 It is now time for oral questions and I recognize the leader of His Majesty's loyal opposition. Thank you, Speaker. Speaker, before I put my question, I want to welcome our next leader, Marit Stiles. Marit, we're all confident that you'll do great things as the next leader of the Ontario NDP. Congratulations. Continue. Thank you, Speaker. My question to the Minister of Health. This week, the Red Cross was called in to support CHEO due to an unprecedented surge of patients. Bringing in the Red Cross should only be a last resort used for unexpected emergency situations. Why didn't this government proactively support and staff children's hospitals in the summer and early fall when health care workers first sounded the alarm about the crisis in pediatric hospitals? Minister Bell. Thank you, Speaker. I'm going to quote the Chief Nursing Executive at CHEO who said, it's been all hands on deck at CHEO this viral season as we have responded to unprecedented volumes due to RSV flu and COVID. You know, it is not lost on our government that in the last month alone, CHEO has essentially doubled their pediatric ICU unit. It is an incredible amount of work that they've been able to do very quickly. We have now permanently made the investment to ensure that those pediatric beds will stay at CHEO because we know that that hospital in particular because of its large catchment area has many, many community hospitals that they are serving. They are doing that with a minimum amount of help from the Red Cross. They are partnering with the Red Cross to return the staff who have been redeployed and working in those pediatric ICU units to make sure that they can go on to doing their important work. Thank you. An supplementary question. Again to the Minister, what should have been part of this government's plan all along was a plan to address the root cause of our health care crisis at staffing issues. This government can take a tangible action right now to retain health care workers. Will the government commit to not appealing Bill 124? President of the Treasury Board. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The member knows, and as the AG has stated, that we are reviewing the decision and we intend to appeal it, but we will speak to the investments that we have made into the health care system over the past year alone. We have increased base spending in health care by over $5.2 billion. That is the largest year-over-year increase in the history of this province. Human resources across this province. We have put in place the investments to support the hiring of over 14,500 net new nurses. That is unprecedented in the history of this province, and we will continue to make those investments as we have with two new medical schools that we are announcing in this province in Brampton and Scarborough, making sure we have new medical schools in the north through that. So Mr. Speaker, the members opposite have voted against each of those measures. They have voted against every single increase to health care spending. What would they do on this side of the House? And with our members opposite, we will continue to make sure we make those investments. Thank you. Speaker, they can say whatever they want. They are failing. We have got a crisis. They didn't prepare for it. And we are seeing the consequences of this government's inaction in our hospitals every day. Yesterday it was a family in Eastern Ontario who struggled to find a hospital that could accept them for labour and delivery. First they tried their local hospital, but the birthing centre was closed due to staffing shortages. The next hospital they tried didn't have room. So finally they returned to their local hospital. That situation should never have happened. The mom, Kendra, said this afterwards, quote, I'm just afraid that the health care will fail me again, fail my son. What does the minister have to say to parents like Kendra who are scared for the future of our health care system? Thank you, Speaker. What I will say to the people of Ontario is that we are fixing a health care system that was woefully ignored by the previous Liberal government. The former Premier, Kathleen, when admitted publicly that she should not have cut those 50 doctor spaces that they did to assist in their health care crisis. You know, we are making the investments. Some of them are already, we're seeing additional health human resources in our communities, over 12,000 new health human resources who are working out in our communities, in our hospitals, in our long-term care homes. We're continuing to do that work by increasing residency spots, by increasing access, ensuring that young people who want to choose a career in health care have those options. And in many cases, nurses and PSWs in particular are getting that opportunity with assistance financially from our government. We'll make the investments. We'll continue to do the work. But frankly, we were left with a system that had been ignored for far too long. Next question, the member for Niagara City. Thank you, Speaker, through you to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. In May of 2021, one month after the Premier promised the people of Ontario quote, I'm not touching the green belt, a company controlled by Silvio de Gasparis took out a $100 million loan at 21% interest to buy 106 acres of green belt farmland in Vaughan. This was unusually risky loan for an undevelopable property, but less risky if Mr. de Gasparis had reason to believe the land would soon be made available for development. Did the minister or any other government official discuss proposals to develop these green belt lands with Mr. de Gasparis or any of his associates or lobbyists prior to November 4th, yes or no? Mr. Speaker, I think the minister has answered that on a number of occasions. Speaker, but I think again what it comes down to time and time again is that the entity just refused with the help of the Liberals quite frankly, they refuse to see the challenges that we have in the province of Ontario, the challenges that we are fixing. Of course, there is a housing crisis in the province of Ontario ostensibly because of the policies that were brought on by the Liberals supported by the NDP. Colleagues, we'll remember all of those years that the NDP propped up the Liberals to ensure that the dream of home ownership that so many of us have fought for, our entire lives our parents fought for under both the Liberals Liberals and the NDP, that is a dream that has vanished in the province of Ontario but because of this Premier, because of this Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Conservatives on both sides of the house. You know what, we're bringing that dream back Mr. Speaker. We're making sure that we're putting in place policies that will help people to prosper in the province of Ontario like generations before us and we only wish that they would get on board. A supplementary question. Speaker, again to the minister, according to the Toronto Star, Narwhal and the Globe and Mail, a company associated with Private Equity Firm Orca Equity purchased Greenbelt Farmland at 12045 McAllen Road in Stoville on September 10th, 2021. Two months later the minister issued a minister's zoning order for this address to enable a subdivision despite the fact that it was surrounded by Greenbelt Farmland. Did the minister or any other government official discuss proposals to develop these Greenbelt lands with any representative of Orca Equity or their development partners prior to November 4th, yes or no? Again, I think the minister has answered that. Now I love that the member brought up Stoville. Stoville, my hometown Mr. Speaker, of course it is a vibrant, beautiful community. Those who were in Stoville on the weekend would have had the benefit of one of the most beautiful Santa Claus parades that we have had in the province of Ontario. And as the people lined the streets, as the people lined the streets on both sides of Stoville, they shouted encouragement to make sure we continued on. You know what they said, Mr. Speaker? Bring more people to Stoville, Mr. Speaker. That's what they wanted because they all had what we all fight for, the dream of home ownership. The dream of home ownership. Just yesterday, now Mr. Speaker, I challenge any one of them to get up in their place and say it, say it with me, home ownership. Home ownership. It's not a bad word. It's something that generations of Ontarians and Canadians have fought for. You're against it. We want it and we will fight to make sure that all Ontarians share that dream. Stop the clock. Stop the clock. The member for Ottawa South will come to order. The member for Toronto St. Paul's will come to order. The minister of energy will come to order. We start at the clock. The member for Niagara Centre. Thank you. You're back to the minister. According to the CBC, the Toronto Star and the Narwhal, a company controlled by the chair of the Y view group acquired three green belt properties along Highway 48 in Markham in March, October and December of 2021. Flato development also appears to be involved with the development of these rural properties. The minister also seems to have a curious interest in these particular properties. On November 4th, he added them inside Markham's urban boundaries when he amended York Region's official plan. Did the minister or any other government official discuss proposals to develop these lands with any representative or associate of Y view or Flato prior to November 4th, yes or no? Once again, the government has said it. I think we've answered that on a number of occasions, Mr. Speaker, and I'm glad again he keeps talking about Stilville. He keeps talking about Markham and Stilville. I guess the member of parliament must be doing something right in Markham Stilville. So I thank you for continuously bringing that up for me. Listen, there are a number of home builders who are working throughout southern Ontario to bring the dream of home ownership to the people of the province of Ontario. As I said yesterday, when my parents came to this country, there was all of them were living in one home. All of them were living around home in the member for Scarborough Southwest riding on Dentonia Park just off of the Danforth. Six of them. And you know what they wanted? They wanted a home. The dream of home ownership won the oldest left and then the second oldest left. And within 10 years, each and every one of those brothers and one sister had their own home. It is why they left Italy to make a better life for all of the kids that they had after that, Mr. Speaker. And that's all that the people of this province want. They want the opportunity to succeed like their parents before them. The only time we lost that is when the Liberals propped up by the NDP took that dream away from the people of the province of Ontario. This Premier has brought that back and we're on the move again, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much. The next question, the member for Toronto, St. Paul's. Good morning, Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Today we honour the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Exactly 33 years to the day since 14 women were murdered at the hands of violent misogyny in Montreal. This was not an isolated event. Since 1990, over 980, Speaker, likely far more have been lost to femicide in Ontario alone. This year, the Renfrew County Inquest recommendations were published following a years-long investigation into the violent hate-filled murder of three women in 2015. Anastasia Kuzick, Natalie Warmerdum and Carol Culliton. From the government, Speaker, it's been a lot of crickets. My question is to the Premier. Will the Premier explain to these women's families why the government hasn't yet acted on any of these recommendations? Thank you, Speaker. Mr Children's Community and Social Services. Thank you, Speaker. First, I want to acknowledge the loss of all the women who have been murdered or killed across this province. There will be an opportunity this afternoon at 3 o'clock for each party, each group to be able to say several minutes on this topic. And I think this is an extremely important topic. And all women deserve safety and security. And our government is continuously constantly working to make the lives of women safer and to provide that security and for all Ontarians to live free of violence and fear. And we're working to prevent and address violence against women in all forms. And we've made the investments to back this up. Words alone as the member across the way has stated aren't enough. And that's exactly why we're making the investments that are necessary to change this. We've launched programs, we've passed legislation, aimed at ending violence and we will continue to do this important work because it matters to all of us. It should matter to society. It should matter to every Ontarian and we'll continue to do this. On new funding in the fall economic statement on gender-based violence, back to the Premier Speaker, Femmecide is both acceptable and preventable crime. But this doesn't happen through words, it happens through action. We're seeing a massive uptick in gender-based violence including intimate partner violence. All while the gap between the need for resources and resources available grows wider and wider each year. The urgency to act is grave. We cannot wait for another massacre like what happened in Montreal or Renfrew or anywhere else for that matter that we should have done. My question is to the Premier the government that has the opportunity to do what's right. Will the Premier finally respond to the Renfrew recommendations with a meaningful plan of action and budget to implement them now? Thank you. I can respond to this, Mr. General. Well, thank you Mr. Speaker. It's a serious question and as I've said many times in this House, everyone has a right to feel safe in their own homes and their own communities. The violence is completely unacceptable. Gender-based violence is a crime but we are moving forward and I want to speak for just a second about the Ontario Police College where we are introducing new trainings for recruits. This is something our government takes seriously. Everyone has a right to be safe in their own homes and their own communities. Next question, the member for Scarborough, Rouge Park. Canada recently hosted its first international swimming federation World Cup event in more than 20 years in my riding of Scarborough, Rouge Park. We welcome more than 450 athletes from 40 countries as they competed at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. I know I can speak on behalf of our entire province in extending our support admiration and well wishes successful event. However, some of our most talented athletes might not have the opportunity to compete internationally in events like this due to financial constraints. Ontario is a global leader in athletic performance and we must continue supporting our competitors as they represent our province and country. Speaker, can the Minister of Tourism Sports and Culture please share with the House what assistance our government is offering to help our athletes as they represent us on the world stage. Thank you. I'd like to thank the member for Scarborough, Rouge Park and yes I can. Our government is investing more than $6.3 million through Quest for Gold Program to support high performance athletes. This program benefits performance in a high level and provides financial support for training equipment, facilities, access to top level coaches those facilities again that they can work and train in and every young person in this province should have the opportunity to compete at a high level just like they should have an opportunity at some day to buy a home. We want all our kids to have the opportunity to play whether it's through our Jumpstart Program or on a bigger stage with Quest for Gold. It's a privilege to be able to represent Ontario and this country on the national and international stage and we want those opportunities to be available Speaker. Thank you Speaker. Thank you Minister for the response. Supporting Ontario's athletes show the world that when it comes to sports we are among the best places to train, compete and play. Ontario has long been a leading destination for major sports and entertainment events. We are investing in our local talent and hosting events like the International Swimming Federation World Cup which draws athletes, families and fans to our province from across the world. Speaker can the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport please elaborate what our government is doing to support national and international sports events that take place in Ontario. Minister. Speaker again thanks for the great question. Our hosting program brings major summer and winter sporting events to the province such as the FINA Swimming World Cup championships supported by us to the tune of $300,000. We are providing nearly $900,000 to support 14 national and international sport events in 16 host cities across Ontario this year and next. Building legacies and communities and building young people and the community, these events will contribute to more than $17 million to communities across Ontario that feature more than 4,600 athletes. Applications are now open so I would encourage Indigenous communities, non-for-profit organizations, municipalities to go ahead and submit proposals by January 9th. Together we are making Ontario a destination to train, to live and to host. No one does want to go to Ontario, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Crystal Quartz, a drag performer living in Guelph has seen a spike in violent threats against drag artists. She's being threatened by a hate group who has promised to disrupt her performance and give her audience a show they'll never forget. Crystal is now forced to call the local police and hire private security for her and Kelsey's. Will this government take on bigots who threaten drag performers and their audiences with hate and threats of violence? The Attorney General. This is a very serious topic and it's important that we address hate in all of its forms. We're seeing the rise of hate as it relates to religion, gender, all sorts of different ways of describing it is something this government takes seriously. It's something that we're investing in to make sure that we have the supports for those who are the victims and it's something that we're making sure goes to the front of everything that we do to make sure that we have people in safe communities and the kind of communities that they want to live in. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Speaker. Back to the Premier. Words are not enough. Yesterday Crystal shared her personal reflection with me and I quote, she said, she says, parents tell me that the whole week afterwards it's all their kids talk about. I go into communities that don't have safe spaces and create them. Crystal's upcoming performance this Sunday is a brunch performance. It has already faced additional and escalating threats. What exactly is the Premier doing to protect Ontario's drag community, their artists, their communities and their communities? I don't know. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's important that we have the resources available for anybody who feels vulnerable, whether it be before or after a potential incident, Mr. Speaker. We have training at every level. We have training for those who operate in victim services. We have training for those who are judiciary. We have training for those who operate early stages of their careers, Mr. Speaker. Resources are available if people are not feeling comfortable then they can reach out. I note as particular we can chat offline after question period if you wish about the resources that are available because it is important, Mr. Speaker. We are talking about our friends and our families and our children as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Energy. Nuclear power represents a critical component of our province's energy production capability now and in the future. Ontario is a global leader when it comes to nuclear power and in producing new and innovative energy technology. Now we've heard our government, Mr. Speaker, and the Minister of Energy are working together in generating clean and reliable electricity to power Ontario and our growing economy. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Energy please tell us more about what the next steps are in advancing SMR technology here in Ontario? What a thrill it was for me to be in the member's riding, the clean energy capital of Canada and the Durham region along with the Premier on Friday morning to build a small modular reactor. The member's hair was blowing in the wind and we were all jealous about that, or at least I was, but this was an historic moment for our province. Construction underway, a 300 megawatt small modular reactor. What does that mean, Mr. Speaker? A 300 megawatt small modular reactor is enough to power a city the size of London, Mr. Speaker. Our plan is not to build just one site at Darlington, but potentially four. That's 1200 plus megawatts that will add to our clean and I emphasize clean, reliable, affordable electricity grid in the province of Ontario. We have an incredible team at OPG that's going to be building that BWRX 300 and Mr. Speaker, the world is watching what's happening in Canada's clean energy capital. Thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you to the Minister for his answer to quote that old song from the 60s, the answer my friend is blown in the wind I guess, but with global businesses looking to expand in jurisdictions with clean and cost effective electricity, small modular reactors will help us as we compete and attract more game changing investments here at home. SMRs, Mr. Speaker, have the potential to drive job creation, economic growth and export opportunities which will allow Ontario to leverage its highly skilled nuclear industry and workforce. However members from across the aisle continue to say no and oppose the advancement of new nuclear technology. Mr. Speaker, therefore can the Minister of Energy provide further details on how our government supports this critical endeavor? Mr. Speaker, this is a tremendous opportunity for our province a tremendous opportunity for our country. I don't understand why members opposite would be opposed to this kind of technology a first of its kind that is going to allow us to create good jobs in our supply chain here in Ontario already 76,000 people work in our nuclear supply chain across the country almost all of them, about 65,000 of them right here in Ontario. This is a tremendous export opportunity for Ontario and for Canada, Mr. Speaker. The small modular reactor has as I say the world is watching and the world really is watching this project Mr. Speaker. Countries over in Europe and around the world are looking for energy autonomy energy security and this is the flexible form of electricity generation that's clean that the world is looking for. It confounds me Mr. Speaker that members opposite aren't standing and applauding the work that is happening in Canada's clean energy capital with OPG in the Durham region. Stand with us and push for this project to be the success that it's going to be Mr. Speaker. The next question, a member for Nicola Bellis. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Question for the Minister of Health. Linda Lewis from Sudbury is an endometrial cancer survivor. She requires annual PAP test by our oncology team. The test on October 18 usually it takes between three and six weeks for the results to come in. But when she called her doctor last week she was told that it now takes six months for the results to come in. Minister is six months an acceptable amount of time for cancer patients to wait for a diagnostic test result. Opposite is highlighting exactly why our government is making commitments and making the investments in the health care system. We are hiring and training additional health human resources whether those are lab technicians, personal support workers, nurses, PSNs, doctors. We're making those investments because we saw that we did not have sufficient capacity. The health care system was ignored for far too long. We're making those investments now. We are seeing some very good work in the field in the community. We're seeing the increased numbers of nurses, PSWs who are working in the system over 12,000 more than pre-pandemic. So we'll continue to get the job done and we'll make those investments so that we don't have long wait times for things like diagnostic testing. Thank you. When cancer patients have to wait six months for test results it often needs more intensive treatment. More expensive treatment and increased rest of harm. Ontario lab services are now dominated by LifeLab, a private for-profit company. In my writing, LifeLab offers terrible customer service. They let frail elderly people wait outside in minus 20 weather. They have minimum staffing. They have minimum hours of operation and huge delay for test result. Will the minister agree that privatizations of our lab services made our lab services worse? Minister of Health. I have to respectfully ask the member opposite if she read her first half of her question before she filled out the second. You are talking about how we need to increase capacity. We are doing that as a government. We are ensuring that all partners have the ability to expand and continue to offer services in our community. We will do that with all of our partners. We are not going to freeze out individuals and organizations that can be part of the solution. Thank you, Speaker. Next question, the member for Don Valley West. Thank you, Speaker. On November 25th, 15 top architectural firms and urban planners wrote an open letter to the premier. I hope he read it. The letter says it will inhibit the construction of affordable housing, dismantle regional planning and urban design considerations, undermine environmental protection and limit public participation how we build our communities. For example, by reducing the affordable housing requirement in inclusionary zoning from 20% to just 5%, it will reduce fees that cities use to pay for housing inspections. Speaker, none of that sounds good for Ontarians. The Premier's own housing task force did not say we need to swap land in the green belt to get housing built. So my question to the premier, who is telling him that paving over the green belt is the solution to the housing crisis and are they the same people who will stand to profit from this decision? To respond, the Premier. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I find it so rich and so ironic hearing from the Liberals that changed the green belt 17 times. You should do your homework. You froze housing. We have 300,000 people coming to Ontario every single year. I see the young people there. I see people up here that are renting. Do you know what their goal is in life? Their goal is to own a home. It's supply and demand, Mr. Speaker. But I can tell you the last people we should be listening to is the government that destroyed housing. I've just voted against every housing bill that we've had. He destroyed housing. Your energy will come to order. Member for Carleton will come to order. Member for Ottawa South will come to order. Supplementary question? Member for Donald. Thank you, Speaker, and thank you to the Premier for that passionate response. We can all agree that we need more homes for Ontario. But I ask the government members not to interrupt. Another member who has the floor with loud applause such that I can't hear the member who has the floor. Please restart the clock. The member can continue. Thank you, Speaker. We can all agree that we need more homes for Ontarians. However, it appears that private land developers and at least some members of this Conservative government are the only ones who think paving over farmland in the green belt is the solution. Thousands of people have signed petitions. I know that my West have written to me and other MPPs and joined rallies through one of over 30 respected environmental, social justice, housing and agricultural organisations. Municipalities opposed Bill 23 because it threatens affordable housing, it threatens the environment and makes land speculators richer. My question again to the Premier, why is this government ignoring the advice from experts and trying to convince Ontarians that this bill is for the people when in fact people can see that this bill is for the people when in fact people can see that this bill is for the people when in the green belt. Minister Misbel, fairs and housing. Under the leadership of Premier Ford, we've got a housing plan. Here's what we're fighting for. The Premier is right. We've got young people both in front of me and behind me in the galleries. A recent report from the charitable organisation Generation Squeeze released a 56 in order for millennials to buy a home in the province. The report says average home prices need to drop by $530,000 more than 60% of the market value last year for them to afford a mortgage that covers 80% of the value. It takes 22 years of full-time work for the typical young person to save a 20% down payment on an average priced home. The report reads which is 17 years longer than they were at our age. Speaker, this is the fight. This is what we're fighting for. To make sure the young people realise the dream of home ownership under the leadership of Premier Ford, we're going to get it done soon. The next question, start the clock. Member for Thunder Bay, Attacoca. Thank you, Speaker. Farmers in Northern Ontario contribute over $200 million annually to our provincial economy. Unfortunately, the previous Liberal government refused to acknowledge the important potential that Northern agriculture could offer. Across the north, a vast tract of fertile land stretches between the Cochrane District and the Quebec border, known as the Great Clay Belt. This area represents an untapped agricultural and economic opportunity for our farmers in the north and our entire province. Our agri-food sector in the north needs assurance that our government is committed to that growth. Speaker, can the fantastic minister of agricultural food and rural affairs please share with the House what actions our government is taking to support Northern agriculture? Thank you very much. Thank you very much to the member from Thunder Bay, Attacoca. I visited his particular area last year and was impressed with the agricultural presence that particular region of Northern Ontario has. Just this past week I spent time in Timmins with the amazing Minister of Agriculture. His passion and his commitment to the agri-food sector in Northern Ontario not only is infectious, but it's inspired as well. Through our ministry of agriculture food and rural affairs and the Canadian agricultural partnership we have invested $300,000 in a thoughtful strategy that embraces ideas coming from the city of Timmins and the municipality of Blackwater Matheson as well as our farming communities as well. That thoughtful approach is taking a look at how we can further develop our lands in Northern Ontario into production primary production and it's through leadership like the Commerce Management Group and the Abitibi Institute that we're exploring more opportunities. We met with Frank who's been milking cows since 1958. We met with Karen Regenerative Farming Eric Urban Farming and Ed a 1600 cashcropper in Northern Ontario. There's so much more to talk about and I can't wait for my supplemental. Supplementary question. Thank you Speaker and thank you to the Minister for her response. With ongoing geopolitical tensions impacting worldwide food supply chain we must ensure we are harnessing all opportunities for agricultural growth in our province. Northern Ontario represents a significant region that could supply Ontario and the world with abundant agricultural products. In particular the North's play belt region represents a jurisdiction that could increase farm and food production capabilities for the agribusiness sector benefiting all Ontario. Speaker once again my question is to the Minister of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs what further actions is our government taking to help create or cement agriculture as a pillar of the Northern economy. Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs. Thank you Speaker that's a really good question because the Minister of Mines very eloquently made a fact knowing this past week when we were in timings. You know the economy in Northern Ontario actually has a trifecta. Mines forestry as well as agriculture and our government since elected have invested in 250 Northern projects totaling 4.1 million and I also want to give a nod and share my appreciation to the Minister of Northern Development who has supported over 300 projects worth 55 million dollars of investment in agriculture and food production. We're bridging that community in Northern Ontario to new technologies and new innovations that will see more arable land in Northern Ontario that outsizes Manitoba into production and you know it's working because in talking about potatoes we learned from OFVGA just yesterday that they're looking to increase potato production and seed potato production we're increasing the number of cars on the Ontario Northland are bringing grains down to Southern Ontario everywhere every point in Ontario is going to be proud of the agriculture production thank you very much. Thank you the member from London North Centre my question is to the Premier Food Bank use has hit a record high under the Ford Government the London Food Bank reports that over 20,000 Londoners can't afford food this year will this government listen to feed Ontario double social assistance rates tackle precarious work build social housing and finally crack down on price gouging in the grocery aisle Mr. Finance Mr. Speaker thank you to the member opposite for that question Mr. Speaker no question that many are hurting in this province in this country with higher price of groceries among many other things and that's why our colleagues in Ottawa across all party lines have struck a parliamentary committee to look at price food prices right across the province and that work is happening now but you know now that we're talking about the federal government you know what they could do to help with the cost of everything across Canada to lower the carbon tax this government took action back in March to lower gas prices at the pump by reducing the gas tax for fuel and for gas and then extended it for another year starting January 1st to provide relief to the many people in Ontario who are struggling with day-to-day costs Mr. Speaker back to the Premier today food banks across Niagara are hosting a press conference raising red flags they need help month over month up to 10% of St. Catherine's population has used the food bank while usages has doubled since last year why low wage jobs high rent social assistant rates all while grocery stores are gouging families Speaker will this government provide cost of living help of families so they do not have to keep turning to the food banks and review policies that are contributing to driving more people to food banks food banks Mr. Speaker thank you again for these very important questions about the cost of living and many the prices that people are feeling not only at the grocery store but at the pumps and rent and the high cost of through interest rates Mr. Speaker and that's why we've taken action that's why we started taking action this spring that's why we moved to reduce gas taxes that's why we removed the tolls on the 412 the 418 that's why we rebated the license plate stickers but we didn't stop there Mr. Speaker we increased the minimum wage Mr. Speaker we lowered the tax rebates so Ontarians pay some of the lowest income taxes for low income workers across the country but we didn't stop there Mr. Speaker with a guaranteed annual income supplement for seniors 200,000 that helped people on Ontario disability by increasing it by 5% unindexing it to inflation why did you vote no every single time for a measure Mr. Speaker the next question the member for Scarborough Guildwood Mr. Speaker as we approach the holiday season and the final weeks of the year it is particularly concerning that the feed Ontario hunger report shows sky rocketing food bank use including a 64% increase in first time visits overall 587,103 adults and children access a food bank in Ontario between April 1st 2021 and March 31st 2022 that's an increase of 15% and just this week Canadian food experts projected food prices will rise 5% to 7% in the first half of 2023 so it's clear that things are not getting easier for families while the Premier and his government admit that stubborn inflation and a lack of affordable housing is impacting Ontarians there is inaction in leaving the provinces most vulnerable out in the cold and they are hungry Mr. Speaker my question to the Premier and the price of groceries for a family of four going up by over $1000 what is the government's plan to address these rising costs and like so many families in my riding of Scarborough-Gilwood why is it that this government is letting families depend on food banks so heavily Mr. Speaker I know Scarborough very well from top to bottom from east to west north to south Mr. Speaker I just want to remind the people of this province as you were one of the ministers and your whole gang there you lost 300,000 jobs I spoke to the auto sector with my friend Vic Fidelli here and they chased jobs out of the province let me remind everyone as we stand today in four years there's 500,000 more people working today than there was when we took office Mr. Speaker there's 380,000 jobs available as we sit right here you can go anywhere down any street in the province and find gainful employment as the minister of finance said we drop the gas prices for the supply chain by 10 cents we need the federal government to drop their 11 cents and put meaningful relief to the taxpayers of this province thank you please make your comments to the chair supplement your question I'm very glad that the premier mentioned working the impact of the affordability crisis is widespread and the fact is that this government underspent on our most vulnerable residents throughout the pandemic shamefully this includes those with disabilities for many on ODSB and OW the post budget income support level is still not enough to cover rent, food and transportation so that they can have healthy meals last week I met with residents in my riding of Scarborough Guildwood and after they reached out to me for help and what I heard was heartbreaking Kamala told me that while there was a 5% increase for ODSP it does not come close to a livable income when she faces soaring inflation and when rates were frozen for so long since 2018 Theresa explained to me that her main source of stress each month is getting groceries because the rate increase doesn't apply to ODSP recipients in fact she told me that she spends hours lining up at the food bank to make ends meet she pointed out that many OW recipients question disabilities trying to access ODSP and forced to live on $733 a month will the government preserve the $100 worker related benefit and will they provide a similar rate increase for people on OW as they have done for ODSP Premier I remember under the Liberals they didn't increase it at all we've increased it 5% Mr. Speaker 5% to help the most vulnerable people in our society as for transit Mr. Speaker the member from Scarborough voted down the Scarborough subway over and over again through our great Minister of Transportation we're building the largest transit plan in North America $30 billion we're bringing transit to the people of Scarborough Mr. Speaker we're making sure the people that are Ontario works have an opportunity to go out there and get a great job to make themselves feel great and also put money into their pockets that's what we're doing Mr. Speaker as they just absolutely destroyed the economy we're growing the economy we saw gains of 22,000 full-time jobs just last month and again the previous month we're growing Ontario we're getting it done for the people here the member for Oxford Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker my question is to the Minister of Finance with rising costs due to global inflation many people in my riding of Oxford particularly low-income seniors are concerned high food prices affect household budgets and can restrict people from being able to purchase the items they need the impact of rising prices has felt first and hardest by the most vulnerable including low-income families, workers and seniors in those challenging times the government must provide additional relief for the cost of living and prioritize help for those that need it the most Mr. Speaker can the Minister of Finance explain how our government will ensure financial support for seniors and those most in need Mr. Finance Thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you to the hard-working member from Oxford for that question in fact wasn't there a good announcement yesterday in Ingersoll and the members riding creating good jobs good bigger paychecks in his riding so congratulations to your hard work not to mention the Minister of Economic Development and the Premier as well look it's a very important question for over 200,000 seniors on fixed incomes it's really important that we provide support in this environment where inflation we haven't seen inflation like this in 40 years not since I was a wee kid and what we did to help that many 200,000 people out was to double the guaranteed annual income supplement Mr. Speaker to get the Minister of Seniors likes it we've increased it from $166 to $1,992 per year this year providing necessary and important relief to the many seniors who helped build this province the supplementary question thanks I thank you Speaker and thank you to the Minister for that response it's reassuring to hear that our government is implementing informed and targeted measures to help support our senior population that said the issue of affordability is not exclusive to low income seniors alone across the province and the Ontario's Ecpectacy initiative that helped make life more affordable Speaker can the Minister of Finance please tell the House what other ways our government plans to support the people of Ontario during this period of economic uncertainty again the Minister of Finance replies thank you again to the member from Oxford for that another good question Mr. Speaker you know I was at the seniors event at the Pickering Recreation Center on Sunday actually yes and the Minister has been there and it was great to have people out again great to see the many seniors in our community get together and that's why we're helping many the seniors and many people not just in Durham but right across the province we took off the tolls in the 412 and the 418 we expanded the low income workers tax credit so there would be more money in their pockets in this environment we're proposing as I mentioned earlier in the fall economic statement to extend the gas and fuel tax cut for next year and Mr. Speaker one I'm extremely proud of we increased the earning exemption for people on Ontario disability support program from $200 to $1000 for those who can and want to work so that they can have more money in their pockets Mr. Speaker the member for Parkdale High Park Thank you Speaker two weeks ago I shared with the government that about 1000 tenants in my riding are facing major rent increases some as high as 14% all because the Premier made unlimited rent increases legal for new buildings in 2018 I have introduced a bill to extend rent control protections to all tenants in the province will the Premier give tenants the stability they need and protect them from rent gouging by passing the rent control for all tenants act Hi I'm the Minister Mr. Speaker the fall economic statement in 2018 targeted a rent control piece for one purpose and one purpose only and that was to incent new purpose built rental construction in the province what happened Speaker last year in 2021 we had the highest level of purpose built rental construction since the early 90's in addition during the pandemic the government did a number of things working very closely with the Attorney General we froze evictions to ensure that at the height of the pandemic our most vulnerable had a safe secure place to call home but Speaker I don't want to couch my words the government is not going to go back to the times when there were no purpose built rental construction in Ontario we want to build upon the success of that 2018 amendment to ensure that there is an incentive to build more purpose built rental and in the supplementary I'll talk about other measures that this member in her party voted against supplementary the member for Waterloo Thank you back to the Minister last week residents of Sunnydale housing complex in Waterloo were notified of a 5.5% rent increase happening on January 1 Spice Cart the owner of Sunnydale received an exemption from the landlord and tenant board to raise tenants rents over 2.5% many Sunnydale residents live on fixed incomes they are vulnerable and quite a few are new refugees to our region given the lack of affordable housing options in the region there is nothing to do why does this government refuse to bring in stronger rent control protections which would protect tenants of Sunnydale and rent or households across the province Mr. President how is it the member knows I'm not going to comment on a case that was before the landlord and tenant board it's a tribunal and it's impartial and there's no role for me to respond for that but what I will say speaker is that this government places a policy on the table whether it be through regulation or legislation that member and new democrats vote against whether it be the 2018 initiative that resulted in a record of rentals being constructed whether it be bill 184 the protecting tenants and strengthening community housing act they voted against it and even in bill 23 the building homes more homes built faster one of the best incentives is that DC exemption for family sized rental accommodation 25% again speaker every time the government puts forward an incentive to build more rental accommodation that member and the NDP vote against it every single solitary time question the member for Richmond Hill another previous liberal government Ontario's emergency management system was not up to date stockpiles of personal protective equipment were depleted or expired when they were critically needed the province was left with the serious challenge of finding the new PPE when worldwide productions shortages occurred this was unacceptable my constituents in Richmond Hill were very concerned our government must ensure that Ontario is never again placed in a situation where critical supplies of personal protective equipment must be sourced from other jurisdiction speaker can the minister of public and business services delivery please update the house on what action our government has taken to safeguard access to critical PPE supplies thanks Daisy welcome business services delivery thank you very much speaker and I thank the great member of Richmond Hill for her question and the great work he is doing in her community speaker under the leadership of Premier Ford this government remains laser focused when it comes to the health and safety of Ontarians and this is why we have built a robust PPE stockpile to protect frontline and other critical workers while ensuring our province is ready for any future emergencies speaker we have shipped over 700 million pieces of PPE since the start of the pandemic and approximately we have actually procured and distributed over 157 million of rapid antigen tests over 97,000 HEPA filter units and thanks to Premier and this great minister of development, job creation and trade I am proud to say that 93% of the forecast PPE procurement for the next 18 months will be with Ontario or Canadian based manufacture supplementary question thank you Mr Speaker I am relieved thank you Minister for all the actions that you have taken for us as we move forward it is encouraging to know that our government's actions which will be providing Ontario with a dependable supply of personal protective equipment while our PPE stockpile remains a critical part of our government's plan to stay open we know that the whole of the government approach will be required to address any future needs that could arise Speaker can the Minister of Public and Business Services delivery please elaborate on how the government is strengthening our emergency response planning Minister thank you Speaker and I thank the member for her supplementary question Speaker under the leadership of Premier Ford we learned that it is important to keep our stockpile of PPE critical supplies stable so we are able to response to surges associated with extraordinary events while balancing the changing needs within the sector while my ministry has typically overseen our province's pandemic supply chain procurement we continue to provide the necessary support to the ministries for example Ministry of Education colleges and universities health long term care other ministries to support them in the great job they are doing to keep our students and vulnerable Ontarians safe and feeling protected Speaker our government will continue its data driven approach ensuring we avoid the mistakes made by the previous governments and are well prepared in the future all of this will further help us to ensure our province stays open and continues to thrive Thank you My question is to the Premier the Auditor General revealed last week that $158 million was diverted from highway improvements on highway 17 and 11 in northern Ontario I want to know why The Ministry of Transportation was very clear that the projects that were identified in the Auditor General's report as deferred have actually all moved forward either in the planning stages or due diligence stages or the construction stages but the member opposite knows very well that our government has been committed to road safety and construction in northern Ontario we're moving forward the twinning of highway 17 between the Manitoba border and Canora we have been working on building 14 new rest stops and rehabilitating 10 rest stops to make sure that we can provide safety for our drivers as they're going along our northern roads and we're moving forward with an innovative new highway pilot called the 2 plus 1 project a project that came from the northern transportation task force and was recommended by people who live and drive in the north and who take road safety there so seriously we are very proud of the record that we have on keeping our northern roads safe and on rehabilitating and building our highways there and we're going to continue to do that Speaker, short changing the north has some serious outcomes and unfortunately what we see in the media in the north is another fatality another family that has lost a loved one and this is something that the member myself as the member of the Malcoma Manitoba I don't want to get used to seeing in our papers I want to see improvements to our highways I want to see this investment of $158 million return to those highways in northern Ontario I want to see safe roads I want to see the member's bill from James Bay to Mashkegawa actually supported by this government to bringing the highway services down to 8 hours standard to making our roads safer on our highways in northern Ontario that's what I want to see on our highways I'm asking this government are you prepared to making the investments that were initiated for northern Ontario return so that we could have safe highways as everybody else deserves in this province thank you Mr. Speaker the member opposite knows that we are investing over $600 million in our highways in the north and as I just mentioned that all the projects identified and the auditor general's report is deferred are actually all moving forward our government is committed to building in the north and we're committed to road safety in the north that's why we brought forward a completely new standard for highway winter maintenance a 12 hour to bear pavement standard the best and highest standard anywhere in Canada Mr. Speaker we made significant investments and equipment we're bringing innovative new solutions to keeping our roads safe and we're going to continue to work to find the best standards and to do the best we can by the people in the north thank you that concludes our question period for this morning point of order the member for