, notwithstanding any standing order or special order of the House, that tomorrow, Tuesday, November 1, 2022, the House shall meet at 5 a.m. for orders of the day. Agreed? I heard some noes.

The government House leader?

Hon. Paul Calandra: I’m certainly disappointed by that. But on a point of order, Mr. Speaker: In order to pass the legislation introduced by the Minister of Education moments ago as quickly as possible to address the urgent need to keep kids in class, I am informing the House and all members that as soon as the House adjourns today, the government intends to file an order in council recalling the House at 5 a.m. tomorrow morning, Tuesday, November 1, 2022.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you for the information.

Motions

House sittings / Heures de séance

Hon. Paul Calandra: I move that the meeting schedule of the House for Tuesday, November 1, 2022, as set out in standing order 9(a),be revised by substituting 1 p.m. for 3 p.m.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The government House leader has moved that the meeting schedule of the House for Tuesday, November 1, 2022, as set out in standing order 9(a), be revised by substituting 1 p.m. for 3 p.m.

The member for London West.

Ms. Peggy Sattler: I would like to rise and provide some comment on the motion that is before us to begin the House tomorrow at 1 p.m. rather than 3 p.m. And clearly, this is all part of the government’s plan to ram through this legislation, to prohibit strikes and lockouts by education workers represented by CUPE, and to impose a collective agreement on those workers.

Speaker, we are completely opposed on principle and in substance to the government’s attempts to use the time of this House to try to force CUPE workers to accept a collective agreement that has not been bargained at the bargaining table. I would respectfully suggest to the government that their time would be much better spent sitting down at the bargaining table and trying to hammer out a fair deal with education workers.

We’ve heard the Minister of Education talk about using every tool at their disposal. This is not using the tools that are available to the government when they are negotiating with education workers, and, in particular, the education workers who are the lowest-paid workers in our public education system. They are the educational assistants, the early childhood educators, the custodians, the school secretaries, whose role is absolutely vital to the safe functioning of a school and to the success of the students who go there.

We heard the minister this morning talk about the government’s plan to catch up, and all of us, I think, have received feedback from parents in our communities that the $365 million that the government is spending on these catch-up payments to parents is being easily seen by parents as nothing more than a bribe. It’s just an attempt to try to get the government to ignore the fact that they are not—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order. The member for London West has the floor.

Ms. Peggy Sattler: It’s a thinly veiled attempt by the government to try to distract parents from their failure to actually sit down with education workers—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m going to ask the member for London West to withdraw the unparliamentary remark.

Ms. Peggy Sattler: I withdraw.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): You have the floor.

Ms. Peggy Sattler: Thank you very much, Speaker.

I am not the only member in this House who remembers Bill 115. I’m sure that the Liberals at the end of the row here certainly remember those dark times of Bill 115. I know my colleague the member for Waterloo remembers Bill 115. We were trustees at the time. The member for Waterloo was the president of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association. Bill 115 was really what got us mobilized to enter into politics. It was a terrible time in public education. The morale of education workers was lower than it had ever been. The frustration of parents was higher than it had ever been. And it was students who were losing out because of the then government’s failure to sit down with education unions and negotiate fair collective agreements that reflected the value that those education workers provide in our education system.

1320

The mistakes of the Liberal government in imposing Bill 115 were rightfully challenged by education workers, education unions, and the courts have upheld those challenges. We know that the government has, so far, had to pay out $210 million as a remedy for taking that unconstitutional action and imposing collective agreements with Bill 115.

And yet, here we see the government is prepared to make almost exactly the same mistakes. They’re spending $365 million in these catch-up payments that will offer parents $200 per student—$250 if a student has special-education needs—to, what the government says, allow that student to catch up. But we know, parents know, that’s not going to make a drop in the bucket.

What will really help students catch up, what will really help students who are struggling with the learning loss and the disruption over more than two years of the pandemic is having more education assistants in our classrooms; it’s having more custodians who are keeping schools safe and clean; it’s having those school secretaries, who are really the backbone of the school system, who are there to help students who need to go home when parents come to pick them up early—they really are the traffic managers of the school system. All those workers deserve to be fairly compensated. They deserve to have their work valued to the extent that it should be.

The experience that we’ve gone through with COVID has, if anything, heightened our awareness of the importance of education workers in our system. We know that kids’ mental health needs have increased to a point that we haven’t seen before because of the disruptions over the last year. We know that kids are struggling both academically and also socially and developmentally because of the experience of the last two years.

What we do not need for kids when they’re in our system is education workers who feel completely demoralized, devalued, beaten down and tossed to the curb by this government, by its planned legislation to move forward as quickly as possible to prohibit any strikes or lockouts and to impose a collective agreement.

This government is saying, “The cupboard is bare. We have no money to settle with education workers and come up with a fair deal for those workers.” And yet, as I mentioned, they have the $365 million in catch-up payments that won’t do a thing to help kids catch up. They have the $210 million that they’ve already spent on remedies in response to the Liberals’ Bill 115. And as the Financial Accountability Officer showed us, there’s $44 billion in unallocated contingency funds that are available to this government over the next six years, on top of a $25-billion surplus.

Parents in Ontario, education workers in Ontario know that the cupboard, in fact, is not bare, that this government has the resources available to sit down and hammer out a fair deal with education workers that reflects the value that they provide in the system.

I am deeply disappointed that the government wants to bring us back at 1 o’clock tomorrow so that they can have more time on the legislative agenda to deal with the legislation that is before us.

This is not legislation that we should be considering in this place. The government should instead be focusing its efforts, its resources—everything, all the tools that it has available—to sit down with education workers and hammer out a fair collective agreement that recognizes the importance of those workers in our system.

With that, Speaker, I will conclude my remarks.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Further debate?

Mr. John Fraser: I guess it’s Halloween, because we got the trick—not much of a treat for the thousands of education workers across this province, mostly women, who, not to use a Christmas analogy, are going to get a lump of coal in their stocking.

Look, there are three things we need to remember about what’s going on right now. This bill smells a lot like Bill 124. What’s Bill 124? It’s a bill that restricts the rights and wages of nurses and front-line health care workers who are mostly women. I think we can all agree on that. What’s the government doing right now? The government is restricting the wages and the bargaining rights of another group of workers who are mostly women. I dare anyone in this House to tell me where they’ve done that—this government—in a group that’s dominated, mostly, by men. Think about it.

So why is this government building a surplus on the backs of women? Why is this government doing that? That’s exactly what they’re doing here. That’s exactly what’s happening.

Let’s talk about who these workers are. They’re custodians. They’re EAs. They are early childhood educators. Actually, they’re administrators. My mother-in-law used to be what they used to call a school secretary; they call it an administrator now. She was that for 25 years. She got paid crap. But do you know what? That school would not have functioned without her. It wouldn’t have worked.

Across this province, there are thousands and thousands of women and men who do that every day, the lowest-paid workers. It sounds like you guys are trying to use them as an example for the rest of them. Good job, Premier; good job. Good message for—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’ll remind the members to make their comments through the Chair. The member for Ottawa South has the floor.

Mr. John Fraser: I apologize, Speaker, for that, but it’s frustrating. It’s frustrating when this government is talking about being supportive of the little guy, when they put the screws to them, when they put the bolts to them, when they restrict their ability to bargain and they restrict their wages, and they try to make it seem like it’s not a big deal. They’ll just ram it through—honestly.

These workers are critical to safe and welcoming schools. We all know that. And they’re the lowest paid—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The government side, come to order.

Mr. John Fraser: And you’re restricting their rights to bargain and restricting their rights to a fair wage.

The Premier has said many times, “These are front-line heroes. They’re the greatest. They’re the most wonderful, folks. I love them. They love me.” That’s what he says. But if they’re that important, if they’re that essential, then why doesn’t the government treat them as essential workers? If they’re that essential and that important, why don’t they pay them like essential workers? And if they’re that essential and important, why don’t they actually do what we do in health care, which is to create a framework for fair bargaining while we keep schools open? I don’t think that’s a tough one. If you’re going to say they’re essential, then treat them like they’re essential.

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All this spin and scary stuff on Halloween—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m going to interrupt to remind all the members of the House that we’re actually debating a motion to revise the schedule for tomorrow starting at 3 p.m.—we’ll start at 1 p.m. I’ll ask the members to keep that in mind as they offer their comments on the motion.

The member for Ottawa South.

Mr. John Fraser: Thank you, Speaker. I’m getting to it. I apologize.

We’re in a rush to do this; we shouldn’t be. The government has created an emergency where there didn’t need to be one. There are still bargaining days left.

I’m going to give you a tip, a really important history lesson, so I hope you’re listening: Learn from Bill 115. Learn from our mistakes; don’t keep making them.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members will please take their seats. Order. Stop the clock.

The member for Ottawa South has the floor.

Mr. John Fraser: Thank you, Speaker.

Interjections.

Mr. John Fraser: You’re laughing, but you’re not learning.

It’s not just about the rights and the bargaining; it’s about trust. The most important thing that I saw wrong with Bill 115 was the break of trust of people we depended on for our kids and people we had worked with so well for nine years. You’ve got to learn those lessons. These workers are important to our children, and we shouldn’t be rushing through a bill.

I’ll say one last thing specifically about having a 5 a.m. sitting. Tonight is Halloween. You’ve got lots of families here. You don’t need to do this. It’s all for show. So I would suggest that if you want to put something forward to get this bill through, do it in a way that works to work-life balance, that respects the fact that families are going to be having to do the things they do tonight. It’s not just us, folks; it’s the people at the table, it’s the people in this building. Think about that. You don’t need to do it. It’s all for show.

Speaker, that’s all I have to say.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’ll recognize the member for Waterloo next.

Ms. Catherine Fife: It is very interesting for me to hear the remorse and the regret from the Liberals over Bill 115. Of course, I am here because of Bill 115. Just in case some of you don’t remember this: When Elizabeth Witmer resigned her seat here in the Legislature, she went off to WSIB. This opened up a seat here. The Liberals were trying to look like Conservatives to win the riding of Waterloo, so they brought in Bill 115, the hammer, and bypassed the collective bargaining process. Of course, we know what happened with Bill 115—at least, we should know, because history should inform our future actions. What happened was that this piece of legislation ended up in court, and the people of the province paid for that hubris that the Liberal Party exhibited during that time.

But I do appreciate the context from the member, as well, and I think that he actually, in a genuine sense, reached across the aisle and said, “Learn from our mistakes.” When you undermine the collective bargaining process—because collective bargaining was not brought forward or won by the people in this House; it was won by the people of this province. And you can pretend that your interest is really with the students, but we have a lot of evidence that counters that narrative.

I want to just start with the money, because the money tells the story of the real priorities of a government. What we have seen over the last 4.5 years is that the government has been very circumspect about the money that they invest and that they don’t invest. We actually have a budget officer here for the Legislature who is non-partisan and who has been able to tell the people of this province that the money actually is there, as is the programming shortfall, including a $6-billion shortfall in education. When I look at the numbers—and this is directly from the FAO—the government will be sitting on a $44-billion, historically high unallocated contingency fund. The FAO, to his credit, last week said it’s “prudent”—that’s the finance minister; that was your language, you want to be prudent. One billion dollars in a contingency fund is reasonable, especially with some potential economic instability; $8 billion a year in an unallocated contingency fund is not.

What I’m saying to the Speaker—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Once again, we’re debating a motion. It’s not second reading of the bill. It’s a motion to have us sit tomorrow starting at 1 o’clock, when we otherwise would start at 3 p.m.

Member for Waterloo.

Ms. Catherine Fife: I was just getting to that point, around priorities and around time. The minister has not spent a lot of time at the bargaining table on this. And where you put your time and where you put your energy and where you invest or don’t invest tells the people of this province a lot about those priorities. The reason we’re not in favour of this motion to fast-track the so-called Keeping Students in Class Act—which actually should be called “back to court”—I’m thinking about what the Premier said in June 2019, when he promised to restore trust and accountability and transparency. Yet the transparency is not there.

He also wrote those mandate letters. We’ve never seen those mandate letters. I have to tell you, the mandate letters are of great interest, because in those mandate letters is there an indication that this Minister of Education has to fast-track a piece of legislation like this through this Legislature? Why is that the priority, to fast-track this piece of legislation? Is it in the mandate letters? You know what? We don’t know, because even when the privacy commissioner told the Premier to release the mandate letters, he appealed to the Divisional Court. When the Divisional Court told you to release the mandate letters, you went to the Ontario Court of Appeal. When the Court of Appeal told you the same thing, you appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada, where it is now, four years later.

What is the true—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m allowing some latitude because of the importance of the issue, but at the same time, we are debating a motion to change the time upon which we will resume sitting tomorrow, whether or not we’ll resume at 1 o’clock. I remind the members of that.

The member for Waterloo has the floor.

Ms. Catherine Fife: It is true that we’re debating this motion, Mr. Speaker, but I’m trying to get to the motivation of the motion, why the government is fast-tracking a piece of legislation like this and disrupting a lot of the work that we already had planned for the House, including a very important motion on doubling ODSP rates and addressing the legislated poverty that exists in the province of Ontario.

I do want to say, the people who are directly impacted by this legislation—the educational assistants, the ECEs, the secretaries, the child and youth workers, the hall monitors who keep our schools safe—want to hear us clearly articulate to them why this motion is trumping everything else.

At the end of the day, they have a majority. They will trample over the collective bargaining rights unless we try to appeal to them that the mistakes of the former Liberal Party back in 2012—actually they’re still the Liberal Party, but not recognized because, you remember, the House leader removed your party status. These are issues that I think the people of this province deserve to have some clarity on. And I know the government doesn’t want that. I’m sure that it’s very uncomfortable for them to be going down this road, especially over some of the things that they said about Bill 115, which will be interesting in the broader debate.

This, ultimately, is a failure to follow through on the main goal of the Minister of Education, which is to ensure that the very people who are doing the work in our schools, the very people who are keeping our students safe and who are nurturing them and who are really strengthening the public education system—it is very clear to us that whatever happened at that bargaining table was definitely not done in good faith. You need to get back to the table, get the job done, invest in public education so we don’t have to come back at 1 o’clock tomorrow or 5 o’clock in the morning and fast-track a piece of legislation which—you will lose this case again in the courts. Thank goodness for the courts.

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The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Next, I’m going to recognize the member for Guelph.

Mr. Mike Schreiner: I rise to speak against this motion, which is designed to fast-track a bill that is fiscally irresponsible, that doesn’t work for workers and doesn’t work for students.

Speaker, the reason I’m opposed to this motion to fast-track a bill that doesn’t work for students is because if the government really wanted to work for students and put students and families first, they would be spending the time that we’re spending in the House right now, and that we’ll spend tomorrow, actually negotiating with workers, negotiating a fair deal.

Quite frankly, what the government has offered, especially to some of the lowest-paid education workers in this province, is unfair. To offer them a 30-to-50-cent-per-hour increase when many of these workers work for less than $40,000 a year—Speaker, I think it’s pretty reasonable at a time when we’re experiencing the kind of inflation we’re experiencing for them to request a $3-an-hour wage increase. So I would encourage the government, if they’re going to work for workers, to actually sit down and bargain with workers rather than fast-tracking this legislation.

The reason I think it’s inappropriate to fast-track legislation that’s fiscally irresponsible is because we’ve seen in the past—and the Liberals here just apologized for Bill 115—that these kinds of bills that violate bargaining rights end up costing taxpayers more in the long run. That’s why we shouldn’t be fast-tracking this bill with this motion.

Mr. Speaker, my message to the government is, if you want to address the worker shortages we’re seeing in the education sector, then pay workers a fair wage. Don’t fast-track this bill; actually go back to the table and bargain in a fair and responsible way that puts students and families first.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Next, I’ll recognize the member for Davenport.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Mr. Speaker, it’s always a privilege to stand in this place, but I’ll tell you, I wish we were here today talking about something very different. Unfortunately, in this moment, what we are doing, for anybody watching, is we’re debating a motion that this government has put forward to fast-track a deeply anti-democratic, anti-worker and ultimately anti-student bill, legislation, in this place, using all the tools at their disposal on the legislative front, when the government, the members opposite, could be using this time at the bargaining table, actually negotiating a deal, as government should do, with the workers they employ. But no, this is what this government wants to spend their time on. They want to talk about moving legislation through faster again, once again to take away the democratic rights of working people to negotiate the terms and conditions of their work.

They could be at the table. In fact, I would imagine that CUPE right now is probably down at the Sheraton, like they have been for months, with their sleeves rolled up, waiting for this minister to show up one day, but nothing. Instead—and I think what’s really interesting, Mr. Speaker, is that it’s pretty clear that this government has had this legislation cued up for some time. We saw it months and months ago when this government—instead of actually talking about negotiations and sitting down at the bargaining table, this minister and this government decided to threaten those workers, right off the bat, with back-to-work legislation. They’ve been talking about it for months and months and months. Why? Why such a rush? What’s the big rush?

Well, Mr. Speaker, I can tell you why I think they’re rushing through this fast-tracking motion: because this minister and this government want to distract. They want to distract from what’s actually happening in our classrooms. They want to distract from other news, like the fact that this Premier won’t show up at the commission in Ottawa. They want to distract as much as possible. They want to distract from the fact—and I want to remind this government again, because parents in this province will not forget: This government shut down schools for 27 weeks, the worst record in Canada and in most of the world—absolutely terrible—and that could have been avoided, that 100% could have been avoided.

They want to rush this legislation through because they want to distract from the fact that they have squirrelled away billions of dollars that should have been spent in classrooms—$6 billion—that this government chose to sit on, instead of spending it on public education. I want to say that it’s our kids, our students that paid the price for that.

I was in Barrie last week and somebody pulled me aside and said, “Do you know what? I’ve got a kid in kindergarten in a class of 40 kids. Thank you. Thank you for standing up for us.” This government could have reduced class sizes in the middle of that pandemic, and they chose not to. Instead, they were using that opportunity to set the table, let’s say, to undermine workers’ rights, every second of every day. That is what this government wants to do—55,000 education workers in this province—

Interjection.

Ms. Marit Stiles: It is a lot. You’re right.

And do you know what they do? They’re ECEs. They’re educational assistants. They’re the custodians that keep our schools clean. These are the people in our schools who make $39,000 and less, and all they are asking for is a nickel an hour more—a nickel. And will this government give it to them? No, they won’t.

Interjection: No, that’s what they’re offering; they’re only offering a nickel—

Ms. Marit Stiles: Oh, that’s what they’re offering.

Interjection: They don’t want that.

Ms. Marit Stiles: You’re right. I got that wrong. I’m sorry. You can’t even give them more than that. It’s outrageous—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order. The government side, come to order.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Here’s the facts—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. The government side, come to order. Order.

Start the clock: The member for Davenport has the floor.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Here’s a fact for you: Half of those workers have to have a second job to survive. Many of them are going to food banks to feed their families. And this is a government that’s going to take away their basic right to strike, their right to negotiate a fair wage increase?

This is a government that likes to talk about working people, Mr. Speaker. But I’ve got news for you: Education workers are working people. Education workers are parents. Parents are working people. And the facts are facts: You are legislating away their collective bargaining rights, and you’re doing it to distract from the significant cuts and undermining of our public education system under this government.

I want to talk for a minute about why I’m so deeply concerned with the fast-tracking of this legislation, because I think we need to talk about what the real costs of this bill are going to mean. Not only is it going to undermine labour peace—I think that goes without saying—and alienate the entire education community, not just the 55,000 workers impacted directly by this legislation, but undermining the morale of education workers all across this province, including teachers and others, and all of that when we’ve already seen how this pandemic impacted our communities, our classrooms, families—all of this is going to impact students.

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As New Democrats, we are very focused on what’s going to work for students in classrooms, and we are very focused on how to improve the quality of life for the people who work in those classrooms. I’ll tell you why that matters in the big picture, Mr. Speaker, and why, again, it’s so problematic that this government would want to rush through this legislation. It’s because the early childhood educators, the educational assistants, the administrators, the custodians, the people who care for and nurture our children in our classrooms, the people who keep our schools clean—all of those people deserve our respect, and if we do not respect them and this government fails to pay them a living wage and respect their basic democratic rights, they’re going to leave. That’s what’s already happening. The same crisis that we have seen in our health care system, which is causing emergency rooms to shut down, which is causing a crisis in communities across this province, is hitting our education sector too. There are not going to be educational assistants to support our students with special needs.

We are already in a crisis in terms of early childhood educators. The average number of years that an early childhood educator works in early childhood education? Guess. Three years. Why? Because they’re underappreciated, they’re given no respect by this government, and they’re paid too little.

There’s a fix. It’s simple. You’ve got to show people a bit of respect. That starts with treating them like a union that has the rights of every other union—democratic rights to collective bargaining.

But this government continues to show deep disrespect. Rushing this legislation through means that those folks are not going to have a chance to sit down at a committee and talk about the issues that they have with this legislation. It means that at 5 in the morning, we’re going to be debating this when a lot of people who care about this legislation are going to be getting up and trying to get their kids to school, getting themselves ready to work. So I don’t understand why—

Interjection.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Did somebody say, “Why would you be getting up at 5 a.m. to get your kids to school?” Oh, let me tell you. News flash: A lot of people and a lot of people in jobs like this have to travel a really long way and drop their kids at daycare and figure out all kinds of complicated arrangements. And, as I mentioned before, they actually have to work more than one job—half of them—in order to be able to do the job they really love, which is the one that involves nurturing and caring for our children. So they’re not going to be able to watch the discussions and the debate, because this government is going to be in such a rush to take away their collective bargaining rights.

This government is going to rush this legislation through—

Interjection.

Ms. Marit Stiles: They’re going to—and I heard the members over here heckling me again, from the Conservative side, saying, “Oh, it’s just to keep the kids in school.” Really? I’m fascinated by that argument. Where were they when kids in this province were out of school for 27 weeks—the worst record in Canada, one of the worst records in the world.

The solutions—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m going to have to ask the member to take her seat. I’m going to ask the House to come to order.

I’m going to remind the House that we’re debating a motion with respect to the sitting time for tomorrow, and I’ll ask the members to confine their remarks to that.

The member for Davenport has the floor.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that.

As I was saying, this really is about transparency and accountability and rushing through legislation that’s really important.

As my colleague said, what are you rushing it through for? It’s probably going to get overturned in the courts. The Liberals learned that lesson the hard way. The people of this province paid for it. This is where this government is headed once again.

I am asking the government to reconsider this. Here in the NDP official opposition we are asking the government to reconsider this.

I’ve got to tell you, Mr. Speaker, the other thing I’ve been hearing a lot—and I’m not kidding when I say I go to events and stuff and people say, “Thank you. Thank you, MPP, thank you to the NDP caucus for standing up for our kids. Thank you for being the only ones who stood up and asked this government to reduce class sizes, to invest in classrooms.” They say, “Please, our classrooms need more educational assistants, not fewer. We need smaller class sizes. We need more supports.”

This government is going to rush through legislation to deny those very workers their collective bargaining rights, to prevent them from being able to negotiate a fair wage increase at a time when we’re already losing those workers. We’re losing those workers every single day. We are in a crisis. Even if this government wanted to hire more than two educational assistants for a school, like it is in many schools in this province, to support all those kids who need that support, even if they wanted to hire more than that, they won’t be able to soon because nobody is going to want to work in this field.

The people who are educational assistants, and I think—I look to my colleague here, who has been a teacher. When you talk to the people who have actually been teachers in our caucus and around this province, they will tell you how absolutely essential it is, the work that educational assistants do. The educational assistants I meet will tell you that they do it because they love the kids, because they know how important the work is and how much those children need them. But if it also means that they have to juggle three jobs to keep doing that work, which is the reality of many educational assistants across this province, at some point, things break. Those are the voices that need and deserve to be heard in committees. It’s those workers who want to be able to sit here and listen to this debate of this legislation and who this government is going to exclude by fast-tracking the legislation. It’s deeply anti-democratic.

And I don’t know why I’m surprised. I’m not surprised, because this government, from day one, like the Liberal government before them, frankly, and the Conservative government before that, have been doing away with any ability of the opposition to provide opportunity for light to be shone on legislation, for us to have proper debate and accountability around legislation in this place. They’ve done everything they could to weaken that role.

I don’t know about you, Mr. Speaker, but I know many of them were elected, like I was, as a member of the opposition first. And I would think they would understand how important it is to have an opportunity for all voices to be heard but particularly the voices of the people who are most often forgotten, the people on the margins of our system but who really keep everything going. When I think of the educational system, it’s these workers—these CUPE workers, these educational workers—who are the backbone of that system.

The Minister of Education may stand up here and talk about how this is all about keeping kids in school. Do you know what this is about? This is about holding down the wages and benefits of the lowest-paid workers in our education system. And what this is going to do is drive down the quality of public education, and it’s going to mean that more and more of those education workers can no longer afford to work in that system. We saw that happen south of the border. We saw that happen for decades south of the border, and do you know what ended up happening, Mr. Speaker? It resulted in governments bringing in other solutions: private options, charter schools, voucher systems—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I am going to remind the member that we’re debating a motion with respect to the sitting time of the House tomorrow, and I’d ask her to confine her remarks to that.

The member for Davenport.

Ms. Marit Stiles: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I was saying, this legislation, the fact that this government wants to speed it through with this fast-tracking motion means that important discussions, like the point I’m making about how this back-to-work legislation will ultimately degrade public education and lead to further privatization of education in our province—I mean, this is where this is headed. This is what this has always been about for this government. It’s time that they got back to the bargaining table, that they rolled up their sleeves and did what any responsible government would do—any responsible employer. Get back to the bargaining table, roll up your sleeves and negotiate a fair deal.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I’m going to have a seat.

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The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Scarborough–Guildwood.

Ms. Mitzie Hunter: I rise today to speak to this motion, and as I reflect on the government’s haste to start debate at 5 a.m., in the wee hours, and coming back from the break that we normally have to meet as caucuses, this seems like a movie I’ve seen before. It’s kind of like a horror movie. It’s October 31, 2022, and it really feels like a horror movie to me.

It feels like a time when I was here all night—1 a.m., 2 a.m., 3 a.m.—and I felt the walls of this place shake, because people were pounding against the wall, trying to get the attention of this Premier and his government about the use of the “notwithstanding” clause to divide the city of Toronto’s council in half. People felt that this was diminishing Canada’s democracy and that we ought not do it. They were fighting all night long. I was here. I went out to say hello and to welcome them to their Legislature.

And yet, Speaker, this government has not resorted to using the “notwithstanding” clause that one time, learning its lesson and leaving it alone; they decided to use it again. And now, they have put legislation before this honourable House to resort once again to the use of the “notwithstanding” clause.

Every time a provincial government uses this clause, it weakens Canada’s democracy. Why is it that this Ford government cannot do its work—its basic work—without resorting to the use of that hammer? Why is it?

At this point, Speaker, we are talking about negotiating a collective agreement with our education workers. That is what we’re talking about. Yet instead of doing its job, instead of going before the negotiating table in free and fair bargaining, this government decides to produce sweeping legislation that denies the constitutional rights to free and fair collective bargaining of 55,000 education workers, the majority of whom are women, the majority of whom are part-time workers and the majority of whom earn an average of $39,000 a year—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Again, I’ll remind members that we’re debating a motion with respect to the sitting times of the House tomorrow. That’s the motion. It’s not second reading of the bill.

The member for Scarborough–Guildwood.

Ms. Mitzie Hunter: What necessitates that adjustment in speaking time? What necessitates bringing this House back at 5 a.m. to debate this draconian legislation—I would say this cowardly legislation—that the government is putting forward to take away the bargaining rights of those workers?

This is leading not to a solution for parents in our education system; this is leading to more chaos and more confusion, because other education labour unions have cancelled their bargaining dates as a result of this legislation that tramples on the collective bargaining rights of these education workers. What is the government trying to solve, Speaker? They promised parents and students that they would not lose instructional days. This is not the solution. The solution is to stay at the bargaining table. That’s where they should be right now. That’s where they should be tomorrow, November 1, meeting with the mediator as was previously scheduled. But instead, they’ve brought us all here, requiring us to be here tomorrow morning at 5 a.m. and, as the motion requests, earlier in the afternoon, so that they could ram through their legislation that takes away the bargaining ability—it says it in the actual text of the legislation. It takes away the bargaining ability of these workers. And that is a disgrace.

Speaker, that is not the purpose of this Legislature. That is not the purpose of each and every member that is sitting here representing—I represent 111,000 people in my constituency of Scarborough–Guildwood; many of them are students, many of them are parents, and they do not expect that their education workers should be treated in this fashion. The people who create a school environment that is safe and healthy for our children and for our students deserve more respect than what this government is proposing in this legislation and with this motion that they are asking us to consider.

The government House leader said to the prior motion that he sought unanimous consent on and that we said no to, that he’s going to go and get an order in council—an OIC, Speaker, at a time when they should be meeting as a cabinet to say, “How do we bargain with our labour unions in education to settle these deals at the table and keep our schools open and working for each and every person?”

This legislation does not do that, Speaker. This legislation breaks trust, this legislation diminishes our democracy and this legislation denies these workers the opportunity to collectively bargain, which they are constitutionally given the right to do. Our Legislature should not be doing this. We should not be upholding this type of consistent behaviour from the Ford government.

So the Keeping Students in Class Act is just a title, because with the disruption that this government is going to bring on the education system, it’s going to create more chaos, not less. And it’s going to put our students at risk of their instructional days, not stability. This is a beginning; I am certain it is not the end of this conversation with these labour unions.

Speaker, we are here to be a voice on behalf of our constituents. We are here to hold the government to account. Just because you have the power to do something does not mean that you should be doing it. Instead, I would urge the Premier to accept the commission’s invitation and go before the commission and answer a few questions. Why is the Premier—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Government side will come to order.

I am going to remind the members, all the members, that we’re debating a motion with regard to the hours of sitting tomorrow and the members should confine their remarks to the actual motion itself.

Member for Scarborough–Guildwood has the floor.

Ms. Mitzie Hunter: My point simply is, just because you have the power and a majority does not mean that you are above legislation, above the Constitution, above the law. We are all subject to it, Speaker. That is what a democracy that we all agree to and sign onto is about. And these labour unions deserve to bargain freely. That is their constitutional right, and we ought not to be imposing legislation on them pre-emptively, which this government is attempting to do. I’m just here saying democracy is important, it has value, it is fragile, and let us not diminish it in the work that we do as legislators in this chamber.

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The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Further debate on the motion with respect to the sitting times for tomorrow in this House? The member for Sudbury.

MPP Jamie West: Thank you for the reminder, Speaker.

I’m going to try to be brief, because I know there are many of my colleagues who want to speak to this as well. We are talking about changing the schedule, but we’re talking about changing the schedule to 5 a.m. and sitting early—3 p.m. to 1 p.m.—so that the Conservative government can rush through legislation to attack the most vulnerable and lowest-paid workers in the education sector. This is cruel, and this is heartless.

Today during question period, I talked about Charity. I reminded this Premier that I spoke about Charity in August, and today again I spoke about Charity and the fact that she works full-time and goes to food banks to feed her kids. Essentially, the minister and the Premier are her employer, and they are comfortable—the Minister of Education, the Minister of Labour, the Premier of the Conservative Party are comfortable that their employees have to go to food banks to feed their kids. And, Speaker, they have the audacity to say this is about taking care of children. The Minister of Education said “equitable access to nutrition.”

I want to tell you, Speaker, I’ve talked about growing up below the poverty line, growing up poor. My back-to-school clothes for every year of my life until I was 16 were from the Salvation Army. You could collect clothing, and you paid 25 cents for a bag. They wouldn’t charge 25 cents to my mom, because we were that poor.

There are people in this province who are living in deep, deep poverty, and this Conservative government gave a standing ovation when they attacked these workers. It is disgraceful. And asking us to come back so you can attack them earlier, so you can hit them earlier, kick them while they’re down, is disgraceful.

I promised earlier I was going to be short, but I want to circle back to Charity, who messaged me after the question. She said, “I am terrified. I already have to go to food banks. What’s going to happen next when they do this? My kids tonight will be going trick-or-treating in the same Halloween costumes as last year because I can’t afford new ones.”

This is an embarrassment for the party, and I hope that all workers remember this.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Nickel Belt.

M^me France Gélinas: Merci, monsieur le Président. Je dois vous dire que je ne suis pas trop heureuse cet après-midi d’avoir à parler de cette motion qui parle de changer l’heure du début de la journée parlementaire demain, où l’on reviendrait à 13 h plutôt que de revenir à 15 h.

Pourquoi est-ce qu’on fait ça? On fait ça parce que le gouvernement a mis de l’avant un projet de loi qui empêche les travailleuses de l’éducation, qui font à peine quelques dollars de plus que le salaire minimum—on veut leur enlever le droit d’aller en grève, un droit pour lequel tous les travailleurs et travailleuses de l’Ontario ont travaillé très fort. Quand il y a un conflit, la travailleuse n’a pas beaucoup de choix. Le seul choix qu’elle a, c’est d’enlever ses efforts, d’enlever son travail. Ce droit-là, le gouvernement veut le leur enlever.

Plutôt que de demander aux gens de venir ici à 5 h demain matin, plutôt que de demander aux députés de revenir ici, pourquoi ne pas utiliser ce temps-là pour s’asseoir avec les représentants syndicaux de ces femmes-là pour voir comment on fait pour s’assurer que les emplois des travailleuses, qui font deux, trois, ou, si elles sont chanceuses, quatre dollars de l’heure de plus que le salaire minimum—pourquoi ne pas prendre le temps de leur demander comment on fait de ces jobs-là de bons emplois, de bons emplois où une éducatrice de la petite enfance, une adjointe à l’enseignement et celles qui font l’entretien ménager ont un emploi permanent qui leur permet de payer le loyer puis de nourrir leurs enfants? Elles ne demandent pas de faire des millions, ces femmes-là. Elles demandent d’avoir assez d’argent pour payer le loyer puis nourrir leurs enfants. C’est tout ce qu’elles demandent. Pourquoi est-ce que le gouvernement n’est pas capable de s’asseoir avec elles, de les écouter et de les respecter?

Ces femmes ont vécu deux ans et demi de pandémie. Ces femmes ont vécu le projet de loi 124, qui limitait—puis là, encore une fois, le gouvernement va passer une loi contre ces femmes-là, ces femmes qui font deux, trois, quatre dollars de l’heure de plus que le salaire minimum.

Mais ces femmes-là font toute la différence dans les vies de nos enfants : les enfants qui, pour une raison ou pour une autre, ont besoin d’un petit peu d’appui; les enfants qui vivent des moments difficiles, qui ont besoin d’être entourés; les enfants qui veulent apprendre et ont des besoins spéciaux. C’est ces travailleurs-là qui font que ces enfants ont l’opportunité d’avoir du succès dans la vie.

C’est ce qui fait de notre système d’éducation—pourquoi est-ce qu’on en est fier? Pourquoi est-ce que, en Ontario, on est connu pour notre éducation? C’est parce qu’on a des travailleurs comme ça dans nos écoles. C’est sûr que nos professeurs—

Interjections.

M^me France Gélinas: Oui, oui. C’est sûr que nos professeurs sont importants—puis je leur enlève rien, là. Il y a plusieurs professeurs dans ma famille. Ils travaillent très fort. Mais ils le savent très bien, que s’ils veulent que chacun et chacune des enfants qui sont là devant eux aient une chance de succès, il faut que les travailleuses de la petite enfance soient là. Il faut que les adjointes soient là. Il faut que l’école soit bien entretenue. Puis ça, ça veut dire que le gouvernement doit s’asseoir avec ces travailleuses puis négocier une convention collective qui a du bon sens.

De nous forcer à revenir ici pour enlever des droits à ces femmes-là me brise le coeur, monsieur le Président. On ne devrait pas avoir à revenir ici à 13 h demain. On ne devrait pas avoir à revenir ici à 5 h demain matin. On devrait plutôt voir notre ministre de l’Éducation—et je vous dirais, le ministre du Labour également—aller rencontrer les représentants du syndicat et voir comment on fait pour s’assurer que nos écoles restent ouvertes.

À la fin de la journée, ces gens-là sont des êtres humains. Les êtres humains, quand tu ne les respectes pas, quand tu ne les traites pas de façon équitable—bien, on est tous des êtres humains, monsieur le Président—ça va paraître dans la façon qu’ils font leur travail. Ça va paraître dans la façon qu’ils vivent leurs vies. Puis ça, ça va avoir un impact direct sur chacun des enfants qui va à l’école en Ontario.

On n’a pas besoin de venir ici demain à 13 h. On n’a pas besoin de venir ici demain à 5 h du matin. On a besoin que le ministre aille à la table de négociations et négocie une convention collective qui respecte les travailleuses—point à la ligne.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Further debate with respect to the sitting hours for tomorrow?

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: It’s my honour to rise in opposition to this anti-democratic motion of fast-tracking this legislation through the House. I also am somebody, as a former educator, who supports education support workers—doesn’t just support them, but supports them in thought, word and deed, unlike this government. We hear words from this government, but we see actions like this fast-tracking motion, which is completely anti-democratic, anti-student and anti-education worker.

We’ve heard in this House that education workers, many of whom have to work a second job—that should give us pause. This government? They’re looking at their phones. We also heard in this House that one quarter of education support workers are using food banks, and, again, from this government crickets, because, quite frankly, Speaker, they do not care. They do not care about education support workers. They do not care about students, despite claims to the contrary.

This time allocation motion is a clear example of the government not being able to bargain. Conservatives cannot bargain, they cannot negotiate and they do not stand for students. Quite frankly, the fact that this government would stand up and applaud when they’re talking about trampling on democratic rights should give this entire province pause.

Right now, in classrooms across Ontario, education support workers are clearly reading the news and feeling demoralized. They’re feeling demeaned and they’re feeling disregarded by this government.

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CUPE is waiting at the table, Minister. What’s the government afraid of? What are you afraid of? Are you afraid of being fair? Are you afraid of doing what’s right? Are you afraid of doing what’s democratic? Instead, we see this hammer of a legislation coming down. This motion is completely ridiculous.

As a former educator myself, when children are losing, when they’re losing at a game, you know what they do? They try to change the rules, Speaker. They try to change the goalposts. Suddenly the rules that have been agreed upon are ones that are no longer in play, and they try that manipulative tactic. This is exactly what we are seeing from this government.

It’s a clear admission from the Conservatives that they’re incapable of bargaining. They’re incapable of negotiation. They’re incompetent. They’re ineffective and quite frankly, Speaker, they’re impotent when it comes to doing the right thing.

The NDP though, here on this side of the House, we stand for fairness. We stand for the rule of law. We stand for students, and we are the party of workers—end, stop.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: I appreciate the opportunity to say a few words with respect to the motion that’s on the table, Speaker. As you know, the motion does set out that the House will—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I apologize that I’m not able to recognize the government House leader at this time to speak to the motion—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Oshawa.

Ms. Jennifer K. French: Thank you, Speaker—

Hon. Paul Calandra: Mr. Speaker, on a point of order.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): On a point of order: the government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: I would seek unanimous consent to speak for 10 minutes. I’m sure that the opposition would like to hear some of the rationale for the things that they’ve just talked about.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The government House leader is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to be permitted to speak to the motion. Agreed? I heard some noes.

I’ll recognize the member for Oshawa.

Ms. Jennifer K. French: I’m pleased to be able to stand in this House as a former educator—

Interjections.

Ms. Jennifer K. French: —despite the government heckles—I’m glad to be able to stand up and defend education workers. We’re here debating a motion that is the lead-in to this egregious piece of legislation that folks across Ontario have been anticipating since the government started levying threats about taking away the right of collective bargaining and forcing education workers back to work. So what we’re doing today is that lead-in to the legislation.

This government is wanting to fast-track it by making the House sit at 5 a.m. to start debating and then two hours in the afternoon, reclaiming some time there and changing the rules a bit to allow us to get through this faster, to get this piece of legislation to and through and passed so that they are ready with that great big huge hammer to stick it to those education workers—those most poorly paid education workers in the province, who at 5 a.m., Speaker, while the government is feeling quite pleased with themselves because they’re going to stick it to those education workers—they’re not going to let them strike—a lot of them are going to be getting up and getting ready to go to work. The custodial staff is going to be—if not already at work, at school—heading in to do important work. We’ve been talking about, we’ve been learning—some of us have been learning—about pandemic protocols, about cleanliness, about cleaning, and those custodial and janitorial workers and support staff are doing their darnedest, and they haven’t had what they needed all the way long.

So at 5 a.m., while we’ve got folks being smug because—like I said, stick it to ’em—we will be standing here in our place as New Democrats, glad to bring voice to this House on behalf of those workers, but they’ll already be starting their day, and they won’t be able to fill the galleries, which I know that they would like to do. They won’t be able to come to committee, because “Ram it through,” “Get ’er done”—right—“Run ’em over.”

Speaker, we’ve talked a bit about Bill 115—and I’m going to keep this connected to the motion, don’t you worry. My colleague from Waterloo talked about what brought her here—that Bill 115 was a big part of that. Well, my journey was different—not as public but about the same, because I was a teacher at the time and I got my teeth kicked in by the last Liberal government, maybe the actual last Liberal government. It was super anti-democratic. They stole our sick days and legislated us back to work and all sorts of stuff that turned out to not have been legal.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m going to caution the member on her language.

The member for Oshawa has the floor.

Ms. Jennifer K. French: I appreciate the caution and the reminder.

They and the province have learned—well, I don’t know about those members of the province—a valuable lesson about the cost of trampling rights. The courts have made their ruling, and it’s a hefty amount of money that is being repaid.

At the time when I got my teeth kicked in—I don’t know if that was the part I wasn’t allowed to say—by the then Liberal government, I got involved with my local union. I hadn’t been involved before that time. I got involved because it wasn’t right, because it wasn’t fair. It was anti-democratic. That manoeuvre of the Liberal government woke up a bunch of us to our responsibilities, as union members and as members of the labour community at large, to stand up for our rights to collectively bargain. I had no idea that I had collective bargaining rights. I was just doing a job that I thought was super important. But then I learned, and I was willing to stand up and defend those rights.

That’s what this government is doing, and I don’t know that they get that yet.

You are awakening a beast. You are going to have education workers who are going to wake up and realize their full potential, and all of you are going to feel it. Those of you who have dabbled in education and a labour minister who has said he’s a labour minister were the first ones to stand today and clap about ramming it through super fast, that we have this motion that is meant to make it all be finished and over and done with—wait for it—before the education workers are even on strike. That’s the difference to Bill 115—they were heavy-handed, and they laid the smackdown and brought the hammer down, but they had already gone on strike.

This government has said, “Well, we don’t like that. They may have the right to collectively bargain, but we’re going to take it away. They may have the right to strike”—they have the right to strike. And this government has said, “Well, I don’t like that.” So this government, by rushing this through by the end of this week, before they even go on strike—you are ready to lay it down for them, these workers you purport to care about? The party of the people or whatever—I forget; I don’t read their bumper stickers.

Interjection.

Ms. Jennifer K. French: No, you can’t see the licence plates. You can read the stickers.

Speaker, I don’t mean to make light of it.

We will have the chance at 5 a.m., and we will come prepared with all of the letters that you are ignoring, that your inboxes are filled with—stories of workers in this province who are doing their darnedest. They can’t pay their own way, they can’t look after their families, they can’t feed their families, and you guys are saying, “Take it or leave it.”

You’re sending cheques in the mail for whatever parents wanted—200 bucks here, 200 bucks there.

You could hire education workers. You could be putting money into education. Instead, you’re saying, “You’re not the boss of me. We don’t like the rights that you have, and we are going to override them.”

That is shameful. It’s awful, but they think it’s great. They’re clapping and they’re saying something about how it’s about the kids. They wouldn’t know what is best for the kids. They don’t listen to the kids. They’re not listening to education workers. And I would say shame on every single one of them.

I hope that when you go back to your ridings that you hear it, and I hope that you hear it for a long time—because you’re picking a fight that you may think you’re going to win because you’ve got the biggest hammer here, but in the long term, these kids you pretend to care about are watching.

Interjections.

Ms. Jennifer K. French: I don’t know—yes, sir, sorry. Yes, I shouldn’t pay attention to the hecklers over there. I’m hearing the heckles from the other side about kids they purport to care about.

Those kids are watching. They care about their custodial staff. They care about their EAs. They care about their ECEs. They care about their teachers. They care about the principals—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I have to interrupt the member for Oshawa.

Mr. Calandra has moved that the meeting schedule of the House for Tuesday, November 1, 2022, as set out in standing order 9(a), be revised by substituting 1 p.m. for 3 p.m.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? I heard some noes.

All those in favour of the motion will please say “aye.”

All those opposed will please say “nay.”

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

Call in the members. This will be a 30-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1430 to 1500.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members will please take their seats, but don’t rush on my account.

Mr. Calandra has moved that the meeting schedule of the House for Tuesday, November 1, 2022, as set out in standing order 9(a), be revised by substituting “1 p.m.” for “3 p.m.”

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

Ayes

• Anand, Deepak
• Babikian, Aris
• Bailey, Robert
• Barnes, Patrice
• Bethlenfalvy, Peter
• Bouma, Will
• Bresee, Ric
• Byers, Rick
• Calandra, Paul
• Cho, Stan
• Clark, Steve
• Coe, Lorne
• Crawford, Stephen
• Cuzzetto, Rudy
• Dixon, Jess
• Dowie, Andrew
• Downey, Doug
• Dunlop, Jill
• Fedeli, Victor
• Flack, Rob
• Ford, Doug
• Ford, Michael D.
• Gallagher Murphy, Dawn
• Ghamari, Goldie

• Gill, Parm
• Grewal, Hardeep Singh
• Hardeman, Ernie
• Harris, Mike
• Hogarth, Christine
• Holland, Kevin
• Jones, Trevor
• Jordan, John
• Kanapathi, Logan
• Ke, Vincent
• Kerzner, Michael S.
• Leardi, Anthony
• Lumsden, Neil
• MacLeod, Lisa
• Martin, Robin
• McGregor, Graham
• McNaughton, Monte
• Mulroney, Caroline
• Oosterhoff, Sam
• Pang, Billy
• Piccini, David
• Pierre, Natalie
• Pirie, George
• Quinn, Nolan

• Rae, Matthew
• Rasheed, Kaleed
• Rickford, Greg
• Romano, Ross
• Sabawy, Sheref
• Sandhu, Amarjot
• Sarkaria, Prabmeet Singh
• Sarrazin, Stéphane
• Saunderson, Brian
• Scott, Laurie
• Skelly, Donna
• Smith, Dave
• Smith, David
• Smith, Graydon
• Surma, Kinga
• Tangri, Nina
• Thanigasalam, Vijay
• Thompson, Lisa M.
• Tibollo, Michael A.
• Triantafilopoulos, Effie J.
• Wai, Daisy
• Williams, Charmaine A.
• 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.

Nays

• Andrew, Jill
• Armstrong, Teresa J.
• Begum, Doly
• Bell, Jessica
• Bourgouin, Guy
• Bowman, Stephanie
• Burch, Jeff
• Collard, Lucille
• Fife, Catherine
• French, Jennifer K.
• Gates, Wayne

• Gélinas, France
• Glover, Chris
• Harden, Joel
• Hunter, Mitzie
• Karpoche, Bhutila
• Kernaghan, Terence
• Mamakwa, Sol
• Mantha, Michael
• McMahon, Mary-Margaret
• Pasma, Chandra
• Rakocevic, Tom

• Sattler, Peggy
• Schreiner, Mike
• Shamji, Adil
• Stevens, Jennifer (Jennie)
• Stiles, Marit
• Tabuns, Peter
• Vanthof, John
• Vaugeois, Lise
• West, Jamie
• Wong-Tam, Kristyn

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Todd Decker): The ayes are 71; the nays are 32.

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

Motion agreed to.

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

I recognize the government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: No further business.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): There being no further business this afternoon, this House stands adjourned until 9 a.m. tomorrow morning.

The House adjourned at 1504.