Question Period: Thursday, June 3
"Middle school called."
And that’s a wrap! After skipping out on many a debate this session, Premier DOUG FORD was in the House for a feisty final Question Period.
Ford threw shade at NDP Leader ANDREA HORWATH (“Sitting in the bleachers, throwing sniper shots, she has done absolutely nothing during the pandemic”) and MPP TARAS NATYSHAK — a common foil who tends to get a rise out of Ford (who called him the “temporary member [for Essex] because we’re going to change that next election”). Horwath and Natyshak were chided by Speaker TED ARNOTT for calling out Ford’s absences — (“This is the first time this Premier has actually shown up to the field in a long time”) — which is against the Standing Order rulebook.
THE HIGHLIGHTS: Is there anyone in our schools who actually approves of this Premier’s scheme? — Public inquiry into Covid response — Why has the Premier lost confidence in his team of all-stars? — Where is the air conditioning? — Metrics for normalcy…Why not resign now, Premier? — Pushing the feds to drop legal battle with residential school survivors — Why wasn’t there a plan for schools? — Repeal Bill 124 — Bring in $10-a-day child care — “Stretch goal:” Mandate lower auto insurance rates in the 905 — Infrastructure PA has private holdings in Sienna and Chartwell — Thanks and farewell from the Speaker.
Is there anyone in our schools who actually approves of this Premier’s scheme?
TRANSCRIPT — Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, my first question this morning is for the Premier. Yesterday, the Premier rejected advice from teachers, school boards, pediatricians and from his own science table—yet again—and he kept schools closed but promised outdoor graduation ceremonies literally for every single grade. But schools have said they can’t deliver that. In fact, principals say that the Premier’s plan is not practical, it is not possible, it is unrealistic and it is disrespectful.
Is there anyone in our schools, in our children’s hospitals or anywhere who actually approves of this Premier’s scheme?
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the Premier.
Hon. Doug Ford: I want to thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. When Dr. Brown, head of the science table, came out and said we’re going to have an increase of 6% to 11%, that equals 2,000 to 4,000 new cases. The Leader of the Opposition may not think that’s too much to create spread and create another fourth wave. The difference between myself and the Leader of the Opposition is, I don’t want a fourth wave. The Leader of the Opposition wants us to keep going and going and going. I don’t. I want to make sure we protect our kids.
As for the doctors, Dr. Peter Juni said, “Ontario, unlike other places in the world, did a relatively good job. If you compare to the UK, our way of cohorting, our way of masking kids is much, much better.”
We have Dr. Juni. We have Dr. Brooks Fallis. We have Dr. Foster. We have Dr. Fisman. We have a lot of doctors who are saying this is not safe, and I couldn’t get a consensus. But we’re going to make sure we have a great end of June, a great July and a great August for the kids and the rest of Ontarians.
Ms. Andrea Horwath: This Premier at every stage of this pandemic has refused to listen to the expert advice. In fact, the Premier made a big show of asking teachers and principals and pediatricians and experts about school reopening and all agreed to put our children first.
Instead, the Premier has done the exact opposite, as he has done all the way along. Alex Munter, the CEO of CHEO—the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario—says this: “Ontario kids have been out of school longer than children almost anywhere else in the world. I am overwhelmed by sadness about all this. It feels like we adults have let our children down.”
Why did the Premier ignore the advice of every single person he asked and decide once again not to put our kids first?
Hon. Doug Ford: We’re making sure that the spread of the deadly B1617 variant, better known as the Indian variant, doesn’t spread. Dr. Loh said it’s going to be the predominant variant in July. We want to do that to the people of Peel after what we went through out there?
This all goes to root cause. Root cause is because we have porous borders. We have 134,000 people crossing our land borders—not even including our two big international airports, Pearson and now Buffalo, Buffalo is one of our international airports—because thousands of people are walking across the border. In one week alone—the ones we caught, by the way, and I’m sure there’s triple that—over 400 cases of these variants came into Ontario in just the last week, every single week. I’m not going to chance it. I’m going to make sure we protect the kids.
Like the Leader of the Opposition, in my next question I’ll rattle off 15 doctors that all say, “Thank you goodness he didn’t open up—
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. The final supplementary.
Ms. Andrea Horwath: This Premier continues to seek advice and then ignore it and it’s the families of Ontario that pay the price. He ignored the advice to make our schools safe so that kids could engage in education. He ignored the advice to make our students a priority in response to this COVID-19 pandemic. He literally ignored the serious warnings about the likelihood of the third wave. Even as he now points to the fear of variants spreading in our schools, he now says we can open up the economy faster.
Speaker, what is going on over there? The variants are going to spread in schools but they’re not going to spread in shopping malls, they’re not going to spread in big box stores?
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the Premier.
Hon. Doug Ford: I can tell you that we’re focused on making sure we move forward until the kids can go to camp, the kids can go join sports teams, the kids can have a great summer. The Leader of the Opposition doesn’t worry about the kids; she worries about politics. That’s what this is all about. She doesn’t have a worry in the world. Sitting in the bleachers, throwing sniper shots, she has done absolutely nothing during the pandemic while every Ontarian is working their back off.
Thank goodness we have the best health care workers in the entire world, and thank goodness we’ve gone in the right direction. There’s a reason why the cases have come down: because of the great plan that we put forward, because of the great health care workers making sure that people are getting their first and second doses. And it’s just amazing how they’ve performed, Mr. Speaker. When you’re looking at numbers of anywhere from 140,000 up to as high as 190,000 vaccinations every single day, they’re the heroes. They’re the ones that are making things happen, and I’m just very, very grateful for all their support helping Team Ontario.
Public inquiry into Covid response
Ms. Andrea Horwath: This is the first time this Premier has actually shown up to the field in a long time, never mind—
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): You can’t make reference to the absence of any member, today or retrospectively. Leader of the Opposition.
Ms. Andrea Horwath: Absolutely. My question is actually to the Premier. Look, Ontario is the only province in our entire country that does not have our kids back in schools. The failure in this, the failure in not getting our kids back to school points to, I think, the need very clearly for a thorough and independent investigation of Ontario’s response to COVID-19.
We know that it wasn’t just schools. This government ignored warnings and marched us right into the third wave. They left front-line essential heroes literally on their own when it came to paid sick days, when it came to urgency of vaccinations; 4,000 seniors lost their lives in long-term care from COVID-19 but also from neglect and from dehydration.
We, the official opposition, have called for a full public inquiry. Will the Ford government establish one so this never happens again?
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The government House leader.
Hon. Paul Calandra: I think I’ve answered this on a number of occasions. Of course, the Premier was, in fact, the first leader to initiate a commission with respect to our long-term care. We’ve had a report from the Auditor General, Mr. Speaker.
But I think, as you’re hearing today, the Leader of the Opposition would like to fly the “Mission Accomplished” banner. We’re not there yet, Mr. Speaker. There’s still a lot of work that needs to be done to get us through this pandemic. And yes, while over close to 9.5 million Ontarians have received a vaccination—that is really, really good news—while the numbers are starting to come down, unlike the Leader of the Opposition, we know that there is still work to do. What we’re going to do is we’re going to focus on that work. We’re going to focus or getting our economy back on track so it is the leading economy like it was prior to the pandemic, Mr. Speaker. We’ll let the Leader of the Opposition talk about things that really aren’t important to people of Ontario right now. What’s important to the people of Ontario is getting through this pandemic and getting our economy back on track and keeping people safe.
Ms. Andrea Horwath: The legislative session that’s coming to a close today started on February 16, literally days after the science table warned this Premier of the dire consequences of rushing the reopening of the economy. But this Premier ignored that advice, and of course, as predicted, the third wave arrived in March. By April, the science table was pleading for paid sick days and the closure of non-essential businesses, and what did the government do? They padlocked playgrounds instead.
Anthony Dale of the Ontario Hospital Association said this on February 12: “An exhausted, overextended hospital sector is likely going to have to deal with a (third) pandemic wave....“The consequences of, and responsibility for” that “rests with the government of Ontario.”
Will this government start taking responsibility today, launch a public inquiry so everyone in Ontario can learn exactly what happened to make sure that it never can happen again?
Hon. Paul Calandra: I’ll tell you what we did: We knew that when we came into government in 2018 that there was a number of things that had to be done to improve the health care system in the province of Ontario. We inherited a system that could do 5,000 tests a day. We increased that to 75,000 tests. We inherited once of the lowest ICU capacities in North America. We knew we had to do better, and that’s why we started increasing ICU capacity before the pandemic, during the pandemic and we’ll continue to do that after the pandemic is behind us.
We knew we had to do work on long-term care because, under the Liberals, they built 600 long-term care beds during their time of office. That’s why we are building 30,000 additional long-term care beds. We knew we needed new nurses. That’s why we’re adding 2,000 new nurses. We knew we needed additional PSWs. That’s why we’re adding 27,000 PSWs.
We knew that we had to do what the previous Liberal government didn’t do, Mr. Speaker, and that’s put Ontario back on the right track. That is why before the pandemic, our economy was leading North America and, after it, it will again.
Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, the people of Ontario have lived through over a year of absolute tragedy—absolute tragedy: 8,798 people lost their lives to COVID-19 and counting; 4,000 seniors almost lost their lives to COVID-19, perished in long-term care homes from the virus and from dehydration and neglect; 1,638 people and counting lost their lives just in the third wave alone, which we know the government brought upon us.
Schools are shuttered. Youth are suffering from depression. Parents are beside themselves because their kids are lonely, they’re depressed, they have anxiety and they’re isolated. Businesses have gone bankrupt and dreams have been shattered. The Ford government made choices; many of those choices made this crisis worse. Many of those choices were literally against the advice of experts. This cannot happen again.
So, will this Premier acknowledge that people deserve answers, that there are actually lessons to be learned about Ontario’s response to COVID-19 and agree to a full public independent judicial inquiry today?
Hon. Paul Calandra: Again, Mr. Speaker, there you go. The Leader of the Opposition wanting to declare victory when we know that there is still a lot of work left to be done in the province of Ontario.
It is true that over 9.5 million Ontarians have received their first and many more are starting to get their second dose. That is true, Mr. Speaker, but there is still a lot of work left to be done. That’s why we’ve made critical investments in health care. That’s why we’ve made critical investments in long-term care. That is why we are continuing to make investments in transit and transportation, because we know that as we emerge from the pandemic, we want a strong and vibrant economy. That’s why the Minister of Education has ensured that we have had the safest schools in North America. There is a lot of work left to be done to get us beyond the pandemic.
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.
Hon. Paul Calandra: There will be a lot of work to be done to ensure that our economy returns to the strongest in North America, that we see the incredible amount of jobs that we had before the pandemic. So while the Leader of the Opposition wants to cast stones on the people of the province of Ontario, we’ll work to make the province of Ontario the best that it possibly can be.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. Stop the clock, please. All right. I realize this is the last or expected to be the last day of this spring sitting of the Legislature. I know members have a great deal of energy and passion that they wish to expend this morning. I want to allow a fulsome debate, but it’s getting a little noisy in here. Let’s put it that way. I’m going to have to start calling you to order and, if necessary, warning you and, of course, the next steps that follow if it continues. Thank you. Please start the clock. The member for Essex.
Why has the Premier lost confidence in his team of all-stars?
Mr. Taras Natyshak: My question is to the Premier. I want to sincerely thank the Premier for joining us today. A story in the Toronto Star this week quotes one of the Premier’s insiders ruminating on a cabinet shuffle and noting that the Minister of Municipal Affairs, the Minister of Infrastructure, the natural resources minister and the environment minister are all on the chopping block, going on to note that we can find candidates to replace them in 15 minutes. Speaker, can the Premier provide more details on why he’s lost confidence in his team of all-stars?
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Premier to respond.
Hon. Doug Ford: As I’ve always said since the day I got into politics, don’t believe everything you read in the news, and I apologize to our great media because we do have great media. But in saying that—
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.
Hon. Doug Ford: In saying that, Mr. Speaker, I can tell you, I’ve been in politics some 30-odd years, and I’ve never seen a better team. I’ve seen a better group of ministers, better caucus anywhere. I’ll put our team up against any federal, provincial, municipal team out there. We have a great team—
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Opposition, come to order.
Hon. Doug Ford: I can tell you one thing: They’ve done an incredible job in turning the mess around that we inherited from the Liberal-NDP government that destroyed our province for 15 years. We are leading North America in job creation and economic development. We’ve done a great job throughout this pandemic, from the beginning of this pandemic right up to today. We’re going to get people back to having a great summer, because of the great leadership, first of all, of the front-line health care workers and the doctors, and the people of Ontario, and our great caucus and cabinet.
Mr. Taras Natyshak: It’s not clear who the Premier is consulting nowadays. Maybe I should be directing these questions to Arthur, a new superstar in the ministers of the Premier’s cabinet. It seems like the Premier wants to blame everyone but himself for his government’s disastrous decisions. He used to call his team all-stars, and Lord knows, they have been doing a lot work, working overtime, to protect the king. Now he’s telling them that they could all be replaced in 15 minutes, a snap of a finger.
Speaker, has the Premier considered taking any personal responsibility, or is it everybody’s fault but his own?
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order. Order. Premier?
Hon. Doug Ford: Only the member for Essex—the temporary member, because we’re going to change that next election; we know we’re going to, and he knows it too—but anyway, only the member for Essex would take a shot at an 11-year-old little kid who has more integrity in his baby toe than he has in his whole body. As a matter of fact, I’d bring him down here—
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m going to caution the Premier on his language.
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Member for Essex, come to order.
Mr. John Fraser: Middle school called.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Member for Ottawa South, come to order. Premier, please conclude your response.
Hon. Doug Ford: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, as I was saying, we’re doing everything we can to make sure that we turn the corner on this pandemic. We’re throwing billions and billions of dollars at supporting our front-line health care workers; our education system, over $2 billion. We’ve just announced another $31 million for mental health, for education. It doesn’t matter what political stripe, all of us want to get out of this. And we’re going to get out of this. I just wish I’d had more constructive ideas from the opposition. There are no ideas. All it is criticize, criticize, and—
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Member for Essex, again: You can’t make reference to the absence of a member. Take a look around. There’s a reason. The next question.
[AFTER A FRIENDLY QUESTION ABOUT CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH…]
Where is the air conditioning?
Mr. John Vanthof: My question is to the Premier. We’ve met with members of Sienna Woodbridge Vista family counselling. They’ve been fighting for their family members to have adequate air conditioning for over a year. As we all know, in heat waves, rooms can become sweltering. We all know that. We were promised that this would be fixed, yet we are told that the Minister of Long-Term Care no longer even answers their emails. We were promised—the people of Ontario, the families of Ontario—that they would no longer have to swelter in those rooms, that this was an issue that the Premier was going to take head-on. Where? Where is that air conditioning?
Hon. Doug Ford: Thank you for the question. Ironically enough, I have a weekly update with the minister on where we’re going with air conditioning. I always look at 100%; right now, we’re at 83%. There are a lot of these older homes that need to get upgraded and make sure they put a transformer in there. But 100% of them have cooling areas, which is a big, big step forward compared to the disaster we were left with the Liberal-NDP government for 15 years, that wouldn’t even touch the air conditioning. And we put tens of millions of dollars in to help these homes.
But we’re 83% there. I am confident that we’re going to hit the 100% to have cooling in every single room. We get updated every single week, and we aren’t going to stop until we get 100%. But I can tell you one thing, Mr. Speaker: The folks in long-term care are 1,000 times better off now with air conditioning than they were under the Liberal-NDP government for 15 years, sweltering. Again, I’ve got to thank the reporter from CBC for bringing this to the attention. What a great job she did. We acted on it immediately.
Mr. John Vanthof: I appreciate the response from the Premier. Eighty-three per cent in cooling areas, but we all know that many of the people in long-term care don’t get to the cooling area. We know that. They’re in their room. Now, in his answer, he said 100% in a few months. Is that 100% in every room, or 100% in the cooling areas? Because, Premier, words matter. And when people are in their room and they can’t leave—and you know it and I know it, because my mom was in one of those rooms—
Hon. Doug Ford: So was my mother-in-law.
Mr. John Vanthof: I know that, and I respect that. They need to know, is there going to be air conditioning in every room, in every long-term-care home, as you just stated now? Because this weekend, it’s going to be 30 degrees in Timiskaming. That’s what I heard you say, Premier. Is that the case?
Hon. Lisa MacLeod: Aren’t you supposed to speak through the Chair?
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The members will please take their seats. I’ll remind members to make their comments through the Chair. The Premier to reply.
Hon. Doug Ford: Again, thanks to the great work of the minister—
Interjection.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Hamilton Mountain, come to order.
Hon. Doug Ford: —thanks to the great work of Infrastructure Ontario, we have been working through every single home—individual homes—one by one by one and making sure—and by the by, Mr. Speaker, all the mechanics are different in almost every single home. We’re bringing in transformers. We’re going to make sure they have the proper electrical power, that every single home, in every single room and all the cooling areas, is going to be right up to date.
On saying that, Mr. Speaker, some of these homes are very old and aged, but the brand new homes that we’re building—by the way, 30,000 beds we’re going to be creating, 15,000 by the first five years and another 15,000 by the second—are going to be state of the art. And the older homes, we’re doing everything we can to make sure we put the capital into those homes until people can have a nice cool summer.
Metrics for normalcy…Why not resign now, Premier?
Mr. Roman Baber: My question’s to the Minister of Health. Ontarians aren’t just looking for an end to the lockdown, they’re looking for the lifting of all public health restrictions. We will not agree to a new normal. Stage 3 of the government’s reopening framework imposes limitations on gatherings, retail and religious services. Unlike Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, Ontario’s opening framework does not provide for a full lifting of all public health restrictions. It appears that this government is unwilling to give up control.
My question to the Minister of Health: Why does Ontario’s reopening framework not include the lifting of all public health restrictions, and unless it is the intention of this government to never go back to normal, then what is the precise metrics for the lifting of all public health restrictions?
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Health.
Hon. Christine Elliott: We’re not lifting all public health restrictions because we’re trying to save lives. That’s what this is all about—saving lives. That’s been our priority from the beginning of this pandemic. That is why you will note that, today, we have 870 new COVID cases. That is the reason why we have to be very careful and very cautious because the variants are still out there. The Delta variant, which came from India, is out there. We have to be very cautious and very careful as we reopen, so that we don’t go into a fourth wave and lose more people.
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Official opposition, come to order.
Hon. Christine Elliott: That is why we’re doing it because we have to be very careful, and because the federal government isn’t doing its part by making sure that we close our borders to make sure that these variants don’t continue to come in.
Mr. Roman Baber: My follow-up’s to the Premier. Everything this government has done thus far has been a disaster. Long-term care, harshest and longest lockdown in the world, schools closed and devastated main street are just the latest.
Cannabis, the ongoing disaster in autism, the Ontario Line streetcar and its own carbon tax, the $1.6-billion teacher fight and the fight on class sizes, municipal cuts, Taverner and Dean French appointments, Bill 66, greenbelt and the exclusivity on Bill 108, astonishing structural deficit with nothing to show for it, Moody’s downgrade and the Avista deal failing, Scarborough Grace Hospital and the London injection site, no reduction on energy bills or insurance rates, defective stickers and licence plates you can’t see.
My question to the Premier: Why wait a year for the voters to fire him? Why not resign today?
Hon. Lisa MacLeod: Take a breath.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Heritage, come to order. Government House leader.
Hon. Paul Calandra: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that question. Look, we heard from this member yesterday, or two days ago, who suggested that the work he does doesn’t matter, the votes he cast don’t matter, it’s all about Instagram for him. But what I will tell you about what matters to the people of the province of Ontario and the members here is when Bill 262, Convenience Store Week Act, was passed by the member for Willowdale; when Bill 250, Recovery Month Act, was passed by the member for Don Valley North; when Bill 246, the Safer School Bus Act, was passed by the member for Kitchener–Conestoga; Bill 228, Keeping Polystyrene Out Of Ontario’s Lakes and Rivers Act, by the member for Parry Sound–Muskoka; Bill 217, Filipino Heritage Month Act, by the member for Scarborough Southwest; Bill 173, Ontario Day Act, by the member for Oak Ridges–Aurora–Richmond Hill; Bill 152, Occupational Safety and Health Day Act, by the member for Burlington; Bill 112, Lupus Day Awareness Act, by the member from Markham–Unionville; Bill 104, Tamil Genocide Education Week, by the member from Scarborough–Rouge Park.
Awaiting royal assent today, Bill 255, Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Day and Thalassemia Awareness Day Act; Bill 230, Front-Line and Essential Worker Service Week; Bill 271, Persian Heritage Month; Bill 157, COPD Awareness Day Act—
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. The next question?
[AFTER A SOFTBALL ABOUT THE BORDER…]
Pushing the feds to drop legal battle with residential school survivors
Mr. Sol Mamakwa: My question is to the Premier. Today, federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will call for specific actions from the federal government to bring some justice—some peace—for Indigenous peoples hurting after the discovery of the remains of the 215 children in Kamloops. I know this is a confirmation of what survivors knew, Mr. Speaker. Actions are what are needed now; otherwise reconciliation is just a word.
Will the provincial government join the calls here, now, for the federal government to drop its legal challenge against First Nations youth and join the calls to the federal government to drop its legal battle with the survivors of St. Anne’s residential school?
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply, the government House leader.
Hon. Paul Calandra: I appreciate the question from the member. All week he has been focused on this. And not just this week—perhaps a bad choice of words. Since he was elected and I’m sure well before he has been focused on improving his community and leading us down the path of reconciliation. We have to do everything that we possibly can to ensure that we do better when it comes to reconciliation. I think there are a number of steps that both the federal government and the provincial government working with the federal government can do to ensure that we move this quicker than we have.
The member often has talked about the need to improve conditions on reserves. We have to do that. We have to make sure that all of these boil water advisories are lifted. We have to ensure that economic opportunity is abundant in the north and in the reserves. But really this week the focus is on what we found on the horrific circumstances in Kamloops. He has my absolute word and the word of this Premier and this government that we will do all that we can to do better and to make sure that the funds are there to ensure that we do a search, that we make sure that the families are treated with respect and that First Nations are part of that.
Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Back to the Premier. This week, I was glad to hear the government House leader, in his response earlier, that he was concerned about the issue of our stolen Indigenous children would be forgotten in the news cycle. That’s why we need more than flags lowered and the holiday. We need action. Will the government commit today to implementing the truth and reconciliation calls to action, specifically numbers 71 to 76, relating to our stolen children? And will they commit today to provide resources for communities to find and return our children?
Hon. Paul Calandra: Well, look, I’ll reiterate again. I hope that I’ve been very clear this week of the importance to do just that. So if there is, again, any confusion around our commitment to ensure that we work with First Nations on something that is led by First Nations, to ensure that we do all that we can to investigate, to ensure that the resources are there, not only to just investigate but, I think, to work with the First Nations community to repatriate and to deal respectfully with whatever it is that we may find.
What we saw in Kamloops is horrific. I think we all agree on that. That’s the first step. The second step is to work with our First Nations in Ontario and across the country to make sure that whatever we find is dealt with in a respectful manner and the way that the First Nations want it to be dealt with, that it’s led by First Nations and not by a provincial government. I can guarantee the member opposite that we will work very closely with him and Aboriginal leaders across this country to just do that. We won’t let this die just because of a news cycle. He has my word on that and the word of the Premier and Minister of Indigenous Affairs.
Why wasn’t there a plan for schools?
Mr. John Fraser: My question is for the Premier. Two weeks ago, when the Premier announced the reopening framework, there wasn’t a word about schools. He had a plan for patios; no plan for schools. And then, after a week of radio silence, he issued a 36-hour ultimatum to build consensus. That’s an interesting way to build consensus. Largely, he got it. The COVID-19 science table, the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the council of medical officers of health, the Ontario Children’s Health Coalition, CHEO, SickKids all said that schools could be opened safely.
Fast forward to this week, our patios are going to open. Our kids? They will have to wait until September. Speaker, through you, can the Premier explain why he had no plan for schools in the reopening framework and why, once again, he’s ignoring his own experts?
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Education.
Hon. Stephen Lecce: Thank you to the member opposite for the question. Our aim, as to the announcement made yesterday, is to protect the summer for families, to ensure that children in the immediate term are able to access camps and opportunities and recreation and things that they have been denied over the past year. It’s to ensure we do not put at risk the progress we have made as a province, and to allow kids to return in September to a more stable and more normal school year.
I will note, though, the irony of the position of both opposition parties. In one breath, they take the position that schools should have regionally opened on Monday. In the same breath, they declare schools are unsafe. How can both be true? How could the members opposite be advocates for getting kids to back “unsafe schools”?
The Chief Medical Officer of Health has been absolutely consistent on school safety. The Premier has been consistent and clear on why we’ve taken this action, given the emergence of this variant that originated in India. Our action is to protect our kids, our families and to bring some recovery to the province so that everyone in Ontario could benefit this summer and in September.
Mr. John Fraser: The only thing that’s consistent is the Premier will do the opposite of what experts recommend. So what the Premier doesn’t get and has never gotten is that schools are a pillar of our economy. They allow families to have two incomes, sometimes one income. They support full participation in the workforce, which, by the way, is great for the economy. Bill Davis got it. Dalton McGuinty got it. Kathleen Wynne got it. This Premier, he doesn’t get it.
He says he has a plan for schools this fall. Families and educators? Well, yes, they heard that last summer. Our kids need a plan to safely reopen schools in the fall. So far, there’s no evidence of that. And we don’t need another eleventh-hour back-of-the-envelope plan like we saw last summer.
So Speaker, through you: Since schools are so important to families and to our economy, when can students, educators and their families expect to see this robust plan the Premier mentioned for return to school this fall?
Hon. Stephen Lecce: As we announced and confirmed yesterday, as part of our plan for September, every student 12 and up in this province who wants a vaccine will receive both doses by the end of September. That is also true for every education staff member in the province. We are one of the first provinces in the nation to accelerate preferential access to those workers for that purpose.
Mr. Speaker, we announced $1.6 billion, the same allocation as this year for next year, although the difference is this is entirely provincial dollars.
Of course, we know with vaccines that the world will be, we hope, much better and much safer in the context of our schools and our communities.
Speaker, we also have been clear on mental health funding, a four-time increase; a learning recovery plan, $85 million specifically targeting reading and mathematics, which we’ve seen regressions at home and abroad in learning; and in ventilation.
When it comes to the improvements and the legacy for next year, 95% of schools have improved their ventilation. In Toronto, for example, 97% of improved filter quality and frequency, and 72% of all schools in this province have recommissioned their HVAC systems as a consequence of our investment. That is nation-leading.
And we’re going to continue to invest, follow the best advice to keep families safe in this province, and get our recovery on track.
[AFTER ANOTHER FRIENDLY Q ABOUT SITTING DURING THE PANDEMIC…]
Repeal Bill 124
Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: My question is to the Premier. For 14 months, health care workers have been on the front line as this pandemic tore through our province. It was these workers who cared for our loved ones as they battled COVID-19. It was these mostly women workers who put their own lives at risk repeatedly over the last 14 months in order to keep us all healthy and safe.
Unions representing these workers have been clear: “Ontario health care staff have bravely stepped up to provide care during the pandemic, at great personal cost. As inflation begins to soar, their incomes are being cut in real terms, while police, fire, and other male-dominated essential workforces are exempted.” And in fact, some of them had their salaries go up.
Speaker, how can this Premier call health care workers heroes then suppress their wages, refuse them fair pay and full-time hours, rip up their collective bargaining rights and force many of them to live in poverty? Will the Premier treat these heroes like the heroes they are and repeal Bill 124 now?
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members will please take their seats. Government House leader.
Hon. Paul Calandra: Of course, we can say that they’re heroes because they are heroes, because they have helped lead us through this pandemic better than virtually any other place in the world. It is these heroes who have led to—I believe it’s over 9.5 million vaccines in people’s arms, Mr. Speaker. It is why we are going to make dramatic investments to increase the number of PSWs by over 27,000. It’s why we’re adding 2,000 nurses to the system as well. Bill 124 of course ensures that our front-line health care workers can see increases as they advance up through the pay scale. We wanted to ensure that.
But, Mr. Speaker, I guess, unlike the opposition, we know that they’re heroes. That’s why we’re making important investments in the health care sector: so that we can have even more of these heroes working to get us not only through this pandemic but to make our health care system the best in the world.
Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: I’ll remind the government House leader again that it is these workers, these heroes, these women, whose wages you have suppressed, their rights that you have trampled on, on their collective bargaining rights. It’s these workers you have refused paid sick days and full-time jobs. It’s these workers, so don’t pat yourself on the back for what you’re doing.
Speaker, the government is now offering signing bonuses of up to $75,000 to Canadian nurses working in the US to get them to relocate to Canada. Here’s a news flash for the government side of the House: Canadians have left and continue to leave to work in the US because this government and the Liberals before them refused to provide stable hours, fair pay, permanent paid sick days. Nurses have said it for years, that they need full-time hours and a fair wage. If the work conditions don’t permanently change for nurses, no signing bonus is going to stop them from leaving the field.
So, instead of looking for short-term solutions, will the Premier agree to thank our front-line nurses, show them the respect they need and repeal Bill 124?
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members will please take their seats. Government House leader.
Hon. Paul Calandra: We’re not patting ourselves on the back. What we’re doing is getting the work done for our front-line health care workers, Mr. Speaker. It is very interesting to hear the opposition. Now, of course, colleagues, we all know that between 2011 and 2014, the opposition had the opportunity to put an end to what was then a disastrous Liberal government. What did they choose to do? They kept them in power. Did they talk about long-term care? No. Did they talk about transit and transportation? No. Did they talk about subways? No. Did they talk about improving health care? No. Did they talk about wages for our PSWs? No. Did they work on hiring new nurses? No. Did they work on hiring new PSWs? No. What did they do? They settled for a stretch goal on auto insurance. It is what the NDP do: They talk a big game, but when they have the opportunity to accomplish something, they accomplish nothing. It is why the people of the province of Ontario have never but one time given them the opportunity to serve in government, and I dare say they will never have the opportunity again.
Bring in $10-a-day child care
Ms. Mitzie Hunter: My question is to the Premier. The FAO reported this week that most of the 20,000 child care spaces created were from the previous Liberal government. The current government has only managed to create 900 spaces in 2019, before pandemic spending became the priority.
A key takeaway from this pandemic is the essential role of child care and its key role in making economic growth possible. The recession we are in is driven by the she-cession. Without child care investments, we will not get women into the province’s workforce. In fact, women lag men by 15% in terms of pre-pandemic employment.
Speaker, we will not grow out of the pandemic recession if we go back to this government’s 2019 child care investments. The economy cannot grow if we do not have affordable child care available. The FAO says it will take this government until 2027 to create the 9,000 child care spots that they promised.
Will the Premier commit to doing better, with $10-a-day daycare, as the federal government has offered?
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Education.
Hon. Stephen Lecce: Mr. Speaker, what the FAO confirmed is that 20,800 spaces are on track to be built. We are well on track by 2023-24 to meet our commitment of 30,000. It’s why we expended $1 billion over five years to do it. In fact, part of that plan—if you even look at what happened in the broader market, last year alone, 16,000 net new spaces were created in the province of Ontario because we created the conditions for operators to grow. In fact, it’s not just about supporting the operators; it’s about supporting the parent. The government and the opposition parties had a choice in the last budget to stand with families to support the CARE tax credit, which provides $300,000 to parents, with up to 75% of eligible expenses. They opted to oppose that measure. In the most recent budget, we topped it up again: now 90%, saving, on average, per child, $1,500. That’s going to make an incremental difference.
In the context of the federal government’s $10-a-day program, we are working with them. To date, the federal Liberals contribute a whopping 3% of the child care budget. They must do much more, and we’re going to negotiate in the best interests of families to provide flexibility and affordability that parents deserve.
Ms. Mitzie Hunter: The world has turned to embrace “womenomics,” and it is leaving outdated models behind. It certainly doesn’t sound like this government comprehends the times that we are in. This is the worst economic crisis in the last 100 years, and partisanship doesn’t apply.
Speaker, online learning and lack of child care leads to reduced labour force participation rates, mainly for women. Looking at the numbers, the pandemic has borne this out and effectively changed the child care debate from, “We cannot afford to invest in child care” to “We cannot afford not to invest in child care.” It is an economic imperative.
A $1-investment in child care yields $1.50 or even $2 in economic return, growing our labour force participation, increasing our GDP and increasing overall revenues to the province. Child care investments will boost employment, improve wages and make our businesses more competitive, all while creating better outcomes for our children and our families. Speaker, which side of history will this Premier be on?
Hon. Stephen Lecce: We know what the track record of the Liberal Party is. Their legacy is closing 600 schools in the province of Ontario, the most expensive child care program in Canada and the cost of living rising at a dramatic rate, undermining the interests of middle-class and working families in the province of Ontario. That is their legacy.
Ours is one of improving flexibility and affordability, building new schools. I am proud that our government has expended literally well over $2 billion to build new schools in this province, which is going to be critical for rural, suburban and urban centres in the province. We have supported the creation of 16,000 net new spaces last year alone in child care. We acknowledge the price and the cost of child care for working parents, a regrettable legacy of the former Liberal government, which is why we’ve introduced a child care tax credit targeting parents with forward ability, with $1,500 per child.
Mr. Speaker, we’re going to continue to be on the side of working people by making child care more affordable and building new schools in this province.
“Stretch goal:” Mandate lower auto insurance rates in the 905
Mr. Gurratan Singh: My question is to the Premier. Three years ago, the Conservative government voted down my bill, which would have actually lowered car insurance rates. The Conservative government said that they would act on their own to lower rates, but guess what? Three years later, just like the Liberal government before them, every single year the Conservative government has been in power, they’ve allowed billion-dollar insurance companies to increase their rates for Ontario drivers, despite the fact that over the past year we have been in a pandemic, there are far fewer cars on the road and our roads are safer than ever before.
Now, I want to be very clear: Car insurance rates only go up when the Conservative government allows them to go up. So my question to the Premier is this: Why is he letting billion-dollar car insurance companies rip off Ontarians, and why won’t he use his power today to mandate lower car insurance rates for drivers across Ontario?
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): To reply on behalf of the government, the government House leader.
Hon. Paul Calandra: Again, Mr. Speaker, a strange question coming from this member and the NDP. Now, I can appreciate he wasn’t elected in 2011 when the NDP held the balance of power in this place and their only requirement to keep the then-Liberal government, which they agree was a disaster in power, was that they do something on auto insurance. Now, in 2011, that auto insurance rate went up. Did the NDP throw the Liberals out? No. In 2012, auto insurance went up. What did they do?
Interjection: Kept them.
Hon. Paul Calandra: Kept them in power. In 2013, it went up. What did they do? They kept them in power, because they agreed that all that needed to happen was a stretch goal, because that’s all that mattered.
Mr. Speaker, we understand how important it is to make things more affordable for the people of the province of Ontario. That is why we are working so hard to increase affordability for people; bringing taxes down, ensuring that we have a vibrant economy. On every measure, the NDP have voted against that. We’ll continue to work for Ontario taxpayers.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question, the member for Brampton North.
Mr. Kevin Yarde: My question is to the Premier. As the auto insurance critic, I’ve been working and fighting, trying to make sure that this government works with me to lower auto insurance. Many times in this Legislature, I talk about how high auto insurance is in Brampton and Brampton North. We pay some of the highest auto insurance in the entire country.
I’ve written to the Premier, I’ve written to the Minister of Finance asking them to help to lower auto insurance and make life more affordable for Ontarians. However, sadly, Mr. Speaker, I have heard nothing from this government. The government cannot sit back idly and do nothing. I’ve talked to taxi drivers, I’ve talked to truck drivers, and they’ve also said that they can’t continue their business because auto insurance rates are too high. The Premier has said—and my member mentioned, as well—three years ago, that they would lower auto insurance. But they have not lowered auto insurance. Insurance rates continue to go through the roof.
Now, the member opposite says that it’s a stretch dream, it’s a stretch goal to lower auto insurance. I want to ask the government: Why have they not been able to lower auto insurance for the people of Ontario and give them a break, which they need right now?
Hon. Paul Calandra: I’m glad the member opposite agrees how ridiculous accepting a stretch goal is to reduce auto insurance rates. What’s even more ridiculous is that member and his party accepted that as a condition of keeping the Liberals in power between 2011 and 2014. I am glad that he agrees that that is ridiculous, Mr. Speaker. It is absolutely ridiculous.
This is a government that has actually brought down auto insurance rates, modestly. More work needs to be done. But here is the good news: We are continuing to make life more affordable for the people of the province of Ontario, cutting taxes; as the Minister of Education just talked about, making daycare more affordable. Even more great news for the people of Brampton: Because of the hard work of our members in Brampton, they’re getting a new hospital there. There is better transit and transportation and GO train services. There is so much happening for the people of Brampton, in spite of the lack of work done by the NDP members.
Our two members in Brampton have done so much for the people of Brampton. The future looks good for the people of Brampton, but, more importantly, for all Ontarians because of the hard work that this government is doing.
Infrastructure PA has private holdings in Sienna and Chartwell
Mr. Stephen Blais: Mr. Speaker, the Long-Term Care Development Program which is administered by Infrastructure Ontario is offering 23 acres of surplus government land for the building of new long-term-care facilities. In an earnings call, it’s reported that representatives from Sienna said the program, “would benefit Sienna’s properties and we have submitted our applications for the program. In our view, the Long-Term Care Development Program would make many projects financially feasible.”
The open market period for this program closed on January 27, and four months later, no winner has been disclosed. Now, according to public disclosures, the MPP for Oakville, who is also the parliamentary assistant for infrastructure, has private holdings in both Sienna and Chartwell.
Mr. Speaker, the public has an interest in knowing what, if any, role the parliamentary assistant is playing in the selection process, given his personal financial interests in the for-profit long-term-care sector. Can the Premier assure Ontarians that the parliamentary assistant has had no role in the creation of the program, taken part in discussions about the program or been involved in the selection—
Hon. Paul Calandra: Mr. Speaker, first and foremost, let me just say this: I know the member for Oakville has proactively reported everything to the Integrity Commissioner, as all members should do, full stop. This member knows that that has been the case.
I’ll tell you what the member for Oakville has done. He has worked very hard to bring increased infrastructure to the people of Oakville after a decade and a half of darkness from the previous Liberal government. He is a key member of this team. He has helped us restore balance to our fiscal situation in this province, to cut taxes.
But this member for Ottawa–Vanier, in his short period of time here, what has he accomplished? Let’s remember that this is the man who was in charge of building a rapid transit system in Ottawa that didn’t work, was over budget. We will take no lessons from this particular member who, in his very short time here, has focused on what he thinks are other people’s shortfalls as opposed to working for the people of his riding. I will stand beside the member for Oakville, who has done such tremendous work for his riding, any day.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): That concludes our question period this morning.
I would like to ask for the indulgence of the House for a moment. In my first year as Speaker, I ended our spring sitting with a message of thanks to the incredibly talented staff of the assembly and also acknowledged the hard work of all members on behalf of their constituents. Last year, as we are all well aware, the spring sitting ended a little bit differently, with much uncertainty of what the coming months would bring. We knew not what was to come, but we were united in our faith in the people of Ontario.
We are once again at the conclusion of yet another spring sitting, entering what appears to be the final year of this Parliament. I once again want to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation to everyone who has worked so diligently to ensure we can meet safely here in the chamber. Whether working here in the building or remotely, the staff at the Legislative Assembly have continued to uphold the values of integrity, inclusiveness, collaboration and excellence in their dedication to serving Ontario’s Parliament.
There have been many challenging issues brought before the House in the last year, and I want to thank each of you, the members, for your passion and perseverance in public service as we work together to build a brighter future for all the people of Ontario. While we cannot know with certainty what the future may hold, it’s very encouraging to see the people of Ontario continuing to come together, though at a distance, to get vaccinated and do their part to help us return to the activities we have missed so much in the last year: gathering with family and friends, going out to our favourite local restaurants and shops, attending concerts and events and, yes, even going to a Leafs game—and with the Leafs, there’s always next year.
I know that each of us is looking forward to returning to our ridings and continuing to work hard on behalf of our constituents through the summer months, as we always do. I look forward to what we can accomplish in the year ahead, in full knowledge that the resilience, compassion, patience, courage and gratitude that have brought us thus far will only multiply as we rebuild our province and together work to make Ontario fairer, stronger and more prosperous than ever before.
Keep well, stay safe and take care. Thank you very much.
Applause.