 It is now time for a question period. I recognize the Deputy Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. Speaker, my first question is for the Premier. For most Ontarians, the cost of living has skyrocketed under this Conservative government. Since June 2018, the cost of buying a home in Ontario has doubled, now costing over $1 million. The average cost of rent has gone up $200 a month. Families are spending more in the grocery store. And under this Premier, the price of gas has gone up 19%, along with home heating, which is now up 18%. Speaker, so when will the Premier stop with the gimmicks and take real action to help everyday Ontarians struggling with out-of-control costs of living? Thank you. I recognize a member for Richmond Hill, Aurora. Oak Ridge is from Aurora. Thank you. Well, thank you very much, Speaker. And I thank my honourable colleague for the question, Mr. Speaker. Here's the difference between a party and a government that puts people first, Mr. Speaker, that is fighting every single day to reduce cost and make life more affordable. And what you see from and you hear from the opposition day after day, Mr. Speaker, they'll talk about minimum wage. We'll raise minimum wage to $15. What do they do? They vote against it, Mr. Speaker. We lower cost and we fight for those jobs to come to Ontario so that we can raise every single person in this province, Mr. Speaker. What does the opposition do? They vote against it. They'll come time after time and they'll talk about making life more affordable for Ontarians and that every time we've actually put tangible work towards making a difference in people's lives, the opposition votes against it. So there's a clear contrast, Mr. Speaker. We'll continue to fight for those jobs in Ontario. We'll continue to make life more affordable for Ontarians while the opposition continues to say no. Thank you. I recognize Deputy Leader. Thank you, Speaker. The Premier forgets that wages for about a million workers in this province are frozen thanks to Bill 124. For hundreds of thousands of frontline grocery store clerks and retail and service workers, there have been no gains for them because of the low minimum wage here in the province of Ontario. For Ontarians stuck with this Premier's low wage policies, just trying to make ends meet is hard enough. Just to pay the increase in rent alone, Speaker, a minimum wage worker would have to work an additional 13 hours a month. With this Premier's low wage policies, why is this government making it harder and harder for working people to have a roof over their head? I recognize the Parliamentary Assistant. Thank you very much, Speaker. And again, I thank my colleague for the question. Mr. Speaker, quite the contrary. Every single day, what we are doing is to make sure that life is more affordable for the people of this province, Mr. Speaker. And in contrast, what the opposition does is continuously fight and oppose every measure that we put in. I'll tell you, Mr. Speaker, as a result of us raising minimum wage, Mr. Speaker, more than 760,000 Ontarians are now able to take a bigger paycheck. And you know what's going to happen in October, Mr. Speaker? That's going to be raised to a 1550, so a further bigger paycheck, Mr. Speaker, for Ontarians. We'll fight every single day for every single Ontarian, Mr. Speaker, while the previous government gave up on Ontarians, while the previous government gave up on jobs for Ontarians, we want not only jobs, we want good-paying jobs to come back in this province for every single Ontarian, Mr. Speaker. And we'll fight every day. They didn't get it done. They supported them. We'll get it done, Mr. Speaker. Speaker, I'd like to remind my colleague that this government froze the minimum wage when they took office in 2018, making sure that workers didn't get the pay bump that they deserved. And let's be clear. You have done nothing to make housing more affordable, nothing for renters and nothing for seniors who drive. There's nothing on offer for folks who can't afford high car insurance and no relief for high hydro prices. Speaker, it doesn't have to be this way. We could have a government that is working to make life more affordable, starting with affordable homes for families in my city of Brampton and starting with an end to the Premier's low-wage policies. Speaker, when will this government stop with the election gimmicks and start tackling the high cost of living here in the province of Ontario? Well, thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. And I thank again my colleague for the question, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the Minister for Municipal Housing and Affairs because he's been a champion in this province, Mr. Speaker. The problems that the NDP just woke up to discuss today, this minister identified in this Premier talked about the very first day. They acknowledged the previous government's failed policies year after year after year. Mr. Speaker, the problems that we're facing today was because they failed the people of Ontario. And don't forget, Mr. Speaker, when the opposition, the NDP had a balance of power, what did they do? They also failed the people of this province, Mr. Speaker. But not under the leadership of this minister and not this Premier. We will continue to work hard every single day to make life more affordable for Ontarians. That means better paying jobs, Mr. Speaker. That means affordable housing, Mr. Speaker. That means more housing all across the province from corner to corner to corner for every Ontario on the leadership of this government, this Premier and that minister. Thank you. New question, I recognize the Deputy Leader for the Redsley's little opposition. Thank you, Speaker. My next question is also for the Premier. For people in Ontario, the wait in the emergency room can be painfully long, some waiting hours and hours. The wait for a family doctor can be weeks. The wait for surgery is now several months long or even some years for some folks. This morning, the FAO laid bare the reasons behind these long waits. Ontario spends less per person on health care than anywhere else in Canada. Much less, Speaker, 10% less than the average. My question to the Premier is, why does this government believe that Ontarians deserve less health care funding than everywhere else in Canada? I recognize the Parliamentary Assistant for the Minister of Health. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the member opposite for the question. This government has invested more in health care than any government in Ontario's history. We've invested an extra $5 billion, and during COVID-19, an extra $5 billion on top of that. We have been investing more in health care and in hospitals and in doctors. As you know, we just announced 294 medical spots, 95 medical spots, with some assigned to the Northern Ontario Medical School, which is very important for making sure that we have the resources up in the north and in rural and remote communities. We're doing everything we can to make sure that people have access to hospitals, to healthcare across the province and when and where they need it. Mr. Speaker, this is not a new problem, and frankly, the numbers, they don't lie. The previous Liberal government started the process of bringing healthcare to its knees. They froze hospital budgets for five years and laid off more than 1,600 nurses. But what has the current government done? They cut, they withholded funding, they put in place low-wage policies like Bill 124, disrespecting health professionals and driving them out of the province of Ontario. Speaker, my question to the Premier is why is he driving away healthcare professionals instead of fixing our healthcare system? Thank you. I recognize the Parliamentary Assistant. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you again to the member opposite for the question. Quite to the contrary, this government has invested in the largest health human resource recruitment initiative in Ontario's history. We have 27,000 PSWs and nurses going into long-term care to fulfill our four hours of care on average per resident promise. We have recruited another 8,000 nurses and PSWs for hospitals and home care. And we have, as I just mentioned, 295 new places for doctors across the province, and that is the first increase in doctor placements in 10 years in this province. So we are doing everything we can to make sure that the resources are there for people who need them. And we have been adding pandemic pay to our frontline healthcare heroes throughout the pandemic. And we recently contributed $763 million to nurses to have a $5,000 bonus. Good. Thank you. Final supplementary. Well, Speaker, here's the reality of the situation. Ontario has the fewest beds per person. Ontario has the fewest registered nurses per person. And in my beautiful city of Brampton, we only have one emergency room for over 700,000 people. In the North, in rural communities, people are forced to drive hours for care. And for many First Nations people, they are actually forced to fly out of their community to access a hospital. Everyone in this province deserves so much better. Investing in public, universal healthcare is a good investment speaker. It actually helps governments save money in the long term. Why is this government underfunding and withholding money from our healthcare system rather than investing in it? Thank you. I recognize the Parliamentary Assistant. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you again to the member opposite for the question. As I've indicated throughout my other two answers, this government has done more investment in healthcare than any other government in Ontario's history. But what has the opposition done? Well, they have a position who supported the Liberals for 15 years while they did nothing and invested in nothing and left our healthcare system in this current state. The NDP have opposed our government's commitment to protecting people's health at every turn, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We provided investments of more than a billion dollars to support the rollout of Ontario's vaccine plan. They voted no. They didn't support us when we invested over 1.8 billion in the hospital sector in 21-22 or our 125 million to expand critical care capacity across the province. They voted no. We invested over half a billion dollars to surgical recovery. They didn't support it. Opposing our government is really all this opposition party is able to do. That's why they're going to be forever in opposition. Thank you. Thank you. Last question, I recognize the member for Colette, no. Good morning. My question is to the Premier. In July 2020, the government directed Children's Aid Society stop using birth alerts targeting Indigenous women by October 2020. A year and a half after this directive was given, we are still hearing from the Metawad Chiefs Council that this practice continues. Now instead of apprehension based on the birth alerts, they are happening through the duty to report. Speaker, birth alerts are a gross violation of the rights of the child, the rights of the mother and the Indigenous community as a whole. Will the Premier tell this House how the government has ensured that the birth alert directive of 2020 was implemented? Thank you. I recognize the Minister of Community, Children and Social Services. Thank you to the member opposite for the question. Our government is listening and taking tangible steps to combat systemic racism, including in Ontario's child welfare system. In 2020, the Ministry directed Children's Aid Society to end the practice of birth alerts, which partners told us disproportionately affected first nations, Inuit and Métis families and communities. No woman should be deterred from seeking prenatal care and parenting supports while pregnant due to fears of having a birth alert issued. Eliminating birth alerts is an important step in creating a child welfare system that responds to the needs of children, youth and families through prevention and early intervention. And I thank the member again. Good question. Thank you. I have had my taste of colonial tea in this place. Speaker, in 2014 the Truth and Reconciliation Commission called upon all levels of government to reduce the number of Indigenous children in care. In 2019 the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls recommended the abolishment of birth alerts. Child Welfare Involvement and Birth Alerts and other institutional policies and practices that target Indigenous families have very real effects on our nations. Speaker, is Ontario's 2020 Directive just birth alerts under a different name? Can Ontario ensure in Indigenous families that the colonial, and discriminatory practice of birth alerts are not still being used against Indigenous families? Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. And again, no woman should be discouraged from seeking prenatal care or parenting supports out of fear that their child will be taken from them. We've heard from Indigenous and other racialized communities that this practice separates newborns and parents shortly after delivery and unfairly affects racialized and marginalized mothers and families. Ending birth alerts was a key recommendation of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. And instead of immediately separating families and making assumptions about a mother's capacity, we are directing children's aid societies and hospitals to collaborate and create new protocols that support vulnerable mothers and families. Ending birth alerts, let me be clear, is a critical step in creating a child welfare system that is focused on prevention and early intervention. Thank you again for the question. I recognize the member for Whitby. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Transportation. Speaker, interians continue to be concerned with the cost of living. It's no secret, though, Speaker, that for 15 long years past liberal governments imposed unjust cost burdens on interians, including Speaker putting costly tolls on drivers in my community. So can the Minister of Transportation please tell the House what this government is doing to right the wrongs and keep costs down for hardworking Ontario families? I recognize the Minister of Transportation. Thank you, Speaker. I want to thank the member for Whitby for such a great question and for being such a great advocate on behalf of his constituents. When our government took office four years ago, we made a commitment. A commitment to reverse the costly policies that were enacted by the Del Ducca Wind Liberals in your pocket, where it belongs. Last month, Speaker, I was pleased to stand with the Premier and members of our caucus to announce that we are delivering on our promise to the people of Durham to remove the unfair tolls that Stephen Del Ducca and the Liberals imposed and to cut costs for drivers in the region. Speaker, I am so pleased to say that as of yesterday tolls on highways 412 and 418 are really gone for good. When you take your kids to school commute to work, Mr. Speaker, we are not repeating the past mistakes of the Liberals. We are saying yes to putting and keeping more money in your pocket. I would ask the member for Ottawa to come to order, please. I recognize the member for Whitby. Well, thank you, Speaker. I'd like to thank the Minister of Transportation for that response and her longstanding leadership and commitment to remove the tolls on the 412 and 418. Speaker, I know that this is a long time coming for drivers in my riding who were ignored by the Liberals for years on this issue. Speaker, years. Instead of listening to voices in my community and across this entire province the Liberals took every chance to make life more expensive and, Speaker, more difficult for interiors. So can the Minister of Transportation please tell the House more about what this Government is doing, the cut cost for drivers in other areas. Thank you, Speaker. I recognize the member for Whitby. Thank you, Speaker. And thank you again to the member for the question. Speaker, when our Government took office in 2018 we inherited a disastrous situation for the Liberals. But you don't have to take my word for it, Speaker. Just look at their record. Under Stephen DelDuca and the Liberals electricity rates were skyrocketing. 300,000 manufacturing jobs had left the province. And, Speaker, when Mr. DelDuca was Minister of Transportation license plate sticker fees rose by nearly 10% per year. But our Government is correcting their wrongs. We're taking concrete steps to remove the toll from highways 412 and 418. We're saying yes to eliminating license plate renewal fees and stickers. We're saying yes to building future highways 413 and the Bradford bypass toll-free. And yes to cutting the gas tax by 5.7 cents per liter, Speaker. And what do we hear from the NDP and the Liberals on the other side of the House, Mr. Speaker? No, every single time. Thank you. I recognize the member for Humber River at Black Creek. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Premier. Speaker, in the middle of the pandemic while many small businesses were forced to shut down and many more Ontarians lost their jobs this Government gave the owners of Highway 407 a billion dollar write-off. Recently there have been calls to help drivers by getting more vehicles off the 401 using existing roads. They use traffic on the 401 by lowering tolls on the 407. So instead of spending 10 billion dollars to build Highway 413, will the Premier give drivers a break and get his buddies to lower tolls on the 407? Thank you. I recognize the Minister of Transportation. Thank you, Speaker. Well, Mr. Speaker, congestion is a problem that affects all of us in this House and people across the province of Ontario. It affects our quality of life. It impacts the cost of goods. It impacts costs for businesses. Highway 401, Speaker, is the most congested highway in North America. For years, Mr. Speaker, the Liberals had the chance to address this issue. They didn't build new subways and when they built new highways in the greater Golden Horseshoe they built them with tolls, Mr. Speaker. We want to put money back into people's pockets which is why we removed the tolls from the highways 412 and 418. We want to get people moving. We want to get people moving because they need to go which is why our Greater Golden Horseshoe Transportation Plan addresses the gridlock that the Liberals let develop year after year after year. Congestion is only going to get worse, Speaker, as the population of the Greater Golden Horseshoe increases which is why we are taking steps to increase our highway capacity by building Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass toll free. Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. The Auditor General has confirmed that she'll be looking into the billion dollar handout this government gave to the private corporation who owns Highway 407 and I'm sure that a report will be enlightening. Speaker, the 407 runs just north of my community. It was originally designed as an outlet to direct traffic away from the 401 but few people in my community actually use it because of the expensive tolls. But instead of taking action to reduce these tolls the Premier gave the owners of the 407 a billion dollar right off. We're not going to spend another 10 billion dollars to build a highway through the green belt to help his developer buddies where some of his biggest owners make even more money. For once, will the Premier do the right thing and put the interests of everyday Ontarians ahead of the interests of multi-billion dollar corporations? Thank you. I return you to Mr. Transportation. Mr. Speaker, I'm happy to tell the member opposite that our government is doing the right thing. We're taking action in ways that the Liberals and the infrastructure that people need to end congestion in the greater Golden Horses. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, MTO has been looking at the gridlock problem for decades. The GTA West study, GTA West Corridor Stage 1 Environmental Assessment looked at all the alternatives. Under this EA, modeling showed that if Highway 413 is not built the 407 would be at or above capacity by 2013 even if the tolls remained Mr. Speaker. that we need to get building today. We need to build the Highway 413. We need to build the Bradford Bypass. Mr. Speaker, we are a pro-transit government. We're investing $61 billion in transit to build new subways, new LRTs. We are taking the steps. We are showing the leadership and transportation that the Liberals did not for years condemning generations of Ontarians to congestion. We are going to do what's right for all of us. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker and I'm sure like the rest of us here we'd all like to know where the pixie dust is being spread today. We all know the Premier likes to promise big things really big things and not deliver and really not deliver like a 20% income tax cut or a 12% reduction on your hydro rates. Now with Bill 88 he's promising that he's working for workers. Instead, he's making them second class workers under the Employment Standards Act. Workers who don't have the same rights and protections that all Ontario workers have fought for and deserve. So, Mr. Speaker, when will the Premier stop saying things just because they sound really good and actually deliver on the protections that Ontario's gig workers need? I recognize the Government House Leaders. So, Mr. Speaker, let's look at what he just said there. When will the Premier stop announcing things that sound good? So, if they sound good it means that they must be good for the people of the province of Ontario, Mr. Speaker. I guess that's what it means, right? So, the member opposite thinks that reducing taxes for the people of the province of Ontario is not something that we should be doing but it's too good for the people of the province of Ontario. That providing better protection for workers in the province of Ontario is something that they didn't do over 15 years that the workers don't deserve it. That's what the Liberals think, Mr. Speaker. We don't, Mr. Speaker. That reducing the gas tax for the people of the province of Ontario at a time when carbon taxes war in Ukraine is hurting all of our economy, Mr. Speaker. They think it's too rich to put more money back in the pockets of the people of Ontario, Mr. Speaker. And that is fundamentally the difference between the Liberals and the NDPs and a coalition. We believe in putting money back in the pockets of people to build a strong economy where people can live, work, invest and raise a family. Thank you. And there's no better place in North America to do it than Ontario right now into the strong state of... Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't think my colleague across the way got it. It's actually the Premier saying things that he's doing like a 20% income tax cut or 12% off your hydroid. I don't know about you, but if you guys think they've happened, maybe you should go and knock on a few doors. So, Speaker, the Working for Workers Act doesn't actually work for workers. And in fact, this is the government who wants to say no to protection for their health and safety, no to vacation pay, no to termination pay, no to rights to organize, no to a fair living wage. And just like the Ontario Autism Program and so many other things, the Premier likes to say big things. And promise big things. And then come up short. Really short. Or not at all. So, Speaker, when will the Premier stop talking the big talk and actually deliver real rights and protections to gig workers in Ontario? I recognize the government post leader. Again, Mr. Speaker, let's go back to 2018. 2018, before we were elected, Mr. Speaker, we saw jobs and investment fleeing the province of Ontario because of the policies of the Liberals and the NDP, Mr. Speaker. They never saw a regulation that they didn't like. They put on regulations. We were twice as regulated as any other province in the country, Mr. Speaker. Jobs were fleeing. And what has happened since we have come to office? Not only are we making important investments in healthcare, including in his own community. His own government, his parliamentary assistant, refused to put investments into the Ottawa hospital. It took us to get that done, Mr. Speaker. That's to get it done. We're cutting taxes for people. That's what concern is new. More money to get better, Mr. Speaker. Jobs are coming back to Ontario. We've saved the Ottawa sector. We're building transit and transportation. And you know what, when we build transit and transportation, it works. We don't build bridges upside down like the Liberals did, Mr. Speaker. Ontario is getting back to work because of a strong, stable, progressive concern to the majority. We're getting back to June the 2nd. Start the clock. Next question. I recognize the member from Peterborough Pourson. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And in honour of National Tartan today, I am wearing my family tartan, McPherson. Hey, hey. My question is for the President of the Treasury Board. My constituents have heard that the government's plan to stay open includes adding 3,000 new beds over 10 years and the over 3,100 beds in hospitals that were added during the pandemic. Mr. Speaker, my constituents have sacrificed so much during this pandemic and want to know more about how this government is fixing the failure of the previous government. To the President of the Treasury Board, how will this legislation and a plan to stay open protect Ontarians for generations to come? Thank you. I recognize the Parliamentary System for the President of the Treasury Board. Thank you, Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The member is correct. Through the Minister of Health, we are investing over $30 billion over the next 10 years to address longstanding challenges in our hospital created by the former Liberal government. In addition, since the offset of this pandemic, the government has added nearly 1,000 more intensive care hospital beds. And, Speaker, after a decade and a half of neglect, the people of Peel Region of the hospitals they deserve. Last December, we announced the largest investment in hospital infrastructure in Canadian history to completely rebuild the Mississauga Hospital in Mississauga, Lakeshore. And last Sunday, the Premier announced another $21 million to invest in expanding the William Ozer Health System. This funding will transform Peel Medical into a new inpatient hospital for 24-7 Emergency Department cancer care for Pacific Hospital. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to thank the Treasury Board to represent the member from Mississauga, Lakeshore for that answer. It's really important that we build on the lessons that we've learned from COVID-19. And I'm pleased to hear that we're actually doing that. I can't believe that after 15 years of Liberal inaction, we're actually getting hospitals built. Something that is completely foreign to what this government did. I think that the answer highlights another important area for me, though. And that's training future health care practitioners in Ontario. It's great to have new beds, but we need nurses, we need doctors to actually be there to make sure that people are getting the care that they deserve. It's also important that we're attracting and retaining other medical professionals. Can the Minister please tell the House how these initiatives will help Ontario with its emergencies? Thank you. I recognize the Parliamentary Assessment. Thank you again for the member for that question. To stay open, we need to retain as many staff as possible, retraining them for more people and breaking down barriers for skilled workers that they choose to stay here in Ontario. Through the new Ontario Learn and Stay grant up to 2,500 students will be eligible to receive full upfront funding for tuitions, books and other things for education. And as well, that will keep them here in the graduated areas that they want to work in. We are also supporting foreign trained medical professionals by proposing an amendment for international trained health care workers can receive certification for the regulated colleges in the timely manner and start working as soon as possible. Finally, we are also building the health care workforce for tomorrow by adding 160 new upgraded seats and 295 new graduated positions across the six medical schools in Ontario over the next five years. I want to thank the Minister of Colleges and Universities and the Minister of Health for all their work that they are doing to help us rebuild the system that was neglected by the previous Liberal government. We are getting it. I recognize the member for Ms. Kegelach, James Bay. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Premier for almost four years I have been holding this government accountable for the lack of services in French however, this situation hasn't improved. Many of my constituents have said that they haven't had access to services in French for government services. Mr. Bertrand in my writing attempted to have access to a driver's testing and he called he was told he would get services in French, he paid a hotel he paid for the gas to make it to his appointment but once he arrived at his appointment no one was there to speak to him in French and he was denied access to services in French Mr. Bertrand wasn't successful for his driving exam why Mr. Bertrand have this experience and how do you explain this lack of services in French Minister Minister Minister I am very proud to be part of a government that has for the first time modernized the French language services act in the province of Ontario after it was presented and tabled in 1998 the Liberals had 15 years to modernize the act that is so important for francophones in Ontario and it's our government that was able to modernize that act and of course it was proclaimed this past year in addition to modernizing the act we've also implemented measures to improve capacity and to improve services and also to retain and recruit the workforce there's a shortage of workers and that's why we're doing everything that we can to reinforce the francophone workforce in order to provide these services but this issue is something that we take very seriously and I'll be happy to speak to the member about this issue the member for thank you for the minister's response but the situation isn't improving another of my constituents that has been frustrated same scenario she made calls she made an appointment in French to request services in French and once again when she arrived in Sudbury she was told that the services weren't available in French that's completely unacceptable and that person also failed her test and people on ODSP are only receiving $1,200 it's unacceptable that services aren't available in French and it's unacceptable that people have to deal with such a scenario and we don't even have these services in the urban or in rural regions what is there a premiere doing to improve the situation and are you aware of everything that you're causing Ontarians to suffer from the minister of francophone affairs honestly we've been open to the issues with French language services and that's why we modernize the French language services active for the first time since the 80s I understand the frustrations of a number of Ontarians when it comes to driving testing we suspended those tests during the pandemic and I presented a very bold investment of $16 million to increase the number of drive tests we hired trainers and testers in order to provide these services and add hours extended hours that includes regions in the north and for francophone communities we've modernized the drive test for G-class licenses to ensure that all Ontarians francophones and anglophones can have access to these test appointments to the member for Cambridge thank you my question is for the premier recently this government finally admitted that they will fail to deliver on another promise from their 2018 election campaign to reduce gas and fuel taxes in their first term in office another promise made and promised broken the premier promised to bring in tax relief by cutting the provincial tax on gas and fuel in his first term in office by November of 2021 with this promise still not fulfilled the premier said a cut in gas taxes would come before the next budget but now the budget is on its way and the government has stated that only a temporary cut in gas and fuel taxes would come and only if they are re-elected looking back on the last four years the government not keep its commitment to cut the provincial tax on gas and fuel during its first term in office thank you I recognize the parliamentary to the minister of finance thank you my colleague for the question we are introducing legislation that if passed would temporary cut the tax by 5.7 cents per liter that is on top of the 4.3 that has already been cut Mr. Speaker for Ontarians these savings Mr. Speaker coupled with the recently announced elimination of the license plate fees Mr. Speaker would save Ontario households $465 per year in 2022 Mr. Speaker my question is to my colleague why isn't she and all members in the opposition are in helping us in fighting the carbon tax which is adding so much cost and burden to Ontarians Mr. Speaker once again we are fighting every day for the cost of Ontario's Mr. Speaker the opposition does the opposite and always votes against every initiative we put forward I keep talking about the carbon tax and they have implemented their own a cut to the provincial tax on gas and fuel would have been of great help to Ontarians over the last four years especially as this government and its forced lockdowns and mandates shuttered businesses and put people out of work but this government failed and broke its promise and they have admitted that under a PC government there will never be a permanent cut to the gas and fuel tax the government has said that they will cut the gas and fuel tax but only if re-elected and only for a few months why is that why is tax relief for Ontarians only a good idea for a few months and only if the government is re-elected why won't the government cut gas and fuel taxes today and make the cut permanent I recognize the parliamentary thank you very much speaker and again I thank the honourable colleague for the question Mr. Speaker today, tomorrow and every day since we've been elected we've been fighting for Ontarians we won't stop to do that Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker the the latest that we announced after two very difficult years Mr. Speaker for Ontarians and there were a lot of asked of Ontarians individuals and families is just why Mr. Speaker we make sure that every single initiative that we put forward benefits Ontarians Mr. Speaker I can tell you on top of the this leader in reduction in the field tax that the member alluded to and I hope that everybody in opposition votes in favour of this Mr. Speaker we also removed license plate fees thanks to the Minister of Transportation Mr. Speaker removing tolls on Ontarians Mr. Speaker and again at every single time that Mr. Speaker that we put the opposition votes against it but that's not going to stop us Mr. Speaker every single day we will work hard to make sure that we make life more affordable for the people of Ontario including members I recognize the member for Sturmo Vanda Thank you Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker my question is for the Minister of Northern Development and mines natural resources and forestry Mr. Speaker we all understand that our provinces northern regions have different needs than those of the south whether it's a consequence of harsher winters tougher terrain or the often remote landscapes it's clear that living working and doing business in Northern Ontario comes with a particular set of challenges Speaker through to you how is this Minister and our government leveling the playing field for Northern Ontario businesses and communities Thank you I recognize the Minister of Northern Development Mines and Natural Resources Thank you Mr. Speaker and I want to thank the member from Sturmont Dundos South Glen Gary for his exceptional career and the advocacy for his construction Mr. Speaker we've heard in recent weeks in light of the situation in Ukraine that the world Mr. Speaker has come to the doorstep of Northern Ontario and Sudbury is our flagship city with all it has to offer Mr. Speaker in the mining sector the mining service and supply sector needs to be ready for that Mr. Speaker like Northern Ontario communities across some 800,000 square kilometers we're ensuring that the quality of life in those communities is where not just families who currently live there want it to be at but where future families we're on the move we're growing Mr. Speaker that's why I announce Mr. Speaker for the three quarters of a million dollars for an open theater in the downtown core enhancements of the Kiwi Park Mr. Speaker for trails and of course 105 million dollars on the Honsai scholar public and $150,000 grant for Northern communities I recognize a member for Sturmo Dundas South Hungary Thank you Mr. Speaker for the hard work on shaping inclusive Northern Terrarium Fund has reshaped success I congratulate the minister and all those who have worked to create a better and broader entity for their efforts I'm certain that these investments will prove equally as valuable to the communities as they will to those who receive them directly after all building investing in businesses and the community infrastructure makes for better communities great jobs that help strengthen a community's core identity and I think that that's a lesson that the win del Ducal got liberals could reflect on as they consider their tainted legacy of dismal stretch goals Mr. Speaker to the minister how is this government working to build the Tarnese relationships left by the previous government to improving Northern Terrarium's quality of life Thank you I recognize the minister of Northern Development Vines and natural resources Thank you Mr. Speaker during my visit to Sudbury I also announced an example of what the Northern Ontario resource development program can do we understand the impact of the resource sector on our towns and cities across Northern Ontario I was able to announce funding for Sudbury to develop a roundabout Mr. Speaker which would divert some of the resource traffic in and around Sudbury it was very well received by the Deputy Mayor Mr. Speaker but really this is about preparing all of our towns and cities for a reality whether it's the forest sector or the mining sector the United States of America the European Union have come a calling Mr. Speaker to build Northern Ontario to supply them with their forestry products and their mining products particularly critical minerals Mr. Speaker but time and time again all our investments are met with assistance from the Liberality Coalition the no democratic party in particular Mr. Speaker says no to growth and development Northern Ontario and the people there Mr. Speaker know it and that's why they're rallying behind the progress Thank you Thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the Premier people in Thunder Bay at a coconut across the North are very concerned about the safety of our roads my office received an email last week from a constituent with photos of yet another recent accident involving trucks I have frequent phone calls about near misses stretches that have regular accidents and I know the government has heard about the famous system in its corner because we have to talk about fatalities and serious injuries I thank the OPP for a recent enforcement blitz but where is the investment in infrastructure to make it safer by caucus bills and motions forward and ask questions when is this issue actually going to be taken seriously when is this government going to get serious about safety in Northwestern Ontario Thank you I recognize the Minister of Transportation Thank you Mr. Speaker and I thank the member opposite for the question on this side of the house we take road safety very seriously especially in the north where winter driving conditions can make driving even more challenging we take winter maintenance seriously Mr. Speaker after 15 years of liberal government things only got worse in the north and so for the last four years we've been taking important steps to improving the safety of driving on northern roads in all sorts of ways Mr. Speaker with respect to infrastructure though Speaker we have taken important steps I was in Canora recently with the Minister of Northern Development and Mines to celebrate the expansion of Highway 17 from Canora to the Minnesota we're expanding Highway 11 and 17 from Thunder Bay to Nipagon but Mr. Speaker the member asks where are the investments the investments are in bills that our government puts forward that the NDP continuously vote against Speaker Thank you, I return to the Minister I'm glad the Minister mentioned my question is for the Premier I'm glad the Minister mentioned winter roads because we're having a snowstorm in Thunder Bay today so just heads up another major concern on road safety are the transport trucks travelling the Trans-Canada Highway residents report that drivers are going too fast especially on winter roads when safety means driving below the speed limit our highways are not provided with equal plowing and salting to the 400 system in southern Ontario there aren't enough transport inspectors and we know truckers are under a lot of pressure to get their cargo to their destinations we also know that there isn't enough training or testing to make sure the drivers are operating safely in winter conditions that's an issue for both them and other drivers like local residents who have to use snow vehicles when is this government going to do something to make sure northern highways are safe Thank you, I return to the Minister of Transportation Thank you Mr Speaker since our election in 2018 we have been taking important steps to ensure that roads are safe we have announced that we are building new rest areas and expanding existing rest areas across the north to improve safety for truck drivers with respect to training though Mr Speaker Ontario has a very robust commercial licensing system in place it's in fact among the most robust anywhere in North America and we are committed to taking steps to ensure that it is upheld the training standard includes a minimum of over 103 hours of instruction and three level knowledge and skills that are needed for truck drivers to operate on Ontario's roads Mr Speaker, I am working with the Minister of Colleges and Universities to ensure that our organizations that provide training are designated and approved through the Ministry's certification program and Mr Speaker, the Ministry and I have been in regular contact with the trucking industry over the last year to gather feedback on the effectiveness of that training program so that the roads continue to be among the safest in North America Thank you, I recognize the member for Ottawa Vanier Thank you Mr Speaker, my question is to the Premier, despite the Premier's promise to stay away from cronyism this government's track record on political appointment has been less than stellar we've seen numerous examples of appointments that favour Premier's friends without seeing the qualifications of appointments associated with the eye profile that they've been appointed to From the Ottawa Police Service Board to Dean French's appointment free for all this government seems to choose who to appoint based on their donors list despite campaign pledges to the contrary. Will the government apologize for not taking politics out of the appointment process Thank you I recognize the government House Speaker, in fact that's exactly what we did we saw that after years there was a lot of cash for access and a whole host of ethical challenges that the previous government faced whether it was Air Orange and my gosh the list is just too much I mean we all remember windmills and communities that didn't want them for power that we didn't need Chief of Staff going to jail of the previous Liberal Government Mr Speaker and the there's so many ethical challenges to keep up with all of them but that all changed in 2018 we brought openness and transparency into government we've made so many changes in this place alone to make Parliament work better for all people Mr Speaker including giving the minority the few Liberals that are left an opportunity to ask more questions and imagine that they would ask a question on ethics the Liberals would ask a question on ethics Mr Speaker we're going to continue doing all that we can to make this the best place to live, work, invest and to raise a family and that the people of Ontario can I turn to the member from Ottawa to the supplemental Thank you Mr Speaker and having good ethics and appointment is a good thing in appointing people you want to reward that don't have the skills required for a job as real impact on the services to Ontarians when the media pick up on examples of evident favours being returned through appointments to a position the public has good reasons to be concerned Premier Ford had committed to be more transparent with provincial appointments since elected yet the numerous report we see in the news every day clearly demonstrate that the Government has broken that promise time and time again so why is it that the Premier do not bring the rigor and the transparency e-promise to Ontarians I recognise the Government they get I don't know how many questions they get a week very few very few and they ask this question now Mr Speaker not that it matters because with everything else that is going on in the world Mr Speaker the Liberals are asking a question on ethics which they set the bar so low I mean again we talked about Chiefs of Staff going to previous Liberal Chiefs of Staff to the Premier going to jail Mr Speaker failed gas plants air orange just on and on and on but Speaker if the opposition wanted accountability for appointments one would think that when they have the opportunity in front of the Government and Agencies Committee to actually vet those appointments they would actually take that opportunity but of course because they didn't show up and had no interest in it the committee couldn't even meet Mr Speaker I guess that means they believe that the appointments that we're making are good for the people of the province of Ontario and they have shown that day in and day out because this is an economy that is on fire Mr Speaker and that's what the people of the province of Ontario care about Thank you I recognise the Member for London Thank you Speaker my question is to the Premier last week I sent a letter with my colleague from Ottawa Centre to the Minister Raymond Cho and Chief Commissioner The Member for Ottawa South and the Minister of Sport Culture will come to order Mr Speaker I'll start again My question is to the Premier last week I sent a letter with my colleague from Ottawa Centre to the Minister Raymond Cho and Chief Commissioner Patricia DeGuire from Ontario Human Rights Commission we were raising a serious case of disability discrimination and have not heard a reply Kismet Dog Rescue recently informed Erin and Mike Done from Listowell that they're ineligible for a dog adoption and why? because their son Henry is on the autism spectrum and they're thankful for the hard work of dog rescue agencies and no one would question their need for a rigorous interview process to ensure adopted dogs go to safe homes Question Speaker we asked the minister responsible to take action will this government commit today to take action and make sure that the disabilities Thank you I recognise the Minister for Children's Sport and Community Services Thank you Speaker and thank you to the member there is no place for discrimination of anyone here in Ontario our government is committed to creating that environment and we will continue to work on that it was very disappointing to see that article that the members referring to and as a owner of dogs I appreciate the warmth and love that they can give individuals and their families every child with autism has unique needs and we need to understand how to address those needs and I think that we will all agree on all sides of this House that discrimination is not acceptable period I'm pleased to see that the family worked with another shelter and that the family is now in the process of being matched with a dog Thank you I recognise the member from Ottawa Senator There is a dog rescue that continues to operate in the province of Ontario that says they will not let dogs go to families whose children are on the autism spectrum that is still a functioning business that is in non-compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act this minister this government must stand up for the law disability discrimination should be illegal my colleagues question got a little muffled there Speaker so I'm going to repeat it to the government is this government going to take action against Kismet dog rescue that continues to post on social media that they will continue to discriminate against autistic folks against children who are autistic they need animal companionship Speaker just like all of us who celebrate that are you going to act yes or no That's the question Thank you Speaker Let me be absolutely clear there is no place for discrimination against children with autism Let me take this opportunity to explain the unique needs of children with autism and their families and how our government is addressing that with a world leading program that is creating a needs based comprehensive program to support the families with doubling of the funding 50,000 children who are being moved into services as we speak with 40,000 already in the programs and we make sure that the program is evolving with the independent intake organization the well-being of children with autism and their families is at the centre of everything we do at the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and the children with special needs so we are creating these programs there is no room for discrimination of children with autism Next question Thank you Speaker My question is for the Premier this week the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a chilling report that there must be rapid, deep and immediate cuts to climate pollution it's now or never for climate action yet this same week the government introduced legislation to support fossil fuel consumption and accelerated their scheme to build the Bradford Bypass Holland Marsh Highway it's clear the Premier's big, sprawl expensive agenda clearly trumps climate action and adaptation we need to protect water, farmland and wetlands our lives and livelihoods depend on it that's why I've put forward a blue belt plan to double the size of the green belt will the Premier say yes to clean water and local food and yes to our plan to double the size of the green belt Thank you I recognize the Minister of Environment Conservation and Parks Thank you Speaker I remember opposite for that question Speaker what you really heard in that question was fundamentally no to any growth in the province of Ontario this Premier has said yes to record investments into transit we're seeing tangible reductions in the largest source of GHGs being transportation as we transition to electric vehicles the only province and first province to launch clean transportation fuels as we work with industry we've seen a phase out of coal from some of the largest industry emitters working with the steel sector for a six megaton reduction Speaker we've launched the largest wetlands restoration program in Ontario's history in fact I was just at the Winkworth property in my riding to see a project that started in the 80s continuing to grow Speaker we understand that we have to plan for growth in the province of Ontario that means the dignity of a new Canadian as it was for my grandfather when he immigrated from Italy Thank you Speaker Speaker what you just heard in that answer is the government is saying yes to expensive big sprawl I don't understand what the government has against local food and farmers I don't understand why the government refuses to protect Ontarians from flooding I don't know why they want to continue to build these super sprawl super pollution highways that we simply can't afford Why does the government want to force people into expensive long commutes spending time away from their family and friends when instead we can build connected, livable affordable homes in places near where we work Will the government Will the government take this opportunity to say yes to farmers, yes to local food yes to protecting us from flooding and yes to doubling the green belt Thank you I return to the minister of conservation parks and environment Speaker what you really heard it's so disappointing from that member opposite is no he said no to any future road or highway growth we've said yes and he says the member opposite wants us to listen to the science the science in the environmental assessment said that gridlock is paralyzing growth of this province and future generations Speaker that member wants a farmer in rural Ontario to bike that member is against the historic EV investments in this province has made the leadership of this minister perhaps it's because he's against the critical mineral strategy because he'd rather see China succeed the communist party of China and he wouldn't like to see investments in the north martin falls and webequan led by indigenous historic investments into EV historic investments the lowest carbon major transit project we're going to keep doing that working with I recognize the member for to miscommunicate thank you speaker my question is to the premier recently the city of Hamilton made his decision not to expand their urban boundaries and to try and focus their housing strategy within their boundaries the government both the minister of municipal fairs and the member of flambor of Lambert described that as anti-growth and anti-housing ideology the question is how can trying to protect Ontario's most precious resource the best farmland in north america surrounded and because it's got the best climactic conditions a gift or we should do everything we can to protect how can protecting that be anti-growth and anti-housing I recognize the minister of municipal fairs and housing thanks for the question Ontario is in the middle of a severe housing supply shortage driven by high demand we've tabled a number of solutions and we're providing real opportunities to get shovels in the ground faster again new democrats couch their words couch their words one way but you know speaker when it comes to supporting our more homes for everyone plan it's very simple new democrats are always going to vote against increasing housing supply new democrats are always going to vote against protecting tenants they're always going to vote against strengthening community housing they've continually voted against and spoke against our call to get more money out of the answer so we can build more community housing you know the choice speaker is going to be very clear you want a party that says yes but you want a party that says no thank you that concludes question period for today pursuant to standing order 36A the member from Ottawa south given notice of his dissatisfaction with the answer to his question given by the government house leader concerning bill 88 this matter will be debated today following private members public business I recognize a point of order from the minister of sport culture and tourism also heritage speaker and that's why I'm here today I want to invite all members so I stop getting text messages if you are wearing a tartan or any type of plat or you love to be Scottish just today I'm here and we will get a picture taken and we are really excited to celebrate Jim McDonnell and his wonderful piece of legislation point of order but we will all cherish the culture and sport and opportunity today I recognize the member from Ottawa south on a point of order this is not about pixie dust so you can all stay calm I'd like to wish my mother Mary Fraser a happy birthday she turns 90 today she's a pretty amazing woman and when I asked her this morning how does it feel to be 90 so I was with her this morning came back here and she says it's hardly believable with a straight face but it is believable mom we love you happy birthday I'll see you tomorrow not a point of order but we all wish mom a happy birthday if the house would just indulge me as it is Scottish Heritage Day I would normally do this from my seat but obviously I can't do that today former MPP Bill Murdock who is the Scottish tartan and today I would like to acknowledge him and his efforts and also he's suffering from some pretty challenging health so I would ask the House to send their prayers and wishes to him and his family as he struggles through his challenge thank you this House stands resized until 1pm today