 It is now time for oral questions. I recognize the leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. Thanks very much, Speaker. I want to start by acknowledging the remarks of Saul Mamakwa, the member for Quintenang, and the government house leader for allowing us to take this moment in time. But now it's my job to change the topic, Speaker. And so I'm going to ask my first question to the Premier. Speaker, on Friday, the Premier said this in relation to the vaccine rollout here in the province. And I quote, I've never seen a more well-oiled machine. Meanwhile, doctors and experts everywhere have been calling it chaotic, confusing, the hunger games. Clearly if the Premier thinks that this is a well-oiled machine, he certainly hasn't learned from his mistakes. The question is, why hasn't he fixed his mistakes from the initial rollout to the rollout of dose two? So, on behalf of the government, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. Thank you, Speaker. Well, the answer would be because there's nothing wrong with the plan. The plan is being rolled out across the province. We have reached over 65% of all Ontarians over 18, receiving at least one dose. We currently stand at 67%. 9 million vaccines have already been given to people across the province. And we have virtually 6 million further booked and ready to go. And we have the supply coming in. So the plan is rolling out in the way that it was supposed to. And we'll continue to do so. Thank you. The supplementary question. The big problem is the way it was supposed to wasn't good enough and didn't do justice to the people of Ontario. Every one for themselves is not a plan to roll out a vaccine that ensures that the most vulnerable receive the vaccines first. In fact, this government left the most vulnerable behind. Dr. Nathan Stahl says this, and I quote, this is going to create, I fear, the sort of vaccine Hunger Games 2.0 for these older adults, where they're now being asked to go back into the multiple booking systems through multiple sites. And meanwhile, we all know the mass confusion that continues to swirl around the AstraZeneca vaccine. So my question again to this premier is why did he and his government not learn from his mistakes, from the rollout of dose one and are continuing to roll out dose two in the same chaotic, confused, and confusing way? Mr. Hall. Thank you, Speaker. Well, I would suggest to the leader, the opposition, that given the fact that we've already had over 9 million vaccines already given to people with almost 6 million already booked, that most Ontarians do not seem confused by this rollout. And in fact, this is actually good news that we've announced that if people wish to receive their doses sooner than the date that they have the appointment for, they can do that. They can do that online. They can do that actually through the pharmacies where they originally had them, or through their primary care provider. But if they choose to stay with the dose that they, a date that they already have booked for their second dose, they're free to do that. But if they wish to move it forward, they can do that as well. That's choice to the people of Ontario. That's what people have been telling us that we want. And we have a system in place that's ready and available to allow them to do that. The final supplement, please. It's not about how many doses have been given out. It's about how they've been given out. The rollout has left those who are most vulnerable, who need protection the most, getting the least access to the vaccines. We saw as this government was dragged, kicking, and screaming into addressing the hotspot issue, and then abandoned that strategy a week early. Vulnerable two weeks early, I think. Anyways, vulnerable students, or rather vulnerable seniors, are still likely, less likely to have their first dose. So it's not about all those who can easily access. It's about those who cannot easily access. And we know that seniors still are in that position, never mind trying to chase down their second dose. Meanwhile, report after report of people trying to bully their ways to the second dose has been continuing to show up in the media. So the question is, where is the plan to ensure that those who need the vaccines the most, the most vulnerable are easily able to access them? Thank you, Speaker. In fact, I would say to the leader of the opposition, through you, Speaker, that what she is suggesting is simply not the case. We have a strategy which we have implemented, which we implemented during the month of May, for two weeks where we allocated 50% of our vaccines to the hotspot areas, and it worked. Right now, we have a situation where the people in the hotspot areas are at almost 8% more likely to have been vaccinated by the first dose than people in non-hotspot areas. So we followed the recommendations that were made by the medical experts. They originally recommended four weeks, but that was before we knew we were getting double the number of cases, a double the number of doses. So we have actually followed what they suggested. We are paying attention to the hotspot areas, as well as to our seniors. We prioritized people in long-term care homes and retirement homes, and now starting as of today, people who are 80 and older, if they wish to accelerate their second dose, they can do so. If they don't wish to, they can stay with the time that they already have booked. Thank you. The next question. Once again, the leader of the opposition. Thanks very much, Speaker. My next question is also for the Premier. Speaker, students and their parents have been left in limbo now, waiting for the details of the possible reopening of schools. For over a year, unfortunately, this Premier decided to dismiss the concerns of parents, of teachers and education workers as they insisted that schools were safe. And now, of course, we know that they decided to cut the education budget, which just today was confirmed by the Financial Accountability Officer of Ontario. Thursday, the Premier finally decided to lob a frantic last-minute consultation into the communities. And my guess, my question is, why didn't the Premier think for over a year that the kids of this province school, the kids of this province education and their schooling wasn't more important for him to take action instead of waiting until the very last minute? To apply the Minister of Education. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As the Chief Medical Officer of Health has confirmed and local medical officers of health have done the same, they have noted the schools have been safe. We've always acknowledged that schools reflect our community. Order. Now, back last summer, we put in place a $1.6 billion plan that allowed us to hire 7,000 staff, 1,400 additional custodians, improve air ventilation in 95% of schools, procure 40,000 HEPA units to support them, more than quadrupled mental health funding for students from when the former Liberal government was in power. And, Mr. Speaker, the only problem to the nation to have a targeted asymptomatic testing program, that has all led us to one of the lowest case rates for youth under 20 in Canada because we follow that advice. And yes, Mr. Speaker, we are obviously broadening the consultation to ensure we get this decision right, to not compromise the incredible hard work and sacrifice on turns I've made together to get our case rates down over the past weeks and get our vaccination up in the province of Ontario. The supplementary? Well, Speaker, I just have to say it speaks volumes that for a year almost, the government didn't even bother to launch a consultation and they waited to the very last minute to engage at this point, which is just completely unacceptable considering that it's been, as I said, close to a year. Too close to a year that this Premier and this government have been dismissing concerned about school safety. In fact, one of the teachers who spoke out against this particular last minute consultation says this. Erin Roy, Essex area educator says, giving somebody a day's notice when we've been begging all year to be consulted on these decisions, I don't think is genuine. Speaker, schools were supposed to be the first to open and the last to close. This government attacked teachers who raised COVID questions all the way along. And now the science table is weighed in, public health is weighed in, educators has weighed in and they have weighed in and they've all said it's time to safely look to a regional approach to open schools when is the government going to do that? Please. Thanks for the education. Thank you, Speaker. Well, let's take the perspective of Dr. Judy the head of the science table who reported last week and I quote, Ontario, unlike other places in the world did a relatively good job if you compare it to the United Kingdom. Our way of cohorting, our way of masking of kids is much, much better. Dr. Williams said just days ago, our schools were safe before we closed down in the rapid rise of the third wave. Speaker, we have consulted, we have invested, we've put in place a plan that leads the nation and our commitment is to take the time to get this right, to continue to consult and obviously to provide the certainty all parents and students in Ontario deserve. And the final supplementary. Speaker, it has been a really tough year for parents and for kids, particularly because they've been stuck at home for months. Kids are missing their friends. They're missing the social interactions that we all know that they need. Parents have been missing a normal life but also have been very, very worried about their children's ability to learn. They've been watching their kids become more and more depressed and more and more lonely. Nothing that they can do about that has occurred though. I mean, they are sitting unable to address what's happening to their children. The Premier should have made schools a top priority speaker and he didn't. Instead, he denied that there were problems in schools. He attacked teachers and education workers and he had the gall at a time like this to make cuts to our classrooms. I think it's time for this Premier to actually follow the science table advice. Listen to the advice that they're receiving. Provide the money to every region necessary to open their schools safely, Speaker. Will he do that? Minister of Education. We'll continue to provide school boards with unprecedented access to investment. $1.6 billion this current school year, $2 billion in the coming school year, over half a billion dollar increase the grant for student needs. $85 million targeting learning supports and summer learning as well. Mr. Speaker, a $1.6 billion renewal of COVID-19 resource. The difference between this year and next year is there's no federal dollars. The province is leading the way entirely by ensuring every public health measure is in place. Even though we know with vaccinations of all students double dose by September and with all Canadians potentially double dose by September, it gives us a great sense of hope about the fall. Notwithstanding, we have those investments in place so that there is a commitment to parents and to students and to the staff within our schools that we're going to keep them safe as we look forward. The next question, the member for Toronto Centre. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Indigenous people across Canada are hurting. This weekend, the bodies of 215 lost children were discovered at a mass grave site near the former Kamloops residential school. The death of Indigenous children is a crime against humanity and the country must own up to its past as must all governments and all institutions. It is a great open secret that children lie on the properties of former residential schools. An open secret that Canadians can no longer look back from. In keeping with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's missing children projects, every school must be searched for the graves of our ancestors. Will this government commit today to searching the grounds of the former residential schools in Ontario for lost Indigenous children? Government House speaker. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the question from the honourable member and I understand how challenging this past weekend certainly has been. I think the request is certainly a reasonable one and we look forward to working with First Nations to ensure that that gets done. The supplementary question. Thank you, Speaker. All Indigenous people living today in Canada are survivors of Canada's genocide, survivors of Indian residential schools, survivors of the Indian Act, survivors of the 60s scoop, survivors of ongoing child apprehension, and survivors of ongoing systemic racism which attempts to erase identities, cultures and languages. This government must work towards an honest reckoning with our past. It's time for the Ontario government to accept responsibility and take action to ensure justice, dignity and equity for all Indigenous people. Will this government commit today to secure justice for all the families impacted by the horrors of Indian residential schools and create an annual day of mourning and remembrance for those we lost to residential schools and the survivors and their families? Thank you. Government House Leader? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And I really do appreciate the question from the honourable gentleman, our honourable member, excuse me. Did obviously the member for Kilwattons' message was very clearly heard by all of us, Mr. Speaker. And I certainly do look forward to working closely with the members opposite to ensure that perhaps, even before we adjourn this place, that we can bring forward a bill that would recognise something like that. So I do look forward to working with the member. The member, of course, will know how important private members' businesses in this place. And I think that certainly is something that we should be working on together. Thank you. Next question, the member for Barry Innisfill. Thank you, Speaker. The residents of Barry Innisfill, like so many Ontarians, are eager to get their summer back with the stay-at-home order expiring this week. But in order to move forward, we know that stricter border measures stop the spread of COVID-19. This is a fact backed by science and data, as well as experiences of countries from around the world that have implemented with success stricter border restrictions to stop the entry of COVID-19. We also know that this isn't just international travellers. COVID-19 enters Ontario via other provinces as well. While our government continues to urgently request real action to secure our borders, this is simply not a priority for the Prime Minister. Can the Solicitor General update the residents of Barry Innisfill and all Ontarians on the status of our government's way to maintain our borders and secure Ontarians? To reply, the Solicitor General. Thank you. And thank you to the member from Barry Innisfill. I know that she understands only too clearly how variants can devastate a community. The third wave in Ontario was fuelled by variants discovered in other countries, with vast majority of cases being variants of concerns. That's why the emergency order restricting travelling to Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec's land and water borders has been extended until June the 16th. We also continue to advocate for the federal government to restrict travel through federally regulated air travel. Our government has written four separate letters with very specific urgent requests to the federal government asking them to take action, only to get a vague and non-responsive answer in return. Now, as we are gaining ground on the new variants, we see our case counts drop. It's time for the federal government to take this seriously and address the border issues through stricter controls for domestic flights and international travel. Thank you, Speaker. The supplementary questions. Thank you, Speaker. Well, over the past few weeks, we have seen a crest on Ontario's third wave with cases dropping and hospitalization starting to decompress, which is great news for all Ontarians. But with case counts improving, I know that many Ontarians are also planning their Ontario's staycations, but also wondering what other provinces and why the inter-provincial restrictions are still remaining in place. So can the minister provide details as to why it's so important for these restrictions and why they're still needed? Thank you, Mr. General. I will, and thank you for your interest in this issue. The Northwestern Public Health Unit is doing a great job consistently having some of the lowest case counts over the past seven days. On Sunday, they reported zero new cases. We need to remember that our neighbour province, Manitoba, are in the middle of a very serious outbreak. Ontario will continue to offer any help we can, including by assisting having 24 Manitoba residents currently in Ontario ICU. We look forward to welcoming Manitobans back soon, but we can see the positive effect of reducing mobility from areas that are experiencing outbreaks to isolated communities like the Northwest has had. Premier Ford has repeatedly asked the federal government to step up and do its job, just like we are doing ours. We continue to be very clear to the federal government. We're imploring them to take stricter measures at the border. Thank you. Thank you. The next question, the member for London North Centre. My question is to the Premier. Last week, the review board for colleges and universities, PCAB, rejected Charles McVeedy's university application and Ontarians gave a sigh of relief. This government snuck favourable legislation into an omnibus bill to allow Charles McVeedy an even bigger platform for spewing his hateful bigotry against the 2SLGBTQ community in Muslim Ontarians. Speaker, this bill should have never been passed in the first place, and members on this side of the House were proud to vote against it. On the eve of Pride, it's absolutely necessary this government take a stand against all homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia in our province. Will the government do the right thing and rip up Section 2 of Bill 213 today? To apply, the Parliamentary Assistant and member for Northumberland, Peterborough South. Thank you, Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we join the member opposite in condemning any form of hate in this province, regardless of where it may stem from. Speaker, with respect to the legislation before the House and with respect to the independent PCAB process, as we said from day one, we lean on the independent expert advice of the Post-Secondary Education Quality Assurance Board. And Mr. Speaker, we said we would respect their decision and we've done just that. Thank you. Any supplementary questions? Speaker, if this government condemned hatred, then they wouldn't have passed 213 and snuck in Schedule 2 in the first place. My question is back to the Premier. Charles McVeedy has already launched a campaign to convince the government to give royal assent to the his bill. He's now attacking the public servants who reviewed his application, as put out a video calling for the government to ignore the process, something they might be willing to do for their longtime political buddy. Every day this legislation sits on the books is one day closer to giving Charles McVeedy what he wants. The only way forward is to rip up the section of the bill and add transparency to the PCAB process. Along with my colleagues, I have legislation to rip up Section 2 of Bill 213. Will the government do the right thing and pass this legislation immediately? Thank you, Speaker. Speaker, the strength of our post-secondary system is because of the independent analysis of groups like the PCAB process, Mr. Speaker. It's because of those independent processes, independent of politicians, that we have a high-quality education system, a high-quality education system void of the hate that the member speaks opposite. And Mr. Speaker will always respect that independent process. It's because of those independent processes that we've seen expansion at Algoma University of degree granting authority. It's because of that independence that we've seen OCAT expand their process. And Mr. Speaker, we've said from day one we'd respect that independent process, and that's exactly what we've done. Thank you, Speaker. Thank you. The next question, the member for Don Dolly West. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and I want to acknowledge and thank the member for Coetnam for his remarks. Yeah, Mr. Speaker, my first three grandchildren's paternal motion when Cochum were survivors of residential school and a few years ago on a field trip to a sugar bush when my eldest grandchild was in grade one, a child in the class asked where all the First Nations people had gone. And my daughter happened to be volunteering and she said, well, they're right here. And as the member for Coetnam said, they are right here. We are all here. We cannot expect children to know our shared shame or our history, our true history unless we teach it. So, Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier, will the government reverse its decision of 2019 and make indigenous education and the true teaching of residential schools mandatory at both the elementary and the secondary levels? To apply to the government. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I certainly appreciate the question from the member opposite. Look, we all have, it has become clear and clear every day if it hasn't been to people how important it is that we do all that we can to ensure that there is reconciliation across Canada. I think the member opposite's words today were just another in a series of very powerful indications of how important that is. So, I certainly want to work and continue to work with all members in the House in a nonpartisan way to make sure that we can move the ball even further. And, you know, one of the hardest things of being a member is here, having been elected here, is to hear the member for Kiwot and talk about how he doesn't feel part of this place, how it doesn't always reflect the Ontario or the Canada that he knows. So, we have a job to do to make sure that we get that done, Mr. Speaker. Today, our focus is going to be on the horrific circumstances that we saw in British Columbia and making sure that we can do our best to do right by those families in those families in the province of Ontario who have suffered far too long. A supplementary question. Mr. Speaker, with all due respect, the focus for today, yes, is on those little children whose remains were found and it is a horrific story that is the member for Kiwet and has said has been repeated all over this country. And so, if the government is serious, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate the gestures of flags being raised at half-mast and so on, I stood in this house as the Premier and made an apology and that was a gesture, but Mr. Speaker, those gestures have to be backed up with action. And one of the first things that this government did when it came into office was to stop the writing of curriculum that would have embedded the truth about indigenous people in this country in our curriculum. Will the Premier please make it clear and ensure that that has been rectified, that in fact the path that we were on in 2018, which was to back up the gestures with real action, that that action is being taken and that if it's not, that it will start tomorrow, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Frankly, Mr. Speaker, I think the path that we take can be a better one. I absolutely positively believe that it can be a better one. It can be a better one for First Nations when it comes to health, when it comes to education. It can be a better one for the people of the province of Ontario so that they can better understand the horrors that the member for Key Wanton has talked about. Do we have more work to do? Absolutely we do, Mr. Speaker. Absolutely we do. We have a responsibility to help as a member for, I believe, Toronto, Senator Rosdale talked about ensuring that we go to other residential schools to find the truth at these schools. So do we have a better job to do as a member for Don Valley West? Talks about absolutely. Will this government wait 15 years to go down that path? No, we are going to do everything we can to live up to the responsibilities that every Ontario government has, giving our First Nations the best opportunity to live, work and prosper in the province of Ontario. It's our responsibility and we'll get it done finally. The next question, once again the member for Barry Ennisville. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the hardworking minister of heritage, tourism and sport and culture. The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens rivalry has a long history in the NHL and tonight marks game seven of the Stanley Cup's final opening round between the two storied franchises. On Saturday, 2,500 fans attended game six at Bell Centre in Montreal. The atmosphere was ecstatic and the energy was felt by the players and the fans across the country. MLSC has proposed a plan to allow fully vaccinated health care workers to attend tonight's game seven. That will be the first time the Leafs and Habs has met for the playoffs since 1979. Will the government allow some of our health care workers to attend tonight's game and cheer on our beloved Toronto Maple Leafs? Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. Thank you very much, Speaker. May I first say and acknowledge the member for her great work in this assembly. And just last week, she helped moderate a Jewish Heritage Month event with me to showcase Ontario's great diversity. And I say before I get started to the member from Quatten and Toronto Centre in Don Valley West, how thoughtful your comments have been today. And I do apologize for the noise that's out there because today should have been a solemn one where we were able to listen in here and to speak your truth. But I will say today, we do have a bit of great news. We were able to work with the Chief Medical Officer of Health over the evening, as well as Toronto Public Health, in order to ensure that 550 frontline health care workers who have been fully vaccinated will be able to take in the seventh and final game of round one of the Canadian League from the NHL. I want to thanks Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment for covering all of the costs to say thanks to these frontline heroes and also to Scotiabank for allowing each member that will be admitted to be wearing a Toronto Maple Leaf jersey. Now, you know, Speaker, my team is the Ottawa Senators, but I will conclude on this. Go Leafs, go. Supplementary question. Well, thank you, Minister. This is great news, not only for Leaf fans, but of course our frontline heroes who are going to be at the game tonight and many who are watching in the province. It is evident that the plan is working and now we know that 550 fans will be able to boost the boys in blue and their spirits as they get past the Montreal Canadiens and hopefully for the win tonight. As we know, and many residents in Varianisville are also wondering, you know, sports play is a really big part in our province and they're really looking forward to their turn to play. So I'm wondering if the minister can tell us how she's supporting the return to play on all fronts. Mr. Harris. Thank you very much, Speaker. Obviously, I want to thank the Ontario Hospital Association for running the lottery today to allow those 550 frontline healthcare workers who've been fully vaccinated to get back to play. Last Friday had the opportunity to spend some time with Marnie McBean, the chef de Michonne for Team Canada as we started to inoculate through donated Pfizer vaccines. All of Team Canada's Ontario athletes, that's 1,100 and we're happy to do that at the Canadian Sport Institute of Ontario. But last year we committed over $59.4 million that is an increase of $15.3 million to get sport back in the province of Ontario. And as we get more people with vaccines and we start to see cases go down and warmer weather, it's my hope that we can continue to work with the central health table in order to get our sports not back only up and running for training and practice purposes, but that we can actually start to look at what a return to play for amateur and professional athletes look like and what a return to fans and stands will look like in a longer term. Thank you, Speaker. Next question, the member for Toronto St. Paul's. Speaker, tomorrow is June 1st. Rent is due yet again for small business owners in St. Paul's. Store owners who can have pivoted online and of course curbside delivery, but overall sales have plummeted for most of our small businesses. The Eglinton Crossdown LRT has literally ripped through our midtown community in St. Paul's for over a decade. Recently Crosslinks won their court case against the government's metro links and infrastructure Ontario. Crosslinks got the pandemic declared an emergency, which means they're now negotiating with the government for more cash to complete the project and a later completion date. All this means years more of chaos, barely any customer parking, blocked access to storefronts, inaccessible sidewalks and in general economic trauma to our businesses in St. Paul's and across that Eglinton LRT strip. My question is to the Premier Speaker. Will this government finally support our NDP official opposition motion demanding a complete ban on evictions for our commercial small businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic? Yes or no? Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Look, we have been working flat out to ensure that our small, medium and large job creators have all the tools that they need to not only survive what has been a devastating global health and economic pandemic, but as we emerge from the pandemic, Mr. Speaker, so that they can thrive like never before in the province of Ontario. It is why we are so committed to a framework that is, yes cautious, Mr. Speaker, but will get us through these final stages of what I hope will be the end of COVID-19 in the province of Ontario, so that again we can see a rebound in our economic activity. The type of rebound that we saw prior to COVID-19, Mr. Speaker, prior to COVID-19, Ontario was leading in job creation. We were leading in economic development. We're making important investments to help grow our economy, transit, transportation. Mr. Speaker, that's what we want to see as we emerge from COVID-19 and we're giving them all the tools that they need so that they can prosper as we come out of this. Self-immediate question. Speaker, when a small business closes, families suffer, jobs are lost, and the very culture, heritage, and identity of our communities is also disappeared. This government must consult with our small businesses, loosen the eligibility requirements of the Broken Ontario Small Business Support Grant Program, keep workers on payroll, and help businesses get to reopening day, especially those that are owned by block and racialized and women entrepreneurs who we know historically have faced systemic discrimination. In Little Jamaica alone, Black Urbanism Toronto reported over 140 businesses closed since the beginning of the construction, and that list has ballooned with the pandemic. My question again is to the Premier. Will the Premier support my motion calling for Little Jamaica Economic Health and Community Wellness Strategy, which includes direct funding to small businesses, heritage designation of Little Jamaica and art strategy showcasing the cultural wealth of our community, and the building of real affordable housing in all new residential construction? Thank you, Speaker. Parliamentary Assistant. Oh, sorry, the Associate Minister for Small Business and Red Tape Production. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate the member opposite bringing forward these concerns. We have hosted numerous consultations with business owners, chambers across this province, racialized communities to see the impact that COVID is having on specific businesses. We will continue to ensure that those businesses have access to the government, continue listening to their concerns. We have to date through the Ontario Small Business Support grant paid out over 110,000 small businesses, totaling over $1.5 billion in support. We've also put forward over 86,000 automatic second payments, totaling an additional $1.2 billion to support these small businesses that continue to struggle as we get through this pandemic. But as we look forward, Mr. Speaker, the reopening plan has been set forward. We're going to continue to invest in the digitization of- The member for trial, St. Paul's, come to order. Continue to do whatever we can to ensure that small businesses can get back on their feet. The next question, the member for York Centre. Mr. Speaker, to the government house leader. Today, the house leader will whip the vote and force PCMPPs to vote in favour of a motion giving this government power to extend the emergency orders until December. Extension will be done by government-run committee without debate or vote in this house. Today, the government will cut Parliament out of its most impactful decisions in our lifetimes. The Premier will have the ability to close schools, lock down business and prevent us from seeing family, all because he says so. Speaker, this is an unprecedented abuse of power. This is the most un-democratic thing to be done in this Parliament since it was convened more than 150 years ago. It's unnecessary and it's hostile to Canada's democracy. Our democracy should not be eroded at a time of an emergency. That's what dictatorships do. So my question to the government house leader, will the house leader back away from this assault on democracy and permit PCMPPs a free vote on today's motion to extend the emergency orders? To reply, the government house leader. Well, Mr. Speaker, it's interesting coming from this gentleman who's all of a sudden become very independent minded because he voted in favor of every single measure that this government took in order to keep the people, the province of Ontario safe. In fact, when the original reopening Ontario bill was passed, he was very happy to go into the lobby and vote in favor that unlike the member for Cambridge, who stood on a point of order on her own and voted against the bill, this gentleman here was enthusiastic in voting in support of that bill. So, Mr. Speaker, we are very happy that we've made such tremendous progress in defeating COVID-19. The battle is not quite done yet, Mr. Speaker, and I know that a lot of people would like to declare victory. It's not over yet. If we're going to see our small, medium and large job creators prosper, if we're going to see the province move out of this and put COVID-19 on this, we need to work again to continue to work very hard, Mr. Speaker. So in response to the member opposite, no, we will not declare victory over COVID-19 until we actually have. Thank you. The supplementary question. Speaker, I've indicted the government that this is the most un-democratic thing to be done in this house for the last 150 years, and all that the house leader can do is suggest that I voted in favor of this a year ago. This is about a month after he threatened to kick me out, a month after he threatened to kick me out for opposing the lockdowns, and all of these members are sitting there and they know what went on, and yet still they clap for him. Yes, I voted for this a year ago, and imagine a year ago, later we're still at it again, even though the entire world moved on. BC almost out. Alberta says it will remove all restrictions, even masks in a month. Meanwhile, they want the ability to extend it by six months. Yes, my friend from Cambridge stood out and she was kicked out. She seated a few feet away from me. I remained for six months to try and steer this government away from the insanity, from the catastrophe that they've imposed on the government on this province. The member from Cambridge are doing. We're doing our jobs. We're sent here to represent our constituents, not to be mouthpieces, repeating talking points, or voting how we're told. You see, this is what this motion is doing, Mr. Speaker. It's eliminating the function of this chamber. So my question, will the House Leader permit a free vote on this motion, yes or no? Government House Leader. Sorry, I must have missed that extra six months that he granted to us to help us, to help us in COVID, Mr. Speaker. But this is a gentleman who, in March, voted. Park Center, come to order. Government House Leader, please reply. This is a member who, in March, voted in favor of measures. In April, voted in favor of these measures. In May, voted in favor of these measures. Order. In June, voted in favor of these measures. In July, voted in favor of these measures. In September, voted in favor of these measures. Now, of course, from September, October, November, and December, we're just finding out that he was doing that for us, that he was doing that for us. So I appreciate how much he was doing that for us and the assistance that he gave us in steering the province through COVID-19, Mr. Speaker. But I'm also appreciative of the fact that he's now over there, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. The next question. Member for Barry Innisfil. Yes, Mr. Speaker. My question to the associate minister of small businesses and red tape production. As this government continues to support small businesses with direct support. Or stop the clock. The member for York Center will come to order. The government house leader will come to order. Next, it continues. We'll move to warnings very quickly. Please start the clock. I apologize to the member for Barry Innisfil. Speaker, my question to the associate minister of small businesses and red tape production. Since day one, our government has done much to unshackle the burdens that small businesses incurred after years of mismanagement by reducing red tape. We provided them hope. And during this pandemic, this government continued to support small businesses with direct supports. But we know that structural changes are going to be just as important to help businesses to recover from longstanding issues and to help them succeed through the recovery. Can the minister tell this house how he's addressing many regulatory burdens and particularly that's important, that's particularly important to the economic recovery? The associate minister for small business and red tape production. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the member for Barry Innisfil for that question and appreciate all the leadership that she has shown to ensure that businesses have the right conditions to continue making sure that Ontario remains the most competitive jurisdiction in North America in attracting new investments. Mr. Speaker, with the legislation that we have put forward in this house, we are modernizing Ontario by bringing more processes online, services online, including developing new applications that will allow online sticker anneal for heavy commercial vehicles, vehicle license plates. We are creating innovative new revenue streams to help mainstream businesses seize every opportunity to succeed. And among other things, we're bringing certainty in our critical mining industry by capping timelines, unclosure plans. Mr. Speaker, we have a wide variety of approaches that we are taking to ensure that Ontario remains competitive, that it continues to be a great jurisdiction for investment. Barry Innisfil. Well, thank you to the minister for restoring competitiveness when it's so important for our businesses. I know in my community in Barry Innisfil, it's important and of course across Ontario. We know that, of course, the trucking industry is also very important to get goods to market. You know, many businesses in my community, whether they be associated with the Barry Chamber of Commerce or Innisfil Economic Development Department, they need to get products to market. And so I was wondering if the minister could tell us how the Supporting Recovery and Competence Act continues to support our trucking industry. Associate Minister. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker and the member for that question. Mr. Speaker, we have taken multiple measures to ensure that we are supporting the trucking industry. We are focused on making driving more efficient for Ontario's hardest working individuals, our truck drivers. Each year, trucks have to complete multiple inspections in order to operate on our roadways. Additionally, they are subject to emissions testing to ensure they are meeting Ontario's high environmental standards and licensing requirements to ensure we're easing the burdens on these professionals by consolidating many of these approaches to ensure that they can stay on the road and spend less time complying with many of these and consolidating in that process to save them time. We want them to focus on delivering goods like they have been from pharmacies to drug stores to grocery stores. Response? We are ensuring that they have the ability to continue doing that. We're also renewing license plates for modernizing the license plate renewal system for heavy commercial operating vehicles so they can. Thank you very much. The next question, the member for St. Patrick. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier. When the Premier put forward a reopening plan for the province, this road map still means businesses will be closed for weeks, some for months. In fact, this is the first thing St. Catherine's gym owner, Colin Wolf, looked at when counting the days backwards until he can reopen. He will not be able to fully reopen for months. Mr. Premier, if this is the plan we are going to be following, then businesses immediately need a third round of funding. The existing eligibility issues must be immediately addressed and fixed on the current grant. Premier, will you provide details to what kind of third round of funding for small businesses will be created so that local Niagara businesses can finally put this pandemic behind them and get back on their feet? The associate minister for small business and red tape production. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. We recognize how difficult this time is for many small businesses, and it's also why we have put forward unprecedented supports. Over $2.8 billion of direct supports have been paid to small businesses across Ontario. 110,000 in the form of first payments and 86,000 businesses in the form of second payments. Along with those supports, Mr. Speaker, we have also reinvested in the largest investment to help businesses go digital. A $57 million program last year, the digital main street program now, it's an additional $10 million to ensure that they can continue helping businesses pivot. We have also put forward supports like 100% of your property tax that is covered, 100% of your energy costs that are covered as well. We recognize that these are significantly challenging times for these business owners, but we have four supports, over $2.8 billion just in the small business support grant to ensure that they have the resources they need to get through this very difficult time. And the supplementary question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me just say this. This is not reassuring to small businesses in St. Catharines or in Niagara that are faced with another prolonged lockdown because of this government. Last month, the Niagara region did their third round of COVID-19 impact on the Niagara businesses and their finding shine a light on the absolute devastation and cost of repeat lockdowns made by this government's failures. The survey indicated 81% of businesses experienced loss of income in 2020. The majority of the respondents indicated that it would take over three years before they see a full recovery. Mr. Speaker, the businesses in Niagara and in St. Catharines want to know why does this government refuse to announce around a third funding for businesses while it ignores evictions, insurance gouging and report after report about impacts on the repeated lockdowns. It's not pivoting. It's survival of the fittest in small businesses. And the Association of Ministers. Mr. Speaker, this government has paid out $2.8 billion in direct supports to small businesses that have been impacted by this pandemic just through the Ontario Small Business Support Grant. We have also included now and introduced the Ontario Small Business, sorry, the travel grant of another $100 million to support those businesses that are in the travel industry that are gonna be, that have been impacted. Those again are up to $20,000 grants that this government has put forward $100 million to ensure that those businesses also get the support that they need. Mr. Speaker, we're gonna continue to do whatever we can to support small businesses, just like we did before the pandemic, when we brought in an over 9% reduction in the small business tax rate across the province. Over $330 million in savings through red tape production that we have put forward. Making sure that we modernize and keep Ontario competitive and continue working for our small business owners across this province through significant supports that we'll continue to put forward to keep them. Thank you very much. Next question. Members for Ottawa South. My question's for the Deputy Premier, but I first have to say that it's very disappointing, discouraging to hear the response to the member from Don Valley West that the government can't reinstate the curriculum that they undid. Last week, many seniors and their families felt a sigh of relief when the Premier announced that people 80 plus could rebook their second vaccine appointments earlier. This morning, that sense of relief turned into anger and frustration once again for too many seniors in my community. Our phones are ringing off the hook. As of 9am this morning, there were no more appointments available in Ottawa. So Speaker, through you, how are we once again in a situation where asking seniors 80 plus, many of whom experience difficulty booking their first appointment to go through the same process the second time with also giving the caveat last week is there's no guarantee you'll get an earlier appointment. Question. Government House Leader. And I apologize that he's not going to get an answer to the second question until the supplementary bill. Let me be very clear, Mr. Speaker. At no time did I say that this government and that the members on this side of the House wouldn't do everything that we can to ensure that there is reconciliation in the province of Ontario. What I have said, Mr. Speaker, is that we will not wait years to get it done. We will continue to work hard, whether it's with the Minister of Education, whether it's with the Minister of Indigenous Affairs, whether it's with the Minister of Finance, the members opposite to ensure that we have a true reconciliation. Today, Mr. Speaker, is about what we saw on the weekend, the horrific events of the weekend. I want to focus on that today and not politics, Mr. Speaker. For one day, I would hope that the members of the Liberal Party could put their focus on what is important. And what's important today is respecting what we saw on the weekend and making sure that the words for the member of Kewaughton, the member of Toronto Centre, that we get it done and we get it done. Today is, we need to teach our children. So, Deputy Premier, as of 8.15 this morning, a resident told me, she was told there are no more appointments available in Ottawa. And what I can't understand is how we couldn't procure a system or get ourselves organized to not make people go through the same darn process again. It's like we didn't learn anything the first time. If the government was serious about prioritizing seniors, they would have a system that would automatically rebook appointments or figure out a way to do that or organize it so more people were on the phone frustrated than happy. And making seniors and their families go through this again is just plain cruel. And I know that phones are ringing off and the PN, Canada, auto less the PN, same thing in your offices. So Speaker, through you, why does this government continue to over promise and under deliver, telling Ontario seniors they can rebook their vaccine appointment sooner and then literally saying last week, there aren't enough appointments to go around. To reply to the Minister of Health. Thank you. Well, I would say to the member opposite, our system and our government is prioritizing seniors as of today, that 80 year olds, if they wish, they can change the appointment that they already have the second appointment for an earlier appointment. There are vaccines available, there are appointments available, perhaps not in the same pharmacy where they've received their first if they received an AstraZeneca vaccine. However, it is available on our website at ontario.ca slash coronavirus. They can check which pharmacies are available, which ones do have the AstraZeneca vaccine and they can rebook. There are appointments available, there is vaccine available and the seniors are not required to change it, it is only if they wish to have an accelerated dosage. Most of them already have their second appointment already booked. This is something they can do if they wish, if they choose not to, if it's too much trouble for them to do, they can stick with the appointment that they already have. Response. It's very clear and it's very simple to do. The next question, the member for Parkdale High Park. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Housing. Last week, I attended a virtual hearing at the landlord and tenant board for two constituents in Parkdale High Park. Teresa de Mesa, a senior, and her disabled son, Anthony, have reliably paid their rent for 30 years, but their landlord, Nospor, is trying to evict them on issues of cleanliness. Despite the stay-at-home order, the landlord and tenant board is processing hundreds of evictions each week, putting the very lives of people like Teresa and Anthony at risk. Why is the Minister allowing this? Will the Minister put an end to eviction applications and hearings for the duration of the pandemic? Minister Nospor, there is an housing. Thanks, Speaker. I want to thank the member for the question. Our government has been crystal clear that when there's a stay-at-home order, there would be a pause on the issuance of evictions at the landlord and tenant board. This is something that Ontario's Attorney General did right at the start of the pandemic every time, every single time the government has decided to have a stay-at-home order. We have invoked a residential evictions ban. And through you, Speaker, I can again, as I've said many times in this House, the Attorney General has been working very diligently to deal with the staffing issues at the landlord tenant board. And as, again, Speaker, I want to remind the House, we put a bill forward in this House, the Protecting Tenants and Strengthening Community Housing Act, but something that needed to be done. That party across the official office voted against it. Supplementary question. Speaker, virtual hearings are a nightmare. There are so many technical issues. Tenants get disconnected while giving testimonies, and some are unable to reconnect back into the hearing. The entire experience is confusing. Multiple hearings are scheduled at the same time, and there are frequent interruptions. Now we've heard that this Conservative government is planning on making virtual hearings permanent, even though it is clear that tenants are not getting a fair process. Speaker, I'd like to know if the minister has witnessed any virtual hearings at the landlord and tenant board, because I have, and I can tell you, they don't work. Will the minister commit today to ensure that virtual hearings will not be permanent? The Attorney General. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and the priority of our government is the health and safety of everybody in Ontario, whether they're interacting through one of our tribunals, our independent tribunals. I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, that as the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has indicated, when there's a stay-at-home order, there is a pause on the enforcement of evictions. But that means that we still have to have the system working for both tenants and landlords, Mr. Speaker. We have a record number of tribunal appointees hearing these matters, so the people who have issues, whether they be tenants or landlords, can have their matters heard independently and safely. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Question? The Member for Guelph. Thank you, Speaker. I'd like to thank the Member for Quetnong for his powerful words today. My question today is for the Premier. Last Friday, I attended a Zoom rally with thousands of nurses and healthcare professionals calling on the Premier to repeal Bill 124. Nurses are tired of the Premier calling them heroes and champions, and then capping and cutting their wages. So, Speaker, tonight I will be cheering for the 500 front-line healthcare workers at the game while I cheer for the Leafs. But I know all healthcare workers across this province will cheer if the Premier repeals Bill 124 and gives them the pay increase they've earned and they deserve. It's a yes or no question. Will the Premier do it today? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I think the Honorable Member can appreciate how important nurses have been to helping guide us through this pandemic. Mr. Speaker, we make no bones about that. That is why, of course, we are investing in an initial 2,000 nurses, Mr. Speaker, but it goes even further than that, some 20,000 new additional PSWs. So there is a lot of work that is being done to increase the amount of nurses in the system because we know how important they are. It is true, Mr. Speaker. We did inherit a system that was woefully underfunded that had ICU capacity at one of the lowest in North America. We're changing that. Finally, Mr. Speaker, we're increasing nurses. We're increasing ICU capacity. We're funding PSWs like never before. We're building long-term care, Mr. Speaker. But we are still allowing, of course, those people, those heroes who work within the system to see the benefits of their hard work, Mr. Speaker. That has not been taken away through Bill 124, Mr. Speaker. And I hope the member opposite will appreciate that and work with us as we bring in thousands of additional nurses, thousands of additional PSWs to make our system better for everybody. Ms. Uplimentary question. Mr. Speaker, I guess that answer is no to the nurses who are tired, to the thousands of nurses thinking about leaving the profession, the nurses who care for our loved ones, but it's also the PSWs, Speaker. PSWs are saying they're thinking of leaving the profession because their pandemic pay expires in a month. I've been told if we are going to attract human resource capacity to our healthcare system, both nurses and PSWs, we need to pay them like the heroes they are. So I'm going to give the members opposite an opportunity to answer this one. Will, Speaker, through you, will the government commit to making the pandemic pay for PSWs permanent? Yes or no? Government House Leader. Mr. Speaker, what we are going to commit to do is to ensure that we have the best system available for those who choose to work as PSWs in the province of Ontario. One of the first meetings I had when I was elected was from a PSW who, yes, talked about wages. How important it was to have increased wages so that whether it was PSWs, home care workers, that's why we had a staffing study, Mr. Speaker. We know that one of the problems that we have not only is wages, but it is also the amount of PSWs in the system. That's why we're hiring 27,000 additional PSWs, Speaker. And we go further than that. The question was on PSWs, but 2,000 additional nurses. We have a bill that will come before this House today to recognize and organize PSWs, something that they had been asking for four years, Mr. Speaker, we are making tremendous progress because we know how important they are to help them get us through this pandemic, but not just the pandemic going forward, whether it's healthcare, long-term care, Mr. Speaker. We will have their back, and we are the first government in generations to make sure that they do. Next question, a member for York Southwest. Thank you, thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Premier. In York Southwest, and we are designated hot sports and home to essential frontline workers. Those folks, the Premier calls heroes and champions. However, we have been left behind and neglected in this government's mishandled COVID strategy. We have no permanent vaccine facility, and my office is flooded with telephone calls, confused people who got first shot of AstraZeneca at a family scene. And now being told, they cannot get their second dose there. And are left wondering what they do now. With the vaccine expiring shortly, what is the government doing to ensure these folks in our community get their second dose, and why has the government not been able to get anything right in what is now over 15 months of this pandemic? Minister of Health. Yes, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member very much for the question. As the member will know, the doses which are now receiving in good supply, particularly the Pfizer doses, but we still have many AstraZeneca doses left as well, are being allocated equitably across all 34 of the public health unit regions. It's up to each individual unit region now to allocate to any hot spots that they wish to designate. That's available to the City of Toronto to do. However, with respect to the AstraZeneca shots, we now know that there were some that were held back because we had to check them for quality assurance because we want to make sure that anything we give to Ontarians is first going to be safe and secondly is going to be effective. So we have received over 30,000 of those shots that have been returned from quality assurance that are ready to be extended and can be given to people. And they are available through pharmacies or primary care providers. People can find out where they can receive the shot. It may not be from the original pharmacy that they received it, but they can go online onto the website, ontario.ca slash coronavirus, and they can find out the pharmacies that are carrying those AstraZeneca doses. They can call and book an appointment to receive their second shot. Thank you, that concludes our question period for this morning. We now have a deferred vote on government notice of motion number 111 relating to the extension of the period of emergency. The bells will now ring for 30 minutes during which time members may cast their votes. I'll ask the clerks to prepare the lines.