 It is now time for oral questions and I recognize the leader of his Majesty's loyal opposition. Thank you. Good morning, Speaker. Speaker, government members have applauded the Premier's frequent use of his personal phone to conduct government business. A flagrant disregard for the Information and Privacy Commissioner's recommendation that the government members and political staff only use government devices and platforms. Speaker, this government should know the rules. In fact, that guidance came after the Premier's own staff were caught using personal email accounts to arrange for his souped-up van. My question is to the Premier. Did the Premier intentionally use his personal phone to communicate in secret with people who have business before the government? Well, thank you for the question. Mr. Speaker, you can see where the NDP's priorities are. Worrying about helping little Miss Jones on a pothole or helping someone find a doctor, so on and so forth. I'll tell you what our priorities are. Our priorities are making sure we cut taxes for people, reducing the gas by 10.7 cents, getting rid of the license plate sticker, cutting the tolls on the 412, 418, building hospitals in every region of this province, building the 413, and making sure that we're building the subway system. We're doubling the size of the transit system right here in Toronto and the GTA. Mr. Speaker, that's our priorities. Not worrying about little Miss Jones calling me about a pothole. That's for sure. Mr. Speaker, the Premier and the government may not like it, but the Auditor General made it very clear that any devices or accounts used for government business can be searchable by freedom of information requests, even if it's a personal device. But, Mr. Speaker, the Premier has been singularly focused on hiding records of these phone calls and text messages. He is even appealing freedom of information requests to avoid sharing those records. Will the Premier withdraw his appeals of these FOI requests? Government House Leader, you must hear the Minister pull fears in housing. I would be careful if I was the NDP talking about hiding people, Mr. Speaker. I really, really would. Mr. Speaker, look, we earlier today announced that the Minister of Finance announced the date of the next fall economic statement from the province of Ontario. So, as the Premier has said, he's not going to stop working on behalf of his constituents, the Mrs. Jones who might need a doctor or pothole filled in front of her home. He's not going to stop doing that because the Leader of the Opposition is demanding that he stop doing that. That is at the core of everything that this Premier and Ford Nation have been all about. It's the same type of talk that we heard before when his brother became the mayor, right? Never could happen, but you know why Ford Nation became so important to the people of the province of Ontario? Because they actually pick up the phone, because they make the telephone calls, because they're accessible and that is why this caucus has grown and that is why that caucus has continued to shrink election after election after election. Mr. Speaker, if there is nothing to hide, then why is the government working so hard to hide them from the public? What we do know is that a global news investigation found that the Premier didn't use his government phone once during a whole one week period in November. The exact period when the government decided to carve up the green belt to the Premier. Did he use a personal device instead of an official government device to avoid access to freedom of information laws? Mr. Speaker, again, the Premier actually got up. One of the first things that he did in the House when he became Premier was got up and told the province of Ontario his phone number. He actually in this House gave his phone number out, enhancer, Mr. Speaker, reported in every single newspaper the Premier has given out his phone number so that people can call him from all across the province. It might be why the people of this province trust this Premier to get things done for them, Mr. Speaker. It might be one of the reasons why. You know what, Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is doing everything in her power to distract from the fact that she has a full-blown caucus revolt on her hands. That's why, Mr. Speaker, because she has failed on her first true test of leadership. When she had the opportunity to stand up to the hard, the anti-Semitic hard left of her party, she refused to do anything about it. They looked at her and said, we will not listen to you. Despite the fact that she said, take something down, apologize when they said no, she cowered. Mr. Speaker, she failed the first true test and it is why she will never be the Premier of this province. The next question, once again, the Leader of the Opposition. We'll see about that, Speaker. Speaker, this government is under criminal investigation by the RCMP for trying to enrich their friends and donors to the tune of more than $8 billion in the Greenbelt Grab. One of the most important questions that requires further investigation, what did the Premier know? When did he know it? My question to the Premier is, what is he hiding on his personal phone about the Greenbelt Grab? The Leader of the Opposition, for real. They've actually deposited an opposition date. They get eight opportunities to hold or lead debate in this place and they're talking about a telephone record. Well, I'd ask you to go back and answer it. You can get his phone number and you too can call the Premier of the province of Ontario, Mr. Speaker. He's very generous with his time. He might even give you advice on how you can lead your party a little bit better. He's had incredible success over here. But we're talking about the things that matter to the people of the province of Ontario, Mr. Speaker. We have a fall economic statement that'll set the agenda for the budget in next year's budget, Mr. Speaker. We're opening pre-budget consultations because we want to focus, continue to focus on the priorities of the people of the province of Ontario. We want to continue to grow the economy. We want even more than the 700,000 who already have the dignity of a job. We want to grow that number, Mr. Speaker. We would like the opposition to help us participate. Give us ideas. I doubt they will. Remind the members to make the comments to you, Chair. We need the opposition. Mr. Speaker, we found out last week that the Auditor General has launched yet another investigation, this time into potential abuse of ministerial zoning orders. It's the same story over and over and over again with this government, rigging the system to help a select few of their insider friends get even richer. Preferential treatment at the expense of taxpayers. So I'm going to ask again of the Premier, what is he hiding on his personal phone about these suspicious land deals? Mr. Speaker. The use of MZO has been an important tool in helping us meet the priorities of the people of the province of Ontario. In fact, we have used MZO's and we will continue to use MZO's to build long-term care homes. We have used MZO's at the request of the City of Toronto to build affordable and social housing in the communities represented by the NDP. Now, they are against that use, Mr. Speaker, but we will continue to use the MZO. I have a request on my desk from Sick Kids Hospital, from the Mayor of Toronto, Olivia Chow, to use an MZO to ensure that the orange helicopter space is preserved and protected. It is my intention to do just that, Mr. Speaker. I will let them explain why they are against using MZO's to further the priorities of the people of the province of Ontario, to protect the people of the province of Ontario. We will continue to do it when it is in the best interest of the people of the province of Ontario. That is why we are building a bigger, better, safer Ontario, and they are against that every step of the way. Final supplementary. What is on that phone, Speaker? You know, that's what the people want to know. Something doesn't smell right here. And, Speaker, I submitted a new Integrity Commissioner complaint yesterday about what appears to be an inappropriate relationship between a former government minister and a land speculator. But it begs the question, is this the standard operating procedure for this government? Did the member from Mississauga East Cooksville just get caught? Mr. Speaker, the public deserves to know what would we find on the Premier's personal phone about this government's secret backroom deals. I have to say, Mr. Speaker, that in the many years that I've been privileged to serve as a parliamentarian, this is the saddest spectacle of any leader of the opposition that I have ever seen. We are faced with some very important issues across, not only Ontario, but across the world right now. Later on today, we will be voting on a motion of support for the people of Israel against a terrorist attack. The opposition have literally said nothing on this. Hours and hours of debate, they have sat on their hands. The leader of the opposition had her first true test of leadership and it has failed so miserably. She's doing anything to distract that she's talking about 411 records on somebody's phone, Mr. Speaker. As opposed to focusing on what matters to the people of the province of Ontario, she's trying to do anything to distract from the full-on revolt that she has in her party. Mr. Speaker, we will continue to focus on what matters to the people of the province of Ontario. Later today, she'll have an opportunity to vote with us. I hope that she does. Mr. Speaker, once again, the leader of the opposition. Thank you, Speaker. Earlier this week, the government shut down our motion to cancel the really sketchy Ontario Place deal. You'll remember this deal will see more than $600 million of hard-earned public funds subsidized the private profits of an Austrian spa developer for 95 years. You'll remember that this deal, the people of this province, do not support this deal. The deal makes no sense. What could possibly justify this unprecedented giveaway of prime waterfront property and hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to Thurma? Maybe we should ask Carmen Negro, Chair of Ontario Place, and a close personal friend of the Premier. My question to the Premier is, what would we find on his personal phone about the Ontario Place deal? Hi to the government, the Minister of Infrastructure. The member opposite is speaking to, yes, a property prime location, absolutely. A property that had to be closed in 2017 because of severe flooding that even impacted Budweiser stage operations. The site is in complete disrepair. It is constantly flooding, which is why we are doing the site servicing work. It's underway and that is exactly why we will repair the shoreline to make sure we protect the island for years and years so that people can enjoy it in the future. Mr. Speaker, Carmen Negro is only one of many of this Premier's friends who have been given very lucrative positions across this province's agencies, boards and commissions. And there are a frightening number of those appointees who appear to be entirely unqualified for this job. The appointment of people whose only qualification seems to be a big enough donation to the Conservative Party. And that calls into question the competence and integrity of vital services like the landlord and tenant board and the Human Rights Tribunal. The people of Ontario want to know, and so do I, how many of these unqualified appointees would we find on the Premier's personal phone logs? Thank you very much. Maybe the leader of the official opposition should inquire about the 2018 procurement led by the Liberal government, which also had a top proponent, and that top proponent's name was Thurman. Thurman is building a wellness centre and a water park facility to the leader of the opposition. Two different procurements by two different governments with different criteria. Proponent is the same. Thurmay will be at Ontario Place and will offer water park play for families 365 days of the year. The next question, the member for Brantford Brands. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Finance. Across the world, economic challenges continue to grow, and we know that Ontario is not isolated from this geopolitical uncertainty. We recently heard the great news during public accounts that our government received a sixth straight clean audit from the Auditor General. This is a refreshing change from the fiscal mismanagement of the previous Liberal government supported by the NDP. Unfortunately, Speaker, many families and individuals in my writing and across our province are feeling the economic pressures that have been caused by ongoing supply chain disruptions, inflation and increased interest rates. The people of our province are looking to our government for leadership during these times of uncertainty. Speaker, can the Minister please address this House on how our government is providing much needed fiscal leadership for the people of Ontario? Thank you. To apply the Minister of Finance. Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the hardworking member from Brantford for that question. As highlighted by the recent Ontario economic accounts, the numbers of our province, economy remain resilient. That is, as we've said before, Ontario faces potential economic uncertainty ahead. That's why, Mr. Speaker, as we continue to build more homes, more hospitals, more schools and more transit, investing in better services and keeping costs down for the people of Ontario, we are doing so in a prudent and responsible way. And I'm pleased to inform the House that we will be releasing our government's fall economic statement just a few weeks from now on November 2nd. Mr. Speaker, this government will continue to make targeted investments to support families, to support workers and to support businesses today while laying a strong fiscal foundation for future generations. Thank you very much. A supplementary question. Thank you, Speaker, and thank you, Minister. It's great to hear that the fall economic statement will be released in the coming weeks. The people of Ontario look forward to hearing an update on our government's plan for our economy. The Minister spoke about the fact that Ontario is not exempt from factors that are contributing to global economic uncertainty. That is why our government must show leadership and demonstrate a strong economic vision and plan that will help families and individuals during this unpredictable financial period. Speaker, can the Minister please explain how our government is continuing to work on behalf of Ontarians during these challenging economic times? Thank you, Speaker. Mr. Finance. Thank you again to the great member from Bradford Grant for that question, Mr. Speaker. The fall economic statement 2023 will continue to deliver on government's plan to build as we continue to work on building a stronger, more resilient Ontario with targeted investments in critical infrastructure. And as we've seen over the last year and the last few months, Mr. Speaker, Ontario's population continues to grow, almost 500,000 people last year, over 15.6 million people that call Ontario home. And that's why, Mr. Speaker, that we are building Ontario. That's why we're building in Durham for Bowmanville, four more transit stations and transit-oriented communities, Mr. Speaker. That's why up in Sioux-Saint-Marie at the Algoma Steel Plant, they're going to be building and completing a clean steel manufacturing operation due to open in November of 2024. And that's why, Mr. Speaker, in the West Niagara region, we are building a new hospital that they've been asking for for almost three decades, Mr. Speaker. We are committed to supporting the people of Ontario, and we will build Ontario together. Mr. Speaker and the Member for Kiwetnau. Miigwech, Speaker. I question to the Premier. Things are different in Northern Ontario. Things are different in Kiwetnau. Things are different on reserve. But since I've been here, since I've become a member, I've talked about many issues that need to be improved on reserve. Housing, fire safety, education, mental health, clean drinking water. It is systemic racism to do nothing and let these conditions get worse. Will this government acknowledge that they have a responsibility to improve these conditions in First Nations? Minister for Northern Development and Indigenous Affairs. First and foremost, I want to welcome the members from the isolated communities here today that I've had an opportunity in, especially Castlebonnec, one of my favourite communities. We see these as opportunities. We acknowledge that there remain some challenges around things like legacy infrastructure for isolated communities. But when it gets right down to it, we have an extraordinary opportunity to work with those communities to open up corridors for electricity, road access to improve the health, economic and social conditions of those communities. Increasingly, leadership from those communities are coming to us to have those conversations and develop real opportunities and create real opportunities through my ministries and other ministries in this government to change the fortunes and the road map to prosperity. I'm happy to continue that conversation with that member and the leadership across Northern Ontario. Thank you. The supplementary question. Speaker, it's not prosperity when you have young girls dying by suicide, when you have young boys dying by suicide, that's not prosperity. But Chiefs of, Chiefs, 31 Chiefs in the Silicon area, the Silicon, as part of the Silicon First Nations Health Authority have declared a public and social emergency because of the disproportionate mental health and addiction issues the cost of doing nothing because Ontario uses jurisdiction as an excuse cost lives and health every day, every day speaker. Will this government acknowledge that colonialism is a determinant of health for First Nations people? Thank you, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. Thank you Mr. Speaker and I thank the member opposite for the opportunity to answer this question. We know that there are gaps in care and they're wider in Indigenous communities and since 2019 we've invested over $40 million annually in Indigenous care organizations through the Roadmap to Wellness. We've strengthened partnerships with community-based organizations doing incredible work. $4.2 million to open 37 treatment beds and Sioux Lookout. $3.8 million to St. Joseph self-care and Dilla Kohane-Shinabek family care. 34 new treatment and medical withdrawal management beds. $1.7 million to expand beds for KCA youth camps, youth mental wellness service programs. $13.5 million across government with 30 projects aimed at stopping the cycle of intergenerational trauma. Two new and expanded treatment and healing centers in Northern Ontario through Roadmap to Wellness. Mr. Speaker, we know we need to do better in Indigenous communities and we're working in partnership to build appropriate, culturally appropriate mental health and addiction supports and services for all the people of Ontario including Indigenous. Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. Every region in Ontario experiencing a labour shortage. More workers are needed to deliver on our government's plan to build homes, schools, roads and other critical infrastructure. That is why our government must develop a workforce to take on these important projects. In Northern Ontario many businesses supply chains and industries are expending. That is why more people in First Nation communities must be connected with well-paying and demand jobs in the skilled trades that are close to their home. Can the Minister please explain how our government is providing accessible training for First Nations communities to prepare for careers in the skilled trades? Mr. Labour Immigration Training and Skills Development. Thank you Speaker and thank you to the member for that question. 700,000 Speaker. How many more people woke up today with a paycheck thanks to the leadership of this Premier? One of the most successful funds to get people into those jobs to upskill to get bigger paychecks is our Skills Development Fund and I was proud to be in Northern Ontario a place my Liberal predecessor called No Man's Land. I was proud to be up there to announce $7.3 million investment through the Skills Development Fund to help 1700 people find better jobs, bigger paychecks and I was honoured to meet with a number of Indigenous youth and a number of Indigenous men and women who are going to be beneficiaries of the Skills Development Fund who are going to be supported into getting bigger jobs, better paychecks to support the Skills Development in those growing communities in the north. Thank you Speaker. Thank you Minister. This is great news. As we continue to invest in our province labour force we can achieve a strong Ontario build for the next generation. It is clear that under the leadership of the Premier our government is bringing opportunities to every corner of our province. As communities and businesses in Northern Ontario continue to grow workers must be prepared for in-demand careers with local employees. That is why our government is pushing to break down barriers so that workers can have rewarding careers and are close to home. Speaker, can the Minister please explain how our government is developing a sustainable workforce in Northern Ontario and the Indigenous communities? Mr Labour. Thank you Speaker and thank you again. You know the Minister of Northern Development just asked me if my riding was in Northern Ontario and what this entire government has. We recognise that there is no success in Ontario without unlocking the potential that is Northern Ontario. So yes, I'm proud to represent Northern Ontario as well. And Speaker, 17,000 I'll give you another number. 17,000 jobs go unfilled in Northern Ontario in construction, in healthcare, in tourism, in logging, in mining. Well Speaker, under the leadership of this Premier we've invested almost a billion dollars through the Skills Development Fund but what's most exciting is that these projects are led by partners in the north. They're led by partners, unions for example who've been beneficiaries of this. I was with iron workers in the north to announce that 7.3 million and I heard Phil's story. Phil was at a safe way. He was working dirty jobs, low pay and thanks to the Skills Development Fund he now has a better job and a bigger paycheck. We're transforming lives in the north and we're unlocking the potential. It's no longer no man's land. We're unlocking that potential. Thank you. Thank you very much. Member for Toronto, St. Paul's. Great, Mr. Speaker. Businesses in my riding of St. Paul's and the community they serve have suffered because of delay after delay of the Eglinton Crosstown P3 project. These businesses have not been compensated for these delays, although we've asked many times of this government paid by the public. Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster has been rewarded with huge raises and just had his contract extended. We might as well call him the million dollar man. My question is back to the Premier. Why are the people responsible for this fiasco getting rewarded while business people in St. Paul's and frankly elsewhere are left to suffer by this conservative government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And Mr. President, Mr. Transportation to reply. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Here are the facts. We are making the largest investment in public transit in the history of this province. The leadership of Premier Ford over 30 billion dollars are being invested in the City of Toronto and that member and the members from the Toronto team on the member of the party of the opposition on the transit. They voted against the Ontario line. They voted against the Scarborough subway extension. They voted against LRTs across this province. They don't want to build transit in cities like Toronto. They don't want to build transit in Ontario, Mr. Speaker. We will take no lessons from them and continue on our path to making sure the people of Ontario can move whether it's through transit or highways. The Prime Minister has said that he will not pay the P3 contractor accountable for cost overruns and delays to the Eglinton crosstown. Instead, he paid the P3 contractor hundreds of millions of dollars in bailouts that the Auditor General said should not have been paid. The Metrolinx Board won't hold Mr. Verster accountable. Instead of firing him, he said he keeps stacking the board with cronies and PC donors. Where's the transparency and the accountability in that? Again, back to the Premier, if he'd only answer the question, who will finally hold the Premier accountable for the Metrolinx gravy train? RCMP, maybe? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I will tell you what the Premier is doing and that is building the subway system, by 90% in the city of Toronto and Europe Region. He's also building public transit in other communities, like Mississauga and the Ontario line. But Mr. Speaker. Government House Leader, come to order. The member for Toronto State, Paul's will come to order. I need to be able to hear the Minister of Infrastructure respond to the question. Start the clock. Mr. Speaker. Everyone is aware that we inherited the Eglinton Crosstown project. We do not contract projects in the same way anymore. But since 2018, Mr. Speaker, 27 P3 projects are in construction today. 27. It is this Premier that will build this province. Member for Toronto, St. Paul's will come to order. The Minister of Energy will come to order. Start the clock. Member for Ottawa, So, next question. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Premier. Last week, Ontarian's got some news that comes as a relief for many. The news that the RCMP is launching an investigation into the failed $8.3 billion backroom deal that was going to benefit wealthy, well-connected insiders. Or by the Premier's own admission his friends. Cabinet ministers, senior political staffers have already been interviewed by the Integrity Commissioner and it's clear from his report that they all lawyer up. And as the Premier knows lawyers are expensive. So can the Premier tell us today that not one penny of taxpayer dollars for any government members or staffers caught up in this $8.3 billion scandal will be spent? Will you apply the Government House Leader? This is a member who replaced a leader whose chief of staff members of his party went to jail. To jail, Mr. Speaker. This is a member who has a leadership candidate who still wants to build on the Green Bill. This is a member who under their watch saw the province lose thousands of jobs gave up on manufacturing didn't build long-term care ruined our hospital sector destroyed education starved post-secondary education couldn't build transit didn't build roads on every single count they failed. The people who have had elections in a row even the NDP have beaten them at the polls, Mr. Speaker. That's saying something, Mr. Speaker. So we'll continue to do what's right for the people of the province of Ontario grow the economy. Any questions? Well, you know the House Leader can talk and talk and talk. But, steep easy Premier, the Mounties always get their man. The Premier's Secretary, Amin Massoudi the Premier's Director of Housing, Jay Trusdell the Premier's Handpicked Chief of Staff and the Minister of Housing's Office Ryan Amato, the Premier's Executive Assistant, Nico Fadani-Diker are all caught up in this. So we know that members of the government, former cabinet ministers senior staffers and ministers in the Premier's office are all, and in the Premier himself are all likely to be questioned by the RCMP for this investigation. And folks, they're all going to need a lawyer. So Ontario taxpayers want to know that none of their hard-earned taxpayer dollars will go for any members of this government any political staffers caught up in this scandal. Can the Premier commit to that today? Please rise in your seat and tell Ontarians that. I remind the members to make their comments through the chair, not across the floor. Government House Leader Just Mr. Speaker Honestly, we said we made a public policy decision that the people of the province of Ontario didn't support. So we made a public policy decision that the people of the province didn't support. We then changed the course and the Premier apologized. Now what we didn't do is what the previous Liberal government did. They then paid billions of dollars to try and help their members win elections on a public policy decision that nobody supported. Right? That scandal actually cost the people of the province of Ontario billions of dollars, Mr. Speaker. In that party, people went to jail, Mr. Speaker. That party has been reduced off the clock. I apologize to the Government House Leader for having to interrupt him because it's the Conservative side that is so loud I can't hear him. Please start the clock. Government House Leader still has the floor. Look, Mr. Speaker, here's the reality. Both parties, you have an official opposition party who are hiding half of their caucus today. They have a complete leadership revolt happening there. You have a Liberal party that hasn't had a permanent leader now in five years, Mr. Speaker, and you have the people of the province of Ontario showing their support for the policies of the progressive Conservative government time and time again because you know what they're concerned about? They're concerned about jobs. They're concerned about their economy. They're concerned about housing, education. They're concerned about their seniors. They're concerned about long-term care and health care and on every single measure we are making progress like we have never seen before. There's once again that it's not appropriate in order to permit member making reference to the absence of another member. The next question start the clock. The member for Carlton. Mr. Speaker my question is for the minister of red tape production. Ontario's businesses are a key part of Ontario's economy. They play a vital role in driving innovation creating jobs and fostering vibrant communities across our province. Our government must be focused on removing burdens that impact their operations. Taking action to reduce red tape supports our small businesses through direct cost savings which in turn fuels job creation and growth. Businesses expect our government to follow through on our commitments and leave no stone unturned when it comes to cutting red tape. Speaker through you. Can the minister please explain what actions our government is taking to help businesses remain competitive. Thank you. Minister for red tape production. Thank you Mr. Speaker. I want to thank my colleague from Carlton for that important question. Mr. Speaker our government is supporting Ontario's businesses by keeping cost down. One of the most important ways to do that is Mr. Speaker eliminating unnecessary red tape of course. The actions that we have taken to cut red tape has helped Ontario businesses save nearly 950 million dollars. The 11 different red tape production packages we have removed over 16,000 different kinds of red tape pieces Mr. Speaker to keep our businesses competitive at the world stage Mr. Speaker and the results speak for themselves. Mr. Speaker there are over 700,000 people that are working today Mr. Speaker that were not under the previous liberal and supported by the NDP government Mr. Speaker. Supplementary back to the member for Carlton. Thank you to the minister for that response. It's clear that significant success has been achieved in making life easier for businesses in my riding up Carlton and across the province of Ontario through the less red tape stronger Ontario act. Reducing red tape is an important part of building a stronger economy and making it clear that Ontario is open for business. We are achieving results and seeing success all without compromising public safety and environmental protections. However there's still more to do in creating an environment that drives new businesses. Mr. Speaker I want to thank the member for that question again. Mr. Speaker we're working across government to remove unnecessary red tape that of course creates challenges for businesses and people for the province of Ontario Mr. Speaker. Again thanks to our efforts over the last five years Ontario has been a very important part of building a better economy. So over the last five years Ontario businesses are now saving nearly $950 million in each and every year Mr. Speaker. Later today I will be introducing our 12th red tape production package Mr. Speaker. It will continue our government's effort to make sure our businesses are positioned to succeed and are competitive in the world Mr. Speaker. It will show that our government is working around the clock to get it done driving economic development, encouraging job creation and demonstrate why Ontario is the best place to live, work and raise a family. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Thank you. The next question the member for Hamilton My question is for the Premier. My office has received several calls from mothers desperate for help. They've told me that there are many daughters who have had psychotic episodes been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Faced with the unknown these families have tried everything in an endless loop of referrals which go nowhere. When their children are left isolated and alone overnight with minimal interaction they often get released from hospitals with no supports no follow-up and the worst possible scenario when will the Premier give these families the attention they need instead of focusing on his insider friends If you reply to the Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Thank you to the member opposite for the question This is a very important issue for our government. We understand the importance and the needs of children and youth and ensuring that supports and services are there for them. We developed the Roadmap to Wellness and starting in 2019 invested $130 million in the Children and Youth Mental Health Services through the Roadmap. The Roadmap slates another $170 million over three years. In education $90 million for school-based supports and $20 million for an across-the-board 5% funding increasing something that has not been seen before from previous governments and we're extremely proud of the Youth Wellness Hubs that we've developed across the province of Ontario making a huge difference in the lives of so many of our young people and Mr. Speaker we're continuing to invest with early interventions to keep kids from harmful behaviors that are giving us a great return easily accessible care investments Thank you very much A supplementary question back to the member for Hamilton Thank you respectfully back to the Premier but to the Minister I wasn't speaking of children speaking of adults in a system that is absolutely in a horrifying mess and we see that in all of our communities I also wanted to bring a message to the Premier today from Kitchener Centre about their struggle with the access to mental health care one constituent wrote and I quote the provincial government keeps touting its investments in health care and its focus on mental health for young people but what is actually being done it seems to me that all that is being done is a fancy press release while single moms like me have to figure out how to make it work and more often have to live with the guilt of not being able to provide my teen with the care they need to become a healthy and productive citizen so can the Premier tell us if he will stop spending hundreds of millions of dollars on parking garages in a spa for downtown Toronto instead start investing in mental health care in Kitchener and across the province take your suits associate minister for mental health and addiction Speaker and thanks again for the opportunity to stand up I started speaking about children and youth because we know that prevention is the key to ensuring that we have a system that is going to be functional for adults and for everyone else in the system but you know Mr. Speaker I sit here in the rhetoric from the other side and I wonder if they start for a moment to think about what they did when they were in power and how they permitted another government to do absolutely nothing under their watch Mr. Speaker 9,645 beds hospital beds for mental health were closed now Mr. Speaker our government with 90 million dollars opened 400 new beds 7,000 treatment spots and we're continuing to build a continuum of care to look after the needs of everyone in the province of Ontario to ensure they get the help they get where and when they need it no matter where they are in the province the north, the south, the east or the west the next question the member for Ajax question is for the minister of seniors and accessibility when I connect with seniors in my writing of Ajax they tell me that isolation is a major concern the minister has always said it is the number one enemy for seniors thanks to the commitment of the premier and this minister investments made by our governments are helping seniors stay active healthy and socially connected in my community of Ajax several organisations have received funding from this government to provide opportunities for seniors to get together learn and stay active our government is making excellent progress in helping our seniors stay connected however we must continue to support initiatives to keep our older adults engaged in their communities can the minister please elaborate on how our government is supporting the quality of life for seniors in Ontario Minister for seniors and accessibility thank you to the hard working MPP for Ajax we have invested over 70 million dollars since 2018 to fund nearly 300 senior active living centre across Ontario as a senior myself I know what a difference it makes to be surrounded by people and to have activities to look forward to when I get to go out across the province and spend time with other seniors I see the important role this senior centre have they are building network for seniors bringing people together and preventing loneliness response these centres promote life in the community and support the health and well being of a senior across Ontario thank you thank you speaker senior active centres are a vital network for seniors in communities across the province thanks to the excellent programs and services that are offered I often hear from seniors in my community that they are grateful for these spaces to gather and connect these centres are vital investments into the health and well being of our seniors and are also important for generations to come without these spaces the health of seniors will be negatively impacted that is why our government cannot afford to lose focus on the importance of programs and services that reduce social isolation speaker please explain how our government is supporting senior centres and organisations in communities across Ontario minister for seniors and accessibility Mr Speaker I'm happy to share with the House that over 3 million dollars has been distributed for 299 senior active living centre across the province this is part of the funding received each quarter toward the maintenance and operating expenses for the centres this is how we make sure the local organisation regularly have what they need to support seniors from ages to Kingston Kearney to Whitby and many seniors have access to these programs right in their community these centres are a vibrant place for people to get active and feel support close to home thank you very much speaker my question is to the Premier a report last month from the Ontario real estate association CEO and former PC leader Tim Hudak saying quote student debt is not merely a financial burden it's the biggest barrier to the dream of home ownership for many young Ontarians and their families the report stated that students with debt want to own homes but they are losing hope 70% are worried it will never happen and student loans are the main reason this government's changes to OSAP have left more students drowning in debt than ever before why is this government denying post secondary students the dream of home ownership Mr colleges and universities thank you to the member for that question actually after question period I'm heading down to the college fair and I'll be meeting with the students the faculty and colleges but also with our team from OSAP and hearing directly from those folks students but you know what's interesting is under the former liberal government this province had the highest tuition in Canada but it was our premier who said no more in 2018 we decreased tuition by 10% across the province and that's why we continued to freeze that tuition and we've kept OSAP as a needs-based assessment so that students in 10, 15 20 years will have access to the OSAP system in 2021 alone we invested $4.2 billion in direct aid to 385,000 full-time students with 80% of Ontario's funding provided as grants opposed to the 54% of federal student supports all this government has done is destabilize the post secondary sector listen to Aurea listen to what Tim Houdak is saying the Aurea report found that 42% of students carrying debt are considering leaving Ontario after graduation so they can repay their student loans and find a place of their own this represents a huge loss to our province but it can be easily fixed make OSAP easier to access convert loans to grants that is how to make the dream of home ownership a reality for young people why did this government think moving off the green belt to enrich their friends was a more important housing strategy than giving young people the ability to afford to buy a home the minister of colleges and universities thank you Mr. Speaker and this is the same party that opposes building student housing on campuses and in communities across Ontario so we'll take no lessons from the party across we've extended the OSAP program to be eligible for students who are rolled in Indigenous institutions and academic credentials so that more and more students can have access to OSAP but because it's a need-based program we've actually seen a decrease in the number of students who are accessing the OSAP program and it's initiatives like the Ontario Learn and Stay program which is seeing free tuition for students who are rolling in nursing programs paramedic programs and lab tech programs across the province they are receiving free tuition it's ensuring that students who are attending colleges have access to three-year degrees at colleges increasing the number of degrees in colleges so students continue to learn closer to home so we are seeing a decrease in the number of students using those programs next question the number for Burlington thank you Speaker my question is for the Associate Minister of Women's Social and Economic Opportunity with more than 100,000 unfilled jobs in the skilled trades it's critical that we attract more women and underrepresented populations into the workforce to pursue good paying careers in this sector it's good news that employment numbers for women continue to rise and more mothers are part of Ontario's labour market however the reality is that many women encounter barriers that make it difficult for them to enter the workforce that's why our government must continue to work on behalf of all women to implement measures that will reduce obstacles Speaker can the Associate Minister please describe what actions our government is taking to support women in the workforce good question the Associate Minister of Women's Social and Economic Opportunity thank you to the member for Burlington for the work that you're doing and so Mr. Speaker the FAO report is actually saying that we've done significant work to see more women entering the workforce because of the actions of our government because we know that women are an integral part to the development of Ontario's economy and the FAO study found that the labour participation rate of mothers with children between the ages of 0 to 5 years increased from 7.6% in 2021 to 78.9% in 2022 that's a 2.4 increase in one year under our government and it's the first time we've seen an increase since 1976 because our government secured a historic agreement an agreement that is better than any other province across the province a billion extra dollars and additional year of funding guarantee that no other province had we know that thank you very much and a supplementary question thank you speaker our government is determined to support and empower women with economic opportunities bringing affordable childcare is a step in the right direction and will have a positive impact on helping to get more women in the workforce Ontario's economy and our province as a whole will benefit by supporting women in the workforce especially in leading edge industries the skilled trades occupations unfortunately the women the number of women employed in this sector is well below their male counterparts at a time of severe labour shortages our government must invest in programs that will help women to achieve the success they deserve speaker can the associate minister please explain how our government is expanding opportunities for women to find careers in the skilled trades the associate minister Mr. Speaker you know our government has been making significant strides in encouraging women to enter the skilled trades as our minister of labour has said before we've seen a 30% increase in women entering the skilled trades and we intend to keep them there Mr. Speaker our government has invested in our investing in women's futures program and we've seen an expansion of this program to 10 new sites and just recently I was in Newmarket Aurora with the wonderful local member there where we announced the expansion of the investing in women's futures program to the women's centre of York region with an investment of over $325,000 for their first step program this program will address the intersectional economic and personal barriers that women have to overcome it will offer over 250 women each year the services they need to leave abusive situations and develop economic opportunities for them to thrive Mr. Speaker that's why we've expanded our women's economic security program and these programs together have seen over 10,000 women access and support Mr. Speaker we are not going to leave women behind because we know that women Thank you Thank you the next question Mr. Speaker my question is for the Premier Mr. Speaker like most people on the chair I'm very concerned about the current state of the family in Ajax who waited several hours for an ambulance hours for an ambulance Speaker this is a new low it is unacceptable that anyone in Ontario in need of urgent emergency care has to wait for hours before the ambulance arrives to bring them to the hospital the son who called the ambulance and waited with his father for hours said and I'm quoting here Speaker our healthcare system is in a permanent state collapse it didn't have to be like this I blame the Ford government 100% Mr. Speaker why are families waiting hours for an ambulance Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Frankly it's because our healthcare system was ignored for too long when the Liberals were in power and you were propping them up but specifically I want to talk about some short, medium and long-term goals that we have already put in place now Speaker we have a plan and it is working in fact in Northern Ontario we now have a paramedic program that ensures individuals who want to train to be a paramedic and serve in communities that need that assistance get the ability to do that with two years training we cover their tuition in their books and they ensure that they are practicing in Northern communities including your own those are the initiatives that we are working on I would ask respectfully why you did not support the state program when it was programed Supplementary question back to the member for Sudbury Speaker like the Liberals before them the Conservatives tried to blame the previous party they had five years to fix it it got worse the last time they were in power they closed 26 hospitals and laid off 6000 nurses Speaker people waiting for evidence this is not an isolated event many other Ontarians have shared similar experiences don't laugh at all people waiting it for ambulances one family in Markham shared that their child had a sports injury and they waited hours before the ambulance arrived it's not a laughing matter wait times like that can have lasting damage on the children to the premier will you increase municipal funding for UMS and ambulances to ensure people are not left waiting in their times of need Premier and Minister of Health I would remind the member opposite that in fact our government is a 50-50 partner with municipal individuals who wish to expand their paramedic services we have always been there had the backs of our municipal partners as they expand their paramedic services having said that we have done some things in the short term that have made a real difference and that of course is as an example 9-1-1 models of care so that individuals who do not need to go from a paramedic service into an emergency room have options available to them as we roll out those programs as communities apply for that we have seen a dramatic increase in satisfaction at the patient level and more importantly making sure that individuals who use those 9-1-1 models of care so that they can go to a palliative care home they can go to serve in mental health facilities have the option to do that and the patients love it and the paramedics love it thank you, the next question the member for Chatham Kent Leamington thank you speaker my question is the solicitor general sadly there is a concerning rise in criminal activity across the country here in Ontario we are seeing more and more reports of crime in all parts of our province this has left many feeling troubled with the safety and security for themselves and their loved ones speaker, we all know that these trends cannot continue everyone in Ontario has the right to feel safe in their communities that's why our government must continue to show leadership by addressing this disturbing surge in criminal activity that is negatively impacting everyone of us what actions are governments taking to enhance public security across the province thank you Mr. Speaker and the member from Chatham Kent Leamington is 100% right innocent people have lost their lives due to the dangerous criminals being on our streets instead of being behind bars and that's why Ontario is leading the way and thanks to Premier Ford who coalesced all the premiers and territorial leaders in our country to pen a letter to the Prime Minister calling on the federal government to enact meaningful bail reform their bill the federal bill C48 has now passed the House of Commons and is on the way to be passed we hope soon in the Senate but we're not just standing by Mr. Speaker we're strengthening the province's bail enforcement and prosecutorial system with a $112 million investment to keep these high risk offenders and those who will wreak havoc on our streets in jail behind bars where they belong supplementary question thank you Speaker and thank you Mr. General it's reassuring to hear about the progress our government has made in strengthening public safety measures but unfortunately the reports of criminal activity like auto theft illicit drug trafficking or more widespread investigation another disturbing trend being seen all across Ontario is just how quickly firearms can be purchased in the U.S. smuggling to Canada and used to commit criminal offenses here that's why it's important for our police officers to have the tools and resources they need to tackle this new level of organized crime it's negatively impacting our province Speaker can Mr. General please explain how our government is increasing measures to support police services as they combat complex organized crime and to reply to the solicitor general well thank you Mr. Speaker and thanks again to the member you know we know that almost every gun that's used in an illegal activity in our province emanates from across the border and that's why in 2020 Ontario launched a multi-year guns gangs and violence reduction strategy through which we've invested over $203 million our strategy focuses on prevention, intervention and enforcement and yes as I said just a second ago because the firearms are coming from across the border we're continuing to urge the federal government this is the message I said last week in Bromont, Quebec when I was there together with the attorney general at the at the FPT meeting the federal government has to step up border protections I said to my counterpart meet me at the border so you can see for yourself thank you that concludes our question period for this morning Minister of Education has a point of order very briefly Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker I just want to recognize that in question period a member of SEJA Sahavi Zidelberg joined us and I want to thank him for his leadership on behalf of all is really government host leader number 59 thank you very much Mr. Speaker just rising on standing order number 59 outlining the status of business for next week and to thank colleagues for a productive week as you announced earlier Mr. Speaker we will be returning Monday morning at 9am and we will be seized with government order number 39 which of course is a central motion for the member for Hamilton Center in the afternoon we will have an opposition day debate opposition day number 3 and bill 135 which is convening care at home act in the morning of Tuesday October 24 we will move to bill 135 again the convening care at home act and in the afternoon we will be moving to bill 65 standing in the name of the member for Whitby which is the honoring our veterans act in the evening we will have private members motion number 65 which is a carbon tax on groceries motion in the evening we will be debating bill 38 on Thursday October 26 in the morning we will continue with the honoring our veterans act in the name of the member for Whitby the afternoon we will be seized with a member for Chatham Kent Leamington a private members motion number 69 which is a carbon tax on groceries motion number 68 in the afternoon we will be debating a government bill which will be introduced later on today in the evening we will be on notice of motion private members motion number 66 thank you speaker thank you very much next we have a deferred vote on motion for closure on government order number 38 relating to the Hamas attacks this is a five minute bill