 It is now time for oral questions, and I recognize the leader of the Majesty's Royal Opposition. Thanks very much, Speaker. My first question this morning is to the Premier. A media report today that the Premier will be announcing plans for stage three reopening of some businesses today, but parents are still waiting for news that this government is committed to a full five-day-a-week reopening of our schools and adequate childcare spaces. Without a plan to fully reopen schools and childcare centres, you don't have a plan to reopen the economy. At least not for thousands of working women who rely on childcare and schools to ensure that they actually can get to work. Will the government be announcing those plans today? Premier? Well, I can't comment what our news conference is going to be about, Mr Speaker, right now, but it's going to be an exciting news conference like it is every single day. Bringing people up to date on where we're going, showing them how the economy is moving forward, making sure that we keep the health and safety of not only families, but students are number one concern to make sure they go back, when they do go back, to a safe environment. Thank you. Thank you. And the supplementary question. Well, Speaker, people can't go back to work unless their kids are back in school and back in childcare. And while the Premier spent last week ignoring pleas from parents frustrated by the lack of plans for September, school boards across the province spent their last week scrambling to try to put a school year together and calling on the Premier to reverse his decision to send kids back to school part-time this fall. In Toronto, the TDSB said the Conservatives' hybrid plan, quote, places a tremendous burden on parents and caregivers, and in particular women, families with young children and low-income families, and stands to further jeopardize the economic recovery. So will the Premier step up with a real plan so parents don't have to choose between their jobs and their kids? Premier. Well, through the best advice that we have from the chief medical officers right across this province, we decided to let each school board make a decision. And we gave them three different criteria that they can work with, Mr. Speaker. But to support the school boards, we're making the largest investment in education in Ontario's history. In Ontario's history, it's $25 billion. That's over $730 million from last year. We're increasing the student funding by over $250. Because every single school board will see an increase in funding that they haven't seen in many, many years. Thank you. And the final supplementary. Well, Chief Speaker, there used to be a principle in the province of Ontario where no matter where a child lives, they would have access to quality public education that's pretty equal around the province. Sounds like the Premier is abandoning that theory, Speaker. In Ottawa, trustees have voted to send kids back five days a week after parents raised concerns that the Ford government's non-plan would only make things much, much worse. Parents said the scheme was unfair and kids said that a Google meeting once a week isn't an education. Parents have said loud and clear, you cannot expect parents to work and be teachers. So back to the Premier. Ontario's medical officers of health, school boards, parents, teachers, students, and childcare operators are all calling on this government to do better. Where is the plan to reopen schools and childcare centres in our province? Premier. Again, Mr. Speaker, we must be speaking to two different groups. We usually are speaking to two different groups. I'm speaking to all the people of the province. I'm not too sure what the leader of the opposition is speaking to. But what I'm hearing from parents, it's a good plan. I'm what I'm hearing from school board trustees that thank you for giving us the option rather than forcing down options down our backs. So every jurisdiction is a little different, Mr. Speaker. And what applies up in Canaveral doesn't necessarily apply in Hamilton, Mr. Speaker. It applies in Toronto. So we're giving them the flexibility to make the plan, work with the school boards, making sure they work with their parents and community organisations. And we're going to move forward in September and keep the kids safe. That's our number one priority. Thank you. The next question, once again, the leader of the opposition. Thank you so much, Speaker. My next question is also to the Premier. But I mean, I have to say that even employers are very, very worried about this government's lack of a plan and lack of funding for getting schools back up and running for our kids. But last week, the Premier unveiled a 150-page omnibus bill and claimed it was actually a response to COVID-19. The bill will do a great deal, Speaker, for developers who don't eat to the PC party, but it doesn't do anything for families waiting for childcare. It isn't a plan to reopen the schools or help municipalities that are struggling with cuts. And most shockingly, it fails to even mention. It doesn't even mention once long-term care. The Premier has often said that long-term care is an urgent priority. Why has it fallen off the priority list all of a sudden? Premier. I'm a little shocked because it's the first time the leader of the opposition has even cared about employers or small businesses. They vote against every single bill that we put forward for small businesses, making sure that they stay afloat. So I'm just a little concern about that, Mr. Speaker. We have a great plan in the endless small businesses, medium and large businesses I talk to. There's one word I get, and that's thank you. Thank you for working with us. Thank you for moving the province forward. Order. And thank you for not being like the U.S. opening it right up. As you saw in Florida, 15,000 cases. We're going to make sure we're responsible and thoughtful when we reopen. Thank you. Supplementary. Well, I see, Speaker, that the Premier decided to dodge the long-term care piece of that question. So I'm going to continue on that vein. The Premier spent weeks claiming that urgent changes are needed in long-term care. That's what he claimed. Yet last week, he tabled a 150-page bill in this legislature, and he didn't table a single change in long-term care within that bill. For years, families and frontline workers have proposed, for example, a minimum standard of four hours of long-term care for every resident. It's a simple measure. It's a simple measure that would help ensure residents are actually getting the attention that they need and deserve. Why was that not in the bill? Well, through you, Mr. Speaker, I just, I find it so rich, so ironic, hearing this from the leader of the opposition and the previous government. They did absolutely nothing. They opened up a little over 600 long-term care beds over, what was it, over a 15-year period? And when it comes to air conditioning, Mr. Speaker, you know something? The leader of the opposition has been down here since 2009, 11 years. Not one single word about air conditioning. You know something? Granted, there's all sorts of things we think of and certain things we didn't think of, and I want to thank the reporter from CBC for bringing it to our attention because now we don't have to worry about moving forward as we invest into air conditioning, not just in common areas, but in each individual room. Just imagine sitting there swallowing, and they sat around for 11 years doing absolutely nothing. Zip, zero, zilch. Nothing. Final supplementary? Well, Speaker, the Premier will need to correct his record because I've been here since 2004, 2006. I was advocating for air conditioning in long-term care. 2007, I raised it right here in the legislature, advocating for air conditioning in long-term care. So the Speaker of the Premier needs to do his homework, unfortunately, again. But last week, he feigned outrage. He feigned absolute outrage at the lack of air conditioning in long-term care homes. Over a decade ago, in hearings on the Long-Term Care Act, seniors demanded air conditioning in all long-term care facilities be made the law. I told the Premier last week that we could pass that legislation immediately. We could still do that today, setting that standard. The Premier found space to make sure that his well-connected developers could get quick approval for their projects in that omnibus bill last week. But seniors in long-term care saw zilch, zippo, nothing from the Premier. Why? Well, you know, some... Premier to reply. Stand to be correct, and I apologize. It wasn't the Leader of the Opposition did nothing for 11 years. She did nothing for 16 years. So I apologize for that. I'm pretty good at math, too, but I should have figured that out. But what we did do is, Mr. Speaker, put $243 million into long-term care immediately. We're going to put more money into long-term care than this province has ever seen, ever. We're going to build more homes, more beds than this province has ever seen. There's one thing to face a crisis, Mr. Speaker. There's another order to act on the crisis, and our government's acting on the crisis. Thank you. The next question, once again, the Leader of the Opposition. Thanks very much, Speaker. My next question is also for the Premier. This weekend, I had a chance to visit the Windsor-Essex region and hear directly from people about the challenges that they've been facing during this pandemic. And while the Premier has been claiming that he put an all-hands-on-deck approach to help the region when it comes to COVID-19 outbreaks amongst migrant workers in the region, late last week, the local mayors were very clear, Speaker. Efforts are uncoordinated and chaotic, they said. The Premier says he's put that all-hands-on-deck approach in place. How come the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing? Premier? Without naming names about the mayors, there are great mayors down there, and in constant communication, one mayor told me they don't have time for the NDP because they haven't done anything. Nothing, zero. They don't even want to visit them. So what does that say? But I do look forward to going down there Thursday, Mr. Speaker, meeting the farmers, meeting the workers, meeting the small business owners right across Kingsville and Leamington. And again, I have a phenomenal relationship with both mayors down there. But we'll have more comments when I come back from the little tour we're having of Leamington on Thursday, and hopefully I'll get a few pounds cut off top of my hair here. A supplementary question. Well, Speaker, talks cheap. In other provinces, excuse me, provincial governments have shown leadership. They've shown leadership to get outbreaks of farms under control and prevent them from actually happening in the first place. But in Ontario, we've seen local governments left scrambling to fill the gaps and a complete lack of coordination because this Premier and his team did not step up to the challenge. As of Monday, 19 of over 170 farms in the Windsor-Essex area have completed the onsite testing. And the Premier seems more interested in blaming migrant workers wrongfully claiming that they're avoiding tests than in actually solving the problems. When will the Premier get his act into gear and show some leadership on this issue? Mr. Labour, granting of skills development. Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I think this is a great opportunity to thank all of the people in Ontario. 14 and a half million people that have come together every single day to work to defeat COVID-19. Mr. Speaker, we've got a long ways to go, obviously, but with everyone working together, we're going to get there. Mr. Speaker, when it comes to Kingsville and Leamington, we just have to thank all of those small businesses. Thankfully, because they've worked together, they've now moved to stage two. And, Mr. Speaker, we can't forget the great news that the people of Ontario heard last year. Obviously, we have a long ways to go, but, Mr. Speaker, 378,000 jobs were created in Ontario in the month of June. That's good news for Kingsville and Leamington. That's good news for every person in the province of Ontario. The next question, the member for Mississauga Lakeshore. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Premier. At the beginning of the global pandemic, every jurisdiction in the world was left scrambling for critical PPE and health supplies. Canada was in desperate struggle in the important supplies we needed from China, US and other countries. Back in April, Premier, you said that this province, we would never be left in the situation again. We would never be left in the mercy of our equipment or any other supply. Because Ontario is a manufacturing powerhouse. Having worked at Ford Motor Company of Canada for 31 years, I got involved in politics because of what was done to the manufacturing sector in Ontario. Speaker, can the Premier share about the success of Ontario's manufacturing turnaround? Thank you, Premier. Well, thank the great member from Mississauga Lakeshore for the question. And yes, I did say that. We're just shortly, probably about three months, a little over three months since we've called the manufacturers of Ontario to come together and support the people of Ontario. And that's exactly what they did. They stepped up, Mr. Speaker. Now, before, we didn't have one manufacturer of masks. Now we have 23 companies bidding on surgical masks. We have numerous companies bidding on the N95 masks. We have produced and procured over 26 million gowns, 175 surgical gloves, 123 masks and 4 million face shields and over 10,000 ventilators. That's all in less than three months. It's an amazing story. It's not the government's story. It's the people's story. It's about the great manufacturers here in Ontario and we can build anything here in Ontario, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. And the supplementary question. Mr. Speaker, my question is back to the Premier. Our manufacturing sector generated $300 billion alone and over 80% the export worldwide. We are a titan of industry and I know that every Ontario is proud of our great business. Last Friday, job numbers brought some great news for our constituents and the people of the province. 378,000 jobs were added to Ontario's economy in June. That's 378 more people back at work and a paycheck at home. We saw 66 more jobs in manufacturing, 34,000 more jobs in construction as we recover from the worst economic downturn in our lifetime as we fight to get every Ontario back to their feet. Now, more than ever, we need to support Ontario business and manufacturers. Speaker, can the Premier share with the legislation what our government is doing to promote Ontario's businesses and Ontario manufacturers once again? Premier. I want to thank the member last Friday with CME. We put forward an initiative to recognize Ontario Mating Canada campaign and we're moving forward and it's great. 378,000 people are back to work but we have a long ways to go as a province to get everyone back to work. But I've always said we're a manufacturing might here in North America. We do $390 billion a year in two-way trade with the U.S. and Canada as a whole. We're the number one customer in the world. We buy more than China, Japan and U.K. combined. Absolutely combined. When we put our mind to it, Mr. Speaker, there's nothing. Nothing in this world we can't manufacture right here in Ontario. Thank you. The next question. Member for Essex. Thank you very much Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Speaker, the infections of COVID-19 in Essex County and Chatham Kent Leamington are nothing less than alarming. Hundreds of migrant workers have fallen ill and tragically we have had several fatalities. Our collective sympathies go to the families of those workers and loved ones of those workers. But, Speaker, instead of ramping up testing to get the infections under control in our community, the mobile testing for farm workers has been handed over to a private company with an interesting connection to the PC Party, Speaker. It's none other than the former Executive Director of the PC Caucus Jim Silverstein, a longtime political ally. Speaker, why is the Premier so willing to contract out vital health services to friends of PC Party insiders? Thank you very much for the question but I can assure you that there has been rapidly expanded testing and coordinated testing being done in Windsor Essex area with the federal government, with the provincial governments, with the mayors, with the public health units. It expanded very rapidly and for those workers that were found to have COVID, they were congregated together in a place that was safe for them and they were being visited by health professionals, nurses or nurse practitioners before they were able to go to work if they were asymptomatic. They were symptomatic, of course, they received the necessary medical attention. So far from ignoring this situation, we have actually gathered together, we've put all of our forces together work together to make sure that everybody can be protected. That is every single migrant worker in the entire area. This supplementary question. Thanks to the Minister of Health but that is not the message that's coming out of our community based on the press conference by regional leadership, municipal leadership and public health officials. Speaker, Ontarians deserve to know if this contract was sole sourced and how much it's been sold. They deserve to know how much the Premier's former Executive Director of Caucus, the one who helped him launch the fake news platform Ontario News Now was involved. Public servants with years of training and public health could have easily done this work but the Premier puts ideology ahead of the public even during this pandemic. Speaker, this testing was needed months ago and the Premier only took action when an insider showed up to get the Premier contract out, vital testing of the agriculture sector and will he table all relevant information about the contract today? The Premier is putting the health of every person in Ontario front and say that's what's most important that's what he has dedicated his resources to, what we are dedicating our resources to. We've got the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Welfare's working together to contain this, sending in the teams, opening up assessment centres, having mobile testing, whatever is going to fit well with the operations that are going on there because we know their active farm operations. We want to make sure they can continue their work so we are working with the farm owners to make sure that we can get in and make sure that all of the workers are tested. That's important for them. If they are asymptomatic and positive then they will be contained in a separate area. They will not go back to work until they've been assessed by a medical assessor and if they are symptomatic and need, we are sending in the public health units to make sure they get the care they need. We want to make sure that the entire area is free of COVID as soon as possible in the near future for everyone's health and safety services. Thank you very much. The next question, the member for Simcoe Grave. Thank you. My question is for the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks. The Nancy Island historic site in Misoga Beach is closed this season after having suffered extensive damage due to flooding but the government has also shut the visitor information centre and this site is now closed. The centre is not exclusively under the jurisdiction of the provincial government as the Minister knows. It's a partnership between Ontario parks, the town of Misoga Beach, South George and Bay Tourism and the Misoga Beach Chamber of Commerce and it is staffed by the friends of Nancy Island, a charitable organisation dedicated to furthering educational and sustainable decision to shut down the Nancy Island visitor information centre. Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Thanks very much Mr. Speaker and thanks for the question from the member opposites and just to put out there the safety of all visitors of all Ontarians first and foremost on our minds as we are reopening the parks throughout the province and it's the top priority. We will continue to assess our approach to ensure that adjustments are made at the service ensure that people are remaining safe and it's going to be based on the health advice from the Chief Medical Officer of Health. The Misoga Beach welcome centre was mentioned did not open for 2020 because of COVID-19 but Mr. Speaker I can assure the member opposite that my ministry is going to be working with stakeholders, the friends of Nancy Island and we will continue to take area for folks that are coming to that area and ensure that information services are available for tourists and people visiting the area. Supplementary question. Well back to the minister I hate taking yes for an answer so thank you very much for that answer and as soon as it is safe to do so please open it obviously it's important to our businesses like the rest of the province have been hit pretty hard and Misoga Beach is going to be a big hit and I want to thank the minister of tourism becoming the north end of my riding a couple weeks ago that was a great boost to the tourism industry there and I want to thank the minister of parks for opening up finally after eight years under the liberal government of fighting with them to open up the bathrooms at new Misoga Beach and Allerwood Beach. We got us new bathrooms with flush toilets and running water and people of the Soga Beach. Opposition. Response. Well to the legislature Mr. Speaker I can say that the member opposite has been such a stalwart champion for the people of his area since 1990 and Mr. Speaker we're proud that he still means things part of this legislature but let me tell you Mr. Speaker we will continue the Ontario parks gradually open always taking consistency the community and Mr. Speaker just let the member know opposite know that Misoga Beach in area is a prime priority for this province to ensure that we're able to support them in their town as they reopen to COVID-19 and whatever parks Ontario can do to ensure their support as they bring in more tourists we will be there to support that community and ensure that they are growing and back from COVID-19. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker my question is to the minister of education. I know full well watching closely the issues at the Peel District school board that within Ontario's education there are serious equity issues that's why I was proud to see our governments take action last week and announce bold new changes to the education system that will help break down barriers for black, indigenous and racialized students. Can the minister please tell this house what changes our government is making that will provide all students with an equal opportunity to succeed. Thank you. Mr. Education. Thank you very much Speaker and thank you to the member for Mr. Sognes Cooksville for his advocacy in this respect. We believe that every student that is active of the colour of skin, their faith, heritage, their income or sexual orientation that each and every one of them deserves every opportunity to succeed in this province. The transformational change we are driving forward Speaker will bolden a generation of students to unleash their full potential and dismantle the systemic barriers that have held them back for generation. Following a year of consultations our entire caucus supported by the parliamentary election who felt ignored for too long. And that's why Speaker we're taking action in the areas of suspension, in de-streaming and professional standards and expectations and Speaker in addition we are ensuring that to provide a discrimination free classroom that the government will be strengthening sanctions for behavioural remarks of a racist nature by an educator by working with the Ontario College of Teachers. We'll also be expanding training, mandatory training for education staff to ensure that they're better positioned to support areas of human rights, anti-racism and anti-discrimination. Speaker we know there's more to do or committed to doing so to get this right for our kids. And a supplementary question. Thank you Mr Speaker and thank you to the Minister for the answer. I'm glad to hear that our government takes these issues seriously and taking decisive action to stamp out systemic racism in our schools. Students deserve an equal opportunity to succeed. To drive this change I know that we need to support school boards so that they can take on this important work. Can the Minister please tell this House how our government is financially supporting boards to get this important work done. Thank you. Well thank you Speaker and thank you again to the member for the question. Speaker to the grant for student needs we've allocated over four million dollars to implement suspension policies and the problems including for the hiring of professional staff and implementation programs to help those educators avoid out-of-school suspensions. Moreover Speaker we've dedicated one million dollars of the additional 10 million dollar investment in mental health specifically to support mental health supports for racialized kids that's in addition to the historic doubling of mental health supports led by this progressive Conservative Government. And Speaker in addition we're providing 25 million dollars for the black and indigenous grad program this provides a wraparound supports for students at risk to help them graduate in the province of Ontario. Through these measures we believe these key investments will ensure a better more equal outcome of education and it will truly unlock the potential of every child in this province. Thank you the next question the member for Toronto St. Paul's. Morning Speaker the question is to the Premier the majority of COVID-19 cases have been women according to many women's foundation located in my riding 90% of nurses are women many are black and racialized your healthcare heroes are underpaid overworked and haven't seen a dime of their pandemic pay. 80% of lone parent households are women led and predominantly single income women are largely represented in retail and as we know local businesses both which were shuttered due to the pandemic and due to the government's lack of initiative plan rent relief even an emergency basic income nothing came at the initial of this pandemic. Speaker my question is women and other vulnerable Ontarians have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 what is this government's plan to ensure they're not left behind during our recovery. Thank you the associate minister of responsibility for children women's issues. Thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you to the member for that valuable question we know that when women succeed in society our economy succeeds we know that women have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic both at home and in the workplace the labor force data shows even more women have lost their jobs and had hours cut. I alongside my colleagues like the minister of finance minister of labor training and skills development the minister of education and the member from Willowdale have been meeting with partners from different sectors to get their feedback on what our government can do to better support women. This round table brought together women from across our province to provide feedback on how we can better support women's economic participation as well as to identify ways to generate savings, stimulate economic growth, create jobs and make life more affordable. Many jobs in the fields we looked at are skilled high-paying and may offer opportunities for long-term security so we need to work together to make sure that women and girls are aware of the opportunities of the different sectors that we can help them succeed. Premier Patricia is a PSW in our riding who contracted COVID-19 she's one of the 6181 healthcare workers who did. Patricia often worked alone on her floor with 24 residents many of whom died her mental health is waning. Patricia said she believes this government didn't prioritize her or many PSWs because they are primarily racialized in women. Ontario's COVID-19 recovery must include economic security for women too many women from the arts to healthcare are cobbling together to make ends meet our economic recovery must include healthy and safe workplaces for women it must include childcare options for families so women can actually get back to work with a peace of mind. My question is last year I tabled a motion asking this government to adopt an intersectional gender equity strategy which would see all bills motions by the regulations introduced. Will this government adopt my motion today to ensure that Ontario's COVID-19 recovery plan is fully accountable to women and underserved communities thank you. Thank you Mr. Speaker thank you for the question women's earnings are crucial to the well-being and financial stability of their families which is why we need to have broader conversations about childcare in this province. We know the success to high quality childcare is a key lever to supporting women's labour force participation getting more women to work full time and helping women to transition into better jobs. The Minister of Education and I have been working hard on this issue together. He and I were able to host a joint round table where we focused on the impact of childcare on women's economic participation. We spoke with women and sector leaders on what our government can do to better support women with families and children in this province. As our government continues to push forward policies that make Ontario open for business and open for jobs during the recovery we are working hard to make sure that we are promoting women and other minorities. The next question is from Don Valley East. My question is to the minister responsible for anti-racism. Minister, your government has agreed that systemic racism exists and has expressed a commitment to ending it. However, this government has been completely silent on how racialized Ontarians have taken the hardest hit statistically to their finances during this pandemic. As the minister knows, having the responsibility for the anti-racism directorate means working with other ministries to apply a race-based lens to government policy. Some communities in Ontario have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 when compared to others. Minister, can you please tell this house if you have done an initial assessment on the impact of COVID-19 on racialized communities and if so have you reached out and connected with these groups and finally have you started to work with other ministries especially the minister responsible for the economic recovery on a government response? Mr. Minister General Thank you, Speaker, and thank you for the question. You know, I don't think that there's any doubt that many many parts of our society have been impacted greatly by COVID-19 pandemic. But I can assure you that the anti-racism directorate and my ministry has been working constantly since I was appointed with other ministries. We understand that this is not an anti-racism directorate responsibility. It's not a solicitor general responsibility. It is a government-wide society responsibility. So to that point I will share a few examples of how the ARD's recent work has included mediated partnerships between Hamilton Wentworth District School Board and the Hamilton Center for Civic Inclusion to support Black youth in Hamilton Wentworth District School Board. It shows that when the anti-racism directorate does their job well we get excellent results in our communities and we will continue to do that and I'm proud, frankly, of the work that they've been doing. Thank you. And the supplementary question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the minister has completely missed the mark on this question. You know, my question Mr. Speaker was to ask if she has an understanding that the anti-racism directorate its true intention was to use a policy that would establish an understanding of whose hit the hardest during the COVID-19 challenges that we have. There was a poll done, Mr. Speaker, last week commissioned by the TD Bank that determined that Canadian survey between 18 and 34 have experienced or foresee experiencing unemployment and reduced hours as a result of the pandemic when compared to 38% of people above 55. But more specifically Mr. Speaker, roughly 70% of Filipino, 65% of South Asian and 64% of black Canadians expect to face unemployment or reduced hours over the next few months because of COVID-19 compared to just 50% of the general population. So back to the minister. Minister, can you share with this house and be specific. This is about the economic recovery during COVID-19. Can you share with this house what is your plan to mitigate some of these disparities affected by the hardest hit communities racialized communities here in Ontario. The only person who has missed the mark is the member opposite asking the question. We have made a very measured approach to ensure that as we return back to opening up our economy, opening up our communities, we make sure we do it measured and in a safe way. The member opposite would like some specific examples. I am happy to share them. Supported Toronto District School Board and Children's Aid Society of Toronto to address anti-black racism in their respective organizations. Supported Durham Region School Board with developing anti-black raising training in their kindergarten teachers. Developing a cutting edge applied learning program to equip members of the OPS, Ontario Public Service with anti-racism knowledge, skills and tools needed to build a public community that is more inclusive, responsible and responsive. Again, I reiterate, I am proud of the work that the anti-racism director continues to do with across all ministries, including the economic ministries. Thank you. The next question, the member for Richmond Hill. My question is for the Associate Minister of Transportation. Last week I was delighted to see that part of Bill 197, the Department of Transportation of the OPS, was proposing new measures to enable transit-oriented communities at new subway stations. This builds a historic transit partnership agreement that the province recently signed with York Region as a positive next step towards shovels on the ground. For the long-anticipated my writing in Richmond Hill is very happy, Mr Speaker. I have to say that Richmond Hill are happy to see so much progress on this file that has been made during the pandemic. Can the minister tell us more about what the government's TOC program is now and how it will benefit existing and new residents of Richmond Hill, along with the other communities? Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I want to thank the member from Richmond Hill for her unwavering support for transit expansion in Richmond Hill. You have done a wonderful job. As she mentioned we have been quite busy on the transit file despite COVID-19 and I was so happy that we were able to sign our Landmark Transit partnership agreement with York Region to build the Young North Subway infrastructure and a memorandum of understanding for transit-oriented communities. These agreements outline roles and responsibilities and shared priorities when it comes to building this critical subway infrastructure. Transit-oriented communities offer us a chance to build stations better. Instead of building new stations in isolation, we intend to build complete, mixed-use communities that are physically integrated in the transit-oriented communities program will provide a mix of housing including affordable housing plus daycares, recreational spaces services and other amenities that residents so desperately need. Thank you, Mr Speaker. A supplementary question. Mr Speaker, it is really very encouraging to see that this government is serious about challenging the status quo and building subways which we have been waiting for a long time without delivering enhancements to the local community. There is no question that building a complete community while we're building a transit station is just common sense. This practice is being done elsewhere in the world and elsewhere in Canada with success. However, previous provincial governments in Ontario have lacked this integrated approach and have missed opportunities and benefits for residents. Can a minister please tell the House what the government is proposing to do to ensure that TOCs become a reality in Richmond Hill and across network in a new subway station? Mr. Speaker, I share the members' frustration that previous provincial governments have missed opportunities maximizing benefits from transit expansion and that we have fallen behind other jurisdictions. For months, we have been consulting with experts like planners, housing advocates, job creators and city builders and they have consistently pointed to three barriers from realizing transit oriented communities. Land assembly taking far too long, planning and zoning processes are highly uncertain and the province lacking the ability and flexibility to enter into commercial arrangements with the private sector. However, that is all changing with bill 197 if passed will address these barriers responsibly while still respecting the rights of property owners and working collaboratively with our municipal partners and stakeholders. Mr. Speaker, we will get the region moving again, reduce congestion, strengthen our communities and drive economic recovery from COVID-19. Thank you. The next question for Hamilton Mountain. My question is for the Premier. The constituents in my riding of Hamilton Mountain have been calling my office to tell me that they are waiting for delayed COVID-19 test results. Despite the Minister of Health's claim that test results arrive in 48 hours, people in my community are waiting a week or longer for those results. Some still don't have the results after 13 days. Speaker, these delays are making it very difficult for Ontarians to ensure their own health and safety. What the constituents want is confirmation that it is safe for them to interact with their loved ones or to know whether or not their health is in immediate jeopardy. Why won't this Government fix their broken testing system so that these families can finally have some peace of mind? Mr. Bell. In fact, we have significantly enhanced our testing strategy since the outset of COVID-19. We are now able to regularly test over 20,000 people per day. We are building our capacity to 50,000 because we know that with the upcoming flu season and a potential second wave coming we will need to be able to do that. That being said, we know that nothing is more important than the health and safety of the people in Ontario. There are enhancements that we need to continue to do. There are some circumstances where there are particular situations where we can't get the testing done within 24 hours or 48 hours. We are up to almost 80% of the testing being done in 48 hours. But we are continuing to work on that because we know that people want to be able to return to work. They want to be able to be going out if they have a negative result. So we are constantly working on that. That is something that we work on a daily basis as we increase our testing capacity as well. A supplementary question. Increasing the testing capacity is something if people could not get the results within two weeks. Speaker, again to the Premier. To make matters worse, those who want to visit their loved ones in long-term care or other congregate care settings need to receive a negative test result within 14 days of that visit. However, because of the delays, I have heard from many constituents who have missed their visitation appointments. These are people who have been unable to visit their families for months. And now due to this government's failures, they are missing visiting appointments that they have so been looking forward to as you can imagine. Speaker, this should have been fixed months ago. Words are not enough any longer we need action. How much longer are Ontarians going to have to wait before this government finally gets around to doing their job and fix our testing system? Mr. Pelt. In fact, since the outset of COVID-19 we were initially able to perform about 5,000 tests per day. We're now at over 20,000 and we're regularly testing over 20,000 people per day. With that, of course the test results need to come back on a timely basis and the vast majority of the cases do come back within 48 hours. There are some areas where there are particular circumstances which we will be happy to look into. But I must reiterate to people, if you feel that you need a COVID test, please go and get one. You will get the results back in a timely manner. We'll look into this particular situation. But we have dramatically increased the testing capacity in Ontario such that we have the highest level of testing across Canada. And we're going to continue to maintain that. Thank you Mr. Speaker. And Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 our government has taken a proactive approach to support Ontario's 75 billion suite of heritage, sport, tourism and culture sectors. One of the first actions taken by the Minister was the creation of 14 ministerial advisory panels with experts and professionals who understand their industries best. They have been meeting regularly to discuss sector-specific concerns and solutions. Mr. Speaker, the Minister's hoteliers and hospitality panel has been working hard to support Ontario's hospitality industry. Whether it be through providing deputations to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs or providing advice to government, we know our hotels play an incredibly important role to our business and visitor economy. Please tell this House just how important hoteliers are to Ontario. Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. Thank you very much to the member for her interest in this area but also her understanding of the tourism sector and what has happened to it since COVID-19 hit. The hotel and accommodation sector in Ontario was decimated. It generally is worth about $8.5 billion in revenues across Ontario. In the lead up to the March break, that collapsed almost overnight, as I said, according to hotel Association of Canada. At that time, less than 10% occupancy was taking place across the province contributing to over 250,000 job losses. In my city alone, in the City of Ottawa, we have over 100 hotels, 50% of them shuttered, including the iconic Chateau Laurier. I created the ministerial advisory committee on hotels and accommodations. Speaking with them earlier today, we're going to make sure that as we enter into phase 3 that they are consulted and that we continue to support them but we don't expect recovery until 2022. I know that your passion for supporting such a vital sector in our economy will serve all of us well as you continue to work with our hospitality experts in the upcoming weeks. This will be particularly important as our province gradually reopens additional businesses and attractions. Safe accommodation will be top of mind for Ontarians travelling locally or visiting parts of the province for business and professional development. As we look towards phase 3, coming to some of the communities in our province very soon, more of our economy is going to be showcased in the next few weeks. I'm going to start with the next steps in Ontario's phased reopening strategy will benefit our hospitality sectors as well as sites that serve the business community. As a member of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, she would have heard well over 260 deputants coming from our sectors about the high impact that COVID-19 has had on them as a result of the crisis, the economic crisis and then what I'm going to talk about is the social crisis we've been dealing with. Speaker Abacus data has just recently done a report that says 61% of Canadians feel it's too risky to stay in a hotel and at a time when 40% of visitor spending happens during these months, that's stark news for us in the tourism sector. That's why our ministry has invested 13 million dollars in hyper-local tourism marketing to support communities across as well as local communities. That's why I have visited and led by example and I'm asking all members of this assembly to do the same. I visited Gananakwe and had the opportunity to stay at the Holiday Inn Express. I visited Bracebridge to stay at Deerhurst Resort. I visited Windsor to say the best western speaker. I'm asking all members of this assembly to lead by example, tour our communities across this great province and let us know how we can help you there. Thank you very much. Next we have the member for Waterloo. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the premier speaker at the beginning of the pandemic. You could forgive the government for policies that needed tweaking and changes and clarification. It was an unprecedented time. However, it has been months now and businesses continue to struggle because they are on the brink. They've had no revenue stream for four months, plus a lack of clarity around reopening, which doesn't instill confidence. They're $60,000 in debt and trying to stay viable for their 14 employees. Despite the evictions banned, their landlord won't participate in CERCRA. Just like the other 40% of landlords in Ontario, CERCRA is failing. Businesses need a commercial stop. We've heard this from multiple businesses at the Finance Committee. Is this government willing to let thousands of businesses like Control-V go out of business or will they provide them with the direct financial support they deserve? We need to support them. Mr. Finance. I thank the member for that important question. I know she'll be tuned in to watch the conference today for the very exciting news because, of course, the ability for businesses to be open is what they want. And to support the health needs, to support beating COVID-19, our businesses and our communities have needed to take the steps that our health professionals require. That's why we provided $17 billion of support, including extensive tax deferrals, including support for individuals. The commercial rent program run by the federal government now has 20,000 tenants, Mr. Speaker, representing over 100,000 employees that work with those tenants, and it continues to grow and continues to have momentum. So, Mr. Speaker, yes, this government will stand with small business, as it has already. And, Mr. Speaker, the most important element of that is going to be the reopening of our economy in a safe and sustainable way. Self-improvement question. You know, Mr. Speaker, this government has deferred debt. That's what the government has done, which means that businesses will go out of business a little later. When they return, they're only going to be generating 25% of their revenue. They're $60,000 in debt. Control-V has worked really hard to advocate for improved programs. They have actually received nothing from this government. There are small franchises with a few locations in the GTA and Alberta. Three of them in Ontario have already closed to add insult to opening their other locations. They've received mixed messages. In one jurisdiction, they were classified as a water park casino. In another one, they were classified as a movie theatre. Speaker, at the very least, businesses deserve clarity about when they can and cannot open are their public health thresholds that need to be met. If so, businesses ought to know, and they need support to get there. If these businesses fail, we will not recover in our economy. And the finance committee is a direct commercial rent subsidy, just like our Save Main Street plan. When will this government step up and fight for these businesses? Mr. Finance. Mr. Speaker, over a billion dollars with our federal partners to support rent for small businesses. Mr. Speaker, 10 billion dollars of supports, the member can call them deferrals. She voted for them in terms of support. Support, $300 of support from electricity support for your average small business. Mr. Speaker, I take exception if this member is saying that some businesses like water parks and amusement parks and even casinos should have been open prior to now. Well, Mr. Speaker, that's not the best advice that we've received from our health professionals. Mr. Speaker, we will continue to open Ontario in a safe and deliberate way. I advise that member and the rest of the members of the legislature to tune in for the Premier's press commons. We will not put safety behind what is right for the overall economy. Mr. Speaker, what we are supporting is a sustainable reopening. Surely she has seen what's happened in the United States when those facilities have been open too soon. Surely, Mr. Speaker, she'll support the Premier today and the announcement that will be coming later in the day. Thank you. Order. The next question, the member for Barry Innisfil. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. My riding of Barry Innisfil is home, yes, to the Innisfil Summer Fest Kids Fishing Derby where many children go fishing with the South Simcoe Police and, of course, their families. But as families look to connect with the outdoors and, of course, with beautiful Lake Simco in Barry Innisfil, they look to ways they could do it affordably. So I wanted to ask the Minister, you know, as people are really angling to get outdoors, what is he doing to connect more people with nature? Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. Thank you very much, Speaker, and thank you to the great member for Barry Innisfil for her question and she's right. Everyone has been affected by COVID-19 here in the province of Ontario and all across the world, indeed. And isolation has been a real problem for many, for everybody but particularly those who live in an urban environment where they don't have the great outdoors at their beck and call and in their backs 40, as they say. So we've done, we've done something this year that we haven't done in the past and that is, in addition to the free fishing on Family Day weekend, Mother's Day weekend and Father's Day weekend, a free fishing week, first full week of July, we've made it two full weeks in July. Free fishing all across Ontario license free to anyone from Canada to fish all across the province of Ontario without a fishing license, without an outdoors card to enjoy the great family activity. What a better way to get together with your family than to get out in the great outdoors where you're safer and to begin with a low-risk activity extended it for a week this year, Speaker. And the supplementary question. The Minister of Natural Resources for getting more people hooked on fishing it's truly incredible to see. Think of Simcoe Tackle and Barry Innesville, I just visited them this weekend and Stephanie and Jesse they just opened their angling store back in February and really they show that fishing is a big contributor to our economy in fact it's really part of Ontario's heritage and its culture contributing over 230 million a year to our local economy. And I think of marinas in my writing whether it's Sandy Cove marina or Cook's Bay marina, Monte Reino marina LaFroy Harbor or Big Bay Point they're all benefiting from these types of stimulus that the Minister was talking about. But I wanted him to sort of talk a little bit more about how fishing is going to impact jobs and really strengthen our communities across this province. Thank the member again for the question and as usual she is absolutely correct. The impact that fishing has to so many people in so many ways quite frankly is countless all across the province and again all across the world. In Ontario she has the 230 million dollar impact in our local economy in Ontario it has a $6 billion impact annually and is particularly felt in rural and northern communities. A way of life absolutely. Fishing has been around as long as we've been around. It's even referred to in the Bible. Fishing has been around as long as we have walked the face of the earth. It's a tremendous cultural activity it's a way of life and it's something that we want to ensure that we encourage here in the province of Ontario and what better way as I say to spend time with your family but also to support those vital businesses that have been impacted. The tourism minister knows that people in the tourism business have been affected as much as anybody from this pandemic. It's a good way to support those vital businesses as well. Thank you. Next the member for St. Catharines. Thank you Speaker my question is to the Premier. Speaker Katie Toulouche is a teacher from St. Catharines. Her son is starting at Lockview public school in the fall. The shortage of child care and the uncertainty about the school year is creating significant stress for Katie whose partner also works full time as a nurse on the front line of this pandemic. They are unable to be admitted to the before and after school care at Lockview because it is full. The uncertainty for September is creating higher demand for child care in the Niagara region. There are no other options. Speaker both parents are deemed essential workers and pivotal in the fight against COVID-19 and getting Ontario back up and running for September. How does this government expect students to be able to return to school if even our most essential workers cannot find child care? Thank you Speaker and thank you to the member opposite for the question. The commitment of the government is to ensure that as our economy recovers we are able to care for their children and we understand the relationship between the strong child care system and the economic recovery of our province. We will be taking action to expand child care capacity to ensure more parents can return to work with confidence that the child is safe. Our default and our guiding light is safety. It is safety in schools, it is safety in child care centres. With respect to schools we will be prepared for three scenarios but the preference of government continues to be a conventional model. We are so grateful for the people of Ontario for adhering to public health advice it allows us to place greater emphasis on that conventional day-to-day model that we know will be important for parents to return to work in September. And the supplementary question. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Again to the Premier. When Niagara opened to stage two Sarah a single mother reached out to me because she needed child care to return to work full-time. But she couldn't find anything. By the time she found child care two weeks later her employer told her that they had filled the full-time position and now she has to go down to the part-time. Speaker we know that this pandemic is hitting women in a particular way and this government is only going to make things worse. It is not fair that a full-time working single mother has to choose between her job and a secure child care. How is this government prevented women like Sarah being disproportionately hit by this pandemic when it is quite clear there is not enough child care available. Again Minister of Education. What would have been fair to working parents is if their fees were increased or their spaces were removed they would take action emergency order and now by regulation to deny operators that ability to ensure consumer protection for working parents. A precondition of provincial funding the enhanced operating supports were providing to our child care operators is that they must not increase fees on working people and likewise must not remove those spaces from parents of the province. Speaker we understand that relationship for parents of the province that they are able to reduce the risk of child care and we believe it is important we support parents we keep their kids safe and we ensure our operators and our child care centers remain sustainable for decades to come. Thank you Speaker. Question period for this morning. We have . . . .