Good morning. Let us pray.

Prayers.

—the 2022-23 Annual Report of the French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario, from the office of the Ombudsman of Ontario;

—a report entitled Ontario School Boards: Enrolment, Finances and Student Outcomes, from the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario;

—a report entitled Expenditure Monitor 2023-24: Q2, from the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario; and

—a report entitled Economic and Budget Outlook, Winter 2024, from the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario.

I beg to inform the House that the Clerk has received from the Chief Electoral Officer and laid upon the table a certificate of the by-election in the electoral district of Kitchener Centre.

Let the honourable member take her seat.

As a result of the recent by-election in Kitchener Centre, the number of members sitting as independents has increased by one since the House last met in December. Our practices must now be adjusted accordingly to ensure that these members have a reasonable opportunity to participate in our daily proceedings and in debate.

During question period, I will recognize the new independent member to ask a question during each eight-day period, allowing us to accommodate all 15 eligible independent members into the rotation. This means that one independent member will be recognized to ask a question each day, with a second independent member recognized on alternate Mondays as well as every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Each independent member recognized during question period will continue to have the opportunity to ask one question and one supplementary question.

Additionally, the member for Kitchener Centre will be allotted three minutes of speaking time for debates on second and third reading of government bills and on substantive government motions. This time may be banked but not shared.

Finally, with regard to members’ statements, there will continue to be one statement allotted to an independent member every sessional day. However, each eligible member will now be entitled to participate in this proceeding once per 15-day period instead of once per 14-day period.

To respond, the Premier.

The supplementary question?

Premier.

The final supplementary?

Members will please take their seats.

The Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.

Premier?

To respond for the government, the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery.

Members will please take their seats.

Interjections.

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

To reply, the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery.

And the supplementary question?

The supplementary question?

Stop the clock. Members will please take their seats.

Interjections.

Interjections.

Start the clock. Supplementary?

The Minister of Transportation can reply.

The next question.

Once again, I’ll remind the members to make their comments through the Chair.

To reply, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

The Minister of Energy.

The next question.

The supplementary question?

The House recessed from 1146 to 1500.

Debate adjourned.

Report adopted.

Report adopted.

Mr. Sarkaria moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 162, An Act to enact the Protecting Against Carbon Taxes Act, 2024 and amend various Acts / Projet de loi 162, Loi édictant la Loi de 2024 sur la protection contre les taxes sur le carbone et modifiant diverses lois.

First reading agreed to.

First reading agreed to.

I recognize the member for Chatham-Kent–Leamington.

Today we are honoured to remember and pay tribute to a former member of our provincial Legislature, the late Mr. Andrew S. Brandt, who was the MPP for Sarnia during the 32nd, 33rd and 34th Parliaments.

Joining us in the Speaker’s gallery are Mr. Brandt’s friends David Brown and Taylor Brown. Also in the Speaker’s gallery are David Warner, Speaker during the 35th Parliament; Steve Gilchrist, MPP for Scarborough East during the 36th and 37th Parliaments; Phil Gillies, MPP for Brantford during the 32nd and 33rd Parliaments; and Judy Marsales, MPP for Hamilton West during the 38th Parliament and chair of the Ontario Association of Former Parliamentarians. Welcome.

We’ll begin by recognizing the member for Hamilton Mountain.