 It is now time for oral questions, I recognize the leader of the official opposition. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Finance. This morning the Premier received a letter from the US Chamber of Commerce urging the government not to proceed with their scheme to rip up the contract with the beer store. They're joining the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and thousands and thousands of Ontarians who are raising serious concerns about this reckless scheme. Does the Minister still believe it's a good idea? Well thank you Speaker, thank you for the question. You know it's interesting to note that most people in the province of Ontario are the same as I was when I first got elected. They don't know, we don't realize, the beer store is not owned by the government of Ontario. Yes we own the LCBO but the beer store is owned by three global beer giants. They were given a sweetheart deal by the Liberal government who put people ahead of profits. The deal is terrible for the consumers, it is killing competition, it is keeping prices high and it is stifling our craft brewers. There's no deal like this anywhere else in the world. It is a sweetheart deal that rewards only the beer store and their near monopoly. We would have to open 11,500 new outlets just to be at the same level per capita as the province of Quebec. The supplementary question. Well Speaker, the US Chamber of Commerce certainly knows who owns the beer store. The Minister and the Premier spent a lot of public money jetting to New York and Washington but evidently they never checked in with the US Chamber of Commerce. Like the Ontario Chamber of Commerce they are raising serious concerns about a government that rips up contracts on a whim. Now we know the previous government did that and now we have a government in place that's doing the exact same things. And Ontario families are wondering why the government is ready to blow hundreds of millions of dollars on this beer store scheme. In fact this beer store battle. When that money could so much better be invested in things like education and healthcare. Why is the finance minister so committed to this reckless and senseless scheme? Speaker, we campaigned on a promise to put people first including by growing jobs and expanding choice and convenience for Ontario consumers. Our governments open for business and open for jobs and that approach is working. Since coming to office 170,000 net new jobs have been created across the province. Just last week we heard from Fitch Bond Rating Agency who gave us an upgrade. The first upgrade in eight years. And they did this after we brought our legislation with the beer store. The fact of the matter is it's a bad deal for consumers and a bad deal for businesses. Special advisor Ken Hughes says the agreement with the beer store and I quote, The rifle competition keeps prices artificially high and prevents new craft beer entrepreneurs from getting a strong foothold in the market. Speaker we will always get the best deal possible for Ontario consumers and Ontario businesses. The final supplementary question. Speaker the people of Ontario have been pretty clear. They want a government that's focused on priorities like schools and hospitals. Instead they have a government that's ready to blow billions of dollars potentially on a beer store battle. A scheme so reckless it's becoming an international incident now. Will this minister back away from this reckless plan today? Minister to respond. Speaker repeating beer store insider made up numbers is not going to advance this cause. Nowhere else in the world does a government give the biggest beer store companies special privileges at the expense of consumers and the rest of the industry. The three global beer giants are for profits not for the people. You have to ask yourself speaker why are these multinational companies fighting the province so hard when all we want to do is put more of their product in more stores. The reason speaker is because their deal was so lucrative. The sweetheart deal they made with the previous Liberal government is so lucrative they will do anything say anything to make sure they keep their turf. They're ignoring the economic opportunity that we know. Expanding beer and wine into corner stores and grocery stores and big box stores will add 9100 jobs to the province of Ontario and 3.5 billion dollars in our economy. Why don't you repeat those numbers? The next question. Once again, leader of the opposition. Thank you speaker. My next question is for the minister of health. Yesterday London Health Sciences announced that they would be cutting an equivalent of 165 full time positions due to budget challenges. Can the minister explain how eliminating 165 frontline health care workers is going to eliminate hallway medicine? Question is to the minister of health and long term care. Well London Health Sciences has experienced some difficulties in the past. But certainly our government is helping all hospitals across Ontario with an additional $1.3 billion into our health care system with this year's budget. $384 million in new money for operational expenses and $1.2 million investment for London Health Sciences Centre in last fall to help them get prepared for the flu season. However, they make their own decisions. They have their own independent board of directors. But as part of this exercise, London Health Sciences Centre is exploring opportunities to not fill vacant nonpatient facing roles and is also reviewing parameters to mitigate overtime hours. There are no job cuts or reductions being contemplated at this time. The supplementary question. The hospital CEO in London was pretty clear yesterday and I quote, It's been very tough to operate in this environment to operate where expenses are inflationary and revenue is flat. And the financial accountability office of course was clear that we're going to see more and more cuts as hospital funding falls behind inflation. It was a recipe for hallway medicine under the Liberals as they played the game the same way. And it's a recipe for hallway medicine now as this government hasn't learned from the mistakes of the Liberal government. 165 health professionals are losing jobs in London. Is the government prepared to acknowledge that their scheme to end hallway medicine is simply not working because it's fundamentally the same scheme that the Liberals had in place? The member for Don Valley East will come to order. Minister of Finance will come to order. The member for Kitchener Conestoga will come to order. The member for Mississauga Streetsville will come to order. Start the clock. Minister to reply. Thank you. Well in fact, Mr. Speaker, I will say to the Leader of the Official Opposition for you that in actual fact we are increasing the amount of money that we are putting into healthcare. $1.3 billion this year. We promised the people of Ontario during last year's election campaign that we would protect what matters most to them. Healthcare and education. Budget as well as healthcare. $1.3 billion is a lot of money. $384 million to increase the operational costs in hospitals is a lot of money. We are working with London Health Sciences Centre. There has been an update from yesterday, I'm happy to say. And we know that London Health Sciences Centre is taking steps to mitigate their budgetary challenges and is undertaking a review to generate cost savings. And as I indicated in the previous response, they are also exploring active opportunities to not fill vacant non-patient facing roles and are not contemplating any job cuts. Thank you. Thank you. The final supplementary. Thank you, Speaker. For families that are worried about the state of Ontario's healthcare and the next trip to the emergency room, the Ford government cuts are deeply, deeply concerning. Cuts to public health, cuts to ambulance services, cuts to cancer screening, and now eliminating frontline health staff at hospitals. Speaker, these are the things that matter most to the people of Ontario. Is this what the Ford government is planning on doing for the next three years to our healthcare system? We don't want to see what that's going to look like, Speaker. Is the minister ready to admit that her budget cuts are causing frontline staff to be laid off? Impacting care for the patients of our province as a result? And will she leave more patients waiting for care in hospital hallways by continuing with this wrong-headed move? Minister Dahlka-Mankham. Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. I guess I need to say it again. We are increasing our investments into our healthcare budget by $1.3 billion this year. And in addition to that, what we're doing is modernizing our system. It's not responding to the needs of Ontarians. It's not fulfilling their requirements. It's not going to be sustainable for the future. And the people of Ontario know that if we want to have a healthcare system, if we want to have an education system in the future, we need to make some changes and we need to make those changes right now. And what we are doing is making sure that we will be responding to the needs of Ontarians now and into the future. We want to make sure that they receive the connected care that they deserve, which they're not receiving right now. Right now, once they people leave hospital and they need home care, they don't know what's going to happen. They don't know who's going to be coming, when they're coming, what care they're going to be providing. That is not excellent quality healthcare. That's what we are changing. That's what we're working on in hospitals and health facilities across this province. So it will be sustainable for the future and it will provide... Thank you very much. Once again, the Leader of the Official Opposition. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Minister of the Environment. I didn't hear what was said, but I'm going to ask the member for Northumberland Peterborough South to stand up and withdraw. Withdraw. Recognize again the Leader of the Opposition. I'll give you a... Speaker, I appreciate that. As I said, my question is to the Minister of the Environment. While the Ford government spends millions of public dollars fear-mongering about the dangers of fighting the climate crisis, a new study by Canadians for Clean Prosperity, a business-oriented environmental group, shows that the Ford government's inadequate carbon reduction schemes will actually cost Ontario businesses far more than an effective one would and add as much as $154 a year to household budgets. Will the Minister be revising his sticker campaign to warn households of the ineffectiveness of and the expense associated with the Ford government carbon scheme? Your question is to the Minister of the Environment. Mr. Speaker, and through you to the Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Speaker, the fact that a carbon tax lobby group is saying that a carbon tax is a good thing shouldn't be a surprise even to the NDP. Mr. Speaker, the FAO confirmed that $648 is the amount that it will cost Ontario families in 2022. In fact, the report she's referencing actually agrees with those numbers. It suggests that the difference between our plan and the Liberal plan is $550. Pretty close to that $648. Wouldn't you say, Mr. Speaker? Mr. Speaker, I think the Leader of the Opposition would be more concerned about the effects of carbon tax, for example, in Hamilton. So when I see that Hamilton Health Science Center and the St. Joseph's Healthcare Center are going to together be paying close to $3 million in additional tax to Justin Trudeau, I would think the Leader of the Opposition would be worried about what's happening at home in Hamilton. Mr. Speaker, we will keep talking about our plan to reduce greenhouse gases. Thank you. Well, Speaker, the simple fact is, when it comes to the climate emergency that we are all facing, the cost of action is nothing compared to the cost of inaction. And Hamiltonians know that very, very well. In fact, the City of Hamilton has declared a climate crisis, Speaker. Perhaps this government should do the same. This spring, it's been more clear than ever that Ontario needs to act. Yet the Ford government is moving absolutely in the wrong direction, adding funding to tree planting and conservation efforts even while they spend millions forcing every Ontario gas station to post-partisan advertising. Is the Ford government ready, Speaker, to concede that their scheme will not only cost families more, but utterly fail to address the growing danger of the climate emergency that all of us are facing? Mr. Speaker, through you to the member. Again, when we got rid of Kathleen Wynne's tap and trade program, a program that I know this opposition party supported, it was $264 in the pockets of Ontarians. Justin Trudeau's program is going to take $648 out of the pockets. And that doesn't even include, Mr. Speaker, the impacts on McMaster University. Mr. Speaker, a very important institution. Again, in the great city of Hamilton, $1.3 million, Mr. Speaker. $1.3 million of impact in Hamilton, where are the leaders of our position is from? We will keep telling Ontarians about these programs. We will keep telling Ontarians about the impact on families. No, we're not going to step away from fighting the carbon tax, and we're not going to step away from fighting climate change. You can fight climate change without a carbon tax, Mr. Speaker. Start the clock. The next question, the member for Carleton. My question is for the Minister of Economic Development, Job, Creation and Trade. Last week, the Minister traveled to Halifax to promote our Open for Business, Open for Jobs mandate at the Committee on Internal Trade. And as a former international trade lawyer, I understand the importance of interprovincial trade as a key economic driver in Ontario. Interprovincial trade supports agriculture, farmers, small businesses and good jobs in my riding of Carleton and across Ontario. And in 2017 alone, Ontario exported approximately $145 billion in goods and services to other Canadian jurisdictions. Through you, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please outline how he has been working hard to reduce interprovincial trade barriers and promote the importance of free trade between provinces and territories? The Minister of Economic Development, Job, Creation and Trade. Well, thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the member from Carleton for the great question and the great work that she's doing in her riding and here at the legislature. I had a productive trip to Halifax last week, Mr. Speaker. It's always great to get back to the Maritimes. The Committee on Internal Trade was meeting there. That's the body that governs the CFTA, the Canada Free Trade Agreement, Speaker, which was meant to get rid of internal trade barriers. It's something that Ontario is a leader on, Mr. Speaker. And despite the agreement being enforced since 2017, progress is just too slow, Speaker. Trade barriers between provinces and territories are holding back job creators in Ontario and they're holding back job creators in Canada, quite honestly. The Bank of Montreal estimates that eliminating these barriers would add $15 to $20 billion a year to Ontario's GDP. And that's why this is such an important priority for Premier Ford and our government, Speaker. We can create thousands of jobs by tearing down these barriers and that's why Ontario is going to continue to push for freer trade with Canada's provinces and territories. The supplementary question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And through you, thank you to the Minister for his excellent response. Interprovincial trade is an important issue for the hardworking people of Carlton and across Ontario. And I know that I speak on behalf of our side of the House when I say that I am relieved that reducing interprovincial trade barriers is one of the Minister's key priorities in his portfolio. Mr. Speaker, we came into office on a commitment to protect what matters most and that includes creating and protecting good jobs. That means we need to push the federal government and other provinces on this issue. The agreement Ontario signed with Saskatchewan in the fall is one example of how we've already taken steps to reduce trade barriers right here in Ontario. And through you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister please expand on what other steps Ontario is taking to reduce interprovincial trade barriers? Great question. Minister. Thanks, Speaker. Since taking office in June of last year we've been providing a lot of leadership on the interprovincial trade files, Speaker. Back in October, as the member just mentioned, Premier Ford and Premier Mo of Saskatchewan signed an MOU to cut red tape and reduce trade barriers between the two provinces. When I was in Halifax, I told my colleagues that we're committed to getting pipelines built, Mr. Speaker. That will add tremendous opportunity, not just in Ontario, but to our country. In April, I wrote to my counterparts and told them Ontario is giving up our veto of pipeline projects under the Canada Free Trade Agreement. A report from the Fraser Institute shows that Canadian oil producers lost almost $21 billion, Mr. Speaker, last year, because they can't get their oil to market. We don't want to get in the way of that, Speaker. In Ontario, we want to get out of the way so we can see that kind of growth in our GDP and in our economy. That's thousands of good jobs that we're missing out on, Speaker, here in Ontario and in Canada. And we're not going to sit idly by while that happens. Premier Ford has been a leader on the Canadian front for a month, and we are going to strive for a Canada Free Trade Agreement that works for all provinces of Ontario. Thank you. The next question is for University of Roesdale. My question is for the Minister of Transportation. Yesterday, Metro links quietly cut five GO bus routes altogether and significantly reduced service on two more. These cuts mean that communities in Oakville, Milton, Bolton and North York will have to cram onto overcrowded GO buses and face even longer travel times. Mr Speaker, how can the Minister expect Ontarians to believe he is committed to improving our commutes when he scraps bus routes and reduces service when no one is looking? Questions to the Minister of Transportation? Thanks very much for that question from the member opposite, and good morning. You know, Mr Speaker, we came to government just about this Friday, it'd be a year since we're elected and sworn in the end of June, and inherited a $15 billion deficit record debt. And what we've done over the last year, Mr Speaker, is review line by line the spending within the Minister of Transportation. What we've done, Mr Speaker, is we have focused on expanding GO rail throughout this province. We've increased service 25% to Kitchener. We first time ever have GO rail going out to Niagara Falls in St. Catharines, Mr Speaker. The largest expansion of service on the Lakeshore East and West. So, Mr Speaker, unfortunately we've looked at what programs, what buses we're running in this system. Mr Speaker, that we're empty, Mr Speaker. Barely flowing, Mr Speaker. And we've repositioned some of those bus routes to newer routes that have been brought forward, Mr Speaker. And we look forward to continuing growing our regional transportation network in the GTHA. Good question. A supplementary question. Back to the Minister. This came out last month and they showed that the government slashed $184 million from Metrolinx's budget. It is now clear that the Minister's cuts to Metrolinx mean axing bus service that people rely on every day. These buses are not empty. Mr Speaker, what additional service cuts and fare hikes does the Minister have planned for our region's GO riders? Again, the Minister of Transportation will reply. Well, Mr Speaker, I think the member opposite needs to take a look at the successes that we've had with the GO transit system. As I mentioned earlier, Mr Speaker, we have expanded service to Kitcheneray 25%. We've created a new route to Niagara and St. Catherine's and expanded to Lakeshore East and West Routes. Mr Speaker, we are positioning ourselves to continue to grow the GO network across the entire GTHA. Just recently, we announced that kids under 12 get to ride GO Transit for free. That's a permanent structure. To integrate our fares on the system, we're continuing to work with our partners at CN and CP to expand ridership. And just recently, with the Minister of Infrastructure, we released the RFP that's going to work towards expanding GO Transit across the entire network. And in fact, Mr Speaker, once this RFP is in place, GO rail will be self-sufficient by 2031. That's a record we want to have with this government. Thank you. The next question, the member for Scarborough-Gildwood. My question is to the Deputy Premier. The Premier continues to push a manufactured fiscal crisis in the name of finding efficiencies. Yet this government seems perfectly happy to spend one million of taxpayer's dollars on booze. Stop the clock. The Minister for Children, Community and Social Services please come to order. We start the clock. I apologize to the member for Scarborough-Gildwood. Thank you, Speaker. The Premier continues to push a manufactured fiscal crisis in the name of finding efficiencies. Yet this government seems perfectly happy to spend one billion of taxpayer's dollars on booze in damages to beer stores while at the same time cutting a billion dollars in social services over the next three years. The government's priorities are wrong-headed, forcing children with autism into oversized classrooms, spending more tax dollars on ineffective and regressive climate policies, axing the child advocate by hiring a special advisor for alcohol and firing nonpartisan expert panel on ending violence against women. Speaker, when will this government be open for children with autism, open to real climate crisis solutions and open to the general well-being for Ontarians rather than corner store people? Thank you. The member for Kitchener-Conestoga must come to order. The question is to the Deputy Premier and I recognize the Deputy Premier. Where do you start with all of those pieces of which, Speaker, sadly very little of that is even based on fact. We passed a budget speaker that is entitled, protecting what matters and that is exactly what it does. It protects health care, it protects education and it protects the services that we rely on every day. You have to think, Speaker, coming from this member, this liberal member who sat by and watched their government spend 40 million dollars a day more than they took in and that was fine then. That was fine for the liberals to do. 40 million dollars a day more than they took in. We have been making smart long-term decisions. We're reinventing the way government delivers services. We're focusing our resources on the individuals and families in greatest need and that is how we're restoring trust, transparency and accountability and balancing the budget. Thank you very much. This supplementary question. Speaker, the reality is that this government is spending about 5 billion dollars more than the liberal government's previous budget and somehow we continue to see devastating cuts for the people justified by sham consultations and little to no evidence-based decision making. Why is this government set on leaving the people of Ontario behind through countless broken promises and skewed parties? This government can't continue to pull the wool over Ontario's eyes. The evidence is right in front of us. We cannot be fooled. The people are not pawns in your political game. These are real lives that are at stake with real consequences. The families and the children with autism have been here day after day after day looking for answers from this government. Well, when will this government stop the people first just like you claimed? Let's stop the clock again. Interjections are out of order. So is yelling across the floor. The member for Kitchener Conestoga must come to order. The member for Carlton must come to order. Start the clock. The Minister of Finance to reply. Well, Speaker, again, where do you start with that? Last question, we're not spending enough. This question, we're spending too much. So why don't we just sort of get the facts straight, Speaker? Let me tell you what that member and her party voted against. Speaker, they voted against bringing $26 billion of tax relief to Ontario families, seniors, individuals, students and businesses. That's what that government or that's what that opposition voted against. Speaker, they voted against $2 billion in low-income individual and family tax credits. They voted against $2 billion in bringing childcare to 300,000 low- and middle-income families. And yes, they too voted against bringing $90 million to help 100,000 low-income seniors have free dental. That's what they're voting. We certainly know what they're against now, Speaker. They're against protecting what matters most, Speaker. We will stay here and we will protect what matters most for the people. So while South must come to order. Restart the clock. The next question, the member for Markham Stovill. Thank you, Speaker. My question is where they have Minister of Australian Colleges and University. Mr. Speaker, for 15 very long years the previous Liberal government allowed the skilled trades to become complex, convoluted. In fact, their system kept people out of the skilled trades. Now we know by 2021 some one in five jobs will be in the skilled trades. Now these are very good jobs. These are important jobs helping build a bigger, better, stronger province of Ontario, Mr. Speaker. And I know in my writing trades people are very excited by the opportunities that this government is putting forward. I know last week the Minister made an announcement on this. I wonder if she might help the House better understand the changes that she's brought forward in the announcement that she made last week. Minister to respond, the head member for Hamilton East, Stony Creek has to come to order. Yes, he did. Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. First question and his great work on behalf of the people of, I was going to say Perth Wellington but Markham Stovill. Speaker, I would like to thank the Premier as well as the member from Northumberland Peterborough South and the MPP from Durham for joining me last Friday at the Darlington Energy Complex to announce our plan to modernize the skilled trades in Ontario. Through Budget 2019 we passed the modernizing the skilled trades in apprenticeship act which will reduce red tape for employers and apprentices, streamline service delivery and help promote the vibrant and tremendous opportunities in the skilled trades in Ontario. Our plan includes the implementation of a portable skills model which will allow training and certification within and between the trades. This new flexible framework will allow our workforce to respond to the demands of the changing job market ensuring that Ontario is open for business and open for jobs. Thank you. Thank you. How disappointing it is to see the MPP yet again voting against and working against our tradespeople whether it's craft brewers whether it's small businesspeople if the MPP will always vote against those people who want to work hard make a difference for the province of Ontario and help build a bigger, better, stronger province of Ontario. It is clear they're upset that our changes are seeing more people come into the trades. They should be happy about that. We know what 15 years of liberal governments created they created a system where people couldn't get in when I met with the tradespeople they said it's partly responsible for the increasing house prices because there weren't enough tradespeople for jobs. So I wonder if the minister despite the opposition that we're getting from the MPP who don't seem to care about hard working people in the province of Ontario if the minister could continue and provide us more information on why this announcement is so good to the province of Ontario. Thank you again to the member for the question. The member is absolutely right that our government is taking decisive action to reduce the burden on Ontario's skilled tradespeople and develop a modern technology. As part of our plan to put our skilled tradespeople first our government is investing $18.1 million in pre-apprenticeship programs to help prepare hardworking Ontarians for careers in the skilled trades. We are also investing $12.2 million to support the Ontario youth apprenticeship program. Help students in grade 11 and 12 gain the experience they need while getting credits for school. Speaker, by investing in the jobs of today and tomorrow our government is delivering on our promise to get Ontarians working and make Ontario open for business and open for jobs. Thank you, Speaker. The next question, the member for Sudbury. Thank you. Preak has to come to order. The member for Hamilton East, Stony Creek is warned. The member for Markham Stovill will come to order. The member for Markham Stovill is warned. The member for Sudbury can now ask this question. Thank you very much, Speaker. The member for Stovill actually talked about New Democrats not caring about workers. A good opportunity for the government to demonstrate that they do. Okay, stop the clock. He's going to ask his question to the government. He's going to say who it is. Don't start yelling at him, just as he's got the floor. Start the clock. The member for Sudbury. Thank you, Speaker. I apologize for the behaviour. My question is for the Minister of Labour. The member opposite said that New Democrats can't demonstrate they care about workers. This question is about that. It's an opportunity for the Minister to demonstrate her care as well. Speaker, as reported by the Toronto Star three temporary agency workers died working for your free air foods or its affiliated plants over a 17-year span. And only after pressure and damning media reports did the previous Liberal government launch an inspection of the industrial bakery and following those inspections another worker a 52-year-old temp worker died in related FIERRA business that was not part of the previous inspections. It's clear there's a pattern of incidents leading to the deaths of FIERRA foods and its affiliates, but the Ministry of Labour has failed to investigate them properly. Will the Minister of Labour commit today to ordering proactive workplace safety inspections of all FIERRA food affiliates? Question. The question to the Minister of Labour. Well, thank you, Mr Speaker and I thank the member opposite for the question. Workplace deaths are a tragedy and we on this side and as Minister of Labour not willing to compromise on protecting workers through health and safety enforcement. We're increased actually enforcement budget by half a million dollars, Mr Speaker. We are helping more workers become safer by making health and safety training more accessible more convenient and less expensive. We've made health and safety training courses available online as a way to supplement in-person training. Mr Speaker, we're modernizing government services across the board by making more information and services available online. We Mr Speaker, in respect are actually increasing the number of health and safety inspectors throughout the province so that we can watch where workplace Thank you very much. Thank you, Speaker. I would argue perhaps that reducing the number of hours of workplace training from three full days in-person class to six and a half hours online is not improving safety. I ask the minister the question because since the fourth death of a temporary worker at FIERRA businesses, the government has signaled to large employers such as FIERRA that health and safety conditions will largely be self-reported. It also signals to temp workers that they have it too good and they don't need specific protections. In fact, since the death of the fourth temporary worker at FIERRA businesses, Speaker, the government has cut at least 16 million from programs meant to prevent workplace injuries and deaths. I'll ask again, will the minister of labour commit today to standing up for workers, ordering proactive workplace safety inspections at all FIERRA food affiliates? Thank you. Mr Speaker, the member opposite should know that I cannot comment directly on investigations that are occurring through the ministry of labour. But I can tell the member opposite that health and safety enforcement is not a nice to have. It's an essential for this government and we are protecting health and safety. We've increased enforcement budget by half a million dollars. We're proud of the fact that we prioritize health and safety inspections and enforcement, Mr Speaker. Oppositions that go on proactively and preventively, Mr Speaker. I know that this side of the House and I as minister of labour are keeping workers safe and that's what we owe them and that's what we're continuing to do, Mr Speaker. And Mr Speaker, again I will say for the third time in this question period, we've increased the enforcement officers for health and safety. The next question. Member for Haldeman Norfolk. Thank you, Speaker. Question for the minister of infrastructure and we received news a few weeks ago when the minister and the minister of agriculture arrived in my riding to unveil a key piece of Ontario's budget commitment to improve people's broadband connections. No matter where they live. For years I've been hearing from people in my area complaining. I hear these complaints in my own home actually about poor internet service and this is going to help. It's going to help families stay connected. It's going to help students with their homework. It's going to help families in small businesses be part of Ontario's thriving economy. Minister, could you let people in this house give them an idea of what the SWIFT program is about and what are the next steps for this program to see some progress now in Norfolk County? Questions to the minister of infrastructure? Well, thank you very much and thank you to the member from Haldeman Norfolk for that Mr. Speaker, without a doubt being disconnected means being disadvantaged. I was happy to join the member along with my colleague the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for this very exciting announcement. Mr. Speaker our government is committing up to 63.7 million dollars to the SWIFT program. We've heard from our rural and northern communities and unlike the previous Liberal government we're taking action. SWIFT offers reliable broadband access allowing residents and businesses to stream high speed internet from their homes, farms and businesses. People will access digital services, get the work done and connect with their loved ones. Mr. Speaker affordable broadband connectivity is essential in rural and northern Ontario. With this commitment we're providing that we're putting the people at the centre of everything we do and protecting what matters most. Thank you very much. Thank you Minister and I will add the other half of my writing Haldeman County did not opt into the SWIFT program and they also have some considerable issues with connection. Again however this is great news for farmers. Farmers can't remain compliant and competitive when they can't effectively do business online or file documents. Modern agriculture requires connectivity for a variety of jobs, checking the weather, checking the markets. Affordable broadband is essential across rural Ontario to access e-commerce, close deals, process payments, share information, connect with your customers and with your markets. Speaker could the minister reiterate why broadband is so important for the business of farming? Minister Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Thank you very much Mr. Speaker and thanks to the member from Haldeman Norfolk for that very great question. Our farmers know that access to reliable internet is critical for their business to thrive. Agriculture is increasingly high tech with the rise of precision agriculture. As farming becomes increasingly highland and labour intensive technology also needs to be far more controlled and accurate in the systems like GPS guidance, sensors, robotics, drones, autonomous vehicles like tractors and many more. Farmers and those in rural parts of the province have access to even fewer resources due to the nature of their remote locations so their need to access wider government resources such as healthcare and especially mental health care options online is even more urgent. I'm proud of our government's investment to expand broadband in south restaurant Ontario through the SWIFT and in eastern Ontario it's our e-corn and we look forward to continuing this important work to make sure that those in rural Ontario have the same Thank you very much. The next question the member for Toronto Central. My question is for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Today the Globe and Mail uncovered the Premier's latest scheme to play Mayor of Toronto the Premier and his Minister will be unilaterally making changes to the City of Toronto's official plan that would end I quote loosen the rules it would have imposed on developers in order to increase flexibility and reduce red tape for businesses end quote. The City will have no ability to appeal these decisions and the people of Toronto will have no ability to make their voices heard on these changes. Mr. Speaker, the Premier is once again making changes that will have a significant impact on the people of Toronto without any consultation so my question is simple why? Questions to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Well Speaker through you to the Honourable Member I'll tell you why. Last June we had an election and those two official plan amendments 405 and 406 were presented to the Ministry those didn't reflect our Government's priorities and we made it very clear and we continue to make it clear that we need to build more housing so with all due respect to the member opposite you know direct your comments not to the Premier but to me. The files were sent to me and it's my intention to provide modifications to OPA 405 and 406 to reflect Government priorities. In terms of consultation we've had robust consultation Speaker through you to the Honourable Member our Housing Supply Action Plan Bill 108 that's being presently debated at third reading very clear that we are going to increase the housing supply a place to grow the growth plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe had extensive consultation last fall and this spring again unanimously we indicated that we would be intensifying around major transit station areas there's been lots of consultation now we're working into implementation Speaker. This is hardly the first time that this Premier has made sweeping changes that affect the daily lives of the people of Toronto the Government has stolen the subway system away from the people of Toronto they through Order Order. Yeah I'm going to ask the member to withdraw Withdraw Leader question Speaker. They through Toronto's democracy into chaos with their unilateral changes to Toronto City Council in the middle of an election and their cuts to everything from public health to education will make the lives of people in the City of Toronto so much harder How can the Minister justify running roughshod over the people of Toronto once again Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing again I can justify the why we need to leverage the 28.5 billion dollars that our Government is spending on transit look at those two official plan and money 90% of transit and the LRT is in that area we have to intensify around major transit station areas and again the member keeps talking about the Premier it is my intention as Minister of Municipal Affairs to present those modifications later today to the City and again we are trying to move forward on things that I would think that this member would support we are going to continue to work on inclusionary zoning so that we have affordable housing near transit but make no mistake when we had those consultations on housing supply action plan when we had the consultations on a place to grow the growth plan for the greater golden horseshoe almost unanimously we talked about intensifying around major transit station areas this is what we are going to do for the people those people that are dreaming to realize the dream of home ownership we have to Thank you Restart the clock the next question the member for Markham Thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for Minister of Infrastructure this week he joined the Minister of Transportation for an excellent announcement our government ran on a mandate to make Ontario open for business and to get the province moving Commuters have spent years frustrated with overcrowding on young line and they want more connections across the region with the upload of the TTC to the province and the construction of new lines and subway extensions our government is doing just that despite this Premier Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government have chosen to play politics with infrastructure that people desperately lead Mr. Speaker for the first time ever the province is taking a true leadership role in the transit could the minister tell us about how our government is doing to help commuters in this province Thank you Thank you very much and thank you to the member for that excellent question this morning Mr. Speaker we're putting people at the centre of everything that we do that means helping commuters and providing relief for people in the GTA through five great transit projects that we haven't done our part to get infrastructure built well Mr. Speaker Justin Trudeau is dead wrong we've nominated 54 road bridge and transit projects to the federal government and Justin Trudeau has yet to approve a single project the Prime Minister is worried about election season we're worried about the construction season Mr. Speaker the federal government didn't waste any time approving transit projects to Vancouver they approved Vancouver's projects before a business case was even submitted yet Justin Trudeau prefers to play politics his government is not putting the people of Ontario first we've submitted these projects to the federal government I'm calling on Justin Trudeau to put his money where his mouth is fund our projects Thank you Order Restart the car for the great response the Premier made a historical announcement just a couple months ago our government for the people announced a 28.5 billion subway plan that will get the commuters of this province moving those commuter use line one on a daily basis know the congestion that exactly exists we've heard from people loud and clear that they're tired of overcrowded on subways so we are building the new Ontario line both for Toronto residents and people coming into the city however as the minister has stated we are calling on the federal government to give their support to the historical subway plan can the minister of infrastructure share more about the funding commitment made from the federal government Thank you I'll refer this question to our amazing minister of transportation he's referring it to the minister of transportation Thank you very much Mr. Speaker and thanks for that question opposite let me inform the chamber that we have a plan we have four projects that we need to get rolling Mr. Speaker we have been speaking with the federal government and now it's time for them to act we are not asking for favors we're not asking for special treatment we are in fact asking for the same treatment that the federal government under Justin Trudeau has given other provinces now we are not being treated the same that's why the minister of infrastructure and I called on Justin Trudeau to publicly stop campaigning and play in games with this funding we are ready to build transit Mr. Speaker we have money committed to building it we have legislation that allows us to build it faster and cheaper we have taken decisive action to get transit built for our fans Mr. Speaker it's time for Justin Trudeau to do his job and fund and build transit start the clock the next question the member for Essex thank you very much Mr. Speaker my question is to the minister of infrastructure since 2008 residents in north Chatham Kent have been dealing with well water contaminated by black shale a known carcinogen this contamination is attributed to the pile driving of foundations through the bedrock of the north Kent 1 wind turbine project during the campaign the people affected by this contamination that he would conduct a health hazard investigation immediately well Speaker immediately has come and gone it's now more than a year later and the people are still waiting they're here in the gallery today and they have lost trust in this premier and this government will the minister stand up today and make good on his promise to ensure these enterants have clean and safe drinking water I'm calling on the minister to put his money where his mouth is health hazard investigation the natural resources in forestry will come to order the questions to the minister of infrastructure well thank you very much and I thank the member of Essex for the heads up for this question here this morning and we welcome those members and even the former members from the community in Chatham Kent who have fought for this issue Mr. Speaker we've been working very hard on this issue I've been working closely with the ministry of health and we're looking forward to having more to say but you know Mr. Speaker this is quite ironic this member the party opposite the opposition party voted in favor of the green energy act Mr. Speaker they voted in front in favor of the Samsung agreement Mr. Speaker they supported private power when they voted for that green energy act we were left with a mess we are going to clean it up they cause this problem no advice from that member the House will come to order the government side will come to order start the clock the member for Essex the minister knows that he's dodging the question I know that he's dodging the question and more importantly his own community knows Mr. Speaker this is about priorities and you know what I find ironic this is a government that prioritizes access to beer over access to clean drinking water in a letter to Kevin Jacoby of water wells first the premier wrote the following quote I commit myself and the PC party of Ontario to stopping this travesty and commit that a full health investigation is conducted in North Chatham County as premier you have my word Kevin you will hold accountable every party that did this premier and minister will you honor your word or should we just chalk this one up as another empty promise from the premier and his ministers Mr. Speaker this member supported that stop the clock the member for Essex will come to order the premier will come to order we start the clock the minister of infrastructure has the floor and can reply our commitment we've made all kinds of promises and we're fulfilling every single we're fulfilling every single promise that we made in that campaign and Mr. Speaker we came to government we immediately cancelled 758 wind and solar contracts you oppose that sir Mr. Speaker we cancelled the green energy act that that party supported the minister of infrastructure Essex will come to order the member for Waterloo will come to order the member for Northumberland Peterborough south come to order anybody else the next question the member for Brampton south thank you Mr. Speaker everyone knows that our government speaks the language of the people and today as awaits the tip off of game three of the NBA finals we are talking raptors my question is to the attorney general Mr. Speaker millions of Ontarians have turned in to watch tuned in to watch Kyle Lowry while entered Pascal Siakam and their teammates chase the championship for the north from the comfort of their homes to our multiplying Jurassic parks Ontarians are taking note of the brand new chance to participate in games 50-50 draws online from anywhere in the province Mr. Speaker could the attorney general please tell this house about this government's support for charities and the important changes that have allowed charities like the MLSE foundation to open up their 50-50 raffles online the question is to the attorney general well Mr. Speaker let's go raptors and the people who support them my parliamentary assistant on behalf of my ministry announced changes earlier this year that have made it possible to fundraise through online 50-50 draws now you don't need to be in the building for the big game to grab a chance to win the big prize through a seamless confident about the raptors chances tonight in Oakland we know that the charities and the people and the communities they support are already winning I have had the chance to develop and grow a charity with my family and experience the profound impact we can each have when we come together as communities to make positive change Mr. Speaker it's been incredible to see the funds raised this spring for charitable initiatives by organizations like the MLSE foundation Jayscare the Ottawa Senators Foundation thank you the supplementary question thank you Mr. Speaker I thank the Attorney General for her response of course we know that the Ottawa Senators Foundation Jayscare Foundation and other foundations and charities like hospital foundations are among so many important charities that will help so many people across this province for example the MLSE Launchpad has helped 13,000 young people through free sports programming since it opened its doors in 2017 they have an additional 6,000 kids currently enrolled we look forward to Jayscare's next challenger baseball national jamboree and the girls at bat all-star game now we all know that in baseball and basketball the numbers tell their own story and since the member from DERM made this announcement we have noticed a significant increase in the impact these these new changes have had to foundations could the Attorney General please share some of these numbers to illustrate the impact of allowing online e-raffles in Ontario across this province thank you the Attorney General to reply once again thank you Mr. Speaker the power of the online platform for charitable 50-50 draws is truly remarkable and the member is right since the member from DERM made the announcement the numbers that have been generated this spring are also truly remarkable the NBA final more than $490,000 in 50-50 dollars were raised one game alone Mr. Speaker 87% of the sales 978,000 in sales took place online in total the MLSC foundation has raised over $1.5 million for the MLSC foundation initiatives at Maple Leafs and Raptors games meanwhile the Toronto Blue Jayscare foundation they doubled its 50-50 sales through its opening four game series this season compared to last year in total more than $977,000 in total 50-50 tickets were sold over those four games which helps empower to help fund initiatives like the Challenger program which empowers children, youth and adults living with physical and cognitive disabilities with core life skills inherent to baseball Mr. Speaker question is for the acting premier the Hamilton spectator last week had a front page story about my private members bill the Nancy Rose Act and I'm grateful to have had all party support and passed on the bill my sister Nancy died of leukemia as a child directly next to that story about my bill was a report about leukemia rates in Hamilton this study found that in some Hamilton neighbors leukemia rates are double the national average Sarnia, Thunder Bay, St. Catherine St. Marie and Hamilton are those five communities Benzene exposure from industries identified as having links of specific types of cancer including acute myeloid leukemia Mr. Speaker this government has repealed the toxic substance act facilities no longer need to prepare new toxic substance reduction plans or even to review existing plan my question is does this government think tracking and reducing toxic substance are important and what do they have to say to those residents who are being exposed to health risks with little to no government accountability or oversight Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker three to the member and again we all commend her on her private members bill Mr. Speaker these are issues that this government is taking extremely seriously Mr. Speaker that is why after years of promises that communities like Sarnia would receive a health study promises made by the previous government Mr. Speaker this government because Mr. Speaker of the hard work of our MPP from Sarnia I'm Bob Bailey I know not supposed to say their names Mr. Speaker but he came to me as the minister of environment on day one and said you need to come to Sarnia you need to hear the promises that have been made about a health study that hasn't been kept that's why this government Mr. Speaker is investing in those kinds of studies and we are doing the work that previous governments didn't do we take these studies very seriously Mr. Speaker that's why we're focused on clean air clean thank you very much once again I wish to remind members that after we conclude our business this morning we're going to come together in this 42nd Parliament across party lines and have our photograph taken the official photograph of the 42nd Parliament so I'm hopeful that everyone's able to stay pursuant to standing order 38a the member for Scarborough Guildwood has given notice of her dissatisfaction with the answer to her question given by the minister of finance concerning government priorities this matter will be debated today at 6 p.m. now we have a deferred vote on the motion for second reading of bill 115 an act to amend the liquor control act with respect to the termination of a specified agreement call in the members this will be a five minute bell and ask the members to please take their seats on May 30th 2019 Mr. Fidelli moved second reading of bill 115 all those in favour of the motion will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the clerk Mr. Pettipiedt Mr. McDonnell Mr. Bailie Mr. McNaught Mr. Jones Mr. Fille Mr. Miller Mr. Lecce Mr. Coe Mr. Gill Mr. Culland Mr. Parsley Mr. Martin Mr. Osterhoff Mr. Osterhoff Ms. Midas Ms. Park Ms. McKenna Mr. Nicholl Mr. Kusendova Mr. Romano Mr. Harris Ms. Gamari Ms. Hogar Mrs. Carr-Hulles Mrs. Fee Mr. Cho Willidale Mr. Crawford Mr. Smith Peterborough-Corker Mr. Bowler Mr. Cousetto Mr. Dunlop Mr. Bebeke Mr. Baber Mr. Pay Mr. Tanagasa Mr. Roberts Mr. Sabawi Mr. Sabawi All those opposed to the motion will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the clerk Ms. Sattler Ms. Begum Mr. Mamakwa Ms. Yard Ms. Carpoche Ms. Yamanta Ms. Lindo Ms. Armstrong Ms. Stiles Mr. Kernahan Mr. West Mr. Stevens Mr. Gates Mr. Gretzky Mr. Borguan Ms. Bell Ms. Morrison Mr. Rikosovic Mr. Harden Mr. Frazer Mr. Kutoh Mr. Grevelle Ms. Hunter Mr. Schreiner Mr. Rosier The ayes are 70, the nays are 48 The ayes being 70 and the nays being 48 I declare the motion carried pursuant to the order of the house dated June 4, 2019 the bill is ordered for a third reading there being no further business this morning other than the photograph this house stands in recess until 3pm