 It is now time for oral questions and I recognize the member for Waterloo Thank you very much speaker my question is for the premier as I continue to review this conservative government's budget I'm left with very serious questions Does this budget make rent affordable for renters? No. Does it make groceries cheaper? No Does it effectively address the unethical backlog in our court system? No. To the premier this budget wasn't made for the people of Ontario So who exactly does this out-of-touch budget serve? No. Parliamentary Assistant Minister of Finance and member for Olksdorf. Thank you very much Thank you speaker and I guess I'm not sure if the member opposite actually read the budget and has read what people are saying about budget 2024 because What you're saying is a complete opposite of what we're hearing and what the people of Ontario are saying This is a budget that puts the people of Ontario first People of Ontario like the rest of the world continue to face economic challenges Costs are up People are struggling and at this point in time at this juncture we could either slow down or we could continue to build Build an economy build infrastructure build housing build health care put money back in the Pockets of the people of Ontario. This is a budget that's getting it done for the province of Ontario Speaker bragging about doubling down on failed policies is definitely not leadership And I know who this budget is not made for I know who this budget was not made for this budget Wasn't made for post-secondary students or educators. This budget wasn't made for teachers or nurses or 1.7 million renters Funding in this budget is not going towards making life more affordable. It won't improve wages for workers It won't keep post-secondary institutions afloat It won't make $10 a day child care a reality for so many struggling families in this province And since this budget was not made for the struggling Ontarians Premier tell us which corporations and private companies are set to benefit from this government's budget Member Frogg fill and again the member opposite is way off base. This is a budget that is focused Focus on affordability for the people of Ontario This is a government that is getting it done for the people of Ontario We have the great associate minister of transportation bringing in the one-fair $100 savings for commuters across the GTA whether they're in Oakville in York Region in Burlington Wherever they are that is an enormous savings for people that are traveling and many of the staff order Queens Park Actually take those that transit they're gonna save a lot of money you go and tell them that you don't support that We've also indexed ODSP to inflation. We've had the largest increase in the history of Ontario We're helping a hundred thousand additional seniors through the gains program We've got the renewal fees for licensed stickers and license plates And of course we are lowering the gas tax here in Ontario, which is going to help everybody I wouldn't be bragging about Legislated poverty in Ontario I certainly wouldn't be doing that and I do want to say this government says that this budget is Fiscally responsible in reality the government projected a two hundred million dollar surplus and instead delivered a ten billion dollar deficit They have slashed post-secondary education by four hundred and twenty five million dollars while almost half of Ontario's Universities are running deficits. The justice system is broken in Ontario Just ask Kate and Emily and there is no mention of legal aid anywhere in this budget Speaker to the Premier What will it take for this conservative government to listen to the people of Ontario and fund the services that they rely on? Member for Oakville. Thank you speaker and again I would like to highlight some of the initiatives the government of Ontario is taking in budget 2024 because perhaps the member didn't read it Read it in her notes. We are continuing to build Ontario. We're doing it in a fiscally responsible way We have a path for balance unlike every other government pretty much in the in Canada and the federal government We are investing one billion dollars in municipal housing funding infrastructure municipalities ask for this. We are delivering We are quadrupling the housing enabling water systems fund Of course as I mentioned we are extending the gas tax cut Go ask the residents in your writing if they are against that tax savings And we're also adding an additional hundred million dollars to the skills development fund so we can continue to build Ontario Thank you very much. The next question the member for Kiwet and all Miigwech a speaker speaker last month in Northwestern Ontario This now by asking nation declared a health state of emergency There continues to be unnecessary suffering and needless. That's across Kiwet nook speaker What cage in the 2024 budget addresses this crisis Thank you and thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak about some of the investments that we have been able to make in Northern Ontario You know, we're investing more in Northern Ontario health than any other previous government Our plan is investing in infrastructure in boosting healthy human resources and adding educational supports for the future We have of course expanded the Northern Ontario School of Medicine an additional over a hundred seats available and 60% of those of course are set aside for primary care the family docs that we so desperately need across Ontario and Particularly acutely in Northern Ontario We'll continue to make those investments because we know when people have access to primary care Multidisciplinary teams in their communities. It makes an impact and it ensures that people have the care They need closer to home. Thank you Speaker the answer does not Answer the the question about the health crisis But speaker hospitals across Northwestern Ontario are struggling to retains surgeons Patients in silicone will be sent further away from home for surgeries that they need again speaker What page in the 2024 budget addresses the crisis? Mr. Tell Speaker specifically as it relates to this week's budget, which was an incredible endorsement of the investments that we have already made and will continue to make we have Specifically to indigenous and northern communities supports of 94 million dollars over in the next three years What does that actually translate to? That's maintaining mental health and addiction services. That's ongoing Indicinal indigenous First Nations public health programs. That's early detection for foot complications like diabetes We are making the investment speaker I hope the member opposite will continue to advocate But I also hope that they will acknowledge the investments that we are making in Northern Ontario and across Ontario. Thank you I Mean good speaker Speaker in Northwestern Ontario Highway 17 was closed this morning between Dryden and Kenora yesterday. It was closed between Ignace and Thunder Bay Speaker what page in the 2024 budget address highway standards in the north? The associate minister of transportation Mr. Speaker Road safety is a paramount focus for this comment and with this transportation minister The final supplementary was unrelated to the first and first question and the supplementary And they have to be they have to flow and they have to be related No, I I think we have to move forward the next question The next question order The member for Parkdale High Park Thank you speaker The courts have confirmed that the foreign government owes the public answers about why they skipped an Environmental assessment for the mega spa plant at Ontario Place The judge said the matter was of significant public law interest Despite government lawyers arguing the challenge should be thrown out my question to the premier is will you halt all? redevelopment activities on the thermos site and conduct an environmental assessment Assistant and member for Brampton West Thank you Thank You mr. Speaker This particular matters before the court so it would be inappropriate for me to comment on this at this time But mr. Speaker, let me remind this house and the public that was the previous liberal government Always supported by NDP that left this historic place Ontario place instead of neglect and disappear mr. Speaker what this government is doing we bringing back interior plays Back to a map and will bring it a remarkable world-class destination for families to enjoy and mr. Speaker a new brand new amphitheater wellness center a water park facility and a Brand new science center mr. Speaker not only there that it will create thousands of new jobs And will attract four to six million visitors annually mr. Speaker We are bringing interior plays and science center that people of interior will be proud of and we will bring it Back on the world map. Thank you mr. Speaker Mr.. Speaker I really have to disagree with the member opposite this government is not bringing back Ontario place They're giving it away in a 95-year lease to a private for-profit And in order to do that they passed bill 154 which gave the ministers and Government officials the power or tempted to give them the power to commit acts of Misfeasants misrepresentation breach of trust and bad faith with immunity So my question is what is in this dirty deal with thermal that? Ontario place for all is having to take this government to court to make them obey Ontario's laws Thank You mr. Speaker mr. Speaker if the opposition were ever to form a government and actually function effectively They would understand how this process works mr. Speaker because the process was competitive And fear as it should be but you know what mr. Speaker I highly doubt that opposition will ever be able to form a government with this kind of approach which is anti Infrastructure, which is anti-building, which is an important life affordable for the people as promised Mr.. Speaker the legacy of opposition is Leaving our historic places like interior place and science center instead of neglect and disappear mr. Speaker voting against transit Voting against hospitals opposing highways like highway 413 and Bradford by far Mr. Speaker the legacy of this premier and this government is to bring back our iconic destination back to life House will come to order Start the clock the next question the member for Markham union Thank You speaker my question is for the minister of energy The carbon text does nothing That's nothing That's nothing to reduce emissions It only punishes the hard-working people of the province while the opposition and EP and The independence liberals continue to support this harmful tax and vote against measures that Provides Ontarians with affordable and reliable energy Our government is sticking actioned and getting it done for the people of our province last summer The minister released powering Ontario's growth and outlined our plan to continue building our province clean energy Advantage I know that there are major projects and procurements that are already underway Speaker can the minister please tell the house how our government is providing Ontarians with clean energy as we fight against the disastrous carbon tax Minister of energy To the member for Markham for that great question this morning We are powering Ontario's growth at the Ministry of Energy mr. Speaker last summer I unveiled our plan named powering Ontario's growth which is investing in more emissions free baseload Reliable nuclear power at places like Bruce power and at Pickering and at Darlington small modular Reactors that are going into the ground right now as we speak in Darlington mr. Speaker the largest procurement for energy Storage in Canada's history new non-emitting generation is part of competitive procurements mr. Speaker But one thing that I couldn't help but notice this morning was that the queen of the carbon tax Bonnie Cromby was down in the media studio having a press conference That was really like a Saturday Night Live skit mr. Speaker Actually, it was more like a Seinfeld episode. It was a press conference about nothing But here I am answering question number 273 80% of Canadians are opposed to but these liberals and the federal liberals are going to increase the carbon tax by a whopping 23% Supplementary question Thank you, Speaker and thank you to the minister for his response It is sad to see both the NDP and the liberal who are younger in this home in this house Demonstrate no willingness to support initiatives that provides Ontarians affordable and clean energy The reality is that they don't have a plan to improve affordability and a cost of living in Ontario All they care about is pushing their agenda racing our taxes Speaker live is already expensive for the hard-working people of our province They need more support and more financial relief from our governments not more punitive tax hikes That's why a federal government must scrap the carbon tax and they must still is do it as soon as possible Speaker can a minister please explain what our government is doing to protect Ontarians from the costly carbon tax Response Minister of energy your speaker the member for Markham is right We're not raising the carbon taxes a matter of fact in our budget delivered on Tuesday We're eliminating taxes. We're eliminating fees, but the members of the liberal caucus, you know There's some smart people over there, but I just can't understand how they don't realize That what is happening on Monday Easter Monday April Fool's Day carbon tax day in Ontario Is that their counterparts Justin Trudeau and the Liberals supported by the Queen of the carbon tax Bonnie Crombie are going to be Increasing the carbon tax on Canadians by a whopping 23% on Monday, Mr. Speaker 80% of Canadians are opposed to an increase in the carbon tax because they understand What it's going to mean for the prices at the pump order and at the grocery stores and on their home heating bills, mr Speaker and the Queen of the carbon tax have to understand that this is a losing proposition We're driving the cost of living down in Ontario. Mr. Speaker making life more affordable The member for University Rosedale you speaker my question is to the minister for housing The Conservatives have an order to submit a better affordable housing action plan or miss out on $357 million in federal funding now the minister likes to say this is unfair, but the facts speak for themselves See the member for Ottawa south down there, and I see the minister of energy down there Had your opportunity to answer the question. Thank you very much Now it's time to be quiet so that we can hear the the next question. I apologize to the member for University Rosedale Start the clock Affairs and housing the Conservatives have until tomorrow to submit a better affordable housing action plan or miss out on $357 million in federal funding now the minister likes to say this is unfair But the facts speak for themselves this government is on track to build just 8% of the homes They said they would build by 2025 My question is this is this government going to submit a better affordable housing action plan tomorrow or Ontarians are they going to miss out Ontario is at 60% of the target. It is of course a 10-year target We are entering year 6 the federal government changed the the goalposts on this one and decided that the 60% is actually 28% Speaker we've also hit a hundred and seventy percent of our rehabilitation renovation As the member knows as the member knows we Housing of this type is done through our service managers and our municipal partners our municipal partners have also written to the federal government to come Firmly on side with our position that not only are we meeting our targets that no only can we meet our targets over the next Four and a half years, mr. Speaker, but we have exceeded our targets in other areas So I would ask the member opposite if you would instead of standing with the federal liberals who are going to reduce funding by $357 million if she'll stand with us and with 444 municipalities across the province who are saying they've met their targets and thank you supplement your question Minister Municipalities housing providers in Ontario want this government to stop playing the blame game and start taking action Ontario has the worst housing crisis and homelessness crisis we've had in decades It has never been more expensive to rent or buy a home even your own budget says that My question is this is this government going to fix up and resubmit a credible affordable housing action plan Or are we all going to miss out? Take their seats And just to add a little more color to this mr. Speaker the money that the liberals Supported by the NDP are not transferring to us is 357 million dollars of The approved plan mr. Speaker. This is of the approved plan So we did a plan the federal government approved that plan we have paid We have done what we said in the plan and the federal government has decided that They're no longer going to live up to their end of the bargain. This isn't about future money Order about money that has already been approved Committed under a plan that they approved mr. Speaker. That is the difference What the member is suggesting that we do is go back in time change a plan that was approved by this house That was approved by the federal government that we have paid for and we are asking the federal government to live up to the commitment That they made to the people of the province of Ontario mr. Speaker the plan going forward will meet our targets You should stand with us and with His speaker and my question is for the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry The federal carbon taxes making everything more expensive for everyone in this province People in my writing of new market aurora and across Ontario are paying more for groceries for services and for fuel Since the implementation of this disastrous taps to make matters worse the federal Liberals are increasing costs at the pump from about 14.31 cents per liter to about 37.43 cents per liter in 2030 Speaker, this is punishing drivers across the province Especially in rural areas where they rely more heavily on their vehicles No one should have to choose between filling up their gas tanks or filling up their pantries Speaker can the Minister please tell this house how our government is supporting Ontario's rural communities through this challenging time Well, thank you speaker and thank you to the member from new market aurora for the questions She's a great great member listen. We know that this carbon tax is about to go up a staggering 23% on April 1st That's just next week just a few days away and we know the provincial Liberal support this height The Ontario Liberals ruled by the Queen of the carbon tax Bonnie Gromby Refuse to call on the federal Liberals to get rid of the punitive carbon tax In fact if Bonnie Gromby's the Queen that makes the independent Liberals the princes and the princesses of the carbon tax We've got carbon tax no order in our midst. Mr. Speaker order for the great communities in rural Ontario Don't worry. Our government is saying yes to rural Ontario keeping energy costs down We're cutting the gas tax investing in northern Ontario through our biomass program Respond million dollars going to strengthen the forestry sector and create jobs in the north speaker Our government will continue to build and support rural communities across Ontario Supplementary question Thank you speaker and thank you to the minister for that response the previous Liberal government neglected rural communities for 15 years and their disrespect for rural Ontarians Continues in this day Individuals and families are greatly concerned about what the future will hold as the federal government Continues to impose further tax hikes It is impossible to understand how the federal Liberals and their provincial counterparts are content to pass additional costs on to people who are already Stretching their incomes Speaker the carbon tax effects are widespread including negative impacts to industries in the natural resources sector Speaker can the minister please explain why our province is better off without the federal carbon tax Again speaker and again thanks to the member for the question listen It's clear from the carbon tax that the Liberals across the way They just don't want anything to be built in Ontario and it just shocks me how Completely out of touch the members opposite are to think that a 23% increase in the carbon tax is Acceptable and a way to build Ontario, but no surprise no surprise mr. Speaker that the Liberals and the NDP Aren't listening to the people I mean why expect them to start now the people who've been talking about the carbon tax for Years and the members opposite have done absolutely nothing about it, but we're doing something about it We're extending the removal of the gas tax 14 cents on every leader Ensuring that resources can move across Ontario to get houses roads transit lines built for Ontarians We're building the province at a rate the Queen of the carbon tax Bonnie Cromby and her Liberals could never imagine Mr. Speaker will do that continue to support Ontarians in the building of this great province every step of the way despite the Thank you Thank You speaker my question is to the premier today We are joined by two courageous women Emily Egar and Kate Alexander both of them experienced horrific gender-based violence The police investigated evidence was collected charges were laid and they took their accused to court Only to have their cases then thrown out due to unconstitutional delay speaker Kate Frequently contacted the courts to remind them of the looming deadline and asked for a hearing date only for her case to be then scheduled 18 months eight after 18 months of the Jordan deadline had passed when she pointed this out They said that nothing could be done Violent abusers and rapists walk free in our communities today the government's underfunding of the court system has led to that Will the premier commit today in front of Kate and Emily and their families to fund The courts to clear the backlogs so survivors can have their actual day in court The Attorney General Mr. Speaker and I don't have the luxury of being able to address individual cases So I will talk in broader terms. We are doing everything we can mr. Speaker or investing in the courts I can tell you mr. Speaker the opposition tells the stories, but we're taking the action We have hired over 340 individuals in the court system be it crown prosecutors victim witness Assistance court employees court staff bail vetters mr. Speaker it is incredible amount of resources This government is putting into the system to deal with the lack of progress that happened under the Liberals previous to us Now mr. Speaker here's the real challenge Well the member opposite in front of these individuals Stand up and tell them that they will support the budget This says we're investing six million over three years for the children at risk exploitation Four and a half over three years for the victim quick response team order two and a half million over three years to increase the outreach to children And you know, mr. Speaker 27 million over three years to enhance sexual assault and domestic violence services mr. Speaker and six and a half million over Three years to support It's clear that this government says that they're sticking to their plan with their budget But their plan is actually failing survivors like Emily and Kate this government releases budget only two days ago Court back order bail and pretrial detention was never mentioned not once Emily's rape trial began, but it could not finish because the timeline ran out Yesterday Emily tells me that her legal and court part of her story is now over She's now fighting for all survivors after her so that they can have a chance to have their day in court How many other survivors? How many? Have to come forward To tell their painful stories again and again before this premier in government is willing to admit That they've let them down that the courts are in shambles and they refuse to do anything about it Mr. Speaker and that's more indignation without action mr. Speaker. I didn't hear a yes to supporting this budget mr. Speaker, we are supporting all parts of the system now We recently put eighteen point seven million dollars to four hundred gender-based service providers you voted against it Yep, we put additional money to emergency shelters the opposition has one of our services get it nothing you voted against it Indignation does not pay the bills. We are supporting the victims in the system mr. Speaker. We're adding resources We're adding capital. We're adding the staff and the people that need to make the system run It was left to shambles by the previous liberal government supported by the NDP and now they've won against every single improvement Vulnerable in our society mr. Speaker the next question the member for canada Carlton. Thank you very much speaker Speaker last year from April to October four hundred and forty one thousand hectares of forest burned in Ontario We all remember the orange skies the unbreathable air and the community vacuations of last summer Which is why it's such a disappointment to see that climate change is ignored in this do nothing budget Do you know what this budget has done to firefighting since 2022 100 million dollars of funding has been slashed Go back go backs hiring more firefighters Alberta has declared their fire fire wildfire season open in February Ontario we cut a hundred million dollars from the firefighting budget question for the premier Nero played the fiddle while Rome burned around him. What instrument will the premier choose? Minister of natural resources and forestry. Thank you very much mr. Speaker You know what astounds me is we're talking about the budget in this house and the member opposite can't even Accurately read the budget can't tell the difference between budgeted amount and actuals mr. Speaker here's the story in 2018 the budget was sixty nine point eight million dollars in 2024 it's a hundred and thirty five million dollars and that's just We bring more resources to bear than ever any government in the history of this province to fight forest fires continually making investments to improve the situation in this province for communities for Infrastructure for individuals and we will continue to do that I'll take absolutely no lessons from the member opposite on how to either a read a budget or be how to fight forest fires in Ontario Thank you speaker The insults won't change my mind, but I've told you what I'll give the minister I will give the minister a chance a Lack of snow this winter dry spring spells disaster for our wildfire season Ontario has historically hired 800 firefighters this year were projected to hire 440 that's half of our firefighting teams the government's fully aware of this crisis They commissioned a $100,000 third-party audit on firefighter retention and then they didn't publish it They know what it'll take to fix the problem, but they want to hide it Because they're not doing what needs to be done Speaker will the premier commit to publishing this final report of that audit. Thank you Mr. Natural resources and forestry Mr. Speaker and Mr. Speaker I'm sure the members absolutely thrilled to know and to hear again that we have invested in our fire rangers here in Ontario with a $5,000 recruitment and retention bonus for both Staff to come and staff that are already with us. In fact all throughout AFF ES We are making sure that people are recognized in 2024 for the incredible work that they do and speaker We've also made other investments $20.5 million to improve how we fight wildland forest fires investing in new aerial fire suppression technologies Investing in science and risk assessment including in a collaborative research with universities building capacity to support Indigenous wildland fire management. Mr. Speaker the liberals can ignore what we've done all we want But I'll tell you we are right up on top of it for the people of Ontario and that's what counts Thank you very much the next question you member for Renfrew nipissing Pembroke My question is for the associate minister of transportation The carbon tax is punishing the hard-working people of Ontario Residents in my riding of rent for nipissing Pembroke tell me every day that this regressive tax is adding further strain to their household budgets It's raising the price of everything from groceries and services to the cost of fuel And with next week's 23% hike Drivers across the province will be paying even more at the pumps The dire effects of the carbon tax are felt by our trucking industry Which serves a critical role in transporting the goods that we need in our daily lives? Speaker can the minister explain the impact of the federal carbon tax on Ontario's trucking industry? The associate minister of transportation Thank you to the member from Renfrew nipissing Pembroke for that question mr. Speaker truck drivers are the backbone in keeping our economy moving mr. Speaker my uncle is a truck driver. I know truck drivers navigate the long Quiet roads throughout the night to deliver the goods that we often take for granted each morning Mr. Speaker is very clear by the increase of carbon tax the federal liberal government does not support the hard-working Truck drivers mr. Speaker the carbon tax increase the cost of diesel every kilometers cause trike drivers more Not just in fuel mr. Speaker, but the precious movements They spend away from the family costs more than ever mr. Speaker the truck drivers are not asking for a free ride but asking for a fair one where they are wrote a Commitment to our economy is not answered with the penalty mr. Speaker response the leadership of premier for this government and this transportation minister Has always stood with truck drivers and together we will fight carbon tax Thank you speaker and thank you to the minister various response It is clear that the federal carbon tax is affecting the everyday lives of truckers across ontario Up until this point the federal government has increased the carbon tax on fuel not once Not twice But five times shame speaker to make matters even worse they plan on increasing it another Seven times by 2030 The opposition ndp and independent liberals Continue to ignore the harmful effects the carbon tax is having on our industries Rather than standing up for their constituents. They are choosing to support the federal government's unjust tax Our government will continue to advocate for ontarians and call for the elimination of this tax once and for all Speaker can the minister please further explain the lasting impact that this beautiful punitive tax will have on ontario's truckers The associate minister transportation Mr. Speaker the member from ren fruit nipissing prenbrook is right the number one issue people facing is Unaffordable crisis mr. Speaker the life of The cost of living is rising and the federal liberal supported by Ontario liberals and ndp fail to understand the increase in the carbon tax has a Significant impact on the budget of every household in ontario mr. Speaker the carbon tax is in fact an unwanted guest at the table of Every single hardworking canadiens mr. Speaker Imagine a single mother juggling multiple jobs Truggling to pay for groceries because of the carbon tax increases the expenses mr. Speaker think about a small business owner Trying to keep the doors open or truck driver who's trying to get the goods moved across the province What a farmer who tried to feed our nation mr. Speaker We must push back against his tax hike on april first, which is increasing 23 percentage mr. Speaker our government under the lease of premier fort. We will always fight for the hardworking Thank you very much The next question the member for toronto st. Paul's Thank you speaker to the premier Over 400 art gallery of ontario workers are on strike and many of these cultural workers are artists themselves They're here today. These are the people who welcome us into the ajo. They set up the dismount art installations They hang the art they provide educational enrichment through tours They helped raise funds for the ajo's new building They clean the gallery but are struggling to pay rent and buy food And because of their hard work the ajo has become a world-class destination And yet this government hasn't increased the ajo's budget in over 10 years my questions to the premier Will this conservative government properly fund arts institutions? So their deficits aren't being balanced on the backs of the lease paid workers Will the premier show them the mode a Tourism culture and sport Thank you, mr. Speaker with respect to what the ajo is going through right now with regarding negotiations and any into agreements We will leave that up to the leadership of the ajo And i'm hopeful as many are that the ajo and opsu will reach a negotiated agreement very soon With respect to their the work and the impact they make in this community in our province and frankly across the country is Is at a level that most people don't understand Their impact on tourism and the opportunities that they create and the great job that they do not only within And outside the ajo is outstanding. We thank them for their work And that's why I remain optimistic that a deal will be agreed relatively soon. Thank you, mr. Speaker 60 percent of ajo workers are precarious Part-time workers and they're kept that way their contract They can't make enough hours to meet the full-time threshold because they told me yesterday That the ajo puts up roadblocks all this while the ajo contracts out and while ajo execs have recently Received salary bonuses of up to 59.6 While there's quote no more money for wages We've got the ajo ceo making over four hundred thousand dollars a year with bonuses of 250 k annually My question is back to the premier Does this government think this is fair? How are they prepared to work with the ajo and get the employer to the table to help these workers get what they deserve Fair wages full-time opportunities Protection against contracting out and livable hours of work. Thank you Thank you, mr. Speaker and uh I won't repeat what I just said because the importance of the ajo and the workers there That we see when we go over every day and the great work that they do I did mention at the outset on the previous question that They're in the midst of negotiations. I believe they've been to the I believe they've been to the table I'm not sure if mr. Speaker this means I'm not sure what's going on But I will leave it into the hands of the experts and those that run the ajo And the an ops who to come to an agreement that will help the workers And those people get back to where they want to be the ajo is an important part of what we do in our community It drives tourism in spite of what is often talked about in this in this legislature Which makes me really quite sad at times mr. Speaker when we don't look at tourism as a driving force of this economy I'm confident that a deal will be reached and I'm positive For both the ajo and the workers Thank you, mr. Speaker The next question for member for Don Valley North Speaker My question is to the minister of finance Speaker I hear from my constituents who feel stressed and frustrated with the rising cost of living in my riding Out down valley north, which is eco through up ontario Speaker from families for children to young individuals to seniors people in ontario are feeling the paint at home At grocery stores and gas stations speaker with the lumen federal carbon tax hike These expenses are only expected to store with so many people struggling with makes ends meet They are undoubtedly looking for relief speaker Can the minister please tell this house what this government is doing to protect the people of ontario and to do Come back the rising cost of living. Thank you speaker Thank you to the member opposite I really appreciate that question because you did bring up some points about the rising cost of living in ontario Ontario is not an islanded immune to the global inflation and rising costs we're seeing around the world But the government of ontario speaker is taking action. We're taking action right now in this budget The Ontario government is currently lowering the cost of gas with cutting the gas tax and extending it For till december 2024 This is something that I heard the minister of energy just say Bonnie crombie and the liberals and the carbon tax queen would not be doing it. In fact on april 1st speaker It is a day. It's not only april fool's day. It's a day Carbon tax is going to go up penalizing truckers workers commuters across ontario We're taking action to make life more affordable for residents across the province and your riding. Thank you speaker What's your question Thank you speaker and thank you The parliament's assistant for his response My follow-up question is also to the minister of finance speaker ontarians are experiencing economic challenges due to the current the high cost of living And yet the federal government is adding more Burdens that were caused on average ontario families 1674 dollars in taxes starting next monday Speaker the 2024 project has been presented already on tuesday Can the minister for the elaborate elaborate to highlight how this government is helping ontarians Whether these difficult times as it continues to work to bring about more economic stability Optimism and prosperity. Thank you Thank you speaker and i'm glad there's at least one or two independence over there that are against the carbon tax and the rising Thank you for your advocacy working for the people in your writings Because the carbon tax is the most punitive tax the government of canada is putting on the people of ontario Speaker it's hurting everybody in ontario truckers commuters drivers families Everything mortars are going up the government of ontario is committed to making life more affordable And we're going to stand as we've continued to to fight the federal carbon tax I just hope the other independence might take a lesson from that independent and stand with us The next question the member for markham thorn hill Thank you, mr. Speaker My question is for the associate minister of small business The federal carbon tax is disproportionately affecting small businesses in our province It is a hindering investment expansion and job creation to make the matters worse Entrepreneur in my writing of markham thorn hill. Tell me that federal government Promise rebate are simply not obstructing increasing cost Mr. Speaker unlike opposition our government has always known that the carbon tax only serve the punnest hard-working Entrepreneurs That is why we have spoken out against the harmful tax from the day one I know the associate minister has been busy meeting with small business owners across the province and listening to their concern Mr. Speaker could the associate minister tell us what the response has been to the carbon tax The associate minister of small business Thank you, speaker and to the member for markham thorn hill for raising such an important question and his hard work for his Constituent speaker. I've heard a resounding response regarding the impact of the carbon tax Business owners have expressed their frustrations with the increased costs associated with the tax Emphasizing how it affects their day-to-day operations and overall competitiveness They're saying it's unfair speaker That they pay the most they get the least In fact, they're still waiting on the dedicated 10 percent of carbon tax revenues that small businesses and indigenous groups were promised Speaker The liberals across the floor would like Ontario businesses to believe that they're better off without the 1.3 billion dollars That their response speaker the liberals in the ndp need a reality check But unlike them we won't stop calling on our to do what's right for our small businesses pay them back and thank you Thank you supplementary question Thank you speaker. Thank you to the associate minister for the great response Our government will always support the small businesses in ontario that contributes significantly to our economy Speaker general contractors Trade people suppliers and site prep companies all have a critical role in building our province Sadly the carbon tax has been nightmare for the industry It is driving up the cost on the material and the fuel they need to create more housing Speaker, this is ridiculous The federal government must cut the carbon tax so that small businesses Can't continue to do their important work and build ontario So speaker can the associate minister tell the house What impact the carbon tax has on small businesses in the construction industry? Thank you so much The associate minister small business Well, thank you speaker and again to the very hardworking member from mark mark and thornhill I also hear the serious concerns expressed by small businesses in the construction industry regarding the impact of the carbon tax The business owners who are in charge of building homes in this province and getting shovels in the ground while creating job opportunities Say that thanks to the federal carbon tax. They're paying more for the gas They need to get to the site and to move their materials Small businesses like grouper construction in Durham are saying and I quote This heavy tax will be on the backs of hardworking canadiens and our clients in residential and civil sectors End quote That extra cost could mean a business must lay someone off to balance the books or change and charge more to build homes Further driving up prices speaker The carbon tax is detrimental to every business in every sector. We will stand up for all ontarians This government has broken a promise to the people of milton to stop a gravel pit Speaker we know that 70 percent of people in southern ontario live near gravel pits These pits can cause groundwater contamination air pollution issues and impacts on endangered species These gravel pits need proper oversight But the auditor general reported that the province does not properly inspect gravel mining pits and Inspection rates have decreased by 64 under this government's watch We need urgent action to hire gravel pit inspectors, but this was nowhere in the budget We have people here in the gallery from milton and premier. They want to know why did you break your promise? Thanks to the environment conservation in parks Thank you. Thank you speaker The member is referring to a project that has been inactive since 2008 and I will Echo the sentiments of the premier and the government which is protecting human health and environment is our top priority We heard concerns from the community about the reed road reservoir quarry particularly when it comes to groundwater protection And the need for additional consultation Assessment and oversight for the project. That is why we have required the reed road reservoir quarry to be subject to a project specific environmental assessment Process under the environment assessment act the regulation provides an additional opportunity for potential impacts to the environment to be assessed Including local groundwater to further make sure we have further consultations to ensure concerns are addressed The proponent has commenced its product response environmental assessment and speaker. There's more to say and I will continue my supplemental Very much speaker. I you know this government is famous for streamlining environmental assessment So let's hope that you actually do a proper environmental assessment because the premier and his x npp for milton palm gill Promise that they would stop the quarry In fact, the premier told the people of milton. I am not in favor of the Campbellville quarry According to the ag's report the ministry has already approved extraction of 13 times more aggregate than is actually Removed each year and so therefore according to the ag No more pits or quarries are needed people are rightfully concerned Is the premier going to keep his promise to stop Once and for all to propose Campbellville quarry in milton keep his promise. Yes or no This is the environment conservation. Thank you speaker and as I will continue with my answer The member may be aware the proponent has commenced this project specific environmental assessment process And has begun consulting with government agencies indigenous communities and the public in preparation for this environmental assessment I encourage the public to participate in the ongoing environmental assessment process and to share their concerns directly with the proponent Once the assessment is complete and submitted the ministry and the ministry will undertake a review And they will be opportunities for the public to submit comments to the ministry prior to final Decision being made but speaker a final decision has not been. Thank you Thank you very much and next question the member for brandford brand Thank you speaker my question is for the solicitor general Since the implementation of this disastrous carbon tax on terrients are paying more for everything From their grocery bills to fuel costs With another hike being imposed next week people in my riding a brand for brand are concerned about the impact of this Regressive tax on public safety Speaker firefighters play a critical role in safeguarding our communities There are a few more noble jobs and few more selfless people than those who put their lives on the line to keep us safe And that's why speaker i am so proud to serve as a volunteer firefighter at station seven st George in the county of brant and to my colleagues Thank you for always having my back But we know that increased costs of fuel and procurement directly affect the essential services that ensure our safety and well-being The federal liberals need to scrap this tax today speaker The solicitor general, please explain to the house the effect that carbon tax is having on firefighting in the province of ontario Thank you. The solicitor general Thank you, mr. Speaker, and i want to congratulate the member for being a volunteer firefighter And for everyone that stands up to be a volunteer firefighter in the province of ontario And the member's right Every time mr. Speaker you fuel up a fire truck 300 liters as an average fire truck an aerial truck is even more a pumper They're more mr. Speaker. They know when they go to the gas pumps It's 60 dollars or more each fill up is just it's just for the carbon tax And mr. Speaker when you add it up It's over eight thousand dollars a year Just for the carbon tax portion of fueling that truck and it's not fair mr. Speaker It's not fair anywhere in ontario and there's no confusion with our government But the independent liberals in their alternate reality show thinks it's great and it's not it's not too late Pick up the phone call justin trudeau and his cabinet and say this is affecting our firefighters and cancel that tax The supplementary question Thank you speaker and thank you to the solicitor general for his response It's good to hear that our government holds public safety as his highest priority and is standing up to the unfair carbon tax Unlike the opposition ndp and the independent liberals our government recognizes that this tax is punishing hardworking ontarians Speaker people in my writing are worried about how the carbon tax is placing a strain on our public safety system All ontarians deserve to live safely in their communities and they are counting on our front line first responders to ensure their security and well being Speaker even if the ndp and the liberals won't We must always stand with our public safety heroes Speaker can the solicitor general further elaborate on the importance of cancelling the carbon tax for the firefighters of the province of ontario Thank you Well, thank you. Mr. Speaker, you know just the other day We had the head of the ontario association of fire chiefs right here We had the president of the ontario professional firefighters association right here And they know our government will always stand with our firefighters morning noon and night But mr. Speaker whether you're fighting fires and all we ask for them as they come home safe at the end of the day Or for those police officers come home safe at the end of the day as well The carbon tax on every vehicle that is used for public safety is adding is an added cost That could be used to buy more bunker gear buy more technology to fight auto theft Do do something that we could have a tangible lasting benefit the carbon tax costs us on public safety It's not fair. It's not too late. Bonnie Cromby should do the right thing Call her friend Justin Trudeau because she has the number and cance- My question is for the premier the greater Hamilton health network laid out a pre-budget submission A detailed plan endorsed and supported by over 67 stakeholders. Their ask was 20 million dollars But the government allocated only 2.2 million this week just a tenth of the proposal The proposal if fully funded would see over 55 000 residents in Hamilton and the surrounding areas Connected with a family doctor team-based patient-centered medical care and support at high school Who are at risk in our communities? Premier, what is the reason this funding is not in the budget this year? Thank you speaker. Well, in fact, I think the member opposite should know that we have invested in primary care multidisciplinary teams Of course in February we announced 78 new expanded satellite opportunities 78 Imagine what that does to the people who want to have primary care Multidisciplinary teams in their community and clearly our expression of interest that we issued last year was very Was dealt with a lot of excitement because people want to have that opportunity Communities want to have the opportunity. That's why I was particularly thankful that in today in this week's budget We have announced another expansion of that primary care multidisciplinary team Approach it means that if you need to see a family doc You'll see that family doc if you need to see a nurse practitioner You will see that response if you need to see a dietitian a mental health worker You will have that opportunity It is exactly what clinicians across Ontario want and it is exactly what we are providing as a province with our new investment Of 356,000 Very much the supplementary question Of the funding is not going to cut it Our health care teams are stretched to the brink and our constituents are struggling to find and access The care they need for their health issues Ontario health teams like ghn have the solutions. They do the work. They just need the funding Their comprehensive proposal would see the equivalent equivalent of nearly 170 full-time additional health care providers from nurses to social workers and more Their plan would have included administrative support So physicians could spend time with their patients as the NDP have proposed Now they are left with just one tenth of their need Premier, I ask you again. Is this the funding that communities like amilton can count on in this budget? Of course primary care expansion is just one investment that we have made with our budget You know, I I have to say you also need to train these clinicians and the expansion That we are seeing in brampton with the new medical school in scarborough with the new medical school And of course tuesday the announcement that was lauded across ontario The york medical school that will focus on primary care impacting our communities. Thank you speaker Thank you very much That concludes our question period for this morning