 It is now time for question period. I recognize the leader of majesty's loyal opposition Well, thanks very much speaker my first question this morning is to the premier yesterday the premier told reporters and I quote I won't hesitate to lock things down Unfortunately seems obvious to everyone perhaps except for the premier that he will hesitate to put recommend a recommended public health measures in Place even when lives are at stake If the premier meant what he said yesterday, perhaps then he could tell us today exactly what the threshold will be for this lock down Premier to reply. Well, I want to thank the leader of the opposition for the question. Mr. Speaker You know all throughout this pandemic what we do as a team and as a province we listen to our professional health experts and that's what we're going to continue to do is listen to the health experts listen Dr. Williams and the in the health team and When we see the numbers going up as we did we acted immediately Mr. Speaker when we saw numbers potentially hitting 6,500 Cases a day again. We acted immediately. We lowered the threshold and I know the health Experts around the province. Thank us for doing that along with many local mayors right across the region. Thank you Thank you the supplementary question Well, speaker in fact on this side of the house We are siding with doctors and frontline health experts calling for a circuit breaker to halt the pandemic spread and support for small Businesses being devastated by the second wave of the pandemic. Sadly, the premier has decided to gamble with people's lives Even when his own health experts begged him not to at what point will the premier admit that crushing the virus is in fact The best way to protect small businesses and jobs and offer the financial support that businesses need to survive Instead of leaving them on their own Premier First of all, you can't have it both ways Speaker you can't you can't vote against our our budgets that are supporting Small businesses to the tunes of billions and billions of dollars and then come out and say what are we doing for small businesses? There's never been more pro-small business government ever in the history of this province and this government that we have Mr. Speaker throughout the budget that our great finance minister put together We put a tax reduction that will reduce all BET rates by point 88 Percent that equals thousands and thousands of dollars for these small businesses It will benefit matter of fact over 100,000 businesses and properties or 94% of all business properties in Ontario this represents a Reduction of 30% for businesses subject to the highest rates mr. Speaker Well speaker have news for the premier a business education tax reduction is not going to matter if you can't pay Your bills and you're out of business boarding up your front windows and doors the premier needs to realize however Speaker that there are lives at stake here It isn't a time for empty promises and make believe claims about flattening the curve Yesterday the chief medical officer of health for this province actually said Ontario could be in green zone by by Christmas Yet the government's current path actually leaves us racing in exactly the opposite direction When will the premier make crushing the virus the priority put health measures in place that will actually slow the spread and Offer direct Immediate support to businesses to help them survive, which is what they've been asking for and still don't have Well mr. Speaker not not only are we lowering the BET we're also Looking at the EHT the payroll exemption of about 490,000 to a million dollars, which is absolutely huge This meant 90% of Ontario Private sector employers are exempt from paying the EHT That's again money being put in the pockets of small businesses mr. Speaker We also have 14,500 monthly rent that they could save Over a certain period of time and that's roughly about 90 percent of rent relief Mr.. Speaker we have put in billions and billions of dollars no matter if it's 65 percent of the payroll if it's 90% with cooperation with the federal government 90% response right subsidy We're there to help the small businesses and I just wish the leader of the opposition would vote for some of these bills That support small businesses then always vote against small businesses and the hard-working people of Ontario. Thank you The next question once again the leader of the opposition speaker my next question is also for the premier But I think everybody who understands what the EHT is knows that small businesses are not going to benefit because it's about Businesses with big payrolls not small businesses. So we know what the threshold was We know what the new threshold is and it's really clear that the premier is You know trying to make something out of nothing but nonetheless throughout the pandemic the premier has repeatedly insisted You know what I know, but it's become even more clear over the last week that that is just not the case It has not been the case and it's become more clear Yesterday's Toronto's Board of Health was informed that every member of the provincial table providing public health advice to senior government Officials has been made to to sign a non disclosure agreement. So if the premier wants us all to know what he knows Why is he muscling people that are advising the government? Mr. Speaker going back to businesses from the beginning of this and unfortunately through COVID There was 1.1 million jobs that disappeared because of COVID from June to October Ontario gained 860 8,000 more jobs back 144,000 more manufacturing jobs. We've regained from June to October Matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, we have more manufacturing jobs now than we did Pre-pandemic so we're going to continue supporting the small businesses. Thank you Speaker Her Majesty's loyal opposition is going to keep asking the premier to be transparent about the decisions He's making on COVID-19 Muzzling health experts would be concerning at any time speaker But it's especially concerning in the middle of a worldwide pandemic and it is outright dangerous When you have a premier who has already proven that he will claim He has the support of health experts even when they disagree with him Will the government stop muzzling these experts make all recommendations Make all recommendations from the COVID-19 tables public today And tear up those non-disclosure agreements Premier Mr. Speaker You know, I feel very insulting towards our great medical team. That's been working for a long time I think it's a great opportunity for us to be able to work together to make sure that we have the support of health experts And I think it's a great opportunity for us to be able to work together to make sure that we have the support of health experts Very very insulting towards our great medical team. That's been working here day in and day out, but That be that being Said mr. Speaker We there's no government. There's no elected official that has been out there every single day Like we have our team has been out there at one o'clock You want to know what's going on mr. Speaker and being transparent It's one o'clock That we go out there every single day But what what I don't accept what I don't accept someone criticizing me The leader of the opposition the leader of the liberals they've been hiding out like Bonnie and Clyde for the last seven months. That's what bothers me The final supplementary You know what that kind of nonsense from the premier of Ontario in the midst of the global plan pandemic Is nothing less than shameful and irresponsible He has to answer questions of the official opposition whether he likes it or he doesn't and it became tragically clear Last week that the premier will claim that he has the support of medical experts Even when those experts disagree with him during a pandemic when people's lives are at stake The people of Ontario have a right to know when the premier is following the best medical advice And when he's rolling the dice with their health and with their well-being How can anyone believe the premier is following advice of experts when he's actually literally Muzzling them preventing them from sharing the advice with the public Deputy premier and minister of health to reply. Thank you. In fact, our government has been completely Transparent with the public since this pandemic began With the briefings that we have every day at one o'clock where the premier comes out and answers questions from the media On a whole variety of topics. We also have dr. Williams coming out two times a week to independently answer questions All of that is completely independent people can ask whatever questions Asked we also have our modeling experts come out But as to the suggestion that every single member of the pandemic table should be coming out with their views of things One bit at a time. That's not the way this thing works What happens is we receive the recommendations through dr. Williams That is something that cabinet then discusses and makes final decisions upon that is the way any private sector Organization or not-for-profit operates. You don't have l the director speaking You have one representative speaking and that representative is dr. Williams and we rely on his advice Speaker and my question is to the premier As breakouts in long-term care continue to grow faster and larger by the day The minister continues to pretend that everything is a okay their stats show they've got everything under control But while this government downplays How many seniors are getting sick or dying nearly 250 more residents have already lost their lives in this new wave of outbreaks Speaker the minister and the premier want want to pat on the back for saying things are going better than the first wave When over 1800 seniors lost their lives in long-term care homes But the cold statistics can't hide the fact that families are losing their loved ones Will the premier and the minister The people who have lost their lives are more than just statistics their families are devastated Why won't this government act now? Mr long-term care Thank you speaker and thank you to the member opposite for the question Our government has been absolutely clear that the top priority is the safety and well-being of residents and staff And loved ones in long-term care. There is no doubt about that And we have put every measure behind that starting with the urgent and decisive action that we took at the beginning of this pandemic 243 million dollars to help stabilize the sector that went out and recently we announced another Almost over half a billion dollars 540 million dollars including staffing supports including dollars for operational Aspects to improve infection prevention and control I mean the list goes on in terms of the dollars that we have resourced Our long-term care sector to support them in their time of need 40 million dollars to support homes that have been impacted by the changes In the occupancy that we've had to address because the wardrooms and the 1970s to built homes We're so badly neglected by the previous government and supported by the the ndp and and the ppe getting all of these measures To our long-term care homes. We have taken decisive action for the benefit of residents Thank you very much the supplementary question Speaker i'm asking the premier the government's handling of the first wave was so bad families of those Who died at orchard villa one of the worst hit homes in the first wave Are now concerned that not not not only our homes covering up the number of people who died from covet They're also concerned about the deaths that the homes say were from covet But they believe that they're really from starvation Dehydration and neglect. These are what the families are saying. That's what they want to know They plan to take orchard villa to court in order to get answers But the government has now changed the law making it nearly impossible to take for-profit homes to court So why is the premier and the minister minister still protecting Their friends running private for-profit long-term care homes When they are going when are they going to do the right thing and just take over all these homes and ensure That this gets sorted out and this never happens again. Thank you The parliamentary system and member for drug Thank you speaker. Let me be absolutely clear Individuals and organizations that ignore public health guidance and act with gross negligence or intentional misconduct Will not be protected by this legislation The narrow targeted civil liability protection in this legislation has only to do with the inadvertent transmission of covet 19 And nothing else This legislation does not protect any other type of negligence that we heard from the opposition In this house or at committee like if a resident is not given proper medication Or if a longer care provider fails to provide the necessities of life Or if a long-term care operator communicates inaction with families Ontarians will continue to be able to file claims and seek justice in the court for all of these matters Thank you. The next question the member for chatham kent lemington. Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker My question is to the premier Premier as we work through the Second wave of covet 19 now more than ever We have to make sure our healthcare heroes have the access to critical PPE They need to keep themselves another safe Early in the pandemic our government mobilized our manufacturing sources to make the masks gloves face shields Hand sanitizer and other supplies we need And this was all able to happen in just a matter of months not years The response we've received has been incredible and inspiring Ontario businesses moved fast. They innovated they adopted and now it's time for the government to do the same We need to be smarter about getting those critical supplies into the hands of the frontline health care heroes Premier you push the government to move at the speed of the private sector And we need to make sure we're spending tax dollars wisely question when families are shopping You go to a place. Let's say at cosco to buy groceries and bulk so you can save money So premier can you please elaborate further on how our government is ensuring that we are protecting taxpayer money Thank you very much Thank you Well, thank you so much. I want to thank the member from chatham kent lemington for doing a great job And again people love them out there when I go out there. It's absolutely fantastic I want to demonstrate to everyone the current situation in Ontario I used uh, canadian tire mr. Speaker as a good example. They have 50 000 skews 50 000 different products They have 65 procurement officers purchasing agents Compared to Ontario here that has 7 000 purchasing agents. The system's broken very simply And through the great work through the great work of our minister of economic development He has created a separate organization called supply ontario supply ontario is going to centralize procurement standardized procurement rather than going out and buying Pens and papers from 10 different locations through distributors jacking up the price We're going to go directly to the source and we're going to be buying the pens and papers And every other supply that they need an essential procurement system for the first government in the history of this country That's going to do that municipally federally Thank you very much Thank you and the supplementary question I thank you speaker premier that is absolutely great news to hear that You know this new initiative will ensure that it is easier for businesses of all sizes to work with the government of Ontario From the mom and pop shops to larger companies our government wants to purchase and promote more ontario made products Premier thanks to your leadership ontario is once again a manufacturing leader in the country and in north america Our industries and local manufacturers have proven time and time again during this pandemic. They can make anything happen Ontario made products are second to none in quality and excellence So with these investments in today's announcement We are making sure that ontario will never ever be left at the mercy of other countries and leaders when it comes to critical supplies We need the speaker can the premier please share with my constituents and all ontarians About our government's efforts to ensure that manufacturing jobs are coming back to ontario Especially as it relates to PPE And the premier to reply thank the member there And uh, mr. Speaker, i'm so excited to announce that we signed a contract with a company called prime man Prime man is going to make 50 million surgical masks Which is amazing and it's amazing for the people of cambridge. Congratulations cambridge for attracting such a great great company to see them Expand not not only prime med but as as you remember, mr. Speaker We signed a great deal with 3m over in brockville again to produce millions and millions of n95 respirators Which is great great news We also want to thank linamar and o2 medical technologies for investing into ventilators Now we don't have to rely on anyone mr. Speaker. We're under no one's thumb We can manufacture anything here in ontario. We're doing that We're going to be self-sufficient. Not only are we going to supply ontario We're going to supply the rest of the country when they need to be. Thank you Thank you very much the next question the member for nickle belt. Thank you, mr. Speaker. My question is for the premier struggling with the tidal wave of covet patients and cases continue to spike every single day The strain on our system caused by the government chronic underfunding and slow adoption of public health recommendations Will have life long impact on children awaiting pediatric surgery at sick kids Two-thirds of the children waiting for surgery are now outside of the developmental window For when their surgery should have been performed The government refused to listen to advice and now covet cases are surgeons in our hospital and 4,750 Children are languishing on surgical wait list Why did the government refuse to listen to the best medical advice from our hospitals? Minister pal Thank you, speaker, and I thank the member very much for the question This is a really important topic But we have been listening to the experts and in fact Continuing with the surgeries and procedures that were postponed during wave one Is part of our fall preparedness plan We want to make sure that even as we're dealing with increases in cases of covet 19 and dealing with the flu season That we can continue with those surgeries and procedures And it is particularly concerning with respect to children I have been involved in several Conversations with the children's hospitals and with parents of some of those children Who are very concerned that these procedures need to go on so that their children can Continue to develop continue with their normal development And to be able to in some cases be able to walk with some of the supports that they're receiving So this is something that is particularly important to us And one of the key parts of our fall preparedness plan that we need to keep moving so that these children can get the support that they need Thank you. What's up? Thank you, speaker The disturbing pattern of increased cases has only made the situation in our hospital more desperate It should have never come to this by adopting recommendations from our hospital early and making proactive investment This exponential spread could have all been avoided And these children could have gotten the surgery that they need As dr. Kelly said children with scoliosis cleft palate have depletia and lymph deficiencies are losing developmental ground They will not be able to make up make no mistake speaker once the window is gone. It never comes back But the government has prioritized businesses Over the health of sick ontario children Why do doctors public health expert in our hospital have to beg for help from this government? minister of health Well, I would say to the member opposite through you mr. Speaker that absolutely to the contrary The health and well-being of all Ontarians particularly our children is our top priority full stop We want to make sure that everybody gets the help that they need and we know through discussions with Hospital for sick children chio and others that there are many procedures for children that need to be advanced That is why we have created additional capacity in our hospitals We've added more than three thousand new hospital beds Since the beginning of this pandemic to be able to handle the additional capacity and that of course includes in our children's hospitals Both chio hospital for sick children McMaster all the hospitals that are providing support to children are getting the resources and the help that they need Because health is our number one priority and we need to make sure that all of these children Get the support that they need right now because it's key for their development The next question the member for dwell The morning speaker my question is for the premier After hurricane hazel claimed 81 lives Destroyed nearly 2,000 homes and cost us 1.3 billion dollars in 1954 dollars Ontario strengthened the mandate for conservation authorities to protect us from flooding Their work has been a huge success a resident in the grand river watershed pages $2 and 81 cents per year to protect their lives and property from flood damage It's a bargain, especially when you consider that the average cost of cleaning up a basement flood is $43,000 so speaker One of the tragic lessons we've learned from covet is that failing to listen to scientists can have Question consequences So I ask why is the premier risking people's lives and billions of dollars in property damage by gutting the non-partisan scientific-based expertise conservation authority Thank you. Thank you very much The government house theater Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker. I completely disagree with the member opposite. In fact, the the proposed legislation does just the opposite It refocuses conservation authorities on their on their core mandate as the as the member mentioned Opposite mr. Speak on flood mitigation. That's what is very very important. It changes The composition of the boards of conservation authorities to ensure that elected officials are part of those boards And mr. Speaker goes a little bit further than that It ensures that agriculture that there's representatives of the agricultural community on that mr. Speaker I agree with the honorable general and the conservation authorities do Have an important role to play Uh, and that role is flood mitigation and this legislation will Redouble their efforts on that mr. Speaker while making it more accountable to the people. Thank you Supplementary question Speaker with all due respect to that answer I would suggest that that government house leader actually read the legislation Because what it does is it takes the power Of conservation authorities to make science evidence-based decisions And puts it in the hands of the minister to make political based decisions that can put Development in the wrong place. Here's the bottom line speaker And this is something I really believe the government needs to understand When you allow development to happen in the wrong places It can have catastrophic consequences when you pave over wetlands and green space There is no place for flood water to go It can only go into our streets. It can only go to places that damage our infrastructure It floods people's basements so the question the premier says Call me if you have a problem So if your basement is flooded can people call the premier and ask for the $43,000 to clean up the mess this decision Do you government house leader would like I guess one would wonder mr. Speaker if the conservation authorities were doing such a good job why there are flooded basements At all across the province of Ontario mr. Speaker the member what the member talks about is completely wrong What we're doing is strengthening conservation authorities to do exactly what he says to bring it back to its core Mandate mr. Speaker now I know that the opposition come to our opposed to accountability And that's why they are against the changes that we're proposing on the conservation authorities by making sure that elected officials are Order, I know that they're not in favor of Of enhancing the the roles of agricultural communities when it comes to conservation. We believe just the opposite That's why this legislation does that mr. Speaker, but I agree with the honorable generalman for far too long Our conservation authorities have strayed from their mandate. That's why we have flooding in basements That's why the people have had to endure so many challenges Opposition we come to order the original mandate mr. Speaker while making it more responsible to elected officials Can you please stop the clock for a second you've got about halfway to go I think the people of ontario would expect a certain standard of professionalism and decorum in the house today Start the clock Next question the member for nagra west Thank you, mr. Speaker This question is for the minister of french francophone affairs The pandemic hits hardly the french services Businesses what would the minister do about it? Mr. Frank Thank you, mr. Speaker. I would like to thank my colleague for his question from the beginning Of this pandemic I have established community About french recovery to respond to the needs of the french community We have acted on the first part the first recommendation of the committee. We have invested a lot of money To help respond to the needs of this community. I received the support of The advisor on this and he said this Measure of the government respond to the concerns that were expressed by the minister We would definitely benefit from those two recommendations And it will help the french community in ontario In our budget We announced an investment of two million dollars Thank you Thank you the minister for Her answer I'd like to thank her for all her support for the francophone community Ken She explained to members how she is directly working with the francophone ontarian community to meet their needs The minister thank you speaker. I'd like to thank my colleague for his question Within the 2020 budget We have created a new working group uniting the minister the ministry of francophone affairs and the FAO This will allow us to optimize assistance to these organizations through various government programs, which already exist This new Working group was described by carolin by kel gelin as a significant step The ministry has listened to us and we hope to continue our work within the working group mr. Speaker We've also implemented Several recommendations of a working group in order to meet the needs and aspirations of francophone specifically an investment Of 680 million dollars to improve internet services As well as 59.5 million dollars in a microcredit strategy for the skilled trades And for emergency funding of 25 million in arts and culture Member for kitchens thank you, mr. Speaker. My question is to the premier Mr. Speaker ontarians are outraged that the premier's long time political supporter Charles McVeedy is getting a new university from this government It's a strange coincidence that in the pc race just over two years ago The premier used canada christian college as a voter booth for his party leadership The premier tweeted for his supporters to go to the college to vote for him Following weeks of campaigning for him by Charles McVeedy But strangely neither the college nor the premier himself have claimed this on their charity returns Or on their leadership campaign expenses Ontarians deserve to know why this government in the middle of a pandemic has prioritized legislation to give Charles McVeedy A degree granting university Did the premier insert this section in the show? As payback for Charles McVeedy support in his leadership race Mr. Imputing motive and I would caution the member you can't impute motive It was raised as a question Mr. Of colleges and universities to reply Thank you, mr. Speaker And the answer is simple mr. Speaker There are three universities or colleges that are seeking university status in the legislation that is presently before this I was presently being debated all of those institutions are moving forward in a process The institution that has been referenced here is in the midst of the process Which is as I've explained numerous times in this house and will continue to explain Is part of a process that we have put together to ensure the most transparent and accountable way of ensuring that we Follow the charter of rights and freedoms which guarantees that every individual is the right to life liberty and security of the person And not to be deprived thereof Except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice And mr. Speaker every person has the right to be equal before and under the law And they have the benefit of equal protection and equal benefits under the law without discrimination We have a fair transparent process mr. Speaker and that's what we'll continue to do Thank you, mr. Speaker and back to the premier Upholding election law is fundamental to our roles as legislators Elections Ontario rules are clear that the premier's renting of space at the college should have been recorded as an expense But no one can find that kind of an expense anywhere This legislation would give Charles McFeedy an even bigger platform to spew his hatred bigotry and intolerance And ontarians remain committed to ensuring that we uphold people's human rights They are reaching out to me asking why is this prioritized in this legislation? So far the premier has sat silent while Charles McFeedy took nearly a million dollars in loans from the college And he has nothing to say about Charles McFeedy's hateful rhetoric or intolerance So will the premier finally speak up tell ontarian whether bill 213 is a reward for mr. McFeedy Or if bill 213 is actually supposed to be there to help small businesses Mr. College of the university Thank you, mr. Speaker and as we indicated and we'll indicate time and time again This bill is about reducing red tape. This is about something that we've done in the past and we will continue to do moving forward We've we have created a system for obtaining this type of status that is clear It is transparent is it it is accountable. It follows the charter of rights and freedoms We have continually spoken about this and we have continually Indicated that we are creating the most fair and transparent process. We took a ministerial consent process and we made it entirely Independent and reviewed by an independent body. We have legislation, which is here in this house That is being debated openly in this house Transparenly, mr. Speaker. Why does the opposition all members of the Opposition continually ask us to interfere with independent process. It's illegal. Mr. Speaker. You can't interfere with independent process Thank you The next question the member for ottawa center Thank you much, mr. Speaker. I had a question about my questions for the premier. I had a question here about the flu shot But all week long. I've been last week when it's back home in my riding. I've been thinking about one thing There are thousands of muslim families Who live in my riding thousands of muslim children who go to ontario's publicly funded schools There are more than 600,000 muslims in ontario many of them live here in toronto in your riding premier as well thousands of children's in school Charles McVity amongst the other hateful things That he said about muslim place faith has said that it's not a faith That it's a hostile takeover. So what he's saying to those children and to those families is Your faith is a threat I can't think of anything worse So premier Through the speaker to you Can you stand in your seat today? And disavow yourself of that statement that Charles McVity made I need you to stand up ontario's muslims need you to stand up and say that I'll remind all members to make their comments through the chair. Please make your comments through the chair Mr. Of colleges and universities to respond. Thank you, mr. Speaker Again to the member opposite to all the members of the opposition It is impossible to interfere with an independent process So imagine for a moment. I know they have no respect for the charter opposition come to order They demonstrate that over and over and over again. We on this side of the house We believe in the values of the charter. We believe in the values of fundamental justice We believe in process. Mr. Speaker Official opposition will come to order and allow the minister to respond Mr. Of colleges and universities member from hamilton center, I believe Indicated there is a process. There is a licensing process and when any individual applies for a license or designation of this nature They have the right to make that application the application minister Under ministerial consent goes directly to the independent reviewing body mr. Speaker We have no influence. We have no part to play in it that application goes directly to that body What would the opposition have me do hack the computer systems, mr. Speaker? I'm not sure what they think we can do. There is no basis to interfere with independent Order Supplementary question That was disappointing So I'll try to put it another way In this building in this room There are people the muslim faith work all the way through government In hospitals and long-term care homes all across this province Charles McVidi has said their faith is a threat He's getting a special deal. There's no question about that. We know that it's evident Members are uncomfortable all over this house. I can see it in their faces so This can't continue Leadership means sometimes you stand up and you say we're going this way And then everybody else has to follow So what we need is for the premier to stand up today and say I am instructing my house leader to remove schedule two From built in 13 and put an end to this debacle Thank you Mr. Speaker with all due respect to the liberal member He can play politics and bring in the muslim community. Mr. Speaker What he hasn't done that I have done our family has done We brought a young muslim boy into our family and lived with us Has lived with us for 10 years Guys the premier I have to interrupt I have to interrupt clocks ticking I'm asking the official opposition to come to order the clock's ticking Premier has the floor to respond. I've almost seen My muslim brother that I shared a room with I shared my clothes with I shared my food with for 10 years That's what you don't understand. You're playing politics Mr. Speaker, I don't play politics. I support the muslim community unequivocally 1,000 No, no arguments. Thank you Member for Ottawa center will withdraw his unparliamentary comment Can't withdraw speaker this man is supporting a bigot I will give the member for Ottawa center one more opportunity to withdraw his unparliamentary comment withdraw speaker Order government house leader will come to order Member for Ottawa center withdrew the comment Restart the clock the next question member for burlington to the minister of government and consumer services Speaker in response to COVID-19 Ontario's inventory of PPE and other critical supplies is strong But it did not get that way overnight At the start of the pandemic we discovered the existing fragmented supply chain system Put us in a precarious position We didn't have guaranteed access to the products we needed But our government quickly adapted in an across government effort ministry of government and consumer services Worked with soldier to get mass to firefighters With ontario minister of agriculture for rural affairs to supply the food industry With minister of colleges and universities to get med students and 95s And when ministry of children community and social services to meet the needs of women shelters the list goes on and on On monday mgcs Announced the next step in our coordinated effort to shore up our supply chain and ensure we are never left With low qualities again Can the minister of government and consumer services explain how our new supply chain agency supply ontario Will ensure that we have stable access to critical supplies Thank you very much speaker and thank you to the member burlington for this very important question Because i want to recognize the efforts of our ministries that have worked so well together To ensure that we modernized a fragmented system that had over thousands of entities purchasing Because now through our leadership our government ontario is going to buy as one In short supply ontario will lead by example when it comes to supply management And we will manage inventory to ensure that we have the supply that meets our demands from sector to sector Ultimately ensuring that we have the resources to keep ontarians safe and secure It will leverage also the experience that we have of the businesses who stepped up during the pandemic and answered the premier's call And you know, we also had hundreds of consultations whereby people want it to be involved in this modernized approach to supply management Supply ontario's objective is simple. Thank you very much. Thank you the supplementary question Thank you so much speaker. This is very welcoming news speaker by enabling our entire public sector to buy as one It is easy to see that supply ontario will deliver better value to taxpayers When people go shopping, they often buy and bulk to save money They also often buy local looking to our education system. For example It only makes sense to leverage the collective buying powers of school boards when building up needed PPE inventory and to give opportunities to ontario suppliers Can the minister explain how we are going to take advantage of this opportunity and drive innovation and economic development in ontario I thank you so much to the member for burlington for your interest in this important initiative We all should be celebrating the fact that supply ontario will deliver for the first time the best value for taxpayers By sourcing high quality goods at scale and I can tell you from day one We are very much committed to taking a regional approach and connecting businesses of all sizes And inspiring entrepreneurs including small medium rule businesses of all sorts to get involved and to have an opportunity To supply the ontario government as well as its customers by acting as a first purchaser speaker for emerging technologies Supply ontario will pave pathways for innovation We just heard the premier moments ago speak about primed a perfect example of a local grown in ontario company that stood up And it's been hiring in full in full Production offers of 250 people in cambridge. It's important to note speaker supply ontario and the merits of employing a proper Modern supply management process has been well received. Thank you The next question the member for brampton center Thank you and good morning speaker. My question is for the premier Today, according to the toronto star brampton has one of the highest positive test rates in the country at 19 percent We are one of ontario's hardest hit regions, mr Speaker But the reality is that our health care system does not have the capacity to keep up with the demand in caseloads The brampton health care system has been underfunded for decades previous liberal and conservative governments have not made the investments We need to increase our health care capacity Brampton civic is consistently in gridlock because of the failures of this government That means that our hospital is not able to serve as patients and that outpaces the demand that our hospital is seeing Peel region and the city of brampton simply do not have the dedicated resources They need to prevent the crisis unfolding in our city Speaker the people are risking their lives to move goods across this province What does the premier have to say to those hard-working bramptonians that can't take a day off or find a hospital bed when they need one? mr. Health Thank you, and I thank the member very much for the question. You're absolutely right We're certainly aware that peel particularly brampton is going through a very difficult time right now with increases in COVID-19 cases But we are supplying Additional help in many areas. First of all, we have established three new community-based testing centers That have were established by november 10th We also have implemented mobile testing sites to respond to particular needs in particular communities And we also have limited walk-in availability at some of the assessment centers because we know for some people There are language barriers and other issues that present themselves That make it difficult for people to phone ahead to get an appointment So we want to make testing as easy as possible But we also have implemented up to seven pharmacies or specimen collection centers as well and we're working on that I will also have provided over 70 additional Case and contact managers into peel to assist with the follow-up to make sure that we can follow up With those cases that have been identified and we have 10 public health units. Thank you very much And the supplementary question Thank you speaker and with all due respect to the minister The premier continues to make these empty promises at press conferences But folks in brampton have yet to actually see those real investments flowing into our city health officials community members regional council The mayor everyone has been clear brampton needs its fair share brampton only has 0.96 beds per thousand residents The provincial average as you know minister is well above 2.19 beds per resident Our chronically underfunded health care system is putting our community at risk When is the premier going to address these health care inequities and ensure that our growing community receives the supports We desperately need thank you Mr. Gull well in fact investments have been made in peel region throughout this pandemic And I can also advise that we are investing 42 million dollars for up to 234 new beds at three hospitals including alternate health facilities in peel region to support hospital capacity pressures And the continuation of surgeries and procedures Now we are also aware that their case has been made for appeal to need a 24 hour new emergency department We provided a one-time planning grant of five hundred thousand dollars to support early capital planning for the peel memorial center phase two project and we are reviewing all additional options including The request for 24 seven emergency funding. That is something that's working through the health department right now We would all like to say that this can happen tomorrow But the reality is it can't it takes a long time to develop a new hospital plan It has to be done properly to properly serve the constituents of your writing Thank you very much the next question the member for ottawa Thank you Thank you speaker My question is for the minister of municipal affairs in ottawa where my writing is located There are 12 000 people in many families who don't have access to housing. It's more like 12 500 This is an increase of 15 percent since 2017 Someone in ottawa has to earn at least $26 an hour if they want to have a two-room apartment And they have to spend 30 percent of their income Unlike municipal elections the housing crisis aggravated by the pandemic is a real problem that requires an intervention Unfortunately There is no funding in the budget for the construction of affordable housing my question What is the government going to do to support the construction of? Affordable housing which ontarians need so originally in ottawa veni municipal affairs in housing Merci beaucoup Thank you very much to the member from ottawa veni for her question To respond to the pandemic our government Has invested five hundred and ten million dollars in municipalities To build new affordable housing has been clear speaker throughout the pandemic we provided municipalities with five hundred and ten million dollars To be extremely flexible and create those long-term affordable housing opportunities that our communities need now more than ever We're accelerating our supportive housing consultation Right now in ontario. We have about 20 supportive housing projects 20 housing 20 supportive housing programs within three months very confusing to navigate We need to collaborate with our municipal partners. We also need to collaborate with the federal government We are working with them and we are providing additional dollars Thank you for the Fresh part of your answer is for the minister of municipal affairs and housing earlier this fall The federal government through the canada mortgage and housing corporation Launched a one billion dollar rapid housing initiative to help address the urgent housing needs of vulnerable canadiens Provincial governments are eligible to apply for this funding and the application deadline is december 31st of this year 2020 Can the minister reassure this house that he is taking the necessary steps to ensure that ontarians benefit from this available federal important funding so that we can put shovels in the ground and begin to address the urgent affordable housing needs in the province Minister of municipal affairs and housing Thank you very much for the question After years of inaction in housing Our government has started to revitalize the housing sector I want to assure the member opposite that we are working collaboratively with the federal government. In fact I had a fantastic conversation This morning at 8 30 with my federal counterpart the honorable Ahmed Hussain We spoke about the program that she That the member opposite Mentioned the rapid housing initiative. We're actually hoping that with the 510 million dollars. We're providing municipalities and the rapid housing Program at the federal level that we can actually cooperate with our municipal partners to actually do what we all want We all want safe affordable housing built for our last response by the end of next year I've also offered the minister that if we have a municipality that wants to build something faster I'd be more than happy to provide a minister zoning order to move that project forward. Thank you Next question the member for Windsor Tecansi Thank you, speaker. My question is for the premier. Good morning, everyone Speakers, you know, we're well into the second wave of these covet 19 epidemic the first time around migrant workers down in my area were the hardest hit The government's response at that time Was to allow them to keep working if they were infected and asymptomatic hundreds were contagious Three migrant workers died in Ontario speaker What is the government's plan today? To get ahead and stay ahead of this next wave when it comes to the men and women from other countries Working in our fields and greenhouses Government host leader to reply Thank you very much, mr. Speaker. It's obviously a very good question. It's something that we work In cooperation with the federal government on he is quite right. There was certainly a problem Last year we've learned a lot from from the first From the first wave a lot of lessons learned that we will work cooperatively with the federal government to ensure That as the the next planting season comes That we will have addressed many of these concerns with the member is quite right There's an important community for us. They do so much work in our agricultural sector And we could not be as successful as we are without their their assistance. Thank you Supplementary question Thank you speaker the spike in cases down my way last week identified nearly 50 new covid cases In the agri-food sector. We had another three cases yesterday in Essex county Municipal leaders say provincial leadership was missing in action for most of the last The first wave of this covid crisis Will the government commit today to invest in the resources needed to make sure Migrate farm workers in Ontario Have adequate sick pay and accommodations And that farmers have the support they need to ensure the safety of our local food supply The parliamentary assistant member for burlington. Thank you so much for The question we're committed to health and safety of all workers in this province including temporary foreign workers Ministry inspectors conducted 740 field visits at farms and issued 236 orders to ensure employees keep workers safe Health and safety laws apply to all workers in Ontario A workers passport does not determine how they are treated This is not the ontario way All employees have a duty to protect the health and safety of their workers Workers do not have to choose between their job and their health Dear speaker. My question is for the premier For the last few months now, we've been hearing an alarm every day of the second wave The premier his cabinet and public health continued to spread a relentless message Of grave danger that covid is about to collapse our hospitals and our health care systems and that we are in imminent peril However, the Toronto sun reported today That the total number of covid patients across the entire university health network With over 1200 hospital beds Including the toronto general Toronto western princess margaret and others Speaker can the premier inform this house? How many people are presently in these five toronto hospitals with covid and how many are in the icu? Well, I can certainly advise the member opposite that You probably heard the modeling that was presented last week that indicates that we may be up to 6500 cases per day In ontario my business mid december if we don't take any action That's why we did set up the framework that we set up Add to be able to move public health regions from one zone to another with additional restrictions Because if we don't take any action We will be in the same situation as countries like italy and spain and other areas where their hospitals are overwhelmed Right now our hospitals are operating most of them at about 100 capacity Including some cases even a little bit more than that But we know that hospitalization is a lagging indicator so that as as the number of cases climb We're going to see the number of hospitalizations climb as well So we need to do whatever we can to keep those levels under control even as we're adding extra beds in the process Supplementary question They're getting to the premier I believe the deputy premier is preoccupied with the projections and the models in the toronto sun today the facts are That there's less than 10 in icu with culvert And I make this distinction with but not necessarily from culvert Well, the premier threatens ever more business closures and restrictions in hamilton st Joe's hospital today with over 1200 beds is reporting Two people with culvert Speaker it appears the premier may be slightly overstating or relying on only models that have proven to be false To because the facts don't reconcile with the message How can we consider the total closure of major cities like hamilton due to two patients in the largest hospitals? Speaker my my constituents are asking me With the premier's relentless message of alarm Is there proof or is it just? Thank you minister of health to reply Thank you speaker In addition to the modeling that was presented I can assure the member opposite that we are speaking to people On the ground each and every day within our hospital situation in individual hospitals and within the ontario hospital association Yesterday I read this but I think it's particularly relevant again today From the ontario hospitalization ontario hospital association with respect to the changes that we made to our framework The oha thanks the provincial government for listening to the concerns of the hospital sector and its system partners And for its leadership in responding rapidly to the alarming covet 19 modeling data presented yesterday Those are the facts And with the kinkston in the island Thank you speaker and my question is to the minister of long-term care as cases rise once again for profit long-term care facilities are once again failing the people of ontario Data shows that in homes experiencing an outbreak for profit homes have seen nearly 10 times The number of fatal cases per bed than not for profit homes But still this government is refusing to crack down And yesterday with the passing of bill 218 they made it harder for families to hold ltc facilities to account Speaker a chief investment officer for chart while a for-profit ltc chaired by former premier my carous Suggested that lawsuits from the loss of human life were And listen carefully frivolous And assured shareholders that the legislation would mitigate the risk and make the threshold for Proving damages very high Why is the government trying to protect the profits of private ltcs instead of standing with the ontarians who lost their loved ones during a pandemic To respond the parliamentary assistant member for derm. Thank you speaker. Let me be absolutely clear individuals and organizations that ignore public health guidance And act with gross negligence or intentional misconduct will not be protected by this legislation The narrow targeted civil liability protection in this legislation has only to do with the inadvertent transmission of covet 19 and nothing else This legislation does not protect any other type of negligence that we heard from the opposition previously or at committee Like if a resident is not given proper medication Or if a long-term care provider fails to provide the necessities of life Or if a long-term care provider fails to communicate adequately Families ontarians will continue to be able to file claims and seek justice in the court for all of these matters speaker Supplementary question Back to the member They said it mitigates the risk. They're no longer worried because of that legislation So no matter what the member opposite is claiming the people at these companies are very very pleased with that legislation speaker They are very happy that they won't be on the hook for what they did But now to my question Since the beginning of this it's about families who have lost loved ones Families such as terry daniels who lives in my riding whose father tragically passed away and I I have heard an absence of comments Or compassion from the member's opposite for those who have lost their loved ones during this pandemic On twitter and in the press several reporters including my crawly have criticized the minister of health For updates for not having death tolls included in them And so I decided to go back and look and see when the last time the minister had question In her daily updates. I couldn't find any tweets before from before the 6th of june speaker I'm wondering where these tweets have gone and when will the minister actually begin giving In fact this information is readily available to all ontarians on the daily updates that they can see on our coronavirus site With respect to tweets. I think it's important to be respectful To the many families who have lost family members. This isn't something that one should be tweeting about this is very serious It's very tragic for these families. However, the information is available in another location There'll be no further business this morning. This house stands in recess Until 3 p.m