 recognize the leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. Thank you so much, Speaker. Speaker, my first question is to the Premier. Yesterday, as the Premier and I were meeting in his office, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. And the Federal Minister of Health said it was safe to assume that 30 to 70 percent of Canadians or of Canada's population could become infected. The Premier has stated, quote, we have a plan for every scenario. At this point, information about these contingencies is vital for families. So my question is, when will the government start laying out the details of these plans? Minister of Long-Term Care. Thank you, Speaker, and thank you to the opposition for the question. I can tell you that our government is absolutely committed to making sure that Ontarians have the information that they need and our frontline workers. We are putting together a command table to make sure that everyone is informed. And this situation is evolving. It will change day to day. Our most important thing we can do right now is containment. And that's what our plan is about. We have a command table. We have response teams. We are making sure we're working with Public Health Ontario and Peahack. And up to $100 million in a response fund was announced by the Premier just yesterday to include our readiness and response to COVID-19. Ontario's command table has been refining and finalising plans for enhanced measures. And I can tell you, as a Minister of Long-Term Care, we are on this. We are making sure our active screening is occurring in all our homes. And the enhanced access to screening, the dedicated assessment centres, the physician billing codes, the launching of a self-assessment tool. This situation is evolving, and this government has a plan, and then we're acting on it. Thank you. A supplementary question. Well, Speaker, health experts have urged the government to share information about planning so people can be prepared and so that the resources needed to confront this pandemic are being property-allocated. Speaker, people are hungry. They're hungry for information. Parents are wondering what will happen at schools, many of which are already in a poor state of repair. Shelters need to know support will be there to protect especially vulnerable populations. Telehealth Ontario has waits as long as 11 to 15 hours for people seeking information. Will the Premier commit to laying out the government's contingency plans to address these concerns as soon as possible? Mr. Long-Term Care. Thank you, Speaker, and thank you again for this important question. I can tell you that our government is actively creating screening centres at hospitals across Ontario that will be separate from the hospitals themselves. This will be in special locations across Ontario, and we'll want to make sure that the telehealth issue is resolved. Our government is committing additional resources to make sure that telehealth is responsive and staffed properly and responsive in a timely way. So we're working very closely with telehealth to ensure that they have the adequate supports. Containment is of the utmost importance right now, and that will require advanced screening, and that people have the proper communication tools at hand. Communication, communication, communication. Our government understands that and is acting on it. We are committed to allocating additional resources to telehealth as needed, and we are making sure that we will review virtual care options as well. Virtual care uptake through the command table is being assessed, and our command table, our regional tables, provincial table, are working hard as we speak. Thank you. Final supplementary. Well, Speaker, there's definitely no doubt that families are especially concerned about the ability of Ontario's health system to cope with a dramatic increase in people seeking medical care. We know that hospitals are already routinely stretched well beyond their capacity, and despite promises of ending hallway medicine, the government has continued to freeze funding, and that leaves hospitals treating patients in hallways and boardrooms to this very day. So will the government be announcing their plans to support hospitals as COVID-19 spreads? And if so, will that include the announcement of new additional funding resources for hospitals? Thank you, Speaker. And again, thank you for the question. Our government is working closely with our counterparts and collaborating with different levels of government, including our public health agencies and the federal government. The federal government has announced $1 billion to help provinces to address this issue. So we'll be looking forward to how that will best be used for our hospitals. Our first wave of assessment centres is established at Brampton Civic, the Ottawa Hospital, North York General, Mackenzie Health, Scarborough Health Network and Trillium Health Partners. And these centres will help with the testing that is so badly needed right now, and our government is doing everything possible to make sure that people are adequately screened, and active screening is taking place. We are making sure that Ontarians have access to credible up-to-date information, and the public education campaign is up and running. For resources, you can go to Ontario.ca-coronavirus, updated twice daily at 10.30 and 5.30, seven days a week. Our website provides relevant information in 30 different languages, communication, communication, communication of our plan ongoing. Swift action is- Thank you very much. This question, once again, leading the opposition. Thank you, Speaker. My next question is also for the Premier. The Ford government's decision to make sick notes mandatory and strip workers of paid sick days was concerning to both health experts and working people when it was passed two years ago. Now in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, it poses even more serious threats to public health. This morning, doctors here at Queen's Park, doctors, nurses and other health providers spoke out in a press conference urging the government to reverse their changes to these policies. Will the government do that? Thank you, Speaker, and thank you for the question. I want to reiterate our government's commitment to the safety and well-being of all Ontarians and our frontline workers. And that's why we are looking at asking the federal government to increase the health transfers to 5%. This is really important that we understand how different levels of government can contribute to this. We're all in this together. This is not a time for vitriol. This is a time for active and responsive caring and compassion for each one of us. We all have responsibility for our own health and the health of others. And we're recommending that people who feel ill stay at home and that we encourage employers to support that advice. This is a time for unity. This is a time for working together. This is a time for caring and not vitriol. Employers have the option to require reasonable proof of the circumstances that entitle the employee to leave. Our government will continue to work with our federal counterparts to coordinate our response to COVID-19. And that includes addressing the needs of our frontline workers. Well, Speaker, what we're asking this government to do is to roll back their decision on mandatory sick notes or on sick notes being required in this province writ large. Every employer should not be asking any worker for a sick note. And we should make sure that those workers have paid sick days to be able to rely on so that their financial ability is maintained. And you know, it's not just us. Of course, doctors, nurses and public health specialists are all speaking out for a simple reason, Speaker. There is no point, no point whatsoever in telling workers to take time away from work if their work won't allow that to happen. They're calling for paid sick days, emergency leave, and an end to mandatory sick notes. We have already made it clear that we will work with this government to ensure legislation rolling back these policies passes quickly in this House. Why is the government refusing to adopt these common sense measures that are coming from all kinds of different sources in terms of recommendations? Thank you. Minister of Labor, training and skills development. Well, thank you very much, and thank you to the Leader of the Opposition for that question. I can assure her that we are monitoring the situation minute by minute here in the province and across the country. Mr. Speaker, I encourage employers to be reasonable, to be responsible, and the ones I've spoken to have acted that way. But, Mr. Speaker, I also want to highlight what the Premier just said this morning. He is in Ottawa meeting with the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, all the Premiers and Territorial leaders. Mr. Speaker, he first off, thanked the Prime Minister for the $1 billion in funding to the provinces and territories. He also asked the Prime Minister and the federal government to increase transfers to Ontario by just over 5% per year, and I'll have more to say in the next answer. Thank you. Thank you. The final supplement. Mr. Speaker, with all due respect, monitoring and encouragement is not leadership on a file like this. We need leadership and we need the government to act. People who can't afford to take a sick day from work are not going to take a sick day. People who could lose their job if they take a sick day will go to work. They will not take a day off. No one should have to choose between their job and their health. No one. And that choice puts all of our health at risk. The foreign government knows that their current laws put the public at risk, put public health at risk. Now is the time to change those laws in the midst of the situation that we are facing. Why is this government refusing to make the changes that are being recommended by experts? The changes need to happen. It's not about encouragement. It's not about simply monitoring. Make the changes. Mr. Labour, again, your reply. Well, thank you again, Mr. Speaker. As the member opposite knows, our government added three new types of leave. Sick leave, family responsibility leave, and bereavement leave. But, Mr. Speaker, we need everyone working together on this issue. This is a global challenge for every single person across the globe. I want to also pay tribute to our frontline healthcare workers who are working every single day for the health and well-being of the people of this province. And, Mr. Speaker, I also want to commend the Deputy Premier of Ontario, the Health Minister, Christine Elliott, who is doing an outstanding job communicating this issue with all the people of the province. And as well, thank the Chief Medical Officer of Health for the province of Ontario, who is working very, very closely right across the government with all ministers. And as I said, Mr. Speaker, we're monitoring this situation minute by minute. Thank you. Next question, the member for Brampton East. Thank you, Speaker. Like everyone, families in my community at Brampton are worried about the COVID-19 pandemic. But Brampton has been struggling with a health care challenge for years. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, Brampton City Council declared a health care emergency because our hospital routinely operates beyond capacity. Yesterday, the Premier claimed that he had a plan for every scenario regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the chronic underfunding of Brampton Civic, the thousands of people treated in our hospital's hallways and the health care crisis declared by the City of Brampton. What is this government's plan to meet Brampton's health care needs? My question is to the Premier. Mr. Long-Term Care, you're required. Thank you, Speaker. And thank you for that question. Health – Hallway health care is a complex issue. And hospitals across Ontario have been feeling the pressures for many years. Under the previous government, very little was done to address that for 15 long years. So, due to the previous government's mismanagement, we are dealing with this reality now. Our government's campaign promise was to relieve hallway health care. And we've been diligently working on that ever since. We know that there's many pieces to this. And our efforts have included investing millions and billions of dollars into our health care system, 384 million in our hospital sector to maintain critical hospital capacity, increase access to highly specialized and innovative treatments, and support the volume. We have an ageing population, a growing population, and the neglect of 15 years of the previous government takes time to settle. Our estimates suggest that these investments will help. It will take time. I appreciate your concerns. Thank you. Just a supplementary question. Back to the Premier. The people of Brampton see the incredible work our public health teams are doing to protect our community. But they also know that our local health system is facing tremendous strains already. Hallway medicine has been a fact of life in Brampton under conservative and liberal governments. Will the government commit the resources Brampton needs to meet the COVID-19 pandemic and permanently stop the hallway medicine emergency in our city? Minister. Thank you, Speaker. Once again, in the case of Brampton, we've announced the first wave of assessment centres will be established at the Brampton Civic. That is one of the hospitals that will be included. The active screening processes, the treatment centres, the testing capacity is being ramped up. It will be ramped up across Ontario. And we're working with Public Health Ontario. We recognise that COVID-19 is novel. We are learning every day about the issues associated with it and understanding the science and the evidence behind how we respond to it. We have amazing people working non-stop at Public Health Ontario and our federal counterpart as well, making sure that our frontline providers as well as long-term care homes are equipped and ready to deal with it. We've launched a province-wide public education campaign. And we want to make sure that everyone understands we're all in this together. We have to work together to solve this issue. It will take all our resources and all of our compassion. Thank you. Thank you. The next question, the member for Burlington. Thank you so much, Speaker. Speaker, my question is for the Solicitor General. The mental health and well-being of police and other first responders in Ontario is incredibly important to all Ontarians. I want to thank all the frontline police officers that keep us safe every day. I was pleased last year that the Solicitor General commissioned an external independent review panel to review and report back on the workplace culture of the OPP. And I'm glad that this week, the Solicitor General shared the report, its recommendations, and an update of our government's progress in implementing those recommendations, Speaker. Can the Solicitor General share with this House the circumstances that led to her commissioning this report? The Solicitor General. Thank you. And thank you to the member from Burlington. You know, I know that there are many colleagues on this side of the House and on the other side that have had a long and focused interest on well-being particularly related to mental health. And of course, now in my current role, as it relates to our frontline officers, the tragic deaths that have occurred over a number of years in OPP ranks led us as a government last April to strike a commission. And this independent panel has done some excellent work. This will not be easy. Work for us to do, but it is critically important to ensure that our frontline officers, when they need help, when they reach out, the assistance is there. And I am so pleased that we are working in cooperation with OPP Commissioner Creek and his management team. Equally important, Rob Jameson as the President of the Ontario Provincial Police Association. Thank you. A supplementary question. Thank you so much, Speaker. Thank you to the Solicitor General for that response and for all your hard work. I'm proud that our government, under the leadership of the Solicitor General and Premier Ford, has been taking action on this critically important issue. Speaker, the review panel's report makes it clear that action is required to improve the workplace culture at the OPP. Our dedicated and selfless frontline heroes deserve nothing less than our absolute commitment, leadership, and support. I'm confident that our Solicitor General, our Premier, and our entire government is committed to doing the necessary work to get this right. Can the Solicitor General share how we are taking action in response to the recommendations of the independent review panel? Thank you, Speaker. Solicitor General, your reply. Thank you. And thank you for raising this. It gives me an opportunity to talk about the very positive things that we have already began to do. You know, this report truly is a turning point in the transition to a healthier, more positive, and supportive workplace. The reviewers made 66 recommendations, Speaker. And of that, 42 are already complete. In progress are well underway. So it speaks to the commitment that Commissioner Karik is the head of the OPP, Rob Jameson as the head of the OPP Association, and our government has to ensure that people have the supports where and when they need it. And in the coming weeks and months, you will find that there are new and exciting announcements that will be made that add to what the independent review panel has recommended. Thank you. Thank you. The next question, a member for Davenport. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This question is for the Premier. Speaker, as Ontarians are watching the developments around the COVID-19 pandemic unfold, there is understandably growing concern among parents and guardians about protections for our kids in our school system. While so far, the virus has had very limited impact on children younger than 10, the nature of the children's interactions could increase the risk of transmission in schools. Can the Premier tell the House what steps the government is taking to support school boards and families as they deal with the threat of COVID-19? Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Blanck, I'm here. Thank you, Speaker. And thank you again for the question. The health and well-being of Ontarians, including students and school staff, is Ontarians Ontario's top priority. Students, parents, school communities should rest assured that we are working together in close cooperation with partners in both the education and healthcare sectors to ensure the continued safety of students and staff. In the course of case and contact management, public health units can contact employers, schools, restaurants and places of business. And this is a completely normal part of Ontario's response to COVID-19. And it means our system is working. Our government will continue to keep school boards up to date on the current situation and work to contain COVID-19. We all have a role to play in this. We all have respect and responsibility for our own health and the health of others. Thank you. The supplementary question. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for that response. I have to say, though, I was hoping we would get a little bit more detail here in the House about what's happening now. What we're hearing is that there are going to be regular calls starting after March break. That is concerning, I think, for a lot of us. We want to know that this is happening now, that there's a plan in place, and that there's complete transparency. School boards are already taking, as we know, extra precautions to guard against outbreaks. Custodians are logging extra hours. Extra cleaning and sanitizing supplies are being ordered. But at a time when we've seen school boards squeezed and custodial staff laid off, the government needs to be prepared to provide resources as necessary. During the H1N1 outbreak, the province provided additional funds to offset these extra costs for boards. Is this government prepared to do the same for COVID-19? Thank you, Speaker. And thank you to the member opposite for the question. I think we all have a shared interest in ensuring the safety of our students and our staff and our schools, Speaker. And that's why on the first case, the presumptive positive case of COVID-19, I asked with the support of the Minister of Health and Deputy Premier to get the Chief Medical Health Officer to speak to every director of education on the Sunday the day after of that first case. Information is flowing in real time. We have constant dialogue with directors and our stakeholders within the system to ensure staff and students remain safe. Of course, Speaker, we have increased the heightened vigilance in schools to ensure the safety of our personnel. The government, federal government as well, has provided guidelines surrounding best practices to keep safe. We are obviously going to continue to have those discussions in real time with the directors of education in consultation with the Chief Medical Health Officer to ensure that every student, every staff member on tarot remain safe. The next question, the member for Ottawa South. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the acting Premier. Speaker, COVID-19 is a challenge we're all facing together. And we do, I think on all sides, appreciate the government's invitation to yesterday's briefing on the government's efforts and some updates. My question relates to the $100 million contingency fund that the Premier announced yesterday. So Speaker, through my questions are, and they're two, is the $100 million contingency fund solely for anticipated health care costs? And secondly, is the money allocated in this fiscal year or is it the anticipated contingency in the upcoming budget? Thank you, Speaker. Government House Leader to reply. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Appreciate the question from the Honorable Member and just let me thank both himself, the Leader of the Green Party and Leader of the Opposition for making themselves available for a briefing with the Premier, Minister of Finance and the Minister of Health yesterday. The initial funding that was announced by the Minister of Finance is directed for to preserve and protect health care. It will be made available, obviously, immediately. We are continuing to monitor the situation. It is an initial contribution. We're obviously monitoring the situation very, very closely. And if more steps need to be taken, the government stands ready to make those additional resources available. Thank you. A supplementary question. Thank you, Speaker. And I thank the Minister for his answer or the House Leader for his answer. And I appreciate the clarity and Ontario's will need further clarity as to the government's contingencies going forward for both health care costs and the economic impacts that are going to be felt in this province. And I would encourage the government to be open-minded about those potential impacts. So we all know the public health advice that we're getting that we can all participate in, which is wash your hands, don't touch your face, right? If you're sick, stay home, practice social distancing, call if you're concerned. But we know next week is March break and millions of kids are going to be off and they're going to be there with their families. And I know the Premier said this morning he wants families to have a good time. And we all agree. Many of those students and their families have travel plans. And we all know that travel is going to create some risk. So parents are looking for direction and advice. So through you, Speaker, does the government have any advice for parents about this March break and travel? Thank you, Speaker. Minister of Education. Thank you, Speaker. And thank you to the member opposite for the question. Indeed, many parents and students may be traveling on the eve of March break. And Speaker, as I noted in the prior question, we are encouraging all citizens, including, of course, staff and citizens to strictly adhere to the guidelines set by both the province and the federal government with respect to travel informed by the Chief Medical Health Officer of Ontario and Canada with respect to travel and isolation protocols to ensure students and staff returning from March break remain safe. That is the paramount priority, I think of all members of this legislature united to ensure citizens of this province travel safely and adhere to those precautions as mentioned by the Chief Medical Health Officer. Yesterday, I convened a meeting of all ministers of education across the country on my request to help ensure that there's a dialogue, a national dialogue about how we can ensure that we take action to combat this virus and ensure the safety of all citizens in Canada. Response. Thank you. Thank you. The next question, the member from Milton. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Labor, Training and Skills Development. Landing a good job, Mr. Speaker, is not just about a paycheck. It also gives people purpose and dignity. Everyone is better off when people are working. For too many people across the province, it is hard to put a roof over their head. At a time when Ontario has a talented, skilled and dedicated workforce with so much to offer. Can the Minister of Labor, Training and Skills Development please tell this House how we're helping laid-off manufacturer workers find work? The question is for the Minister of Labor, Training and Skills Development. Well, thank you very much, and I want to thank the member from Milton for that excellent and important question. Mr. Speaker, we are helping manufacturing workers retrain and get jobs faster. I firmly believe that with the right kind of training and support, people and businesses can have great opportunities in our ever-changing economy. On Tuesday, I was pleased to meet Max Houd. He was an electrician in India and came to Ontario with $500 in his pocket. After 16 years, he was laid off from his job at a textile company. Through our second career program, he retrained, got a diploma and now has an excellent job. In his own words, Max Houd says that his dream came true right here in Canada. Mr. Speaker, we need more stories like Max Houd's and we're going to continue to work with all of our workers right across the province so they have the best opportunities possible. Thank you. Thank you, Minister, for that answer. I'm pleased to hear that our government is committed to supporting our manufacturing workers and creating opportunities for them. Mr. Speaker, it's important to remember that jobs are about people. Every time there is a layoff, workers, their families and their communities are impacted. Can the Minister please share with this House how he is making it easier for laid-off workers to get back to work sooner? Well, thank you again for that question. Mr. Speaker, last year the second career program helped train more than 3,800 people. This program offers assistance not only with training but also for related costs like books and transportation. But I agree that we need to make it work sooner and better for Ontario's workers. Recently, with the member for Cambridge and the member for Kitchener South Hesbler, I announced that we ended the delay for laid-off manufacturing workers to get retrained in Ontario. We are adapting the program to make it work better for the people of this province. Mr. Speaker, we will always stand with the working men and women of this province because when everyone can contribute to the economy, our communities and our province can prosper. Thank you. The next question to the member for Oshawa. Thank you very much, Speaker. My question is to the acting Premier. Recently, the Premier was heartbroken that there won't be PC blue plates on every Ontario vehicle. But Speaker, this issue isn't heartbreaking. It's absurd and mind-boggling. It's so mind-boggling that even one of this government's former top officials, Jenny Byrne, weighed in publicly and said, quote, there is no defending it. This issue was managed absolutely terribly. I can't imagine how it could have been managed worse, end quote. Ms. Byrne went on to say, quote, the government seemingly defended this license plate issue for three days. This was the hill they were going to die on. And then it became evident four days, five days in that it wasn't going away and there actually was a problem with the license plates, end quote. Speaker, she's not wrong. And inquiring minds want to know what will be tomorrow's hill to die on for this Premier? Will it be billboards or could it be something like autism services, clean drinking water, affordable housing, or public health? Government House Leader. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Obviously for us, what we're doing right now is we're focused on on the economy, we're focused on COVID-19. That's the priority of this government and I can appreciate the role that the opposition has in both supporting the government in times of a health emergency and also extracting accountability. Mr. Speaker, but I'm sure the member opposite can appreciate that we will continue to focus on what matters most of the people of Ontario and that's the health and safety of all Ontarians and communities across the province. Thank you very much. A supplementary question. Thank you, Speaker. This strange winding road we've all been on with the Premier's handpicked party plates has captivated the attention of folks across the province. It has been a weird circus that never should have happened. This Premier's heartbreak, however, doesn't seem like a good enough reason to bury the costs and details of these party blue license plates. I have asked repeatedly and the government has dodged repeatedly but Ontario still deserves the answer. How can this government justify using a non-disclosure agreement to hide their self-serving misuse of public money? Minister of Government Consumer Services. Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And I want to assure everyone in this house and everyone watching today that we are working with our stakeholders and we're working with the vendor in terms of delivering a product that addresses the concerns that we have taken very seriously and again, I appreciate that people felt that they could speak to us share the concerns and Ontarians should feel confident that they have a government that is actually responding and acting on those concerns and I can tell you, Speaker, that our focus is absolutely on delivering an enhanced plate that meets the highest standards. Thank you very much. Thank you. The next question, the member for Guelph. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the acting Premier. I want to first thank the Premier for hosting an all-party meeting for a briefing on COVID-19 yesterday and I want to thank the leader of the opposition for pushing to have the meeting. I think it's really important at this moment in time that we work across party lines and I also think it's important that all Ontarians work together to care for each other. So as we all work hard to contain COVID-19, health experts are saying that if you're showing symptoms, self quarantine, the bottom line is if you're sick, stay home. But Speaker, many Ontarians cannot afford to stay home. We've been seeing articles in the newspapers about people struggling. Are they going to pay the rent or you know, stay home? So Speaker, I'm going to ask the acting Premier will the government commit to a paid sick and emergency leave program so people can self quarantine without fear of not being able to pay their rent or mortgage or put food on the table. Thank you. Government House Leader. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As again, thank the honourable member for for attending a briefing yesterday as the the member knows the initial initial response was a hundred million dollars which was which goes to protecting the health and safety of those who are dealing with it on the front line. We're obviously working very closely with our federal partners to ensure that Ontarians and Canadians more broadly are protected in this. I know the federal government has announced a number of measures through employment insurance to make it easier and quicker for Ontarians who are impacted by COVID-19 to access support. And as the Minister of Finance said yesterday, we are monitoring the situation, the economic situation very, very closely not only across Ontario but with our partners across the country to ensure that we can respond to that once we have the health care situation under control across Ontario. But obviously we are going to continue to work with the federal government and with all members to ensure that Ontarians are safe and secure in this time. Thank you. The supplementary question. Thank you, Speaker. I appreciate the House Leader's response, Speaker. But self-quarantine, staying home from work when you're sick is directly related to public health. Public health officials are saying if you're sick, stay home. But not all workers can afford to stay home. As a matter of fact, EI supports don't always benefit people who are in the hospitality industry, the service industry and the gig economy. I was just reading an article in the National Post this morning about workers saying they are going to go to work even if they're sick because they can't afford not to. And so while I would like to see a permanent reversal of the government's move to cancel page sick days and sick notes, I'm wondering if the Minister would at least agree to a temporary program to support workers stay home while we're trying to contain COVID-19. Again, the Government House Leader. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. As I said in my initial response, the Premier, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Health are in Ottawa today meeting with Prime Minister the Deputy Prime Minister and with premiers across Canada. Many of the premiers the member will know, some of the same concerns. We understand that across the economy there are impacts which will be felt in that different areas of the economy are impacted in a different way. But as we said the initial investment of $100 million is forced and foremost to ensure the safety and security of those people who are dealing with this on the front line. The federal government has made some initial moves to assist through employment insurance and we will continue to monitor the situation so that Ontarians can be assured that we not only will we get through this but we'll get through this together. But I think it also highlights the need to ensure that the province is always on the sound fiscal footing and I appreciate the fact that we've been able to do that in 18 short months. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Thank you. The next question the member for Willowdale. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, I know how devastating bullying can be on a child. Today in the legislature I have a very special visitor who has been dealing with some bullies at his school. He's a young, bright, wonderful person. He and all other victims of bullying do not deserve such treatment. We know that the longer a child is bullied the more likely they are to develop physical, emotional and psychological scars that can last a lifetime. That should never happen. We need to learn from these incidents and take action to protect our children. Can the Minister of Education please tell us how the government is combating the bullying issues that we have in Ontario schools and what we can do to stop this problem in the province of Ontario? Government House will be required. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I appreciate the question from the member for Willowdale. And let me just reach out to the guest that he's brought with him today just to tell him that I don't know on this side but all members of this House stand with him constantly. This is something that we all agree on that should not be taking place in the province of Ontario. I know that the Minister of Education has been working very closely across party lines to address this very real problem in schools across the province of Ontario. Listen, I have two young daughters and often I hear some of the stories that they bring back and they recount. And I wish I could say that they weren't on occasion themselves the victims of bullying. And as a parent it breaks your heart but as a parliamentarian it makes me want to redouble my efforts to work across the floor and with my colleagues to make sure that we educate our students, educate and work with our school partners to make sure that we can put an end to this. And again to the honorable young man who joins us in the galleries thank you so much for being here and having the courage to share your story with us. The supplementary question Restart the clock The supplementary question Thank you very much speaker and I'm glad to hear the government house leader and this government indeed does take the issue of bullying very seriously and I'd like to thank through you Mr Speaker the government house leader for recognizing that the topic of bullying is a non-partisan issue and that I encourage all members of this house to work together to provide constructive ideas on how we can eradicate this problem for good in our schools here in the province. No kid should ever have to go through bullying and this government is committed to making sure that we get rid of it our schools we get rid of it in our societies and I look forward to those constructive discussions. Speaker I was wondering if the government house leader can provide some other examples of what we're working on in government to prevent bullying and how we can help each other to get rid of this problem once and for all. Thank you. Again let me just thank the member for Willidale for the for the question our government is taking action to combat bullying but the member is correct. We need to learn more about the systemic challenges surrounding bullying so we can drill down and focus our attention accordingly to combat it. In November the minister announced the assignment of the member for Scarborough Center who is a former teacher to advise on education matters with a focus on bullying prevention and I know that we are all we all value that advice. The government would also be conduct a province wide online survey survey to better understand students experiences with bullying and we will conduct a review of school reporting practices on bullying and a review of the definition of bullying and ministry policies to ensure it reflects the realities of today. We are working to change the culture to one where everyone sees inherent dignity and the value of a person irrespective of their faith heritage orientation race or response. And just finally again Mr. Speaker just on a day that we're all thinking of a lot of different things to again congratulate and thank the the young man who joins us today for his courage and bring this forward. The next question the member for Mr. Gowalk James Bates. More room Mr. Speaker. Thank you Speaker. Two months ago almost day to by day three people died on the winter road collision on highway 11 and 17 near the junction of with highway one or two in Thunder Bay. Every single time that a fatal accident like this one there's a family that is torn apart. There are people in the entire region that comes to a halt. Speaker when question about the state of northern Ontario roads maintenance the minister indicated that the highway 11 and 17 are cleared of snow in an average seven hours. Well it came as a shock to someone who routinely routinely drives those highways. That is less than what it takes to clear for a 401 Speaker. Candy acting Premier explain the seven hours when northern Ontario and sea roads path with snow and ice every single day. The associate minister of transportation ETA. Thank you very much and I want to thank the member for the question. Certainly safety is the number one priority for the ministry of transportation as well as all the members in the house. Mr. Speaker the ministry of transportation has been working very diligently over a number of years to improve winter maintenance snow removal across northern communities such as working with contractors greater oversight with contractors as well as working with contractors so that they have the equipment necessary so that they can remove snow as quickly as possible. I will continue to work with members opposite to ensure that all drivers on our highways are safe and that we ensure our roads continue to be rated amongst the safest in North America. Thank you. The supplementary question. Well thank you for explaining the seven hours. Speaker people may say that our highways have always been treacherous and risky but since the liberal government privatized the winter maintenance system and in forth performance based area maintenance contract in 2009 things have gone from risky to deadly and to be fair the member of Nipissing made himself a name by telling the then minister of transportation and now the leader of the Ontario Liberals that driving conditions in the North are disgraceful yet neither the member from Nipissing nor any of the fellow Northern ministers want to pull back from the liberal area maintenance contract mess acting Premier can you tell Northern Ontarians if your government is satisfied with the liberal infamous area maintenance contract yes or no. Again I think the member for the question and again I want to reiterate that safety is the number one priority for the Ministry of Transportation certainly is this number one priority for our cabinet members and our members of caucus that represent Northern communities what I want to remind the member opposite is that his very own party voted against in estimates an additional 40 million dollars to keep our Northern roads safe maybe you should explain that to your constituents the next question order the next question the member for Perth Wellington. Thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the Associate Minister of Energy as a parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs I've had the privilege to meet with farmers across the province they tell me that energy is one of the largest inputs on farms they tell me that access to a natural gas will help boost the competitiveness of rural Ontario communities businesses and farms and they're right could the Associate Minister please explain how the natural gas expansion support program is supporting farmers and rural communities across Ontario Thank you very much Mr. Speaker and I thank the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs for a great question and his work on behalf of our provinces agricultural community alongside our great Minister of Government Consumer Services I had the pleasure of launching phase two of the natural gas expansion support program at Snowblown Farms near Lucknow which was connected to natural gas through phase one of the program Sam Snowblown President of Snowblown Farms said and I quote we have competitors that are serviced with natural gas it put us at a real disadvantage during the real strike where there was no propane available they could keep their elevators and facilities running because they had natural gas and we didn't so we're going to be right back up on the level playing field Mr. Speaker that's huge news for people like the Snowblowns Mr. Speaker our government knows that access to natural gas drives down costs increases competitiveness and provides certainty for farmers and creates jobs across province and we're excited about phase two here here Thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you to the associate minister for his response rural Ontario could simply not win on a Del Duca liberals about four years ago they tried to effectively ban natural gas no we haven't forgotten I've long spoken up for better access to natural gas in Perth Wellington in places like Perth East and the township of Mapleton to name just a few and I'll continue speaking up for those without access to natural gas it's refreshing that our government has a plan to support rural remote and indigenous communities throughout through the natural gas expansion support program Could the associate minister please tell us what communities are seeing about this government's program Thank you Speaker and again a great question from the honourable member from Perth Wellington after years of neglect from the Del Duca liberals municipalities across rural and churro are excited about our government's plan to build and churro together communities connected through phase one of the program are incredibly excited about the potential that these projects have for residents and businesses Chief Kelly LaRocca of the Mississaugas of Skugog Island said the project in her community will and I quote provide the community with a more affordable and environmentally friendly way to heat homes and businesses Darren Kanoff Mayor of Chatham Kent said that the project in his community is and I quote vital because it allows for the immediate development and expansion of businesses in the community we continue to hear from numerous municipalities that are keen to submit new projects through phase two and we're encouraging those communities to partner with a natural gas utility to do so before June 4th of this year thank you Mr. Speaker and we look forward to continuing the program The next question the member for Windsor to come see Speaker my question is to the acting Premier the government host leader good morning sir Speaker flooding on our lakes and rivers has turned many dreams and the nightmares in southwestern Ontario State of Emergency has been declared along Erie Shure Drive and Chatham Kent homeowners there have had to evacuate they don't know if they'll ever be able to return to their homes the banks and cliffs are eroding and falling into Lake Erie at Wheatley Provincial Park a dyke has breached in the Hillman Marsh and Leamington for safety reasons the OPP have closed the street to traffic and Bell River Windsor has had to spend five million dollars at our municipal marina to build floating docks because of the high water level speaker this government slashed funding for flood response in their previous budget will they reverse those cuts in the new budget expected later this month Governor Oslinger Thank you very much Mr. Speaker I appreciate the question from from the Honourable General as as the member will know the Minister of Natural Resources convened a panel to investigate and to provide advice to the to the government with respect to a new flood strategy for the province of Ontario the member is quite correct for a number of years for 15 long years this was something that was virtually ignored by the previous government we're trying to catch up in many instances so the panel which was convened by Mr. Doug McNeill has come back with a number of recommendations for the government look we know that we can't prevent flooding but we can certainly put in place the policies that helped to reduce it in many instances and that means working with our federal and municipal partners it means working on ensuring that developments don't occur near flood zones we're going to continue to work on that we're going to continue to work through the recommendations of the panel response ensure that all communities are safe and secure and that we catch up to the work that hadn't been done for 15 years it's correct the government recently released their flood strategy but their strategy seems to be well we've studied it we know flooding is a problem but we're not going to do anything about it in fact their flood strategy doesn't come with one single nickel of funding not a nickel despite being told by their expert advisor more funding is badly needed the climate crisis in Ontario is in full swing this government seems to be content pretending the problem will fix itself well it won't and our constituents deserve better Speaker will the government agree to a reverse course and restore the funding they cut from flood mitigation programs in southwestern Ontario well uh Mr Speaker we uh we just heard that for 15 long years not much was done on this file so certainly we're not going to reverse course and go back to a time when the the the the Del Ducal Liberals failed the province of Ontario often with the support of the NDP Mr Speaker we're going to move forward we are working very closely with our municipal with our municipal friends the minister has brought forward a strategy through the work of Mr McNeill we've made significant investments across the province already we're going to continue to make more investments by working with our municipal and federal partners to get the job done I know the minister of infrastructure has a number of projects that that we are awaiting approval from the federal government on obviously we're gonna focus on working with our partners to ensure that all communities are are safe and that that individuals can have the confidence that the government of Ontario is moving forward with the strategy that will work after 15 years of neglect thank you the next question the member for Markham Thorne Hill thank you Mr Speaker my question is for the my question is for the minister of seniors and accessibility speaker last year the honorable David only completed the history of the AODO that means accessibility for Ontario and with disability act Mr only's report not only cited the soul crushing barriers face every day by ontarian with disability but he also noted that the previous government falls short in taking action Mr Speaker can the minister tell us what he's doing to get accessibility back on track after 15 years of that del duca liberal allowing us to fall behind questions to the minister for seniors and accessibility good morning Mr Speaker thank you to the member for this excellent question Mr Speaker our government is taking action now in January I announced advancing accessibility in Ontario our government's plan to get accessibility accessibility back in on track this plan includes breaking down barriers and build environment the government leading by example in this role as a policy makers service provider and employer increasing participation in the economy for people with disabilities and improving understanding and awareness about accessibility unlike the del duca liberal response we will not with no time supplementary question thank you minister for that answer and thank you for your all the great work because the accessibility is a very important piece of our legislature and also is a is a retrofitting the current building and you and me we talk about those issues it's a great issue our government to taking action to advance accessibility in Ontario Mr Speaker can the minister give us some more specific example of how this plan will help to remove barriers of ontarian with the disabilities thank you thank you Mr Speaker again our government is taking quick action with the practical measures to break down barriers one step we have taken which I'm very proud of is our new partnership with the Ontario Building Officials Association or OVOA with our support the OVOA is developing a new training course in accessibility and universal design so that municipal building officials across Ontario can or become accessibility champions Mr Speaker I will have more to announce soon because unlike the dead local liberals response we are taking action now thank you the next question the member for Sudbury thank you Speaker my question is to the acting Premier Speaker people in the riding of Sudbury and of Nicobelton across Northern Ontario have waited over 14 years for the completion of the four-laning of Highway 69 and they're frustrated expanding this highway is vital for safe and reliable access to Ontario's North and they're only 68 kilometres left Speaker but we still don't know when the project will be completed the Sudbury Chamber of Commerce's budget recommendation continues to urge the government to expedite the completion of the four-laning of Highway 69 the economic prosperity of our region depends on there being no further delays why does the government continue to leave Northerners in the dark on when four-laning Highway 69 will finally be completed the Associate Minister of Transportation GTA thank you very much to the member for the question and in this house I just want to again thank our very strong advocates our cabinet members and caucus members that advocate for Northern Ontarians every single day in this house Mr. Speaker we've already invested 850 million to complete 70 kilometres of this project we've also committed an additional 200 million in terms of initiating the construction Mr. Speaker our government has been very clear that we believe in investing money in critical infrastructure whether it's highway infrastructure or public transit we are making those those key investments we're spending 2.3 billion dollars alone this year to invest in our highway network across the province of Ontario thank you a supplementary question thank you speaker back to the acting Premier the concern here is the cost of demobilizing and remobilizing if we don't complete it now last year I asked a similar question to the Minister of Transportation when people in my riding can expect to see the four-laning Highway 69 completed and the minister told me to look forward to the upcoming budget the 2019 budget but last year's budget had no new funding and no timeline for completion will the Premier continue to string people along in northern Ontario like the Liberals did for more than a decade or will you listen to the people of Sudbury the people of Nicobalt to the Sudbury chamber of commerce and commit to making Highway 69 a priority in the 2020 budget we release the funding needed to start the work on the last 68 kilometres of Highway 69 as soon as possible Minister thank you very much Mr. Speaker we've already announced that Highway 69 is a priority for this government and we've backed that commitment with $850 million and another $200 million that is a significant amount of financial investment but again we are investing $2.3 billion across the province of Ontario in terms of highway infrastructure to improve our highway network so that we can get Ontarians moving again thank you next question member for Brampton West thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the Solicitor General last week the Solicitor General and the Minister of Women and Children's issue launched our new comprehensive cross-government strategy to tackle the crime of human trafficking in Ontario Mr. Speaker through my experience while meeting with constituents and community leaders in Brampton I have come to understand the scale of human trafficking this is not only a dominant issue it is an epidemic issue and we all have a role to play in the fight against human trafficking which is why my question focuses on the cross-government part of this strategy can the Solicitor General share how our strategy allows for broad participation across many ministries and sectors thank you Speaker and thank you to the member from Brampton West you know he's absolutely right the initiative the Premier Ford has tasked us with is actually something that hits many ministries and we are working collaboratively with it it's important that while we ensure that individuals who are being sex trafficked when labor traffic are removed from those terrible situations we also need to have the supports in place to support treat and ultimately pass them through the court system for the the individuals who are recruiting individuals it's it's an important piece of what we have to do and it's really unfortunate that the member from Hamilton doesn't understand that the average age of human trafficking is the same age as these pages so if you would actually listen for a minute and start to understand what kind of commitment we are making I'll remind members to make the comments through the chair supplementary question thank you Mr. Speaker through you thank you to the Solicitor General for the response this is really a critically important issue and it's clear that our government is tapping up to the plate of course tackling human trafficking requires supporting our law enforcement partners to ensure that offenders can be held accountable and brought to justice this is not always easy given that human trafficking is a complex province wide crime that often includes ties to other form of organized crime Speaker can the Solicitor General explain how our government's new anti-human trafficking strategy supports the theme of holding offenders accountable and builds on our government's work to support police services Mr. General for the response Thank you and thank you for the members interest in this issue I know that there are many many colleagues who understand the importance of why or why we are taking a government right approach it it really speaks to the commitment that we've made the investments that we are making both in Solicitor General in Attorney General and of course in Children and Youth which has been the largest investment that we have announced it strikes me as strange that the members opposite would choose to try to politicize this issue when historically we have worked very very cooperatively as members as parents as parliamentarians thank you that concludes our question period for this morning and for this week as well I'm going to ask our pages to now assemble it's now time to say a word of thanks to our legislative pages for the outstanding work that they've done over the last almost four weeks our pages are smart trustworthy and hardworking they are indispensable to the effective functioning of the chamber they cheerfully and efficiently deliver notes run errands transport important documents throughout the precinct and make sure that our water glasses are always full we are indeed fortunate to have them here our pages depart having made many new friends with a greater understanding of parliamentary democracy and memories that will last them a lifetime each of them will go home and carry on continue their studies and will no doubt contribute to their communities their province and their country in important ways we expect great things from all of you maybe some of you will someday take your seats in this house as members for work here is now and we wish all of you well please join me in showing our appreciation to this group of legislative pages I beg to inform the house that pursuant to standing order 101c a change has been made to the order of precedence on the ballot list for private members public business such that Mr. Yard assumes ballot item number 8 and Ms. Singh Brampton Centre assumes ballot item number 85 pursuant to standing order 36a the member for Oshawa has given notice of her dissatisfaction with the answer to her question given by the government house leader concerning the use of a non disclosure agreement this matter will be debated Tuesday March 24th 2020 we now have a deferred vote on a motion for second reading of bill 181 an act to authorize the expenditure of certain amounts for the fiscal year ending March 31st 2020 calling the members this is a five minute bell okay I'm going to ask the members to please take their seats on March 11th 2020 Mr. Bethlenthalve moved second reading of bill 181 an act to authorize the expenditure of certain amounts for the fiscal year ending March 31st 2020 all those in favor of the motion will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the clerk Mr. Klan Mr. Klan Mr. Letcher Mr. Letcher Mr. Clark Mr. Clark Mr. Clark Ms. Biftêtre Gwinty Mr. Hardermann Ms. Macleod Mr. Tbilisi Mr. Romano Mr. کےbox Mr. Thompson Mr. Donald Mr. Downey Mr. Flint Mr. Jones Mr. Jones Mr. Calyne Ms. Carrary Mr. Scott Mr. Mr. Nickel, Mr. Puccini, Mr. Miller-Perry-salmascoka, Mr. Barrick, Mr. Ostrow, Mr. Teddy Gassel, Mr. Dr. Babba, Mr. Hogar, Mr. Cusendova, Mr. Tanga, Mrs. Y, Mrs. Cara Holly, Mrs. Parker, Mr. Guzetto, Mr. Payne, Mr. Pank, Mr. Anthony Filopoulos, Mr. Crawford, Mr. Cramp, Mr. Rashid, Mr. Alba, Mr. Smith P treasured, Mr. Robert, Mr. Cuck, Mr. Sam, Mr. Gamari. Hamilton East Tony Creek. Mr. Miller Hamilton East Tony Creek. Mr. Sing Brantanese. Mr. Sing Brantanese. Mr. Andrew. Mr. Andrew. Mr. Hadfield. Mr. Hadfield. Mr. Burch. Mr. Burch. Mr. Burns McGowan. Mr. Burns McGowan. Mr. Arthur. Mr. Arthur. Mr. Arthene. Mr. Burgwein. Mr. Burgwein. Mr. Bell. Mr. Bell. Ms. Morris. Ms. Morris. Mr. Micosa. Mr. Micosa. Mr. Harding. Mr. Harding. Ms. Monty défin. Mr. Monty добros. Mr. Arsangh. Mr. Arsangh. Mr. Arsangh. The ayes are 58 the nays are 34. The ayes being 58 the nays being 34 I declare the motion carried. Second reading of the bill bill does the intellectual do pose any lower pursuant to standing order 67 this bill is ordered for third reading the 181 third reading of bill 181 and act to authorize the expenditure of certain amounts for the fiscal year ending March 31st 2020 Mr. Bethan following government host leader thank you speaker I move third reading of bill 181 and act to authorize the expenditure of certain amounts for the fiscal year ending March 31st 2020 Mr. Calander has moved third reading of bill 181 and act to authorize the expenditure of certain amounts for the fiscal year ending March 31st 2020 pursuant to standing order 67 I am required to put the question is it the pleasure of the house that the motion care of some knows all those in favor of the motion will please say I will please say nay my opinion the eyes have it call on the members this will be another five-minute belt same boat same boat same boat the eyes are 58 the nays are 34 guys being 58 and the nays being 34 I declare the motion care third reading of the bill twice I'm not sure do project the law be it resolved that the building outpass and be entitled as in the motion there being no further business in the house this morning this house stands in recess until 1 p.m.