 And it is now time for oral questions. I recognize the leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. Thank you so much, Mr. Speaker. Speaker, my first question this morning is to the Premier. You know, the Ford government has a disastrous history of not getting out in front of this virus. In April, the Solicitor General said, and I quote, we wanted to make sure that the modeling was actually showing up in our hospitals. And as we know, that's what walked us right in to the third wave of COVID-19. Yesterday, the Science Table report says this, and I quote, there is a growing crisis in staffing for critical care patients with significant contribution from healthcare worker burnout. Speaker, Ontario has the lowest nurse per capita ratio in the entire country. The fewest number of nurses per person across Canada right here in Ontario. Will the government once again be waiting for cases to skyrocket before they take action to deal with the crisis in nursing in Ontario? The Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. Thank you very much, Speaker, and thank you to the leader of the official opposition for the question. In fact, we are aware that there has been a significant impact on our health human resources as a result of the pandemic. They've been on the front lines for the past 21 months, and we're very grateful for all of the work that they've done. However, we do recognize that they need to be assisted. We are making significant investments in increasing our nursing workforce. We're investing over $342 million beginning in 2021-22 to add over 5,000 new and up-skilled registered nurses and registered practical nurses, as well as 8,000 personal support workers. In addition, Ontario is investing $57.6 million beginning in 2022-23 to hire 225 nurse practitioners to the long-term care sector. We are also investing additional $548.5 million over three years to expand home and community care. This funding would support up to 28,000 post-acute surgical patients and 21,000 patients with complex health conditions every year. So our government is fully aware of and making the investments that are necessary both now and into the future to add to our frontline healthcare workers in particular. Thank you very much. Supplementary question? Well, Speaker, Health Quality Ontario reports that ER wait times are increasing. In fact, they have almost doubled in the past 20 years. The Minister of Health talks a good game, Speaker, but when I talk to nurses, they're saying new nurses might be coming in the front door, but experienced nurses are walking out the back door. The Ontario Hospital Association's President and CEO Anthony Dale says this, and I quote, we're looking at a 20-year period where the needs of rural and northern communities with respect to hospital services have been more or less overlooked. Now the pandemic has revealed to all the system is extremely fragile everywhere. Things were bad under the Liberal Speaker. I would agree with the government to criticizes them, because things have become worse under this premier. Ontario desperately needs 20,000 nurses just to keep our existing system afloat. So my question is, why is this premier and this government doing nothing, literally nothing, to address this crisis? Minister of Health. I would say to the contrary, our government is taking action on every front to make sure that we have a strong healthcare system to address through this pandemic and also to deal with the number of people who had to have their surgeries or diagnostic procedures delayed as a result of COVID. So we are making investments to increase our nursing workforce, our personal support worker nursing force. We're also making sure that we have the capital investments necessary to be able to operate. We know that we need beds. We've added 3,100 more beds to the system. We have increased our capacity for the workforce. We're also investing over $30 billion in the next 10 years to increase the number of hospitals we have. So we are constantly building both in terms of the workforce and in terms of the capital investments necessary across the entire province to make sure that if someone has healthcare needs, whether it's COVID or something else, they will be cared for and we do have the facilities and services available for them. And the final supplementary. Well, Speaker, the health human resources capacity in this province is terrible. And this government is not acting at all urgently to address that problem. In fact, it's not only that this government is not making things better, they're actually making things much worse. This Premier's low wage policy bill 124 has led to Ontario nurses feeling disrespected and abandoned by their government at a time when they had been working their backs off. They're leaving nursing in droves. All healthcare workers, Speaker, are burned out. They don't need a government to say that they're grateful. They need a raise, Speaker. All healthcare workers in this province have been suffering under this government's low wage policy. Our ICUs are filling up, Speaker, as we sit here in this legislature. Emergency wait times are rising significantly and the science table is calling it a crisis. And we're heading into a holiday season. Why is the Premier doing nothing to address this crisis? President of the Treasury Board. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And our government will continue to invest in our healthcare sector as our public estimates. Last year showed we made record-breaking investments in our health and to fight the pandemic, $19.1 billion to support the pandemic recovery over the past year. And we reaffirmed that commitment and many of those investments in our fall economic statement, Mr. Speaker. The province invested over $342 million to add over 5,000 new and up-skilled registered nurses and registered practical nurses, as well as an additional 8,000 personal support workers. This includes providing 500 registered nurses with specialized acute care training. It includes adding 420 registered nurses through the existing community commitment program for nursing. It's adding 900 registered nurses and 700 registered practical nurses through the WeRPN bridging program, Mr. Speaker. This government is saying yes to investing in our healthcare sector, saying yes to investing to keep our frontline workers safe and to continue working with our province to get through this pandemic. Thank you. The next question. Once again, the leader of the opposition. Thank you very much, Speaker. My next question is also to the Premier. You know, the new science table predictions are extremely worrying. The province can and must act now to prevent another COVID wave. They need to finally reduce class sizes, Speaker, in our schools. They need to provide clear direction, clear direction to Ontarians about reducing our number of contacts, reducing the size of our gatherings. They should mandate vaccines for all healthcare and education workers in this province, and they should introduce free and accessible access, widely available access to rapid tests. My question is, why hasn't the Premier rolled out free, widely available rapid tests for Ontarians like other provinces and other jurisdictions worldwide have done? Mr. Hill. Thank you, Speaker. Well, in fact, we have been rolling out rapid tests. We have received over... Order. Canada has deployed over 58 million rapid tests, of which Canada has received 31 million and has deployed over 33 million because some of the tests were paid for also by the Government of Ontario to be deployed into schools for students to be able to take over the holidays. That is compared to the next closest province with Ontario at 33 million, Quebec at 5 million. So there's no question that these tests are being deployed across our schools, across our workplaces, in hospitals, in congregate care settings, in hospitals. We're making full use of these tests because we recognize that in as much as vaccines are the most important way that we can protect Ontarians, testing is also extremely important, especially with the appearance now of the Omicron variant. Supplementary? Minister of Health is missing the point. Ontarians should have free access to the rapid tests. That's what should be happening in this province. The science table advice for widespread access to rapid tests was clear, and I quote from Dr. Unie. It makes sense from a scientific perspective to use rapid tests more frequently. For example, schools in workplaces, in congregate settings, and to make rapid tests more available in this province. Over a year ago, in November of 2020, the Premier called rapid tests a game changer, and I've asked a page to come and provide that evidence over to the Minister of Health. Right now, there are more than 5 million unused rapid tests sitting locked up in warehouses instead of being made freely available to Ontarians. Why won't the Premier do the right thing now and commit to rolling out free rapid tests to all Ontarians? Minister of Health. Well, in fact, our government is doing the right thing by rolling out free rapid tests to all Ontarians who need them. People that are receiving them in the workplaces through our Chamber of Commerce, the children that are going to be receiving them in our schools, the people that come to our pharmacies in order to receive the tests, these are free of charge to the people who need them, courtesy of the Government of Canada providing a number of tests, but also the Government of Ontario we also have expanded the places where people can receive those tests because we recognize in an assessment centre might not be the closest place for someone living in a rural or northern area. That's why we're bringing forward these tests free of charge to people at participating pharmacies. So there are a number of tests. There are no tests that are sitting in storage anywhere. We have deployed all of those tests. They are all being used and they are readily available and free to anyone who needs them. The final supplementary. I think the Minister of Health needs to study up on exactly what's happening with the rapid test. In fact, just yesterday a pharmacist was relaying a story about a dad and his son who is living with autism who went to the pharmacy to get a rapid test because they both had symptoms of colds and lo and behold the test was positive and the pharmacist was very, very concerned because this dad was able to pay the 40 bucks that it cost him to get the test done. Lots of families won't be able to afford that. People need to take rapid tests so that they can go see their loved ones and feel safe. That's what's happening in other provinces. In other provinces they use the rapid test for signs of a cold, like the story I just told. We can make the holidays safer for folks by providing rapid tests. They are a tool that should be being used freely and made available everywhere so anyone can get one whenever and wherever they need it. Will the Premier finally do the right thing? Change the game and make rapid tests free and accessible to all Ontarians. Thank you, Speaker. I would say, through you, Speaker, to the Leader of the Opposition opposite, that you cannot suggest that just because there was one situation that occurred when someone went into a pharmacy with symptoms that they were not able to get the test. That is not the way the system is working. The only reason why people need to pay $40 for tests is if they're going to travel and if that is happening, then yes, they will have to pay $40. Otherwise, these tests are free of charge to people who come in, symptomatic or asymptomatic in some situations when they've been close to someone with COVID. But I can assure the members opposite and the people of Ontario that if they need to have a test, they can go to their pharmacies and they will receive a test free of charge. The House will come to order. Both sides of the House will come to order. The next question, the member for Brampton East. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Paid sick days save lives. We know this. It's a fact. Because it allows workers to stay home when they're sick and not spread the COVID-19 virus. But a year into this pandemic, workers in Ontario had no paid sick days. And when the Premier was finally pushed to bring in paid sick days, they were temporary and they were not enough. But now we know that if those workers rightly so use their paid sick days to stay home when they're sick, to get vaccinated, to care for a loved one who is sick, they will be entering into 2022 with zero paid sick days, not a single paid sick day. That's not just wrong. It is cruel. So I'm going to ask the Premier again, will he do the right thing? Will he bring in permanent paid sick days so workers don't have to choose between going to work sick or paying the bills? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Again, I appreciate this question. The member will, of course, know that the Minister announced yesterday that the paid sick day regime that we brought in, Mr. Speaker, to supplement the federal program. A federal program, by the way, which was negotiated by our Premier, which provided, I believe, up to 20 sick days. Our program filled in some of those gaps that were in the federal program to give Ontarians the best sick day regime. So that has been extended. Obviously, we're not through the pandemic yet, Mr. Speaker, as much as we would all like to be. And that is why the Minister has highlighted the fact that we're extending these paid sick days right through to July. Thank you. Supplementary? Thank you, Speaker. Back to the Premier. We've seen the modelling. We know that in a matter of weeks we could be seeing more than 3,000 new COVID-19 cases a day. And we know the pressure that's going to place on our healthcare system. We need to act now. But instead of doing everything possible to fight this pandemic, the Premier is once again doing nothing. He's not listening to the science and he's not bringing in permanent paid sick days. So I'm going to ask the Premier one more time. Will he listen to the science? Will he help fight the COVID-19 pandemic by bringing in permanent paid sick days and help save lives? Again, Speaker, as I've said, we are focused on getting Ontarians through the pandemic. And that is why we have extended sick days right through to the end of the summer because the member is right. We are not quite through this yet, Mr. Speaker. You know, the Premier negotiated a national leading regime of sick days so that all of our essential workers could be covered. So look, I'm very proud of the program we have in place. We're going to continue to support essential workers. We're seeing the results of the things that we have done to get Ontario through this, Mr. Speaker. It's not just about the increased testing. It's not just about the investments that the Minister of Health has made, but we're also seeing because of these things that our economy is starting to come back, we've heard all of the jobs that were lost during the pandemic and actually have more jobs, Mr. Speaker, with thousands more that need to be filled. And another piece of good news is the fact that the member for Brampton South and the members for Brampton West have delivered on a new hospital, new transit and transportation, a new medical school for the people of Brampton, Mr. Speaker. There is a lot of good news happening for the people of the province of Ontario, including so much for the people of Brampton, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. The next question is for Brampton Grant. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. As we know, the previous Liberal government sat on their hands for 15 years and did nothing to build up our province. As Ontario enters a period of economic recovery, we need a government willing to work hard to get shovels in the ground to create affordable housing and build the housing, long-term care capacity and the highway and transportation infrastructure that our province desperately needs. Speaker, after 15 long years of no, my constituents and so many others are eager to see critical local projects get off the ground instead of dragging on for years as they did before. Projects like affordable housing, health care facilities and long-term care homes need to be moving at the level that our Canadians need and deserve. Speaker, through you, can the minister tell us how the government plans to meet these demands by fast-tracking, much needed local priority projects? Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Bramford Grant for that question. He's absolutely right. For 15 years, the Liberal Party supported overwhelmingly by New Democrats who said no to Ontarians. Today, under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is saying yes. Minister Zoning Orders or MZOs are a very important part of our policy toolkit to get critical projects moving at a pace that Ontarians need and that they deserve. Things like long-term care homes, transit-oriented communities. There are so many priority projects that our government is moving forward on and it comes to MZOs. Municipalities are in the driver's seat. MZOs issued on non-provincially owned land have always come at the request of local municipalities. Here's an example, Speaker. In the middle of the pandemic, Mayor Tory requested an MZO to expand Sunnybrook Hospital. I was pleased to say yes. I'm proud of the partnerships that our government has with Ontario's 444 municipalities. We're going to continue to use the tools that our government has developed to get these projects moving. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the minister for that answer. Speaker, as the minister has said, projects that will support Ontario's economy, including building much needed transit and housing are often slowed down by burdensome and duplicative red tape. Ontarians are sick and tired of hearing politicians say no to their priorities, which is why we are so fortunate to finally hear from a government that is saying yes. We need to be able to work in partnership with municipalities to say yes to critical projects like long-term care and supportive housing. And while I know this is not a new tool speaker, in fact, the MZO authority has existed in the planning Act since 1946. Ontarians deserve a government who puts people before politics and enables municipalities to better prepare for growth. So, Speaker, can the minister tell us how using MZOs in partnership with local municipalities are in the best interests of the people of Ontario? Mr. Minister, I want to thank the member for his leadership. Speaker, the numbers speak for themselves. We build, they don't. During the previous liberal government, when they were in power speaker, they built only 611 long-term care beds. By using MZOs alone, we've already fast-tracked 3700. As well, Speaker, using MZOs we've already been able to, Speaker, in just a short three-and-a-half years been able to fast-track 600 supportive housing units in just that time. The previous government, in the time when MZOs only moved 500 new supportive housing units. The NDP also is not without blame. They stood idly by and supported the previous government over and over and over again and they just didn't build. They just simply didn't build. Speaker, it doesn't matter whether it was long-term care, affordable housing, I think I figured it out. I think the N... Thank you very much. Speaker, my questions to the premier. COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Windsor Essex. Last week, the local hospitals, EMS service provider and the Windsor Essex County Health Unit released a statement reporting significant concerns of capacity pressures on our healthcare system. They report that our COVID-19 positivity rate is 8.3% while the province as a whole is at 3%. To put that in perspective, we've had 131 new cases in the last 24 hours. Four deaths and 18 workplaces are in outbreaks. Nine schools and childcare centers are currently in outbreak with many classes and bus cohorts being dismissed. Our local health unit has made the difficult decision to impose further health measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 yet this government has remained silent. Speaker, my question is this. Why won't this government help stop the spread of COVID-19 by implementing the many calls from those of us on this side of the house and of health experts. Lower class services, improve ventilation in schools, provide permanent paid sick days for workers and mandate vaccines for healthcare and education workers. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. We have made a significant investment in air ventilation in all schools in Windsor and across Ontario. $600 million leading investment that has deployed 70,000 happy units into classrooms across Ontario. In fact, every single school that does not have mechanical ventilation in every single learning space. In addition, we have announced the expansion of testing in partnership with the Deputy Premier, expanding take-home PCR tests to every publicly funded school and private school in the province of Ontario to help limit the spread. In addition, we have just expanded and providing in real time take-home rapid antigen test kits five per child. $11 million procured, $45 million invested to ensure a safe return in January. In addition to that, we have ensured a very high level of school-based vaccine clinics. We have as a consequence of the partnership in education with the highest vaccination rates of children in Canada. 20% of the youngest learners are already vaccinated. We know there's more to do and we're going to do it in partnership to keep these schools safe and open in Ontario. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Minister of Education thinks trying to open rickety old windows and making kids sit in classrooms and coats in the wintertime is proper ventilation, he should be listening to the experts. Health partners of Windsor Essex are sounding the alarms about bed capacities for surgeries at our local hospitals, many of which were cancelled during the pandemic. Constituents in my writing should not be waiting years for the health care they desperately need. We know that in order to slow down the spread, we must test, trace and isolate, yet this government is sitting on millions of rapid tests that could be made available to businesses, schools, workplaces and households across the province. When will this government take action for Windsor Essex and provide free accessible rapid tests to every single person in Windsor and Essex County? Minister of Health. Our government is providing free accessible tests to everyone who needs them across the entire province. We have, and should we have received, as I indicated earlier, over 31 million tests through the government of Ontario, we've also purchased over 2 million tests to send home with children. These tests have been deployed across the province. They're not sitting in a warehouse. They are being used. They are available to people who need to receive them in assessment centres and pharmacies in primary care, in workplaces, in congregate settings, wherever they need them. The situation is unfolding as Dr. Moore had indicated earlier when we indicated our plan to reopen Ontario, that as the weather gets colder, more and more people are indoors, there will be more cases. We have provided for that and planned for that. We have sufficient capacity in our hospitals. We have today 154 people, I believe, in intensive care including one person from Saskatchewan. So we have capacity in our hospitals. We have capacity in our intensive care units. We are doing rapid testing across the entire province. Thank you very much. The next question. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Speaker, it's time to free the routes. And by that I mean the rapid antigen tests. Early in 2020 the Premier called these rapid antigen tests a real game changer. And since then millions of these tests have been on the sidelines, sitting on the bench with the Premier. Nova Scotia UK Germany all sorts of countries around the world are providing free tests because they know that they're an important tool to protect people. An important tool. Yet this government has not done that. So Speaker, the question is simple. As we head into a tough couple of months with case counts rising why is this Premier denying families access to this important public health tool? The Minister of Health. And I think it's really important for me to advise the member opposite about what actually is happening in Ontario. Ontario is leading the country of Canada in rapid tests with over 33 million rapid tests deployed. 33 million. And that there is nothing sitting in storage. They are being deployed across the province. They're being deployed to assessment centres, to pharmacies, they're being deployed and they're being used. We know that while vaccination means the single most important way to protect people testing is of course also very important and that is why they are available free of charge to anyone who needs one. If they're symptomatic, of course they'll receive one free of charge. If they're asymptomatic but they have been in contact with someone with COVID and there's reason to suspect they may be infected they will also receive a test free of charge. We have these tests rapidly available to anyone who needs them. They can take them home and bring them back but we've expanded the location and we've expanded the number of tests that are available to people free of charge. Supplementary question. Well, speaker, at least this government is consistent. Indecisive and slow to act and rapid antigen tests aren't any different. The truth is that these tests aren't getting to the hands of families and they should have been accessible in September when kids started school. It's December. Families don't have them. The bottom line is it should be free for every family in this province. Every person. They literally cost pennies and we have millions of them gone unused. Get the premier satisfied with families maybe having to go to Shoppers Drug Mart and pay 40 bucks. How's that fair? How's that fair in any way to families? These tests should be available to everyone for free. Speaker, through you, will the premier commit to making rapid antigen tests free to every one of this province so we can protect ourselves and each other and make sure that this government distributes them widely and rapidly. Thank you. Mr. Health. In light of the comments made by the member opposite, which are not actually the case in the province of Ontario, I would like to indicate what is actually the case. The only time that a person needs to pay for a test in the province of Ontario at $40 is if they need it for travel purposes. That's the situation. If they go into a pharmacy and they need to receive a test, they are either symptomatic or asymptomatic under certain circumstances and they will receive the test. These tests are being widely deployed. Independent members come to order. They are not sitting in storage anywhere. They are being used across the province of Ontario. In schools, in workplaces, in congregate settings, in hospitals, in long-term care homes, we want to make sure that the people of Ontario are protected. The widely available free of charge tests are available to anyone who needs them. I think it's really important that we be clear with the people of Ontario about that. If you need a test, you will receive a test free of charge. Thank you. My question is to the minister of colleges and universities. As you know, more post-secondary students have the opportunity to return to campus this fall. Something I know they are very excited about. In the months leading up to the fall semester, as students hope to be back on campus and look to our government to make critical investments, we saw the minister step forward to support post-secondary institutions and support the safe reopening of colleges and universities this year. They were able to step back into a classroom on campus and the first time they have been able to return to in-person learning. As students approach exams and the semester comes to a close, they deserve to know what the government has done throughout the semester and what more is left to be done. Through you, my question to the minister is what investments were made to ensure that students could have a safe fall semester? I'm going to go to the minister and I'll bring my concerns for the safety of post-secondary students in Ontario. Our government invested an immediate $25 million to post secondary institutions at the beginning of the pandemic to support their most pressing needs with the pandemic. This year our government went even further by investing an additional $106.4 million and requiring that all schools have a vaccine policy before the school year to allow the safe fall semester to happen. Across public colleges and universities, proving post secondary is among the best sectors in Ontario for vaccinations. When faced with adversity, our sector faced their challenges head on and were able to deliver the high-caliber education our students expect and deserve. Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the work and resilience of our sector over the past few months and want to thank all of our staff, faculty and of course our students for their support. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the minister's advocacy and continued hard work to ensure that students as they return to campus are able to have a safe and supportive environment where they're able to learn back in person. It's wonderful to hear that students in Ontario had a successful semester. I know I've heard from many that they have as well as the safe return to campus. But there's a new semester around the corner where students will continue to have access to in-person learning when they return to class in January. But they deserve to the surety of knowing that the proper safety measures will continue to be in place so that our students can stay safe and healthy. Mr. Speaker, could the minister please explain to this House what she is doing in order to ensure that students remain safe on campus and in the classroom this upcoming semester? This semester comes to an end. We look forward to the winter semester. We will continue to work closely with health experts and schools to keep schools open, keep students on campus, and to keep Ontario running. Mr. Speaker, Ontario's post-secondary institutions are critical to the province's economic recovery as significant contributors to the local economy and for the role they play in creating a skilled and qualified workforce. We owe it to our students to keep learning in the classroom, connecting with one another, and participating in extracurricular activities. Our institutions prove that they can reopen safely and that students can stay healthy. Institutions like St. Clair College, Western, U of T, and many others have acted swiftly when needed to keep students safe. I'd like to take this opportunity to wish students across the province, including my own daughters in post-secondary, the best of luck on their exams and school holidays season before returning to campus in January. Thank you. Thank you. The next question. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Premier. On Monday, the Minister of Housing announced members of Ontario's new Housing Affordability Task Force. The task force consists of bankers, developers, most of whom are PC party donors. Missing from the task force are housing advocates, co-op and not-for-profit housing providers, municipal partners, representation from tenants and those experiencing homelessness. Why is the Premier ignoring the voices of those most affected by this issue while focusing on the voices of developers and donors? Mr. Mr. You know, Speaker, again from the party opposite that says no to building housing, says no to protecting tenants. That party opposite says no to almost every policy measure. So last week they said don't even appoint a task force. They said no to that. Now the members questioning the members of the task force. The member also forgets to talk about new democrat donations or liberal donations or green party donations. They forget to say those things every single time. But they're great at saying no, Speaker. Speaker, we've made it crystal clear to Ontarians we want to work with everyone. Opposition come to order. We've made it very clear that we are going to be engaging with big city mayors next week here in the city. We're also going to be sitting with rural Ontario mayors at the Roma conference. We've said over and over again the housing affordability crisis is something that all Ontarians need to do. We're going to be doing that in a more collaborative way. There's one. Thank you. The supplementary question. Back to the minister. The housing affordability task force mandate does not include issues like speculation. The impact of money laundering or the commodification of housing. It does not mention protection for tenants against illegal evictions or rent gouging. I think it's a good question to ask. The question is why does this government care more about delivering profit for developers and real estate speculators than about making housing affordable? Good question. Why does this party opposite continue to vote against measures for tenants continue to vote against strengthening our community housing system. Our task force represents the housing affordability crisis. We want to emerge from next week's mayor's meeting with a renewed sense of commitment that all levels of government can do better. Again, the opposition continues to say no at every measure of the housing affordability they are saying to Ontarians they're not going to participate in the discussion. That's fine by our speaker. Next question. My question is for the premier. Yesterday's FAO report shows that the government's failure to reduce climate pollution will stick it to taxpayers. $6 billion this decade in $116 billion this century the government is spending extra cost to buildings alone due to climate fueled extreme weather. Just look at what's happening in British Columbia. Economic and infrastructure devastation. Today we're debating a mini budget that fails to invest in climate solutions and adaptation. Instead the government is spending tens of billions of dollars on new highways that will cause more damage. My question is for the premier tell the people of Ontario why the government is not protecting taxpayers from the cost of the climate disasters that are getting more costly each and every year. Thank you Mr. Speaker. I completely disagree with the member opposite. Whilst I do appreciate his passion on the file we're focused on getting things done when it comes to infrastructure to get the economy moving, get people moving Mr. Speaker. That's the type of thing that helps us pay for close to $30 billion in subways that are being built in Toronto and into York Region Mr. Speaker. That's the type of investment that helps us build two way all day go trains to as far away as London Mr. Speaker. It helps us pay for the eventual electrification of the system Mr. Speaker. So when you look at what we are doing we are putting investments in place that will help us yes build the economy because building the economy is important to having the resources that you need to tackle environmental problems across the province Mr. Speaker and that's exactly what we are doing. Mr. Speaker let's be straight with the people of Ontario. Two years ago in December of 2019 the auditor general put forward a scathing report on the government's so-called climate plan. The minister at the time said we have and I quote we have an evolving plan and he promised to make updates to the plan in response to the auditor general. So now we are two years later in another scathing auditor general's report and still no updated plan to meet the government's weak pollution targets. The government's actually making things worse. Ramping up gas plants that will increase climate pollution by 300 percent. Building highway 413 which will increase climate pollution by 17.4 million megatons. Speaker we have to be honest with the people of Ontario about the cost and risk we face. So will the premier tell Ontarians when he will put forward an evolved climate plan that follows science answers the auditor general's point of view. So we have to be honest with the people of Ontario about the cost and risk of climate pollution by 20 30. It is a multifaceted approach we are taking. Not only are we building transit and transportation because we know how important it is not only are we investing in roads so people can get around and we can build our economy but it was a progressive technology. And when you look at our competitors around the world the primary source of their GH the greenhouse grass emissions is dirty energy. Ontario leads the way thanks to progressive conservative government and just last week the minister of energy announced the next version the small modular reactors which will ensure Ontario access to clean energy and we are going to export that technology around the world because Ontario can do that and Ontario can play a role in cleaning up other people's environment like we have done. Next question Thank you Mr. Speaker my question today is for the associate minister of mental health and addictions minister I have met with constituents in my writing and have received many emails from families whose children have been impacted by eating disorders just this past summer we learned that children and youth aged 12 to 18 have been impacted the most by eating disorders during this pandemic Speaker we know that this pandemic has had a significant impact on our children and youth but especially on their mental health I know this is something that our government and the minister have been very concerned about so minister could you please explain to the members of this legislature how our government is addressing the ongoing issues around eating disorders in this province Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addiction Thank you Mr. Speaker and I want to thank the member from Haliburton, Cawartha Lakes, Brock for that excellent question Mr. Speaker we know this pandemic has been especially challenging for our children, youth and their families healthcare providers across Ontario to surge in the need for eating disorder services and supports and that's why I was so pleased to be in Ottawa at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario to announce that our government is investing 8.1 million dollars this year to immediately address the increased demand for eating disorder services and provide specialized care for children and youth diagnosed with eating disorders this new investment builds on an additional 11.1 million dollars in annual funding through the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. We are also working with the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario to help the children with eating disorders services through our roadmap to wellness helping to protect our progress by increasing access to mental health and eating disorder services and supports across the province. Mr. Speaker our government will continue working with our community partners to ensure our children, youth always have access to eating disorders. I know my constituents will be pleased to hear that we have taken quick and decisive action to address the ongoing issues around eating disorders and I'm sure all members of the legislature will agree that children and youth across Ontario deserve access to the highest quality supports and treatment that they need. However we know that the long history of underfunding by previous governments has made it difficult to access families across Ontario. I know our government has made investments to support the mental health of our children and youth and I know this has been one of our top priorities. So Mr. Speaker through you could I ask the minister who's supporting children, youth and their families who are affected by eating disorders what we have done. Thank you Mr. Speaker and I want to thank the member for that follow-up question Mr. Speaker I have met with many families including those with lived experience who have been diagnosed with an eating disorder. I want to thank first of all the member from Toronto St. Paul's for first bringing this issue to my attention and I also want to really thank two young ladies that came forward and spoke to me about the eating disorders that they themselves were living with during the pandemic and explain just what the situation was. And I can honestly say that it was moving to listen to them and to hear how difficult the situation was for them, their families the unknown issues that needed to be dealt with. Mr. Speaker our investments are going to immediately expand access to specialised eating disorder services that are going to support individuals with complex needs and provide critical services that have been missing up to now across the province including filling service gaps in northern Ontario and throughout the province. Mr. Speaker every one young person struggling with the mental health or addiction challenge deserves to have the help that they need where and where they need it. And our government will fulfil that obligation and provide those services. Thank you very much. The next question to the member for St. Paul's. Thank you speaker my question to the premier from the beginning of the pandemic we know that small businesses across our province have been suffering. Last week we learned from the auditor general that this conservative government failed to provide assistance through this program to eligible hard hit businesses while we had hundreds of millions of dollars flowing to ineligible ones. Speaker I brought this up before you knew your program was failing you knew the problems and let small businesses hang out to dry power generators in St. Catherine's months for a response from the grant team only to be given five days to provide invoices or his file would be closed. Premier some of 14,000 ineligible businesses received over 210 million dollars from taxpayers. What do you say to the eligible businesses that were denied and lost in this failed program. Good question. Member for Brantford grant. Thank you Mr. Speaker and it's an honor to be able to rise on behalf of my ministry and to answer the good question from the member opposite. Mr. Speaker I want you to imagine with me that you are a small business owner. The pandemic hits in your shutdown. You're struggling to make ends meet the government steps in with supports on your taxes on your rent. We open up a small business support program and you apply. You get funding. You apply in good faith. If you listen carefully what you will hear from the member opposite is that those small business owners are being accused of fraud by the member opposite in order to keep their businesses going and that they are expecting them to pay that money back. That's shameful Mr. Speaker Supplementary question. Thank you Speaker. Power generators in St. Catherine's don't need an imagination they're facing what's going on and you know it. Back to the premier. The auditor general report found that the Ontario small business grant failed to assist the badly affected accommodations and food service industries. Nigrant St. Catherine's is a tourism and hospitality community that has been out of every four workers. We've built our main streets and our downtowns around these businesses. As the AG report noted these sectors were hit the hardest when you did not give businesses sufficient notice around restrictions. Premier you waited nine months to start a grant program then when you spent money it was clear you didn't know where it was going. And you know this for businesses across Niagara and St. Catherine's Member for Brantford Thank you Speaker and to the member opposite and actually to all small businesses in the province of Ontario where were the NDP when we brought forward legislation to supply rent relief where were the opposition members when we helped on property taxes where were the opposition members when we brought forward the small business support grants. You know what small business owners they voted against those measures every single time in this house So you know who's supporting small businesses in the province of Ontario it's the members on this side of the house right here. Thank you Mr. Speaker Thank you Thank you very much Mr. Speaker for the questions for the Premier Mr. Speaker nobody can argue that the cost of living in Ontario has skyrocketed since this government was elected The cost of heating your home is up The cost of electricity is up The cost of food is up The cost of gas is up The cost of taking the bus or subway Mr. Speaker is up And the cost of housing is up and up With their mini budget the government had an opportunity to help middle class families but alas there was nothing different approach. We want to help middle class families with direct supports and that's why we've introduced or proposed a $300 incentive for winter tires Mr. Speaker So given that this government has absolutely no plan to help the middle class will they join us in supporting middle class families and making their roads safer by providing winter tires Government side come to order to respond on behalf of the government the government house leader to help us with the crisis You're a hard working person in the province of Ontario up every morning at 7 o'clock taking the GO train getting on one of our roads to go to work and Stephen Del Duca who's been out of this place and the Liberal Party reduced to 7 members the best they got the best they got is a $300 tax credit for it massive cuts for small businesses and taxes Mr. Speaker massive investments in health care Mr. Speaker job creation that is through the roof Mr. Speaker but don't worry Stephen Del Duca Stop the call the minister of energy will come to order the member for Ottawa South will come to order the member for Renfrew Nipissing Pembroke will come to order we can restart the clock the government house leader heads the floor yes that's the best thing so they brought up two policies colleagues you'll remember now this is the second the first one was they brought in a policy to help make it easier to elect Liberals because they were reduced by the people the province of Ontario and their second big policy is a $300 tax credit I think when Ontario's go to the polls it contrasts the supplementary question thank you very much Mr. Speaker we know that they have no plan for middle class families we know the types of people they like to help Mr. Speaker it was of course this government that gave a made in Ontario COVID grant to a company that purchased off the shelf gadgets from China Mr. Speaker and when they got that grant when the company got that grant Mr. Speaker their stock skyrocketed and before anyone realized that no one wanted this gadget the executives sold their stock and make millions so those are the types of people that this government wants to help Mr. Speaker middle class families know that it's not them with the cost of daily life out of control it's time that this government support middle class families that's why we propose helping middle class families get green to get into the electric vehicle market with an $8,000 incentive for electric vehicles this government wants to flip flop on a bus stop the clock we'll take a seat the minister of education will come to order the member for mississauga center will come to order and the member for Ottawa south will come to order it's the second time for you too restart the clock government host leader thank you Mr. Speaker the legacy of the liberal party is very very clear Mr. Speaker skyrocketing hydro rates the loss of 300,000 jobs businesses could not flee the province when the liberals were in power Mr. Speaker on every single measure and what do they have to show for they left us the most indebted government not in Canada but in the world Mr. Speaker that is the legacy of the liberal government now I can understand why the member opposite is bringing a winter tire tax credit in he needs it in Ottawa why because he was in charge of a failed transit system that was over budget he doesn't work the member for Orleanne will come to order the member for Glen Gary Prescott Russell will come to order the member for Ottawa south will come to order and over here the minister of energy will come to order the minister of government and consumer services will come to order six minutes and 27 seconds left and I will move to warnings next especially for the ones who have been asked to come to order multiple times start the clock the next question the member for York south west my question is to the premier last week the Canadian civil liberties association released an alarming report on young people incarcerated in the province juvenile detention centres were described as only human warehouses and where education is seen as luxury and not a necessity as a youth opportunities critic I recognise the value of providing educational access provincial wide that includes youth in detention Mr. Speaker through you why is this government not providing compulsory education to young people in custody Thank you very much Mr. Speaker listen one of the things that we started to do when we came into office it really touches on the question that I just answered from the Liberal party we saw that they had made so little investments in so many areas across the province and one of those investments quite honestly Speaker was in our incarceration system we had old outdated jails that weren't able to provide the services that we need which ultimately I think we would all agree that what we want to do justice has to be served yes but ultimately when people are released from incarceration we want them to become productive members of society that is our goal that's why we are making these investments that are so important Mr. Speaker I hope the member will support some of those investments some of the results in that and I think perhaps in the supplementary the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions can also highlight some of the groundbreaking response that we are making there as well Speaker so I agree with the Honourable Member I am saddened that the Liberals didn't make these important investments but we are getting to a better province of Ontario despite their failures Supplementary question From worse to bad back to worse from earlier school ports in Ontario are not obligated by law to provide education in youth detention centres and only do so on a voluntary partnership basis the report details this and mentions black youth treated as security threats to be managed clearly we need to implement the 19 recommendations of this report by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association will the government take this report recommendations seriously and act and will they expand this report to include the voices of indigenous young men and women and women youth in detention centres thank you the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services and thank you to the member opposite for the question our government recognises how important it is for everyone to reach their full potential children and youth that are involved with the law and in a situation where they need supports where their families need supports this is something that our government is committed to understanding and creating the supports around these children and youth and around the families so that children can be supported in their communities we are recognising the regional differences of indigenous communities and rural and remote communities understanding how critical it is for us to be able to provide those services in an environment where these children and youth can thrive and can get the supports that they need so our government is committing to making sure that these children and youth that needs support whether through the justice system or through youth detention centres are able to get the supports that they need thank you the next question the member for York Centre the Premier many Ontarians are horrified by yesterday's press conference of the Chief Medical Officer Dr Karen Moore since summer 2020 the Premier has been telling us that vaccination is the best and sure way out of the pandemic first it was 70% then 80% now 90% of us are vaccinated but yesterday the Chief Medical Officer said that it may take a couple of years for COVID-19 to reach low and the health authorities are watching the strain in our ICUs Speaker when 90% of us are vaccinated why is the Chief Medical Officer saying that it may take a couple of years when for the last 18 months the Premier has been telling us that vaccination is a sure and best way out of the pandemic and to respond the Government House Leader I want to thank the member for highlighting how successful our vaccination program has been in the province of Ontario I do appreciate the support from the Honourable Member for what has been really a groundbreaking effort not only the Government ensuring the resources are there to get us to 50 to 60 to 70 I think today Mr. Speaker actually is the anniversary of when the first vaccine was delivered into the arm of somebody worldwide that was in Great Britain Mr. Speaker if I'm not mistaken and in that time despite the fact we were a little bit delayed in getting those vaccines Ontario has not only caught up but we have passed every other jurisdiction in the world and we lead not only Canada but the world in vaccinations in people's arms Mr. Speaker I think that's a great testament to the people of the province of Ontario Mr. Speaker and I thank the Honourable General for highlighting that in his question The supplementary question Thank you Speaker Speaker I find it abhorrent that millions of Canadians may be home for Christmas but only in their dreams because they're not allowed on certain public transportation and the division fostered by this government by pitting loved ones against one another everyone in this chamber should find it distasteful yesterday's Saskatchewan Premier Scott Mo called for an end to stigmatising the unvaccinated compare that to yesterday's press conference by the medical officer Moore said that a basic means of protecting individuals is stopping the mixing of the vaccinated and the unvaccinated Speaker as a Canadian who chose to vaccinate I condemn Dr. Moore's hateful and divisive language my question to the Premier does he support the stopping of the mixing of the vaccinated and the unvaccinated or will he join me in the spirit of the holidays and distance himself from the hateful and divisive language of the chief medical officer Government House Leader Of course Speaker the chief medical officer has been not only the current chief medical officer but a constituent online Dr. Williams has been instrumental in helping us develop the plans that have seen Ontario lead the nation and really lead the world in making sure that we have vaccines in people's arms but unlike the Honourable Gentleman across the way Mr. Speaker we know that there is more to do to get us beyond this if we want to continue to have robust economic recovery that we're seeing we have to ensure that we continue to fight this Covid pandemic we're seeing worldwide and other jurisdictions I know the leader of the opposition tried to compare us to Germany and other parts of Europe where they are facing massive, massive difficulties we have things under control here in the province of Ontarians because of the hard work of Ontarians to get vaccinated Mr. Speaker we're at 90 percent maybe we could strive to have even more and I know the Honourable Gentleman will help us get to that Mr. Speaker We now have a deferred vote on the motion for second reading of Bill 52 an act to enact the stopping illegal handgun smuggling act 2021 the bells will now ring for 30 minutes during which time members may cast their votes I'll ask the clerks to please prepare the lines