 It is now time for oral questions. I recognize the leader of His Majesty's loyal opposition. Thank you, Speaker. Good morning. The Financial Accountability Office's latest report paints a very dark picture for Ontario's municipalities. Despite swimming in $6.4 billion, this government is short-changing our cities and towns. We're withholding $120 million for services and a further $644 million earmarked for repairs to infrastructure, to broadband and other supports that people out there desperately need. Can the Premier explain to Ontarians why he doesn't deem their communities worthy of the investments his government promised? To apply, Minister of Finance. Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker, and through you to the member opposite for that question. You know, I've got the full economic statement here. I've got the budget from last April that we took to the people and, you know, as I go around and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing goes around and the Premier and the Deputy Premier, we talk to big city mayors, we talk to rural mayors, we talk to all kinds of mayors. And you know what they keep telling us? Thank you for the investments that we're making in their communities. You know what I hear? Thank you to the Minister of Infrastructure for investments in broadband, which is so critical for many of our communities. Thank you for the investments in the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund so they can upgrade their water resources, which we doubled, to $2 billion. And you know, just recently at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, they said thank you for the state. Thank you. The supplementary question. Let me tell the Minister what's really happening out there. This government is hitting municipalities on all sides. First, they let their rich developer friends skip the bill and starve municipalities out of billions, and then they sit on nearly a billion dollars earmarked for municipal services and infrastructure. Now, people from Oshawa to Thunder Bay are facing massive increases in their property taxes as municipalities are scrambling to make up for that lost funding. And in Waterloo region alone, taxes are going up 8.55% at a time when people are already hurting. Go out there and talk to homeowners. Their heating bills are up. Their grocery bills are through the roof. Can this Premier explain why he's making everyday Ontarians pay his developer friends' bills? Minister of Finance. Well, Mr. Speaker, I don't know what kind of math they're teaching in Waterloo, but that just isn't the truth in terms of actually understanding. Okay. I'm going to ask the Minister to withdraw. First time in five years I do that. You know what? When we go to places like the Waterloo region, you know what they say? They say thank you for the investments in infrastructure right across this whole province, Mr. Speaker. They say thank you for helping us with highways, building highways not just in the 413, the Bradford Bypass, but Mr. Speaker, the Highway 7 between Quick Kitchener and Guelph. That's what they're talking about. They're talking about the widening of the Highway 17 all the way from in prior to Renfrew. They're talking about the Timmins Connecting Link. The Timmins Connecting Link, they're talking about moving people and goods so that the hardworking people in this province can take their kids to school, that they can take their goods to market. That's what we're doing in this province. The final supplementary. You know what they're teaching in Waterloo, Speaker? They're teaching quantum physics, quantum physics in Waterloo. But look, this is about this government giving their insider developer friends a free ride. Municipal governments keep doing more with less, but at every turn they're met with nothing but disdain and blame from this Premier. Some municipalities are estimating that by limiting their ability to charge developer fees, this government is bilking them out of tens of millions of dollars over the next five years. Toronto alone is anticipating $2.3 billion in lost revenue. Local governments run the buses people take to work. They maintain our local roads, and they try to build the affordable housing units we so desperately need. When is this government going to commit to stop offloading their costs onto municipalities and partner with them to build stronger, more caring communities? Mr. Secretary, both fares and housing do apply. No, Speaker. Again, to the Leader of the Opposition, what she's really saying is she's against non-profit housing providers like Habitat for Humanity from getting deferred development culture. Many of the Opposition members, when they were on local councils, voted in favour of deferring or eliminating development charges for non-profit housing and other groups like Habitat for Humanity. So, when they were municipal councillors, they were in favour of this type of policy, but now that they're part of the NIMBY party, they're going to be against. When it comes to the NDP, their housing policy has no merit. The next question. Leader of the Opposition. Speaker, let me tell you, this has nothing to do with non-profits or building, affording affordable housing. Stop the clock. Stop the clock. Stop the clock. Government side must come to order. I have to be able to hear the member who has the floor. Present time, it's the Leader of the Opposition. Not the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, although he might get his turn. Start the clock. Leader of the Opposition. Speaker, with this government, people out there know it's about who you know and how much you'll pay for it. Back in 2018, one of the first things this government did was take away permanent paid sick days from working people. A cruel way to start their term. And terrible public policy too. People should not have to choose between putting their co-workers, customers and community at risk or losing a day's pay. We have tabled three times now. Since then, the stay home if you're sick act. It would give people 10 permanent paid sick days. But you vote it down every time. Will this government give workers the time they need to recover and keep people safe by backing the NDP plan for 10 permanent paid sick days? Mr. Labour, immigration, training and skills development. Mr. Speaker, we were the first province in Canada to bring in paid sick days during the pandemic to support those workers. We were the first province in the country to bring in job protected leave to ensure that when those workers stayed home they couldn't be fired from their job. Mr. Speaker, we're working for workers every single day. I'll remind the leader of the opposition that she voted against our plan to hire 100 more health and safety inspectors in this province to bring the inspectorate to the highest in provincial history. But Mr. Speaker, this is an NDP party that has abandoned workers in this province. But under the leadership of Premier Ford, we'll work for our workers every single day. Supplementary question? I'll point out, Speaker, that those measures that the minister talked about are temporary and they end at the end of this month. Speaker, the Conservative members must be hearing the same stories that we are from people in communities all across this province who are exhausted. They feel abandoned by this government. Parents living in constant fear that if they or their kid gets sick they won't be able to pay their rent or afford the groceries. And the Premier can stay home when he gets sick. Why do these workers deserve anything less? Will this government finally side with working people and make sure everyone has access to 10 permanent paid sick days? Mr. Speaker, do you know what helps workers? I'll tell you what helps workers. When we took office in 2018, the NDP and Liberals ran 300,000 jobs out of this province. As we stand here today, there are 600,000 more people being able to pay rent, pay a mortgage, buy a home, get a car and an electric vehicle car. Because we're creating the environment and the conditions for companies to come here and thrive and prosper and grow. And when they thrive, prosper and grow, Mr. Speaker, that people that work at those companies thrive, prosper and grow. They put more money into their pockets, more job security. This is an employee's market right now. We're short 380,000 people that fill the jobs. Our GDP is at $1 trillion now, 18th largest in the entire world, right here in Ontario. That's what helps people. Order, order. Member for Brampton North, come to order. Member for Kitchener, Conestoga, come to order. Start the clock. Final supplementary. I'll tell you that this Premier is so out of touch. This room is filled today with nurses who are leaving this province at record levels. Nursing has become our greatest export from this province because this government fails to respect working people in this province. Speaker, it took COVID. It took COVID for this government to give even anyone the three paid sick days only for COVID, only for the first time you get COVID. And even that ends at the end of March. Get out there and listen to people in communities across this province. They are struggling. People like parents who can't take time off because they need to put food on the table. It is not a laugh, it's something you should be applauding yourselves for. Government could do something about this. Will you give them the paid sick days that they need? Thank you. Premier. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We love our nurses. We know the dedication. They go in day in and day out. Order. But I'll tell you the numbers, Mr. Speaker. Since 2018, there's 60,000 more nurses registered here in Ontario. There's 8,000 more doctors. We set a new record. We set a new record. There was 12,000 alone just last year. We're going to continue hiring nurses. There's 30,000 nurses in our colleges and universities ready to serve. We're grateful and we think the world of our nurses, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Premier. If you actually loved and supported nurses, you wouldn't be fighting them in court over Bill 124. This is to the Premier. In my writing, Windsor Salt workers, members of Uniformed Locals, 1959 and 240, have been on strike for weeks now to stop the contracting out of good paying union jobs. They're fighting an attempt at union busting. The owners of Windsor Salt, Stoke Indian Industries have tried to break the picket line and resume production. Will the Premier finally support workers in this province? These workers, in particular, pass anti-scab legislation and fight back against the outsourcing of union jobs. Mr. Blader, immigration team. Mr. Blader. Well, Mr. Speaker, I'm obviously aware of the situation down in Windsor. Mr. Speaker, we always encourage employers, labour workers to sit down and get a deal at the table. We're proud of our labour relations in this province. 99% of deals are done at the table. But Mr. Speaker, we're working every single day to ensure that workers in Ontario have better jobs and bigger paychecks. And I think of the Windsor Essex region, the amount of young people getting into the skilled trades, joining those unions down in Windsor to build better lives for themselves and their families. But Mr. Speaker, we'll continue every day putting forward worker-friendly policies so they earn better jobs and bigger paychecks. Supplementary. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Maybe if the Minister actually believed in collective bargaining, the government as the biggest employer would not have brought in Bill 124 and Bill 28. Hamilton Highbury-Canco workers, members of UFCW Local 175, are also on strike. And the company is busing in scab workers. This government talks about working for workers, but time and time again, they have attacked workers' collective bargaining rights with Bill 124 and Bill 28. In fact, they supported the Liberals with Bill 115, another unconstitutional bill. Will this government actually work for workers, stand up for collective bargaining rights, and pass anti-scab legislation? Mr. Labour. Mr. Labour has the floor. Mr. Speaker, we'll continue working for workers every day in this province. That's why in the June election, Mr. Speaker, we had the endorsement of eight labour unions in this province, representing hundreds of thousands of workers. And Mr. Speaker, we believe that government, labour and business have to work together. That's how we're going to improve the lives of people in this province and build stronger communities. That's why I'm proud to say under the leadership of Premier Ford, we introduced the Building Opportunities and the Skilled Trades Act. We introduced Working for Workers legislation, Mr. Speaker, that ensured that gig workers for the first time in history get minimum wage that we increase fines to those companies that are breaking the law. That we ensure that there's no locks on kits in workplaces. But Mr. Speaker, the opposition NDP voted against these measures in working for workers. So we'll take no lessons from the party that years ago abandoned the working people of this province. And that's why we elect progressive Conservatives in Windsor Essex. Mr. Member for Brampton North. Thank you. And I asked the NDP, I mean, what would workers do under an NDP government? You don't support highways, you don't support jobs, you don't support investment. Stop the clock. I guess I need to point out to the House that you can't ask questions of the official opposition. Here's your question to the government. Start the clock. Sorry, Speaker, I had the wrong notes in front of me. My question is for the President of the Treasury Board, the Minister responsible for emergency management. He's a fellow Brampton boy, I expect a straight answer. First, I'd like to recognize the dedication and tireless efforts of all those who are involved in Ontario's emergency planning preparedness and response network. They're heroes, we're all grateful for everything they do in caring for the people of our province. The need for local and provincial declarations of emergencies can arise for a number of reasons. And it's essential that response plans are current and reflect best practices. We know that our government values the safety of all individuals and communities. However, more can be done in safeguarding Ontarians from unanticipated emergencies. Speaker, can the minister please explain what action our government is taking to strengthen its emergency management response operations? To reply, the President of the Treasury Board. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And I want to thank my colleague and Brampton's finest from Brampton North for that great question and his tireless advocacy on behalf of the people of Brampton and across the province. But he's absolutely right, Mr. Speaker. There's nothing more important than the safety and well-being of our families and loved ones. In Ontarians across the province counting on our government to get emergency planning right. That is why earlier this month our government released Ontario's first ever provincial emergency management strategy and action plan. We are the first province in the entire country to put forward a plan. Our new plan establishes a framework for emergency management in Ontario. This sets out a one-window approach to coordinate emergency response across this province. It's a proactive planning and monitoring tool to keep Ontarians informed. And we are practiced in prepared emergency response with training and education across this province. Thank you. Supplement in question. Thank you, Speaker, and thank you to the minister for his fantastic response. The importance of ensuring that our province is as prepared as possible for any potential emergency cannot be understated. Sadly, the previous Liberal government, backed by the NDP most of the time, lessed us with gaps in our emergency response system, leaving our province vulnerable and ill-prepared. Under the leadership of the Premier and this minister, it is reassuring that our government is spearheading a comprehensive emergency management plan for all of Ontario. Speaker, can the minister please provide more details about how our government is approaching the vital work of safeguarding and protecting our province? President of the Treasury Board. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The member is absolutely right. The previous Liberal government left many gaps in emergency management, whether it was freezing hospital budgets, firing nurses, or leaving stockpiles of PPE empty. Mr. Speaker, our government committed to making sure that would never happen again. But, Mr. Speaker, we are also taking a role of collaborating with our emergency management partners across this province. With an increase in wildfires, floods and other potential emergencies that threaten Ontario's safeties and communities, it is critical that we have a plan in place to respond to these crises as quickly. That is why, as a government, we have worked across this province with partners, including municipalities. First Nations partners to develop a plan that highlights the actions that our government is taking to keep Ontario safe and in a constant state of readiness and preparedness across this province. Our commitment to communities across this province is to ensure we are emergency ready. The next question, the member for Ottawa State Council. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Good morning, Premier. A private for-profit surgical clinic speaker is operating for the second time this Saturday at the Riverside Campus of the Ottawa Hospital from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Meanwhile, there is a long backlog of orthopedic surgeries over 2,000 to members of the public who are waiting for the public health care they were promised. This is another example of our public operating rooms being closed to the public who paid for them, but open to the profit of a select few. My question to the Premier. Will this government get public operating rooms fully up and running for everyone? Thank you, Speaker. This question gives me an opportunity to highlight some of the things that our government has been doing to deal with surgical backlogs that I might remind the member existed prior to the pandemic. So, we have, as a government, invested with our hospital partners over $800 million for surgical recovery to deal with exactly that, the surgical backlog that resulted as a result of the pandemic. And I can tell you, there are some innovative models that are happening in the province of Ontario that are leading to successes. You know, this is not an either or. This is an expansion. This is an opportunity for people who have been waiting far too long to get those necessary surgeries to happen in community and in a timely manner so that they can go back to work, back in their community, and back with their families. It is a good news, sorry, and we will continue to invest in those innovative models. Thank you. A supplementary question. Thank you, Speaker. Back to the Premier or perhaps that infomercial we just heard from the Minister. I mean... I'm going to caution the member on this, which that's not helpful. Please, place your question. Thank you, Speaker. It is a sad day when there are nurses in this building who work very hard for us every single day. We ask serious questions about the attack on the funding of our public hospitals, and we get talking points back. What we know in Ottawa today about this clinic, Speaker, is that nurses are being offered inside our public hospitals twice the salary to work in these for-profit private clinics. Shame. We know that it's going to get harder to keep nurses in our public system as a result of your efforts to hand over these surgeries to for-profit clinics. So a serious question, Speaker. Is this government actually going to invest in our public operating rooms instead of selling them off or renting them out? Minister Kelt. Speaker, this is a member who is encouraging and actually participating in protests in front of community surgical units. I will take no lessons from a member who doesn't understand that there are people who are waiting for surgeries who want to have access. Shame. Clinical surgeries in community have existed in the province of Ontario for decades. And I might also remind the member opposite. Approved by... Positioned, come to order. ...the governments, by Liberal governments, and yes, by NDP governments, because they understand the value of ensuring that people have access to publicly funded services where and when they need it. Thank you, Speaker. The next question, the member for Don Valley North. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Labor, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. Speaker, strong workplace health and safety practice ensure that all workers and employers are safe and protected on the job. In the construction sector, workers deserve access to hygienic washroom facilities. Order. The regulations for construction projects under the Occupational Health and Safety Act are clear. Workers must have access to clear washrooms. Thanks to the leadership of our Premier and this Minister, there are a record number of building projects on the way in the community across our province. Speaker, can the Minister please explain what our government is doing to ensure that all workers have access to clean and safe washroom facilities? Minister of Labor, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. Thank you very much and this is a really important question that the member for Don Valley North has asked this morning. Speaker, the member has hit the nail on the head. Clean bathrooms are essential to respecting the hardworking men and women who are building the homes, schools, hospitals and transit that our communities and families rely on. Everywhere I go, I hear from workers about the state of bathrooms on some job sites in factories and in retail. In 2022 alone, my ministry visited work sites more than 23,000 times to inspect bathrooms and issued nearly 2,000 orders for bathrooms in poor condition. Speaker, my message to workers is clear. Our government has your backs. We stand with you, the workers who are out there building Ontario in all of our communities every single day. Order. Supplementary question. Thank you, Speaker, and thank you to the Minister for the response. Speaker, the dignity of workers is of paramount importance to me and my constituents in the riding of Don Valley North. I am pleased to know that ministry inspectors are attending work sites to ensure that washroom facilities meet health and safety standards. We know that the benefits of safe workplace include higher productivity, higher workplaces and better recruitment and retention, and fewer fines and workplace disruptions. Speaker, can the minister please elaborate on how our government is supporting the health and safety of workers in Ontario? Thank you. Mr. Labour. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you again to the member for this really important question. Speaker, let me say this very simply. Everyone has a right to clean and safe bathrooms at work. Workers deserve better. I'm pleased to report that my ministry is currently conducting a workplace bathroom blitz to ensure that those out there building Ontario have access to clean bathrooms. In February of this year, as part of this ongoing blitz that's going to run until March 31st, ministry inspectors issued about 130 orders related to construction work site washrooms ensuring the workers who are building our province have access to facilities that they deserve. Speaker, we'll continue working for workers and make sure everyone going to work has a healthy and safe workplace. Thank you. Member for Niagara Falls, come to order. The next question, the member for St. Catherine's. Thank you, Speaker, through you to the Premier. Seniors and young families are being pressed to the limit as your government has allowed Enbridge to pass along increases in gas prices that are making life very hard for Ontarians. The Ontario Electricity Support Program provides immediate on-bill release for families who struggle to pay their electricity bills. But there's no similar program for families struggling to pay natural gas bills or other heating bills. Speaker, will this government establish such a program in its upcoming budget so every family who struggles to heat their home can get support? Minister of Energy. Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. My goal as the Minister of Energy is to ensure that we have a reliable and affordable and clean energy system in the province of Ontario. We're doing that, Mr. Speaker. Under the mess that was left us by the previous Liberal government, we have brought electricity prices under control and we're doing the same thing with natural gas prices. Mr. Speaker, there are programs in place through Enbridge that the member should be passing along to her constituents to be aware of. But it is interesting to get this kind of a question from the NDP. A party that believes in the highest carbon tax, not just in Canada but in the world, Mr. Speaker. This party is supportive of the federal carbon tax, which on this Enbridge bill that I have here right now is $50, Mr. Speaker, on a- Props. Conclusion answer. And that prop over, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary question. Thank you, Speaker. For a month now I've been seeing that prop come across my desk in my office. That doesn't say to Ontarians that are dealing with rising inflation costs to their heating bills. They deserve solutions to the minister. That's right. Back to the minister. Last week, Niagara had another large ice storm. People have to heat their homes and there is no way around it. Price to heat your homes are going up and up. People are in desperate trouble. Charles Christensen, a 67-year-old retired manufacturing worker from St. Catharines showed me his bill, an increase of $100 from six months ago. This is the senior on fixed income making only $1,500 a month. We owe it to our seniors that built our province, all Ontarians to have a solution, especially when it already exists for electricity. Speaker to the Premier. Does the Premier or anyone else on that side of the aisle believe that it's okay to stand by and do nothing as gas rates double in the middle of the winter and continue for seniors and young families right to the brink? Minister of energy. Mr. Speaker, I think it's important for the member opposite and all members of the legislature to understand that the commodity price for gas has gone up significantly over the last year, in large part because of the unprovoked invasion by Russia in Ukraine. Natural gas prices are coming down. Natural gas prices are coming down in Ontario. It's pretty rich, though, from the NDP to talk about affordability when it comes to energy prices. This is a party that wants us to get rid of natural gas, Mr. Speaker. It thinks that natural gas is a bad thing when more than 76% of homeowners out there are heating their homes with natural gas. This is a party that also supported the previous Liberal government every step of the way in their Green Energy Act. Something that was driving up electricity prices by 10%, 11% year over year. We brought that to an end. It's also a party that doesn't believe in nuclear, Mr. Speaker. It's a party that believes that the source of energy in our province providing 60% of our electricity every day should be phased out. We're not going to take any lessons. Thank you. The next question. Member for Kingston and the Islands. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to ask the Minister of Health about her plan to use for-profit clinics to deal with the backlog of surgeries. It seems to me looking at Bill 60 that a crucial linchpin is the director who checks license applications, does inspections, and revokes licenses for those who break the rules. But whereas in the existing legislation, the director has to be a public servant and employee of the ministry, under this government's new Bill 60, the director could be anybody or any quote entity. It looks like Bill 60 is setting up to have this government delegate oversight of this industry to some unspecified entity. As it happens, the current independent health facilities program is run out of my riding of Kingston and the islands. My constituents deserve to know how many experienced and qualified staff will lose their jobs to some as yet undisclosed entity. Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. Thank you for the opportunity to speak about Bill 60. If I understand the members question accurately, it is we as a government are making an investment in community surgical and diagnostic units and they are concerned that we are going to use fewer people to make those assessments overviews and ultimately oversight. There's a bit of a disconnect there. I am happy that we finally are formalizing a process that patients have asked for for a long time because we need timely access to diagnostic and surgery options in community. We have through Bill 60 a process that will ensure those applications will be assessed and reviewed based on needs, based on backlog, based on waiting lists and they will be placed in appropriate communities that have those challenges and we will do that with oversight that ensures through a licensing process and renewal process that oversight is there for the clinics but most importantly for the patients. Thank you. A supplementary question. Well, Mr. Speaker, clearly this government hasn't figured out to whom or to what entity it will delegate the management oversight of the for-profit surgery industry. That's a red flag for me. How do we know that this government isn't going to set things up so that people too close to industry are the ones in charge of licenses and inspections? This is a danger in so many industries. There's a term for it. Regulatory capture. It's a lot easier to separate the regulator and the industry in the current situation where the regulators are ministry employees. Not anymore with Bill 60. How can the minister ensure that there won't be people going back and forth between the industry and the directorate in charge of licensing and inspecting for-profit surgical clinics? Minister Vell. Thank you, Speaker. The member opposite is missing two very important pieces when he talks about the expansion of surgical and diagnostic in community. And that is, of course, that for-profit and hospital partnerships are a critical part of the application process. As we find the innovation that is happening in Ottawa right now as an example, we can see where hospitals working in community with community partners are actually providing a higher and faster level of service. I'm proud of the work that Bill 60 is going to ensure that oversight piece, and I look forward to the members' insights and input during committee. Thank you. Mr. Saga Mall. Mr. Speaker, as per the Toronto Region of Board of Trade report, gridlock of life in GTA and if we do not address it, it is going to cost us over $15 billion by 2031 in lost productivity. Efficient and convenient transit is essential to support economic and community growth in Ontario. Far too long, people in my writing of Mr. Saga Malton had not had the public transit the need and deserve. Well, Mr. Speaker, we would not have been in this position if the government had not ignored the transit needs of individuals and families across our province. With 300,000 new Canadians coming to Ontario, the situation is going to be even worse. Thankfully, we have a government with an ambitious plan for transportation improvement and we must continue to make strategic investment. Mr. Speaker, my question to the government is can you provide the update on the progress linked and crossed on West Extension which will better connect Mrs. Saga to Ontario? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the question from the honourable member, Mr. Speaker. Look, under the leadership of former Mayor McCallion, we saw really, Mrs. Saga saw such explosive growth both in terms of people who wanted to live there, economic prosperity. Unfortunately, the transit and transportation system in the region with the growth that happened there and continues to happen because of the hard work of the members of the Progressive Concert of Caucus from Mrs. Saga. And he's quite right. The previous government certainly let down the people of Mrs. Saga, but I am very happy to report that the Eglinton Crosstown is doing very, very well and actually reached a landmark just last week with half of the tunneling done on the Eglinton West Crosstown Extension run for now. Look, the people of Mrs. Saga have every reason to be very excited by this. I know how hard the members of the Provisional Parliament have worked to expand transit and transportation because it is an important part of continuing the economic growth and prosperity for the people of Mrs. Saga. Supplementary question. Thank you, Speaker. I just want to say thank you to the Minister for your support for Mrs. Saga. The team, Mrs. Saga, absolutely is exciting to learn about the exceptional progress we have achieved. This speaks volume to the strong leadership of Premier and the Minister and Associate Minister of Transportation in delivering a major transit infrastructure in our province. The area around Renfield Drive and Pearson International Airport is the second largest employment hub in the country. Rapid, reliable and seamless transit is essential in supporting our workers as well as reducing gridlock and emissions. Mrs. Speaker, the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension will effectively provide connections to other transit options. Residents of Mrs. Saga Malton expect that this project must remain a priority for this government and must be delivered successfully. Speaker, can the government please explain how this transit extension will benefit not only Mrs. Saga Malton but all Ontario. Thank you, Mr. Minister of Transportation. Thank you, Speaker, and thank you to the member. This is a boring story that is exciting for me, Speaker, because the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension is more than halfway dug and it's ahead of schedule by four weeks, Speaker. You know, Speaker, this is going to create 31,000 jobs and it is interesting now to hear the NDP heckling this project because I remember when this Premier introduced the largest transit expansion plan in Canadian history in 2018, what did the NDP say? They said it's a back of a napkin plan it's never going to happen and they voted down all of those priority subway projects including the Eglinton West extension, the Young North Line, the Shepherd East expansion, as well as all of the GO Network expansion. Speaker, this is a party that believes in saying no to transit and getting in the way when this government gets shovels in the ground. This government believes and we will remain undeterred from the goal of building transit, connecting the grid and getting it done for commuters in Ontario. Thank you, Speaker. This Conservative Government claims its privatisation of healthcare Bill 60 will give Ontarians more access to healthcare they need when they need it. The reality is only those who can afford to pay to play will get the care they need in private clinics and private hospitals. Bill 60 leaves vulnerable patients without deep pockets in dangerous situations where diseases will go undiagnosed and surgeries are being delayed all while they live in chronic pain and depression as their illnesses get worse. Speaker, my question is to the Premier, why does this Premier believe that access to healthcare should depend on one's ability to pay? Thank you. I'm going to caution the member on the use of her language. Intemperate language isn't helpful. Order. Ministry of Health. Thank you. Sorry about that, Speaker. Again, I will say Bill 60 allows us to expand community and diagnostic centres so the member opposite premise to suggest the member for Brampton North will come to order, the member for Waterloo will come to order. Minister of Health has the floor. So the expansion will actually ensure that the wait times that the member opposite is rightly concerned about go down all through the publicly funded healthcare system that allows you to use your health card not your credit card. We want to see those expansions happening in community because we have seen that they are successful they mean that patients can get back to their families. They mean that patients can get back to their communities and their workforce quickly. We want to eliminate the wait list. The member opposite and I can agree. I hope. Speaker, we fixed healthcare with better staffing, better care and better wages. Ask the nurses they will tell you today. My question is back to the premier. Karen Bender is a 73-year-old senior in my community and she needs eye surgery. She has been told she will be waiting 8 months to a year and her vision will get worse if not completely untreatable the longer she waits. Karen knows of other seniors who are upsold in private clinics and she is also aware that the premier and the minister of health admitted that their profitisation of healthcare bill has nothing in it to protect patients like her from extra charges. So my question is back to the premier. What advice would this conservative premier give Karen and others without deep pockets waiting desperate for surgery while they have left our publicly funded surgical operating rooms empty and un-staffed in our province? Minister of Health. Thank you. I would say to Karen and the individuals who are waiting for surgery that you can thank premier Ford and our government for expanding cataract surgeries in Ottawa, in Kitchener Waterloo and Windsor that will immediately ensure that existing capacity that is in community today right now is able to offer more cataract surgeries in the province of Ontario. So I would say to Karen and the other members of the community, particularly regarding patients who are concerned that they will be encouraged or forced to use something that they don't want. The publicly funded system has a process in place today. Bill 160 actually expands that so that those individuals who have concerns who are not able to deal with them in the community are able to go to their homes. The next question. The member for Burlington. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the associate minister of housing. For too many Ontarians, finding the right home is all too challenging. Housing affordability is out of reach for many individuals and families. They're struggling to find attainable homes that meet their needs. In January, the Ontario real cost was just under $800,000. This price point is out of reach for many Ontarians. Speaker, can the associate minister please share what our government is doing to give back the dream of home ownership to my constituents? The associate minister of housing. Thank you very much, Speaker. I want to thank my honourable colleague from Burlington for the question and all the great work that she does in her riding, Mr Speaker. Speaker, our legislation was clear that the Minister Act was intended to build on previous housing bills to further cut red tape and remove unnecessary barriers that were preventing the construction of new units in Ontario. One key approach that we're taking is by encouraging density around major transit areas, which will make it easier for Ontarians to take a bus, train or street car to and from work and visit family and friends. We want Ontarians to have the support they can afford and what that meets their needs and their budgets and the only way that we can do this, Mr Speaker, is by increasing supply in the areas that make sense like major transit corridors, which is exactly what our government is doing. Mr Speaker, I want to thank the member from Burlington for her strong advocacy when it comes to housing on behalf of our constituents. A supplementary question. Thank you, Speaker, and thank you for encouraging to hear that our government is focusing on policies that promote home construction in major transit station areas. We've also heard from first-time home buyers, workers and seniors who are having a difficult time finding a new and affordable place to live that meets their budget. Our government must find solutions to address the need for more housing so that people at all stages of their lives are able to find a home that is just right for them. Please explain what our government is doing to make housing affordable. The Associate Minister of Housing. Thanks again to my colleague for the great question. Speaker, study after study is telling us that we are in a housing deficit but we're ensuring that more supply is created of all types to make sure that home ownership is within reach for more Ontarians. For example, the attainable housing program through the government surplus lands, exploring your own options and land lease communities. Now to make housing more affordable and easier to enter the housing market for Ontarians our government is increasing the term period for homes located in land lease communities from 21 years to 49 years which by extending it over time will make homes more affordable. In fact, Mr. Speaker, I saw firsthand the life lease community in the great members riding of Barry Innisville of Sandy Cove. Speaker, we know more work is needed and will continue to explore more options to make it easier for first time home buyers seniors, young families and future generations to find a place to call home in our property. The next question, the Member for Oshawa. Thank you, Speaker, and my question is to the Premier. Speaker, the government has said that in order for a property to be removed from the green belt it had to meet certain criteria including that it, quote, must be a readily serviceable land. The Chief Administrative Officer for Durham Region wrote this to the Minister about the changes to the green belt plan and about the lands in Durham slated for removal, quote, servicing solutions for these lands have not been developed. No plans have been developed and downstream infrastructure has not been sized to accommodate extensive development within these areas. Also, the availability of electricity and community services to support this growth has not been contemplated in any other plans so why did the government remove the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve and green belt lands in Durham Region despite the fact the lands did not meet the government's own removal criteria? Thank you. Minister. Speaker, it's too easy in Ontario to oppose housing. We know that costs are too high. Speaker, there are parents and grandparents that are worried that their children and their grandchildren are going to never afford a home that meets their needs in their budget. The government knows through the Housing Affordability Task Force other reports by CMHC and many others know that we need to get shovels in the ground faster. We posted 15 sites that have the potential of having as a minimum 50,000 homes to build upon our more homes more choice plans. The Housing Affordability Task Force gave us a fantastic roadmap. We took it to the people in June and we're going to implement it. We're going to implement a Housing Supply Action Plan each and every year of a re-elected government under the leadership of Premier Ford. We need to have more housing. We need to provide that opportunity for that young man. Thank you. Supplementary question. Thank you back to the Premier of the Housing Affordability Task Force on page 10 said that a shortage of land isn't the cause. Land is available both inside the existing built up areas and on developed land outside the green belts. But I digress. The province at its own green belt consultation assured municipalities that no removal or land exchanges are proposed and the government will not consider the removal of any lands from the green belt. That was just a year ago. Durham CAO wrote, servicing solutions for these lands have simply not been developed. So the land in Durham doesn't meet the government's own criteria and the government has promised if these conditions are not met the government will return these properties to the green belt. Since our lands aren't serviced or near readily serviceable land when will the minister return the draft lands and Durham green belt lands safely to the green belt? The minister I'm sorry the member opposite stopped reading the housing affordability task force at page 10 because if she had read page 11 she'd see recommendation 11 support responsible housing growth on undeveloped land including outside existing municipal boundaries. We're going to continue the speaker to work not just with Durham region but with all 444 municipalities many municipalities almost every day there's a municipality that's passing a resolution supporting our housing pledge or building upon the success of the housing affordability task force we're making sure that all municipalities have the tools that they need to get shovels in the ground faster including looking at those 6 high growth regions and ensuring that strong mayor powers set up for those mayors moving forward. Thank you Mr. Speaker thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the minister of francophone affairs many francophone organizations have suffered financially during the pandemic it's essential to have community networks that are working collaboratively with all 444 municipalities and under the leadership of Premier Ford we're going to have community networks that are solid where we continue to have the economic revitalization. Yesterday the government helped the financing program and the exchange between the government of Quebec and the government of Ontario and the francophone Mr. Speaker the minister can tell us how this agreement between the francophone and the francophone will contribute to the economic development of Ontario francophonie. Mr. Speaker I thank my colleague the member from Wednesday for the excellent question our government continues to invest in many initiatives that want to reinforce the dynamism of the francophone community in Ontario and to ensure its vitality in the amount of francophonie we send the 2023-24 of the financing funding program and an exchange between the government of Quebec and the government of Ontario regarding francophonie following this inter-provincial agreement will support joint programs that encourage the development of francophone culture and possibilities of partnerships and the reciprocal cooperation between the two province with this agreement the government will invest up to $100,000 by each common project thank you thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you to the minister for his response the associate minister it's fantastic to hear about those initiatives to promote commercial exchanges by promoting francophone language as a government we must encourage francophone companies to ensure that the state persperes Mr. Speaker can the minister tell us what is our government doing through the associate minister to support francophone businesses and companies in Ontario response associate minister Mr. Speaker in 2022 2023 Ontario invested over $265 million to support collective and joint initiatives to promote francophone in Ontario and in Canada our government recognizes the immense recognition of their participation of francophone businesses and the actions that we've done can be evident of our government as a government the francophone strategy has several initiatives to help francophone businesses in Ontario such as PayFo francophone grants in Ontario agreement between Ontario and other provinces and inter-provincial agreements between Quebec and Ontario that is at the centre of our two governments in order to support francophonie and initiatives Thank you Speaker, I would like as you know the month of March is francophonie month and I want to wish all the francophones and francophilips of this province happy francophonie month my question is to the Premier in terms of the content of the program SmartServe in Ontario many skilled people in French has failed the exam that was proposed since the questions were ambiguous annoying and no not well written this program and its revision requires a renewal of the certificate by the month of June 2023 but more urgently many people are unable to pass this test once again francophones are not benefitting from this what can the government do to fix this problem to ensure fair and equitable access to francophones Question we have spoken offline and glad to answer the question publicly the SmartServe program really is world class keeps people safe and we've been upgrading it over time it's a product that's been provided to government but not run by government so Mr. Speaker we have engaged with them in terms of servicing as you know some of your colleagues have raised as well elderly people who are less able to do the online so we're working with that we're having discussions about the translation as you've raised before thank you for being aware of the deadline and thank you for bringing it forward supplementary thank you for the response but once this course has been reviewed will you provide an exemption time for francophone people and will you remove additional charges that will follow for the ones that have failed more than once that have failed the exam more than once response we are a very practical government and we want to make sure that we have protection for people who come into contact with those who are using the bars and the restaurants and the other services in Ontario Mr. Speaker I just want to take the moment the opportunity to highlight one of the upgrades that we've done through SmartServe with regard to human trafficking something very important to this government to make sure that those in the front lines are educated in those areas as well so it's continuous improvement Mr. Speaker thank you for the question the next question member for Thunder Bay out of Cokin thank you thank you my question is for the Minister of Environment Conservation and Parks because previous sorry because of previous environmental and energy policies jobs were lost in our manufacturing and automotive sectors and the promised environmental benefits were not realized our government believes that Ontario can be a leader in both environmental stewardship and major manufacturing producer in order to cement Ontario's role as a leader in the green technology revolution our government must work with our northern partners in the first nations communities to secure critical minerals required this will ensure that our province is a leader in creating a cleaner greener future for everyone could the Minister please explain how our government is securing Ontario's place as an environmental and manufacturing leader Minister of the Environment Thank you Speaker I appreciate the question from the member and I share his views that action is required now Canada in fact is the only jurisdiction in North America with the critical minerals required to support full EVs and Speaker we're blessed in Ontario with an abundance of natural beauty and of course the natural resources we require to support electrification this premier this government in partnership with municipalities indigenous partners are unlocking that potential in fact working with partners in Webbquay First Nation and Martin Falls First Nation we're undertaking a first of its kind partnership that will open the corridor to prosperity and the future of the Ontario critical minerals we need to decarbonize minerals that will fuel Ontario's growing electric vehicle revolution that's supported the 16 billion dollars this Minister of economic development job creation and trade in working with the premier has attracted to this province it is truly historic Speaker this work will bring good jobs to remote and northern communities for next generation Ontarians for thank you and the supplementary question thank you Speaker and thank you to the minister for the response our government understands that we need to develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in order to generate productive solutions our government knows that working together with our partners across Ontario particularly in the north is critical for securing a greener future investments made by our government along with ensuring that our critical minerals are responsibly and ethically sourced demonstrates our commitment to economic prosperity and respect for our environment Speaker can the minister please provide more information about how these projects will ensure ongoing environmental stewardship while also benefitting Ontarians Minister of the Environment Thank you Mr Speaker I've had the opportunity to visit the north and see how important indigenous led reclamation projects are working hand in hand with industry in the north to offer jobs to offer incredible opportunity for the north and building the critical infrastructure and the links that we need to unlock that potential is a priority of this government with more electric vehicles on the road Ontario will continue to be a leader in Canada in reducing greenhouse gas emissions Speaker we're doing it by working with industry with workers a concept that unfortunately previous governments really failed to capitalize for a young worker in the steel sector like my grandfather who came here from Italy with no money in his pockets who worked in the open hearth blast furnace they now know that green jobs of the future are going to happen at DeFasco and Algoma as we electrify the arc furnace to secure green jobs for generations to come but we're not stopping there we're building the public transit we need you know the you with the lion crossed through it the only major jurisdiction that had it we're building public transit in the subways thank you very much that concludes our question period for this morning government house leader I understand wants to inform the house of the business for next week thank you very much Mr. Speaker rise of course stand where 59 just to again thank all colleagues for their very effective work for the people of province of Ontario over the last week while I have the floor just to wish minister finance a very happy birthday so Monday March the 6th Mr. Speaker in the afternoon we'll have opposition day motion number two and bill 46 less red tape stronger Ontario act on Tuesday March the 7th in the morning we will be debating a bill which will be introduced later today and we will continue that debate on Tuesday afternoon in the evening we will have private members motion number 27 standing in the name of the member for university on Wednesday March the 8th in the morning we will continue debate on a bill which will be introduced later today during the afternoon routine the minister minister Fullerton will give a ministerial statement on international women's day in the afternoon we will continue debate on a bill which again will be introduced later today in the evening we will have private members bill 62 standing in the name of the member for Haldeman Norfolk and on Thursday March the 9th in the morning we will continue to debate on the bill morning and afternoon colleagues we will continue on the bill introduced later today and in the evening we will debate bill 65 standing in the name of the member for Whitby president Mr. Speaker . Thank you so much Mr. Speaker I would like to welcome my good friend community advocate who has been giving free mathematics online classes to students throughout the pandemic also his friend Family who is Relative to the page 50th birthday to my constituent assistant Andrea back in Peterborough. No further business this morning this house stands in recess until 1 p.m.