 it is now time for oral questions I recognize the leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. So very much speaker my first question this morning is to the Premier. Eight months ago the Premier appointed a new Minister of Education who was supposed to bring a new approach. Eight months later schools across Ontario have closed and parents are scrambling to deal with the impacts of the government's cuts. The government, the Premier, his minister have poisoned the relationship with teachers, with school boards, with the unions at the bargaining table, and with provinces parents and students. Why is this minister still at his job? Premier. Through you Mr. Speaker he's at his job because he's one of the best ministers we've ever seen. That's why he's at his job. Minister Lecce is laser focused on getting a deal. Minister Lecce is laser focused in making sure kids stay in the classroom. And through you Mr. Speaker we've been reasonable we've made significant moves on the table and priority number one again is to make sure the kids get back into the classroom. Mr. Speaker we listen to the parents of students we reduce the class size from 28 down to 25. We reduce mandatory online learning from four down to two. And we committed in making sure we kept existing full-day kindergarten. That's why he's the best minister Mr. Speaker. Supplementary question. Well Speaker I would submit that the laser is broken and so is the operator of that laser. Fewer cuts doesn't mean that the cuts are off the table and that's the problem that we have here in this province. Fewer cuts are still cuts and parents don't want those cuts to affect the quality of their kids education. Families have scrambled as this premier has been missing in action. He's refusing to admit that those classroom cuts are causing a crisis in our education system and he's allowed his minister of education to be little teachers and education workers and ramp up the rhetoric that the premier is using that's causing the chaos in our classroom speaker. If the premier has had any progress that he can point to that that they've made on this file he should do so now. And if not will he admit that it is actually time for a different approach with the new minister. Premier to apply. For you Mr. Speaker I know the NDP a little tough on math but I'll just give the sheer numbers. When they say about cuts they consider one point two billion dollars more more than any government in the history of Ontario. We're investing again one point two billion more into education in this province. We're investing three point one billion in special education funding. The highest levels of this province has ever seen. We've announced a four year math strategy putting two hundred million dollars into math until we are the lowest level of math. We become the highest level when it comes to gauging who has the best kids in the country. We will have the best kids in the country when it comes to math. We're taking the cell phones out of the classrooms Mr. Speaker. We're making financial literacy a key part of our new math curriculum until kids can balance the finances. Thank you very much. Thank you. Supplementary. Well it's pretty sad when you have a premier that doesn't understand the impact of inflation on budgets that are fixed in our various institutions like our schools. But look students and their parents will tell you every time that this premier says that his approach is working things actually get worse in our schools. They don't need an education minister or a premier for that matter spinning tales about bargaining sessions that the minister has never even attended. They don't need dark money ads anonymously attacking teachers in our schools and they don't need a government that fires 10,000 teachers. Will the premier do the right thing today Speaker. Give a new minister of education a new mandate to bargain an actual deal that does not include cuts to the classrooms. Please take your seats. Please take your seats. I recognize the premier. Thank you Mr. Speaker. We're creating a new math curriculum for grades one to eight Mr. Speaker which will be ready for the next school year and it's well well overdue. We're we are more than doubling Mr. Speaker. Mental health funding in schools and investing 180 mental health support staff. We're providing more than $2 billion for childcare early year program in 2019 to 2020 and creating. Are you ready for this one Mr. Speaker. 30,000 new childcare spaces in schools. We said we said Mr. Speaker. No teacher would lose their job because of the changes in the class size online learning. And guess what Mr. Speaker. We're doing exactly that. We're investing 1.6 billion dollars to ensure that no teacher loses their job. Promise made promise kept. Thank you. The next question. Once again, the leader of the opposition. My next question is also for the premier. But I have to say nobody believes what he says because that evidence is not there. Teachers are losing their job Speaker. Two years ago, the premier made another promise and it was a promise to parents with children with autism. Here's what he said and I'm going to quote. We will be there to support you 1000%. I promise you you won't have to be protesting on the front of Queens Park like you have with the liberal premier today. Once again, those parents are here and they are absolutely protesting on the lawns of Queens Park. Why did the premier break his promise to these children and their families? Government to reply. Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to remind the member opposite that no government has gotten this file right in 30 years and that's why we took that's why we took the unprecedented step over the summer of last year, Mr. Speaker to head out on a province wide tour and meet with parents face to face and understand the issues around the autism file and what wasn't working for them at the same time. We convened an expert panel, Mr. Speaker that met 18 times all day sessions throughout the summer, Mr. Speaker to ensure that the autism community was developing a plan for the autism community, one that would work, one that would be sustainable, Mr. Speaker, one that would be needs based one that was properly funded, Mr. Speaker. That's why this premier infused an additional $300 million dollar program in Ontario, Mr. Speaker. We're bent and we're bound to get this right, Mr. Speaker. That's what we'll do for this community. Well, Speaker, things have gone from bad to worse in this province for children with autism and it is heartbreaking to see what those kids are going through regressing in terms of their progress and what their parents have to be put through in terms of having the anxiety of knowing that they're not getting the services that their kids deserve for two years. For two years, families heard empty promises from this Ford government, but the wait list has gotten worse. It has barely moved and the minister who was hired to fix this mess broke his promise. He promised that services would be in place by April of this year and they are nowhere to be seen. How long are families going to have to wait, Speaker? Minister reply. Well, Mr. Speaker, I can tell you that what I promised is that no child that was in an ABA behavioral therapy program would have their program in. They have had continuity, Mr. Speaker. Any child that was in an ABA program has seen a seamless transition. They've had their programs extended, Mr. Speaker. At the same time, thousands and thousands of children across the province weren't receiving any kind of service from their provincial government, and that's why we're extending the childhood budgets and that's why we're also offering one time funding for all families out there, Mr. Speaker, who have never received any help from any provincial government over the years. Mr. Speaker, all families will be will be receiving some help as we're developing a new needs based program in Ontario. Mr. Speaker, one that's going to work for all of these families respond and it will be properly funded. Mr. Speaker, we've added 300 million dollars to the Ontario Autism Program twice the funding of the previous Liberal government. Thank you. The final supplementary. Well, Speaker, not only are their parents right now in this chamber weeping, but parents have been weeping for years and years as this callous government has transitioned their kids to services and communities from one end of this province to the other. No parent should have to sit in frustration. Nobody should sit in this chamber in tears as they watch their child waiting for the services that they so desperately need and deserve. No parent should be forced to protest on the lawns of Queens Park to get their government to listen to what they have to say and to get the help that their kids need. Yet that's exactly what these mums and dads have been forced to do. First by the Liberal government and now by the Ford government. How long are they going to have to keep waiting, Speaker? And if the answer is for some transition that's never going to appear, then shame on Mr. Ford. Shame on him for breaking his promise. Shame on this government. Minister to reply. Mr. Speaker, that's why we're taking the time to get this right because no government has ever asked the member to take a seat. The official opposition must come door. I have to be able to hear the minister who's responding the question. Minister, please conclude your response. Speaker, what we are going to be providing in the new Ontario Autism Program is exactly what the autism community has asked for. Needs based therapy, ABA therapy as well as speech language pathology, occupational therapy and for the first time ever, Mr. Speaker, mental health services will be offered in the new OAP and we will have early intervention as well. What I heard as I traveled the province, Mr. Speaker, is that families when they receive their diagnosis were lost. They didn't know where to turn. That's why we're providing family foundational services upon diagnosis, Mr. Speaker. There is going to be an urgent crisis response as well that's available for families. This is going to be an Thank you. Thank you. Welcome back, Mr. Speaker. And my question is for the Minister of Education, Mr. Speaker, from daily press conferences full of misinformation to gala speaking engagements at the Canadian club, it seems like the minister has been everywhere during the break, everywhere but the bargaining table where talks with education unions ask the member to withdraw her on parliamentary comment and then replace her question withdrawn. We're still the government has done everything in their power to prevent a deal, refusing to back down on cuts, class size hikes and this absurd Alabama style risky e-learning scheme. Speaker, it's clear that this minister like the last minister has failed Ontarians. Will he finally admit that these cuts are causing irreparable damage to our public education system and step aside? Question is addressed to the Minister of Education. Thank you very much, Speaker, and thank you to the member opposite for the question. Speaker over the past days, I've spoken to parents and they've been clear that the union escalation is taking a toll on them on the parents of a special needs son who told me that they need consistency in their son's day of the single parents who said that they've used all of their vacation days to deal with these strikes of low income families who struggle to afford child care on every day people who work harder and take home us. It is for them. It is for their children that we have a duty to redouble our efforts to get a deal and our commitment is to keep them in a safe learning environment. Our commitment is to ensure that they're in class and that's why I'm urging the unions to work with the government and the trustees in good faith to get a deal and ensure our children remain in class. Tony Grape to withdraw his unparliamentary comment. I withdraw. Supplementary question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, back to the Minister and I can just say that all of that, all of that that the Minister just said, all of that is on you, Minister. It is on the Minister of Education being a safe learning environment for students with special needs. Try not increasing class sizes. Try not eliminating the staff that support those students. They say Ontarians are on side with their plan. Let me tell you Ontarians don't agree. They do not believe you. They are offside with parents and students. Their own consultation results said so and then they tried to bury the results. They're offside with educators, which isn't a surprise when you try to fire 10,000 of them and they're offside with students whose lives have been thrown into chaos because of this government's cuts. Mr. Speaker, when is this government going to face facts that the only question on side with their plan is an anonymous front group set up by their wealthy friends? Thank you very much, Speaker. Speaker under this government, we are spending more, but we also expect more for the students of this province and that's why in this negotiation, we're fighting for a good deal, a good deal for students, a deal that invests more and expects more, a deal that ensures that merit is the guiding principle of hiring, not union seniority, a deal that protects in writing speaker, full day kindergarten, a model that is working in our province, maintaining the smallest classroom sizes in Canada for the earliest years, a deal that invests in student success in mass supports and mental health and special education, a good deal that keeps kids in class. That's we're fighting for in this negotiation and I urge the union in good faith to redouble their efforts, work with us, get a deal, keep kids in class. Thank you. The next question, remember from Markham Unionville. Mr. Speaker, happy 2020. Mr. Speaker, my question is to Mr. Premier. Premier, since our government's election, we have been focused on helping to economically turn this province around. For far too long, small business leaders throughout this province has to endure economic and regulatory hardship that limits job potential and growth. That is why our governments act to implement policies to help make our province more competitive. This includes our red tape in legislation, the better for people, smarter for business act, which will help companies save up to 338 million per year in compliance causes. Or the tax relief we are providing to help businesses by cutting the small business tax rate from 3.5% to 3.2%. Premier, can you share with the Legislature about Ontario's economic and job creation standing 2019? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The question is to the Premier. I want to thank our all-star member from Markham Unionville. He ends up with like 67% of the vote. You guys are champion up there. Mr. Speaker, our government is making Ontario better. We're making Ontario better, Mr. Speaker, with a 307,000 jobs as the previous government, the NDP and the Liberals lost 300,000 manufacturing jobs. Again, per capita, we're leading North America in that economic job growth right here in Ontario. 307,000 more families are working. 307,000 more families are putting food on the table, paying rent, paying a mortgage. And we did that, Mr. Speaker, by making sure we reduce the burdens on the backs of businesses, reducing taxes for small businesses, 8.75%. Reducing the burden of red tape by $338 million, Mr. Speaker, cutting the workman's comp by 47%. That's $2.2 billion. Thank you very much. Thank you. The supplementary question. Speaker, back to the Premier. Premier, this is truly incredible news. I knew in my writing the results are starting to show with people beginning once again feel more confidence in Ontario's economic future. It goes to show that you have long champions regarding the pivotal role that Ontario plays as the economic cornerstone for the strength of our country. And with over 300,000 jobs created since we formed government, Premier, you're correct in what the world is now saying about the economic miracle happening in our province. Premier, can you share with the House more information about the economic success that is happening in Ontario and what this means going forward? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Premier? A great member from Markham, Unionville. Mr. Speaker, myself and the champion right beside me, Minister of Economic Development, went down to the U.S., we went down to Washington, spoke to the 50 governors, which we're inviting for the first time in Toronto, the NGA, April 21st, April 23rd. Then we went down to Texas, Mr. Speaker, and we spoke to the Texas Chamber of Commerce. A gentleman we didn't even know stood up and said the Ontario miracle. It's a miracle how the previous government was down here and lost 300,000 jobs, and you are leading north of Maryland job creation at 307,000 new jobs. They were asking how we did it. We created the environment for companies to thrive and prosper and grow and the people of Ontario have never seen this in decades, Mr. Speaker. 76% of every single job created here in Canada was created right here in Ontario. Again, promises made, promises kept. Here's an afternoon. Thank you. Stop the clock. The next question, the member for essence. Thank you very much, Speaker. Nice to see you in the chair. Speaker, my question is to the Premier. Speaker, two weeks ago, a shadowy group calling themselves the Vaughn working families spent untold thousands to run attack ads against teachers in four national newspapers. This group has been connected to a Mr. Kinto Annabale, a long time conservative donor and activist who this government appointed to the board of the lcbo. The government claims it has no knowledge of the ads and no connections to this group, but the ads near perfectly the government's attacks on teachers and education workers. Speaker, will the Premier confirm today in this house on the permanent record that he, his Minister of Education, any other ministers or members of the PC caucus and any of the premier's ministers or minister's staff knew nothing about these ads. Government to apply. Government House Leader. Yes. Plementary question. I Speaker, I pardon me. I didn't hear the minister's answer. I don't know. Does he want to reiterate for the house? You said yes. You answered supplementary question. Well, Speaker, we that's what we suspect, Speaker, we suspected that the government knew about these ads. In fact, we suspect that the government coordinated with these ads. Speaker, the so-called working families group tried to hide their identity, Speaker, but the ads have been linked to some of the most well connected conservative insiders that you can find. Mr. Anabali traveled with the Minister of Economic Development to India in December. Mr. Anabali has personally donated over 30,000 dollars to the PC party. The Premier himself personally appointed Mr. Anabali to the LCBO. Yet today, when we tried to bring him before the government agencies committee, the Conservatives members asked the Speaker, why is this Premier and his government so afraid? And what are they afraid of hearing from Mr. Anabali? Mr. Speaker, I'll reiterate not only do they have trouble with math, but apparently understanding their questions. Order. Member for Essex, come to order. Stop yelling across the house. If the House would come to order, we could all hear the person who has the floor. I know. Government House Leader, reply. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll continue on. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my first answer, of course, I can confirm that the government did not have any knowledge of this ad. I can tell you that it was in particular helpful or useful because the Minister of Education has been working so hard to get a deal that respects parents and teachers. This let me be guided by the member for Toronto Danforth, who went asked about this very same things that he did not believe that a law had been broken and nor did he believe that the member in question should be removed from his appointment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The next question, the member for Ottawa South. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Premier. Good morning, Premier. Out front today, there will be parents of children with autism and those people who support them. Protesting the mess your government has made of the Ontario Autism Program. This Friday, the government sign come to order. First time in 20 years, every school in this province will be closed and kids will be out of school yet again. Speaker, the Premier and his government are making a mess of education too. Increasing government side come to order less support for vulnerable learners and a poorly thought-out plan for online learning. Stop the conversation. Government side has to come to order. I apologize to the member for Ottawa South for interrupting. Start the clock. Member for Ottawa South. I know it's hard to hear. But our classrooms need to be strong safe places for our kids to learn. So Speaker through you can the Premier explain to all of us here in the galleries all over why he thinks making class size is larger is a good thing for Ontario's kids and their families. Thank you. Minister of Education through office. Thank you very much thank you to the member for the question. Speaker what the Premier has indicated is that we expect more not with saying that the government is investing more in public education. Speaker we expect more for our kids between 2003 4 we have seen more than 50% increase in investments in public education but we haven't seen the corresponding improvements of the system. During that period we have 12% more teachers in the schools less than 1% more students. Speaker we spend over 80 cents of the dollar on compensation yet hiring is still tied to is still tied rather to seniority instead of qualification and equity considerations. Speaker we need a system that truly works for the students of this province a system that is ready for the disruption on the landscape that is ensures our kids are technologically technologically savvy financially literate are emotionally intelligent and job ready for the jobs of tomorrow Speaker that's our mission we're focused on a deal that keeps kids in class. And the supplementary question. Thank you Speaker I would remind the minister they're spending less for pupil this year than they were last year so just remind the minister and perhaps the minister could explain why private schools constantly market smaller class sizes to encourage people to come perhaps he can explain that to all of us Speaker the government has been all over the map on education larger class sizes a poorly thought of plan for online learning firing their negotiating team 180 days in them talking about protecting full-day kindergarten as if it was ever at risk because they know Ontario families would revolt Speaker now they're calling for a private mediator clearly the government and they're making a mess just like they did with the Ontario autism program just like they did with climate change and just like they've done with their new license plates so Speaker Sir you is the minister really interested in negotiating a deal or not thank you exactly Minister of Education Speaker the government has committed to do everything possible to get a deal that keeps children in class this has gone on for too long speaker and I think the parents of this province recognize that given that this takes place every few years in this province Speaker this negotiation we are fighting hard at the table with a mission to get a deal but a good deal for our students a deal that yes invest more but expects more from the system a deal that ensures the merit triumphs over union seniority a deal that protects in writing full-day kindergarten a deal that codifies that through the negotiator and Mr. Speaker a deal that ensures we retain the smallest classroom sizes in the nation for the last years Speaker our goal is a deal but a good deal for the kids of this province Thank you. The next question the number for Etobicoke Lakeshore Thank you Mr. Speaker nice Mr. Speaker my question is for the minister of transportation last week I listened as the minister delivered a speech at the economic club of Canada and continuing her tireless efforts to move our government subway expansion plan forward she covered a lot of territory from the region's congested crisis to the province's landmark partnership with the city of Toronto thank you for that she also gave us a sneak peak at the tools she plans to introduce that will allow us to get shovels in the ground on time on budget for our priority subway projects could the minister please tell us what tools those tools look like thank you the minister of transportation I'd like to thank the member from Etobicoke Lakeshore for the question our government has been clear Mr. Speaker that we are committed to doing things differently we've identified the roadblocks that have prevented big projects from being built for ages for decades I've said in the past that our plan is ambitious but it is attainable the legislative tools I outlined earlier this month Mr. Speaker if past will allow us to speed up the delivery of our projects to ensure that they get built on time and on budget improving our nation and on time delivery are key objectives of our plan our plan if past would give metro links the authority to require stronger coordination of utility relocations within order timeframes and we are also looking at modernizing the province's authority to assemble lands while still treating landowners fairly Mr. Speaker these are the tools that we need to get transit back on track I look forward to sharing more in the thank you very much order the supplementary question thank you to the minister for the answer and I just want to say the people of Etobicoke Lakeshore are very appreciative that we are moving forward and it is clear that is time that we get transit built our four priority projects and get more people to more places and bring public transit to communities with poor access like Thorncliffe Park and Flemington Park we campaigned on investing in our transit infrastructure and that is exactly what this government is doing could the minister tell us more about her proposed plan to accelerate the delivery of our four priority subway projects for the question Mr. Speaker we have identified the processes that have delayed timelines and have pushed big projects like this off the rails improving coordination and streamlining the processes where we can are crucial to meeting our target dates our plan proposes changes to the environmental assessment process which will give us the flexibility to align our timelines with these projects to be clear Mr. Speaker these changes do not change the outcomes of the EA process only the timelines I look forward to introducing our comprehensive plan in the near future our government has a plan to build public transit better and faster and we're doing so while protecting taxpayers best interest in partnership and collaboration with our partners Mr. Speaker we're moving forward on our transit plans response because there is an undertaking this is an undertaking that we can no longer afford to delay thank you thank you very much the next question member for Hamilton Thank you Speaker my question is to the Premier today yet again hundreds of families of children with autism are on the lawn to let you know that you are failing them one of the families who are with us here today is Talitha her daughter Amira waited for three years for therapy that she needs she was next on the wait list before your government froze and guided the OAP after years of waiting Talitha's hope was crushed Amira finally received a childhood budget but it lasted for only a few months she now has to wait even longer with fear of regression given all the delays cuts and misinformation how can families like Talitha trust that they will ever get the help they need question why insist on making families lives harder Mr. Children Community and Social Services to apply Mr. Speaker what we're actually doing is providing that certainty for families and we've been transparent all the way along Mr. Speaker that's why we had the expert panel meet over the summer last year and come up with over 120 recommendations from the autism community for the autism community and we are implementing those recommendations now Mr. Speaker so that families like Talitha's will have the assurances that they need that a needs based program will be there well into the future one that's adequately funded not like the one that the previous government had it was a Band-Aid Mr. Speaker to get them through the election period this program is going to be funded to the tune of $600 million each and every year one that's a needs based program while offering other services as well like speech language pathology occupations therapy mental health early intervention crisis response all too much to mention in one little spot Mr. Speaker and I look forward to the question the supplementary question the member for Windsor West thank you Speaker back to the premier adults with developmental disabilities are suffering under this conservative government to the Liberals severely underfunded supportive housing they failed vulnerable families and the conservatives have sat on their hands now there's over 16 thousand people on the waitlist over 20 years long families are being told by this government that their options are hospitals and homeless shelters there are parents here today living the nightmare April's daughter Courtney has autism and is nonverbal Courtney has been in a short term psychiatric unit for nearly 16 months Bonnie's daughter Jennifer has William syndrome and has been balanced between shelters for over two years Maureen's son Steven has autism and high needs he has been in a psychiatric unit over 17 months Tammy Spindamian spent over 15 months in a hospital psych unit waiting for a behavioral treatment bed this is heart-wrenching and totally unacceptable will the premier stop the platitudes and finally get to work salt thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you minister to work fun very much for the question from the member opposite and as the member knows there is a growing demand for developmental services in Ontario and there has been for many many years Mr. Speaker the previous government was in power for 15 years and chose not to make any investments in this sector during that time we're not going to be doing that Mr. Speaker that's why we have taken the steps to talk with other jurisdictions leading jurisdictions in this area Mr. Speaker Opposition come to order we're starting to meet the demand that exists with these individuals we know that the list is growing Mr. Speaker because of the inaction of the previous 15 years that's why for Windsor West come to order investing in this area Mr. Speaker we're currently having consultations with our partners in this sector and as I mentioned consulting with leading jurisdictions to find out what's going to work Mr. Speaker those individuals that are in the most need are assessed on the priority they get their housing first Mr. Speaker now we are going thank you thank you the House come to order the member for Glenn Gary Prescott Russell Merci Mr. Thank you Mr. Speaker Speaker my question is to the Minister of Education last Thursday thousand of Francophone teachers were on strike for the first time since the creation of the 12 Francophone schoolboards in 1998 1998 Mr. Speaker that's very serious situation I met with them myself and I can tell you that they are there for the students and to defend our education system we know now that with this government it is constantly hang on to your socks and I can tell you that last week we hung on to our hats our ski masks and our leggings to protest the cost the cuts made by this government and we were outside despite the minus 49 degrees in several regions will the Minister finally do the right thing and cancel these a responsible cut so that we can have an agreement and make sure that we have a good education system in Ontario thank you Mr. Speaker we want a good deal for students to keep them in class and this negotiation I can affirm to the member opposite what we're fighting for and what we're hoping to achieve through a voluntary settlement it is to invest more in education but to expect more for our kids it is to ensure that hiring is premise and predicated on the experience the diversity and the qualification of the candidate not exclusively on union seniority in this negotiation we're committed in writing to protecting full-day kindergarten a model that works in Ontario we're committed to improving the outcomes of our students Mr. Speaker news I long continue a note that we will keep working with our partners we will defend French language education we will work hard to prove it in every region of Ontario the supplementary question thank you speaker again to the minister our concerns the teachers concerns just like for students and parents it is compulsory e-learning class sizes and cuts for special needs students support these are concerns that are very reasonable Mr. Speaker these could these cuts have a very negative effect especially for Francophone students in Ontario for example when we're talking about compulsory e-learning which takes students out of their Francophone environment Mr. Speaker did the government consider these consequences before putting in place these measures and if so why is the government going forward will the government keep taking an axe and cutting everywhere everywhere and creating irreparable damages Mr. Speaker thank you Mr. Speaker in fact spending more investing more in public education in fact under the leadership of this premier the highest public expenditure in French language education is happening today under progressive Conservative government because we believe in linguistic duality and in the identity and the preservation of French language in Ontario Mr. Speaker we are investing more we are trying to combat the challenge of access to French language educators we are committed to ensuring every student has access to a strong performance-based education system and Mr. Speaker we also expect more from the system while investments have risen by 50% we also need to see corresponding student performance that is a reasonable expectations parents deserve and Mr. Speaker the greatest casualty of this debate are the kids in fact the students themselves who should be in class that's why I'm asking the unions in the faith to work with this government to get a deal and keep kids in class thank you the next question the number for Mrs. Saga Mullen Morning Mr. Speaker my question is for the Solicitor General members of my community and members of Peel Caucus this side and that side appreciate the hard work of the Peel Region police in keeping people safe but Mr. Speaker we know that more needs to be done to tackle the gun and gang violence that is plaguing our community I was so pleased to see Premier Ford Solicitor General Jones and A.G. Downey and the Peel Caucus announced a vital investment of 20.5 million dollars to support Peel Regional Police gang violence on behalf of our community on behalf of our Caucus I want to thank the Solicitor General for the leadership in helping keep people region safe by supporting our frontline officers Speaker through you can the Solicitor General tell this house and my community question how our investment will support Peel Region Police in fighting against local crime thank you Mr. Speaker Mr. Leicester General and thank you to the member from Mississauga Mountain you know every day our government is working to ensure the safety of our communities and the safety of our streets which is why I was so pleased earlier this year to stand with the Peel Caucus and my colleague the Attorney General to talk about another investment that we've made in the Region Appeal 20.5 million dollars no it is clearly understood by our government that this is not a an issue that is going to be solved exclusively with one ministry that's why I'm so pleased that we work together jointly with many cross ministerial issues but the support will help tackle gun and gang violence as part of Ontario's gun gang and violence reduction strategy and it builds on our intensive firearm based team in Peel Region the Attorney General already announced which focuses on prosecuting those involved in firearms offenses I am pleased with the leadership of Chief President and I am pleased with the leadership of the Peel MPP Thank you very much the supplementary question Thank you Mr. Speaker thank you sorry to the general for your answer it is clear that our government understand the urgent need that for the action in Peel Region and that is why you're responding to that call we know that the criminals do not respect the municipal borders as MPP from the bystander team dead and the constant problem at ACON place we know that criminals do not respect municipal borders that's why it is important for the coordinated province-wide strategy to keep our community safe and not just the urban centres Speaker can the Attorney General explain how our investment in community safe here in Ontario thank you Mr. Speaker the solicitor general thank you as a member opposite rightly said crimes gangs do not respect municipal boundaries it's why since taking office our government has invested over $160 million in the fight against gun and gang violence and gang activity across Ontario including a multi-sectorial response our gun and gang violence reduction strategy works to combine prevention intervention and enforcement through targeted investments from another many partner ministries including solicitor general attorney general children community and social services and of course the minister of education our investments in peel region are also part of our government's new $195 million community safety and policing grant program response policing partners across Ontario addressing the local community safety priorities as identified by each local service thank you thank you the next question the member for Oshawa thank you very much and my questions to the premier after a lot of money and a lot of fanfare from this government we have been hearing from the community that the new license plates that rolled out on February 1st are next to impossible to read in the dark as critic for transportation highways I received an email you wrote quote it seems that the latest mistake by this conservative government is yet another example of your policy of ready fire aim your priorities are not for the people the same can be said for your gas pump stickers which don't stick and are needless unwanted propaganda this is an important issue for public protection safety recall remake resign end quote does the premier have the sense to recognize that this is something it needs to be fixed and what is the plan recognize the minister of government consumer services thank you Mr. Speaker the member opposite and Ontarians listening today and across this province that we are aware that some Ontarians are reporting concerns with regards to readability to the naked eye under some light conditions and that said we take this input very seriously and we're working with our manufacturers to get down to the bottom of it but speaker I have to share with you sticking with the status quote liberal plate that was peeling and flaking was not an option and I'm very pleased to share with you that we're employing new technologies in Ontario plates that have been tested under a whole host of visibility conditions with successful reading results and so speaker I want to assure the member opposite we take the input very seriously we're drilling down on it and getting to the bottom of it the supplementary question thank you speaker and I'm glad to know there's new technology but my eyes are pretty standard and I should be able to read them as a driver on the roads speaker this premier found buckets of money to brand Ontario license plates with PC party blue and now there are serious concerns about whether those plates even work they are weirdly reflective and when lights shine on them the whole plate glows and letters and numbers cannot be read with the naked human eye it's safe so last week qp briefing got the scoop that this government planned to throw away thousands of perfectly good and readable white license plates so why is the government scrapping perfectly good white plates when they're glowing propaganda plates are problematic and I thought Ontario was a place to grow not a place to glow but again I would like to know what this premier plans to do to fix these plates and keep us safe members please take their seats again Mr. Speaker I have to remind the member opposite that's sticking with the status quo liberal plates that were opposition come to order we're absolutely not an option I am pleased to share with you that the plates that have been introduced to this province they're working you know they're working on the furrow center they're being read they've been tested opposition come to order host of visibility conditions and we absolutely have confidence in our plates and I know it's difficult for the members opposite to adjust to change but let me tell you I apologize I have to interrupt the member I'm going to ask the opposition to come to order the clock is ticking order the minister to reply thank you these plates have been tested and I want to share with you as well Mr. Speaker that we're employing technology in the plates that are already being used in other provinces like Saskatchewan Manitoba Nova Scotia and 13 other states Speaker these plates are working people like them but I have to make sure that everyone understands we've heard thank you very much the next question the member for Northumberland thank you Mr. Speaker my question is to the minister of infrastructure minister for years roads bridges and other vital infrastructure projects were neglected due to systemic underfunding every day constituents local elected officials in upper and lower tier in my writing asked me what our government's plans are to help support our local infrastructure priorities minister I know we've committed investing a hundred and forty four billion dollars to things like transit roads hospitals right across the province these investments will have a significant positive impact on the economic development and improve my writing's ability to attract investment and create jobs can the minister tell this house and most importantly constituents in Northumberland Peterborough South what infrastructure investments our government is making and how they will help the people of my writing thank you questions addressed to the minister of infrastructure well thank you Mr. Speaker I'd like to thank the member from Northumberland Peterborough South for his important question and the great work he does as I've indicated to the house a number of times Ontario has nominated more than 350 projects to the federal government under the investing in Canada infrastructure project or ISIP for final funding approval this includes 144 road bridge air and marine infrastructure projects and over 200 public transit projects for a total provincial investment of more than 480 million dollars through the public transit and rural and northern streams of the ISIP agreement Mr. Speaker unlike the previous Liberal government we're making historic investment in infrastructure while working to maximize the federal funding available to Ontario so we can build and improve the infrastructure projects that are important to all of us Mr. Speaker I'd like to thank you the supplementary question thank you Mr. Speaker minister in March you opened the intake for rural and northern and public transit I worked with our lower and upper tier to make sure we got applications in in May when the intake closed we got a number of vital infrastructure projects submitted in the province just two months later Mr. Speaker two months later in July I was there to announce four vital projects in my writing replacement to a bus fleet in Coburg improving environmental sustainability and bringing in a new fleet reconstruction of Centreline Road in Ashford Hill, Norwood reconstruction of Potash Street in Hiawatha First Nation and specialized transit and accessibility investments into Port Hope Mr. Speaker seven months later we have yet to receive a dollar from the government Mr. Speaker my question is to the minister minister what are you doing to ensure that these long-awaited projects in my writing receive the vital funding that they deserve thank you Mr. Rupla well thank you Mr. Speaker and again thank you to the member I understand that after almost a year of waiting the member and his constituents are puzzled as to why less than a third of the more than 350 nominated projects have received federal approval however I remain optimistic that the federal minister's letter of approval is in the mail and will soon arrive in my office the minute I receive the formal written approval I will personally ensure that the member and his constituents and municipal partners know that they can move forward and put shovels in the ground to get these projects built Mr. Speaker we have made infrastructure a marquee part of our mandate and on this side of the house I understand that investments like these will get people moving grow the economy and serve the needs of people and businesses across our great province Mr. Speaker again I'm optimistic the federal government will move quickly on these approvals the next question the member for Parkdale High Park my question is to the premier Ontarians who seek help for mental health or addiction issues are faced with long and growing wait lists for services for years the Liberals chronically underfunded mental health and addiction programs and neglected the growing demand for these services this conservative government has paid a lot of lip service to increasing mental health and addiction funding but after a year and a half enter their mandate have not put forward an extra penny of provincial funding to improve supports with the end of the fiscal year quickly approaching this government does not the associate minister of mental health and addiction on behalf of the government thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you for that question Mr. Speaker our government is delivering real action by investing in historic $3.8 billion over the next 10 years to build a comprehensive integrated and connected mental health and addiction system we're committed to building this system where services are easier to access because we know that there hasn't been a standard of quality and care and focused on better outcomes for everyone including children youth and families while you claim that money has not been invested Mr. Speaker we have in fact made an additional $10 million annually in child and youth mental health core services funding in communities across the province we've invested money in the education system $27 million response $6 million in intensive services for youth and addictions including withdrawal management services Mr. Speaker we are making investments and we will continue to make investments to build a system that works Thank you very much the supplementary question Back to the premier overdose and opioid related deaths in Ontario doubled in the last three years we're into the second year of this conservative government's mandate and what has the premier provided the service and arbitrarily limited the number of sites already 21 sites aren't enough but only 16 have been approved so far in British Columbia overdose rates plateaued when the government took concrete action when will this government take this public health crisis seriously by listening to the evidence and funding a site in every community that needs one the associate minister Thank you Mr. Speaker our government does take the opioid crisis seriously and in fact as you've mentioned has organized and set up 16 consumption and treatment sites in communities and needs across Ontario CTS sites not only save lives by preventing overdose related deaths but also connect people to primary care treatment and rehabilitation as well as other health and social services to help them overcome the primary reason for the consumption and treatment sites overall availability and access as measured by the number of consumption booths and hours of operation have in fact increased under these 16 sites when compared to the same sites under previous models and Mr. Speaker our government has allocated 31.3 million dollars in funding for up to 21 consumption treatment sites we are waiting applications that need basis thank you the next question the member for Eglinton Lawrence thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the associate minister of transportation Mr. Speaker it is no secret to commuters across the GTA that lengthy drawn out and delayed construction timelines are one of the key barriers to reducing gridlock and getting people back onto public transit people are sick of delays whether it's political decisions that are holding up or construction delays that seem to drag on endlessly through you Mr. Speaker can the minister please tell the house what the government plans to do in order to speed up building transit and reduce the gridlock that plagues Toronto streets and infuriates the commuters of this city thank you the associate minister of transportation GTA thank you very much Mr. Speaker and it's also very nice to see you again I know all of us are taking off the New Year and continuing the good work that we started in terms of making life better for the people of Ontario one of the challenges that we have had historically when it comes to transit is that different levels of government were on different pages regarding transit planning and there was a lack of leadership at the provincial level while Mr. Speaker we've solved that problem last fall when the city and the province entered into a historic partnership to build the single largest subway expansion now our focus is on introducing new measures to speed up the construction timelines for these major projects Mr. Speaker with the with Premier Ford's leadership the era of delays is over the supplementary question thank you to you Mr. Speaker and to the minister it's always good to hear that the province and the city are working together to enhance transit and get shovels in the ground the steps we've taken will provide more transit relief to commuters across the region however I think I speak for many when I say that the current nightmare that occurs in local communities like my own going through rapid transit construction is far from painless through you Speaker to the honourable minister what is the government planning to do to expedite building transit and end construction nightmares that plague commuters and businesses with what sometimes seems like no end in sight thank you Mr. Speaker and I want to thank the member for her advocacy on this file over the last number of months the province and the city have been working together to develop a framework to build transit quickly on February 6th at the economic club our very own minister of transportation outlines some of the steps we are planning on taking when it comes to speeding up building public transit on our four key subway lines that involves speeding up approvals and timelines for things like utility relocations environmental assessments and permitting and to be clear Mr. Speaker we're not going to be compromising public safety or environmental oversight we want to speed up and solidify timelines that have historically delayed major infrastructure projects the time to build is now Mr. Speaker and with our government it's really happening the next question the member for Toronto St. Paul's good morning Mr. Speaker my question is to the premier last week we learned from the Globe and Mail that thanks to this government's heartless cuts rape crisis centres across the province are struggling to provide basic services to survivors Speaker for years the Liberals failed to provide enough funding to meet the needs of survivors and now this conservative government is making things worse with continuing over 20 million dollars in cuts to frontline services for next year Speaker rape and sexual assault crisis centres they're not asking for much less than 1% to be exact of what conservatives are spending to tear down windmills to the premier why does this government care more about supporting PC party donors their friends than they do survivors thank you Attorney General Durr-Ply Thank you Mr. Speaker and I thank you for the question it's this government is supporting victims across the province and we support the families who are on the wrong end Mr. Speaker we're giving them the support they need in so many ways and we recognize the important work to victim service organizations across the province they're committed to supporting the individuals in need at a time of need and over a long period of time Mr. Speaker it's critical that we support them and we are supporting them I had a fantastic meeting with several of the organizations and the central organization for rape crisis centres last week we were talking how the system can work better Mr. Speaker and Mr. Speaker it's about sometimes coordinating better and making sure that we're understanding the needs of victims when they need the help we're making sure that we are there for them the previous government tried to politicize the issue of victims of crime Mr. Speaker and that was the wrong way to go we want to make sure that we're going to fix the system to make sure the system is working properly Mr. Speaker we don't coordinate survivors we support and listen to survivors Mr. Speaker my question is back to the premier historical child abuse survivors are not getting any support by the way if this government truly gave a darn they'd they'd they'd reverse their reckless cuts again liberal lip service and conservative cuts aren't helping anyone Mr. Speaker Ontarians need a government that's finally on their side and fighting for what matters to them survivors in crisis centers need support and they need it today not tomorrow will the minister stop taking their cuts out on women and survivors and finally provide Ontario's rape crisis centers with the funding they deserve thank you Mr. Speaker thank you the Attorney General to reply thank you Mr. Speaker this government is committed to supporting victims the Ministry of the Attorney General has been undertaking a comprehensive review of services providing services to victims of crime their families and witnesses Mr. Speaker we take this issue seriously these are some of the most vulnerable in our province Mr. Speaker we need to be there we need to be there in a meaningful way to deliver the services they need most when they need it the most thank you Mr. Speaker that concludes the time we have for question period this morning pursuant to standing order 36A the member for Glen Gary Prescott Russell has given notice of her dissatisfaction with the answer to her question given by the Ministry of Education concerning the system the education public this matter will be debated today at 6 p.m. I also want to welcome a former member to this legislature who served the writing of Algoma in the 30 31st 32nd 33rd 34th 35th 36th Parliament Bud Wildman welcome back glad to have you here there being no deferred votes this House stands in recess until 3 p.m.