 It is now time for oral questions. I recognize the leader of His Majesty's loyal opposition. Thank you. Good morning, Speaker. Today is Equal Pay Day in Ontario. It symbolizes how far into the next year the average woman has to work to earn what the average man has earned in the previous year. And we haven't yet reached the Equal Pay Day if you're a woman who's racialized, indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, or disabled. Speaker, pay equity is the law in this province. So my question to the Premier is, will he commit to enforcing the law to ensure every woman worker earns as much as her male counterparts? Opportunity. Mr. Speaker, our government is dedicated to supporting equal pay for work of equal value. And our government introduced the Supporting Retention and Public Service Act to ensure that existing pay gaps are not widened and that we are ensuring that employers meet their obligations when it comes to equal pay for equal work. And I'd also like to say that we have the Pay Equity Office in place to ensure that we have a functioning and strong complaint system in place. And they are busy and they are working really hard. But Mr. Speaker, we've also been working diligently on empowering women and providing women with supports to make sure they have all the resources they need to enter or re-enter the workforce. And we're breaking down barriers for women so that they feel free to pursue male-dominated jobs such as ones in the skills... Response. ...and STEM. And Mr. Speaker, we are taking many actions in making sure that we're going into communities and making sure organizations have the supports to see women succeed in Ontario. A supplementary question. Speaker, this government is actually in the courts right now fighting to suppress the wages of largely female workforce. The cost of living is going up and up and up and many women are having trouble covering even basic necessities. And while this government does next to nothing to tackle the affordability crisis, I'm sorry to say, Speaker, that their for-profit health scheme is only going to make it worse. It's going to cost women more in health care user fees and upselling. And women health care workers are going to earn even less too because research shows that privatizing public services is going to make it worse. Back to the Premier. Will he stop his privatization agenda to deliver fairness for women? The Associate Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. While women's workforce participation has increased significantly, we do know that there are gender pay gaps. And in fact, you know, when we close the gender pay gaps and increase women's participation in the labour force and increase women's representation in public health care, you name it, we could be adding up to $60 billion to Ontario's economy by 2026. And, Mr. Speaker, we're seeing a significant increase in women entering in the workforce. Around 70,000 women have come back to the workforce since December, Mr. Speaker. And we're going to continue to keep moving forward because we know women have so much to contribute to Ontario. And I'm telling Mr. Speaker, women have to take care of their families. And the gas tax is making it very difficult for women to be able to afford the basics in life. So, Mr. Speaker, I would encourage the members opposite to support. Stop the clock for a second, please. I can't hear what's being said with my earpiece. There seems to be a technical malfunction. So, no heckling. There can't be any heckling until we get this fixed. I can't hear. 68 cents on the dollar. 68 cents on the dollar. That's what women are earning right now. And it's not right. It's just not right. Closing the gender wage gap lifts up all workers. Closing the gender wage gap makes our province more attractive to international investment. Closing the gender wage gap is the right thing to do for our economy and for women. Mr. Premier, will he commit to closing the gender wage gap once and for all? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And the member opposite and the leader of the opposition is absolutely right. And that's why we have a government that sees women's social and economic opportunities as a priority. Women contribute so much to our overall economy, and that's why we are investing significantly to see that we are expanding this area, which we announced 10 more locations opening up to get more women the skills and the supports they need to get into the workforce and into the driver's seat of their financial future. Mr. Speaker, we've invested over 117 million in employment and training support so that women have training for in-demand skills and have the opportunities to connect with the employers. That's why we have the Minister of Education, the EV technology sector that is going to see women in many of those positions, Mr. Speaker. Ontario is primed and ready to see women. The next question, the leader of the opposition. Speaker, two SLGBT QIA communities across Ontario are more and more seeing hate-filled protests, especially at community events like drag performances. But Ontario doesn't have a plan to get tough on anti-queer anti-trans hate crimes or to keep drag artists safe. Speaker, my question is again to the Premier, does his government agree that queer and trans Ontarians deserve new protections from hate crimes and legally enforceable safe spaces? Thank you very much Mr. Speaker and I'd like to thank the leader of the opposition for that very important question. First and foremost, Ontario is proud to be home to a strong resilient and vibrant two SLGBT QIA communities whose experiences and contributions have shaped our province into the great place it is today. There is no place for hate of any kind here in Ontario and it will never be tolerated. As Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, I am proud to be working with the two SLGBT community listening and learning from their lived experiences and the ongoing struggles that we work on together for equity and inclusion. We will continue to work with our LGP 2 Plus community as allies and partners to build a stronger, safer and more inclusive Ontario. Together, we will continue to build a province where people from all walks of life can freely express who they are and who they love wherever they want. Thank you. Speaker, sadly it is being tolerated and a few months ago I was in Hamilton when a fabulous drag artist Crystal Quartz who is coming here into the gallery in a few minutes was putting on a show at Kelsey's and unfortunately there was a really hateful protest outside the restaurant so MPP Wong-Tam and I decided to go and show our support. This is in Hamilton but we are seeing this all across the province Guelph, Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay, Welland, Renfrew, Elora, Dryden, Sarnia, Peterborough, Ottawa Toronto. Just a few of the cities in Ontario where drag artists have faced hate speech, harassment and even death threats communities have come together to resist this hate in many inspiring ways but without the urgent action that people need, people are at risk. Back to the premier will his government commit today to supporting the MPP's legislation to protect 2SLGBTQIA plus communities and drag artists across Ontario. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you again for the question. As I mentioned, hate and intolerance against anyone in any form will never be tolerated by this government or in this great province. Ontario Ontario is a place for people from all traditions. Customs and beliefs can come and express fully and safely, respected no matter your background, faith or sexual orientation. I'd like to just remind the MPP or the opposition that it is under the leadership of this premier and this government that we invested $40 million to protect faith, cultural and vulnerable communities. An additional $5 million to raise awareness to fight hate and racism in all its forms. Mr. Speaker, this government always stands with our 2SLGBTQ community and all vulnerable communities to make sure they can live in the province of Ontario free of hate and can succeed. And the final supplementary. Well, Speaker, thanks to the minister. I mean, the words are nice, but we need urgent action. And my question was very specific. Queer and trans Ontarians have been working for action from this government for months. Every time an all ages drag event is targeted in a small business or a library. It's not just 2SLGBTQIA plus Ontarians, but also staff and workers and business owners who are threatened. So again to the premier, will his government step up and stop the hateful extremists from trying to force queer and trans people back in the closet? Respond, the government host leader. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for the question. It's obviously a very important question, but let me just say to the opposition, look, we're supporting all Ontarians. Regardless of sexual orientation, race, creed Mr. Speaker, nobody wants to force anybody back into the closet. So I reject that outright speaker, but I do understand the issues that the leader of the opposition is raising. And I fully expect that she's raising them with the utmost care and wants to promote an important issue in the community. That's why the government is continuing, I know the solicitor general, the minister of multiculturalism and the minister of education with respect to some of the changes that we're making in our education are all seized on this. And it's not just the government, frankly. I think members on all sides of the House understand how important it is that everybody feels safe in the province of Ontario and that we honour everybody's right to live and prosper in Ontario regardless of who you are, who you love and what God do you worship. Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. Thank you. Some of the drag artists that the leader was speaking about are specifically in the house today, the leader of other drag performers prominent across Ontario and Canada are here. They have been asking and calling for action from this government now for months. They are asking for help. Their shows are being targeted. Their audience is being discriminated against as well as harassment being targeted at the venues, the business that are hosting these events. Because there has been no action and no real response from the government, we're putting together a table, targeting the 2S LGBTQI community in Ontario. I need to know, and we all need to know today, will you be working with us to make sure that this bill becomes law to protect that community, protect this community? Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Look, as I say on every piece of private members business, the House will review the legislation once it's tabled and will make a decision. Whether that should be supported. We have demonstrated, Mr Speaker, over the last five years and two parliaments that a good piece of legislation that is broadly supported by members on all sides of the House will receive the support from members on all sides of the House. There is, of course, already a significant body of legislation that is in place to protect all communities, Mr Speaker. And we, of course, have put significant additional resources in place, not only the Minister of Multiculturalism, but as well as the Solicitor General to ensure that all communities are safe. But specific to the bill, once the member has tabled the bill, we will give it due consideration as we do every private member's bill. Thank you. Thank you, Mr Speaker. We're not talking about all communities. Today we're talking about this community, the drag community, the 2SLGBT plus community across Ontario from Toronto to Thunder Bay, communities have been targeted. They are experiencing hate and violence on the very doorsteps of your business associations and on your small business storefronts, from Wellland to Fort Erie to Guelph to Kingston, Kitchener, Gravenhurst, Brockville, Peel, Ellora, Lampton, Sarnia, Sudbury, Sioux State, Marie, North Bay and I could go on. The list is so long. The private member's bill will take years and this government will take years for it to pass. Will you expedite that process? Will you work with us to protect the community today? Today, Speaker. Government House Leader? Mr Speaker, I do expect that the Human Rights Commission will ensure that communities are safe. But we were just in this House yesterday speaking about some of the failings in the criminal justice system across this country. And I think that we would all agree that our criminal justice system has to do a better job of protecting the community. Yesterday, this very same member tried to water down emotion that would have done just that, Mr Speaker. So I say very clearly to the member opposite, we are going to do everything in our power, continue to do everything in our power to make sure the people of the province of Ontario are safe. We're going to continue to work with the Minister of Multiculturalism, the Minister of the Solicitor General, the Minister of Education. And I think that we should continue to do everything in our power to make sure that we have the right to the legislation or that we encourage the federal government to bring forward legislation that not only this very important community but all of the people of this country, Mr Speaker, and stop watering it down. Don't say one thing here and do another thing when it comes time to vote to keep our community safe. The next question. People of my writing in Morgan Unionville relied on our transit networks to ensure they are connected to Toronto and the GTA. While they may not live in Toronto's downtown core, many individuals and families still wish to access major sites and attractions through a convenient and affordable transit system. As family continue to experience the impact of global economic challenges and rising costs, they remain mindful of how best to manage their expenses. That's why our government must create opportunities to make everyday life more affordable for individuals and families. Speaker, can the Associate Minister of Transportation please share with the House that our government is doing to make more convenient to make transit and visit the latest attractions. Thank you, Speaker. A great question coming out of Morgan Unionville this afternoon. Thank you. Speaker, I am happy to tell that member that we are delivering for hardworking Ontarians and making it more affordable when they want to go out and have a little fun with their families. Presto Perks is what I'm talking about, leaving more cash in people's pockets. Thanks to our work, you know that kids already ride free on go. And Presto cardholders can save up to 20% on admission to the hockey club, the Royal Ontario Museum and also next week's Princess Auto Players Curling Championship at the Mademois Center. What's more, Speaker, through Presto, TFC fans can commute to BMO fields and save 20% off their ticket prices while they cheer on the boys in red throughout the 2023 season. Speaker, with Presto Perks, we're putting more BEM money back into families pockets. That includes when they want to have some fun. Thank you, Speaker. Speaker, we are so safe. Minister of Health has a great response. It is good news for individuals and families who will benefit just that much more than the extra savings. However, making lives affordable needs to look beyond initiatives that can help people save money at events and attractions. Our government needs to focus as well on broader issues including the affordability of transit. Unlike the previous liberal affordable public transit was not a priority. Our government is paying attention to the needs of gold transit riders. Speaker, can the associate minister please elaborate on how our government is delivering greater transit affordability. Thank you, Speaker. The member is bang on affordability as an issue and that comes to transit as well and that's why Metrolinx has not raised their fare prices in four years and we continue to make fares more affordable. Riders continue to benefit especially from the stellar gold affordability pilot we introduced last year which gives a 50% reimbursement to applicable riders in Peel region. We're also delivering for hardworking students. We nearly doubled the post-secondary student discount and youth discount for those aged 13 to 19 to 40% off fares off of Go and Up Express. That's not all, Speaker. We eliminated the double fares across the GTHA when you're connecting from your local transit agency to the GO network and as announced in the budget just a few short weeks ago that's going to include the TTC by the end of the year, Speaker. Really good news. Imagine you can go from Barrie, take Barrie Transit to Union Station, connect to the TTC all the way to visit your friend in Liberty Village for just the price of a go fare. We're making it more affordable to take. The member for Chronos St. Paul. Thank you, Speaker. According to Ontario Equal Pay Coalition, my question is to the Premier. Equal Pay Day today symbolizes how far into the next year most women must work in order to have earned what most men had earned in the previous year. In other words, women are disproportionately working for free and are not being paid equal pay for equal work. And it's even worse, Speaker, for BIPOC, 2SL, GBTQIA plus and women with disabilities as well as immigrant women. This conservative government widened the gender wage gap with their Bill 124 attack against women and other public sector workers. My question is to the Premier. Will the Premier help close the gender wage gap by repealing Bill 124, stopping its appeal, and while you're at it, activate pay transparency today. The Associate Minister, Women's Social and Economic Opportunity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, our government is fighting very hard to empower women and to close the gender pay gap by addressing the barriers that make it difficult for women to enter or re-enter and stay in the workforce, addressing things like participation that impacts pay equity. Mr. Speaker, we are seeing more and more women. And I'm going across Ontario and I'm blown away by the amount of women who are leaders in their sectors. Leaders and CEOs, women who are on the C-Streets and the goal is to get more women in leadership because these women are hiring more women because they see the benefits and the value of having women and the workforce. Mr. Speaker, we're investing significantly to get more women into the skilled trades, a sector that pays well, has great benefits and can provide significant economic empowerment for women for generations. Mr. Speaker, we take this seriously because we know women play a valuable and an important role in growing Ontario's economy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For these women leaders that the Conservative government talks about, they need to get paid to bring in pay transparency. My question is back to the Premier. Courts ruled Conservative government anti-worker Bill 124 illegal and unconstitutional, yet this Premier still appealed wasting taxpayers' money, working women's money, healthcare heroes' money during an affordability crisis to bankroll his political power trip. Workers didn't go silently into the night. Women collapsed back and stood up against legislated bullying. This weekend, women won, nurses won a re-opener on Bill 24, which awarded hospital nurses, predominantly women, back paid to recover some, Speaker, some of what they've lost. This is a step forward towards closing the gender wage gap. My question is back to the Premier. Will the Premier listen to the courts this time? Commit to paying hospital nurses back pay-owned? Yes or no? Thank you, Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, you know, all women in all sectors are valued and we appreciate and think everything that they are doing order our economy and move Ontario forward. Mr. Speaker, we're seeing more and more women enter the workforce and isn't that what we want to see? Women being in the driver's seat of their economic future and leaders in their field in their sector just powering through and showing that women can be leaders and strong leaders and that's why our Premier and our government decided to say, hey, we need a ministry of women's social and economic opportunities. We do this, I don't only do this for my daughters, but I do it for all daughters and all women who are coming up in Ontario and all the women in this room, Mr. Speaker. Response? Seeing the benefits and the values of doing that because I fully believe that when women succeed, Ontario succeeds. Mr. Speaker, please take their seats. We start the clock. The next question, the member for Simcoe Gray. Good morning. My question is for the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery. Speaker, buying a new home is a major transaction and often a once in a lifetime, but it should not be a worrisome and stressful experience for individuals and families because they are concerned about the quality of the new home they are purchasing. Under the previous Liberal government, regulations were lacking to ensure that the interests and needs of new home buyers were protected. Unfortunately, their failure to implement and enforce professional standards in the building industry put many people at unnecessary risk. Hardworking Ontarians deserve to be treated fairly when making one of the biggest purchases of their lives. Speaker, can the Minister please explain how our government is strengthening protections for new home buyers? Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the amazing member from Simcoe Gray for his question. Speaker, I agree with the member that buying a new home can be a complicated and stressful experience for families and individuals across our province. That is why this government made a commitment to the people of Ontario that we would never stop working to make their life easier and improve consumer protections across the province. Speaker, just last week I joined Minister Clark and Minister Tangry to announce another big step in our work towards fulfilling our consumer protection commitment. Speaker, we are consulting with consumer groups, home buying sectors, and the public on a cooling off period for new freehold homes to ensure we are creating the very best protection for Ontarians. Speaker, we are also exploring input on requiring that purchasers of all new home receive legal advice on their purchase agreements to ensure that no one in our province get ripped off by bad Thank you. Supplementary to Member for Simcoe Gray. Thank you, Speaker, and thank you to the hardworking Minister for that response. I'm very pleased to hear that our government is implementing measures to improve and raise standards for the homebuilding industry in Ontario. The constituents in my writing of Simcoe Gray have expressed concern about the potential cooling off period and that it could lead to more new home project cancellations by builders and vendors. There is a lot that can happen between the time a buyer signs an agreement of purchase and sale and when they get their keys to their new home as we have seen over the last 24 months. Our government must take action to ensure that the consumer protections are increased and that companies who build and sell homes in Ontario are held accountable to ensure that they are acting responsibly and ethically. Speaker, can the Minister please elaborate on how this initiative will give new homebuyers confidence in the building industry in Ontario? Thank you very much, Speaker, and thank you to the Member for the supplementary question. Speaker, under this Premier, we have been very clear that in this province there is a zero tolerance approach for those who try to make extra money off the backs of new homebuyers. That's why, Speaker, my ministry alongside my great colleague, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, have added harsher penalties for bad actors in the industry. We have empowered the home construction regulatory authority, HECRA, and gave them the ability to stand up to unethical builders in the sector. Those who are attempting to rip off Ontarians now face the prospect of double maximum financial penalties, Speaker, for repeat offenders of the new home construction licensing act, the risk of permanently losing their builder's license and, Speaker, for the very first time ever, ensuring that instead of profiting builders who conduct illegal and unethical behaviour will face hundreds of thousands of dollars in fine. Speaker, rest assured that this government continues and will continue to have the back of Ontarians, especially when they make one of the biggest purchases of their lives. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Speaker, women and female dominated professions like midwifery, nursing and developmental services have been fighting for pay equity for years under both liberal and conservative governments. In 2018, midwives won a historic ruling from the human rights tribunal that was confirmed last year by the Ontario Court of Appeal. But this government has continued its systemic pay discrimination against midwives by ignoring the order that would see midwives paid fairly for the vital work they do. Speaker, will this government implement the human rights tribunal order, start respecting midwives, and finally pay them what they are worth? Thank you, Speaker. You know, there is no doubt that the valuable work that Ontario midwives do looking after our individuals who are going through what is, frankly, probably one of the most exciting but scary in pieces of their medical career. You know, I am really proud of the fact that March 31st, we actually inked a deal with the Ontario midwives of Ontario for a one year deal that has now been ratified through their association and it is going to see an expansion of midwifery in the province of Ontario so that more women, more individuals who want to have a midwife part of their birthing experience can have that in community closer to home. It's one of the things we're working on, making sure that people get access to care in their community closer to home. Thank you. Speaker, 1% increase is hardly paying midwives what they are worth. Speaker, when women workers like midwives, nurses, educational assistants, ECEs fight for wages that reflect the true value of their work, this government refuses to enact pay transparency, ignores remedy orders, suppresses their wages, fights them in court or threatens to take away their rights. But women aren't taking it, Speaker, and I want to give a shout out to the amazing education workers who forced this government to back down on their use of the notwithstanding cost. Speaker, today on Equal Payday will this government commit to stop attacking women workers and start bringing forward legislation and policies that actually close the gender wage gap instead of widening it. Minister of Education. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member opposite for the question. For education workers in the province of Ontario, we did sign a deal with QP, which will increase wages by over 4% each and every year over the next four years for them. We think that is a suitable reflection of the good work they do within our schools overwhelmingly ratified by the union. That'll help ECEs as well as EAs and other critical workers in our schools. Mr. Speaker, in the childcare deal, which our government signed, a critical way by which we can ensure more labour market participation of women in our economy, we signed a deal that is finally going to make childcare affordable after an increase by 400% of the former Liberals. This program is cutting fees by 50% this year. It's creating 86,000 spaces. It's going to help ensure we have higher labour market participation so women do not no longer have to choose between staying at home, raising a child or going to work. We believe in them, we're investing in them and we're hiring more of them to ensure families get these supports they need in our economy. My question is to the Minister of Finance. Tobacco is one of the most common illegally traded goods in the world. Ontario is ground zero with sales of illegal product on par with El Salvador. Illicit tobacco threatens the safety of our communities as profits fuel organized crime involved in drugs, guns and human trafficking. Legitimate businesses suffer while the government loses out on $750 million in taxes annually. Speaker, this government knows where the problem originates and provinces like BC are unhappy with Ontario as illegal sales in their province skyrockets even though they have no producers. I wouldn't be shocked if Ontario was sent invoices for policing and health care costs. Quebec's model of dealing with contraband tobacco is extraordinary and Ontario signaled that model would be adopted in the 2019 budget, but the policy was pulled days before print. Speaker, to the Minister, who or what is the reason the policy was pulled in 2019 and why is it missing again in the 2023 budget? And to reply, the departmental assistant and member for Oak Hill. Thank you, Speaker, and thank you to the member opposite and we do take contraband tobacco very seriously. In fact, unregulated tobacco undermines Ontario's tax system. It creates business uncertainty and compromises the health and safety of Ontario families as well as businesses. We've reviewed recommendations from key stakeholders and the Indigenous facilitators report on unregulated tobacco. These extensive consultations will inform our approach on addressing tobacco issues in a balanced and sustainable manner. We're also continuing to support existing partnerships with various police services and going forward, the government knows that the problems of unregulated tobacco causes the people of Ontario concern and that's why we're taking a comprehensive approach to address the situation. Thank you, Speaker. In 2014, the federal government amended the criminal code of Canada, Bill C-10, to create a new offence of trafficking in contraband tobacco and to provide for minimum penalties of imprisonment for repeat offenders. I'm happy the Minister brought up unregulated tobacco because as soon as this government came to power it actually changed the wording from contraband to unregulated in the Tobacco Task Act. How do police and prosecutors apply the law under an ambiguous term like unregulated? Contraband tobacco was such a concern to the federal conservative government 10 years ago that they amended the criminal code, yet this government has made it easier for criminals to work around the law. Tobacco was referred to on page 184 of the recent budget, its housekeeping, and it'll do little to curb contraband tobacco. Speaker, can the Minister explain why each budget under this government contains the word unregulated as opposed to contraband, illicit, or illegal? Parliamentary assistant, Member for Oakville. Thank you again to the member opposite. This is something we do take seriously and in the budget of 2021, the Government of Ontario increased funding to the OPB's contraband tobacco enforcement team of $1.5 million. We're also collaborating with federal partners on strengthening border enforcement and addressing tobacco smuggling, and we're enhancing the Ministry of Finance oversight of raw leaf tobacco through the use of more innovative digital technologies, but what we would also do is call on the federal government to get bail reform. You did mention people getting out and causing problems again. We are calling on the federal government, we hope the opposition will support us in calling on the federal government for immediate bail reform. Next question, the member for Elgin, Middlesex London. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport. Ontario's music industry is vital to our province's culture and economy. I think we all know this. This industry drives innovative creation and helps generate employment opportunities throughout. Individual artists, like my wife and daughter's speaker, and groups involved in Ontario's music industry hold a special place in advancing the success of great Canadian music here and in fact worldwide. For example, London Ontario has become a hub of Ontario's dynamic music industry where musical talent can perform and thrive. But Speaker, in order to increase Ontario's profile and prestige on the national and world stage, our government must take the lead in creating more opportunities for emerging artists to record and perform in Ontario. Speaker, can the Minister please explain how our government is supporting the development of the music industry in Ontario, especially in communities like Elgin, Middlesex, London? Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank the member from Elgin, Middlesex, London for all his work that he's doing and for his family's talents. Last week I saw firsthand the City of London's music expo and how intercooled the music scene is, not only for London, but for Ontario. London has been designated UNESCO City of Music, the first Canadian city to be designated that and only the fourth in North America, a tremendous accomplishment. Each year our government invest millions of dollars in the industry through the Ontario Music Investment Fund. Ontario's music scene is really booming, Mr. Speaker, and it really has become part of tourism. And I had the opportunity in my visit to London on Friday to spend some time, not only with the Mayor, but to sit in a roundtable with all the members of the Chamber of Commerce. I'd like to suggest to use a music analogy, three-part harmony is a little bit of tourism, culture and sport, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary question. Thank you, Speaker, and thank you to the Minister for hosting a great reception last night celebrating 10S Canada and our success at the Davis Cup. Well done. Cultural, sporting and tourism events are all critical to the success of local businesses throughout this province. Just recently, London hosted the 2023 Tim Horton's prior, and it was a massive success, Speaker. This event brought thousands of people to Budweiser Gardens in London's downtown core, including my family and friends along with Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, along with the Minister of Colleges and Universities. It was great to have them there. Local businesses were brimming with patrons and in fact there were line-ups out the door. London tourism officials said they have received tremendous feedback from local businesses, establishments, as well as curling Canada. Successful events such as the prior, underline the importance of sport to communities across this province. Speaker, can the Minister please explain how this government is supporting local communities to expand tourism, cultural and sporting activities? Minister. Mr. Speaker, again, thank you for the question. Music, culture, and notice I didn't say tourism culture this time. I said music, culture and sport are linked together. I think we all know through sport at all ages the culture part of music, the culture part of sport and really the culture part of tourism tied together nicely and the impact that it has on local communities as London is finding out is second to none. I found that out in my meeting with the Chamber of Commerce and with the Mayor. Their strategies, their plans, what they're working with, what they have is second to none and they deserve an awful lot of credit, Mr. Speaker. But the other part of the sport side and hosting we have to remember the impact of sport on our communities. Let's not forget what tourism does and sport does when we move into a community and have, let's say, a few hockey tournaments of a hundred plus teams, restaurants, restaurants, restaurants, hotels are full but more importantly we're helping build young leaders through sport, Mr. Speaker. We take that very seriously. Our Premier does and I do. Our next Leader. Thank you. Thank you very much. The next question, the member for Hamilton wants to ask her then back. Thank you, Speaker. My question to the Minister of Women's Social and Economic Opportunity. Ontario is facing a serious understaffing in child care directly related to the low wages of this women led sector. The Association of Early Childhood Educators and the YMCA came to pre-budget consultations to tell the government that these workers need and deserve decent wages with benefits and pensions. If this government was truly committed to closing the wage gap, if this government actually valued the work of these early educators, they would compensate them fairly. So, Speaker, my question on equal payday. Will the government commit today to increasing wages for Ontario's child care workers? Thank you very much. I can assure the member of the answer is yes. We're going to continue to increase wages each and every year in the course of this agreement with the federal government by a least $1 per hour every year rising to $25. But I accept and I hear clearly from operators, from staff and, of course, from members opposite and members of our government that want to see wages to increase so that we retain these critical workers, which are prerequisite of economic growth. We need a strong, dependable, affordable child care system in all communities, small and large. It's why we're expanding spaces. It's why we've announced a significant reduction in fees for families. And yes, it's why we've actually are consulting with the sector to understand what exactly to do further, in addition to the federal deal to increase wages and lift up those the opportunities we're seeing in that sector. We're going to continue to listen, continue to increase wages and be there for the workers who make a difference for our kids. Speaker, I have to say on equal payday, workers, women-led workers deserve a much better answer than that from the Minister of Education. Because pay equity is not just about the money that's coming into women's pockets, it's also about the money going out. One of the most significant costs for women in this province is childcare. Ontarians have been promised over and over again $10 a day childcare, but this government is still failing to deliver. Women paying their bills at the end of each month know that nothing has changed, even though you signed this federal deal months and months and months ago. So, will this government finally make the investments, your investments, needed to deliver $10 a day childcare for women, for families and for children in this province? Mr. Speaker, I'm not sure that members of NDP could take yes for an answer. I have confirmed in absolute terms wages will increase every single year over the course of this year to a minimum a floor of $25 per hour. Now, I acknowledge that there's more to do, which is why we're working together with the Minister of Social and Economic Opportunities for Women to ensure we greater retain those workers and attract more of them because we're going to need them because we're creating 86,000 more additional spaces as we reduce fees by 50% on average $8,000 to $12,000 per child per year. Mr. Speaker, our consultation will conclude, will produce a plan and provide a sense of hope to these workers who we value and we thank each and every day by increasing their wages and giving them more incentive to stay, to work and make a difference in the lives of young people in Ontario. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. There's no doubt that the increase in violent crime in the past number of years is disturbing. There are too many stories of those accused of violent crime being let out of jail right away, only to offend again. Women killed by their partner, police officers ambushed children killed while waiting for the subway and too many more. And Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Justice Policy made five recommendations to the government for provincial action on bail reform. Other than writing a letter to the Prime Minister, when will this government make progress on the actions recommended by the Justice Policy Committee to strengthen bail reform in Ontario? And to apply the government host leader. Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And he's quite right. The Premier was the one who led the charge across the country to ensure that the federal government took action on bail reform. And this is, of course, as I said, across the country where there was an NDP Premier in British Columbia or a Liberal Premier in Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Speaker, was this Premier who put it back on the national agenda. Now, having said that, the member is correct. The Standing Committee on Justice tabled a unanimous report in this legislature. And, of course, we are going to be taking action on those parts of the report that are under provincial responsibility, Mr. Speaker. But just yesterday, we also had a motion in this House which I thought was a very deliberately simple motion to call on the federal government to put repeat violent offenders in jail, to keep them in jail, Mr. Speaker, and to take action on that. It should have been a unanimous response. But it wasn't, because the NDP, supported by the Liberals, tried to water down that emotion so that we could continue to evaluate programs, Mr. Speaker. We're done evaluating programs. We're taking action thanks to the leadership. Supplementary question. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, look, I too support federal legislation to strengthen a bill reform. But I also support the province taking action that's within its power. In late 2016, courthouses in two locations in the province started using judges to sit in bail courts instead of justices of the peace. This pilot project ended in 2019 after this government was elected. Judges have years of formal legal training and experience, and by all accounts, both from police associations and from defense associations, this project, this pilot project was successful. Yet the minister has yet to produce, or at least publish, report into the pilot program. The chief of Toronto police has called for judges to take over bail hearings for firearms offenses, and I presume other violent offenses, Mr. Speaker. The Standing Committee on Justice Policy recommended expanding this pilot program to ensure that bail hearings for the most violent crimes are heard by trained judges. This government has the power to do this today, Mr. Speaker. When will they use it to strengthen bail hearings here in Ontario? The Attorney General. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm glad the Liberals have changed their mind and decided to support us on bail and ask the federal government. I would ask that the NDP change their mind and support us on bail, as well, Madam, Mr. Speaker. But here's the one thing they're having in common, Mr. Speaker. They want us to interfere with how judges do their duty, Mr. Speaker. I heard it yesterday from the member in the NDP. Order. Today, this member ordered me to interfere, judges, do their business, Mr. Speaker. Order. I just can't understand, well, I do understand why they're over there, Mr. Speaker. They don't understand the fundamental divide of how we do justice in this province, Mr. Speaker. We need to do better. And for all ourselves, come to it. We need to do more. We've already started. We ask you to join us. The member for Brantford Grant. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Mines. Under the strong leadership of our government, this Premier and our Minister, our province now has a robust critical mineral strategy. This strategy is helping to build economic development opportunities with Indigenous partners to a range of programs that support skills, training and business and economic development. For our government to be a world leader in critical mineral production, we must partner with local communities and recognize and respect their valuable contributions in order to achieve shared success. Speaker, can the Minister please speak to the measures our government is undertaking to strengthen relationships with leaders in Northern and Indigenous communities regarding priority projects? Thank you. To apply, the Minister of Mines Thank you for the question, Mr. Speaker and thank you for the question from the Honourable Member across from Brantford, Brent. I want to talk specifically about one project and one First Nation. TTN. They're a company, I'm sorry, they're a First Nation that is just north of Timmins. They've partnered with First Nickel, Canada Nickel, and it's a very interesting cobalt-nickel project. The mineral that it's hosted with is serpentine. Serpentine absorbs CO2. The First Nation is the owner of the transmission line that will power, that will carry the power to that project. They own that transmission line. The Chief is Bruce Archibald. His sister is Roseanne Archibald and I'm sure everybody knows who Roseanne is. She told us last week prior to this prior to this response before the supporting development, the employment rate was 85%. Now it's below the national average. Wow. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very much. Time for the supplementary. Thank you Speaker and thank you to the Minister for his response. It is encouraging to hear about the progress that is underway in northern and indigenous communities as a result of constructive meetings with local leaders. While opposition members would rather criticize and complain our government is working tirelessly to lay the foundation for agreements that benefit the north and all of Ontario. The mining industry in Ontario already generates more than $10 billion in annual mineral production and supports 75,000 direct and indirect jobs in our province. Our government must continue making the necessary investments in this rapidly developing industry to ensure that northern and indigenous communities are not left behind. Speaker can the minister please explain how our government is making the most of the present opportunities to become a world leader in responsibly sourced critical minerals. Thank you. Minister of mine. Again Mr. Speaker for the question. Urgency is the key and our government is acting accordingly to capitalize on this vast economic opportunity that will benefit generations of Canadians and Ontarians we must act. Mr. Speaker thanks to the minister of economic development job creation and trades efforts we are securing unprecedented investments on the other end of the supply chain. We are matching those efforts through our proposed legislation the building more mines act which if passed would save companies time and money. It will increase business certainty. It will promote investment in Ontario's mining sector so we can continue to be a responsible producer of critical minerals to power the global EV revolution. Hear hear. President Bidden Biden just told the House of Commons he believes we have an incredible opportunity to work together so Canada and the United States can source and supply here in North America everything we need for reliable and resilient supply chains. We encourage the members opposite to act with urgency and vote with this on this important piece of legislation. Question a member for Mishki Gowak King's play. Thank you Mr. President. Thank you Mr. Speaker my question to the premier. Many of our regions don't have access to broadband services. Some of those services have been interrupted and business with online business has a effect on children and their learning. There are problems in terms of retention for families in the north and it is very difficult as representative to help others since they don't always have access to those services. My question is the following the last report from the FGO has concluded only 1.6 percent of these allocations have been used. Are you going to propose alternatives or will you finally respect your promises to those investments in the north? Structure. Thank you very much to the member opposite. Our government truly recognizes how important access to high speed internet is no matter where you live in the province of Ontario. I think we can all agree that COVID has certainly changed things and made it a necessity in terms of being able to educate your child be able to contact your doctor and or work from home which is why our government is investing $4 billion to make sure that every single premise in the province of Ontario is connected by the end of 2025 and I would just remind the member opposite that this is the most ambitious high-speed internet broadband program in the country. Supplementary, the member for Nickel Belt. To the premier again. In my writing many people and businesses are relying on slow, unreliable expensive internet. I have met with every internet provider none of them is interested in setting up in Nickel Belt there is no money to be made. You can pay for all the infrastructure they're not coming. So, we use phone line with a 5 megabyte download and 2 megabyte upload. How can business strive with this? The government claims that they'll spend million billions on broadband but last year they spent less than 2% of that money. Will the government finally get that money out the door and put in place a government run system for fast reliable internet at reasonable price? Order. House to come to order the minister of infrastructure. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker we are not only investing four billion dollars. Stop the clock. The member asked a question. The minister wants to reply. I need to be able to hear the minister's reply. Ask the house to come to order. Please restart the clock. Minister of infrastructure. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker and again I will repeat an investment of four billion dollars and is a historic financial investment in the province of Ontario. Mr. Speaker we have also taken the initiative to present legislation in this house to expedite the delivery of broadband high-speed internet projects across this province Mr. Speaker and we are consistently interacting with internet service providers that have participated be it in our application based programming our partnership with the federal government and our reverse auction to make sure that even the toughest hardest-to-reach places are invested in and we will get everyone connected. Member for Newmarket Aurora Thank you Mr. Speaker my question to the minister of francophone affairs with more than 620,000 francophones and 1.5 million francophiles Ontario has the greatest largest francophone community outside of Quebec in Canada improving access to French language services that are of quality in different sectors is very important last Friday a new regulation regarding active offer of French was put in place through the modernization of the French language services act could the minister tell the house how this new regulation will affect French language services in Ontario thank you Mr. Speaker I would like to thank my colleague for her question as you know our government is the first one to have modernized the French language services act over the past 35 years and this shows that we are committed to improve quality French language services in Ontario for francophones this act the modernized act led to the creation of a new regulation detailing nine concrete measures that organizations that have to follow this act have to put in place in order to have active offering of French language services it includes salutations such greetings such as hello bonjour and having French signage this forces organization to offer actively offer French language services and not to have people ask for those services supplementary thank you to the minister for her answer it is encouraging to hear the way our government is improving access to quality services in French with this initiative we not only facilitate francophones access to their first language but we are also increasing the number of qualified workers who are francophones and francophone and bilingual the francophone community in Ontario deserves an environment that enables them to flourish so that they can keep working to the province's prosperity Mr. Speaker could the minister tell us more regarding this new regulation and who has to follow this new regulation the minister Mr. Speaker active offer means that French language services have to be available at the first contact between the provider and the citizen those who are affected by this act will be also affected by this regulation including all ministries as well as designated organizations and the legislature's institutions I am very happy with the progress we've made and to continue doing this work that is essential for the francophone community in Ontario while active offer was mentioned in the acts for a year now the new measures are clarifying the minimal criteria to make sure that we have we are able to put in place this principle that is very important Speaker my question is to the premier my constituent matt's Christmas holidays were destroyed by one short sentence you may have ALS Ontario has medication to slow paralysis and extends matt's ability to use his hands to eat and to hug his children to use his legs to walk outside and dance with his soulmate caffeine and a throat to swallow and to say I love you albrioza could lengthen matt's life by 10 months but only 7% of ALS patients are eligible the personal costs are enormous ALS is the bankruptcy disease can you imagine speaker right now matt's only option is to put his family in debt to stay alive because for the other drug Ontario's EAP deems him too far gone to provide medication will this government do the right thing fund albrioza and extend matt's precious time with his family thanks to health thank you speaker you know the member opposite raises a really important issue that we deal with on a daily basis in the ministry of health and as new interventions whether they are medications or treatments become available of course the ministry of health and our government wants to provide those as quickly as possible to individuals in Ontario and you know I have to say I was really proud of the fact that as soon as tricapta was available for children and youth suffering with CF it was actually the Ontario government that was the first to list it we've done the same same thing very recently with luxerna you know a rare inherited vision loss and we now have that on the drug formula we continue to work with the PCPA as they negotiate drug prices and we put those on the formulary as soon as we can because we know what kind of life-saving intervention these mean for the people of Ontario thank you I order the member for London West thank you very much Speaker I'd like to recognize my two very hardworking staff who are here today from London West Jeannon Dean and Leah Carton welcome to Queens Park I beg to inform the House that pursuant to Standing Order 9G clerk has received written notice from the government House Leader indicating that a temporary change in the weekly meeting schedule of the House is required and therefore the afternoon routine on Wednesday April the 5th 2023 shall commence at 1 p.m also beg to inform the House of the Adjournment Debate standing in the name of the member for Ottawa South scheduled for today has been withdrawn consequently the Adjournment Debate will not be held today there being no further business this morning this House stands in recess until 3 p.m