 It is now time for oral questions. I recognize the leader of His Majesty's loyal opposition. Good morning, Speaker. The walls are closing in on this government. They're cleaning house and have brought in a high-level fixer to try to provide crisis response. They've lost numerous ministers and senior political staff to the Greenbelt scandal and are desperately trying to change the channel. Speaker, the people of this province are concerned about being able to pay their bills or find a family doctor. So to the Premier, when will this government clean up this mess of their own creation so they can start to help people who are struggling right now? And to apply, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Speaker, we have been doing that really since the beginning, right? Since 2018 we've brought in a number of measures to improve housing supply across the province of Ontario. At the same time, we set out almost immediately to eliminate red tape, useless red tape across the province of Ontario. We brought in additional measures to help support our small, medium and large job creators and the impact of that has been significant. Look, we've seen the creation of 700,000 jobs because of the policies that we have brought in place. That is 700,000 people who have the dignity of a job today that didn't when we took office. We're seeing $28 billion worth of investments in our economy. We have over 300,000 jobs that need to be filled, Speaker. Our housing starts are at their highest level in over 30 years. Our purpose-built rental starts are at their highest level in over 30 years. We're on the right track, Mr. Speaker. We're going to continue that progress for the people of the province of Ontario. The supplementary question. The clock is ticking on just how long this government can keep their backroom deals from the public. The RCMP has now appointed a special prosecutor who is investigating this government. A criminal investigation. Environmental organizations are suing to get access to government documents that the government is desperate to hide. So to the Premier, is he concerned about what the green belt documents will reveal to the RCMP special prosecutor? Mr. Mitchell-Aparison, how's it going? Speaker, as we've said the entire time, we will assist the RCMP in its work. But that's not going to stop us from doing what we set out to do. And that is ensuring that we build more homes across the province of Ontario. Look, we're encouraging and inviting over a million people to come to Ontario each and every year. That is a million people who will help build our economy, who will help build our province to make it a bigger, better, stronger Ontario. But at the same time, Mr. Speaker, we have to worry and help those who want the dream of home ownership. I was just out on Sunday and I came across a young Ontarian who has done everything right, Christina, and she said the same thing. You know, I've done everything right. I had a 20% down payment, but the increase in interest rates is hurting me, it's hurting my family, and you have to do something about it. We're doing something about it, Mr. Speaker. We're reducing taxes for all of the province of Ontario. The Premier has shown leadership with encouraging the Bank of Canada to stop its rapid rate increase, Mr. Speaker, and continue to do everything we can to support Ontarians and the economy. Final supplement. Thank you, Speaker. This Premier has said they have, quote, the most ethical, most transparent, and most accountable caucus he's ever seen. Well, that was before a damning Auditor General's report that highlighted a pattern of preferential treatment and deleted emails. That was before a minister broke ethics laws twice. And let's not forget the fact that this government is currently under a RCMP criminal investigation for its dirty deals. So, Speaker, my question is for the Premier. Would the Premier like to take the opportunity to correct the record? Mr. Speaker, look, we have been focused since day one on improving the economy of the province of Ontario. It is no secret that we inherited a government and a province that was really hurting. We were the most indebted jurisdiction. We were the highest tax jurisdiction. We were the most over-regulated jurisdiction in Canada, Mr. Speaker. We had out-of-control hydro rates. People had to choose between heating or eating. Companies were fleeing Ontario. Investment was fleeing Ontario. And all of that changed in 2018 when Ontarians elected a strong progressive conservative majority. And what have we done? We've put in the environment to create 700,000 jobs. We've reduced taxes, eliminated useless red tape. We've cut the cost of doing business in Ontario by $8 billion while at the same time, Mr. Speaker, cutting taxes for the lowest income Ontarians and building the largest investment in transit transportation in the history of the province, Mr. Speaker. We're getting the job done for the people of the province of Ontario, and we will not stop. The next question, once again, the leader of the opposition. Speaker, from red tape to brown envelopes. That's where we are today. Speaker, this question is for the Premier. The NDP has found that the Premier has issued as many fast-tracked minister zoning orders benefiting just the guests alone at the Ford family wedding reception as the previous government issued during its entire 15 years in power, 18 MZOs. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. Why is the Premier's government handing out MZOs to his friends like party favours? Speaker, what are we doing? We're handing MZOs to people who want to build long-term care homes. We're handing out MZOs for people who want to build social housing across the province of Ontario. We're handing out MZOs so that we can build more school. We're doing MZOs so that we can get transit and transportation built faster. We're doing MZOs so that we can build more hospitals all across the province of Ontario, and we're giving out MZOs so that we can meet our goal of building 1.5 million homes across the province of Ontario. And I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of Business Affairs and Housing, I will not stop on that mission to ensure that we can meet our goal of building 1.5 million homes because they may want the next generation to live in a parents' basement. We want the next generation to have all of the same advantages that we have had, the dream of homeownership to become a reality, and we will not let obstacles stand in the way. In her own question, she highlights just how bad the previous Liberal and NDP coalition government was. They got nothing done for the people of Ontario, and we're doing just the opposite. We're getting it done. Supplementary questions. Speaker, the Premier's friend, Shakeere Ribatula, attended the Premier's daughter's wedding reception last year. He owns Flato Developments, which has received more MZOs than any other developer, including one in Markham, where new homes were supposed to be built. It instantly increased the value of the land by 20 times, Speaker, generating hundreds of millions in speculative profits for Mr. Ribatula, all without building a single home. Then Flato sold part of the land. So to the Premier, did Mr. Ribatula get these MZOs because he is the Premier's friend? Mr. Ribatula, actually, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Ribatula got the MZO because both the city of Markham and the town of Stovall requested that an MZO be created so that we can get more homes in the ground faster. Now, the development the member talks about will include housing for seniors. It'll include purpose-built rental housing, Mr. Speaker. It is part of an area that had been delayed for many, many years, Speaker. And both the city of Markham, Mayor Scarpitti and Mayor Lovett asked for a ministerial zoning order so that we could make progress on getting shovels in the ground faster. Now, the member opposite might be opposed to that. But in my community, we are very much in support of that. You know why, Mr. Speaker? Because more purpose-built rentals, more seniors-focused housing means more homes available for the next generation who want to get out of their parents' basement and into the community, Mr. Speaker. That's why we're doing MZOs. The member is opposed to that. I am not. This Premier is not. This Conservative caucus is not, Mr. Speaker. We'll get the job done for the people of the province. We're in a crisis, and we will ensure that we meet the goal of 1.5 million homes. The final supplementary. Speaker, if only it ended there. After Mr. Remitula, the Cordellucci family has been the second biggest recipient of MZOs. Mario Cordellucci sat next to the Premier at the infamous wedding reception. Several other members of the Cordellucci family were seated nearby. You know who else was at the Premier's table, Speaker? Developer Carmen Negro, whose company received a favourable MZO as well. To the Premier, did the government give preferential treatment to the Cordellucci family, Mr. Negro, or any of the other guests at the reception? Mr. Mayor, please. Our MZOs, we ensure that we have support of the community when we do those MZOs, Mr. Speaker. Now, it is true. There have been instances when we have done MZOs that were not supported by the community, ostensibly to build long-term care homes. Now, I've said this in this House, whether it was in Port Hope or in Pickering, when those communities voted against building new long-term care homes, I requested that MZO, despite the fact that the local council was not in support of that, Mr. Speaker. But when we're talking about building homes, what you see is that municipalities, towns are asking us to bring these MZOs. There is a favourable motion from their council, Mr. Speaker, because they want the exact same thing. They want to build homes for people. This Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade in this Premier are bringing billions of dollars of investments to communities across the province, and they need housing. When long-term care homes are built with four hours of care, that needs more nurses, more PSWs. They need to have a place to live. Now, we're building that in different communities, and we're going to continue to get the job done. The next question. Remember for Niagara Centre. Thank you, Speaker. Through you to the Premier. I asked the former Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing about a Minister's zoning order issued in Oramedanti for a medical innovation park. The innovation park was never built. Instead, the owners attempted to sell the land unchanged for about 10 times what they paid for it before getting the MZO. The former Minister said he would revoke the order, but he never did. Speaker, why is the Premier allowing this speculator to keep the profits from an MZO for a medical innovation park that was never built? The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Thank you, Speaker. That is part of the review. If something has been issued that has not progressed in the fashion that we want it to have progressed, if it does not meet the goal of building 1.5 million homes, if it does not meet the goal of bringing job and economic activity to a community, then we will revoke that MZO. That is part of the review, but let there be no doubt that when it comes to building homes for the people of province of Ontario, we will continue to be aggressive. When it comes to meeting opportunities for job creation in communities, we will continue to be aggressive, Mr. Speaker. We have so much to untangle left behind by the previous Liberal and NDP administration, but we're on the right path. 700,000 jobs. 700,000 people who have the dignity of a job that had lost the dream of that under the Liberals and NDP that we're moving to every other part of this country because they didn't see Ontario as a place to live, work, invest, or raise a family. That has changed in 2018, Mr. Speaker. We're on the right path and we will not be distracted by the opposition. The supplementary question. Speaker, if you're a friend of the Premier, this government will hand out MZOs like candy. But if you're building affordable housing, this government makes you wait. Years ago, the City of Toronto requested MZOs to fast-track several affordable housing projects. Unlike many of the MZOs, this government gives out to its friends, there was public consultation, a staff recommendation, and council approval. The government approved all the City's MZO requests except one, an affordable housing building at 175 Cumber in Willowdale. It remains in limbo to this day. Speaker, will the Premier tell us, did the government single out that affordable housing project for delay because it was opposed by the PC donor who is building luxury homes across the street? Yes or no? Let me get this straight, colleagues. Let me just get this straight because they are flipping and flopping all over the place in the NDP, right? So now he wants me to do an MZO. But he's against the hundreds of social housing that Toronto did get and is building and has completed because of an MZO in their own communities and some of their own backyard. What is it? Do you want an MZO or do you not want an MZO? This is the dilemma of the NDP. One day they want a carbon tax, the next day they don't. But, alleluia, last Thursday they voted with us to repeal the carbon tax, Mr. Speaker. So we're making progress. We're making progress. But let me tell the member opposite. I am encouraged by the fact that despite what his leader has said he is in favour of doing MZOs to build the communities faster. The division within that party continues but he can count on us to get the job done. The member for Brantford Grant. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Premier. Premier, the impact of the carbon tax is truly devastating for all Ontarians. Canada's Parliamentary Budget Officer warned that the federal carbon tax will cost the average Ontario family far more than they would ever get back in rebate checks. The average Ontario household will have a net loss of $478 in 2023 thanks to the carbon tax, even after the rebates. But things are going to get much worse. The original carbon tax is going to keep going up until 2030 and the carbon tax on gasoline will keep rising. According to the same Parliamentary Budget Office report the carbon tax hikes will turn a $478 household loss this year into a staggering $1820 loss in 2030. Speaker, can the Premier please share his views on what impact the carbon tax is having on the people of Ontario? Thank you. To respond, the Premier. Well, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Speaker, you're doing a great job out there when the calls are coming in. The carbon tax, Mr. Speaker, and I've said it from day one, is the worst tax you could ever put on the backs of people, on the backs of businesses, making us uncompetitive around the world. It is a tax imposed by a bunch of elites and extremists on one side of the aisle that hurts working families across our province. When I heard what the Parliamentary Budget Officer said I couldn't believe it. Ontario families will be out nearly $2,000 a year once 2030 comes around because of the carbon tax. It's unbelievable. $2,000. And that, by the way, that's after tax dollars, Mr. Speaker. This is wrong. It's not fair to the people. The carbon tax is making life more expensive every single day in every part of our province. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. Thank you, Premier. We can see the negative impact that the carbon tax is having on everyday essential items that the people of Ontario need. Whether it's the clothes we wear or the food we buy or the fuel that we put into our cars, every single thing that we buy has an inflation built into it now because of this carbon tax. We need to take action to scrap the carbon tax in order to give our hardworking families much needed relief. Unfortunately, the opposition liberals and the NDP continue to vote against the measures that we've taken, measures that would make life more affordable for the people of Ontario. Speaker, can the Premier please share his views on the opposition once again saying no to making life more affordable for the people of Ontario? Premier. I find it very ironic hearing the liberals and NDP talking about affordability and cost of living issues when they vote against every single bill we put forward to take the burden off of people. These issues are made even worse by the carbon tax, the tax they have both championed for years after years after years. Now it appears that the NDP and the liberals are trying to confuse Ontarians about their record when it comes to their support of the carbon tax. The liberals now seem to be uncertain about where they stand. We saw just last week the Liberal member for Orleans voted in favour of our motion to remove the carbon tax. Thank you, my friend. I appreciate it. While the rest the carbon tax on the Gorshis while the rest of the six members that they have voted for it the NDP members voted this one one time against the carbon tax and they have the carbon tax king sitting over in the corner that has voted for the highest carbon tax in the entire world. Thank you. Thank you. Good morning, Speaker. My question is to the Premier. I introduced a motion last week to recognize Indigenous determinants of health across ministries. Speaker, the health care system in Ontario does not work for Indigenous people. Not doing enough to improve that makes this government part of the problem. The Chiefs of the Sulicote area declared a public health emergency in social crisis related to the mental health and addictions. Will this government support the motion to improve Indigenous health outcomes in Ontario? Yes or no? Please take your seats for Northern Development and Indigenous Affairs. Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge the unfortunate passing of the suicide of a young lady, Elena Cecilia Nancy Birdie who committed suicide in Sioux Lookout. She's from on Sunday evening, she's from Kingfisher Lake, the member from Kuwait Young's home and has family in Satchigo Lake her grandfather Titus Tate is a friend of the people who have been with the community and I just wanted to acknowledge that first and foremost. With respect to the private members bill there's a good way of working through the legislature with respect to those private members bills and when you want to put a report on the table for us to consider and debate, maybe put it out a little bit sooner than one day before the motion is tabled. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Next question. Speaker, the government says it recognizes the health outcomes for Indigenous people are lower than other Ontarians. I know that Elena Birdie aged 11 of Kingfisher Lake First Nation took her life this weekend. Elena should have had all the opportunities other kids in Ontario have to grow up. Speaker, but she did not. Whatever this government thinks they're doing isn't happening fast enough. Will this government support my motion to recognize colonialism and being in business as a determinant of health? Yes or no? And to reply, the Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. Thank you Mr. Speaker and my heart goes out as well to the young lady, to the family and to the entire community with respect to the grave loss that occurred on Sunday. Mr. Speaker, we know that there are gaps in care that are faced by Indigenous communities and those in the north and we have been and will continue making investments to ensure that these gaps are filled. In August, I was in Sioux Lookout just recently to announce the opening of new safe sobering withdrawal management supportive treatment beds with an investment of over $4 million. In addition to that annually we're investing $40 million in Indigenous care organizations and are building productive working relationships to ensure that Indigenous communities throughout the province have access to culturally appropriate mental health and addiction supports. We know that more needs to be done Mr. Speaker and we are working to ensure through the different investments that are being made that the care that is culturally safe and appropriate is being provided to all communities in the province. Very much. The next question, the member for Peter Barrow. I have a question for the Minister of Energy. Last Thursday, the Prime Minister finally recognized what the Premier has been saying for years. The carbon tax is raising the price on everything. After years of pushing energy costs higher, the Prime Minister has finally announced he was pausing the carbon tax on home heating oil and only for three years. Over the weekend I heard from many of my constituents who heat with natural gas of propane who are concerned that the federal government is leaving them out in the cold this winter and no one should be choosing between heating and eating. Speaker to the Minister, is it true that the federal government is going to continue to raise carbon tax on my constituents who heat with natural gas or propane? Good question. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately the member from Peter Barrow is correct yet again. The Prime Minister clearly stated that this pause that was announced last week to the federal carbon tax is only going to apply to those who use home heating oil, which is only 2.5% of the people in Ontario. The vast majority of the people in Ontario, more than 70% of them are using lower emission forms of energy like propane and natural gas and what they're going to see Mr. Speaker is the carbon tax continue to go up and up and up. That means more money out of their pockets at a time when affordability is tough for people across Ontario. As the Premier just mentioned, the carbon tax is driving up the price of gasoline it's driving up the price of housing, it's driving up grocery prices Mr. Speaker. The change from the federal liberal government the government of Canada Mr. Speaker is too little and too late. They need to start acting like the government of Canada Mr. Speaker. Any supplementary question? Thank you Speaker and thank you Minister for that. I truly do not understand why the federal government is intentionally leaving out Ontarians from relief on their federal taxes on their energy bills. That's right. Families and businesses by rioting have told me they're already feeling the impact of the carbon tax on their bills every single month. They can't afford higher taxes that the opposition liberals and NDP want to impose. Speaker does the minister know how much higher the good people of Peterbrook can expect their energy bills to go if the federal government continues to deny any relief to Ontario? Good question. Minister of Energy I'm not surprised that families and the members rioting are already feeling the impact of the federal carbon tax just this year alone the federal tax is adding almost $300 to households there on their natural gas heating alone Mr. Speaker. That's more than $24 a month. The same goes for households that heat with propane which are already paying $250 more in taxes this year but it's not going to stop there Mr. Speaker. By 2030 the federal government with the opposition party support here at Queens Park that includes the current liberal caucus and the NDP opposition Mr. Speaker want to nearly triple the carbon tax across Canada Mr. Speaker the feds aren't done yet is the bottom line Ontarians can't afford higher taxes especially at this time Mr. Speaker and these parties the liberals the NDP and the federal liberals couldn't be more out of touch while we're reducing the cost of living Mr. Speaker they're continuing to make it more and more expensive for the people of Canada. The next question member for Ottawa Wes Napien. Thank you Speaker our kids deserve support but this government is critically underfunding schools across the province despite years of high inflation and the need for greater supports education spending is down $1200 per student thanks to this government the minister's attempts at creative accounting and messaging can't hide the impact and it's our kids who are paying the price will the government commit to restoring per student funding to where it was before their cuts to apply the minister of education Mr. Speaker kids pay the price when the NDP sit in the sidelines and not urge their union friends to get a deal with this government that keeps kids in class that's when they pay the price when you lack the courage to urge your union generation friends to get off their hands and sign a deal that keeps kids in class they pay the price when you vote against the budget that increased funding to a historic high $700 million more this year just compared to last year they pay the price when the NDP and the Liberals vote against 2000 additional frontline educators supporting our kids with an emphasis on literacy and math Mr. Speaker you pay the price these kids pay the price when they oppose our efforts to go back to basics in the classroom we are going to stand up for common sense in our education system for a more quality focus system to lift standards on reading, writing and math we're going to stand up for students and demand better for the people of this province there is one person in this chamber who can do more than anything else to protect our kids school year and it is that minister who is refusing to set negotiating dates with unions education workers are united in fighting for better conditions for our schools they're looking for more supports for our students with special needs mental health resources a strategy to address violence in schools and for an acknowledgement of the staffing crisis that we are facing both the elementary teachers federation and the Catholic teachers have won strong strike mandates will the minister finally come to the table now and bargain in good faith to protect our kids school year the minister of education Mr. Speaker there the member goes again standing with the unions on a strike vote instead of urging them to sign a deal that keeps kids in school they have a duty to stand up for their constituents and while it's clear that this is an issue that brings great sense of defensive energy from the MPP because I know they are now finally being acknowledged for standing with unions and standing with parents and demand these kids stay in school we're going to go back to basics we're going to increase funding and increase staffing and we're going to demand better for Ontario students in this province thank you Mr. Speaker and good morning everyone my question is for the Premier the government is scared they're scared of what the RCMP criminal investigation might uncover about the 8.3 billion dollar green belt deal they're scared of what might be revealed in the 7000 page FOI to be released later today they're scared that they just can't maintain their promise to get 1.5 million homes built by 2031 they're scared that they just don't have it in them to get it done that's why they have to water down the deal Mr. Speaker a bed is not a home and it should not count as such we desperately need more long term care units but classifying them as housing is completely malarkey as experts and analysts did not include these much needed beds in Ontario housing needs the Premier himself has said that the target numbers actually should be 1.8 million homes given recent population growth so why water it down now my question thank you to reply the Minister of Missful Affairs in housing I was afraid it was in 2018 when we had to look at the books of the province of Ontario now let's listen to what the member opposite just said and to be clear the Leader of the Opposition today doubled down on this they have both said that long term care homes are not homes when I was the Minister of Long-Term Care and this Minister of Long-Term Care doubled it down because you know what it is a home it is a home for every single let's start again Minister of Missful Affairs in housing let me say this I dare the members opposite to go into a long-term care home and tell a senior that the home that they are living in is not a home there are 30,000 seniors who will have a brand new home because of the work that this province and this Premier and that Minister of Long-Term Care are doing that is 30,000 seniors who will have a home that never could have imagined it under the Liberals and the NDP a supplementary question the distractions Mr. Speaker the bottom line is this government is failing on its promise to build homes the province is relying on accounting trickery and it's not even Halloween yet Mr. Speaker rather than actually moving forward with getting homes built they find loopholes to attempt to reach their goal long-term care beds can we just for once stop with the distractions with the debauchery with the dynamics and focus on the task at hand to actually build housing in a housing crisis no less there are simple solutions be bold legalize building up transit corridors and on provincially owned lands start with Danforth Avenue which runs through the middle of my riding my question to the Premier is when commit to building up a long transit on provincially owned land Mr. Speaker you know something I have a great respect for triple M over there but sometimes the cheese slips off the cracker in your own riding triple M we created 370 long term soft clock Premier in his language and I'm going to allow him to continue Mr. Speaker 370 homes in her riding alone we are building 30,000 long term care homes your party in 15 years created 611 30,000 versus 611 a big difference but they voted against creating more long term care homes they voted against hospitals voted against the roads to get to the hospitals voted against the highways to get to the hospitals they would be against a permit to build a dog house to vote against it that's what they're about we get the job done they sit back and all they do is complain Mr. Speaker Thank you Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker my question is to the Minister of Energy my colleague the member for Kronanak Kingston has put forward a strong motion that calls on the federal government to take immediate steps to eliminate the carbon tax on fuels and inputs for home heating for many individuals and families especially in northern Ontario the use of fuels to heat their homes is a necessity not a luxury unfortunately for many people in rural, remote and northern Ontario cities they are extremely limited in the options they have when it comes to heating their homes it is not right it is unfair that they are being punished by this regressive carbon tax simply because of the fuel that they need to survive Speaker through you can the Minister please speak to what impact eliminating the carbon tax will have on the energy bills of so many Ontarians especially in rural, remote and northern communities Thank you Thanks Mr. Speaker I want to thank the member for a great question she's absolutely right once again Mr. Speaker heating fuels like natural gas and propane are often the only options in rural and remote parts of Ontario including our first nations over 70% of Ontarians heat their homes with natural gas and propane Mr. Speaker just this year alone the federal carbon tax as we've already established is adding hundreds of dollars to those customers making life more affordable it's about $25 a month per family these families and households are still facing the same challenges 1.5% of people who use home heating fuel they're the only ones that are being exempted from the carbon tax by Canada's federal government Mr. Speaker it doesn't make any sense why are we not exempting all of those other people that are heating with natural gas and propane from the carbon tax as well Mr. Speaker I want to thank the member from Lanark Frontenac Kingston for a great motion and hopefully the Liberal Caucus here will stop turning themselves and not thank you Mr. Speaker thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you to the minister for his response the carbon tax is driving up the cost of utilities as it is driving up the cost on everything I myself live in a rural part in the riding of Carleton and I'm on propane and the bills have gone up exponentially life is simply more unaffordable today because of the imposition of the federal carbon tax sadly it is even forcing individuals and families to once again have to choose between this is especially concerning as we are approaching winter unfortunately not everyone in this legislature shares the same view about the negative impacts that the carbon tax has had on so many Ontarians and our electricity system as we saw last week the opposition liberals voted against our motion to remove the carbon tax on groceries Speaker through you can the minister please share the concerns of so many Ontarians regarding why anyone would ever support a carbon tax Minister of energy it's actually shameful that the members of the liberal caucus here all nine of them would actually sit in here in the legislature and support a carbon tax every step of the way Mr. Speaker we've seen the movie before that's why this party has been reduced to nine seats in the legislature they wait until the very last minute when people can't afford to heat or eat in their communities and then they try and do something about it Mr. Speaker but this party continues to support the federal government in this carbon tax one that is going to triple over the next number of years Mr. Speaker driving more people into energy poverty I can't believe the member from Ottawa South is chirping over there he sat there in a seat when the provincial liberals were driving up the cost of everything in our province Mr. Speaker the premier has already said it this morning the carbon tax is wrong compared to the people of Ontario we need the opposition parties in this legislature to join us and encourage the feds to scrap the the next question the member for Niagara Falls thank you my questions to the premier it's become quite clear to the public that this government is far from meeting their promised housing targets of 1.5 million homes but now we learn that they have quietly included long-term care beds in the total housing built numbers I'm not sure if the minister's old documents got mixed up with his new portfolio but he should be clear that Ontario has both a housing crisis and a long-term care crisis we're there we're not fixing either by just padding the numbers could the premier tell us the real numbers today and let Ontario's know how far off they are from meeting their housing goals the minister thank you the member asked for some numbers let's give them some numbers shall we 15 years when they propped up the liberals they built 611 beds for seniors in this province that's over 15 years this government since 2018 has built or shovels in the ground 18,000 now speaker the member questions long-term care homes as homes well I dare the member to go to Pleasant Manor in Niagara Falls where we just announced hundreds of new beds and tell the amazing seniors who live there that they are not living in homes because our government disagrees speaker they are absolutely homes and we are building 58,000 of them under this premier's leadership speaker we are not going to take lessons from the NDP we're going to make sure the seniors in this province have the respect and dignity they deserve Mr. Speaker I want to be clear if you invest in home care we wouldn't have the number of seniors that are going to live in long-term care and that's where they want to live that's the reality their home is home with their families and you don't need to take lessons from me I'll teach you as we witnessed declining housing starts in the province of Ontario your solution just add the numbers together and hope nobody notices but it's not accurate and it means we're far off from tackling our housing crisis can the premier come clean with Ontarians after being forced to reverse all of their housing policies for the past year and we know why that happened is creative math and the only solution he has left on the housing crisis Minister Long-term Care Speaker just when you think the NDP can't blow you away any further we get this question this morning from the member for Niagara Falls what is he saying is he saying that homes that seniors live in are most vulnerable seniors are not homes I dare the member to walk into Niagara because here are the new homes we are building Extend to Care St. Catharines Forty-Eight Welland Niagara Health South Ridge Niagara West Hills Garden City Fairview Walk with me into those homes and tell those hard working seniors who built this country who gave us our lives as we know it that they're not living in a home we're going to continue to make sure we take care of our seniors they took care of us we're not taking any lessons from the member office I'm sure we all had a nice weekend and we come back to the house with a great deal of enthusiasm and it's wonderful to see it especially this close to Halloween however I can't hear what's being said in the house I would ask the house to come to order or I will start calling members out by name and graduate from there if necessary start the clock The next question the member for Thornhill My question is to the Minister of Energy Unlike the opposition liberals and the NDP our government the carbon tax is driving up energy prices across this province that's why our Premier and our government took our fight against this useless and regressive tax all the way to the Supreme Court go to winter and as we head into the winter I'm glad to see that the federal government is starting to understand the harmful effects of the carbon tax but they did not go far enough Speaker can the Minister please explain why the federal government would only allow the carbon tax on home heating oil which is more emitting and used by only 2.5% of Ontarians instead of natural gas which is less emitting and used by let's say 70% Mr. of Energy Mr. Speaker the member's question is a pretty difficult one to answer Mr. Speaker because the federal government's approach to scrapping the carbon tax doesn't make much sense at all Mr. Speaker the federal Liberals have decided to pause the carbon tax on one type of home heating fuel but continue to increase the cost for those who use less emitting types of home heating fuel like natural gas and propane most of the people here in Ontario as I've already said more than 70% of the people in Ontario are using those lower emissions fuels Mr. Speaker Ontario families just shouldn't be punished because of a decision by the Prime Minister and his team in Ottawa the feds need to expand this pause for all people across Ontario there the government of Canada Mr. Speaker and they should be putting a pause on this for all residents across Canada not just in Atlantic Canada Mr. Speaker it's time that the opposition party stand with us and oppose this federal carbon tax once and for all the supplementary question thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you Minister for the response I appreciate the frank answer I absolutely agree that the federal government must move quickly to expand this pause to all forms of heating in Ontario of home heating in Ontario or get rid of the tax completely as we head as we head into the winter home heating costs are top of mind for our families in my community and they're looking for us to put in place policies that are going to reduce costs not increase them can the minister please explain what our government is going to do and keep doing to keep costs down for families across Ontario Minister of Energy matter of fact Mr. Speaker I can our government is continuing to invest in programs to keep energy costs down for families just two weeks ago I announced an increase to the Ontario electricity rebate the OER increasing that to 19.3% to ensure that electricity bills for the people of Ontario remain stable and that they remain predictable and that goes not just for families but for small businesses and farms as well Mr. Speaker the average customer in Ontario is going to see a rebate of $26 a month but when it comes to home heating and natural gas we need the federal government to come to the table Mr. Speaker and join us in trying to make life more affordable for the people of Ontario not just the people of Atlantic Canada Mr. Speaker but for people across Canada Mr. Speaker as the Premier said this morning his tax is wrong it's hurting people in Ontario it's hurting people right across Canada it's not fair to the people and we should spread this out thank you next question the member for Toronto said thank you Speaker last week on October 23rd four people including three children aged 6, 7 and 12 were fatally injured in Suisse Marie police are calling the shootings a result of intimate partner violence the Premier called the news gut-wrenching but his words ring hollow when he refuses to even act on the first recommendation of the Renfrew InQuest which is to declare intimate partner violence and epidemic I'll give the Premier one more chance today to stand with survivors will the Premier support cities and their public health officials by finally declaring intimate partner violence and epidemic by finally declaring intimate partner violence and epidemic well thank you Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker this is a serious matter and our thoughts are with the victims and their families but symbolism does not affect change and that's why we know that this is all this is an all systems partner that will be engaged and we're taking a broad lens I said last week Mr. Speaker we're doing Mr. Speaker we're enhancing the training at the Ontario Police College for the newest cadets and I've seen this for myself Mr. Speaker I said that we are giving grants to 45 organizations that will help people in their communities through victim services and this is part of a 55 million dollar investment that we're doing and Mr. Speaker we will also and always hold the offenders accountable to account. Speaker calling the Renfrew report symbolism is rather insulting and very deeply hurtful we need to talk about how intimate partner violence harms and kills children as they live with their mothers on average a woman is killed by an intimate partner in every six days in Canada and as of September 30 if there have been 46 feminicides in Ontario alone and that number is higher. The Canadian domestic homicide prevention initiative has found that at least 30 children are killed annually in Canada by one of their parents. Speaker the clock is running out when will the Premier finally take action to protect children and their mothers by declaring intimate partner violence and epidemic. Mr. Speaker this is a serious matter that's exactly why we're acting that's exactly why as part of the Ontario gun gangs and violent reduction strategy our government invested more than $4 million in 45 projects to help the victims Mr. Speaker that's why at the Ontario Police College we are ensuring that every cadet receives training on intimate partner violence and Mr. Speaker that's why we are investing $55 million across the system but Mr. Speaker as I said before as I said before we're engaging all partners to act and we're looking at this at a broad lens and most importantly we will hold the offenders to account for their actions which is absolutely inappropriate. Order. The next question the member for Mississauga Melts. Thank you Mr. Speaker my question is to the Minister of Energy as a premier said last month the delivery of every product we have in the province is being affected by the worst tax this country have ever seen it is useless tax and that's a carbon tax I absolutely agree with the premier on this because while our government has remained laser focused on lowering the costs the carbon tax is working against us Speaker we have heard a lot about the high cost of energy builds today but can the minister also please explain how the carbon tax is driving up the cost of everything else sir of energy Thanks to the member opposite as has been well documented the carbon tax is driving up the cost of everything Mr. Speaker it's driving up the cost of fuel it's driving up the cost of produce and groceries it's driving up the cost of everything you know as the minister of agriculture has been saying for a couple of years now Mr. Speaker it's driving up the cost of fruits and vegetables in our grocery stores and it's pretty simple Speaker because you know the carbon tax is applied to the fertilizer that the farmers are using the carbon tax is applied to the fuel that runs their tractors Mr. Speaker the carbon tax drives up the cost of energy to get it to the grocery store and then the carbon tax also drives up the cost of energy at those grocery stores Mr. Speaker and it drives up the cost of the individuals fuel to go to the grocery store to get the fruits and vegetables this is a terrible tax Mr. Speaker we've been fighting this tax here on this side of the house since 2018 Mr. Speaker we need the federal government we need opposition to come together to make life more important Speaker thank you to the minister for his response this is exactly why our government spoke up about that carbon tax and why we fought it tooth and nail because we knew it would increase cost of everything in our communities. Speaker the most concerning part about the carbon tax is that it will only get worse the federal government and opposition parties want to nearly terrible costs by 2030 Speaker can the minister please explain why Ontario families cannot afford the tax increase the Liberals and the NDP are planning and bushing for Minister of Energy Mr. Speaker thanks to the member for the question what our government recognized right from the start was that this tax was going to have a harmful impact on our economy and for the people of Ontario we fought it you know it's not a choice it's a necessity in this province a family shouldn't have to decide I almost feel like back in my opposition days Mr. Speaker when we were criticizing the provincial Liberal government for making people choose between heating and eating that's what that same crop of Liberals have now done on Parliament Hill Mr. Speaker they haven't just done it for Ontario though they've done it for all of Canada a construction worker has no choice on how they're going to get to work they're driving their truck and they're paying the carbon tax on that the mom who's taking her son or daughter to school has to pay the carbon tax on their fuel Mr. Speaker while we've been busy on this side of the house making life more affordable for the people of Ontario when it comes to electricity prices and fighting the carbon tax every step of the way getting rid of tolls getting rid of license plate stickers thank you Mr. Speaker my questions to the premier data recently released by the landlord and tenant board shows that applications for personal use of evictions are up 77% in Toronto disturbingly the data also shows that the landlord and tenant board has only issued 11 fines for bad faith evictions in nearly 4 years tenant lawyers are saying that number is staggeringly low and reflects a failure to the province to protect tenants tenants are losing their homes in record numbers what is this government going to do to end bad faith evictions and keep tenants housed to apply the attorney general thank you Mr. Speaker I'll tell you what the government is going to do the government is going to continue to do what it's been doing which is putting resources change processes double the number of people who are adjudicators Mr. Speaker we have changed absolutely every part of it we are chunking away at the backlog because we paused evictions during covid now Mr. Speaker what is the common theme among all of these things investing in people processes and technology the opposition voted against every single one every single time Mr. Speaker Speaker the government introduced the helping home buyers protecting tenants act but it did not protect tenants from bad faith evictions in fact doubling fines we know does not have the impact that's needed especially if they're not being utilized Speaker the government has yet to proclaim the bill despite it receiving royal assent in June again the government is failing to protect tenants and must do more what tangible actions will you take to put an end to bad faith evictions and keep tenants housed thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you for the question I'm a little confused the member opposite is upset that we're not proclaiming a bill that she thinks is faulty legislation so I'm not sure you know how the logic works but I think it's liberal math Mr. Speaker when we double the number of adjudicators that can allow us to double the amount of hearings Mr. Speaker when we change the rules to take a red tape that allows us to get through more hearings Mr. Speaker when we invest tens of millions of dollars in staffing and technology Mr. Speaker it allows us to bring the landlord on board up to a system that Ontarians expect and deserve Mr. Speaker the NDP supported these liberals in letting the system go fallow Mr. Speaker we are going to make sure the people of Ontario both landlords and tenants get the hearings that they need and deserve Mr. Speaker thank you thank you Speaker my question is for the Minister of Energy we've heard today about our government's work to make life in this province more affordable one of the programs that we put in place to help Ontarians is the clean home heating initiative this program will help make home heating not just more affordable but also cleaner by providing grants to support the purchase and installation of hybrid heat pumps Speaker through you to the Minister of Energy has the federal government reached out at any point inquire about topping up this program with federal dollars to make home heating more affordable for Ontarians thank you Minister of Energy thanks Speaker as I've mentioned several times today our government has worked hard to make life more affordable for the people of Ontario and just one of the initiatives that we launched is the program that the member mentioned the clean home heating initiative or the CHHI which will provide funding for hybrid heat pumps for up to 1500 people across the province switching to hybrid could save up to 300 dollars a year for families but the answer to the member's question is no the federal government didn't reach out to talk to us about how we could expand this program across Ontario it's unfortunate because it is working for the people of Ontario they chose to only expand this type of program for the people of Atlantic Canada and I'm not exactly sure why they would do that Mr. Speaker because it's not just Atlantic Canadians that are hurting with the impact of the carbon tax and that jurisdiction it's people right across this country and that includes all of the people in Ontario who are suffering with an affordability crisis because of the federal government's carbon tax we need to ask a supplementary question thank you Speaker and thank you Minister for that answer but I have to tell you it's extremely disappointing to hear that response we've heard loud and clear today that the federal government must take broader action to help all Ontarians who are experiencing the impacts of rising costs my constituents remain concerned that the federal government is not exploring opportunities that will lead to real solutions in fact the federal government has doubled down on their failed program by keeping the carbon tax on all other forms of home heating Speaker can the Minister please elaborate on what benefits could be provided to Ontario families as part of the hybrid home heating system thank you Minister of Energy thanks Mr. Speaker hybrid heat pumps allow households to leverage Ontario's world class clean electricity system to both heat and cool their homes with a hybrid heat pump which switches between electricity and natural gas it's just one of the many programs that makes life more affordable we talked about the Ontario electricity rebate speaker we talked about the 10 cent a litre savings that the people of Ontario are experiencing here in this province while the feds continue to make the carbon tax go up and up and up every year they want to triple the tax and it's so disheartening when we're doing everything we can in Ontario to make life more affordable for the people of Ontario when the federal government and members of the NDP opposition and that green guy in this legislature want to drive the cost of everything Mr. Speaker we're taking tolls off toll routes in Ontario we're giving people back their fees on license plate stickers we're doing all of this and at the same time the next question the next question the next question the next question the next question as I've made the House aware many times we have a former dairy lagoon in the district of Missming which is used now to house raw human sewage now that sewage is being spread on farmland farmers need a nutrient management plan for their agricultural waste but we've been unable to find the non-agricultural source material plan that agriculture needs when raw human sewage is spread on farm is that plan needed when raw human sewage is spread on agriculture land which crops are sold that could be very well used in human food thank you Mr. Agriculture Food Neural Affairs very much Mr. Speaker and I appreciate the opportunity to talk about the environmental farm plan that we have in Ontario because really and truly we lead North America and we have demonstrated time and again that we are the best stewards when it comes to the efforts that have been put forward by farmers you know back in the 90s and I'm sure the member opposite himself ran to OMAFRA offices to take part in the winter courses that improved the the knowledge and the ultimate application on farms when it comes to environmental farm plans and with that said I can tell you that OMAFRA is working with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and in a proactive way to address this matter thank you very much that concludes our question period