Question Period: Monday, May 17
"A few pops"
The HIGHLIGHTS: Come clean on CAF report in LTC — Pick a side: for-profit operators or the troops — #LetUsPlay (outdoors) — Survey says: 70 per cent of teachers worried students won’t catch up academically — “Shit-pit:” LTC inspectors put up evidence backing troubling CAF report — CHARLES MCVETY’s PEQAB decision imminent — Minister meets with teachers’ unions (or not) — Decision-making by golf anecdotes — “This is an equity issue: Not everyone has a yard to play in” — Pulling extra vaccines from hot spots too soon — Long live the 50 per cent allocation to hot spots! — Lack of transparency for small biz grants.
Come clean on investigation into CAF report on LTC
TRANSCRIPT — Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Premier. This is in regard to the Canadian Armed Forces report that revealed that 26 residents died from dehydration and neglect in long-term care. Early in May, a couple of weeks ago, May 6, the minister claimed that that matter had been investigated immediately, but then on Friday, the Premier’s minister said that an investigation was now under way.
The question is: Is the Premier’s minister now admitting that the full investigation that the Premier promised never happened? I think they need to answer that question, Speaker.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply on behalf of the government, the government House leader.
Hon. Paul Calandra: As I said last week, of course the coroner has been engaged. Through both the commission report and indeed through the Auditor General’s report, we have been taking action on what we’ve seen in long-term care. Obviously, we’re very grateful for the Canadian Armed Forces when they came to assist us both here in Ontario and in Quebec.
What both of these reports highlight for us is the massive amount of underfunding that took place in the system in the 15 years prior to us taking government. That’s why we took immediate action upon being elected to reform, not only health care—to provide a blanket of care, and the Ontario health teams that the minister brought in, which became important during the COVID outbreak—but investing in staffing, investing in new homes, and upgrading some of those old and outdated homes.
There’s a lot of work still to do, Mr. Speaker, but we’re well on our way to doing that.
Horwath: Speaker, it seems very apparent that the Premier broke his promise. Families went through hell. The Premier promised a full investigation. He promised it to family members. He promised it to survivors in long-term care. They were promised justice and they got nothing, Speaker.
The Canadian Armed Forces actually broke a ring of silence, the iron ring of silence, that was around long-term care. That’s what was around long-term care—an iron ring of silence—and the CAF broke that, revealing horrors: people losing their lives to dehydration and neglect; people locked in their rooms; and cockroach and other infestations happening in these homes.
Now, the minister is claiming that an investigation is suddenly under way, but that’s the same claim she made last year, and it was repeated earlier this month as well.
On behalf of those families, will the government please acknowledge that the Premier broke his promise for a full investigation? A whole year has gone by. What is happening on that side of the House?
Calandra: Again, the member will know, of course, that the Premier undertook a report to help us identify some of the causes with respect to what happened in long-term care. I think we’re one of the first governments in Canada that has done this, Mr. Speaker. I recognize the fact that the members opposite were not in favour of that commission. But not only have we started to act on some of the recommendations that came out of this report, but we’ve also engaged the coroner. I think that’s what the members opposite would expect. I feel that’s what the families would expect.
But we have an obligation, not only to the families of those who lost loved ones, but we have an obligation to future generations of this province, to make sure that that doesn’t happen again, to make sure that the investments are in place so that we have a long-term-care system that is sustainable, that has the staffing that’s required, that has the beds—30,000 beds, 27,000 new staff and nursing care in that—2,000 nurses were announced just last week, and four hours of care. We’re well on our way to improving the system for future generations. I hope the members will support us.
Horwath: Well, Speaker, I certainly can understand if families of residents in long-term care and their survivors don’t believe a word the government says about investigations taking place. Let’s face it: Nearly a year ago, the Premier claimed, “We launched a full investigation.” But his Minister of Long-Term Care says that she only received the Canadian Armed Forces reports on May 6th this year, not last year—this year.
Are the minister and the Premier now claiming that, in fact, the Canadian Armed Forces withheld that information, or are they ready to admit that no full investigation took place, that that promise simply was broken by the Premier?
Calandra: Again, Speaker, I’m not sure where the Leader of the Opposition is coming from or where she has been. Now, I know that the members opposite were not in favour of the commission’s inquiry that this government brought forward. It was a very important commission, and we are acting on its recommendations. We did that because we wanted to assure those families who lost loved ones that action was going to be taken, that we would learn what happened in our homes.
I’m very grateful for the Canadian Armed Forces, for the actions that they took to help us in Ontario and in Quebec. They did great work, but our priority now is not only justice for families, but it is making sure that future generations have appropriate long-term care. For decades, long-term care was underfunded in this province. We’re changing that: 30,000 new homes, over 27,000 in additional staffing for the sector and four hours of care, leading North America in care. We’re well on our way to making sure this never happens again and having the best long-term-care system in North America.
Pick a side: for-profit operators or the troops
Horwath: My next question is also for the Premier, but I can assure the government that what families want is justice. They want justice and accountability. The government can’t simply turn the page and pretend nothing happened in long-term care. People were devastated. Lives were lot, of dehydration and neglect. In fact, residents were pleading for help in some of those long-term-care homes.
The Minister of Long-Term Care’s own inspection reports at Downsview say this: “Residents were not being fed appropriately, or receiving sufficient fluids.” That’s from the minister’s own internal report.
Do the Premier and the minister accept what the Canadian Armed Forces said happened in long-term care, that 26 people lost their lives to neglect and dehydration, or do they side with the for-profit owners of long-term care who said that that never happened and that the CAF made it up?
Calandra: Again, this government will always side with the people of the province of Ontario. That is why we launched a commission of inquiry, so that we could understand what happened and what led to the tragedies in long-term care. The Auditor General did a similar report. What we found, Mr. Speaker, is that, yes, as I said on a number of occasions, we were put on the defence during the first and second waves of COVID, in fact, for the full first year, because of the lack of investments that had been made in the sector. We knew that, though. We knew that before the pandemic hit. That’s why we made incredible investments in the sector to build new homes, renovate old homes, to make sure that we had a staffing solution. That’s why we made incredible investments in the sector to build new homes, renovate old homes, to make sure that we had a staffing solution. That’s why during the pandemic we increased pay for those PSWs that were so important, Mr. Speaker. We brought in the armed forces.
After the pandemic, as we start to come out of the pandemic, we’re moving to four hours of care for residents. We’re hiring over 27,000 new PSWs. We announced an additional 2,000 nurses.
It’s before, during and after, Speaker, we are going to fix the system. We are going to fix the system for the people of the province of Ontario, for future generations. For those families who want justice, it is there for them.
Horwath: You can’t fix the system if you won’t acknowledge what went wrong in long-term care. The CAF said 26 people died of dehydration and neglect, and this government refuses to acknowledge that that happened. In fact, the Minister of Long-Term Care on the one hand says that there was a full investigation that had taken place, and now she’s saying that she’s learning of these details for the very first time. Well, both can’t be true at the same time, Speaker. Either there was an investigation and she knew about it or she’s learning about it for the first time. That leaves a lot of questions in family’s minds.
I have to say, a year has gone by; a whole year, there has been no justice. There’s been no charges, there’s been no true investigation. People deserve so much better than this, Speaker. Does this government believe what families are saying? Do they plan to give families the justice they need, and if not how are families going to in any way trust that this government is going to give them the answers they deserve?
Calandra: Again Speaker, that is why we moved very quickly to have a commission of inquiry. The leader of the official opposition will know that she has stood in her place on many occasions and was against that commission of inquiry. But we knew that it was very important for the families who had lost loved ones during the COVID crisis.
We knew also, Speaker, that in order to make sure that future generations did not go through this again, that we had to make serious investments in the sector. That’s why we are moving to four hours of care. That’s why after the first wave, despite the fact that we did not get the vaccines that we needed in February, March and April, we made a commitment to long-term care to ensure that they were the first people vaccinated in this province Speaker.
But it’s more than that: For the families, Mr. Speaker, justice is about making sure that future generations never go through this again. It is the responsibility of this Legislature that we do that, and that’s why we are making sure with the investments that we’re making that it does not happen again. The commission of inquiry and the Auditor General’s report help guide us, and we will not fail them.
Horwath: Speaker, justice has not been served to the victims: the people who lost their lives in long-term care, their family members, they have not had justice. And for this minister to suggest that the chapter is now closed, that the inquiry report has been issued and now everything just starts from zero again, is a complete disservice to all of the suffering that took place and that still takes place with the family members of people who survived and people who lost their lives.
The question I have for this government is when are they going to acknowledge that justice has to occur, there has to be accountability, that the people who lost their lives to neglect, dehydration, abandonment need and deserve justice and this government has to do right by them? How can anybody in Ontario trust this government if they don’t do right by all of those tragedies that occurred over the years?
Calandra: Let me assure the people of the province of Ontario that the book will never be closed because we understand how important it is to make investments in long-term care. Not only for those who lost loved ones, Mr. Speaker. That is why the coroner has been engaged. That is why we had a commissioner of inquiry.
But let me remind the leader of the official opposition, when she had the opportunity between 2011 and 2014 to make long-term care a priority, she chose to accept a stretch goal and an assurance, Mr. Speaker. What did we do? Upon getting elected, we moved quickly to make investments in the long-term-care homes. We knew that we could not end hallway health care without making investments in long-term care. The Minister of Health brought in Ontario health teams, which were so effective in ridings like mine where hospitals came in to help, congregate care settings came in to help our long-term-care homes.
We were making these investments and making the changes prior to the pandemic and during the pandemic and after the pandemic. We will live up to the responsibility that for 15 years never happened in this place and we will make long-term care better for future generations.
#LetUsPlay (outdoors)
Ms. Sara Singh: Good morning, Speaker. My question is to the Premier. In Brampton, basketball courts are locked shut and the nets have been taken down, tennis courts and cricket pitches are all taped off and, across the province, golf courses and other safe outdoor activities sit empty, despite the fact that medical experts never recommended closing these places in the first place.
My question to the Premier: It’s clear that no one asked for this—not the science table, not the medical experts, not Ontarians. No one thinks this is a good idea. Why won’t this government do the right thing and vote with us to safely reopen outdoor activities?
The Speaker: To reply, the Minister of Health.
Hon. Christine Elliott: We’re not able to do that right now because our numbers are still too high and our hospitalizations. The Ontario Hospital Association is not in favour of opening all outdoor activities at this point. Our numbers are still high in intensive care units. Today, they stand at 779. That’s a very high level. It has come down a little bit, but it’s still a very high level.
Notwithstanding that, Speaker, parks are open. People still can go out. We want people to go out. The weather is getting better. Please go out. Go for a walk, go for a run, walk the dog, let the kids go run in the park. All of that can happen. That is the way we have to do this in order that our hospitals remain able to take in all the people that they need to take in and that we don’t let this variant of concern take over again, because the last thing we want is a fourth wave in Ontario, which would be devastating for the province.
Singh: Speaker, the science table actually recommends that Conservatives close non-essential workplaces, for example, and pay people to stay home and actually have a real paid sick days plan here instead of closing down our playgrounds and parks. They said that two weeks of sick days were essential to help stop the spread and keep people safe, yet the Conservatives ignore that advice as well. The science table also recommends that if we don’t let people participate in safe outdoor activities, you’re potentially forcing them inside where the risk of spread is even higher and that this negatively impacts people’s mental health and well-being. Again, I think it’s important that we highlight that this is an equity issue. Not everyone has access to a backyard that they can roll around in.
Again, Speaker, the question to the Premier is, the science table and medical experts like the Ontario Medical Association and the Canadian Paediatric Society have been clear: We need to safely reopen our outdoor recreation amenities and activities. Will the Premier stop listening to his buddies and start listening to the experts and open up outdoor recreation and amenities immediately?
Elliott: It’s our responsibility to act appropriately, given the information that we have, to be responsible, because we are responsible for protecting the health and well-being of all Ontarians, which we have done. We do encourage people to go outdoors. The weather is beautiful. Please don’t stay inside all day. Go out and get some exercise. There are still many ways you can do: Parks are open, trails are open. There are still many, many things that people can do, and we encourage people to be outdoors.
We are proceeding with our vaccinations as well. We’ve got over seven million people over the age of 18 vaccinated already.
This isn’t a forever situation, but for right now, we need to follow the health advice which we’ve received from the Chief Medical Officer of Health, and we need to continue following public health—
Interjection.
The Speaker: The member from Brampton Centre, come to order.
Elliott: —and workplace safety measures, which we will continue to do.
Interjections.
The Speaker: The House will come to order. The next question.
[AFTER A FRIENDLY SOFTBALL ON BORDER RESTRICTIONS FROM PC BACKBENCHER WILL BOUMA…]
Survey says: 70 per cent of teachers worried students won’t catch up academically
Ms. Marit Stiles: This question is for the Premier. A new survey of teachers conducted by the CBC highlights again what we’ve been saying over and over: After more than a year of disruption and a failure of this government to support students or keep schools safely opened, our kids are not okay. Some 70% of survey respondents from boards in Hamilton, Halton, Niagara and Brantford worry that students won’t catch up academically. In Waterloo region more than half of the teachers are worried students aren’t meeting learning objectives, and more and more aren’t showing up at all.
Every expert says we need to put in place more supports, more interventions. Why is the government going back to pre-COVID funding levels for our schools? Why aren’t our children their priority?
The Speaker: To reply, the Minister of Education.
Hon. Stephen Lecce: On the contrary, in fact, the government of Ontario under the Premier’s leadership has put in place a $2-billion enhanced allocation because we’re assuming that in September—while we look forward to a world with vaccines being provided to all Ontarians 18 and up who want one, effective tomorrow—we also realize that we have to be cautious, which is why we funded $1.6 billion. The difference between this $1.6 billion for September and the last is this September’s funding is entirely driven by the province. There’s an additional $85 million specifically for learning recovery and a 400% increase in mental health supports when compared to the former Liberal government in 2017-18. There is more funding for ventilation, further improvements beyond the 95% within our schools that have upgraded as a consequence of our investments and our guidance.
We’re going to continue to work with the Chief Medical Officer of Health but yes, most importantly, we’ve put in place the funding to ensure students and staff remain safe this September.
Stiles: On the contrary, this government is flatlining education funding for the next year. They’ve given up. The only thing they’re promising Ontarians is more of the same terrible situation we’ve been in for more than a year.
Stretched school boards are being forced to turn to this so-called hybrid learning model, where the same teacher is asked to divide time and attention between kids in class and those at home. This model is pushing teachers to the breaking point and I’ll tell you, it means a lot less direct support for our students. They won’t get to learn outside, where we know it’s safer, because their teacher is going to be on the computer with students at home.
Speaker, why is this Premier still trying to cut corners at the expense of our children’s education and their well-being?
Lecce: We have put in place $1.6 billion, which has helped us hire over 7,000 additional staff this year, helped us improve 95% of air ventilation systems within the schools of this province; $700 million in additional dollars for air ventilation improvements, in partnership with the federal government, is being implemented as we speak. We’ve doubled the mental health allocation for our nurses—rather, doubled the public health nurses within our schools, and a four-time increase in mental health.
Mr. Speaker, it has to be said: If the member opposite was given the privilege to serve in government, their party and that of the other opposition parties, aligned with the teacher unions, would not have reopened schools in 2021 at all, absolutely contrary to the best interests of the mental health of children. We’re on the side of parents and kids. We’re listening to the experts. Our aim is to get these schools open as soon as it is safe.
“Shit-pit”: LTC inspectors put up evidence backing troubling CAF report
Mr. John Fraser: My question is for the Minister of Long-Term Care. On Friday it came to light that Ministry of Long-Term Care inspectors documented evidence of dehydration and malnutrition in one long-term care home back in June 2020, almost a year ago. These findings align with the Armed Forces report that 26 residents died in that home from dehydration.
The Premier said at the time there would be a full investigation, and any results would be turned over to police. Well, the Solicitor General confirmed last week that that investigation never happened. So, Speaker, through you: If Ministry inspectors documented signs of resident neglect last year in a home where 26 people died from dehydration, why has it taken the minister almost a full year to launch an investigation?
Calandra: As I just said, obviously there was a commission of inquiry which the Premier set up very quickly. In fact, during the pandemic we set up a commission of inquiry. I know that the Auditor General has also reviewed this, and the coroner has been engaged. But let’s look at where we were when we took government, Mr. Speaker. A decade and a half of Liberal inaction on long-term care led us to a situation that put us on the defence for the better part of a year in this province.
What have we done? We said we were going to end hallway health care. How are we doing that? By increasing ICU capacity. They left us with one of the lowest in North America. We increased testing from 5,000 to 75,000, so that we can track COVID quicker. We increased funding for long-term care: rebuilding old, outdated homes; building 30,000 new homes over the coming years; adding staffing of up to 27,000 new PSWs; four hours of care. Despite the broken legacy of the previous Liberal government, we’re getting the job done for today’s seniors and for future generations.
Fraser: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, but the government’s stories on this, quite frankly—I’ve been going through them—are dizzying. Here are some of the comments from the Armed Forces members: “The facility should be shut down ... incompetent staff should be fired and management should be charged.” What is happening “is criminal.” Other comments include “terrible,” a “shit-pit,” “horrifying.”
In testimony before the long-term-care commission in October 2020, Humber River Hospital CEO Barbara Collins noted that “food and water challenges” had contributed to deaths at at least one home, and suggested that the military knew that was the case, so it’s hard to believe that the minister only became aware of these serious allegations two weeks ago. The timeline just doesn’t add up.
The bottom line is that those 26 families and many others who lost a loved one deserve justice—justice, not a game of hide-and-seek. So, Speaker, through you: Can the Minister explain why she was so unaware that she is only now launching an investigation that was promised more than a year ago?
Calandra: Mr. Speaker, this is a member who sat in the government for 15 years; underfunded long-term care; did not bring in a staffing strategy; did not bring in the hours of care that were required; through his lack of decision-making, left the province of Ontario on the defence for a year while we rebuilt ICU capacity, while we built up testing capacity. This is the legacy of the previous Liberal government, to which he was a member.
We moved right away to end that legacy, that previous Liberal legacy of ignoring long-term care: 30,000 new spaces, 27,000 new PSWs, increasing ICU capacity. We’re getting the job done for the people of the province of Ontario, a job that they so miserably failed. We will get it done, unlike the previous Liberal to which he was a member of for 15 years.
The Speaker: The House will come to order.
[AFTER BOUMA LOBBED A FRIENDLY QUESTION ABOUT GRANTS FOR REVENUE-STRAPPED TOURISM BUSINESSES…]
McVety’s PEQAB decision incoming
Ms. Laura Mae Lindo: My question is to the Premier. Tomorrow, officials at PEQAB will accept or reject Charles McVety’s plan to grant arts and science degrees at his so-called university. Ironically, today is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, and it’s troubling that this application has gotten this far.
In the fall, this government rushed legislation through so the Premier’s close friend could build a university for his hateful rhetoric, particularly against LGBTQ2S communities and Muslim-Ontarians. While PEQAB requested extensive changes and had numerous questions for Mr. McVety, Canada Christian College’s CEO, Mr. McVety’s son, flew to Disney World this winter instead of responding. This delayed the process by four months. The McVetys had to ask for not one but two extensions. So tomorrow PEQAB will finally give them a yes or no.
Through you, Mr. Speaker, and to the Premier: If PEQAB denies a Charles McVety university, will he immediately introduce legislation to stop them in their tracks?
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The parliamentary assistant, the member for Northumberland–Peterborough South.
Mr. David Piccini: I thank the member opposite for that question. As we’ve said time and time again, this government respects the independent advice of our post-secondary PEQAB process. It’s thanks to this process that we’ve seen independence given to places like Algoma University. It’s thanks to this independent process that we’ve seen greater autonomy for our institutions in the north, granting degrees and better unlocking the potential of a next generation of health care professionals in the north, better unlocking next generation of francophone leaders in the north, Indigenous leaders in the north. When it comes to respecting independent processes, this government will always do that.
Lindo: Back to the Premier: Charles McVety hosted a mask-free event at his college last month with hundreds in attendance, and video showed there was no social distancing. It seems following the science table is not something that Charles McVety is willing to do. Now, my office has received numerous emails indicating in no uncertain terms that members of Ontario’s post-secondary community do not believe that Charles McVety should be offering arts and science degrees, not when he ignores the public health guidelines and especially given his rhetoric against LGBTQ2S and Muslim communities. Yet, this Premier continues to bend over backwards every time Charles McVety asks for a favour.
Through you, Mr. Speaker, and back to the Premier: Will the government immediately bring in legislation to rescind Charles McVety’s university before this session breaks for the summer?
Piccini: This is about an independent process. This is about an independent process that this government supports. If it was up to the members opposite, it would be politicians interfering in the independent process designed to support institutions in the north. It would be politicians deciding what courses are and aren’t offered.
That member might be competing with her colleagues to audition for minister of thought control, but on this side, we’re going to respect independent processes. We’re going to respect independent processes that have unlocked the potential for those learners in the north I mentioned. It’s this government that lowered tuition for university students. It’s this government that has expanded OSAP eligibility for our Indigenous learners, that has launched independent processes for our Indigenous institutes, for those important partners that we work with, to unlock the potential in northern Ontario. What does that member have in common with all those things? She voted against every one of those measures to support our post-secondary learners.
Minister meets with teachers’ unions (or not)
Ms. Kathleen O. Wynne: My question is for the Premier. Speaker, as we move to the end of the school year, I recognize that there are going to be some discussions about whether in the next couple of weeks we can open schools for some time, but my question has to do with the broader issue of what happens in our schools in September.
One of the hallmarks of this government’s decisions on schooling has been a puzzling reluctance to actually talk with the people who are teaching our children and grandchildren. In the same way that it’s important to talk with doctors and nurses who represent the doctors and nurses of this province to glean their advice, it’s important that decision-makers talk with teachers and support staff, who have been working so hard this year to keep our students engaged.
Mr. Speaker, can the Premier tell this Legislature and the people of Ontario whether he and his Minister of Education have met with the leadership of the teachers’ federations and the support staff unions at any time since last July, almost a year ago, in order to plan for the beginning of the school year this coming September, and if not, when will he do so?
Lecce: Indeed, the Ministry of Education regularly meets with our federation partners. Just last week, I would have met with the principals’ associations, both English and French, Catholic and public; likewise of the trustees associations representing all associations in the province; and as well as CODE, the directors of education council. We’re in constant contact, listening to their perspective but of course listening to the Chief Medical Officer of Health, SickKids and other pediatric institutions giving us guidance on how to reduce any potential spread and maximize safety as we look to September.
It’s why the government announced $1.6 billion, a nation-leading plan of investment; $2 billion over all, increasing the Grants for Student Needs and a one-time increase in COVID resources; more support for reading recovery and math recovery, recognizing that the challenges of this disruption; a historic investment in mental health; and, of course, we’re giving the choice for parents of in-class and online learning this September. We think that is an important and positive plan as we look forward to September.
Wynne: Mr. Speaker, just to be clear, that answer was a no, because directors and trustees and administrators are not teachers; they are not support staff. In fact, my question was, have the Premier and his minister met with the people who actually represent the people who are in a classroom with our students? That is a puzzling reluctance, I will say again, because those are the people who hear from their members, who hear from the front line. That’s where the information should come from, Mr. Speaker.
It’s my understanding, from a news report, that at a recent cabinet meeting, there was a preoccupation with the discussion about the golf industry. Mr. Speaker, I have nothing against golf. My partner Jane is an avid golfer. But how is it possible that understanding the intricacies of the golf industry is more important than understanding what goes on in our schools from teachers and support staff?
Will the Premier and the minister develop an ongoing and frequent dialogue with the people who represent the literally hundreds of thousands of adults who work with the children of this province?
Interjections.
The Speaker: Stop the clock. We’re not going to have that this morning. If it continues, I’ll call you out by name, and if necessary, I’ll warn you, and if necessary, send you home. Please start the clock. The Minister of Education.
Lecce: Look, it’s one thing to listen to teacher unions and federations; it’s another thing to be entirely beholden to them. In the example of regulation 274, when the member opposite permitted teacher unions to hire exclusively based on seniority ??in the union, yes, they were listening to the teacher unions and they were ignoring parents in this province. That’s why this government ended that regulation entirely.
Interjections.
The Speaker: I just scolded one side of the House. The same thing applies to the other side of the House. Minister of Education, please conclude your response.
Lecce: In addition, we’ve listened to parents who said they wanted a choice this September for in-class and online learning. We recognize the majority are going to choose in-class, as they should, as we support that development that is ??stimulated in an in-class environment. It’s also why we listened to parents in the context of providing mental health support as they’ve realized the disruptions had a challenge on their child’s health. We quadrupled the investment from when the former Liberal government was in power in 2017-18, because we recognized we wanted to reduce wait times, increase supports and early intervention. It’s why we listened to parents as well, with a $1.6 billion plan making every precaution and investing every dollar to ensure students are safe—
The Speaker: Thank you. The next question.
[AFTER BOUMA’S FRIENDLY QUESTION ABOUT STAFFING UP IN NURSING…]
(Mr. Will Bouma)
... We also know that nursing education isn’t always accessible for prospective students because of where they live.
Can the minister explain how this announcement about training more nurses fits into the broader work with colleges and universities to increase the supply of health care workers in Ontario?
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Parliamentary assistant.
Mr. David Piccini: That member is absolutely right. One of the reasons I got involv
Decision-making by golf anecdotes
Mr. Jeff Burch: My question is to the Premier. Citizens across Ontario were horrified when the Premier refused to open outdoor recreational activities based on an anecdotal story about his buddies going for a few pops after a game of golf. Despite calls from the municipal leaders, health experts, the Ontario Medical Association and their own science table, this government has continued to keep outdoor recreation closed. “The scientific director of Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table said that outdoor activities like golf, tennis and beach volleyball are low-risk and with some additional instruction, the province could allow people to once again participate in the sports.”
I’ve heard from hundreds of people in Niagara, some of whom voted in this government. They tell me that lockdowns have had a devastating impact on their mental health and asked that outdoor activities that can be done safely be opened up. Will the Premier listen to science, support the member from Brampton Centre’s motion and safely reopen outdoor recreational activities?
Elliott: Thank you to the member for the question. We obviously encourage people to go outdoors. Please enjoy this wonderful weather. Go outside, take a walk, go for a bike ride and go play with your grandchildren outside, garden if you’re able to. There are lots of activities that people can do safely, but today is not the day to open up all outdoor recreational activities. We are reviewing the evidence on a daily basis, speaking with Dr. Williams and others of our medical advisers. All of our decisions are based on the data and the clinical evidence; but today is not the day to do it. It may be very soon, it may be June 2 or perhaps even before that, but today is not the day to open everything up.
Burch: Speaker, that’s not what the science says. The people of Ontario are sick and tired of hearing the Premier’s anecdotes about cheesecake, egg sandwiches and his buddies having pops while he ignores scientific evidence and advice.
Andrew and Jennifer own the Brock Golf Course in my riding, and are struggling to pay the bills with only a few precious months ahead to earn revenue when the weather is good. They know they’re not the only small business suffering and they’re more than willing to do their part, but they don’t understand why they can’t serve the public when there is no scientific explanation why they are not permitted to safely operate.
This is a golf course where seniors, kids and people of all ages and skill levels can get out and enjoy fresh air in a safe environment. These safe outdoor activities are important to the people of my riding and people across Ontario. When will the Premier finally listen to science, admit he got it wrong again and open safe outdoor recreational activities?
Elliott: Since the beginning of this pandemic, the health and well-being of all Ontarians has been our primary responsibility and our primary focus, and it will continue to be. We are listening to the medical experts, including Dr. Williams, our Chief Medical Officer of Health, and the 34 medical health officers in all the public health unit regions across the province. We listen to what they’re saying. We do encourage people to be outdoors. Enjoy this weather. It’s getting more beautiful each and every day; but today is not the day to open everything up. I believe that’s irresponsible for us to do that today. We are following the evidence on a daily basis and it will happen on or before June 2.
“This is an equity issue: Not everyone has a yard to play in”
Mr. Mike Schreiner: My question is for the Premier. The science is clear, most COVID outbreaks are happening in vulnerable essential workplaces, and outdoor activities are safe and should be open. That’s why, for weeks, I’ve been urging the Premier to focus on where the outbreaks are happening: vulnerable workplaces and to reopen safe outdoor activities.
This is an equity issue, Speaker. Not everyone has a yard to play in and not everyone can work from home. So, will the Premier follow the advice of scientists and public health experts by opening safe outdoor activities and focusing in on where the virus is spreading: vulnerable indoor workplaces?
Elliott: Thank you, Speaker, and thank you to the member for the question. We are encouraging people to be outdoors. Parks are open; trails are open. People can be outdoors to enjoy it. Walking, biking—whatever they wish to do. Taking the dog out for a walk. People can be outdoors. I understand what you’re saying with respect to equity, but with all due respect parks are open to everyone to be out and enjoy. There is no equity issue here in terms of availability of outdoor spaces. People can be outdoors, and we encourage them to do so.
But today is not the day to open up everything. We are watching this on a daily basis. This time will come. This is not forever, but today is not the day.
Schreiner: Speaker, public trust is vital to combatting COVID, and trust is built when you make decisions based on evidence and science. Most of the spread is happening in vulnerable workplaces, not outdoors and not by travel, yet the Premier seems to be focusing all of his energy on closing outdoor activities and blaming the federal government for his mistakes.
So, Speaker, I’m asking the Premier to make a pivot today. Will the Premier start focusing on what experts are calling the blind spot in the government’s response to COVID, mandate medical grade PPE in vulnerable indoor workplaces and mandate that they have proper ventilation in vulnerable workplaces?
The Speaker: Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development.
Hon. Monte McNaughton: Thank you very much, Speaker. The health and safety of every single worker in this province is our government’s top priority. That’s why we’ve done now more than 50,000 inspections and investigations related to COVID-19 in workplaces across the province. We’ve now issued more than 55,000 orders to improve conditions in those workplaces. We’ve now shut down 91 unsafe workplaces and jobsites across the province.
But we’ve gone even further. We’ve now hired more than 100 new health and safety inspectors. That brings the ministry’s inspectorate to the largest number in provincial history. We have more than 200 guidance documents and posters, tip sheets and videos in dozens and dozens of languages available at Ontario.ca/covidsafety. We’ll continue to protect the health and safety of every single worker in this province.
Pulling extra vaccines from hot spots too soon
Ms. Suze Morrison: There are three provincially designated hot spots and one additional hot spot in the M4Y postal code that’s been prioritized by our local hospital in my community of Toronto Centre, despite being omitted by this provincial government from the list: four hot spots in total in a riding that is barely more than seven square kilometres large. Tens of thousands in my community are at incredibly high risk of contracting COVID-19 because of our skyrocketing rates, these hot spot zones and the incredibly dense nature of our community. For weeks, this government held back vaccines from hot spots. It was nearly impossible to find an appointment. People were calling it the “vaccine hunger games” in my community, Speaker.
Over the past week, we have finally started to receive a steady supply of vaccines and are beginning to curb the deadly outbreaks that are just ravaging our downtown neighbourhoods. We’re just starting to get the situation under control, but my question to the Premier is why is he ignoring the advice of Ontario’s science table and planning to pull that concentrated support from the hot spots in just two weeks, putting the safety of the entire province at risk?
Interjection.
The Speaker: Order. Minister of Labour, come to order. Minister of Health to reply.
Elliott: Thank you, Speaker. In fact, our plan to allocate 50% of the incoming vaccines to the hot-spot areas over two weeks has been very successful, and we do have a reliable and steady supply of vaccines coming in. But I can certainly advise the member that because of this plan we have now seen—due to this allocation of vaccines to hot spots—that the hot-spot areas now have 7.9% more coverage than the non-hot-spot communities, so I would call that success. Now we’re going to continue to roll out the vaccine supply. We have almost double the supply of vaccines coming in now than we had before and that is available to each public health unit to allocate the vaccines according to their own definition of their hot spots.
Morrison: I’m asking the minister to listen to the science table. Ontario’s science table gave this government clear direction that at least 50% of vaccines need to go to the 74 hot-spot areas for no less than 25 days. Two weeks—14 days—does not 25 days make, the minimum standard recommendation that is coming from Ontario’s science table.
There are still too many people in these hot spots who haven’t received their first doses. If this government takes vaccinations out of those hot spots now, too early, we risk taking the province entirely backwards on our vaccination strategy. Why is the Premier refusing to do what the experts at the science table are telling him to stop the cycle of lockdowns by adequately maintaining the hot-spot strategy for the minimum of 25 days that was recommended by the science table?
Elliott: The plan that we had to increase the vaccine supply to those hot-spot areas by 50% has been successful; overall, virtually an 8% higher dosage rate in the hot-spot communities versus the non-hot-spot communities. In addition to that, the time that the allocation and the recommendation were made by the science table was when our vaccine supplies were much lower. Now we have almost double the supply of vaccines coming in to all areas across the province. The designation is going to be by population and by risk, so those areas that are still at risk will still receive more vaccines, and it is entirely due to the discretion of the local medical officers of health to have those vaccines concentrated in the areas that are still considered to be hot-spot areas. So we have more than adequate supply. I have confidence in the ability of the public health officers to make those decisions. People will be receiving much higher levels of doses of those vaccines.
Long live the 50-per-cent allocation to hot spots!
Ms. Mitzie Hunter: My question is to the Minister of Health. I was listening to you very carefully, because you know that in hot-spot areas like in my community of Scarborough–Guildwood the test positivity still remains very high. In fact, in the Morningside area alone, the test positivity is 1,200 per 100,000 people, which is 10 times higher than the provincial average. That is a risk. You just said that hot spots where there is risk will receive more. My question to you is, how much more?
The Ontario science table says that hot spots should receive 50% more of the allocated vaccines. It doesn’t make sense to go back to a per-capita distribution as if everyone bears the same risk, because we do not. Our communities that have high rates of positivity require more vaccines because that is safer for the whole province ??until we get the third wave under control.
My question is simply: Will you listen to the science table and go back to the 50% allocation—
Elliott: You’re absolutely right. The test rates do remain very high in certain parts of the province, which is why we need to be very, very careful about any potential reopening which has been argued on that side all morning. That is why we need to be very careful, and we are being careful. The strategy that we brought forward to allocate 50% of the vaccines into those hot spots is working; already an 8% higher level in hot-spot communities versus non-hot-spot communities. But we need to continue to allocate the vaccines, which we are doing, based on population as we were before, but also based on risk. So the areas that have higher-risk areas are going to receive more vaccines, which would, of course, include Scarborough.
Hunter: What I’m seeking an answer to is how much more allocation will the communities like Scarborough receive. They need to know that—for serious reasons. When we look at the expansion of vaccines to 18-plus across the province, that’s good news; I think that that’s good. But over the weekend, I spoke to a gentleman in my riding who is 96 years old. His name is James. He lives by himself. He’s housebound. He does not leave his home but he has support that comes into his home through the LHIN. He is still waiting for his vaccine, despite being eligible for the past five months as part of phase 1. James demonstrates that now is not the time to turn our focus away from the hot spots because we still have vulnerable people who remain in the communities who are at serious risk.
There are thousands of housebound residents like James living in hot spots who are still waiting for their turn and want to know: Will the minister commit to 50% more vaccine supplies to hot spot communities?
Elliott: Going forward, the vaccine allocation will be based on population and based on risk. I know that Scarborough has had a number of hot spot areas and will continue to do so, but all areas are now receiving much larger quantities of vaccines because we now do have a reliable and steady supply of vaccines. We want to make sure that people such as James do receive their first dose, so we are working with our paramedic services and with our home care services as well to make sure that everybody who wants to receive a vaccine will receive a vaccine. James will not miss out. He will receive his first dosage and his second dosage at the appropriate time.
Lack of transparency for small biz grants
Mr. Tom Rakocevic: My question is for the Premier. Thousands of small businesses in my community and across Ontario have been forced to lock down during the stay-at-home order. These businesses have been doing their part to slow down the spread of COVID-19 but without help from this government they risk losing everything they have worked so hard for, through no fault of their own.
Many local small business owners have contacted my office, frustrated with the lack of transparency from this government regarding the Ontario Small Business Support Grant program. They listened to this government and applied for the grant and patiently waited for weeks, only to be denied with no explanation given. When they tried to contact this government’s call centre they still couldn’t get an answer.
Now the program deadline is closed, with countless thousands of businesses still needing the support to keep their lights on and their doors open. Why is this government hanging these small business owners out to dry?
The Speaker: To reply, the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.
Hon. Victor Fedeli: Thank you very much for the question. First of all, we are absolutely thrilled that 109,700 small businesses in Ontario have received almost $3 billion. In fact, it’s $2.82 billion already. That is an unprecedented amount of money that has gone out in three and a half months from this government to small businesses.
We’re very, very upset to see that the NDP did not support the doubling of that small business grant. That was $1.5 billion—
Interjection.
The Speaker: Member for Scarborough–Guildwood, come to order.
Fedeli: —that they voted to hold back from small businesses. We’re very sad to see that they did not support the new grant in the budget for small business tourism and travel groups as well—very disappointed.