 It is now time for oral questions. I recognize the leader of the official opposition Thank you, speaker my questions to the premier The government announced deep cuts to education that will strip a billion dollars out of our kids classrooms over the next four years instead of investing in our schools to tackle the $16 billion school repair backlog or Ensuring children with autism have the supports that they need to thrive at school The premier's cut will mean 10,000 fewer teachers and more students squeezed into crowded classrooms Why does the premier think our kids education is not worth the investment? premier Through you mr. Speaker what we're doing. We're actually modernizing the school system I am so proud of what the Minister of Education did Won't cost one teacher their job Not one single teacher will lose their job because after 15 years of liberal nonsense Testing out failed ideology for our kids Letting mass scores fall to the lowest in the entire country I know the leader of the opposition is all right with our grade six math students Half of them are failing math one third of our teachers are failing the same test But we're fixing that problem because we know we have the greatest teachers in the world They just need the support that they haven't had Start the clock supplementary Well, I can share this premier that most of us think most of us think there is nothing modern about him or the Backwards way that he's taking his comments cuts to education In high schools as many as one in every five teaching posts is in jeopardy as class sizes balloon And students are forced to take classes online Taking classes online Instead of in-person instruction that means less than one-on-one attention for students and teachers that are stretched even thinner Why is this premier choosing to balance the budget on the backs of our kids? For you mr. Speaker we consulted with over 72,000 parents And unlike the previous government we actually listen to the parents and what they told us 95% of the parents do not want their children to have cell phones in the classroom Those are staggering numbers the students will not have cell phones in their classrooms We're ensuring that health and physical education are taught at an appropriate age and that the most important People to teach them are their parents We're increasing the focus on skills training on math sciences and financial literacy Because I know my friends in this room there's some people that don't understand finances some people don't understand Opposition come to order start the clock final supplementary Well speaker yesterday the Minister of Education refused to rule out future changes to full-day Kindergarten that could see fewer teachers or early childhood educators in those classrooms instead. She said and I quote There's no stone unturned at the state this stage of the game. We're reviewing all of our options speaker Our kids education is not a game. It's not a game for the government to play our kids education is important It's important to them now. It's important to their future opportunities and it's important to us as a province to be Competitive that's what the importance of education is they obviously don't know it Will the Premier commit right now to keeping full-day kindergarten the way it is Questions to the previous speaker as I said in my earlier comment. We're going back to the basics going back to the basics on math Sciences making sure Something that we forgot over But again, mr. Speaker, we are here to support number one I come to order Stop the clock We just got started we've got 55 minutes to go The opposition parties have the opportunity to ask their questions as to all members government ministers have to respond Okay, we can start the clock. I'm gonna ask the Premier to conclude his response Through you mr. Speaker, I can assure you we will never take the advice of the NDP in the levels Who failed our kids for years and years and years when it came to math? We won't take lessons from the NDP or the Liberals who supported these failed policies for 15 years We're turning the corner when it comes to education We will have the brightest students in the whole country by the time our term is out Start the clock next question the leader of the opposition. Thank you speaker My next question is also for the Premier Yesterday the member from Lanark Frotnat Kingston came forward with the disturbing allegation that Dean French the Premier's handpicked chief of staff and Other senior operatives within the Premier's inner circle were allegedly engaged in quote-unquote Possible illegal and unregistered lobbying by close friends and advisors employed by government side come to order Can the Premier tell us excuse me if he or his chief of staff Dean French were lobbied by individuals not registered to lobby in Ontario Premier through you mr. Speaker I find this so rich and ironic coming from the leader of the opposition the leader of the opposition Just sent a mass email out to all her downtown elite friends heads of the public unions And by the way, the poor people and part of the public unions actually that don't support the NDP policies are actually having to pay for These tickets they sent out Come and join the leader of the NDP Henry Horvath for eight hundred dollars. It's an open bar to our Highness Going to ask the Premier to withdraw that comment Restart the clock and you withdrew the time Start the clock supplementary Thank you speaker There is a difference between legal and illegal though PC caucus because he raised concerns about the Premier's chief of staff Dean French Engaging in illegal lobbying activities For you mr. Speaker once you get the pay your eight hundred dollars that have access to the leader the celebration It's called a celebration For being the leader of the opposition and the leader of the NDP for ten years Well, I'll tell you I'll tell you mr. Speaker I look forward to going to the next celebration for 20 years of her being the leader of the opposition You're supposed to send out your email blast seven days before but guess what mr. Speaker they broke the law They sent it out four days ago The seven day Can assure the Premier he won't be able to hear the members who are asking the questions pretty simple And I ask all members to allow the speaker to do that Start the clock leader the opposition can conclude her question the member from Lenard Lenard Fronting at Kingston went on to say and I quote the member for King Vaughan will withdraw start the clock I Was drawn remember over here that said the same thing you have to withdraw Stand up member for brand brand for brand withdraw start the clock Apologize leader the oppositionist the member from Lenard Fronting at Kingston went on to say and I quote Even when the government is in violation of the law or engaged in unlawful Activity I must accept these decisions as a team member and neither dissent in caucus nor speak publicly of this illegal Actions was the member from Lenard Fronting at Kingston removed from the PC caucus because he objected to the government's Allegedly engaging in illegal activity Through you mr. Speaker in this chamber We know the only thing that's going on that was illegal was sending out a letter four days prior Yeah, to a fundraiser you just send it out seven days prior to a fundraiser It's eight hundred dollars to have access to the leader no one has to pay to have access to Doug Ford They just call me on my cell phone Michael my next question is also for the Premier speaker Raises a lot of questions when we have a premier that was Participating in fundraisers that were in violation of the law before he was even elected Yeah, that's right And now a senior member of his inner circle accused by a veteran PC MPP of engaging in illegal Lobbying activities will the premier tell this house if he has any knowledge of Dean French or his senior Staff's involvement in illegal lobbying activities Through you mr. Speaker the leader of the opposition of sore-note names series accusations Rather than sitting here cowardly in this chamber Why doesn't she go outside and name the names because she knows that she'll be sued she knows She doesn't have a foot to stand on it's unfortunately throw these false accusations here in this protected chamber What's wrong supplementary Supplementary Well speaker if the premier has nothing to hide and Dean French and other members of the premier senior staff have not engaged in any Illegal lobbying activities will the premier then fully cooperate with any investigations the OPP choose to launch Premier again through you mr. Speaker I Find it ironic. I find it ironic that we have eight hundred dollars cash for access To sit down and have a couple of cold beers with a leader of the opposition That is illegal mr. Speaker. You can't be asking for cash for access Four days before sending out emails going to all her top union buddies to the leaders because I differentiate between Labor and labor leadership public and private sector unions. I support the front line people Hard-earned tax dollars going to these eight hundred dollar and night fundraisers to have a few drinks for the leader of the opposition A member for Kitchener has Environmentalism and conservation are key components to the identity of Ontario and Ontario has already made significant progress Meaningful efforts of individuals and industry have paid off because of this and we have already reduced provincial emissions by 22% Local Ontario businesses like Challenger mortar freight in Cambridge are taking upon themselves to reduce emissions Mr. Speaker could the premier please share with us why he along with the minister of environments myself and my colleagues from Waterloo region We're in my riding of Kitchener South Hesbler last week Questions to the premier For you mr. Speaker. I want to thank the champion of all champions Kitchener, West Heslur MPP Amy Fee We had a great visit out in Cambridge last week mr. Speaker. We went to Challenger one of the Largest freight companies in the country. We went there with the minister of our mission come there with a couple other MPPs and this is what we heard from the front line truck drivers They are terrified about this carbon tax They know everything in the country will go up and cost because everything gets delivered by a truck gas prices will go up Everything will go up in the household Taking your kids from point A to point B will cost you more going to the grocery store will cost you more mr. Speaker But the NDP supports that they support higher taxes higher carbon taxes higher gas prices That is their socialist mentality Thank you. Thank you Supplementary It's clear that through great sacrifice and meaningful efforts of businesses like Challenger Ontario has worked to make significant greenhouse gas emission reductions without a federal carbon tax Ontario can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change without a federal carbon tax Yet Justin Trudeau is continuing with his plan to force this tax on the people of our great province So mr. Speaker can the premier elaborate on what the federal carbon tax would do to the hard-working men and women of this province? Premier Well again, thank you for the question from the member We went there. What a positive positive response mr. Speaker You know what was even just as positive when we heard the job numbers We have built an environment here in Ontario that people have Small medium and large have confidence to hire people 41,000 new jobs were created months before 37,000 the month before 17,000 almost Because House will come to order so I can hear the next question Start the clock member for Essex very much speaker my questions to the premier speaker in his explosive letter from yesterday The member for Lanark front at Kingston indicated that his expulsion from the government caucus is a direct result of quote raising concerns about possible illegal and unregistered lobbying by close friends and Advisors of the premier that the premier removed the member from caucus because he raised these concerns. Yes or no Through through you mr. Speaker there's absolutely no truth to any of the allegations that the member from Essex has been accusing People that are totally innocent yesterday and today, you know the leader through you mr. Speaker The member from Essex he walks around here like he's a big tough guy. He's a real tough guy He thinks he's a big tough guy The big tough guy walk outside and make those accusations outside this door Mr. Speaker he knows he doesn't have a good enough lawyer to walk outside those doors He walks around as a tough guy, but he's nothing but a coward He's to advise the house that the intemperate language is getting out of control And I have no choice but to start warning members Personal insults are not helpful to the dialogue or the discussion And I would ask all members to keep that in mind in terms of the language that they're using in the context of the remainder of question period Start the clock supplementary Thank you very much. Speaker. I guess we know why the premier wanted his buddy to head up the OPP so badly That's a telling answer by the premier Speaker Expelling this member from caucus fortune and ask the member for Essex to withdraw I withdraw speed Clutus question Spelling the member from caucus for trying to speak out is just the latest of a string of revenge plots that this premier has been obsessed by Speaker from Brad Blair to Alican Vell she to the city of Toronto Counselors that he could never get along with this premier attacks anyone anyone who steps out of line So I ask again did the premier remove the member for Lanark Fronten at Kingston as a revenge plot for Revealing refusing to conceal alleged illegal activity. Yes or no. Yes or no Through you mr. Speaker again the accusations are absolutely ridiculous and I find it again I find it so rich so ironic that they're holding an eight hundred dollar access to the leader bar bar Free-for-all whatever you want to call it drink all you want for eight hundred dollars Because once you drink all you want then you have the access and once you pay the eight hundred dollars Again, we don't believe in that we believe in anyone that needs our help can make the phone call to pick it up We believe in the twenty five dollars spaghetti dinners that we've been doing all across the province We've had great turnouts speaking to communities listening their concerns and the number one common I hear mr. Speaker is keep going Thank you position will come door start the clock next question the member for Mississauga streets Question is for the Minister of Economic Development job creation and trade Our government came into office on a commitment to create and protect good jobs for the hard-working people of our province here here We promised to make Ontario open for business and open for jobs and our plan is working Last month Ontario led the way in job creation by adding 37,000 new jobs in just the last three months. We've created over 95,000 jobs including many my writing of mississauga streetsville Can the minister outline for the house how we are making our province an engine for job creation and economic prosperity a good question Thanks very much speaker and thanks to the member I had a great tour yesterday of a business in the members riding You know Ontario is leading the way in job creation because we finally have a premier and we have a government That understands business as the member alluded to we've created a lot of jobs. It's becoming government in January We created 41,000 jobs and then this month We got more great news last Friday stats Canada reported that Ontario was the sole province with a notable employment gain in February speaker the United States Ontario created To the quality of our workforce our job creators and the work that this Ontario government is doing to reduce red tape lower taxes Make Ontario open for business make Ontario open for jobs Thank you speaker and thank you to the minister for his answer I know my constituents want to see Ontario become the economic engine of Canada once again And I know that our government is creating the environment necessary to make that happen here We promise to create an environment where businesses can grow thrive and create good jobs, and we are doing exactly that I know the minister and our entire team have been hard at work reducing red tape and burdensome regulation Could the minister please inform how important it is to continue creating good jobs for the hard-working people of our province Thanks again to the member from Mississauga We had a great tour yesterday with Glaxo Smith flying in her riding Finding out how we can reduce red tape to ensure that they stay here and create good jobs in Ontario when we made the announcement last week Or stats Canada made the announcement that we had created 95,000 jobs in the last three months all the member from The opposition could do the NDP from Waterloo could do was struggle shoulders. We think that 95,000 jobs is great news And that's why we're doing everything we can to continue to create jobs so that families can put food on the table They can send their kids to university and college and make sure that we have the workforce of the future Our government is continuing to make sure that we have that skills match that works in our post-secondary And our public education system for the jobs of the future. We're going to cut red tape We're going to cut taxes and we're going to continue to create jobs in Ontario. Mr Thank You mr. Speaker my question is for the minister of education But before I go to that the premier has talked a few times about how he always answers the cell phone I sat with a group of parents yesterday of children with autism who said they have been calling his cell phone Repeatedly and have received no response Yesterday teachers Education workers and allies across the province were black to protest the government's plan to jam more kids into overcrowded classes and rip a Billion dollars out of Ontario schools But as school boards and educators continue to assess the damage of these sweeping cuts It seems the minister might already be setting her sights on full-day kindergarten Telling reporters yesterday that we are quote reviewing all our options when it comes to staffing Speaker given this minister's track record Why should parents believe those options or anything more than cuts cuts and more cuts? Thank you very much mr. Speaker and again I'm pleased to rise in this house and talk about our government's vision on how we're going to make Education work for everyone in this province because we know Lately went off the rails under the leadership of the Liberal government the Liberal government over 15 years Failed our students with experiments and ideologies that saw math scores and overall scores plummet The resiliency of students with absolutely plummeted as well and the confidence in that the parents and employers head in Ontario's education system Absolutely plummeted as well. So therefore the narrative that the opposition party is trying to create is quite frankly offensive speaker because we're doing what we said we would do we've consulted We've listened and we're modernizing and building an education system that is absolutely Absolutely going to see success for our students Well mr. Speaker, I'm so sorry the minister is offended But we are going to continue to stand here every single day and oppose these massive Speaker increases to class sizes forcing students to take more classes online Eliminating 20% of teaching positions in secondary schools alone That's 10 in our schools and less support for every single student Small and rural schools are particularly worried about keeping their doors open and not just the small high schools But elementary schools too and we know from hearing from communities and teachers in Renfrew and aren't prior aren't prior and elsewhere That they're looking at class sizes in elementary schools of at least 32 children Question with fewer supports as school boards continue to struggle with all of these Inadequate special needs budgets. Can the minister explain how eliminating thousands of frontline jobs in education isn't keeping with the Premiers promise to Ontario Minister Thank you very much the strength speaker first of all we need to be crystal clear There are no Involuntary job loss happening under my watch Repeat that for all our listeners and everyone in the house today The plan we have pulled together is actually getting good reviews from parents and from teachers and from students And again, I repeat to be crystal clear so that nobody gets caught up in the ridiculous narrative The opposition is trying to create no one is involuntarily going to lose their job Because we know we have some of the best teachers around the world Teachers know that they have a government To make sure they have the best learning environment in Ontario and across Canada because again it all comes down to making sure we create pathways Thank you The member for Ottawa South. Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker. My question is for the deputy premier speaker When I was coming to Queens Park very early yesterday morning. I'm at a cab driver. His name was Jesse We got to talking he asked what I did and then he said to me. Can you tell Doug Ford something for me? I said sure Referred to the premier by the expression the premier. Thank you very much speaker the premier I said sure Tell him I have a son who's six years old He has autism He started saying his first few words with the help of therapy on April 1st. He's going to lose that therapy. I Don't know what we're going to do Schools don't have the support that he needs Tell him my family needs his help Speaker we are 12 days away from a little six-year-old boy and many other children losing services their futures And on through you to the premier. I'm asking or the deputy premier. I'm asking again Will they hit the pause button meet with families and work with them? Thank you the deputy premier Minister of Children Community and Social Service Minister of Children Community and Social Service Thanks very much. I want to thank the member from Ottawa South for bringing this floor to the floor of the Assembly and To bringing Jesse's story here I must say the last month has been very emotionally charged for many people across the province It's been a very Families as as they come to terms with our policy I will say that my parliamentary assistant Amy Fee and I continue to consult with families I have been working with the Minister of Health for Hamilton Mountain education So we can ensure that there are wraparound supports for families across the province of Ontario I'm going to continue to work with those families. I'll continue to work with the stakeholders in the field And we're going to make sure that that where we can make some enhancements. We'll do that But let me be perfectly clear the system that we inherited from that members party was broken and broke We had to go to Treasury Board not once but twice in order to get over a hundred and two million dollars to sustain A broken system and we're going to continue to make historic investments into autism in this problem Thank You speaker, I'm not going to comment on the response. I'm just going to let it speak for itself So through you to the Premier what the government what the government needs With the government what the government needs to do for these families is to walk their very difficult path with them And what they're hearing from the Minister and that and the Premier is We're giving you money Just go away. You're on your own And I know that across the aisle members of the government there are other members of the government Government caucus who've met with families listen to them and want to help them I don't know what's going to happen in the government caucus room this afternoon But I do know we're 12 days away from many children losing the things that they need And I know that members some members of the government caucus have had the courage to do the right thing So through you speaker Will the premier have that same kind of courage and do the right thing pause the program and sit down with families? Yes or no minister Thanks very much speaker. Look The previous liberal government left us with a broken system that did not support 75 of the children in the province material We will continue with our plan on april 1st to clear the waitlist so that the 23 000 children The member for hamilton mountain is warned Minister please respond so our commitment to the 23 000 children who are presently on the waitlist Is to move them as quickly as possible over the next 18 months into direct funding models So they get the service that they need we have made additional investments in the education system I'm working with the minister of health so we can have stronger standards and we are open and committed to an Effective dialogue that is respectful and one that we can move forward on. We we feel The empathy in our government with families who have been Dealing with this diagnosis But our commitment today is to clearing the waitlist in the next 18 months for those 23 000 children member for naggle west Speaker as everyone in this house knows good things grow in ontario Under the previous government farmers in my writing writing faced burden after burden that made it more difficult for them to produce The local food we all love our government is committed to increasing access to local foods by removing redundant and outdated regulations while also implementing exciting new initiatives I know that increasing sales of local food will create jobs in naggle west increase economic growth and ensure rural communities like mine Remains sustainable. So my question is simple. Can the minister please tell the house how the new goal of the local food act He announced this week is proposing to increase local food purchases in the public sector Thank you minister of agriculture food and rural affairs Thank you very much, which is big and I thank the member from naggle west for his question Yesterday I was proud to announce that our government has established a new goal under the local food act Which will help the broader public sector increase access to local food in their institutions and daily operations Public sector organizations include a universities colleges school boards hospitals long-term care facilities And municipalities are being encouraged to serve locally grown made in ontaria foods including in cafeteria and to the patients We've launched new tools such as the interactive local food hubs map that will make it easier For organizations to find and purchase the local food They want I want to thank all those organizations that worked with us to help identify some of the barriers and red tape That we are making and that we're making and are more difficult making it more difficult to respond Our government wants to see the agriculture industry in ontaria expand and by making these Making it easier for those in public sector to increase access to local food. We are doing exactly that Thank you Thank you speaker and thank you to the minister for his answer Local ontario food plays a vital role in our province's economy Local food encourages job creation strengthens economic growth and supports our hardworking farmers It's encouraging to see ontario farmers food processors and distributors coming together to increase the presence of local food In our large market and I look forward to seeing more food grown locally in my riding Across public sector institutions in my community So could the minister please elaborate on the various initiatives our government is developing to ensure that ontario food Is seen in the broader public sector minister Again, mr. Speaker and thank you to the member for the question and speaking with stakeholders It was clear an increasing number of public sector institutions are looking to increase their local food Some of the initiatives our government is proposing to increase access to local food in our public institutions Include new and informative videos to promote local ontario food a recognition Initiative to help public sector institutions who succeed in achieving their food targets Sharing tracking documents to help organizations set goals and measure their success year over year I also encourage everyone to look at the food land ontario logo To know they are choosing the good things that grow in ontario Mr. Speaker our government is committed to promoting the good things that grow in our province And i'm excited about all these initiatives and look forward to continuing working and promoting ontario food response Thank you very much next question the member for london west Thank you very much speaker. My question is to the minister of education Speaker more than half of the approximately 3700 students in the tems valley district school board who currently require school-based rehabilitation therapy are on a wait list For those services some have been waiting years for the occupational therapy Physiotherapy or speech language pathology they need to be able to learn Without additional funding many of these students may never Receive the essential services they require to be successful at school Speaker instead of ripping a billion dollars out of our education system Will the minister commit today to eliminating the wait list for in school rehabilitation therapy for tems valley students Well, thank you very much, mr. Speaker and i find it kind of rich because when just a couple of days ago Even just moments ago when we talk about eliminating wait lists this party opposite loses their minds Of course, we want to go you give them what they want and they go crazy for what We of course are taking a look at what we need to be doing in our classrooms and in our school system You know, I I hear from occupational therapies Therapists and speech therapists on a regular basis and they're providing a lot of feedback And in fact, I'm thinking of one right now and she supports getting back to the basics Her name is jenna and if you want more details, I'd be pleased to speak to you about it later Because jenna was sincere of heart because she said if she applauded us getting back to the basics In math and she said don't stop there. We need to get back to phonics That's is exactly what the jenna's told me and you know what I sir. Thank you Order Start the clock supplementary Speaker eliminating the wait list means adding services not cutting them Speaker the transfer of responsibility for school based rehabilitation therapy from children from health care providers to children's treatment centers Was supposed to improve access for children with special needs and ensure seamless support from births to 18 Instead what we are seeing in the london area is even less Timely service wait lists that are getting longer and more children being denied the supports they need to learn Speaker, how does this minister expect students to be successful at school when they don't have the basic Physiotherapy they need to hold a pencil the basic occupational therapy They need to sit in a circle or use the washroom or the basic speech therapy They need to communicate in the classroom Please take your seat Well, thank you very much and you know what what we just heard from the member opposite is more examples And more results of a failed liberal government and how this passed our students across Ontario But i'll tell you this speaker We're investing in our education program that and system across this province that's going to work for everyone We're going to be addressing the success Factors that students need in order to feel confident and resilient when it comes to being out in the work world of work And speaker i can tell you this again What we're doing is we're listening to our parents and we're listening to the teachers We're listening to the 72,000 people that participated in our consultation because constructive feedback has just been Invaluable and again I want to talk about jenna who sincerely sent me examples and clips and research that showed not only is Do parents and occupational Thank you Thank you Thank you, mr. Speaker. My question is for the francophone minister tomorrow is the international The day of francophony My question is simple. Is the francophone world in uh, ontario a priority? Yes or no Thank you, mr. Speaker Of course francophonie in ontario is a big priority for me and for our government Thank you for her answer mr. Speaker, but According to What we see aside for slogans this government only takes care of its little friends Mr. Speaker this government's cuts Does not should not be made on the backs of francophones or on the backs of children who have special needs or an education this government has desperately needed the approval of a former conservative prime minister To justify this minister this francophone minister's actions. So my question to her What are the tangible measures? That you will do be doing to increase the support for the ontario francophonie Of course the ontario francophonie is very important and our government is working every day for the ontario francophonie The liberal had had 15 budgets to support the francophones It had 15 budgets without long-term support We work every day to make sure that we support Our francophone enterprises And we are working on health reforms so that we can improve the access to health care for francophone people And i'm working with my colleague As a francophone who i continue to improve the justice system in french We are different from the liberals because we're doing it in a with a long-term vision Start the clock the next question is the member for oakville north berlin Mr. Speaker my question is to the minister of municipal affairs and housing Mr. Speaker i'm proud to be part of a government that is committed to being more efficient while improving service delivery That means reviewing old systems to find what is and what is not working We are delivering on this commitment through the regional government review currently underway It is putting the people of ontario First and making sure they are getting the services they need in the most effective way Last week the minister of municipal affairs and housing had some great news to announce regarding the review Mr. Speaker can the minister update the house on the status of that Minister of municipal affairs and i want to thank the member for oakville north berlington Not just for that excellent question, but also for her tremendous advocacy in her writing Speaker i want to be clear the goal of our government's regional government review is to make sure that regional governments are working Harder smarter and more efficiently the review is focused on those eight regional governments And also the county of simcoe and their lower tier municipalities last week as the member notes I was pleased to announce the launch of the online consultation for our government's regional government review the participation From people who live who work and who spend time in those municipalities covered by the review is going to be vital For the recommendations that my two Special advisors will provide me this summer. So i encourage everyone who lives and works In those regional areas to share their thoughts at ontario.ca forward slash regional government Thank you, mr. Speaker and thank you to the minister for that answer The constituents in my community of oakville north berlington are excited to have their voices heard by this government After 15 years of neglect and lack of consultation by the previous liberal government It is a refreshing change to be able to provide input and know it is valued It is an honor to be part of a government that is looking out for the people of ontario And is committed to restoring trust and accountability in our governments Can the minister please explain to the house how those who live Work and spend time in the municipalities covered in the review can participate That's uh, i want to thank the member for that very important question She is absolutely right speaker the previous liberal government had a history of not consulting with ontarians But instead imposing their changes on municipalities and the people of this province speaker Our government is different. We are consulting and more importantly speaker We are listening residents of the municipalities captured in the review Are encouraged to go online at ontario.ca forward slash regional government and share their thoughts about our regional government review The deadline to provide comment is april the 23rd in addition speaker to the public online consultation The special advisors will continue to meet with key municipal stakeholders and members of the public in each region And also in simcoe county details of this phase of ontario's regional government review Will continue and it will be available in the weeks and months ahead. Thank you again Next question the member for hamilton melton Uh, thank you speaker my question is for the attorney general For decades the provincial government used the ontario training schools as a place to send troubled youth At these facilities youth were subjected to physical sexual and emotional abuse on a daily basis The survivors of this barbaric system have asked the government for an apology or support or other remedies This government has turned them down and the minister is actively avoiding them Will the attorney general do the right thing and apologize for the abuse survivors experienced at training schools Mr. Speaker, I thank the member opposite for the question This is a sad chapter in ontario's history And I wish that I could say more on the topic, but ontario was served late last late in 2017 with a statement of claim And so as such it was certified as a class proceeding and as such I cannot speak to a case as it is a matter of active litigation. I'm sorry Supplementary speaker as many as 20,000 children were sent to training schools and were subjected to systemic daily abuse These children were the responsibility of the crown and they were failed by their government For decades the survivors have lived with the trauma What they want is an acknowledgement of the horrific experiences that they endured But instead they're getting silence. Will the attorney general stop ignoring the training school survivors and instead Acknowledge that their trauma is real Attorney general Mr. Speaker, I just previously acknowledged to the member opposite and to this house how difficult this chapter was for so many people In our history and for those experiences But as I've said it would be inappropriate for me to comment on this and that is not meant to negate The pain and suffering that so many people in this province have felt an experience But unfortunately I cannot comment any further. She's the attorney general Thank you next question the member for york center Mr. Speaker my question is to the minister of transportation our government for the people made a promise during the election to get the people of Ontario moving and we're doing just that we value input from our partners and the people of Ontario so that we can provide the best Possible transit services Recently there's been a lot of questions and attention surrounding the GO buses that we're taking off the loop at your university I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the minister of transportation for his leadership on the issue and always putting the Interest of students first I also want to thank metro links for their ongoing conversation with york university in trying to find a solution that works for students Can the minister of transportation kindly update the legislature on the conversations between york university and metro links? Thank you very much speaker and I'd like to thank the member from york simcoe For that question or york center. Excuse me for that question He's been a strong addition to our team here at queen's park The issue at york university with regarding the GO buses is very unfortunate But I I wanted to be very clear with the the legislature here that myself My parliamentary assistant king of surma ministry of transportation And metro links have worked very hard to keep the buses on the campuses However, york university requested that GO buses be removed off the bus loop Metro links intervened and had them stay until the end of january However, at that time york university removed the buses and closed the the loop that they went to It's only until recently that when their students and faculty complained that york university Changed his tune and wanted the buses back. However, mr. Speaker. They've closed down the loop There isn't safety for the students and faculty to get off That's what we're focusing on and safety for our students and faculty and we're going to continue to work with Speaker through you back to the minister. Thank you minister for that response As a york university alumni, this is an important issue to myself my colleagues and more importantly the students at york university I know that the minister of transportation and metro links have been working hard to find solution that works for everyone It's truly unfortunate that the university made a request to remove the buses only to retract such requests later on Minister, it is also regretful that the university is not interested in working out solutions for students I know that there has been much correspondence between metro links and the university But it is difficult to find a solution when york university cannot offer routes for buses that are a safe alternative To the york lanes bus route. Can the minister of transportation tell us more about what metro links is doing to ensure student interest Is at the forefront of these discussions minister Mr. Speaker and again Since I mispronounced it last i'm york center member for that question again um You know, I just want to set the record straight here on the go bus because it's apparent some members of the opposition Don't have the clear story of what went on regards to metro links and york university metro links sent letters to york university with reasonable solutions Outlining In the document however york university was not interested on working on any of the solutions put forward by metro links for the students Mr. Speaker not only has metro links offered reasonable solutions to meet all the needs of all parties involved They have also offered to reduce fares for those traveling on the new location and transferring to the ttc Mr. Speaker the mto and metro links and myself and partly just in king of serma are Willing to continue to find solutions that work for students And the fact that mr. Speaker, it's my hope that york university will join us in keeping students interests safe And keeping the faculty safe as a Order Order start the clock next question member for kitchens center. Thank you, mr. Speaker My question is to the premier Last year members of the black ontario public service employees network spoke out against anti-black racism in the ontario government They shared their experiences with the former liberal minister responsible for the anti-racism directorate And they demanded a moratorium on the suspension of racialized employees until these issues were addressed Within a week 52 cases of racialized employees who were suspended or off work were identified In july 2018 just over a month after the new government came into power The moratorium was quietly lifted. The government claimed the investigation was complete Can the premier please tell the people of ontario what they uncovered in their investigation that allowed them to believe that They had solved the problem of anti-black racism within the ops And here mr. Community and safety services Minister of community safety correction services. Thank you And thank you for the question, you know My ministry and my deputy minister have worked have been working very aggressively on the anti-racism directorate There are many issues that we are reviewing studying There's a lot of inputs frankly that we need to review to make sure that we get this right This is not a a fast pathway to a quick solution We want to study it get it right do it carefully, and we're doing that now. Thank you Thank you, mr. Speaker and back to the premier Jean Marie Dixon and hentro nelson are both black women who were employed by the ontario public service They're suing the provincial government and allege that their experiences of ongoing anti-black racism throughout their public service careers Has resulted in ptsd The ops has admitted that they failed to address the concerns of racialized employees and specified that black and indigenous employees Were part of that group So why did this government quietly lift the moratorium on the suspension of racialized employees? And what is this government's public plan to address anti-black racism? Thank you Thank you, speaker to the president of the treasury board questions referred to the president of the treasury board Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for the question on this important a very important issue A discrimination and harassment clearly have no place and may I repeat no place in any workplace? And I know that the ontario public service is committed to achieving and maintaining an inclusive and respectful workplace The ontario public service is always driving to foster a more diverse Inclusive accessible equitable and respectful workplace We've made these values a cornerstone Of our our ongoing efforts to transform and modernize government as this matter is before the courts The appropriate venue to respond to the specific allegations will be through the legal process As a result, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the specific allegations cited by the member opposite Next question the member for chatham kent lemington very much, mr. Speaker My question is for the minister of tourism culture and sport Speaker, did you know that the minister attended the 2019? Juno awards this past weekend in london I was very pleased to learn that he did attend those very special awards Highlighting music in our province in our country Speaker, as you know, the junos recognize the best in canadian music And I was pleased to see another ontario city was able to host the awards show this year Events like the junos stimulate our local economies and bring people in from across Canada to see our world class cities Can the minister Please update the house On his visit to london And your experience minister At the juno awards this past weekend Mr. Tourism culture and sport Mr. Speaker and thank you to the member from chatham kent lemington For that question. I also want to congratulate him publicly for the two time winning Canadian gospel award his daughter received this year You know, mr. Speaker It was truly an honor to attend the juno awards and the gal on behalf of the government of ontario in beautiful london ontario this weekend I wanted to commend I want to commend the city of london It's mayor ed holder and its residents for making this a great weekend a great week But a great weekend as well that I was able to participate in it was Truly an amazing response At the forest city's first ever juno awards the city was bustling It was an incredible opportunity to meet incredible people that are contributing to ontario through the music industry Thank you supplementary Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker and uh, i'm humbled by your comments minister My daughter brook works very very hard and uh, I'd like to say that she gets her music talents from her mother But she doesn't I won't break out into song. I promise that But again that speaker Again, I I think I can speak for all of the members in this legislature The when I say that we're proud of homegrown talent that was on display at this past weekend's junos You know, whether it was pickerings. Sean Mendez who took home five awards Or napiniz own avril avine for winning the general fan choice award This year's edition question of the junos Showed that ontario artists are among canada's best Can the minister explain to the house the steps that our government For the people is taking to support music in the province Thank you minister Thank you, mr. Speaker and thank you again for that supplemental question I'm pleased that our government for the people was able to provide support for this year's junos Through ontario creates, which is an agency that supports the province's cultural media cluster This includes book publishing film and television interactive digital media Publishing and of course the music industry our government for the people has also invested in other important initiatives That will strengthen ontario's music industry We've invested in the revitalization of the iconic massie hall Supporting the toronto symphony orchestra, which by the way also won a juno award this year for recording vaughan williams orchestral works The sector contributes $25 billion and supports 270,000 jobs Next question Mr. Speaker My question is to the minister of health the people of nagger falls have been promised a new hospital They've been told that this hospital is coming We've had not one but two unveilings of billboards We're told that the mental health unit and the labor and delivery unit were taken out of a nagger falls hospital Because we'd be replaced by a new state of the heart hospital If you can imagine you can go to nagger falls and make babies. We just can't deliver them And yet years later residents are driving across the region for services they need There is no reason why we can't put a shovel in the ground on this hospital today The government is in the process is the battling the lin Outsourcing those services. How can they also now be planning the necessary services in the new hospital? Can the minister confirm? We will not be losing any services And when we when will the first shovel break ground and when will the residents finally see their hospital go up? Thank you Minister health and long term care Well, thank you very much for the question and as a member I'm sure well knows there are many many capital projects that are waiting to be Advanced in the province There is a mechanism and a specific process for dealing with that The your hospital as with many others is going through the process and when it gets to the point where The construction can start it will but we have to go through the necessary steps I know to many people it seems like it takes longer Then they would like it to but the due diligence has to be done And that's what's happening with every capital project in the province of Ontario because we know as you know That hospitals cost a lot of money And we need to make sure that there is the need that there is the ability for the local fundraising to happen Ended that the Entire project has to be ready in many respects in order to proceed so it is progressing But i'm sorry it's not going as quickly as you would like Thank you. That continues to a question period I Member for algoma manitoulas told me is what a point of order. Yes I always like it when one of our caucus members tries to fly under the radar I want to wish the member from brampton centre a very happy birthday Come to order Member for hamilton mountain maybe has a point of order. Thank you very much, mr. Speaker I would like to invite or to welcome one of my guests who are here with us today Jamie Santana is a bcba and he is a resident of itobicoke north and he's with us today in the gallery I believe the member for the minister for tourism culture and sport has a point of order. Thank you, mr. Speaker I just want to give a quick shout out to page kathryn tromboli that joins us from von woodbridge And her mom who's here today christine furini. Welcome to the house Pursuant to standing order 38 a the member for kitchens centre has given notice of her dissatisfaction with the answer To her question given by the minister of community safety and correctional services Concerning racism in the ops. This matter will be debated today at 6 p.m This house stands in recess till 3 p.m