 It is now time for oral questions and I recognize the leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. Thanks. Thanks very much, Speaker. Speaker, we're in big trouble here in Ontario. We now have 790 patients in ICUs in our province, 72 new admissions over the last 24 hours, 32 more people have lost their lives to COVID-19 in that time just in this last day. And we know very clearly what to do. I mean, the science table has set out very clear and simple recommendations as to the measures that the government needs to be taking. And of course, one of those key recommendations is paid sick days. So my question to the Deputy Premier, Speaker, is after a year of ignoring this advice to bring paid sick days to Ontario, the advice from the science table and so many others, is the government finally prepared to listen? Government House Leader, your thoughts. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As the leader of the opposition will know, of course, we moved very quickly on this a number of months ago with respect to paid sick day. The Premier negotiated a very comprehensive agreement, Mr. Speaker. We were, as I said earlier in this House, I believe it was Monday, we were disappointed that the federal budget did not include some of the enhancements that we had asked for, Mr. Speaker, that we were assured would be in that budget. And given that those enhancements that we had advocated for, Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear that the government of Ontario will be coming forward with additional enhancements in the very, very near future. The supplementary question. Well, Speaker, we'll see what tomorrow brings. But we know what the track record is of this forward government. The two measly sick days that we had in Ontario were cancelled by this forward government, one of the first things they did when they took office. We know that the government of Canada proposed a national program, and here's what our Premier said when that was announced. I don't support it. That's what Doug Ford said, or that's what the Premier said. I don't support it. He also said it's a waste of taxpayers' money to save people's lives with paid sick days. And then he accused folks who have been advocating for paid sick days for some time, including his own science table, that we were trying to confuse people about the need for paid sick days in our province. Speaker, what has changed now that the government finally acknowledges that paid sick days are exactly what Ontario workers need and deserve, when for the last year they've been saying it was the wrong thing? Obviously, Mr. Speaker, just the opposite. That's why the Premier worked so hard to ensure that there was a very comprehensive made in Ontario plan. A plan that was quite frankly applauded by the leader of the NDP federally, somebody who used to sit in this chamber, in fact, in a press release many months ago. The national leader of the NDP, who the leader of the opposition spoke, who's conventionally the leader of the opposition recently spoke to, made a great deal of hay out of the fact that he had negotiated a nationwide sick benefit for all Canadian workers. Look, Mr. Speaker, there have been certain changing circumstances. We've seen that variance of concern are troubling, Mr. Speaker. We're seeing troubling circumstances at our border. As the vaccine supply has not materialized as the way it should have, it's very clear that we need to supplement the original plan that was negotiated by the Premier, given that there's a $700 million surplus in that program. Given the failure of the federal government to move on it, we will be moving on it very quickly. The final supplement. Speaker, entire families are in the ICUs of Ontario, because of this government's inaction when it comes to paid sick days. We can't wait another week for the Premier to dilly-dally around doing the right thing for our workers in this province. We're over a year into this pandemic, Speaker. Workers have lost their lives. Young mothers are in ICUs with COVID-19, getting sick. Children have lost their parents, Speaker. This government can no longer ignore the science. It can no longer come forward with half measures and delays. When will the government bring forward a real, effective, paid sick day program for Ontario's workers? Again, Government House Speaker. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Obviously, as I've just said, given the failure of the federal government to address the challenges, the obstacles in the current kind of sickness response benefit, the Province of Ontario will be moving to supplement that for Ontario workers. Look, we understand how important essential workers are to the Province of Ontario, Mr. Speaker, and not just the frontline workers in our healthcare system who have been extraordinary heroes throughout this. But, yes, those workers who have kept the supply chain going, Mr. Speaker, when we go to our grocery stores and we see the cash here, is when we go to the grocery stores and are able to buy things, it's because somebody is working somewhere to ensure that we have the ability to do that, Mr. Speaker. That is why we work so hard with the federal government to ensure that there was an original benefit for workers, Mr. Speaker. We thought, we have been explaining to the federal government, even the lack of vaccines and giving the shortage of vaccines, that that had to be supplemented, Mr. Speaker. It's very clear on the measures that we think needed to be taken and the Government of Ontario will move quickly to make sure that that happens. The next question, once again, the Leader of the Opposition. So much, Speaker. My next question is also for the Deputy Premier. Speaker, yesterday I was joined by Dr. Daniel Raza to talk about the need for paid sick days in our province. And he was pleading, like so many others, pleading with the Government for a true paid sick day program where workers don't lose any pay if they stay home sick. Working people don't take paid sick days if they think they're going to lose pay. So it's a matter of acting, but getting it right. My question to this Government is, will they do exactly the right thing and make sure that no worker will lose pay by taking a paid sick day? They will be fully paid when they stay home sick. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, we moved very quickly to protect workers in the province of Ontario with respect to protecting their employment as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, Mr. Speaker. We did work very closely with the federal government for a number of months, Mr. Speaker, where the federal government was to handle transfers to people and individuals in the province of Ontario would focus on health, long-term care and education. But as the variants of controls we've seen the challenges that we're facing at the border, as the supply of vaccine failed to materialize in the way it should have been, or the way we were told, Mr. Speaker, and given the failure of the federal government to move on Monday as we were assured they would, it is absolutely correct. We need to ensure that these essential workers who are so important, not only to the economy, but to ensuring that we can get through this pandemic, we need to ensure that they are taken care of, Mr. Speaker, and we will be moving on the exact same things that I mentioned in this House on Monday. Something, actually, a question. Last things, the last thing that sick and dying workers in this province need are empty platitudes from a government. It's too late for any of that. We see what's happening to the workers in this province because the Premier refused to act. What we need is a program for paid sick days that is easy for people to see through, easy for people to take advantage of, where there are no barriers, where there are no requirements for doctors' notes, where there are no application forms required, where there's no waiting for benefits. This is the kind of program that's necessary to actually help workers to stay well. In fact, my colleague from London West, Bill 239, does exactly those things. So will the government today commit to a barrier-free, accessible, say, paid sick days program like it's outlined in Bill 239? Just vote for that, Bill, and we'll be good. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Again, we will be working very quickly to fill the gaps that the Canada Sickness Response Benefit currently has, Mr. Speaker. We, as I said, we were assured that those gaps would be filled. I too, like I know a number of members, was disappointed to see in the federal government that budget on Monday that that didn't exist. I was even more surprised when they celebrated a $20 billion surplus in their pandemic response, Mr. Speaker. But having said that, the Leader of the Opposition is quite correct. Those essential workers who are working to keep this economy going, but more importantly, to help us get through this pandemic, workers like those at Novel Plastics and the Riding and Markham Unionville, these are people who are working very hard every single day. They're working at more than one job in many circumstances, Mr. Speaker. It is very difficult for them. They had a benefit that was there. It does not go far enough, Mr. Speaker, especially given the fact that we have not been able to vaccinate and supplies of vaccines in as quickly as we were told they would be in February, March, April, and now heading into May, Mr. Speaker. The Government of Ontario is going to move quickly to fill the gaps that the federal government left behind, Mr. Speaker, and that it's coming very shortly. The final supplementary. Speaker, we all know that doctors and nurses and experts, the government's own science table has been pleading with this Ford government for over a year to do the right thing when it comes to working people in this province. The stakes could not be higher as we all know. The ICUs are bursting at the seams. Working frontline healthcare workers are working off their feet. They are stressed. They're fearful going into work every day to see what might be facing them at every shift. The government needs to do the right thing. They need to bring in paid sick days and they need to bring in a program that works for working people. The NDP has a motion today on the order paper that is supposed to be debated. And it calls for paid sick time off. It calls for paid vaccination time off. Will the government do the right thing? Stop trying to get rid of that NDP opposition day motion. Debate that motion with us and then support us and start working to save workers' lives. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I do appreciate the question from the Leader of the Opposition. Look, the Leader of the Opposition himself just refused unanimous consent to have the legislative session today go through until midnight on the order paper. I know she's very upset about this, but on the order paper are two very brief motions which will not take away from the Opposition day timing with respect to night sittings going forward to the end of the session. I think it's very important, Mr. Speaker. With respect to the Opposition day motion on the order paper, I can tell very clearly the Leader of the Opposition we will not be supporting that motion because it is vague. It does not provide enough specifics. And as the Leader of the Opposition just said, we have to provide the people of the province of Ontario, the essential workers in the province of Ontario, who have been working so hard to keep this economy going, but more importantly, to help us get through this pandemic, we need to give them real measures, Mr. Speaker, in light of the fact that the federal budget didn't accomplish that. We will, Mr. Speaker. No half measures, Mr. Speaker. That's why we will not be supporting that motion. And I look forward to the fulsome debate on it this afternoon. Order. Order. The next question, a member for Brampton Senate. Thank you and good morning, Speaker. My question is for the Premier. The science table is clear that non-essential workplaces must be shut down to save lives and save workers from contracting COVID-19. Yesterday, a group of 40 doctors, medical professionals and scientists released an open letter and I'll quote, Ontario is now facing the most challenging health crisis of our time. Our case counts are at all time highs and our hospitals are bucking. Younger people are getting sicker. This disease is ripping through entire families, end quote. But, Speaker, the government is still not listening to these experts. In Peel, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Low had to take steps to protect workers because this government clearly won't. Dr. De Villa in Toronto echoed similar sentiments. Speaker, Dr. Low has said that in the absence of paid sick days, he was left with no other choice. And that's why he issued an order to close any workplaces with outbreaks of five or more cases. Why is the Premier refusing to protect workers in Brampton and Mississauga, like the science table, their own science table is recommending? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Just to be clear, these are, of course, authorities that the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Peel and Toronto have had throughout this pandemic. These are not new measures. In fact, as I said, they've had these authorities throughout, Mr. Speaker. We have, of course, done a number of measures to address hotspot and essential workplaces, even given the fact that the vaccines have not materialized as we were promised. They would in February, March, April, and now heading into May, Mr. Speaker. We've moved vaccines so that we can go directly into hotspot communities, Mr. Speaker. We've gone into these essential workplaces so that we can ensure that we are getting vaccines to them quicker, Mr. Speaker, because I think, ultimately, that's what the workers in the essential workplaces that I've talked to, they want. They want to be working, Mr. Speaker. And the way that we can ensure that they are working is by getting vaccines in their arms, Mr. Speaker. But in the absence of that, we have to protect those workers. In the absence of federal leadership on this, the province of Ontario will fill the gaps that we were assured would be closed on Monday. They weren't, and we will take action to ensure that they aren't. The supplementary question. Speaker, what workers want in the province of Ontario is paid sick days and actually to be protected by this government, but they continue to ignore those pleas. And the science table has made it abundantly clear yesterday. They wrote, the list of what stays open must be as short as possible, end quote. We know from Dr. Lowe's orders that workplaces in Brampton and the rest of Peel continue to be unsafe. But this government hasn't enforced additional safety measures in any of those workplaces. They haven't provided paid sick days or prioritized workers in these warehouses and workplaces for their vaccine speaker. And as a result of this, people are risking their lives getting COVID-19 and spreading this to their families. This is putting our ICUs in distress. What does this government not understand about this speaker? My question is simple. Has the government calculated the cost of providing paid sick days to workers versus the cost of their inaction and the cost to our healthcare system and economy? Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As I just said, Mr. Speaker, we have made significant movements with respect to ensuring that our essential workers could be safe. That is why the Premier negotiated an initial, the initial Canada sickness response benefit. Mr. Speaker, we were assured that on Monday that that would be supplemented to fill in some of the gaps that we had, especially in light of the fact that the vaccines did not arrive in February, March, April, and now probably heading into May, Mr. Speaker, despite the fact that our international borders were causing us tremendous difficulties, but the member is right. We have to do more to protect essential workers and that's what we are doing. We're transitioning to ensure that essential workplaces are vaccinated. We're ensuring that hotspots are vaccinated. Despite the lack of supply from the federal government, if I'm not mistaken, close to four million Ontarians have received their first vaccination. We're getting the job done. More has to happen. It's unfortunate that that didn't happen in Monday's budget as we were assured it would, but we will move quickly to ensure that all essential workers, Mr. Speaker, who are so important to getting past this pandemic are protected. The next question, the member for Peter Rowe. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We're in the middle of a dangerous third wave of COVID-19, a wave largely caused by variants of concern brought here from other countries. Yesterday, in India alone, more than 300,000 daily new cases were reported and 2,000 deaths, a third of yesterday's global case counts. While it's not yet confirmed by public health authorities, the evidence seems to suggest that the new double mutant variant 1.617 may be more virulent, more transmissible, and may be responsible for India's overwhelming second wave. Mr. Speaker, it's really very simple. We need to close our borders to stop the variants from getting in. Will this government call on the federal government to secure our international borders immediately? Government House Speaker. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And the member is right. Let me first say this. We have really enjoyed a wonderful relationship with the people of India, so our hearts go out to them. We understand how difficult this is for them. They have been incredible partners for us, Mr. Speaker. I've heard from a number of my constituents of family back in India who are very concerned, Mr. Speaker, on this. But ultimately... I can't exactly hear what's being said by the opposition, but I would caution you and please stop heckling. Government House Leader, reply. Mr. Speaker, what we're calling on is that the federal government do a better job of securing our borders. This is very, very important, Mr. Speaker. We have seen variants of concern coming from other international jurisdictions into the province of Ontario, into Canada, and the federal government has to do a better job of helping us secure these borders. Hundreds of people are coming in, landing every single day, bringing in more variants of concern, and we have to get a handle on this. So I say very clearly to the Prime Minister, please close down our international borders. A supplementary question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the last two weeks, there have been at least 17 flights from India to Toronto with confirmed COVID positive cases. On these 17 flights, more than 260 rows of passengers were deemed as affected by the confirmed cases. Mr. Speaker, this could represent literally thousands of possible exposures. The right thing to do is to secure the borders, and only the federal government can do that. Will this government insist that the federal government act now before it is too late? Yes, Mr. Speaker. Again, it's a very, very good question. It is very important. It is essential, Mr. Speaker, that the Prime Minister heed the words of those provinces that still have international flights coming in. Mr. Speaker, it is time that we get control of the borders, and I'm pleading with the Prime Minister. I'm pleading with the Prime Minister that he take action to secure our borders. These variants of concerns that are coming from international jurisdictions are having a dramatic impact on places like Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, Mr. Speaker, and we have to do all that we can to secure our borders to stop this from happening. And it's not only about importing variants of concerns, it's about exporting it as well. It's about Canadians going to other jurisdictions and people coming to this country, Mr. Speaker. This is an enormous problem in Canada right now, and I am pleading, I am pleading with the Prime Minister to secure our borders so that we can get control of these international variants. We saw what has happened with the Brazilian variant. We saw what happened with the UK variant. We saw what happened with the South African variant, Mr. Speaker. He needs to take control of those borders so that we can get control of this pandemic here in the province of Ontario and across Canada. Thank you. The next question, remember for Algoma Manitoulin. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Deputy Premier. This question is about government ethics and priorities. The Premier managed to shock Ontarians once again by planning a political fundraiser with tickets costing $1,000 per person in the middle of a disastrous third wave. This week's fundraiser has now been postponed, but over the last week, the Premier has held a slew of cash for access fundraisers and charging thousands for a chance to meet the Premier. While our hospitals are overrun with COVID patients in ICUs, why is this Premier meeting with donors instead of the doctors and experts who can get us through this crisis? Prime Minister. In fact, Mr. Speaker, that is what not only the Premier, but I would certainly hope all members of this legislature have been doing. Meeting with officials in their ridings, meeting with constituents in their ridings. I know that I have been doing that on a daily basis, Mr. Speaker, and I would hope that all members. In fact, I know that all members have been doing that. This Premier has been working full non-stop since well before the pandemic to put the province on Ontario back on the right track. We inherited a devastating situation where there was out-of-control budgets, whether it was a healthcare system that hadn't received proper investments in over a decade, Mr. Speaker. Long-term care, that was a mess. Transit and transportation systems that were outdated and needed renewal, Mr. Speaker, and this Premier got to work right away. And when the pandemic hit, Mr. Speaker, this Premier moved into action right away. And it wasn't just this Premier. It was all of the colleagues on the side of those. Respond. And to the great credit of all members of this legislature, we all worked together to help defeat this pandemic, Mr. Speaker. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and if we continue to work together, we will get past this. A supplementary question. Thank you, Speaker. Again, to the Deputy Premier, this question is about the priorities of this Premier and this government. The essential workers this government calls heroes could never afford to afford these exclusive fundraisers. But those are the people the government needs to hear right now. Last Thursday's fundraiser happened at the same time Cabinet was supposed to be meeting to plan a response to COVID crisis. In the middle of an unprecedented crisis, will this government finally focus on the issues that matter to all Ontarians? And that is what we have continued to do, Mr. Speaker, right from the beginning. Now I note that the leader of the opposition actually spoke to the NDP National Convention last week or the week before, and I would have hoped that she would have brought a message to her former caucus colleague and now the leader of the of the NDP in Ottawa, the message that we needed the federal government to live up to its commitment to improve the Canada sickness response benefit. But that's not the message the leader of the official opposition took to a partisan convention, Mr. Speaker. Instead, I will ask her this point blank. Will she call her national leader and suggest to him that he vote against the federal budget, a federal budget that had 20 billion dollars in unspent pandemic response, a federal budget that did not improve the Canada sickness response benefit or the way we were hoping, Mr. Speaker, will the leader of opposition, will all of the members of the NDP stand in their place and ask their response to vote against that federal budget, Mr. Speaker, because it didn't meet the needs of the people of the province. Order. The next question, the member for Cambridge. Mr. Speaker, good morning. My question is for the solicitor general. Last Friday, this government tried to turn Ontario's police forces into its own political enforcement service by stating that officers can now randomly ask pedestrians and motorists for their identification and why they aren't at home. We were then led to believe that the government quote unquote walked back these regulations as a solicitor general publicly stated that the new regulation would add a belief requirement. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, upon reading the regulation, there is no belief requirement imposed on an officer and this government didn't walk back anything. In fact, the rewritten regulation is now even worse. Will the solicitor general admit that she didn't properly explain the rewritten regulation and confirm that the new regulation has tossed away one's right to remain silent by compelling them to give the police information and allowed the police to question people based, not on a belief, but on a suspicion that someone is attending an outdoor gathering? To reply, the solicitor general. Thank you, Speaker. You know, as I've said continuously, it is critical for all Ontarians to respect the state home order to prevent people getting COVID. We need to stop the spread. And although the vast majority of Ontarians have respected public health measures put in place, individuals continue to put others at risk by gathering with those outside of their household. Our priority has always been to address and discourage gatherings and crowds that violate the state home order. And we have the potential to do this right and stop the spread of COVID-19. Give our ICU capacity the space they need to protect people across Ontario. Thank you. Thank you. A supplementary question. Mr. Speaker, last year I encouraged the solicitor general to read Bill 195 and now I'm encouraging her to read her own regulations that clearly state reason to suspects and an officer may require an individual to provide information. With those two lines, this government has turned the police into judge and jury and it didn't take long to see the results. Reports appeared from Gravenhurst of a boy being taken to the ground by officers because he failed to identify and because the officer said, you don't talk to an adult like this. Mr. Speaker, if being rude was a crime, at least half of the Ontario PC Party establishment would be in jail. But being rude is not supposed to be a crime in Ontario. Does the solicitor general see that the language in her regulation that says individuals have to provide information and no longer have the right to remain silent can lead to physical clashes between officers and individuals who aren't doing anything wrong like we saw in Gravenhurst. Solicitor general. Thank you. So we have reinforced and refocused Ontario reg 8-21, the enforcement of the COVID-19 measures. If a police officer or other provincial offense officer has reason to suspect that you are participating in an organized public event or social gathering, they may require you to provide information to ensure you are compliant with the restrictions. As I have said repeatedly, this is all about ensuring that people only go out when it is absolutely necessary to ensure that we limit the spread of COVID-19 and protect our intensive care bed capacity. Thank you, Speaker. Thank you. The next question, the member for Peterborough Court. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just last week, the Medical Officer of Health in my region confirmed that we are the highest percentage of variants of concern in our region. Yesterday, Prime Minister Trudeau was asked by the media why the borders are still open to international jurisdictions with high rates of COVID-19 cases and new and emerging variants of concern. The Prime Minister said the officials would quote, look at what the UK has done, suspending flights from other jurisdictions and what more can be done and should be done to ensure we're not getting cases from overseas. The Prime Minister suggests there's a lot to look into here and that there is a lot to study. Mr. Speaker, while the federal government looks into this, perhaps this government can tell us exactly what needs to be done to ensure that we aren't bringing in variants of concern from outside of Ontario. Prime Minister. I will say to the Honourable gentlemen, it is a very good question, but it is also about us exporting as well. So we will, again, let me reiterate to the people of the province of Ontario and Canadians in general, as much as we have seen an influx and we are seeing daily an influx of other jurisdictions and variants of concern, international variants of concern into the province of Ontario, it is also very important that we do our job not to export COVID to other jurisdictions, Mr. Speaker. Look, we have led the way with respect to the province of Ontario with respecting at international airports. We've asked the federal government to do that. Isolation centres, we asked the federal government to do that, Mr. Speaker. But when you're looking at those variants of concerns, other jurisdictions have moved more quickly to restrict access to their countries, Mr. Speaker. We have to get control of our international airports, in particular, Mr. Speaker, in our border crossings. These variants of concern are very, very troubling. And when combined with the lack of supply that we're seeing on vaccines over the next number of weeks, Mr. Speaker, it is very important and I plead with the prime minister take action on our international borders soon. The supplementary question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And this is a very serious situation. We have thousands of flights each month, and tens of thousands of people flying into this country, potentially with exposures to COVID-19. At the outset of this pandemic, Canada closed its borders. Other jurisdictions have done the same. We could look to Taiwan, New Zealand, Australia, for example. Mr. Speaker, when will Canada take action? Will this government do everything in its power to call on the federal government to secure our borders and protect Canadians from the dangerous new variants of COVID-19? Again, the government has to do it. Yeah, and again, the member is correct. And look, we hold our hands out to the federal government. We want to work with you on this, the way we did with testing at Pearson Airport. It was, of course, this government that started testing of international travelers at Pearson Airport a number of weeks later, the federal government did help us help out on that, Mr. Speaker. It was this government that led the way on isolation centers for those international travelers who were coming into the country and needed to isolate because they were bringing in those who had brought in COVID, Mr. Speaker. We want to work with the federal government to ensure that our borders are secure. These variants of concerns, these international variants of concerns are causing a dramatic impact on our ability to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic Mr. Speaker. It's not just about those who come here, but it's also about Canadians exporting to other countries. So I plead with the Prime Minister work with us to secure our international borders so that we can put all the necessary resources that we need to into ensuring that the people of Province of Ontario and the people of Canada are safe. The next question to member for Hamilton West and Castro Dundas. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The L9K area in my writing of Hamilton West and Castro Dundas is currently dealing with an alarming outbreak of cases and positivity rates. But because the Premier and the Conservative chose their own political fortunes over the people of Hamilton we still can't get our fair share of vaccines or the extra support we need to keep people safe. So Speaker, my question this morning is to the Deputy Premier. This week we learned the Auditor General is now looking into the PC parties politicization of postal codes. My question, when will you stop playing politics and start listening to the experts who are begging you to do your job and keep people safe? Minister of Health. Thank you, Speaker. And I would say to the member opposite through you, Speaker, that I absolutely disagree with the elements of your statement. The hotspots were identified initially by the science advisory table working with the information that was available through Public Health Ontario. They were then reviewed taking into consideration other elements such as hospitalizations in that area ICU admissions fatalities issues with respect to language socioeconomic factors vaccine hesitancy a number of additional factors were brought into that decision which was then brought before the vaccine task force was accepted by the task force and that is the basis upon which we are doing the vaccinations and making sure that 25 percent from the top of all vaccinations before they're allocated equitably among all of the 34 public health unit regions based on population is making sure that they have those extra vaccines in those hotspots to halt transmission in those areas which will help all of Ontario. I appreciate the answer but I think we'll be interested to see what the auditor general actually has to say about this issue. And Mr. Speaker every day I hear from frontline workers teachers childcare workers grocery store clerks hundreds of people who despite putting their lives on the line every day still can't get a vaccine and Mr. Speaker you will know the science table has been clear they said so again yesterday we need to get more vaccines and more supports into hotspot areas and we need to ensure that those at the highest risk the highest risk of catching COVID are being protected that means vaccinating frontline workers so again my question through you Mr. Speaker and to the deputy premier will you listen to the science table this time or are you going to pretend that you know better since the beginning of this pandemic we have been listening to the advice of the medical experts and taking their advice the entire vaccination rollout plan was designed with the assistance of the medical advisers with a bioethics table to advise that we need to vaccinate based on age and at risk and concentrate in the vaccine hotspots that is exactly what we are doing that is why we have designated the top 25% of vaccines to go to those public health units where they're having particular difficulty and I would specifically mention Peel in Toronto where a lot of the hotspots exist right now but the issue is supply of vaccine we are being supplied with vaccines as the member will know by the federal government we had delays in vaccines through part of February into early March we're receiving more vaccines from Pfizer now the AstraZeneca we will be receiving more Moderna has been laid three times and the supply has been cut in half but I can't advise that as of yesterday we were able to administer 136,353 vaccines so we are thank you very much the next question the member for Ottawa Vanny thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the Solicitor General last Friday I think we can all say that there was a collective shock and frustration felt across the province over the proposal of sweeping and dangerous police powers so much so that even regional police services spoke out against these enforcement measures then on Monday many essential workers commuting from Gatineau to Ottawa found themselves caught in hours long traffic jams while Ottawa police were stretched in trying to monitor seven crossing points it seems like there was absolutely no coordination or consultation done ahead of Friday's announcement resulting in confusing and frustration for so many people across the province so did the Solicitor General and the government consult with any of our municipalities and regional police services before their announcement of outrageous policing policies to reply the Solicitor General thank you Speaker so as I've mentioned the COVID-19 variants of concern continue to pose a significant threat to Ontario citizens and those variants come to Ontario from other jurisdictions that's why our government issued an emergency order restricting travel into Ontario through land and water crossings from the province of Manitoba and Quebec while continuing to advocate for the federal government to restrict travel from federally regulated aviation you know and I think it's important to note that the province of Quebec has instituted a similar travel ban into their jurisdiction local police services are best positioned to determine the operational deployments necessary to ensure the continued safety within their communities thank you supplementary question thank you Mr. Speaker and again to this minister general Mr. Speaker racialized and low-income Ontarians have already shouldered a disproportionate share of the pandemic's negative impacts the science table gave clear recommendations and advice close all but essential workplaces have paid sick leave vaccinate essential workers allow safe outdoor activities two meters apart and do not further arm racialized and marginalized people so how could the Solicitor General possibly think that increasing police control is what this province needs government house leader in fact there are a number of measures that the province of Ontario has taken to ensure the safety and security of the people of the province of Ontario Mr. Speaker the first thing what I would suggest to the member opposite and I think she would probably agree with me the first thing that we need to do is to ensure that we have a proper supply of vaccines that we can get into the people into the arms of the people of the province of Ontario despite the fact that we've seen reduced shipments in February March April and heading into May we have gotten four million vaccines into people's into people's arms Mr. Speaker but there's still so much more work more work to be done I would ask the member opposite if she could work with us work with us to reach out to the federal government to ensure that we can get some control of our borders work with us so that we can get control of our international board international borders where these international variants of a concern have become so difficult in helping us beat the pandemic here in the province of Ontario and across Canada thank you Mr. Speaker Member for Peterborough Court thank you Mr. Speaker many jurisdictions are struggling with the possibility of more transmissible and more virulent variations of COVID-19 like B117 first discovered in the UK or B1.427 first discovered in California or B11617 that I've already spoken about in the last two weeks we've seen at least 17 international flights with confirmed cases of COVID-19 on those 17 flights we can estimate possibly 2500 passengers are at risk of exposure to the virus Mr. Speaker if the federal government is not willing to secure our borders and ban flights from hot spots what can we do to keep these dangerous new variants from entering the country the government has to thank you very much Mr. Speaker and it really is an important question that the member opposite raises and I can't say it enough we are pleading to the Prime Minister of Canada to do his part help us secure our international borders and ban flights from hot spots it is so important Mr. Speaker Order we are seeing hundreds of flights come into Pearson Airport every single week with hundreds of variants of concern Mr. Speaker this cannot continue we need the help of the federal government to do this it's not enough that we instituted a testing program at Pearson Airport unilaterally the province of Ontario it's not enough that we instituted isolation Mr. Speaker for those travelers with COVID we need the help of the Prime Minister and the federal government only they can stop traveling between response Canada and those jurisdictions with variants of control that are out of control Mr. Speaker please help us and get control of those international borders supplementary question thank you Mr. Speaker I believe the minister is quite right the only way to stop the variants from entering the country country are banning flights from those hot spots countries across the world are tightening their borders you just have to look at Taiwan at New Zealand at Australia and meanwhile Canada is accepting travelers from everywhere on more than 120 international flights in just the last few weeks Mr. Speaker the Prime Minister has acknowledged the effectiveness of border closures earlier last year and he said from the beginning we brought in some of the toughest and most stringent travel restrictions of any of our peer countries around the world Mr. Speaker perhaps the government can shed some light on if these measures were effective a year ago where are they today order that's Mr. Speaker and frankly it is it is shocking to see that the opposition in this place is not supportive of measures that will keep the people the province of Ontario and frankly the people across Canada safe Mr. Speaker it is not just about us protecting our borders from international travelers who bring in these variants of concern whether it was the UK variant whether it was the Brazilian Brazilian variant whether it was the South African variant Mr. Speaker we are in the midst of a third wave that started outside of our borders Mr. Speaker we need to do more to protect our international borders and our international airports I am pleading with the Prime Minister I am pleading with the Prime Minister to help us it is not enough simply to do testing Mr. Speaker it is not enough to do isolation Mr. Speaker we need to control our borders and stop flights from these international hot spots Mr. Speaker if we are to get control so I directly to the Prime Minister of Canada help the people of the province of Ontario close our international borders to hot spots we are very Thank you the next question the member for Ottawa Centre Thanks Speaker my questions to the Minister of Health as many people have already raised this morning Speaker our ICUs are near the breaking point we are getting close to a hundred patients now being treated in our ICUs but despite this fact the government has refused to make public its plans for critical care triage in those ICUs we don't know people with disabilities and their loved ones and advocacy organisations still we don't know what has been negotiated in secret and what actually will happen when those life and death decisions take place but Speaker at home Dr. David Neely Povitz the ICU Director at the Ottawa Hospital told CBC News it would be naive for us to think that triage or changes in the standard of care have not already come about let's think about that yesterday the Minister rose in this house and said there is no clinical triage protocol but we know Speaker that hospitals have received one on January 13th and we also know that a training was done for medical professionals on YouTube on the 23rd of January so Speaker I would ask them the Minister who is very well versed in these issues what instructions have been sent out and drafted to emergency medical technicians or ambulance services or health professionals about who will live and who will die in our ICU's Mr. Brown Thank you very much Speaker and I can certainly advise the member that no triage protocol has been activated or approved by the government of Ontario there have been discussions I understand that there were a number of disability groups that were concerned with respect to a previous draft that was prepared in earlier this year that was then reviewed with the Human Rights Commission there have been a number of discussions about modifications to it but nothing has been activated nothing has been approved by this government what we are doing instead is to create the capacity so that we can care for all the patients that come into our hospital whether they're COVID patients or emergency patients that come in otherwise we have created over 3,100 beds since this pandemic began increased our intensive care capacity by 14 percent we're looking at bringing in other health professionals from other provinces and other countries so that notwithstanding having the creation of those spaces we will also have the health human resources in order to be able to operate them safely carefully and professionally Speaker earlier today I was joined by disability rights leaders for a media conference all of whom are calling upon this government to make public its plans for critical care triage Speaker I know this minister served as patient ombuds person for this province for years and knows full well that every patient physiological neurotypical or not has a right to fair care at the point of service but the minister also should know that hospitals got a critical triage protocol on January 13th that a training has been conducted so I must admit Speaker my extreme frustration that today when our ICUs are nearing capacity we are still hearing there are no plans Speaker let me say very clearly for this House I didn't know at this point not an acceptable answer I was just following orders at this point not an acceptable answer please forgive me to disable patients and their loved ones not an acceptable answer will you make sure that people with disabilities are not discriminated against in the ICUs yes or no Thank you very much speaker the rights of people with disabilities has been one of my strongest passions since I got to this place 15 years ago and I don't need to take any instructions from anybody including the leader of the official opposition about this issue I have always stood up for rights of people with disabilities Opposition come to order Member for Northumberland Peterborough South come to order Minister of Health please reply the rights of people rights of people with disabilities have been one of the issues that we have cared about and dealt with as part of this entire pandemic the rights of people with disabilities are equally as important as the rights of anybody else that is something that I've always stood by that I always will stand by and I can assure the member opposite that no triage protocol has been approved a draft was circulated in January that was not approved by this government it was something that has been discussed but I understand that the rights of people with disabilities have been brought forward I ask them Member for Ottawa Senator come to order Member for Hamilton West Ancestor Dundas come to order The minister please conclude a response I asked that this issue be dealt with with the right people with disabilities groups as well as with the Ontario Human Rights Commission there have been numerous discussions but nothing has been activated yet and I can assure you nothing has been approved at this point we are working to make sure Thank you Thank you The next question the member for Ottawa South Thank you very much Mr. Speaker my questions for the deputy premier yesterday the COVID science table released a roadmap of what Ontario needs to do to get a third wave under control and to help us safely reopen the report highlights all the public health measures the science table has been asking for for months and what the government has failed to implement reduce the list of essential workplaces reinstate paid sick days prioritize vaccinating essential workers and hotspot neighbourhoods encourage people to get outdoors and have activity not carting shuttering playgrounds or $1,000 ticket fundraisers Speaker it's a roadmap it's a prescription for success so through you will the premier stop ignoring the science and take the advice of the COVID-19 science table so we can end this third wave nightmare Minister of Health Thank you Speaker since the onset of this pandemic our government has relied on the advice and recommendations of our chief medical officer of health to inform our response we have also been advised by a number of independent groups and organizations including the Ontario COVID-19 science advisory table they have provided us with critical data with modeling and with feedback which has been continuously incorporated into our plans to fight this pandemic one key difference between wave one and wave three of this pandemic is the increased mobility of people this compared paired with the contagious variants has created the the response and one of the greatest determinants of spread is how much people move around the reducing the mobility is something that has been recommended by the science table that is we what we have brought into our plan and we've learned from other jurisdictions such as Australia that limitations responsibility work to control the pandemic that's what we are working on that's what the plan is going forward and that we have relied upon including from the scientific advisors on the science advisory table the supplementary question because throughout this pandemic the Premier has been slow to act and quick to lay blame today there are 790 people in ICUs most of them are essential workers this government took away two paid sick days in 2018 imagine if those two paid sick days had been here for Ontarians at the beginning of this pandemic they need more but imagine less sickness less hospitalizations less longer effects of long-term effects of COVID fewer people dying science table has been asking for it for months just about everybody in Ontario it is incredible to me this government hasn't moved and now they're saying we're going to fill the gap a gap they created and until yesterday refused to acknowledge refused incredible and now they're going to pat themselves on the back like they do every time they come in late so Speaker through you will the Premier take the advice of the COVID-19 science table and reinstate paid sick days in Ontario today Government House Leader Mr Speaker I certainly won't take the advice of the member opposite and reinstate two paid sick days that the Liberals are advocating for obviously not Mr Speaker we've said right from the beginning when the NDP were asking for 14 and now the Liberals are asking for two we said that we had to have 20 paid sick days for the people of the province of Ontario that's what we fought for Mr Speaker and that's what we got we know that the federal government has been responsible for transfers to people while the province is focused on health long-term care and education Mr Speaker we were given assurances that that would be changing on Monday when it didn't happen Mr Speaker we have been very clear we will move quickly to ensure that essential workers are taken care of but what this member could have done as he sat in the government for 15 years is ensure that Ontario didn't have the lowest ICU capacity per capita in America Mr Speaker he could have built more than 400 long-term care beds Mr Speaker he could have made sure that we had the health and human resources that are needed for long-term care beds he could have stopped cutting healthcare Mr Speaker he could have stopped attacking education he could have done more on transit and transportation orders next question member for London Fanshawe Mr Speaker my question is to Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Speaker this government's choice to put politics over people and their safety is putting lives at risk in London plain and simple London's N6A postal code is dealing with one of the biggest COVID outbreaks in the province right now but instead of stepping up with the help we need the government is ignoring their own science table and refusing to declare us as a hotspot denying London's essential life-saving supports Speaker my question through you to the Minister of Health why are you choosing to ignore the advice of health experts when you know doing so as putting Londoners lives at risk Minister Teller thank you in fact we have been informed by the medical experts about the initial designation of the 114 hot spots that is why and we are prioritizing those hotspots to receive extra doses of vaccines 25% off the top because we know that if we can get the transmission in the hotspots under control get more people vaccinated that's for the benefit of people across the province now we know that there are other hotspots that are currently being declared we are distributing extra doses as well from the allocations that are coming forward we know that the original hotspots aren't always going to be the only hotspots so there are other ones coming forward and we are prioritizing those areas and giving them extra allocations of vaccines as well as we will do with London Speaker the Middlesex unit health units Dr Mackie just said this week that or excuse me over the weekend that our vaccines are being cut by 25% to fund some GTA hotspots and he also said but our rates here in London and Middlesex have actually caught up so we are a hotspot we're just not recognized so to make matters worth on top of refusing to declare us as a hotspot the Conservatives are now actually scaling down the amount of that vaccines that Londoners will get that decision just isn't reckless Speaker it's heartless and it goes against every piece of advice doctors and scientists have been giving this government for months Speaker again through you to the minister every day you wait to act means more Londoners in ICU more stress on our hospitals and families and even potentials more lives are lost will you reverse this decision and finally ensure that London hotspots get the support they so desperately need Mr. Health thank you very much Speaker well an actual fact the change in the allocation of vaccine doses was recommended by experts at the science advisory table doing some modeling to determine what that would mean in terms of reduction in hospitalizations in ICU admissions and in preventing deaths that is why we have made that change that is what the medical experts have advised us to do because that will have benefit not just for the people in those hotspots and those areas it will benefit the entire province because it will stop the spread from those hotspots which we know is going into other areas of the province this is we've been advised by the medical experts that this is the best way to reduce transmission and to reduce the hospital numbers overall Member for Scarborough Gilbert thank you speaker my question is to the deputy premier you know last week when you announced that 25% more vaccines would go to hotspots I really was excited about that I thought finally Scarborough is going to get the help that it needs but instead the opposite has happened Scarborough has received nothing in fact not only has the two hospital clinics closed canceling 10,000 appointments today three additional community health center clinics like Tai Buu and the SHSC the Scarborough Center for Healthy Communities has also closed so the people of Scarborough when they thought they were getting the help and the support from this government that they need to save lives are not receiving that they are not receiving those vaccines those resources are now sitting idle so my question to the deputy premier will you give Scarborough the priority vaccines that it needs instead of letting its resources sit idle Minister of Health thank you speaker well the answer is yes we are giving Scarborough the priority resources it needs it depends on when the supply comes in when the supply comes in then we have the resources to be able to do that we expect the Pfizer vaccines to come in we know the Moderna vaccines are coming in very shortly and as well we will be receiving more AstraZeneca but what is happening there's two different situations happening here one with respect to those clinics is there's the allocation that is granted to the Toronto Public Health Unit Toronto Public Health Unit then distributes the vaccines among the providers that are coming forward when the providers run out of vaccines that is they can ask the Toronto Public Health Unit for more resources but that is the allocation that they've received the 25% is going to be a granted to particularly in Scarborough because Scarborough has 15 of the hot spots but I can also advise that just due to a response agreement that was made with Shoppers Drug Mart they are going to be operating 24-7 in pharmacies in 20 locations across the province of Ontario five of which are going to be in Scarborough so Scarborough is going to be receiving extra vaccines and extra times and extra locations for a receipt of that thank you that concludes our question period for this morning there being no further business this House stands in recess until 3pm