Question Period: Monday, May 31
Protesters punctuate the debate
Against the backdrop of noisy protesters outside — the final week of debate before summer recess kicked off on a sombre note, with a striking speech from SOL MAMAKWA and a moment of silence to acknowledge the horrific news out of Kamloops. But as NDP Leader ANDREA HORWATH said, “it’s my job to change the topic” — and led off with a question about “the Hunger Games”-esque vaccine situation for Premier DOUG FORD, who was in the building, but not in the chamber.
THE HIGHLIGHTS: Why hasn’t Ford fixed his mistakes from the initial rollout to the rollout of Dose 2? — Why wait until the very last minute on schools? — Every school must be searched for the graves of our ancestors — Will the government rip up Section 2 of Bill 213 today? — Will it make Indigenous education and the true teaching of residential schools mandatory? — A complete ban on evictions for small businesses — A free vote on emergency order extension — Why are you so obsessed with me Paul? — A third round of funding support for small biz — How are we once again in this situation with seniors 80-plus? — Will the minister put an end to eviction applications and hearings for the duration of the pandemic? — Repeal Bill 124 — Second-shot uncertainty.
Why hasn’t Ford fixed his mistakes from the initial rollout to the rollout of Dose 2?
TRANSCRIPT — Ms. Andrea Horwath: I want to start by acknowledging the remarks of SOL MAMAKWA, the member for Kiiwetinoong, and the government House leader for allowing us to take this moment in time.
But now, it’s my job to change the topic, Speaker. I’m going to ask my first question to the Premier. On Friday, the Premier said this in relation to the vaccine rollout here in the province: “I’ve never seen a more well-oiled machine.” Meanwhile, doctors and experts everywhere have been calling it “chaotic,” “confusing,” “The Hunger Games.” Clearly, if the Premier thinks that this is a well-oiled machine, he certainly hasn’t learned from his mistakes.
The question is: Why hasn’t he fixed his mistakes from the initial rollout to the rollout of dose 2?
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply on behalf of the government, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.
Christine Elliott: Well, the answer would be: because there’s nothing wrong with the plan. The plan is being rolled out across the province. We have reached over 65% of all Ontarians over 18 receiving at least one dose. We currently stand at 67%. Nine million vaccines have already been given to people across the province. We have virtually six million further booked and ready to go, and we have the supply coming in. The plan is rolling out in the way that it was supposed to and will continue to do so.
The Speaker: The supplementary question?
Horwath: Speaker, the big problem is the way it was supposed to wasn’t good enough and didn’t do justice to the people of Ontario. “Everyone for themselves” is not a plan to roll out a vaccine that ensures that the most vulnerable receive the vaccines first. In fact, this government left the most vulnerable behind.
Dr. Nathan Stall says this: “This is going to create, I fear, the sort of vaccine ‘Hunger Games’ 2.0 for these older adults, where they’re now being asked to go back onto the multiple booking systems through multiple sites.” And meanwhile, we all know the mass confusion that continues to swirl around the AstraZeneca vaccine.
My question again to this Premier is: Why did he and his government not learn from his mistakes from the rollout of dose 1 and are continuing to roll out dose 2 in the same chaotic, confused and confusing way?
Elliott: I would suggest to the Leader of the Opposition that given the fact that we’ve already had over nine million vaccines already given to people, with almost six million already booked, that most Ontarians do not seem confused by this rollout. In fact, this is actually good news that we’ve announced, that if people wish to receive their doses sooner than the date that they have the appointment for, they can do that. They can do that online. They can do that, actually, through the pharmacies where they originally had them or through their primary care provider. But if they choose to stay with a date that they already have booked for their second dose, they’re free to do that, but if they wish to move it forward, they can do that as well. That’s choice to the people of Ontario. That’s what people have been telling us that they want, and we have a system in place that’s ready and available to allow them to do that.
Horwath: Speaker, it’s not about how many doses have been given out; it’s about how they’ve been given out. The rollout has left those who are most vulnerable, who need protection the most, getting the least access to the vaccines. We saw as this government was dragged kicking and screaming into addressing the hot spot issue and then abandoned that strategy a week early—two weeks early, I think. Vulnerable seniors are less likely to have their first dose.
It’s not about all those who can easily access; it’s about those who cannot easily access, and we know that seniors still are in that position, never mind trying to chase down their second dose. Meanwhile, report after report of people trying to bully their way to the second dose has been continuing to show up in the media.
So the question is, where is the plan to ensure that those who need the vaccines the most, the most vulnerable, are easily able to access them?
Elliott: In fact, I would say to the Leader of the Opposition, through you, Speaker, that what she is suggesting is simply not the case. We have a strategy which we implemented during the month of May for two weeks, where we allocated 50% of our vaccines to the hot spot areas, and it worked. Right now, we have a situation where the people in the hot spot areas are at almost 8% more likely to have been vaccinated by the first dose than people in non-hot spot areas. We followed the recommendations that were made by the medical experts. They originally recommended four weeks, but that was before we knew we were getting double the number of doses, so we have actually followed what they suggested.
We are paying attention to the hot spot areas, as well as to our seniors. We prioritized people in long-term-care homes and retirement homes, and now, starting as of today, people who are 80 and older, if they wish to accelerate their second dose, they can do so. If they don’t wish to, they can stay with the time they already have booked.
Why wait until the very last minute on schools?
Horwath: My next question is also for the Premier. Speaker, students and their parents have been left in limbo now waiting for the details of the possible reopening of schools. For over a year, unfortunately, this Premier decided to dismiss the concerns of parents, of teachers and education workers as he insisted that schools are safe. Now, of course, we know that they decided to cut the education budget, which just today was confirmed by the Financial Accountability Officer of Ontario.
Thursday, the Premier finally decided to lob a frantic last-minute consultation into the communities. So I guess my question is, why didn’t the Premier think for over a year that the kids of this province’s education and their schooling wasn’t more important for him to take action instead of waiting until the very last minute?
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the Minister of Education.
Hon. Stephen Lecce: As the Chief Medical Officer of Health has confirmed—and local medical officers of health have done the same: They have noted that the schools have been safe. We’ve always acknowledged that schools reflect our community.
Back last summer, we put in place a $1.6-billion plan that allowed us to hire 7,000 staff, 1,400 additional custodians, improve air ventilation in 95% of schools, procure 40,000 HEPA units to support them, more than quadrupled mental health funding for students from when the former Liberal government was in power. And we’re the only province in the nation to have a targeted asymptomatic testing program. That has all led us to one of the lowest case rates for youth under 20 in Canada, because we followed that advice.
Yes, Mr. Speaker, we are obviously broadening the consultation to ensure we get this decision right, to not compromise the incredible hard work and sacrifice that Ontarians have made together to get our case rates down over the past weeks and get our vaccination up in the province of Ontario.
Horwath: Well, Speaker, I just have to say it speaks volumes that, for a year almost, the government didn’t even bother to launch a consultation and they waited until the very last minute to engage at this point, which is just completely unacceptable, considering that it has been, as I said, close to a year that this Premier and this government have been dismissing concerns about school safety.
In fact, one of the teachers who spoke out against this particular last-minute consultation says this. Erin Roy, an Essex-area educator, says “... giving somebody a day’s notice when we’ve been begging all year to be consulted on these decisions ... I don’t think is genuine.”
Schools were supposed to be the first to open and the last to close. This government attacked teachers who raised COVID questions all the way along and now the science table has weighed in, public health has weighed in and educators have weighed in, and they’ve all said it’s time to safely look at a regional approach to open schools. When is the government going to do that?
Hon. Stephen Lecce: Let’s take the perspective of Dr. Juni, the head of the science table, who reported last week that Ontario, unlike other places in the world, did a relatively good job. If you compare it to the United Kingdom, our way of masking kids is much, much better. Dr. Williams said just days ago, “Our schools were safe before we closed down in the rapid rise of the third wave.”
We have consulted. We have invested. We’ve put in place a plan that leads the nation and our commitment is to take the time to get this right, to continue to consult and to provide the certainty all parents and students in Ontario deserve.
Ms. Andrea Horwath: It has been a really tough year for parents and for kids. Particularly because they’ve been stuck at home for months, kids are missing their friends and they’re missing the social interactions that we all know that they need. Parents have been missing a normal life but also have been very, very worried about their children’s ability to learn. They’ve been watching their kids become more and more depressed and more and more lonely. Nothing that they can do about that has occurred, though. They are sitting unable to address what’s happening to their children.
The Premier should have made schools a top priority and he didn’t. Instead, he denied that there were problems in schools, he attacked teachers and education workers and he had the gall, at a time like this, to make cuts to our classrooms. I think it’s time for this Premier to actually follow the science table advice, listen to the advice that they’re receiving and provide the money to every region necessary to open their schools safely. Will he do that?
Hon. Stephen Lecce: We’ll continue to provide school boards with unprecedented access to investment, $1.6 billion in this current school year, $2 billion in the coming school year, an over-half-a-billion-dollar increase in the grants for student needs and $85 million targeting learning supports in summer learning, as well as a $1.6-billion renewal of COVID-19 resources.
The difference between this year and next year is that there are no federal dollars. The province is leading the way entirely by ensuring every public health measure is in place, even though we know with vaccinations of all students double dosed by September and with all Canadians potentially double dosed by September it gives us a great sense of hope about the fall. Notwithstanding that, we have those investments in place. There is a commitment to parents and to students and to the staff within our schools that we’re going to keep them safe as we look forward.
Every school must be searched for the graves of our ancestors
Ms. Suze Morrison: My question is to the Premier. Indigenous people across Canada are hurting. This weekend the bodies of 215 lost children were discovered at a mass gravesite near the former Kamloops residential school. The death of Indigenous children is a crime against humanity and the country must own up to its past, as must all governments and all institutions.
It is a great open secret that children lie on the properties of former residential schools, an open secret that Canadians can no longer look back from. In keeping with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Missing Children Project, every school must be searched for the graves of our ancestors. Will this government commit today to searching the grounds of the former residential schools in Ontario for lost Indigenous children?
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the government House leader.
Hon. Paul Calandra: I appreciate the question from the honourable member and I understand how challenging this past weekend has been. I think the request is certainly a reasonable one and we look forward to working with First Nations to ensure that that gets done.
Ms. Suze Morrison: All Indigenous people living today in Canada are survivors of Canada’s genocide, survivors of Indian residential schools, survivors of the Indian Act, survivors of the Sixties Scoop, survivors of Indian residential schools, survivors of the Indian Act, survivors of the Sixties Scoop, survivors of ongoing child apprehension and survivors of ongoing systemic racism which attempts to erase identities, cultures and languages. This government must work toward an honest reckoning with our past. It’s time for the Ontario government to accept responsibility and take action to ensure justice, dignity and equity for all Indigenous people. Will this government commit today to secure justice for all the families impacted by the horrors of Indian residential schools and create an annual day of mourning and remembrance for those we lost to residential schools, the survivors and their families?
Hon. Paul Calandra: I really do appreciate the question from the honourable member. Obviously, the member from Kiiwetinoong’s message was very clearly heard by all of us, Mr. Speaker, and I certainly do look forward to working closely with the members opposite to ensure that perhaps even before we adjourn this place that we can bring forward a bill that would recognize something like that. So, I do look forward to working with the member. The member, of course, will know how important private members’ business is in this place. I think that certainly is something that we should be working on together.
Will the government rip up Section 2 of Bill 213 today?
Mr. Terence Kernaghan: My question is to the Premier. Last week, the review board for colleges and universities, PEQAB, rejected Charles McVety’s university application, and Ontarians gave a sigh of relief. This government snuck favourable legislation into an omnibus bill to allow Charles McVety an even bigger platform for spewing his hateful bigotry against the 2SLGBTQ community and Muslim Ontarians. This bill should have never been passed in the first place, and members on this side of the House were proud to vote against it.
On the eve of Pride, it’s absolutely necessary this government take a stand against all homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in our province. Will the government do the right thing and rip up section 2 of Bill 213 today?
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the parliamentary assistant and member for Northumberland–Peterborough South.
Mr. David Piccini: We join the member opposite in condemning any form of hate in this province, regardless of where it may stem from. With respect to the legislation before the House, and with respect to the independent PEQAB process, as we said from day one, we lean on the independent, expert advice of Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board. We said we would respect their decision, and we’ve done just that.
Mr. Terence Kernaghan: If this government condemned hatred, then they wouldn’t have passed 213 and snuck in schedule 2 in the first place. My question is back to the Premier. Charles McVety has already launched a campaign to convince the government to give royal assent to his bill. He’s now attacking the public servants who reviewed his application, has put out a video calling for the government to ignore the process, something they might be willing to do for their long-time political buddy. Every day this legislation sits on the books is one day closer to giving Charles McVety what he wants. The only way forward is to rip up the section of the bill to add transparency to PEQAB process.
Along with my colleagues, I have legislation to rip up section 2 of Bill 213. Will the government do the right thing and pass this legislation immediately?
Mr. David Piccini: The strength of our post-secondary system is because of the independent analysis of groups like the PEQAB process. It’s because of the independent processes, independent of politicians, that we have a high-quality education system—a high-quality education system void of the hate that the member speaks opposite. We’ll always respect that independent process. It’s because of those independent processes that we’ve seen expansion at Algoma University of the degree-granting authority. It’s because of that independence that we’ve seen OCAD expand their process. We’ve said from day one we’d respect that independent process, and that’s exactly what we’ve done.
Will the government make Indigenous education and the true teaching of residential schools mandatory?
Ms. Kathleen O. Wynne: I want to acknowledge and thank the member from Kiiwetinoong for his remarks. My first three grandchildren’s paternal moshum and kokum were survivors of residential school. A few years ago, on a field trip to a sugar bush, when my eldest grandchild was in grade 1, a child in the class asked where all the First Nations people had gone. My daughter happened to be volunteering and she said, “Well, they’re right here.” And as the member from Kiiwetinoong said, they are right here. We are all here.
We cannot expect children to know our shared shame or our history, our true history unless we teach it. So my question to the Premier: Will the government reverse its decision of 2019 and make Indigenous education and the true teaching of residential schools mandatory at both the elementary and the secondary levels?
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the government House leader.
Hon. Paul Calandra: I certainly appreciate the question from the member opposite. Look, it has become clearer and clearer every day, if it hasn’t been to people, how important it is that we do that you will we can to ensure that there’s reconciliation across Canada. I think that the member opposite’s words today were just another in a series of very powerful indications of how important it is. So I certainly want to work and continue to work with all members in the House, and in a nonpartisan way, to make sure that we can move the ball even further.
One of the hardest things of being a member here, having been elected here, is to hear the member from Kiiwetinoong talk about he doesn’t feel part of this place and how it doesn’t always reflect the Ontario or the Canada that he knows. We have a job to do, to make sure that we get that done, Mr. Speaker. Today, our focus is going to be on the horrific circumstances that we saw in British Columbia and making sure that we can do our best to do right by those families and those families in the province of Ontario who have suffered for far too long.
Ms. Kathleen O. Wynne: Mr. Speaker, with all due respect, the focus for today, yes, is on those little children whose remains were found. It is a horrific story that, as the member for Kiiwetinoong has said, has been repeated all over this country. And so, if the government is serious, Mr. Speaker—and I appreciate the gestures of flags being raised at half-mast and so on. I stood in this House as the Premier and made an apology, and that was a gesture. But those gestures have to be backed up with action. One of the first things that this government did when it came into office was to stop the writing of curriculum that would have embedded the truth about Indigenous people in this country in our curriculum.
Will the Premier please make it clear and ensure that that has been rectified, that, in fact, the path that we were on in 2018, which was to back up the gestures with real action, that that action is being taken and that if it’s not, that it will start tomorrow?
Hon. Paul Calandra: Frankly, Mr. Speaker, I think the path that we take can be a better one. I absolutely, positively, believe that it can be a better one. It can be a better one for First Nations when it comes to health, when it comes to education. It can be a better one for the people of the province of Ontario so that they can better understand the horrors that the member from Kiiwetinoong has talked about. Do we have more work to do? Absolutely, we do, Mr. Speaker. We have the responsibility to help, as the member from Toronto Centre talked about—ensuring that we go to other residential schools to find the truth at these schools.
A complete ban on evictions for small businesses
Ms. Jill Andrew: Speaker, tomorrow is June 1. Rent is due yet again for small business owners in St. Paul’s. Store owners who can have pivoted online and, of course, curbside delivery but overall, sales have plummeted for most of our small businesses.
The Eglinton Crosstown LRT has literally ripped through our midtown community in St. Paul’s for over a decade. Recently, Crosslinx won their court case against the government’s Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario. Crosslinx got the pandemic declared an emergency, which means that they are negotiating with the government for more cash to complete the project and a later completion day. All this means years more of chaos, barely any customer parking, blocked access to storefronts, inaccessible sidewalks and in general, economic trauma to our businesses in St. Paul’s and across that Eglinton LRT strip.
My question is to the Premier: Will this government finally support our NDP official opposition motion demanding a complete ban on evictions for our commercial small businesses throughout the pandemic? Yes, or no?
Hon. Paul Calandra: Look, we have been working flat out to ensure that our small, medium and large job creators have all the tools that they need to not only survive what has been a devastating global health and economic pandemic, but as we emerge from the pandemic so that they can thrive like never before in the province of Ontario. It is why we are so committed to a framework that is, yes, cautious, Mr. Speaker, but will get us through these final stages of what I hope will be the end of COVID-19 in the province of Ontario so that, again, we can see a rebound in our economic activity, the type of rebound that we saw prior to COVID-19.
Prior to COVID-19, Ontario was leading in job creation. We were leading in economic development. We were making important investments to help grow our economy, transit and transportation. That’s what we want to see as we emerge from COVID-19, and we’re giving them all the tools that they need so that they can prosper as we come out of this.
Ms. Jill Andrew: Speaker, when a small business closes, families suffer, jobs are lost and the very culture, heritage and identity of our communities also disappear. This government must consult with our small businesses, loosen the eligibility requirements of the broken Ontario Small Business Support Grant program, keep workers on payroll and help businesses get to reopening day, especially those that are owned by Black and racialized and women entrepreneurs who we know historically have faced systemic discrimination.
In Little Jamaica alone, Black Urbanism TO reported over 140 businesses closed since the beginning of the construction, and that list has ballooned with the pandemic.
My question, again, is to the Premier: Will the Premier support my motion calling for a Little Jamaica economic health and community wellness strategy, which includes direct funding to small businesses, heritage designation of Little Jamaica, an arts strategy showcasing the cultural wealth of our community and the building of real affordable housing in all new residential construction?
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction.
Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: I appreciate the member opposite bringing forward these concerns. We have hosted numerous consultations with business owners, chambers and racialized communities across this province to see the impact that COVID is having on specific businesses. We will continue to ensure that those businesses have access to the government; we’ll continue listening to their concerns.
We have to date, through the Ontario Small Business Support Grant, paid out over 110,000 small businesses totalling over $1.5 billion in support. We’ve also put forward over 86,000 automatic second payments totalling an additional $1.2 billion to support these small businesses that continue to struggle as we get through the pandemic.
As we look forward, Mr. Speaker, the reopening plan has been set forward. We’re going to continue to invest in the digitization—
Interjection.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Toronto–St. Paul’s, come to order.
Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: We’re going to continue to do whatever we can to ensure that small businesses can get back on their feet.
Will the House leader back away from this assault on democracy and permit PC MPPs a free vote on today’s motion to extend the emergency orders?
Mr. Roman Baber: Speaker, to the government House leader: Today the House leader will whip the vote and force PC MPPs to vote in favour of a motion giving this government power to extend the emergency orders until December. The extension will be done by a government-run committee without debate or vote in this House.
Today, the government will cut Parliament out of its most impactful decisions of a lifetimes. The Premier will have the ability to close schools, lock down businesses and prevent us from seeing family, all because he says so. Speaker, this is an unprecedented abuse of power. This is the most undemocratic thing to be done in this Parliament since it was convened more than 150 years ago. It’s unnecessary and it’s hostile to Canada’s democracy. Our democracy should not be eroded at a time of an emergency; that’s what dictatorships do.
So, my question to the government House leader: Will the House leader back away from this assault on democracy and permit PC MPPs a free vote on today’s motion to extend the emergency orders?
Hon. Paul Calandra: Mr. Speaker, it’s interesting coming from this gentleman, who all of a sudden has become very independent minded, because he voted in favour of every single measure that this government took in order to keep the people of the province of Ontario safe. In fact, when the original reopening Ontario bill was passed, he was happy to go into the lobby and vote in favour. Unlike the member for Cambridge, who stood on a point of order on her own and voted against the bill, this gentleman here was enthusiastic in voting in support of that bill.
Mr. Speaker, we are very happy that we have made such tremendous progress in defeating COVID-19. The battle is not quite done yet and I know that a lot of people would like to declare victory. It’s not over yet. If we’re going to see our small, medium and large job creators prosper, if we’re going to see the province move out of this and put COVID behind us, again, we need to work very hard.
So, in response to the member opposite, no, we will not declare victory over COVID-19 until we actually have.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question?
Mr. Roman Baber: Speaker, I’ve indicted the government that this is the most undemocratic thing to be done in this House for the last 150 years and all that the House leader can do is suggest that I voted in favour of this a year ago. This is about a month after he threatened to kick me out for opposing the lockdowns, and all of these members are sitting there and they know what went on and yet still they clap for him. Yes, I voted for this a year ago, and imagine a year later we are still at it again, even though the entire world moved on.
BC is almost out. Alberta says it will remove all restrictions, even masks, in a month. Meanwhile, they want the ability to extend it by six months.
Yes, my friend from Cambridge stood out and she was kicked out; she is seated a few feet away from me. I remained for six months to try and steer this government away from the insanity, from the catastrophe, that they have imposed on this province. The member from Cambridge and I are doing our jobs. We were sent here to represent our constituents, not to be mouthpieces repeating talking points or voting how we are told. You see, this is what this motion is doing, Mr. Speaker: It’s eliminating the function of this chamber. So, my question: Will the House leader permit a free vote on this motion, yes or no?
Hon. Paul Calandra: I must have missed that extra six months that he granted to us to help us in COVID, Mr. Speaker.
This is a gentleman who, in March, voted—
Interjection.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for York Centre, come to order.
Government House leader, please reply.
Hon. Paul Calandra: This is a member who, in March, voted in favour of measures; in April, voted in favour of these measures; in May, voted in favour of these measures; in June, voted in favour of these measures; in July, voted in favour of these measures; in September, voted in favour of these measures—now, of course, from September, October, November and December, we’re just finding out that he was doing that for us. I appreciate how much he was doing that for us and the assistance that he gave us in steering the province through COVID-19. But I’m also appreciative of the fact that he’s now over there, Mr. Speaker.
Interjection.
Mr. Roman Baber: Why are you so obsessed with me, Paul?
Hon. Paul Calandra: Because I find you funny, Roman.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order. Stop the clock. The member for York Centre will come to order. The government House leader will come to order. If it continues, we’ll move to warnings very quickly. Please start the clock.
A third round of funding support for small biz
Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: My question is to the Premier.
When the Premier put forward a reopening plan for the province, this road map still means businesses will be closed for weeks, some for months. In fact, this is the first thing St. Catharines gym owner Colin Wolff looked at when counting the days backwards until he can reopen. He will not be able to fully reopen for months.
Mr. Premier, if this is the plan we are going to be following, then business immediately need a third round of funding. The existing eligibility issues must be immediately addressed and fixed on the current grant. Will you provide details of what kind of third round of funding for small businesses will be created so that local Niagara businesses can finally put this pandemic behind them and get back on their feet?
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Associate Minister for Small Business and Red Tape Reduction.
Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: We recognize how difficult this time is for many small businesses. It’s also why we have put forward unprecedented supports. Over $2.8 billion of direct supports have been paid to small businesses across Ontario: 110,000 in the form of first payments and 86,000 businesses in the form of second payments.
Along with those supports, we have also reinvested in the largest investment to help businesses go digital: A $57-million program last year and the Digital Main Street program now is an additional $10 million to ensure that they can continue to help businesses pivot. We have also put forward supports like 100% of your property tax that is covered; 100% of your energy costs are covered as well.
We recognize that these are significantly challenging times for these business owners, but we are putting forward supports: Over 2.8 billion just in the Ontario Small Business Support Grant to ensure that they have they resources they need to get through this very difficult time.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): And the supplementary question?
Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: Let me just say this: This is not reassuring to small businesses in St. Catharines or in Niagara that are faced with another prolonged lockdown because of this government.
Last month, the Niagara region did their third round of COVID-19 impact on Niagara businesses and their findings shine a light on the absolute devastation and cost of repeat lockdowns made by this government’s failures. The survey indicated that 81% of businesses experienced a loss of income in 2020. The majority of the respondents indicated that it will take over three years before they see a full recovery.
The businesses in Niagara and in St. Catharines want to know why this government refuses to announce a round of third funding for businesses while it ignores evictions, insurance gouging and report after report about impacts of their repeated lockdowns? It’s not pivoting, it’s survival of the fittest in small businesses.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): And the associate minister.
Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria: Mr. Speaker, this government has paid out $2.8 billion in direct supports to small businesses that have been impacted by this pandemic just through the Ontario Small Business Support Grant.
We have also now included and introduced the travel grant of another $100 million to support those businesses that are in the travel industry that have been impacted. Those again are up to $20,000 grants that this government has put forward—$100 million to ensure that those businesses also get the support they need.
Mr. Speaker, we’re going to continue to do whatever we can to support small businesses, just like we did before the pandemic when we brought in over a 9% reduction in the small business tax rate across the province—over $330 million in savings through red tape reduction that we put forward, making sure that we modernize and keep Ontario competitive and continue working for our small business owners across this province through significant supports that we’ll continue to put forward to keep—
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much. The next question?
How are we once again in this situation with seniors 80-plus?
Mr. John Fraser: My question’s for the Deputy Premier. I first have to say that it’s very disappointing and discouraging to hear the response to the member from Don Valley West that the government can’t reinstate the curriculum that they undid.
Last week, many seniors and their families felt a sigh of relief when the Premier announced that people 80-plus could rebook their second vaccination appointments earlier. This morning, that sense of relief turned into anger and frustration once again for too many seniors in my community. Our phones are ringing off the hook. As of 9 a.m. this morning, there were no more appointments available in Ottawa.
Speaker, through you, how are we once again in a situation where we’re asking seniors 80-plus, many of whom experienced difficulty booking their first appointment, to go through the same process the second time, with also given the caveat last week, “There’s no guarantee you’ll get an an earlier appointment.”
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Government House leader.
Hon. Paul Calandra: I apologize that he’s not going to get an answer to his second question until the supplementary. But let me be very clear, Mr. Speaker: At no time did I say that this government and that the members on this side of the House wouldn’t do everything we can to ensure that there is reconciliation in the province Ontario. What I have said is that we will not wait years to get it done. We will continue to work hard—whether it’s with the Minister of Education, whether it’s with the Minister of Indigenous Affairs, whether it’s with the Minister of Finance or the members opposite—to ensure that we have a true reconciliation.
Today, Mr. Speaker, is about what we saw on the weekend, the horrific events of the weekend. I want to focus on that today and not politics. For one day I would hope that the members of the Liberal Party could put their focus on what is important. And what’s important today is respecting what we saw on the weekend and making sure that the words from the member from Kiiwetinoong and the member for Toronto Centre—that we get it done.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Ottawa South, supplementary.
Mr. John Fraser: What’s clear today is, we need to teach our children.
Deputy Premier: As of 8:15 this morning, a resident told me she was told there are no more appointments available in Ottawa. What I can’t understand is how we couldn’t procure a system or get ourselves organized to not make people go through the same darn process again. It’s like we didn’t learn anything the first time. If the government was serious about prioritizing seniors they would have a system that would automatically book appointments, or figure out a way to do that, or organize it so more people weren’t on the phone frustrated than happy.
Making seniors and their families go through this again is just plain cruel. I know that the phones are ringing in Nepean, Kanata and Ottawa West–Nepean, and the same thing in your offices. Speaker, through you: Why does this government continue to overpromise and underdeliver, telling Ontario seniors they can rebook their vaccine appointments sooner and then literally saying last week there aren’t enough appointments to go around?
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the Minister of Health.
Hon. Christine Elliott: I would say to the member opposite our system and our government is prioritizing seniors. As of today 80-year-olds, if they wish, can change the appointment that they already have—the second appointment—for an earlier appointment. There are vaccines available. There are appointments available—perhaps not in the same pharmacy where they received their first, if they received an AstraZeneca vaccine, however, it is available on our website at ontario.ca/coronavirus. They can check which pharmacies are available, which ones do have the AstraZeneca vaccine and they can rebook. There are appointments available, there is vaccine available and seniors are not required to change. It is only if they wish to have an accelerated dosage.
Most of them already have their second appointment booked. This is something they can do if they wish. If they choose not to, if it’s too much trouble for them to do, they can stick with the appointment that they already have. It’s very clear and it’s very simple to do.
Will the minister put an end to eviction applications and hearings for the duration of the pandemic?
Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: My question is to the Minister of Housing. Last week I attended a virtual hearing at the Landlord and Tenant Board for two constituents in Parkdale–High Park. Theresa De Mesa, a senior, and her disabled son Anthony have reliably paid their rent for 30 years, but their landlord, Nuspor, is trying to evict them on issues of cleanliness. Despite the stay-at-home order the Landlord and Tenant Board is processing hundreds of evictions each week, putting the very lives of people like Theresa and Anthony at risk. Why is the minister allowing this? Will the minister put an end to eviction applications and hearings for the duration of the pandemic?
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Hon. Steve Clark: I want to thank the member for the question. Our government has been crystal clear that when there’s a stay-at-home order there would be a pause on the issuance of evictions at the Landlord and Tenant Board. This is something that Ontario’s Attorney General did right at the start of the pandemic. Every single time the government has decided to have a stay-at-home order we have invoked a residential evictions ban.
Through you, Speaker: Again, as I’ve said many times in this House, the Attorney General has been working very diligently to deal with the staffing issues at the Landlord and Tenant Board. I want to remind the House we put a bill forward in this House, the Protecting Tenants and Strengthening Community Housing Act. It was something that needed to be done. That party across, the official opposition, voted against it.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question.
Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: Speaker, virtual hearings are a nightmare. There are so many technical issues, tenants get disconnected while giving testimonies and some are unable to reconnect back into the hearing. The entire experience is confusing. Multiple hearings are scheduled at the same time and there are frequent interruptions.
Now we’ve heard that this Conservative government is planning on making virtual hearings permanent even though it is clear that tenants are not getting a fair process. Speaker, I’d like to know if the minister has witnessed any virtual hearings at the Landlord and Tenant Board, because I have, and I can tell you they don’t work. Will the minister commit today to ensure that virtual hearings will not be permanent?
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Attorney General.
Hon. Doug Downey: The priority of our government is the health and safety of everybody in Ontario. Whether they’re interacting through one of our tribunals or independent tribunals, I can tell you, Speaker, that, as the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has indicated, when there’s a stay-at-home order there is a pause on the enforcement of evictions. But that means that we still have to have the system working for both tenants and landlords, Mr. Speaker. We have a record number of tribunal appointees hearing these matters so the people who have issues, whether they be tenants or landlords, can have their matters heard independently and safely.
Repeal Bill 124
Mr. Mike Schreiner: I’d like to thank the member for Kiiwetinoong for his powerful words today. My question today is for the Premier. Last Friday, I attended a Zoom rally with thousands of nurses and health care professionals calling on the Premier to repeal Bill 124. Nurses are tired of the Premier calling them heroes and champions, and then capping and cutting their wages.
Tonight I will be cheering for the 500 health care workers at the game while I cheer for the Leafs, but I know all health care workers across this province will cheer if the Premier repeals Bill 124 and gives them the pay increase they’ve earned and they deserve. It’s a yes or no question: Will the Premier do it today?
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Government House leader.
Hon. Paul Calandra: I think the honourable member can appreciate how important nurses have been to helping guide us through this pandemic, Mr. Speaker, we make no bones about that. That is why we’re investing in an additional 2,000 nurses. But it goes further than that: some 20,000 new additional PSWs. There is a lot of work that is being done to increase the amount of nurses in the system, because we know how important they are.
It is true, Mr. Speaker, we did inherit a system that was woefully underfunded, that had ICU capacity at one of the lowest in North America. We’re changing that. Finally, Mr. Speaker, we’re increasing nurses, we’re increasing ICU capacity, we’re funding PSWs like never before. We’re building long-term care, Mr. Speaker, but we are still allowing, of course, those people, those heroes who work within the system, to see the benefits of their hard work. That has not been taken away through Bill 124 and I hope the member opposite will appreciate that and work with us as we bring in thousands of additional nurses, thousands of additional PSWs, to make our system better for everybody.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.
Mr. Mike Schreiner: Speaker, I guess that answer is “no” to the nurses who are tired, to the thousands of nurses thinking about leaving the profession, to the nurses who care for our loved ones. But it’s also the PSWs, Speaker. PSWs are saying they’re thinking of leaving the profession because their pandemic pay expires in a month. I’ve been told if we’re about to attract human resource capacity to our health care system, both nurses and PSWs, we need to pay them like the heroes they are. So I’m going to give the members opposite an opportunity to answer this one. Through you, Speaker, will the government commit to making the pandemic pay for PSWs permanent, yes or no?
Hon. Paul Calandra: What we are going to commit to do is to ensure that we have the best system available for those who choose to work as PSWs in the province of Ontario. One of the first meetings I had when I was elected was with a PSW who, yes, talked about wages, how important it was to have increased wages, whether it for PSWs or home care workers. That’s why we had a staffing study, Mr. Speaker. We knew that one of the problems we have is not only wages but it is also the amount of PSWs in the system. That’s why we are hiring 27,000 additional PSWs.
And we go further than that: the question is on PSWs, but 2,000 additional nurses. We have a bill that will come before this House today to recognize and organize PSWs, something that they have been asking for, for years. We are making tremendous progress, because we know how important they are in helping get us through this pandemic. But not just the pandemic. Going forward, whether it’s health care or long-term care, Mr. Speaker, we will have their back, and we are the first government in generations to make sure that they do.
Second-shot uncertainty
Mr. Faisal Hassan: My question is for the Premier. In York South–Weston, we are designated hot spots and home to essential front-line workers, those folks who the Premier calls heroes and champions. However, we have been left behind and neglected in this government’s mishandled COVID strategy. We have no permanent vaccine facility, and my office is flooded with telephone calls from confused people who got a first shot of AstraZeneca at a pharmacy and now are being told they cannot get their second doses there, and are left wondering what they do now.
With the vaccine expiring shortly, what is the government doing to ensure these folks in our community get their second dose, and why has the government not been able to get anything right in what is now over 15 months of this pandemic?
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Health.
Hon. Christine Elliott: I thank the member very much for the question. As the member will know, the doses, which we’re now receiving in good supply—particularly the Pfizer doses, but we still have many AstraZeneca doses left as well—are being allocated equitably across all 34 of the public health unit regions. It’s up to each individual unit region now to allocate to any hot spots that they wish to designate. That’s available to the city of Toronto to do.
However, with respect to the AstraZeneca shots, we now know that there were some that were held back because we had to check them for quality assurance, because we want to make sure that anything we give to Ontarians is, first, going to be safe, and secondly, is going to be effective. We have received over 30,000 of those shots that have been returned from quality assurance that are ready to be extended and can be given to people. They are available through pharmacies or primary care providers. People can find out where they can receive the shot—it may not be from the original pharmacy where they received it, but they can go online onto the website ontario.ca/coronavirus and they can find out the pharmacies that are carrying those AstraZeneca doses. They can call and book an appointment to receive their second shot.
The Speaker): That concludes our Question Period for this morning.