 It is now time for oral questions. I recognize the leader of His Majesty's loyal opposition. Thank you, Speaker. We know that last week's budget failed to meet the moment that we're in. But the more you dig into this, the worse it gets. Hidden in the back pages of the latest budget, they've snuck in billions of cuts to services that people rely on. My question is to the Premier. Will he explain why his government buried $6 billion in cuts at a time when the people of this province are really struggling? To apply the Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, thank you to the member opposite for that question through you. Mr. Speaker, I don't know. You look at the budget. Let's look at the numbers. I'm a numbers guy. The increase in the budget to $204.7 billion includes a $6 billion increase to health care spending right next year. That's an 8.1% increase. That's an increase. I don't know. Secondly, education, which includes childcare funding. It includes funding for catch-up. It includes funding for mental health. It includes funding for literacy. And a whole range of things, more funding per pupil as the Minister of Education has highlighted, is going up $2.3 billion. That's 7.1%, Mr. Speaker. I'm looking at numbers. That's a good response. Now maybe their world looks at numbers very differently, but I'm looking at the facts. The supplementary question. Let's talk about the facts. And let's talk about priorities. Because budgets are about priorities. And what we're seeing is that this government has the wrong priorities. Perhaps the members over on the government side should take a second look because they are making cuts. They should check out page 150 of the budget book, which reveals this government is cutting funds to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, cuts to tourism culture and sport, cuts to Francophone affairs, cuts to agriculture. Will the Premier again explain why these cuts will mean what these cuts are going to mean for homelessness programs, for the Ontario Arts Council, for local transit and for bilingual services? Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, clearly the budget focused on lifting up everybody in Ontario. Everybody, everybody. All 15.4 million people almost in this province. And Mr. Speaker, that increase in population underscores why we have a sense of urgency on this side of the house to get things done, Mr. Speaker, because we have a housing shortage, a housing crisis in Ontario. We don't have enough hospitals, long-term care facilities. And in fact, you mentioned homelessness. Thank you for raising that. Very important point. What did we do last week? We increased funding for homelessness by $240 million. A record increase for people who need a hand up, Mr. Speaker. Because, Mr. Speaker, we're not going to let down the people coming to this province, nor are we going to let down the people in this province. Speaker, all you have to do is look at their expenses from this year and compare them to what's actually in the budget. Speaker, it's not just a difference in reporting. It's a shell game. This government is hiding cuts that are going to eliminate services at a time when people really need them. And that's not right. They're cutting funds to the Attorney General, to infrastructure, to transportation, to seniors and accessibility, and cuts to the Solicitor General. Speaker, back to the Premier. What's that going to mean for Ontarians who are waiting for healthcare, who are at the Glamlord and Tenant Board, who are looking for legal aid and home care programs? Minister, if it is. Mr. Speaker, only NDP math could come to that conclusion. The base programs have increased from $175 billion to $190 billion. And do you know why, Mr. Speaker? Because we are investing in the people of Ontario, Mr. Speaker. We're investing over $15 billion of new funding, new money over the next three years for healthcare, Mr. Speaker. Why don't you go talk to the OMA, go talk to the OHA, go talk to the CMHA, look it up. These are organizations that deliver acute care, mental health care, home and community care, long-term care. Mr. Speaker, they all said, thank you to the government. We're hitting the priorities that the people of Ontario need and want. Thank you. The next question. The member for Kiwetnaw. Miigwech. The next question is to the premier. This government has granted thousands of mining claims on treaty territory and is trying to fast-track dangerous projects against the will of the people who live there, eat the fish and drink the water. Look in the gallery and you will see leadership and over-aided first nations who are here to stand up for their homelands. Speaker, will this government commit today to obtain the consent of first nations before making any plans for their homelands? Minister of Indigenous Affairs. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the honourable member for his question and welcome members from the isolated northern communities. You know, Mr. Speaker, from the outset our government has been focused on consensus and relationship building, Mr. Speaker, when it comes to resource projects and legacy infrastructure. In fact, it started a couple of years ago. I know that Alvin Fidler is in the galleries here today and I think back to the member from Renfrew Nipissing Pembroke when he was the minister of natural resources and forestry and we revamped that piece of legislation to reflect consensus. I appreciated that then, the ability for us to sit at a table, build partnerships and friendships, relationships that reflect the need to build out our northern infrastructure and resource projects around consensus. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary question? Speaker, that type of response means that they do not care about first nations rights. Speaker, the government says it respects first nations but people here tell me that this government has granted thousands of mining claims in their backyards without prior notice that alone consent. How does that show respect for the people who have always lived there and cared for their lands? Will this government again today to end the antiquated and offensive free entry staking system? We are focused on building relationships under the leadership of this premier. We meet very regularly with indigenous leaders from across this province. In fact, regularly with the chiefs of Ontario, their grand chiefs, etc. Those meetings are focused on building consensus. They are about ensuring that resources extracted from Northern Ontario are distributed fairly and most importantly under the resource-revenue sharing agreements to ensure that indigenous communities are involved in the benefits of those kinds of resource activities. It is not just for the financial benefits of the resource projects, in many instances, in fact all of our resource-revenue sharing participation from indigenous leadership in the responsible management of those resources, Mr. Speaker. So we want to continue down that course. We think this provides a balanced, fair way for indigenous communities to derive benefits from those resource activities, Mr. Speaker. Have their say in how and why they're developed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Here are the final supplementary. Speaker, we are not communities. We are actually nations. Yes. Speaker, this government says it wants prosperity for all Ontarians. But let me be clear, these five First Nations who traveled thousands of kilometers to be here are the ones that have to live up, live with the mess that is left behind after mining. Their children, their grandchildren will have to drink the water downstream from these mines. Will this government promise today to gain their agreement rather than bulldozing over their lands and waters? Better yet? Well, today, the premier meet with these leaders today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What our government will continue to put a priority on is the shared and common interests about transforming Northern Ontario, Mr. Speaker, to a place where not only people benefit from the economic opportunities, the largest sub-sovereign state environmental policy, I think that could be advanced anywhere, is through mining critical minerals, Mr. Speaker, but the legacy infrastructure that's required to support it. Many, if not most of the communities that are represented here today, I've had a special opportunity to live in or work in work for, Mr. Speaker, and I can tell you, they all want better infrastructure. They all, for the most part, want road access to improve the health, social and economic opportunities for their communities. That's what a provincial government does, Mr. Speaker. We create the platforms for these kinds of resource activities to advance responsibly and safely at the same time creating new opportunities, real opportunities for isolated communities that their members are asking me for every single day, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much. Next question, the member for Ottawa Centre. Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Premier. This... No consent, no re-enactment. I would ask our guests who are in the gallery to refrain from this outburst or you'll be asked to leave. We're pleased to have guests visiting us in the legislature but there could be no outbursts from the galleries or we wouldn't be able to comport ourselves in the way that we need to do our business. Where are we? Member for Ottawa Centre. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Premier. Speaker, this week, Global News revealed that the government is withholding information about the Ontario Line Transit Project, a public-private partnership which is skyrocketed past the government's original cost estimates from $10.9 billion to $19 billion. Yesterday, the Premier said we aren't hiding anything but his officials have redacted documents so financial disclosure on the Ontario Line is impossible for people from Global News. Speaker, simple question. Why won't this government disclose the financial costs of the Ontario Line? Mr. Transportation. Thank you, Speaker. Well, in the early days of our first mandate, the Premier laid out our government's plan to build badly needed transit in the Greater Toronto Area and that includes the signature New Ontario Line. Since those early days, Mr. Speaker, we've taken our responsibility to taxpayers very seriously and that's why our government passed with no help from that member or the members of the opposition because we know, Mr. Speaker, that time is money. But in addition to being able to deliver value for taxpayers, we also need to have a competitive procurement process which is why our government decided to break up the procurement for the Ontario Line into three separate packages. As we refined estimates for those packages, Mr. Speaker, they were commercially sensitive but as soon as those contracts were posted online with their values. The South Civil's valued at $6 billion, Mr. Speaker, and a contract for the rolling stock systems and operations and maintenance valued at $9 billion. The member of the opposition wants to talk about a lot of transparency but we have delivered this in the dark. A supplementary question. Thank you, Speaker. I would tell the Premier and the Minister if she will respond to the second question I have here that you can't have this as what we know. We know the southern portion of the Ontario Line as the government's currently proposed is going to cost nearly $1 billion per kilometre. Nearly a billion. But the Spadina Subway extension that was completed in 2017 cost $384 million per kilometre. So what's happened? And we can't simply blame the Pandemic Speaker because in April 2020 reported that subway costs had doubled and infrastructure Ontario are a lot of public-private partnership consultants former staff members of this government that seem to be enriching themselves at the expense of the Ontario public. So I ask the Premier, are you going to reign in these private consultants, these pethy financiers and get our subway costs under control? Mr. Transportation. Mr. Speaker, we've been clear as soon as contracts are awarded the values of those contracts are posted they're publicly available for anyone, for taxpayers and global news to examine as they wish. What I know Mr. Speaker is that member opposite and that party of the opposition parties will do anything to make sure that we don't build transit in the greater Toronto area. Mr. Speaker, we put out the largest transit expansion plan anywhere in North America and that party voted against it. Mr. Speaker, we brought forward measures to prevent the delivery of transit because we know we had to address the transit deficit that was left by the previous Liberal government who could not get transit in the city of Toronto built. We brought that forward and what did they do Mr. Speaker? They all voted against it. Mr. Speaker, it's clear that this is why they are in opposition Mr. Speaker, because not only are they against transit, they're against building it faster, it's clear that they don't even know how to get it built. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Economic Development Job Creation and Trade. My riding of Carlton is home to a number of manufacturers that continue to make investments in cutting edge technology to stay ahead of the global competition. Manufacturers like LTR Industries which I visited with the Minister Fortran Steel and Marathon Underground which is Canada's leading specialty underground contractor located in the great community of Pirelli. Mr. Speaker, these manufacturers are the life blood of not just communities in Carlton but across the province. But these investments are both expensive and risky and we know that business owners know that success is not always guaranteed. Through you, will the Minister please explain how our government continues creating the conditions for manufacturing businesses in Carlton and across the province grow and succeed? Thank you. Mr. Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. It wasn't that long ago that companies were fleeing Ontario. 300,000 manufacturing jobs were lost and our economic future was teetering. Thankfully, the Government of Premier Ford was elected and declared Ontario open for business. Taxes were lowered. Energy rates lowered and the burden of red tape was reduced. This brought companies pouring back to Ontario and now with Budget 2023 there is even more great news about Ontario manufacturers. The Ontario made manufacturing investment tax credit. If passed it will provide companies with a 10% tax credit up to $2 million a year on investments in buildings, equipment and machinery. Those companies will innovate become competitive and create even more great jobs for our families. A supplementary question. Thank you Mr. Speaker and through you, thank you to the minister for his answer. The minister noted that the government's plan is working. Ontario has more jobs than ever and the string of landmark investments is reverberating around the world. That's right the world is taking notice. We cannot let this momentum slow down as investors look to safe and reliable jurisdictions like Ontario to set up shop and expand their businesses. Mr. Speaker through you, will the minister collaborate on the plan to build Ontario's economy and how this is benefiting the province's manufacturers. Thank you. Mr. Speaker Ontario is again known as the world-wide best place for manufacturers to invest, grow and create jobs. By reducing the cost of doing business by $8 billion annually through lowering hydro cost, cutting taxes and reducing red tape we've seen businesses create 600,000 new jobs since we were elected and with the new Ontario made manufacturing investment tax credit which will provide $780 million in support over the next three years we know there will be more investment more innovation and more jobs. Thousands of manufacturing jobs have been reshored back to Ontario and this additional tax credit is the next big move in ensuring Ontario has everything a company needs to succeed. Thank you. Next question for Hamilton. Thank you Mr. Speaker, my question is for the premier. We've seen a scary trend in Hamilton of not-for-profit service providers closing their doors due to budget constraints. The Hamilton branch of the Elizabeth Fry Society is the latest organization to announce their closure. One volunteer said this is very distressing and sad news. The service provided by eFry are so amazing and it is sad to think that all of these women who now have no support as they grow through court systems and try to get back on their feet. What's happening in Hamilton is clear. It's a clear example of the direct consequences of this budget behind. Can the premier explain where are the supports in this budget for programs like Elizabeth Fry and Hamilton? Well Mr. Speaker and I want to thank the member for the question. Let me be clear. There has been no changes to the funding for our community safety order programs. We continue to support women who are at risk of reoffending. The John Howard Society is delivering services in Hamilton, Niagara and the Branford region and our ministry continues to work closely with community service providers across the province in the delivery of community service support and programs. Mr. Speaker I'll be clear again. We support the women who are at risk of offending and this is a priority and the services will be conducted out in this region by the John Howard Society. Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. Things are bad in our jails and have gotten much worse at Vania Center for Women and Hamilton Wentworth Detention Center because the Solicitor General is not honoring the original contracts with the Elizabeth Fry Society. It has had devastating consequences. Instead of having program support when dealing with sexual assault or human trafficking women and gender diverse inmates are handed crossword puzzles to deal with their trauma while incarcerated that followed them into the community and now they get a crossword. So my question is will you negotiate a contract with Elizabeth Fry and will you stop your ugly attack on women and recommit programs funding? Language Mr. General I want to thank the member opposite and I said it in my first reply there's been no changes to the funding for our community safety order programs but the Elizabeth Fry Society was not the successful applicant to deliver the community services there. It was the John Howard Society and I want to say it again we will continue to support women who are at risk of reoffending. Member for Chatham Kent Leamington Thank you, Speaker. My question is to this Listener General the state of violence in our streets and communities is increasing daily people are concerned and with more and more stories of random attacks is the reason to be. The day to day lives of individuals and families are being impacted by criminal activity charting them and their loved ones. Everyone in this legislature needs to take this matter seriously and we need to work together to support those on the front lines who are responding to these violent attacks. It's wrong for the leader of the opposition to say that advocating for more frontline police officers is considered out of touch. What is our government doing to support our frontline officers and people encountering these attacks? Good question. Listener General Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank our great member from Chatham Kent Leamington and for the great work he is doing in his community. No words are adequate to console the family who recently lost their son Gabriel to senseless violence that we mourn and everyone in this House should agree that violence on transit or anywhere is unacceptable. The level of impunity is sickening. The behaviour lacks basic civility and that's why on this side of the House we continue to support our men and women in uniform and due to the work they do and because of the work they do they need our support and not contempt from their profession that we see from ranks in the opposition. All our provincial college all our provincial college agree that the federal government must introduce bail reform now to reinstate law and order in this country and we urge Minister Mendocino and Minister LaMetti to do it now so we have Thank you. Thank you. We start the clock. Supplementary question. Thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you Minister for that response. Uniform police officer I'm so proud of the accomplishments achieved by my fellow officers in the line of duty. We put our lives in a line every day in service to our communities and to our province. Sadly we've lost good women and men while responding to horrific incidents while serving to protect individuals and families. It's disheartening to hear members from the official opposition call for defunding and abolishing police services. In light of this growing concern about violence in our communities we need to support the work undertaken by our officers and provide them with resources they need. Speaker can the solicitor general please reiterate what his and our government support to our dedicated frontline police officers and the work they do. Thank you Mr. Speaker and thanks again from the member from the member from Chatham and Leamington. For this government nothing is more important than our public safety and we understand that our police services across our province are the frontline that keep Ontario safe and we're fed up with calls from the opposition that we should abolish and defund the police. This is not the policy of our government and what we saw yesterday were more excuses from the opposition in their call to defund and abolish the police. On this side of the house we have one message we have the backs of everyone that keeps us safe today and every day and Mr. Speaker we will do everything we need to do to help keep Ontario safe. Thank you Speaker the government's so-called plan to address a doctor is not working. My constituent Sue Lee has been on the wait list with healthcare connect to a family doctor. Her son has a disability and without completed forms from a doctor they cannot access the disability tax credit program. The government has announced 8,000 new doctors. How many of these new doctors are operating in the London region? Premier and Minister of Health Thank you Speaker you know since 2018 we've actually had 1,800 new positions practicing in the province of Ontario and we need to do more and we are doing more. Of course we are doing in the short term we've already directed the College of Physicians and Surgeons to expedite, review and ultimately approve and license internationally educated physicians who want to practice in the province of Ontario of course with Bill 60 if the member opposite supports Bill 60 she will see that there is an as of right that allows physicians who are practicing in other parts of in other Canadian jurisdictions able to begin practicing in Ontario immediately while their license is transferred to the CPSO. You know we are doing so many things and I am very happy to share some of the longer term plans that we have in this office. Another constituent of mine has been on the waiting list for years on health connect he recently suffered a cardiac episode the hospital was able to prescribe medicine he says that has helped greatly but without a family doctor he could not get the renewal of this medicine his mental and physical health have made it hard to maintain steady employment and without a primary care provider he feels that there is little hope for the future. Referring people to health care connect is not a solution referring them to another long wait list is not a solution. When will this government take real action for effective timely referrals to family doctors and not get put on the health care I am going to call it disconnect Mr. Health Thank you and I hope the member opposite is also highlighting some of the other pathways to assist her constituent including community health centers that operate in 75 locations across Ontario but you know we have had the largest expansion of undergraduate and postgraduate education in over 10 years and that is before we open two new medical facilities in Scarborough absolutely seized with understanding and actioning what we see as we see an increased an aging population in the province of Ontario you have a government that is making the plans and implementing the plans to expand all health care practitioners not just physicians thank you Next question The member for Durham Thank you Mr. Speaker My question is for the Minister of Energy Ontario's clean electricity system is a major selling point when companies are looking to invest and grow their businesses thanks to the hard work and leadership of the premier and many ministers in our government Ontario is attracting tens of billions of dollars in new investments like Volkswagen, Stellantis, Humacore and others our government's commitment to the economy and the jobs needed for the future is grounded in the values of sustainability responsibility and cooperation under the previous Liberal government reckless policies excessive red tape and mismanagement drove manufacturing jobs out of our province I understand the Minister of Energy is developing more strategies to encourage jobs and growth in Ontario Can the Minister please describe one of the measures that will increase Ontario's competitive advantage Minister of Energy Thanks very much Mr. Speaker and thanks to the member from Ontario's clean energy capital of the Durham region for the question this morning I was pleased to join another member from that Durham caucus at Toronto Metropolitan University this morning to announce that Ontario is leveraging our world class electricity grid by launching a voluntary clean energy credit registry this registry is going to help boost competitiveness and attract jobs to Ontario helping businesses meet their environmental and sustainability goals and we know global businesses are looking to expand in jurisdictions like Ontario with clean and reliable electricity along with well trained workforce which we have thanks to Toronto Metropolitan University and competitive tax credits which we have thanks to the Minister of Finance and an exemplary R&D ecosystem and clean energy in the province the credit registry announced this morning is just one more reason for those big companies that the member mentioned to continue investing in Ontario Thank you Mr. Speaker and I thank the Minister for his answers it is great news indeed that our government is taking action and utilizing Ontario's clean energy advantage to help us attract even more major investments I am aware that competing jurisdictions in the United States including New York and Texas currently offer clean energy credits for sale it is a positive step that our province has leveled the playing field and is demonstrating optimism about new opportunities for the future that will help build a strong Ontario Mr. Speaker can the Minister please describe how clean energy credits will benefit Ontario's electricity grid Ontario's economy and Ontario's environment Mr. Energy matter of fact I can thanks again to the member all types of businesses including those in the automotive sector are placing a greater emphasis on corporate environmental goals to use 100% clean or renewable energy and this registry announced this morning means those businesses are going to have one more tool to meet those commitments and demonstrate that their electricity has been sourced from clean resources and we had the folks from Bruce Power here earlier this morning as well they've got a great medical isotope announcement that James Scaniac is making later today as well proceeds from this credit registry these sales are going to go into the newly established future clean energy electricity fund Mr. Speaker and that means we're going to be reinvesting that money in Ontario for new clean energy projects Mr. Speaker that are only going to make our grid greener make our grid more reliable and drive down electricity costs for the people of Ontario next question Member for Thunder Bay Superior North Thank you Speaker in my riding of Thunder Bay Superior North parents of children with autism face years of uncertainty because they can't access a diagnosis then they wait many more years because they can't access treatment dollars and that's if they can find a service provider remotely close to where they live with not even a mention of the word autism in the budget Minister what will your government do to make diagnostic and clinical services available to parents in Northwestern Ontario now so that their children are not missing out on crucial early years of support Mr. Children Community and Social Services Well thank you very much Speaker and thanks to my honourable colleague for the very important question Mr. Speaker Youth may be a percentage of our population but they're 100% of our future Mr. Speaker and that's why when it comes to the program that the member is referring to if you just go back to 2018 when we formed government Mr. Speaker out of the 31,500 children and youth that were registered the 1,500 were actually receiving service. Fast forward to today Mr. Speaker not only have we doubled the funding of the Ontario autism program Mr. Speaker now 40,000 are now receiving funding Mr. Speaker the new programs that the families have access to have expanded sort of core services that include applied behavioural analysis speech language pathology occupational therapy and for the first time mental health services but there's still more work to do that's why the premier entrusted me with this position and I will do everything I can to make sure Thank you I've heard from parents that that 40,000 number refers to one off grants and really does not address the key problems that parents are facing when providers are not available locally therapy dollars go to travel leaving less money for treatment Adriana had to quit her job in Manitouage and live with her son in Thunder Bay for months so that he could access essential therapy once completed and Adriana and her son moved back home they had to travel back and forth 4 hours each way to continue receiving therapy in Thunder Bay will the government provide incentives to bring practitioners to our region and whenever distance is a factor provide travel grants so that all autistic children can access timely diagnoses and treatments Thank you Thank you very much Mr. Speaker with Adriana or every single member that requires service Mr. Speaker as I mentioned yesterday when you live in the best province in the greatest country in the world it's the people that makes us so great and that's why we can't leave anyone behind that's exactly why we continuously looking at ways to make sure that we support every single person that needs it especially Mr. Speaker including those in need of support which is why I said I'm proud of the record of this government that doubled the funding of the Ontario Autism program it was Mr. Speaker to more than two thirds of the youth and children that were waiting on the wait list had absolutely no chance at service now Mr. Speaker as I said 8500 before now more than 40,000 40,000 are receiving support and Mr. Speaker once again as I promised the member and every single family in this province will continuously looking at ways to make sure that every children, every youth every family is supported and we don't leave anyone behind Next question the member for Scarborough Guildwood My question is to the Minister of Education following the most difficult three years in recent memory last Thursday's budget was an opportunity to address a wide range of issues that our students, teachers and parents are facing and they've been facing these issues for years instead this government introduced a record $204 billion budget $0.7 billion budget spending and somehow managed to come up well short when it comes to supporting our students so now the FAO is predicting a $6 billion shortfall in education over the next few years and with our schools facing a $16.8 billion repair backlog education has been left out in the cold Speaker Ontario students are dealing with the negative impacts of a pandemic made worse by the underfunding and under spending so why is this government changing education again at a time when students needs are at their all time high Order Minister of Education to reply Mr. Speaker I'm very proud to confirm that since the formal liberals were in power our government has increased investment in public education by 27% a massive increase of investment Mr. Speaker the member opposite has systematically opposed every single increase of investment they voted consecutively to oppose an increase of staff by 7000 education workers and 100 more teachers they opposed the hiring of 200 more principals we just added $16 billion to renew and rebuild schools after they crumbled after the cuts of the former liberal government the closure of 600 schools which families today continue to put a price up we have a plan focused on getting kids back on track through modern schools a modern curriculum an increase of investment you can count on our premier to continue to deliver that for the kids of this province Mr. Speaker the supplementary question Thank you speaker and back to the minister you know we're very grateful that the federal government provided supports to our schools during the pandemic and we know that those supports are well needed we still are facing the effects of COVID-19 on young people and we know the reports of students suffering from mental health and anxiety and they require this support the boards are now facing the need to go back to pre-pandemic staffing levels at a time when the need is still there let's focus on our students with autism students with acceptionalities and students with special needs we need to ensure that our school boards have enough resources so that these students that require additional supports have it when they need it Mr. Speaker we know that strengthening Ontario's public education system is a key driver of success in Ontario and it must be available to all students why is this government short changing school boards at a time when they need it now Mr. Speaker if only the member opposite brought the same energy when she was minister of education opposed to her mayoralty campaign maybe kids wouldn't be so behind in this province but Mr. Speaker we are committed to getting kids back on track we just unveiled the budget $2.3 billion increase overall $1.3 billion in baseline funding increase to help the very children in Scarborough and in communities across this province a plan to strengthen literacy $25 million the only jurisdiction to screen every child senior kindergarten to grade 2 in the nation doubling math coaches by an additional $30 million so we improve numeracy skills and in the minister of finances budget a specific increase commitment to strengthen financial literacy in the classroom this is going to leave a legacy and help kids get back on track thank you the next question the member for Windsor to come see thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the minister of labour immigration training and skills development across the province and particularly my rotting Windsor to come see it is evident that our government is working hard to build Ontario for the next generation many construction projects are underway across the region the pile driving we're hearing across the rotting says it all local investments are driving a number of initiatives with the investments made by our government for employers and for infrastructure projects there's a lot of activity taking place that will help our neighbourhoods of Windsor to come see succeed however in order to see these projects through to completion we need to make sure that we have the people to do the work Speaker can the minister please explain what actions our government is taking to attract more workers to the construction sector Minister of labour immigration training and skills development I want to thank the member from Windsor to come see for being such a strong voice for the people of Windsor here at Queen's Park our government under the leadership of Premier Ford has an ambitious plan to build the projects that families need including in Windsor our construction workers are true heroes for making our province stronger every day and we need more of them alone there are more than 11,000 jobs open at the end of 2022 that's why our government is rolling out new employment services to help more people find good jobs like those in construction jobs with defined pensions and benefits where people can raise a family around Speaker we've also increased funding to our pre-apprenticeship programs to help interested job seekers try the construction trades and see which one is the best fit for them we're doing so much more Speaker forward to the follow-up question thank you supplementary question thank you Speaker thank you to the minister for that response and as you know I love Windsor and to come see it's encouraging that under the leadership of the Premier and this minister our province has a robust plan to tackle the urgent shortage of workers in the construction trades the communities of southwestern Ontario are counting on our government to implement measures that will help skilled trades skilled trade workers so that important construction projects can get started and completed Ontario needs workers even more so workers are needed now we need to reverse long held notions about the trades and the construction industry to encourage more people to pursue them as full-time careers Speaker can the minister please explain what investments our government is making to provide support for individuals in the construction industry Minister of Labour I can't think of a member from the Windsor region that has delivered so much for the city of Windsor in the history of this legislation we think of a brand new hospital that's going to be built the Windsor regional hospital we think of the brand new Stalantis plant that's being built in Windsor so congratulations to the member from Windsor to come see for his leadership we're making targeted investments in projects that are building a stronger Ontario for all of us over the past three years we've invested more than $660 million in our skills development fund to get more people into the skilled trades through our pre-apprenticeship program we've invested $660,000 for women's enterprise skills training of Windsor to train women for well-paying and in-demand work in the electrical trades and the program also includes paid placements childcare and transit passes these are life-changing opportunities to build stronger families and stronger communities for all of us next question the member for our local belt my question is for the minister of Labour the NDP is reintroducing for the 16 time anti-scab labour legislation anti-scab labour legislation is based on strikes and lockouts shorter and it protects vulnerable workers the government keeps saying that they're working for workers well they have a labour bill in front of this house right now they can take real action to protect vulnerable workers to protect workers' rights will the minister tell the hard working workers in the gallery right now if he will bring anti-scab labour law to Ontario now Mr. Speaker I'm proud of our government's work under the leadership of Premier Ford to support workers in every community across the province that's why we've introduced three pieces of legislation working for workers one working for workers two and now we have a third piece of legislation in front of us the party opposite when did you get lost when did you abandon workers in this province for example we hired more than 100 new health and safety inspectors in the province do you know who said no it was the NDP that voted to not strengthen health and safety in this province but we'll continue working every single day for all the workers in this province Mr. Speaker thank you Mr. Speaker the minister really did a good job of avoiding actually answering the question Windsor Salt workers are here today members of Unifor locals 240 and 1959 they've been on strike for 40 days fighting the outsourcing of their jobs by U.S. based holding company Stone Canyon Industries these workers and every other worker in Ontario deserve to have their rights and jobs protected since the legislation has been tabled 16 times to support anti-scab labour legislation and they didn't you can't honestly say you're working for workers and vote against anti-scab legislation it just doesn't jive Windsor Salt workers and workers across Ontario want to know will the premier stand up for collective bargaining rights stand up for workers and finally pass anti-scab legislation no more rhetoric look right at those workers and tell them yes or well through you Mr. Speaker I can tell those workers Windsor Salt they are true heroes in their communities I know they're building a stronger Windsor for the community there but Mr. Speaker I can tell you that our government has sent a clear message to Windsor Salt we've been in many discussions with Unifor over the past a number of weeks we want to deal at the table Mr. Speaker 98% of all deals in the province of Ontario are done at the table we want a good deal a fair deal for those Windsor Salt workers and Mr. Speaker we know they're out there at the table and we want them to get a deal as quickly as possible next question the member for Oakville North Burlington thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the minister of children community and social services and I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate the minister on his new portfolio children and youth in the child welfare system face barriers throughout their lives we recognize that youth leaving foster care often struggle with educational achievement, unemployment homelessness, early parenthood and may get caught up in the criminal justice system it is important that our government supports youth leaving care so they can have the same opportunities as their peers the current system needs to change so that youth get the skills and the brighter future for themselves can the minister please explain what actions our government is taking to strengthen supports for young people transitioning out of the child welfare system good job minister of children, community and social services Mr. Speaker and I want to thank the wonderful and hardworking member from Oakville North Burlington for the great question and the great work that she does for her riding Mr. Speaker our government's new youth leaving care policy and program is the most bold and innovative approach ever taken Mr. Speaker by any government to support youth leaving care it is an evidence informed investment in bright futures for youth as it has heard on budget day Mr. Speaker our government is investing $68 million with continuing funding this investment Mr. Speaker will provide greater financial support so youth can find safe housing a longer runway for youth until the age of 23 incentives for youth to participate in post-secondary with an additional bursary of $500 a month and future economic stability through employment savings of up to 40 hours per week without clawbacks Mr. Speaker now many of these spots have traumatic personal histories and disrupted family lives Mr. Speaker and that's why they deserve a fair chance and adult life and we'll have a good day Mr. Speaker thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you to the minister for that response it is encouraging that this government is addressing the needs of vulnerable youth through investments and a new framework the ready set go program is an important step forward and is another example of how government has taken action to ensure that youth have the opportunities to realize their full potential in life however it is a precarious time when they transition from being a youth in care to becoming an independent adult it is essential that young people have the right supports that will minimize risks and set them up for success in their careers and in life Speaker can the minister please elaborate on how the ready set go program will support children and youth Mr. Speaker every child in this province deserves a bright future this includes kids in care Mr. Speaker through the ready set program as early as age 13 we will prepare children by developing life skills their unique cultures and identities and relationships with peers and adults by age 15 Mr. Speaker youth will be offered a conferencing option including a mediator if they choose to plan for their futures by 18 social workers by ensuring youth have the basics like identification banking needs, professional support and communications technology for example age 18 to 23 youth will be supported with pathways to post secondary training trades and employment to really ensure this program delivers on its promise to support these youth in building the lives they want and they deserve Mr. Speaker we are also measuring its impact and implementation you can only change what you can measure and once again Mr. Speaker we will not let these youth go Thank you Speaker my questions to the Premier the Toronto District School Board was forced to tap into their reserves during the pandemic this was to fulfill actions identified by the province for the health and safety of school communities and the academic success of students in a letter to the minister last week the chair and director of the TDSB we have depleted any working reserves and used reserves put away for other purposes the financial accountability office reported that the conservative government did not spend 432 million dollars of allocated funding for education in this fiscal year at the same time the TDSB was being forced to tap into their reserves Speaker will the Premier repay the pandemic costs as requested by the TDSB Mr. Speaker we will increase funding for school boards this coming school year by 1.3 billion dollars as confirmed in the budget an increase in our baseline funding this year as we have done every year in TDSB they have 16,000 fewer students enrolled in their schools and even though as you know that funding for school boards is per pupil base even with fewer kids their funding is still up compared to the Liberals and the TDSB there is a 5% increase in the EAs there is a 4% increase of custodians in Toronto Catholic they have 6% more education workers 9% more custodians 4% more principals and vice principals this doesn't happen by chance it happens because our government is investing in a responsible budget the lifts, performance and reading, writing and math gets back to the basics and we are going to continue to make the case the children will be able to get back on track in June without disruption supplementary question thank you speaker the minister knows very well that as per the education act the TDSB has to pass a balanced budget before June 30 boards are not allowed to run deficits there is no more reserve funding the minister is essentially forcing the TDSB to cut programs and lay off staff we cannot afford to lose staff when violence in schools is up we cannot afford to lose programs when student needs are high why is the government leaving our students and schools without the supports they need minister of education here in the legislation we have new democrats asking the government to renew a fund that they just oppose I'm sorry mr speaker there is inconsistency in the position of the NDP where they voted systematically against the increases in funding and yet here they are today urging us to renew the very funds they have absolutely opposed each and every year mr speaker we are going to continue to stand up for children ensure they stay in school ensure they have the resources and staffing in place there are 7000 more education workers 800 more teachers, 200 principals that happen because of not in spite of provincial investment and that will continue under our premier's leadership thank you speaker next question is for the minister of municipal affairs and housing Mississauga is Ontario's third largest city but over the last 10 years the city has only built 2100 new homes far below what is needed that is why it is concerning to see that the city of mississauga rejected applications for two residential towers that would be built next to the poor credit go station and the hazel mccallion LRT station under construction that more homes built near transit it appears that the city of mississauga is opposing solutions that would make life easier and more affordable for individuals and family it is absolutely critical that mississauga builds more homes to support our growing population especially in the area where growth is needed speaker can the minister please explain what actions our government is taking to ensure more homes will be built closer to proximity to the transit network Mr. and Ms. full fairs and housing I want to thank the member for mississauga for being such a champion for housing in his riding our province is facing a historic housing supply crisis we need more homes of all kinds including homes for young Ontarians newcomers and seniors that are near transit that is why last November I approved the new official plan for the region appeal which removes the discretion of lower tier municipalities to set maximum heights within major transit station areas the intent of the plan is to ensure that transit support of outcomes are achieved and that adequate housing supply is brought forward faster the residents of the members riding this will mean great things it will mean that if they work in mississauga or in Toronto car free commute something that our government believes ought to be encouraged a supplementary question I want to thank the minister for that answer and for clarifying the lower tier municipalities can set maximum heights in major transit station areas several councillors have thanked me on this recognizing as the minister said Ontario is facing a historic housing supply crisis under the leadership of our premier minister bold and decisive actions are under way to build more housing as it is clear that the status quo is not working with the population of appeal region projected to grow by almost 2 million over the next three decades forward thinking approaches are necessary to build more housing Mayor Cromby herself has spoken on this critical need for mississauga to build up and increase density especially near transit in fact now to help incentivize more infield development coming up with solutions to address the serious issue Speaker can the minister please elaborate on how our government plans to increase housing opportunities in Ontario Mr. Mr. Bairs in housing I can assure the member that my ministry is actively working with the region and the city to ensure that implementation of major transit station policies conform with the appeal region official plan and speaker let me be clear provisions that would set maximum height limits in major transit station areas is contrary to the approved appeal region official plan we want to continue to put forward pro housing policies that will help municipalities grow with a mix of ownership with a mix of rental housing types to meet the needs of volunteers from single family homes to town homes and mid-rise apartments we remain committed to working with all of our municipal partners and the federal government towards our common goal of building 1.5 million homes by 2031 Thank you that concludes our question period for this morning