 It is now time for oral questions. I recognize the Leader of His Majesty's Loyal Opposition. Good morning, Speaker. My question is for the Premier. Speaker, times are very tough for people in the province of Ontario. Every month, they're struggling with higher costs and less support. People tell me they're feeling worn down and that instead of seeing a government that's offering help, they're seeing one mired in scandal. Speaker, the revelations from the government's $8 billion Greenbelt grab are getting more serious by the day and people deserve answers. Can the Premier confirm that his government is currently under criminal investigation by the RCMP? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Look, Mr. Speaker, we, of course, will be working with the RCMP as they undertake a review of the Greenbelt. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, it is very rich. Hearing the Leader of the Opposition talk about affordability went on every single instance that she and her party have had to help put more money back in the pockets of the people of Ontario. They have voted against it. When we cut taxes for the lowest income earners in the province, the lift tax credit, they voted against it, Mr. Speaker. When we were working to bring down hydro rates and to stabilize out-of-control hydro rates that the partnership between the Liberals and the NDP had to put people in the position of choosing between heating or eating, they were voting against that, Mr. Speaker. When we fought tooth and nail to stop the carbon tax, which we said would impact every single Ontarian, every single Canadian, Mr. Speaker, they stood in the way. They have good opportunity. They can tell their friends in Ottawa, Mr. Singh in Ottawa, force the federal government to remove the carbon tax, Mr. Speaker, to put more money back. The supplementary question. I'm going to stretch there, Speaker. This Premier told voters he was different, Speaker. He said his party wouldn't put insiders first like the Liberals did. He promised to end cronyism. And that was the cronyism that brought that government down. Well, the Premier broke that promise. And five years later, this Premier and his government are under criminal investigation by the RCMP. Speaker, to the Premier, how can the people of this province trust their government when it's under active criminal investigation? Mr. Secretary, Mr. Speaker, as I said, we will work with the RCMP. But at the same token, Mr. Speaker, we are going to move forward with the priorities of the people of the province of Ontario. The member in a previous question talked about the affordability issues that we're facing across the province. Now, we have worked hard to bring back 700,000 jobs for the people of Toronto. That's 700,000 people. 700,000 people who have the dignity of a job that didn't before. But let's be very clear, Mr. Speaker, what threatens the prosperity of the province of Ontario is the policies of the Liberals and NDP, the same policies which are seeing high interest rates across the province of Ontario. We said when you have out-of-control deficits, out-of-control spending, red tape and regulation, it will bring an economy down, Mr. Speaker. We reversed all of that. We're seeing jobs come back. And now we need the NDP to do the right thing. Tell their friends in Ottawa not to do what they did. Don't prop up a liberal government that is putting billions of dollars of taxes on the people who make food, billions of dollars of taxes on the people who deliver food and billions of dollars on taxes on the people who go to buy food. That's complementary. Mr. Speaker, we won't be taking any lessons from a government under criminal investigation. The special unit at the RCMP is called the Sensitive and International Investigations Unit. That's who's investigating this premier and this government's actions in relation to the green belt. They investigate elected officials on, and I quote, allegations of fraud, financial crimes, corruption and breach of trust. Fraud, financial crimes, breach of trust, corruption. Back to the premier. How can the premier maintain the confidence of the people when he and his government is being investigated by the RCMP for corruption? Members, in the use of their language, gonna allow the Minister of Municipal Affairs to respond. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Look, I know that the leader of the opposition isn't gonna take any lessons from us, right? Because when she had the opportunity to force the then liberal government out of office, she chose, and her party chose, to do nothing. When we saw increases in taxes, they chose to do nothing, Mr. Speaker. When we saw out of control hydro rates, they chose to do nothing. When the Liberals were failing on long-term care, on healthcare, they chose to do nothing. We are going down a different path, a path that is putting more money back in the pockets of the people of Ontario. A path that is seeing 700,000 people have the dignity of a job that didn't before. But we need help, Mr. Speaker. We need the NDP here in Ontario to stand in their place, call their friends in Ottawa who hold the balance of power and say, help us put more money back in the pockets of the people of the province of Ontario, and force the Liberal government to remove the carbon tax on the stakeholders that are so important to the people of province of Ontario. Will she do it? I doubt it, Mr. Speaker, because she won't take lessons in affordability. Speaker, this is serious, and people in this province deserve the truth. We've tried to get it by using the tools we have in the Members Integrity Act, and by requesting an investigation by the auditor. And with each report and each revelation, it's become more and more clear that this is a government that puts its friends first, no matter what the cost is to taxpayers. Speaker, the police unit investigating the government handles, and I'm going to quote again, sensitive high-risk matters that cause significant threats to the political, economic, and social integrity of Canada's institutions. So back to the Premier. This government used to say it's for the people. Well, they've lost the people's trust. How do they carry on when they are under an RCMP criminal investigation? Again, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Speaker, as I said on a number of occasions, there is no doubt we made a mistake when it came to a public policy decision that was not supported by the people of province of Ontario. Throughout the report, Mr. Speaker, it is very clear that the intention of that policy was to build more houses for the people of the province of Ontario. We are in a housing crisis, not only in Ontario, but across Canada, Mr. Speaker, it was a public policy decision that was not supported by the people, and that is why later on today, I'll be introducing legislation to return all of those lands back to the green bell. But let there be no doubt, Mr. Speaker, despite what we're hearing from the opposition, I will continue as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to work with my colleagues to remove obstacles that stand in the way of building homes for the next generation of the people of this province, Mr. Speaker. I will do whatever it takes to meet our target of 1.5 million homes for the people of the province of Ontario. And let me put on notice all of our municipal partners that they indeed will be doing their part to help us build those 1.5 million homes. The final supplementary. Speaker, this question is also for the Premier. Speaker, weeks ago, the Premier stood in front of the remaining members of his cabinet and claimed he was sorry for their green belt grab. But now in the same breath, he and his minister deny anything untoward happened. But now in the, and this is a scheme that he saw, sorry. This is a scheme. Order. Order. Speaker, it's really something here. I got to tell you to hear these members applaud themselves when they're under RCM criminal investigation. I just, members opposite that favored land speculators and people with conservative connections who got preferential treatment from this government. Question. The Premier's office said it saw provincial land use policy being decided on the casino floor in Sin City. Returning the land is not enough to repair the absolutely colossal damage to the people's trust. When will the Premier confirm that his personal phone record. Thank you. Thank you. Minister. Minister, Mr. Mishmile affairs announcement. Mr. Speaker, we, as we've said on a number of occasions, what we want to do is build more homes for the people of the province of Ontario. The policy decision that was not supported by the people of the province of Ontario. The Premier himself has confirmed that the process was not one that can be supported by our government. And obviously we will work with the RCMP as they look into the matter, Mr. Speaker. But let there be no doubt when it comes to leadership, it is this government and this Premier who are showing leadership every single day on the files that matter most of the people of the province of Ontario. Building more homes, we're getting it done. Building long-term care, we're getting it done. Putting more money back into people's pockets, we're getting it done. Fighting taxes that harm people, we're getting it done. This is a leader who had the opportunity to show leadership, to stand up to the anti-Semitic hard left of her party. The first test of leadership that she had and what did she choose to do? Nothing. She has failed on leadership on her first test, Mr. Speaker, showing that she is not fit to hold the office of Premier ever. And I'm sure the people of province of Ontario will be with me. Order. Order. The House will come to order. Start the clock. Final supplementary. Sign of the desperation of this government, Speaker. I'm telling you, to, to, I will say, To the side, come to order. Exploit the deaths of people across an ocean, just to make a political point when they are under criminal investigation. I get that this minister has a job to do. He has to protect his embattled Premier, but these responses show nothing but disdain for the people of this province who have serious questions. Even after being found to have brought the members integrity act, the government voted against the NDP bill to strengthen it. They refused to produce documents, Speaker. They voted down an NDP call for a Speaker's warrant that they would, because it was going to protect their friends, and they even voted against NDP legislation weeks ago that would have returned land to the Greenbelt. So, Speaker, back again to the Premier, is he truly sorry, or is he just sorry that he got caught? Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Listen, Mr. Speaker. What we are doing is focusing on the priorities of the people of the province of Ontario. We made a public policy decision that was not supported by the people of the province of Ontario, and that is why we're returning those lands to the, to the Greenbelt, Mr. Speaker. We have cooperated and worked with the auditor general. We've worked with the integrity commissioner, Mr. Speaker, and we will assist the RCMP as they undertake a review of the entire plan, Mr. Speaker, but let there be no doubt that we will stand firm in our commitment to build 1.5 million homes for the people of the province of Ontario. Let there be no doubt that we will continue to fight against carbon taxes, which are decimating this economy across Canada, not only Ontario, Mr. Speaker, and let there be no doubt that the Leader of the Opposition could show true leadership, Mr. Speaker, by standing up against the hard left, the anti-Semitic hard left of her party. That is also leadership, Mr. Speaker. That is also leadership. And she could do that today, Mr. Speaker, and ask that member from Hamilton Centre leave this place. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, we will stand up for all Ontarians because we know it is the right thing to do. Restart the clock. The next question, the Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Speaker, so let's just be clear. Not sorry. Just sorry they got caught. This question is again for the Premier. Mr. Speaker, one of the reasons why this government is under RCMP investigation is because they put their friends and insiders ahead of the needs of everyone else. Since 2018, this government's given countless patronage appointments and even seven-figure contracts to their friends and donors. Exhibit A, they tried to appoint the Premier's friend. Remember that? Ron Tavener to head up the OPP. Exhibit B, they appointed the Premier's friend, Mark Saunders, as a special advisor to Ontario Place. Our FOI found no proof he did any work. Exhibit C, another friend, an honoured wedding guest, Carmen Negro, made LCBO Chair and Ontario Place Chair. More to come, I'm sure. So, Speaker, back to the Premier. Why is the government stacking the deck with their unqualified insiders? Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Well, it should be no shock to anybody here that the NDP don't think that two superior police officers, people who have served their community for what, 150 years combined, that they don't think that they are qualified to continue to serve the people of the province of Ontario. That highlights in itself the difference between the NDP and the Liberals, Mr. Speaker. What we do is look for qualified people who have served their community for generations, and we ask them to continue to serve. And what do they do? They shout them down, they protest them. That is the legacy of the Liberals and the NDP. They do it every single day. That is why they're standing in the way of building a better, stronger Ontario. That is why they want carbon taxes, because it's not about making the people more prosperous. For them, it's about making sure that the people of the province of Ontario rely only on government. For us, we want to give people the tools to succeed each and every day. That must provide more money in their pocket, providing support for families, building houses for them, Mr. Speaker. So while they get in the way, we'll remove them as an obstacle, and we'll move forward for the people of the province. Supplementary question. Speaker, just last week, this government was forced to remove their appointee, a land speculator, from an environmental advisory committee because, turns out, he had misappropriated millions of dollars. But it doesn't stop there because a majority of senior members on Ontario's major tribunals have connections back to this conservative party. Massage tables, boys trips to Vegas, luxury spas, this government and their friends are living it up while people in this province suffer. My question to the Premier is, how many times must your government get caught before there's a moral reckoning in this province? Minister of Missful Affairs and Housing. Order. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't know where you begin with the NDP. In their caucus, they have somebody, a hard-left anti-Semitic person who is, frankly, should not be sitting in the caucus, and really, there is a discussion whether they should even be sitting here. That leader of the opposition chose to do nothing. They have members who rig around signs that say, F the police, Mr. Speaker. At their convention this weekend, at their convention this weekend, when brought forward with policies that they didn't necessarily agree with, they said, we don't have to care about anybody else. Just about us. They brought policies to increase taxes, Mr. Speaker. You have an option. You have an option. You can tell your friends in Ottawa who hold the balance of power, don't take your example, do the right thing, bring down a government that is costing the people of province of Ontario billions of dollars, which are economy at risk, that harms us in terms of affordability that's causing high interest rates. Will you do the right thing and tell them to bring them down so that we can get a government that respects the people in Ottawa? Once again, I'll remind members to make their comments through the channel, not directly across the floor of the house. Start the clock. The next question, the member for Brantford Grant. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Northern Development. The previous Liberal government, propped up by the NDP, drove jobs out of Ontario and failed to unlock our province's full economic potential. Instead of support, the North endured insults from the previous Liberal government who called them a no-man's land. That is why our government must recognize the incredible opportunities that exist in Northern Ontario and the First Nation communities as we continue to partner with them for their economic growth. I understand that the Premier recently made a historic visit to the municipality of Greenstone in Northwestern Ontario to witness the incredible economic transformation that is taking place there. Speaker, can the Minister please explain how our government is promoting economic development projects in Northern communities, especially in towns like Greenstone? Mr. Northern Development, Minister of Indigenous Affairs. Speaker, a significant visit on so many levels. The province of Ontario stands ready to respond. Regional economic support, promoting Ontario's Northern development couldn't be more critical for a new centre of gravity that's emerging in that municipality and the surrounding First Nations communities. The focus of that visit with the Premier and I was training, employment, commercial infrastructure and community enhancement. We announced investments in NEDAC to build a training complex for First Nations to participate in the forest sector. The Minotiman Development and Corporation to build a commercial plaza right at the heart and soul of where the corridor to prosperity will begin, Mr. Speaker, some community enhancement projects throughout the municipality of Greenstone, sprucing up some of their arenas and other recreational instruments. We have an enormous opportunity here. The province stands ready. The municipality of Greenstone and the surrounding First Nations communities recognize that. Thank you. Mr. Pimenton, question? Thank you, Speaker and Minister. Thank you for that response. Since coming into office, our government has been working to address the gap in skilled labour. Shortages in skilled labour are being felt across the province and Greenstone is no exception. With hundreds of jobs to fill in many sectors, communities across the North are looking to our government for support. In many cases, communities in the North need to bring in skilled labour from the southern parts of our province. And that is why, Speaker, it is vital that our government continues to make investments that will promote training, education and skills development to fill current and future job vacancies in this important region. Speaker, will the Minister please explain how our government is investing in the workers of tomorrow to build up Northern communities? Thank you. Mr. Northern Development. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We share a vision with First Nations communities and the municipalities there to decrease the number of workers that come externally. We know that there are human resources on the ground, Mr. Speaker. Like the NIDAC investment I just referred to, we also announced, Mr. Speaker, the ability of Kikenomaga, Kikenjigewen, employment and training services based in Thunder Bay, but has more than seven participating First Nations communities all throughout the central corridor of Northern Ontario, Mr. Speaker, to provide Red Seal training for young First Nations people. There's a lot of work to do. I talked about the infrastructure that we're building in that corridor, Mr. Speaker. I know the Minister of Energy is really excited about the corridor that will not only supply greenstone, but move up into respond to the corridor to prosperity. This is a great opportunity. It's even more awesome to know that it's going to be built by First Nations young people, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. The next question the member for is Benaina Fortyore. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, to the Premier. The NDP has obtained a document showing that this government had been planning to build a massive government-funded parking garage at Ontario Place nearly two years before telling the public. The parking garage will cost half a billion tax dollars for the benefit of Thurma, a private luxury spa. But the original RFP stated that bidders to redevelop Ontario Place would need to work with the existing parking and that the government would not pay for additional parking facilities. This government is under criminal investigation by the RCMP for the Greenbelt Grab and this is yet another suspicious deal. Did the government give Thurma preferential treatment by accepting a bid that required a taxpayer-funded parking garage? Minister of Infrastructure. Very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I came to Queens Park this morning to find out that the NDP was hosting a press conference at 9 a.m. Why? To tell the public that government was contemplating building a parking lot facility because we are redeveloping Ontario Place to be a world-class tourist destination. There are people from across the country. Mr. Speaker, what do Wonderland, the zoo, exhibition place, all have in common? Yes, they're tourist destinations but they also have parking spaces. I think those wonderful locations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Back to the minister. Speaker, there are too many irregularities with the Ontario Place procurement process that awarded the development rights to Thurma. There was no fairness monitor appointed to verify fairness and integrity. There is no public information about what scoring criteria were used, if any, and the government can't show the scorecards evaluating the bids. There is no evidence that the government performed due diligence to confirm the source of Thurma's financing. And the entire process, more like lack of process, was overseen by a close friend of the Premier. We've seen this before. The government is already under criminal investigation by the RCMP for their green belt grab. Will the Premier cancel the shady Thurma deal? Minister of Infrastructure. So, government will continue to bring Ontario Place back to life. It's five years, Mr. Speaker, Infrastructure Ontario, who everyone in this house knows is an arms length agency, led the procurement, led the process and made recommendations to government. And it was Infrastructure Ontario who also retained an external advisory team with Coal years, KPMG and McCarthy-Tetro to make sure that the process was fair and to get their expertise. Mr. Speaker, Ontario Place is not enjoyed by the public anymore. We will make sure that there will be lots of activities for families to enjoy all year round, 365 days of the year. And they depart their corner there. Question the member for Peterborough Court. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Energy. Oh, great minister. Under the previous Liberal government, Ontario saw an exodus of more than 300,000 manufacturing jobs. Shame. But thanks to the leadership of the Premier and the Minister for Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, our province is witnessing a revitalization. Here, here. An expansion in our manufacturing sector. Our government has announced significant new investments being made here in Ontario, particularly in the electric vehicle production and battery manufacturing. While all of these investments are great, they also mean an increased demand in our electricity network. That's why it's so vital that our government take action to meet the current and long-term electricity needs of residents and businesses. Speaker, can the Minister please explain what our government is doing to ensure that Ontario has sufficient energy capacity to meet our growing needs? That's a good question. Minister of Energy. Thanks, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the member from Peterborough for the tough but fair question this morning. He's absolutely right when he says one thing. Under the previous Liberal government, supported every step of the way by the NDP, we saw hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs leaving our province. Since we brought in some economic stability to Ontario, Mr. Speaker, under the leadership of our Premier and our Minister of Economic Development and everybody working so hard to remove red tape and make this a sought-after jurisdiction, we have multi-billion dollar electric vehicle platforms that are coming back to Ontario, Mr. Speaker, EV battery manufacturing. The folks from DeFasco are here with us today. They're putting in electric arc furnaces at their facilities in Hamilton, just like they are at Algoma in Sault Ste. Marie, Mr. Speaker. For the first time since 2005, we're seeing increased electricity demand in our province to make sure that we're powering those businesses and those homes that we're going to be building as well, Mr. Speaker. A lot of millions of people are coming to Ontario because this is the place where they want to do business and earlier this summer, I unleashed our plan to power Ontario's growth and I'll have more to say in the supplementary, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Minister of Energy for that or as I refer to it, the founder of the Smitty Committee. It's encouraging for the people of Ontario and for businesses that are looking to invest here. Our province is well positioned to provide clean, affordable and reliable energy. As our province moves towards an electric future with a strong electric vehicle supply chain network, the need for reliable, low-cost and clean power has never been greater. That's why our government must remain focused. The actions to ensure that our energy supply will continue to meet the needs of a growing population and industrial expansion are critical. Speaker, can the Minister please elaborate on what energy policies our government will advance to help build a stronger Ontario and strengthen our competitive advantage? Here, Mr. Energy. Thanks very much, Speaker. And thanks again to the member from Peterborough. We're very fortunate in Ontario to have one of the cleanest electricity grids in the entire world, Mr. Speaker, and we're working hard to make sure that it stays that way with our parent powering Ontario's growth plan. Under the plan, we're investing in 4,800 new megawatts at Bruce Power on the west coast of Ontario, Mr. Speaker, taking that world-leading facility to an even bigger emissions-free generating facility for our province. We're not just building one small modular reactor on the site at Darlington with OPG, Mr. Speaker. We've announced under the powering Ontario's growth plan, we're going to be building four small modular reactors there. That's enough power, clean power, to power 1.2 million homes. We're making the investments that we need in large-scale and small-scale nuclear reactors, Mr. Speaker. We have the largest energy procurement in the country going with our battery storage facilities located across Ontario, and we've invested a billion dollars into energy efficiency programs. Mr. Speaker, we're going to have the power that Ontario needs. Thank you very much, my question to the Premier. Last week, we learned that this government is under another criminal investigation by the RCMP, and the Auditor General Office is investigating the concern of the shady MZO process. The government's pattern of fiscal and environmental irresponsibility is finally coming to light. In Waterloo Region, the forced expansion of 2,200 acres of precious green space in farmland to development is cause for legitimate concerns. This threatens the Waterloo Marine, the main source of drinking water supply, and once again, disrespects First Nations who supported our responsible regional plan. No process, no consultation, no transparency, no due diligence with no plan to address the housing crisis. Who is driving these decisions, Speaker, because it certainly will be costly on all fronts. Mr. Mr. President, the planning process followed all of the rules established by this legislature, as a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker. Now, look, I know the member is upset. She's upset because of the changes that we have made that have seen jobs come back to the province of Ontario. Her region, because of the hard work of the Progressive Conservative Members of Provincial Parliament, they're seeing jobs and opportunity come back like never before. Because of the hard work of the Minister of Colleges and Universities, that sector is thriving there as well. So it's an odd thing. When more people want to come to an area, they want to have a place to live. So, because of that, Mr. Speaker, we are ensuring by working with our partners, at the municipal partners, that there will be places for people to live in Kitchener Waterloo. We're going even further than that, Mr. Speaker. We're asking our partners across the province to join with us in building 1.5 million homes for the people of the province of Ontario. Large communities, small communities. I've heard from small mayors in Northern Ontario have said, don't count us out. We can build five, six, seven. We want to be a part of it. And you know what? We'll make sure that they're a part of that, Mr. Speaker. A supplementary question. Back to the member for Waterloo. Supplementary questions are down and municipalities are still waiting to be made whole by this government. We have a criminal investigation and yet another auditor general investigation. In addition, we have a leaked briefing note on this mess indicating specific site consultations occurred with third parties, but who are these third parties? Why do they get a voice and the power and the profit at the expense of the people of Waterloo region at the same time as the RCMP criminal investigation on the Greenbelt land scandal? An auditor investigating the MZOs are us model of land use planning. At these forced boundary expansions are profoundly undemocratic and won't address housing or affordability concerns. Why is this premier and this government so beholden to land speculators so eager to bend to their wishes that they're willing to cast aside good governments and the duty to consult? Mr. McFerrer is at home. Mr. Speaker, their plans went before the people and they have the opportunity to have their voices heard. Mr. Speaker, now she talks about MZOs. Let's talk about MZOs for a second if we can because I know that when I was minister of long-term care I brought municipal zoning orders, I requested them for long-term care homes and communities that refuse to build long-term care homes. What's wrong with that, Mr. Speaker? Now I know they are ideologically opposed to that because when they were in cahoots with the Liberals they built 611 long-term care homes. Now this minister of long-term care this minister of long-term care is ushering in 58,000 new and upgraded homes across the province of Montero. And we've said, Mr. Speaker, very clearly to our municipal partners if you're gonna stand in the way of long-term care we'll remove the obstacle. If you're gonna stand in the way of students we're gonna remove the obstacle. If you're gonna stand in the way of transit and transportation we're gonna remove the obstacle. If you stand in the way of building a bigger, better, stronger, safer Montero we'll remove the obstacle and get it done for the people of the province of Montero. Thank you. Thank you. Next question, remember for Don Valley West. The RCMP recently launched a criminal probe into the government's backtracked $8.3 billion green belt land swap. According to Michael Kemper, an associate professor of criminology at the University of Ottawa the main concern on this quote is the main concern on this file is in the area of breach of trust where elected officials abuse their position either by giving out page niche appointments or favorable contracts or insider information that could prove profitable to their friends and donors, end quote. Speaker, we know that's exactly what happened with the $8.3 billion green belt land swap and this government has lost the trust of the people of Ontario. My question to the premier. Will the government press pause on the decisions they have made on the Ontario Place Spa, the Science Centre and Highway 413 to prove to the people of Ontario that those processes are not flawed too? Minister of Infrastructure, to shut things down a little. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker and the answer is absolutely not. We will be bringing Ontario Place back to life because right now it is an asset that is not enjoyed by 15 million Ontarians. We will not stop our work in building the 413 because we know how important it is for people to get to their families faster and reduce congestion. Minister, we are investing $184 billion to build infrastructure that's desperately needed in the province and we will get it done. All right, all right, that's your question. Speaker, the AG's green belt report showed that a flawed process was used to benefit a small group of developers. So we now must question all processes this government uses to make decisions where developers have a role. We have the AG investigating the government's process for MZO's some of which benefit these same developers. In my writing of Don Valley West, constituents are asking if flawed processes were used to cut corners to allow dense high-rise developments when the city says that children in those developments won't attend nearby schools because they're full. Speaker, this government has a history of fast-tracking decisions under the guise of getting housing built. When we know from the AG report that the main result was to benefit their friends. My question to the Premier, will the Premier press pause on MZO's until the Auditor-General completes its full review of the province's process for using them? Full tears in our eyes. Honestly, Mr. Speaker, I think that in a nutshell highlights just how incompetent Liberals really are, right? Because this isn't about anything else but their desire to stop housing from being built, right? We have the sad spectacle. We have the sad spectacle of one of the leading Liberal contenders avoiding doing her job so that she could stop housing from being built in Mississauga. So very clearly I say to the member every single municipality across this province will work with us. We will remove obstacles and we will build 1.5 million homes. They don't want them built around transit, Mr. Speaker. They want us to stop that. They don't want us building long-term care. They don't want us building homes for students, Mr. Speaker. Will I say very clearly to the member for Don Valley? No, we will continue to do whatever it takes to build more homes for the people of the province of Ontario and untangle the mess that 15 years of Liberals left this country. The next question, the member for Thornhill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education. Parents in Ontario expect their children to receive a world-class education in our school system. They expect our government to prioritize the foundational subjects of reading, writing, and math when it comes to their children's education. That is why the Premier and the Minister of Education must continuously support and commit to strengthening math studies in our school system. By doing so, children in schools will be able to learn the skills they need to be ready for the jobs of the future. Speaker, can the Minister please explain how our government is strengthening math studies in our schools? To apply the Minister of Education. Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to take a moment to thank the member from Thornhill for her exceptional leadership in setting up against anti-Semitism in this province and in her community. Very grateful. Mr. Speaker, now this is a very important question about how we strengthen numeracy skills amongst young people in the province, and we have a plan. I'm proud to confirm to you, Speaker, that we have now hired the full number of math coaches which we doubled right across Ontario. We have completed the hiring of a math lead in every single school board. As per Bill 98, the better schools and student outcomes are all designed to improve accountability and outcomes of students when it comes to math skills. Mr. Speaker, we've now required every board to submit three times a year their math achievement action plan with metrics used to hold the directors and school boards to account to lift outcomes and improve the pathways of young people into STEM careers. We have doctors with us and engineers and so many in this house. We want young people to have the skills they need to succeed in the modern economy and to achieve good-paying jobs here in Ontario. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the minister for his solid work. It's evident that our government is committed to ensuring that students are learning the important skills they need to succeed. The 2022 and 2023 EQAO assessment results are showing an improvement in comparison to the previous years. And these test results demonstrate the positive proof that our government's focus is on the back-to-basics approach. It's working. In fact, with respect to math and literacy as a mother, I can appreciate the test scores. They have increased in both English and French on the school boards across this province. While it's clear that our government is on the right track, we must remain focused on what is most important, ensuring our students receive the best education possible. Speaker, can the minister please elaborate on what action our government is taking to continue to improve academic achievement and the well-being of our students? Minister of Education. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think, first off, there's two key principles, the first of which is if we want to improve student outcomes and the well-being of children in Ontario, then we have to, as legislators, stand up for the right to learn, ensure they stay in school every day, right to June, without disruption. And that's why we signed a deal. We agreed on a deal with OSSTF that ensures 400,000 high school children will be able to have peace in their academic journey for the next three years. Every child deserves that. We're fighting to ensure every child in Catholic and French and public elementary schools get the same stability that our OSSTF children deserve. And, Mr. Speaker, the second premise and the key contrast with members opposite is that we believe as progressive conservators, when it comes to the quality of teachers, that the merit and qualification of new educators should reign, not their seniority in the union. We will always ensure the best educator has the job. We ensure qualification, diversity, and experience are the key attributes when we bring new educators and promote them in Ontario. We'll stand up for the rights of kids, stand up for students, and for parents and children. Thank you. The next question, the member for Niagara Center. Thank you, Speaker, through you to the Premier. The government wants us to believe that their green belt grab was just a sloppy process resulting from negligence and mismanagement. But last week, we learned that it's much worse. The government is under criminal investigation. And that's just one scandal. Now we're starting the process all over again with a new auditor general investigation into this government's many ministerial zoning orders, which municipalities have long said favor the interests of influential land bankers over the interests of the public. Can the Premier tell us if this new auditor general's report will lead to a new criminal investigation? To reply, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Mr. Speaker, I get what the opposition looked. There's no doubt. Look, we made a public policy decision that wasn't supported by the people of the province of Ontario. And for that, we are obviously sorry, and that is why we are returning the lands and bringing forward a new process later on today. But make no mistake about it, Mr. Speaker. I understand what the NDP are trying to do. They are trying to put as many obstacles as they can in the way of building homes. This member himself, in his own community, he sat on a council, he sat on a council, and he could have helped divert the crisis that we're seeing in housing in his own community. Did he do it? No, Mr. Speaker, because for the NDP and the Liberals, it's not about helping people. It's about holding them back so that they can only rely on government. We're different, Mr. Speaker. What we want to do is give the people the power to succeed. And part of that is ensuring that we have 1.5 million homes. I will not stop in that mission, Mr. Speaker. I will remove obstacles, and we, this entire caucus, will get it done for the people of the province of Ontario. A supplementary question. Thank you, Speaker, back to the Premier. The government has issued an unprecedented number of minister zoning orders, which are now being investigated by the Auditor General. By now, we've all heard of Mr. X, who's made a whole career of lobbying the government for these zoning orders, which make his clients rich. But does this lead to more affordable houses? No. With no sunset clause for development permits, these land speculators just sit on properties until they can get the highest price. The green belt grab has led to a criminal investigation. Will the government come clean about the MZO backroom deals, or will they need the RCMP to intervene again? Thank you very much. Mr. Secretary, is there anything else? Very clear that I am in the process of developing a policy that will be a use it or lose it. I have no interest in having developers sit on allocations. But at the same time, perhaps the member can tell me, is it the Innisfil long-term care home that I issued an MZO on that he's unhappy with, or is it the Clarrington long-term care home? Is it the Toronto hospital expansion, which we issued an MZO on that you're unhappy with? Maybe it's the mixed-use housing development in Brampton that you're unhappy with. Or maybe it's the modular homes that the City of Toronto asked us to provide an MZO with. Maybe he's unhappy with that one. Maybe it's the HACS long-term care home. Maybe it's the Mississauga long-term care home. Maybe it's the Toronto mixed-use development that the City of Toronto asked us to develop. Maybe it's the Second Age access to long-term care home. Maybe it's the Aurora long-term care home. Maybe it's the Oakville long-term care home. Maybe it's the Hamilton long-term care home. Maybe it's the Vaughan long-term care home. Maybe it's the Toronto long-term care home. Which of those MZOs, I'll give them the opportunity to stand in this place, which of those are you unhappy with? The next question, Member for Mississauga Air Mills, start the clock. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Long-term Care. For nearly a decade, the previous Liberal government supported by the NDP failed to plan ahead for the needs and the care of our seniors. As a result, only 611 long-term care beds were added across our province and 40,000 Ontarians were left waiting for a place in the long-term care home. The health care needs of Ontario seniors are becoming more complex. That's why our government must act right away to ensure that they receive the quality of care they deserve both now and in the future. Speaker, can the Minister please explain how our government is ensuring that Ontario seniors are receiving the care that they deserve? Minister of Long-term Care. Thank you, Speaker. You know, looking across the way, it looked like the member had a question. I'm glad it's for me this morning. Thank you very much for that. You know, Speaker, the list of shortcomings from the last Liberal government, well, it's a long one, whether it's transit, transportation, building homes, the environment, reducing red tape, affordability, we can go on and on. Speaker, it's also true when it comes to the long-term care sector. In fact, Speaker, the last Premier, Premier Kathleen Wynne, said one of her biggest regrets was not investing more into our seniors in long-term care. This government is doing things differently, but the track record of the Liberal still remains, Speaker. When it came to the four hours of daily care, the Liberals missed that mark by an astonishing hour and 15 minutes when it came to our senior speaker. And we think on this side of the bench, and that government member is there, that our seniors deserve better. That's why we're not only investing a record $10 billion to an expanding capacity when it comes to building you on 58,000 beds, but $4.9 billion to make sure we have the staffing to carry that for our speaker. We're going to take care of our seniors. Thank you. Thank you. Any supplementary questions? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In 2018, we inherited a broken long-term care system, and it's clear from the minister's response that our government is addressing long-standing problems and concerns. It is encouraging to hear that our government is making up for the many years of inaction by the previous Liberal government. Seniors across our province are benefiting from additional investments made by our government. However, more needs to be done and must be done. Ensure that we remain focused on implementing measures that will improve the quality of life for residents in long-term care. Speaker, can the minister please elaborate on what our government's strategies are to increase the amount of direct care provided to residents in long-term care homes? Long-term care. Thank you, Speaker. You know, I was sitting in this chamber when I watched the Liberals and the NDP vote against $4.9 billion to establish that four hours of daily care per resident, a nation-leading standard. Now, Speaker, the member asks an important question. What other updates have been provided? Well, not just an astonishing amount of $10 billion to build those 58,000 new beds, but I'm proud to tell this House that since 2018, 18,000 beds have been completed or under construction today. Speaker, I was just in the Great North from Sudbury to Timmins to Matheson all the way down to Huntsville and Gravenhurst to announce the creation of these brand-new beds led under the leadership of the last minister of long-term care. But, Speaker, the hours of care that we mentioned earlier, let's talk about the Liberal record on this. In nine years, they provided an extra 21 minutes of care per resident. That's like two and a half minutes per resident. Speaker, we did in one year what the Liberals took nine to do, Speaker. We're on track to hit that four hours of daily care. Our seniors took care of us. This government is going to take care of them. Next question, Mr. Freemier. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Five years after they paid deposits for new homes, my constituents are being held hostage by a developer. They do not even have a timeline for construction, let alone a new home. Despite multiple appeals, they have gotten no help from this government. On June 8th, I hand delivered a letter to the Premier asking him to meet with my constituents and hear their stories. They're still waiting for a response, but they are here today in the gallery to hear directly from the Premier. Will he meet with them? Yes or no? Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Government Services. Mr. Speaker, our Premier, the Honourable Doug Ford, is second to none in terms of his outreach to the citizens of this province, his availability to meet with and communicate with all of our citizens. And in that sense, he stands as one of the great premiers of the Province of Ontario with that kind of representation. But I do want to say specifically to this question, Mr. Speaker, that this government vowed to stop bad actors from trying to make extra money off the backs of hardworking Ontarians, which is why we announced new changes that strengthen the regulatory tools available to directly address this issue. So the Home Construction Regulatory Authority is one of 12 administrative authorities under the jurisdiction of by ministry, and we will work with that administrative authority, with that administrative authority rather, to make sure that bad actors are stopped in their tracks. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. You're all welcome to be here. Thank you very much. I don't even respond to our request from a meeting isn't just second to one, it's second to a lot of people. It's been five years and the ground hasn't even been prepared for building. 26 months and counting since a complaint was filed with the HRA and no action. The Premier said he doesn't support bad developers, but time and time again his actions suggest otherwise. When are we going to see real measures to hold bad developers accountable? Good question. Government, is this services? Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker, through you our government has heard this and many stories of Ontario home buyers getting ripped off. The member opposite has a lot to say about helping Ontarians, but when push comes to shove, the members opposite choose to play politics rather than vote for real supports for Ontarians. They voted against stronger consumer protections for new home buyers. They voted against high fines for bad developers and they voted against providing families across the province with the supports they need to purchase a new home. We'll take no lessons from this gang opposite us. Next question, order. The member for Grandford Grant. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Solicitor General. Across Ontario, police services are experiencing a substantial increase in mental health-related calls. Many situations are complex and call for resources that go beyond what police officers may be able to provide and responding to an incident where an individual is in distress. Individuals who are experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis need specialized assistance. They may also need to be connected to healthcare and to community supports. That is why our government must do all that we can to help those most in need no matter where they live in the province of Ontario. Speaker, can the Solicitor General please explain what our government is doing to help our frontline officers in supporting people who are experiencing a mental health crisis? Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I want to thank my colleague from Grandford Grant for everything that he does for his community and standing up against hate. I want to thank our first responders who keep our community safe every day. That's why our government is working to provide our police with the tools and resources they need to do every day. And we're investing more than $4.5 million to help police services provide specialized support to people who are experiencing a mental health or addiction crisis. The mobile crisis response teams, the M-SERTS enhancement grant enables police to do work with trained crisis workers when responding to those in need. These crisis workers help deescalate distressed situations. And in the end of the day, Mr. Speaker, everyone that keeps Ontario safe will know and do know that our government will always have their backs. Supplementary question. Thank you, Speaker. And thank you, Minister, for that response. And it is evident, Speaker, from the Solicitor General's response that our government is committed to helping our frontline officers support people who are experiencing a mental health crisis. Investments into mobile crisis response teams will go a long way to helping to improve safety and care for individuals who are in distress. The reality is that these situations are affecting all communities, large and small, rural and urban. We need to ensure that investments by our government are reaching all regions of Ontario. Speaker, can the Solicitor General please elaborate on how funding for mobile crisis response teams is being allocated and how their work will translate into improved outcomes? Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And again, I wish to thank my colleague. And I've seen this for myself. I've seen the good work that our first responders do in Sault Ste. Marie, in Hamilton, in Perth and in Peel, as examples. The work these teams are doing is evident that our investments are making a difference in keeping Ontario safe. And, Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to say that our recent announcement includes investments to 39 police services, both municipal and OPP, and in all regions of Ontario. We will always have the backs of everyone that keeps Ontario safe. Mr. Speaker, we are making investments to fight crime and to ensure security of our communities. And, Mr. Speaker, we will continue to do so. We continue to do what's hard to ensure security in Ontario. Thank you. Next question. Remember from the school to what James did. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, to the Premier. It's hard for workers in Ontario every month. They see that the cost of life is more expensive and public services decrease. They are exhausted. They need a government that helps us, but instead they see a government that is involved in scandals. Speaker of the revelation of the scandal about the green belt regarding $8 billion is too much. They need a response. Can the Premier confirm why his government is being investigated? Look, the member will know that we made a public policy decision that was not supported by the people of the province of Ontario. And that is why we are presenting legislation later on today to return those lands to the green belt. The member asks why we brought a decision like that for it. Well, principally because we want to build 1.5 million homes for the people of the province of Ontario. And that includes in his own writing. I've actually been heartened by the responses that I'm getting from Northern Ontario thanks to the hard work of the Minister of Northern Development who is telling me and communities, frankly, reaching out to me saying that they want to participate in building homes for their communities, Mr. Speaker. They're seeing jobs coming back to their communities and they want to participate in that. Now it is true that the member opposite voted against, for instance, mining act changes that would have brought even more jobs and opportunity to this community. But I can say to him and the people in his writing, we won't let them down. We'll continue to work towards improving that economy and building homes for the people in his writing as well. Mr. Speaker, that's a question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Speaker. It's impressive to see that they cannot reply. I can tell you, thank you, Speaker. This Premier, he declared, the Speaker declared, that his party will not prioritize this as the liberal made, but they protected their friends. Five years later, Ford and his government are being investigated by the real Canadian police. Again, to the Premier, how can Ontarians trust their government when their government is being investigated is the subject of a criminal investigation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Look, we have started right from the beginning back in 2018 to focus on the priorities of the people of the province of Ontario. This is an NDP party that kept the liberals in power when they called the North basically a wasteland, when they stopped investments from being made there. This is an NDP that supported that. So the member who asked the question from Northern Ontario sits in a caucus that once called his region a wasteland, a no man's land that people should not invest in. Well, you know what, Mr. Speaker? The people of Northern Ontario return more progressive concern as to this legislature following that election. But this member, he doubled down, right? He doubled down. He voted against the Mining Act changes that would bring more jobs and opportunity to his community, Mr. Speaker. He voted against legislation that would bring more housing to his community, Mr. Speaker. So I say to the member of this, I know you're going to get up in your place and every single day vote against the people of the province of Ontario. But fear not, we have the members from Northern Ontario in this caucus who will stand up for the Northern Ontario. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. Great. A few weeks ago, we raised a survivor's flag here at Queen's Park. And we recently observed the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as we all paid respect and honored residential school survivors. Indigenous leaders have been clear that the intergenerational impacts of the residential schools program continue to affect the mental health of their communities across the province. Our government's $3.8 billion roadmap to wellness is rebuilding and strengthening the mental health and addiction system to expand health services and supports. However, we know that Indigenous peoples and communities have faced many barriers to accessing safe, effective mental health and addictions care. Speaker, can the Associate Minister please explain how our government is supporting Indigenous communities in Ontario with the mental health care and services that they need? Thank you. Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the member opposite for that important question. Over the past few years, it's been an absolute privilege for me to be able to work so closely alongside Minister of Indigenous Affairs and so many Indigenous leaders and communities across the province to discuss how our government can help improve mental health and addictions outcomes for Indigenous people throughout the province of Ontario. Trauma-informed care, low barrier addictions medicine, services closer to home and culturally safe and appropriate care are critical to ensure that we have the system that works for everyone. And these are things that I've consistently heard from members throughout the province of Ontario. I'm proud to say that through the $7 million investment, we will be funding new land and water-based healing programs in First Nations communities across the province, from Kettle and Stony Point in the South to Kisheshwan in the North and points beyond working to ensure Indigenous people struggling with mental health and addictions issues have the care and access they need wherever they are in the province of Ontario. Thank you. Thank you very much. For being no further business this morning, this House stands in recess until 1 PM.