 It is now time for oral questions. I recognize the leader of the official opposition. Thank you, Speaker. My first question this morning is to the Acting Premier. Earlier this morning, the Premier announced that he would be forced to back away from his cut first plan later strategy of retroactive cuts to municipalities across Ontario. The Premier also confirmed that he was not cancelling the cuts, just delaying them. So whether this is an admission of incompetence or ignorance, if the Premier is now admitting that the cuts were a bad idea for this year, what makes the government think it was a good idea for next year? Questions to the Acting Premier? Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. The announcement that the Premier and I made this morning was very important. It was very important to Ontario's 444 municipalities that we maintain the pre-budget allocations for land ambulance, public health and for childcare services. This has been an ongoing conversation that we have had with our municipal partners, as most members in this House know. I had a very good meeting with mayors from Lumco. These are the mayors from large urban municipalities in our province. Our municipal partners, I think because of this conversation, all agree that there is only one taxpayer speaker and the job of finding savings and protecting what matters most is the shared responsibility among every elected politician in this province. Start the clock. Supplementary question. Well, Speaker, any government worth its salt would have the conversation with partners in advance of massive. This Premier has blustered in this legislature and on any talk radio program that would have him insisting that deep cuts to public health, to childcare, to emergency services, to libraries wouldn't hit families hard. Now he's finally admitting that he and every conservative in this chamber that voted for his budget was wrong. Is the government willing to consider that it's not just the timing of these cuts, but the cuts themselves that may be the problem here? The question for the courage to the minister, Mr. President. Well, Speaker, I want to remind the Honourable Member that we have a number of municipalities that are very interested in our audit and accountability fund. This is a $7.35 million fund that will go line by line in those municipal budgets looking for possible 4 cent savings. The other issue is the $200 million that we gave Ontario's most small, the smallest and most rural communities in our province. We gave them a $200 million boost to help with modernization and make no mistake, Speaker. The government is being responsive to municipalities and we want to work with them. We want to work with them and I think it's very reassuring that the two levels of government are moving forward on trying to find those efficiencies together in a collaborative manner, Speaker. Final supplementary. Well, Speaker, with all due respect, I'd like to remind this Honourable Minister that he used to be a municipal politician and a mayor and should never have let these cuts go forward in the first place. This government has been forced to go back to the drawing board after cutting first and planning after. Mayors and municipal leaders across Ontario have been very clear that they're ready to work with the government, but not if the plan is unilateral cuts to the services that families in this province rely on, whether it's public health and emergency services or childcare and planning. Is this Premier, is this government actually going to listen, going to sit down and listen and work with municipal leaders, or is the Premier going to keep playing my way or the highway with Ontario? Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Speaker, what the Honourable Member doesn't remember is the fact that our government inherited a fiscal mess in this province. She probably inherited a $15 billion deficit from the previous government, often supported by her party and the members of her benches. And again, what we're moving forward with, Speaker, is a collaborative approach with Ontario's municipalities. They asked us for time to be able to work with us to find efficiency, to find the savings. I think most municipal leaders that I've spoken to over the weekend and certainly at Lumco on Friday, they want to work with us. They want to use the tools that our government is providing, whether it be the Audit and Accountability Fund, the Municipal Modernization Fund. There's tremendous political will out there, Speaker, at the municipal level, to work with our government to try to find those efficiencies and those fiscal constraints and try to relieve those constraints from our government, Speaker. We're going to work cooperatively with Ontario. Thank you very much. The next question, once again, may it be ready for shot. Thank you, Speaker. My next question is also to the Acting Premier. Two years ago, I had the opportunity to meet a gentleman named Leon Pops Allward. He was one of the many people suffering from opioid addiction, who was fighting for overdose prevention sites back in the day. Friends inform us that he died this weekend, the latest victim in this crisis. This morning, the government went to the Western Harbour Castle to discuss their plans for mental health and addictions. Will they be reversing their decision to close six overdose prevention sites? The question is to the Acting Premier. Minister of Labor, please. Referred to the Minister of Labor. Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. And of course, we're very saddened to hear of the passing of the individual. We made a commitment to invest in mental health and addictions of $3.8 billion over 10 years. The Minister of Health and Long-Term Care has been a strong advocate on mental health issues. She has looked at the best ways to protest, and we continue to look at the best ways of working with community organizations. We realize the opioid crisis is a critical situation. The Minister has addressed those issues. And we will be making more comments soon, Mr. Speaker, this afternoon, that will also give more information to the opposition. Thank you so much. Thank you. Supplementary question. Well, Speaker, one of the first acts of the Ford government upon coming into office was to cut $330 million a year from mental health and addictions funding. Still following today's announcement, Speaker, will the government be reversing that cut? This is not one easy fix. We have to work with our partners in the communities. And Mr. Speaker, there has been an increase in funding in health. Mental health and addictions in health in general have had an increase. The minister has worked very strongly with the community groups. This is a long-term approach that we have to take. We can't flip a switch and make it all better. This has to be communications with community services. So when we increase $1.3 billion, Mr. Speaker, in our budget this year, that is an investment that is going to strengthen our health in our province and strengthen the health teams on the ground. Mr. Speaker, our commitment to mental health, our commitment to health in the province of Ontario is strong, and we will continue to work with everyone, and I hope the NDP will join us in helping to solve this multi-pronged healthcare approach that needs to be addressed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, Speaker, for people struggling with mental illness, for people literally dying every day from addictions, this government's concern is welcome. But only if it's matched with an actual commitment to undo the damage, the damage that they continue to do through callous cuts and policies that ignore the opioid crisis destroying families and taking lives across Ontario. If the government is serious about a commitment, a word this minister used several times in her most recent response, but if they are serious about a commitment to addressing mental health and addictions, will they recognize that the first step is undoing the serious damage that they have already caused? Mr. Speaker, again, we've increased the health budget by $1.3 billion, doubled the number of consumption sites, Mr. Speaker. Community health, mental health service, including priority populations, including francophones, by $23.5 million, mental health services, including mobile teams, safe beds and court support workers by $18.33 billion, supportive houses by $15.2 million, children and youth mental health services, including in-school and on-campus supports by $58.6 million, indigenous mental health and addiction services by $12.77 million, community and residential addictions and opioid by $33.13 million, inpatient hospital beds by $12 million, data and quality support by $500,000, Mr. Speaker. That's a long list of improvements that the Minister of Health, a long-term care, and we on this side of the government have made. So Mr. Speaker, the opposite. Thank you. Thank you very much. I'm the leader of the opposition. Thank you, Speaker. My next question is to the acting premier, but the minister might want to correct her record. They did not double the number of safe injection sites, they capped them by six. The Ford government has claimed that their budget protects the services that people rely on the most. We hear this ad nauseam around the house. So can the acting premier explain why the government is ending the transition child benefit, which provides supports to Ontario's most vulnerable children? Acting premier. The minister of children, community and social services. The minister of children, community and social services. Thank you very much, Speaker. I appreciate the opportunity. Let's be clear. There will be a slow and gradual wind down of the transitional child benefit and the recipients will be notified directly. Well in advance of the implementation of the state. We are one of only a few provinces that has implemented this transitional child benefit. But I ask the member opposite back. Is it fair to give a taxpayer subsidy to those who are crossing the border illegally and will likely be. Opposition come to order. Is it fair to provide a taxpayer subsidy to those who do not buy. Yes the minister of having the interruption. The opposition must come to order so that I can hear the minister respond to the question. Back to the minister of children, community and social services. Government believes that all governments that all Ontarians should have equal access and fair access to Ontario's children's benefits, which is why we're actually increasing the Ontario child benefit to well over $1.2 billion a year. But we do take exception to those who do not file taxes and that is why we are making this move on a gradual and transitional basis. Supplementary question. Well speaker, our party, the official opposition believes every child deserves the necessities of life that provides support to single mothers. Support to single mothers that may not be, for example, putting a tax return in. So they didn't put their tax return in. This is a supplement that helps them to feed their kids speaker. Often yes, refugees who fled their countries to make a new life in Canada are all also folks that rely on this benefit. This is a province filled with immigrants and refugees speaker. That's how this province was built. And to suggest that the government should not be responsible for making sure that every child can at least have a meal and a roof over their head is a disgraceful place for this government to be proud of. One agency said are the hardest hit with children that they have to look after. And without daycare subsidies that are also being cut by the province, they won't be able to work. They're not going to be able to go to school. Has the government given any consideration to the implications of this cut? And how? Thank you. Thank you. Minister to reply. Thanks. Let me be perfectly clear refugee claimants will continue to receive support through the Ontario social assistance system. The transitional child benefit is provided to recipients who already receive social assistance but do not qualify for the Ontario child benefit, primarily their refugee claimants and illegal border crossers. They are those who have not filed their income taxes and those whose income is too hot. The opposition has to come to order. The opposition needs to come to order. I'm going to let the member respond, conclude her response, I should say. I have been in this house for 11 months calling on Justin Trudeau to repay the $90 million in social assistance costs that have been caused by NDP stand-up with the Ontario Progressive Conservative Government. Mr. Children, Community and Social Services come to order. The next question, the member for York Centre. Good morning, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Transportation. Our government made a historic announcement unveiling a transit plan that will reduce congestion and get the people of Ontario moving. It's a $28.5 billion vision to expand our subway network by 50%. This is the most money ever invested to get shovels into the ground to get new subways built. People waited long enough for an integrated regional transit system that extends outside of Toronto City Limits to serve the growing communities across the region. Tens of thousands of people transfer between the TTC and go transit every day. It's time to start treating the TTC like the vital service that it is. To the Minister of Transportation, expand more on the benefits of this historic announcement. The Minister of Transportation. Thanks very much, Speaker. And I'd like to thank the member for York Centre for that great question. And as he says, we're going to build, build, build, Mr. Speaker. Just as he mentioned, the Premier last month announced a plan for the 21st century. It's a plan that will get Ontarians moving and ensure that these new transit lines are indeed built. Mr. Speaker, the new Ontario line will provide real relief for congestion on line one. It'll be twice as long, move twice as many people. And Mr. Speaker, compared to the original line, it'll be cost about the same amount of price. And that's great news for Ontario and our Treasury Board. Mr. Speaker, not only will we build almost the same price, the city had previously wanted the relief line built by 2029. Mr. Speaker, we're going to get the Ontario line built by 2027, Mr. Speaker. Two years ahead of schedule. It's an incredible project, Mr. Speaker, to do so overcrowding on the line. Make it safer for people and get people home that much quicker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Supplementary question. Thank you, Speaker. And thank you to the minister for that response. There's no doubt that people across Ontario and the region will be pleased with the benefits of the Ontario line once it is built. It's an incredible project that will relieve overcrowding on the Young University Spadina line and connect new neighbourhoods. Speaker, this is one of the most important transit projects in Toronto right now. Relief is needed, and it's needed immediately. With only one extension built in 15 years, commuters using the TTC have been waiting for this for years with no results or action. Will the minister please inform the House of our firm and concrete commitment to get shovels on the Ontario line into the ground? Mr. President. Thanks, Mr. Speaker. And thank you again for the follow-up question, and that number is absolutely correct. This project has taken far too long to get started. Unfortunately, the previous Liberal government supported by the NDP did not make much ground with regards to transit files. And the City of Toronto simply doesn't have the capacity to ensure that these lines are built. Mr. Speaker, I'm sure if they did, Mayor John Tory would have the shovels in the ground already. But we're going to help the city. We're going to help the province. We're going to upload the subway system if the bill passes in the next week and a half, Mr. Speaker. And we're going to ensure that these subways are built. Mr. Speaker, for years, everyone has challenged the provincial government to step up in a leadership role, and our government has done so. That's why we are going to work to continue to upload the subway system. And that's why we've allocated $11.2 billion on a firm concrete commitment to get this Ontario line built. Mr. Speaker, we are going to bring relief to this system. We're going to bring relief to Ontario's. We're going to build a regional integrated transit network, and we're going to do it during our term. Thank you again, Mr. Speaker. The next question, the member for Hamilton Mountain. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Acting Premier. This government is cutting $84 million for children and youth at risk, including cuts to children's aid societies that are already stretched to the limit. Speaker, we know that the children's aid societies could use improvement to better protect vulnerable children. But instead of making things better, this Premier is once again forcing Ontario's most vulnerable to bear the burden of his cuts. How exactly do these cuts improve the lives of vulnerable children and keep them safe? Good question. Acting Premier. Minister of Children, Community, and Social Services. Thank you very much, Speaker. I had the opportunity last week to address this issue. We're not cutting $84 million from Ontario's children's aid societies. In fact, what we're doing is we're working with the children's aid societies right across the province to ensure that we have a better back office system. We're working with them and we're excited about that. I'm looking forward this week to visiting some of those children's aid societies. But let me be perfectly clear where that number does come from. We have a number of youth detention facilities in the province of Ontario that are underutilized. In fact, many of these facilities are utilized only at 29% capacity. I personally don't believe children should be jailed. I think that we need to put frontline investment in to making sure that they have a hand up and a greater deal of success. So I ask the member opposite. Does she believe that we should put money into preventing kids from being in youth detention facilities, or does she think we should lock them up? Supplementary question. Speaker, time and time again, this government has made cuts on the backs of vulnerable children. The ultimate test for any change that affects children should be, does this keep our kids safe? Will it improve the well-being of children? But this government's 84 million dollar kite from children and youth at risk fails this test. It puts children served by children's aid societies and children experiencing the justice system further at risk. Why does this government think that it's acceptable to put the safety and livelihood of our most vulnerable children at risk once again? Minister. The member opposite simply did not listen to my initial response. Let me be clear, the government is not cutting 84 million dollars from the child welfare system. The figure in the estimates includes changes in the youth justice system and community prevention. In large, you reflect that the government will be spending less money on jailing kids. I ask the member opposite again. Is that what she would prefer? She would prefer to see children locked up rather than being part of a preventative approach within our community? The biggest thing that we're working on as a government is to prevent the guns and gangs challenges that we face in our largest cities like Ottawa and Toronto. And that's why one of the first announcements I made as minister was to ensure that we had greater youth prevention supports in place in the city of Ottawa. I'm going to continue to do that. But let me be perfectly clear. I don't think we need jails for children that are operating at 29%. We need to give them a hand up, not lock them up. The next question, the member for Ottawa South. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the finance minister. And this morning we've heard the response of the minister about the transition child benefit that's being taken away. So my question is really simple. Why does the finance ministers think that taking this transitional child benefit away from some of the most vulnerable children and families in this province is a good idea? Thank you, Speaker. Questions to the minister today? The minister of children, community and social services? The minister of children, community and social services. Thanks very much, Speaker. As the member of the reforming social assistance, right now we have a $10 billion program where a million people are relying on social assistance, yet still one in seven live in poverty. We have invested an historic amount of money into the Ontario child benefit. Over $1.2 million. We're going to continue with those approaches. We're continuing to work with our municipal partners to ensure that we have an effective approach moving forward. So we have less people relying on a government check and more people looking towards self-reliance as their goal toward a more dignified approach in the province of Ontario. That's what we're doing with respect to social assistance. That's what we're going to continue to do as a government. And we want to make sure that not only are people working, but that they're contributing to our society in other ways as well. Thank you. Thank you. Come on, please. Thank you, Speaker. And that didn't answer the question. And the minister's earlier response was shocking to me because I can't believe that children would be a pawn in their support of Andrew Scheer in the federal election. It's incredible. I can't believe it. So let's look at the government's record, Mr. Speaker. OK? They made OHIP minus. They've canceled the basic income pilot with no notice or consultation. They've had the increases of families on social assistance. They've fired the child advocate. They've put families of children with autism to hell with the new OAP. They've cut funding for children's AIDS societies. They're increasing class sizes in our schools. They've cut OSAP. They've froze wait lists and funding for SSAH, passport, and autism. And the list goes on and on. And who knows what's next. So through you, Mr. Speaker, to the finance minister or the minister of children, have they declared war on children and families in this province? Stop the clock. I recognize that most of the government members were listening to the question. And I could hear most of what the member for Ottawa said. But about three or four members were screaming at the top of their lungs across the house. It's not acceptable behavior in the Parliament of Ontario. Think about it. Start the clock. The minister can reply. We have a war on in this government. It is the $1 billion a month that they left us for the children of the next generation, our children, our grandchildren, the ethical education, like social services. They bankrupted the province of Ontario. They bankrupted the Ontario on. When I was reminding the members that you can't yell across the house, and I was looking at the government side, the same remarks apply to the members on this side of the house, including the member for Don Valley East. Next question. The next question. The member for Oakville North Burlington, start the clock. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the minister of Labour. Since taking over this crucial file, the minister has helped make Ontario open for business and open for jobs. By repealing the job-killing aspects of Bill 148 and modernizing health and safety training and employment standards. Last week, the minister announced that our government for the people is conducting an operational review of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, or WSIB. Speaker, the WSIB plays a key role in protecting Ontario workers, families, and employers by providing financial support and return to work programs for people who are injured on the job. Can the minister inform the House about how this review is going to help the WSIB continue to provide sustainable services to the workers, families, and job creators it serves? Questions to the minister of Labour. Thank the member for Oakville North Burlington for the question and the great work that she does in her writing. Today, I had the honour of keeping a key commitment of our fall economic statement by announcing an operational review of the WSIB. The review will focus on administration and operations, including financial oversight, sustainability, controls, administration, the effectiveness of the current WSIB governance and executive management structure, and efficiency, the cost efficiency and effectiveness of operations, including comparisons to other jurisdictions and private sector insurers. The review will help ensure the long-term success of the WSIB and will provide our government with the timely advice to ensure a sustainable system based on industry best practices. Reviewing and improving the WSIB is one of the main, many ways our government is ensuring that Ontario can continue to attract investment and good jobs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary question. I know our government for the people is currently conducting MPP-led reviews of all provincial agencies to ensure we are providing the best services and value for Ontario families. We are also committed to helping people, job creators and municipalities save money like the Ministry of Labor did with Bill 66, which will allow municipalities like the City of Toronto to save nearly half a billion dollars a year by accepting open tendering. Speaker, could the Minister share more information about the independent experts named to the review panel and how the people of Ontario can give their feedback and suggestions to improve the operations of the WSIB? Great question. Minister? Excellent question. The review will be conducted by Linda Regner-Dijkman, the head of Midcorp Canada, who has more than 25 years of experience in field insurance, leadership and business strategy, and Sean Spear, a senior fellow in public policy at the University of Toronto's Monk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. These professionals were selected based on their respective areas of expertise to cover the unique mandate of the WSIB. Speaker, we're actively seeking public input on this review over the next two months. And finally, while I am confident that areas of improvement can always be found, I want to point out that the WSIB is currently managed very well. In fact, last September, they retired their unfunded liability. Order. Ten years without us to reduce rates by an after-sales. Member for Waterloo, come to order. Giving a $1.45 billion boost back into our economy, this helps employers save money, increases investment, and makes Ontario open for business and, Mr. Speaker, open for jobs. Great question. The member for Niagara Falls. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the acting Premier. Last week, we learned that the PC government plans to launch a review of WSIB. This government has already slashed its employer contribution, which means less compensation for injured workers who are already struggling. In Ontario, a workplace injury or illness often means that worker and their family are forced to live in poverty. Now this government plans to alter WSIB and appears to open the door for privatization. Will the acting Premier tell us does this government want to privatize WSIB? The acting Premier. Minister of Labor. First Minister of Labor. No, Mr. Speaker. We are not privatizing WSIB. Mr. Speaker. Mr. Yes? Sorry. Mr. Speaker. Back to the acting Premier. Government side, come to order. Workers in this province deserve a government that protects and supports their rights. Not one intended on calling back the compensation they are owed. And I want to be clear on this. No injured worker in the province of Ontario should live in poverty because of a workplace injury or an illness. PC governments stop talking about it and actually stand up for working people in this province. Or are they going to continue to help their millionaire friends save a quick buck on the backs of workers in the province of Ontario? Minister of Labor to your point. Well, Mr. Speaker, I do strongly object to the question that's been answered. And I'm saddened but not surprised to hear about the continued fear-mongering from the opposition and the attitude that they have, Mr. Speaker, throwing words like privatization around cutting benefits, it's capitalizing on opposition, come to order. Injuries and frankly, that is beneath the member opposite, Mr. Speaker. When we speak about reviewing WSIB, we want to make sure it's running well. When we say that the unfunded liability was paid opposition, come to order, then supposed to, that provides sustainability for injured workers that may have to access WSIB. Mr. Speaker, we want businesses to invest in not only their businesses, but in their workers, Mr. Speaker, providing to sustainable WSIB is going to help everybody involved, Mr. Speaker, so no deprivation. Restart the clock. The next question, the member for Kitchener, South Esquire. Mr. Speaker, our government was elected to protect what matters most to the people of Ontario, including ending hallway medicine and building a connected mental health and addiction system. Mr. Speaker, in my writing of Kitchener, South Esquire, my constituents have witnessed firsthand the devastation of the opioid crisis. It has cost the people of Ontario tremendously, both in terms of lives lost and its impact on the front lines of our healthcare system. Would the Attorney General please tell us how our government is working to address the concerns of the people of Ontario with regards to the opioid crisis? East, stop the clock. The member for Don Valley East and the member for King Vaughn will come to order. York Center, I apologize to the member for King Vaughn. It was an honest mistake. Member for Don Valley East will come to order. The member for York Center will come to order. I believe it's the Attorney General's turn. Start the clock. I would, Kitchener, South Esquire, for her question and for the great work that she does on behalf of her constituents. Mr. Speaker, this morning we announced how Ontario is protecting what matters most by taking action to improve quality mental health and addiction services and to recover healthcare costs due to the opioid crisis. Today, our government will propose a bill that stands up for the people of Ontario and holds opioid manufacturers and wholesalers accountable. If passed, the bill would support Ontario's participation in the class action lawsuit British Columbia launched last year against more than 40 opioid manufacturers and wholesalers. Mr. Speaker, we intend to invest any proceeds awarded as a result of this litigation back into front line mental health and addiction services in the province of Ontario. Supplementary question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm back to the Attorney General. The opioid crisis has cost the people of this province a great deal, both in terms of, again, those lives, loss, and the impact that it's had on our front line healthcare workers. Could the Attorney General tell us more about that class action lawsuit brought by British Columbia and the importance of our government's proposed support for this lawsuit? On behalf of the provincial, territorial, and federal governments against those 40 manufacturers and wholesalers involved in the sale and distribution of opioids. The Attorney General replied. I would like to thank the member for her question, Mr. Speaker. It is important for producers and wholesalers to be responsible of their actions in order to take back the cost to the healthcare that are taken on by our citizens. If we take part in this class action, we will not be responsible for the legal costs, given that private lawyers will be paid after this is settled. Our government will invest in the settlement of this class action, and we will invest in healthcare and mental health. Thank you very much. The next question, the member for Toronto's center. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Attorney General. Women across Ontario were concerned weeks ago when Conservative MPPs joined anti-choice protesters on the lawn and pledged to make abortion unthinkable in our lifetime. And they were even more concerned when the Premier declined an opportunity here in the legislature to distance himself from those remarks. Now, Radio Canada is reporting that the Ford government has ignored requests from a dozen health facilities seeking protections from anti-choice protesters who harass and intimidate women seeking services. The right to a protection zone is a legal right established in this legislature. Why is the government ignoring organizations that are desperately asking for their protection zones to be approved? Questions to the Attorney General? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, our government has been very clear that we are not reopening the debate on the question of abortion in Ontario. With respect to safe zones around abortion clinics, eight clinics have been applied and been approved for those zones to be respected. And an independent committee reviews all future applications. There are applications that are currently under consideration by that independent committee. There are privacy concerns and there is currently litigation ongoing. And so I can't comment specifically on applications that are under review. But the safe bubble zone system is in place in the province of Ontario, and we will continue to respect it. Thank you. Supplementary question. So back to the Attorney General. You know, we're asking for the bubble zones to be approved. Quite frankly, you're not doing your job. The Premier says, may say he's not reopening the debate, but we see conservative MPPs on the lawn promising to make abortion unthinkable. Well, this government is literally ignoring women seeking the protections that they're promised under law. For women across Ontario, it seems like the debate hasn't gone away. And the Premier is siding with forces that would chip away at women's hard-earned rights. Will the Attorney General commit, do your job, and commit to protecting the legal rights and ensuring that women's access to abortion services for women who need them? The Attorney General? Mr. Speaker, as I made clear in my previous answer, it is the job of an independent committee to review the applications for those zones. It is our job to ensure that we uphold the laws and regulations of this land, and we continue to do that. But, Mr. Speaker, we've been clear. We are not reopening the debate on the question of abortion, and people who clinics that wish to apply for zones can do so to an independent committee, and we abide by the reports and the decisions of that committee, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. The next question, the member for Willowdale. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Ontario finds itself in a fiscal nightmare. For the past 15 years, the previous Liberal government, propped up by the NDP, put off making tough decisions. Mr. Speaker, leadership is about making those tough decisions. The tough decisions require to turn this province around. Mr. Speaker, my constituents sent our Premier and our team to Queens Park to clean up this mess, and that's exactly what we're doing. It started with a line-by-line audit of the previous government's waste and mismanagement, and it's culminated in a budget and a year of an aggressive legislative agenda. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing please share with this House what our government is doing to find efficiencies across the board to help bring Ontario's finances back under control? Questions to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Thanks, Speaker, and I want to thank the member for Willowdale for that question and his comments. Speaker, I've heard from mayors and councillors across this province. The Premier also knows, from the time he spent at City Council here in Toronto, that municipalities need not just the time, but also the flexibility to find savings. That's why our government announced this morning that we would be pausing this year's cost-searing changes to land ambulance, to public health, and to the childcare sector. The changes are going to allow municipalities to do a number of things, Speaker. It's going to allow them to be able to leverage the $7.35 million we've put forward for an accountability fund. It will allow Ontario's smallest municipalities to deal with the $200 million of modernization funds that we gave them in the last fiscal year. And more importantly, Speaker, it also allows us to work together. Ontarians face a fiscal challenge together. It's most important that we work on it. Thank you. Thank you. Supplementary question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's very clear that there are plenty of examples of waste and mismanagement across the province, so it's really reassuring to see that our government is acting to tackle those issues. Our Premier promised that the party with the taxpayers money is over. Now, the Premier and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing announced some new changes this morning. Could the Minister please outline how our government's plans to work collaboratively with our municipal partners to restore trust and accountability to Ontario's finances will work? Minister. Thanks, Speaker. Again, I want to thank the member. As I was saying in my first answer, Ontarians face a fiscal challenge and we want to face it together with our municipal partners in providing this opportunity to pause some of those in-budget changes. We can now sit down with our municipal partners and really, you know, I believe, and I think most in this House will believe that because there is only one taxpayer, we have to work collaboratively and cooperatively with Ontario's municipalities. I mentioned the two funds, the 7.35 million of the Audit and Accountability Fund. I had a number of mayors express their interest in using that fund to try to find four cents on the dollar. We've also heard, Speaker, through union members of this House, a lot of great suggestions from those small communities, given that we've been able to present them with that $200 million of municipal modernization fund. There are a lot of good suggestions. There's a great political will to work with our government to ensure that they can find the efficiencies to help us meet our fiscal challenge and to protect what matters most. Thank you very much. The next question is for Kiwet Nong. Miigwech, Mr. Speaker. My question this morning is for the acting premier. Last week, this government announced the new curriculum for Injustice Studies after abruptly counseling Injustice Curriculum Writing Sessions last summer. But the Injustice Leaders, like Mr. Naveski Nation, were not met prior to the release of the curriculum. Updating the Injustice Curriculum was a recommendation from the TRC. It should have been developed by indigenous communities. But to make matters worse, Mr. Speaker, the government is making a new Injustice Curriculum an elective, not a mandatory course. Why does the government think that Ontario students do not need to learn about how schools are first nation treaty rights? The acting premier. The Minister of Education. Referred to the Minister of Education. Thank you very much, Speaker. I very much appreciated the opportunity to be in Thunder Bay and to look out this past week. And I was pleased to join the member opposite at the opening of Sue North as well. It was a great celebration. And the whole week is really about celebration and the fact of the matter is this is the first time ever there's been an absolutely dedicated effort to make sure the indigenous curriculum is developed. And I have to impress upon the fact that we have given students the opportunity to take many of our new courses and they'll take them and they'll be counted as compulsory studies required to graduate. And when talking to the director of education as well, he agreed that some of the courses that are offered are mandatory. It's a celebration that we have finally brought forward a suite of 10 courses that touch on the realities of indigenous... Thank you. Supplementary question. Thank you. Last week also, Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler stated that learning about the colonial history of this country should not be optional. And as long as we make these courses electives, the system will continue to fail all students. As a First Nations person, it's hard for me to accept this government is committed to meaningful reconciliation when they have cut funding to indigenous culture and arts significantly cutting the budget of the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs and counseling the indigenous curriculum writing sessions. Well, the government today, Mr. Speaker, make an appropriate curriculum on residential schools, treaties, indigenous people's contributions, a mandatory education requirement in Ontario stated in that TRC calls to action number 62. I need a simple answer, please. Thank you. Thank you very much. Our new courses that have been introduced as of last week, again, are going to be counted as compulsory studies in literature, in law, in humanities, politics, and history. And, you know, when I was up north I heard a lot of support for the decision I made to expand the grad coach program as well. People are very much absolutely applauding the fact that we actually expanded our grad program so that we can ensure our indigenous students are graduating and having a great path forward. Like I said last week, if the opposition cared to listen, I heard the opposition will come to order. Member for Waterloo has to come to order. Allow the minister to finish her reply. Because if the opposition would listen they would hear loud and clear and I'm pleased to say that starting in June we'll be meeting with our indigenous partners and working with them on an approach that could include future curriculum revisions. And this is good news. We had a great trip last week. What am I saying? We had a great trip last week. We're looking forward to what we're doing in the future. And the fact of the matter is we're getting it right. People know I care. Thank you very much. Member for Miss Saga East Cooksville. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the minister of children, community and social services. For months now, you have been a steadfast advocate for Ontario's taxpayer by standing up to Justin Trudeau and his government's failed border policies. You have told us how the federal government has driven up costs for Ontario's taxpayers with the 200 million in added cost to our social assistance education and legal systems. Months later, the federal government still hasn't fully reimbursed taxpayers and our government has been forced to protect what matters most. Speaker, can the minister please tell us how our government is protecting all children from Justin Trudeau's policies? Minister of children, community and social services. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the Honourable Member for his question and I appreciate his activism, not only on behalf of the children of Ontario but certainly his local Raptors basketball team. For months now, he knows since last August our government has called on the Trudeau Liberals to reimburse Ontario taxpayers to continue to afford to pay for the crisis at our border through the added cost to our social assistance system to support illegal border officers who are making those claims. We believe all Ontarians should have equal access to children's benefits, regardless of whether they are or are not receiving social assistance. We are going to be winding down the transitional child benefit investing nearly $1.2 billion to support all low-income Ontarians who require assistance. The federal government, however, I reiterate today must take action to stem the flow of the illegal border crossers and clear the back love. Thank you. Supplementary question. Thank you for your response, Minister. An article in the Toronto Sun last week detailed how nearly 4,000 people had crossed into the country illegally through the unofficial at Roxanne Road. We know that a significant number of refugee claimants and illegal border crossers then travel to Ontario where they are entitled to social assistance while they wait to have their refugee claim heard by a federal immigration board. This wait can take upwards to two years. Minister, it's unacceptable that these people are left in limbo for the federal government to show some leadership. Can the minister please tell us how Ontario supports refugee claimants? Thank you. Can I ask the minister? The opposition must come to order. The number for Brampton Centre must come to order. Brampton North I apologize to the member for Brampton Centre. Minister to reply. We're not afraid to take people access to children's benefits regardless of whether they're not receiving social assistance. The truth is we're removing duplicate programs that add costs and red tape. We have a program to deliver child benefits. Everyone should file their taxes. However, does the member opposite not agree with that yes or no? The next question. Thank you, Speaker. Through you to the acting Premier. In a letter to the largest cities expressed serious concerns about Bill 108, the Ford government's plan to tilt the playing field in favour of developers at the expense of the environment, families and municipalities. The government plans to ram this bill through committee hearings this week with just a single day for public comment. These 28 mayors have asked for an extension to September 30th. Will the government listen and grant this extension yes or no? The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing referred to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Thank you, Speaker. I want to thank the Honourable Member for his question. I was at Lumco on Friday and I explained to some of the concerns that some of the mayors had expressed. They had expressed a concern regarding the creation of the new community benefits charge and I made it very clear to them that the announcements that we've made as part of Bill 108 for community benefits charge was that we announced a consultation and that we would continue to consult with Ontario's municipalities about the new development charges regime as confirmed in community benefits. So I believe exactly what those mayors were asking that we have some consultation is what I delivered. The difference is that the bill can still continue through the legislative process. It does not need to be stopped or halted. Clearly, we said we would consult on that section. Diplometric question. Well, I'll take that as a no, Speaker. It's a good sign that a government bill won't stand up to scrutiny when the government refuses to let people scrutinize it. These mayors elected by millions of Ontarians are raising serious concerns about the government scheme. They warned that Bill 108 could put at risk city's finances and their ability to provide parkland, community facilities and well planned neighborhoods. The Premier is finally learning to admit when he's wrong. Why is the government so afraid of taking time to hear the concerns of citizens, mayors and city councillors? Speaker, again, through you to the Honourable Member. I was very clear on Friday at Lumco. Our proposed community benefits charge and the formula that it would create maintains the position of growth pace for growth. Libraries will continue to be built. Parkland will continue to be open. Community centres will still be opened under the new proposed regime. If we would announce Speaker as part of Bill 108, we would consult with municipalities on this new formula. That's exactly what we're going to do. The next question, the Member for Ajax. Thank you. My question is to Minister for Seniors and Accessibility. Last week, Speaker, our government for the people announced a very special partnership with one of the most well-known accessibility organizations in the country. Our great Minister of Seniors and Accessibility, along with the founder of the Rick Hansen Foundation, were at the Marr Discovery District to announce the launch of the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification Program in Ontario. Can the Minister share with this House the importance of this program and what it means to both people with disabilities and seniors? Thank you, Mr Speaker. I'd like to thank a very hard-working member from Whitby for the inclusion question. Our government is focusing on what matters most to people with disabilities and seniors by helping to remove barriers in buildings and making communities more accessible. This is why our government is investing 1.3 million dollars over two years through a new partnership with the Rick Hansen Foundation. The Certification Program will provide accessible ratings of businesses and public buildings by trained professionals and determine ways to remove identified barriers. This will help make communities and the business become more accessible and open for jobs and open for business. Thank you, Speaker. When our buildings are not accessible and Terrians with disabilities are prevented from fully participating in everyday life and businesses fail to reach their full potential, we must strive to make our communities as accessible as possible to accommodate every individual in our province. The third legislative review of the Accessibility for Terrians with Disabilities Act by David Onley stated that there are soul-crushing barriers in our communities. Could the Minister please explain how our recent announcement will contribute to the government's commitment to enhancing accessibility across Ontario? As the member mentioned, the Honorable David Onley's report made it clear that the build environment is a significant challenge in our province. This 1.3 million investment will provide an innovative, Ontario-focused, low burden accessibility certification program. They will encourage the organisation to become more accessible. Through this investment, the Rick Hansen Foundation will undertake ratings of 250 facilities in select communities across Ontario. This is our small step to help removing accessibility barriers. This program will ensure that people with disabilities and the seniors can participate in daily life and the health business growth. A win-win for all Ontarians. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the acting premier, the school board that represents the area from Muskoka all the way up to Timmins, Kappas, Gasing and beyond, the district school board of Ontario Northeast, sent your Minister of Education a letter signed by Bob Brush, the chair of that particular school board. And I'm going to send this over after the question, but here's a nub of it. Your government has cut funding to autism services. We have 48 IBI spaces available within the system in that entire area. Our school board, which covers the same area, is now faced having to take all of these students into the school system and having to try to provide services to those children and they don't have the money to do it. So my question to you as simple as this, you made a decision this morning to reverse some of the possible cuts that you're making to the municipalities and ask the member to make his comments through the chair. Include his question. Thank you. I'm asking you the question, are you prepared to do the same and reverse your cuts for children with autism? Thank you. Members to make the comments through the chair. The response? The Minister of Education. Well, government house leader, I should say. The Minister of Education. I'm pleased to share with the member opposite and everyone in the house today that we're moving very thoughtfully and measured towards a proper manner in which to have our children with autism enter into the education system. You know, we've been having very good meetings with our autism partners and we're listening and we're going to get it right. And in terms of the manner in which we've invested in autism services, I need to remind the member opposite that we have taken on precedent steps to increase funding to support children and students with autism. One example for just to name one is doubling the amount of money that's going to the Geneva Center for Autism. That's just one example. And I certainly would be pleased to talk about more. There's so many more examples in terms of the increased support that we can give. And I look. Thank you. Supplementary question. Well, Mr. Speaker, to the to the minister again, you have cut funding the children that need services to deal with autism. IBI therapy is being reduced in our area. There are 48 spots that are available and there's going to be probably very few left by the time this is all over. School boards like this particular school board is having to deal with what to do when those kids hit the classroom and they don't have the resources to be able to provide the services. So I ask you again, what do you plan on doing in order to help students in this province get the funding through the school boards that they need to make sure that sure that the kids with IBI. Thank you. Once again, I want to remind the member opposite that we're a government and a ministry that works with our partners, and we're going to be very careful to make sure that we get it right. If you want specific examples, I'll look forward to receiving that letter from his local school board as well as working with him. So he fully comprehends once and for all how we're investing in children with autism. Thank you very much. Thank you. That concludes our question period, but I once again want to apologize to the member for King Vaughan, the member for Brampton Center and the member for Whitby for mixing up their writing names. Points of order. First of all, the member for Milton. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the point of order, I'd like to recognize and welcome my constituent supporter and great community leader, Balavinder Singh Soor. And he also has a couple of relatives that are visiting all the way from India, Baljeet Singh and Gujit Kaur. Welcome. The member for Hamiltonese Stoney Creek. Welcome. All the steel workers from Hamilton and Ontario. Great to have you here and we'll be seeing you later. Thank you for coming. Minister of Energy, more than welcome to mind. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My amazing wife, Janet Sir, and a special family member from Florida, Sarah Atscorn. We welcome you to this right magnificent place. Remember for Ottawa Center. Ottawa Center. Ottawa Center. Thank you, Speaker. I neglected to welcome earlier our friend Emily Dag from from Mississauga Center. She is an accessibility rights leader. Thank you, Emily, for being in your house. Thank you for coming here. Minister of Labor. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to correct my record from earlier. In fact, we have more than doubled the funding for the consumption and treatment sites. Mr. Speaker, thank you. Remember for Mississauga, you're in mills. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm just I would like to correct my record. The reception for the independent pharmacist would be in room 230, not two to eight. Thank you. Members that the appropriate time for introductions is when I ask for introductions right before question period and at the start of the afternoon. I beg to inform the House that during the adjournment, the following documents were tabled. A report entitled economic and budget outlook spring 2019 from the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario and a report concerning the review of cabinet ministers and opposition leaders expense claims complete as of May the 17th 2019 from the Office of the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario and a report concerning the Honourable Lisa McLeod, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services from the Office of the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario. There being no further business this morning. This house stands in recess until 1 p.m.