To the member across the aisle, why does she always vote against the increase of $20 billion more we’re spending on health care, compared to when they were in power? Why did she vote against the 10,800 more doctors that are working now than there were five years ago? Why did she vote against the 80,000 nurses that have registered to work in Ontario, 17,000 alone? Why did you vote against the medical universities? We’re building capacity in Brampton and in Scarborough and up north. Why didn’t she vote for more grads and undergrads?

That party, under the Liberals with support of the NDP, cut seats. I’m just wondering. She votes against health care. We’re making health care a lot better than it was five years ago. We’re going to continue increasing the spend when it comes to health care, but obviously, you don’t care, because you vote against every—

My question is to the Solicitor General. In 2023, Toronto recorded close to 4,000 residential break-ins, a 30% increase from 2022. Torontonians are anxious about the rise of crime and its traumatic effect on victims who are left feeling vulnerable and violated when they deserve to feel safe in the private sanctuary of their homes.

Speaker, people are also frustrated that convicted criminals serve their time in jail only to resurface in the community to reoffend. They demand immediate action in establishing successful deterrents to crime, from the certainty of being caught to the consequences imposed upon criminals.

Speaker, can the Solicitor General explain this government’s approach to deter crime?

Interjection: Hire a gun lobbyist, right?

Order.

The Solicitor General can reply.

The Minister of Health.

The supplementary question? The member for Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas.

Thank you so much to the Solicitor General for his response.

Speaker, punishment alone may be viewed as an appropriate deterrent, but long-term solutions include the rehabilitation of criminals to motivate them to become contributing members of society. It is essential that criminals receive job training to equip them with the skills they need to work for a living rather than surviving by exploiting others.

Speaker, can the Solicitor General tell this House what steps this government is taking to break the cycle of opportunistic crime in our communities?

The member is right. People have a right to be concerned about their safety, and public safety for this government is a top priority.

Let me say this, Mr. Speaker: Just recently, when police service budgets had to get approved in Toronto, Hamilton and in London, proxies for the Liberal Party and the NDP voted no. They do not stand as we do, having the backs, every day, of our police services.

We are not going to live and accept the fact that people can commit violent crimes on our streets and be back the next day. This is unacceptable.

That’s why, Mr. Speaker, we will continue to advocate to the federal government to move past C-48, which was a good first step. Do more so that we can keep our province safe.

But Mr. Speaker, I want to go back again: When a person is confronted with their doors being knocked in, and when they are demanded to turn over the keys, when people don’t feel safe, when our seniors don’t feel safe, something is wrong. That’s why our government will always prioritize public safety, fighting auto theft with over $51 million, fighting to keep these violent and repeat offenders off our streets with an investment of over $112 million, and putting more boots on the ground so that we, all over Ontario, can feel safe.

Of course, thank you very much to the hard-working member.

Mr. Speaker, we were re-elected to build Ontario and part of that commitment is making sure that everyone has access to high-speed Internet. Our goal was to connect everyone by the end of 2025. We have allocated $4 billion. We have invested $2.4 billion for 200 projects across this province.

I’m really happy to provide an update. As you all know, we executed on the reverse auction last year where we took lots that were not connected. We put it out to the market, and through that reverse auction we intend on connecting 266,000 premises.

Mr. Speaker, I’m really pleased to say that White River in northern Ontario now has access to high-speed Internet, thanks to the Premier’s leadership in making sure that everyone is connected by the end of 2025. This is really important because this just proves how important connecting northern communities is to our government, and we will get the job done.

Given the size and the topography of Ontario, we knew that in order to connect every single household in the province of Ontario, we would have to explore all different types of technology and look at innovative solutions.

Mr. Speaker, to close the gaps, we are exploring satellite technology. In fact, on behalf of the province of Ontario, Infrastructure Ontario has led a new procurement. They have now narrowed it down to two satellite providers, and in the summer, we will announce the satellite provider that will connect the remaining 43,000 premises. These are the hardest-to-reach places. These are the remote communities. These are the municipalities that are surrounded by rock. Every option was explored, and we are on our way to connect every home by the end of 2025.

My question is for the Minister of Infrastructure. Reliable high-speed Internet is key to building a stronger Ontario. People across the province depend on high-speed Internet for education, health services, business operation and to stay connected with their loved ones.

Unfortunately, the previous Liberal government ignored many rural, remote and northern communities when it came to making investments into critical infrastructure. Unlike the Liberals, our government has made it a priority to bring high-speed Internet to every community in the province by the end of 2025.

While significant work is already under way to improve and expand broadband services, we must continue to build on the progress we have made and ensure our rural and northern communities are connected.

Speaker, can the minister please tell the House what our government is doing to bring high-speed Internet access to all communities across Ontario?

Speaker, rural and remote communities have traditionally identified more connectivity challenges. We know that access to reliable high-speed Internet is a necessity, not a luxury. That’s why our government must continue to strengthen communities and deliver on our promise to build broadband infrastructure.

Can the minister please explain how our government is improving connectivity across Ontario so that no community is left behind?

My question is to the Minister of Health. Niagara is a senior community with higher health needs, so it is concerning that our family doctor crisis is blooming from bad to worse.

Since June, residents in Niagara without a family doctor have grown from 53,000 to 73,000. That number is expected to double by 2026. St. Catharines alone needs 51 doctors right now. Family physicians alarm bell wasn’t just rung, it is blaring.

Despite promises, St. Catharines’s health teams see no base funding boost to support our already stretched, aging doctors. They are overworked, underpaid and buried in red tape. When will you halt the doctor drain and prioritize St. Catharines and seniors across Niagara?

Speaker, you will know that we have made considerable investments in the Niagara region—not, of course, without a lot of advocacy from the member from Niagara West, Sam Oosterhoff.

It is very exciting to see the expansion, the build, the groundbreaking, which, by the way, your member that you sit beside actually attended and acknowledged was great news for South Niagara with the South Niagara Hospital—a multi-million-dollar investment in Niagara region.

The member opposite continues to ignore the fact that as we make those expansions, as we ensure that through a $110-million investment in primary care expansion—which, by the way—facts matter—includes an increase to the base of the existing health care teams.

Interjections.

To the minister: Facts matter. Some 2.2 million Ontarians do not have a family doctor in this province, despite all of your spin. Family medicine is the backbone of our health system. Without access to doctors, we miss important early detection of cancers. Diabetics risk losing their vision without treatment, and families and women go without critical maternal and prenatal care.

Right now, 60,000 people in Hamilton don’t have a family doctor and that is expected to double in just two short years. So my question: How long is this Conservative government going to stand by and let people suffer?

So to be clear, there are expansions in Hamilton with the Greater Hamilton Health Network and primary care stakeholder council. Is the member opposite going to support that investment?

There are investments in the—

Interjection.

Interjection.

These are historic multidisciplinary teams that are new and expanded across the province of Ontario. Is the member going to support those investments?

Because at the core, what we have is a health care system that was ignored for decades by the previous Liberal government. We are making those changes. We’ve already announced these expansions. Now, all you have to do is tell your community you are going to—

Interjections.

That program alone has seen amazing results. In the city of Guelph, as an example, we saw decreases of almost 80% in terms of the wait times for individuals who go into emergency departments. I was able to speak to the mayor earlier today to talk about how that one program has impacted their community in a very positive way.

Can we do more? Absolutely—and we will continue to do more. I think it’s really important for the member opposite to understand that these programs have been built with the input of our agencies, whether that is hospitals, whether that is nurses like the College of Nurses or the RPNAO, with paramedics, to make sure that the programs we put in place are actually impacting our communities in a positive way—

But we are working with our partners. We’re not opposing the innovation and the changes that they want to bring forward to make sure that we have appropriate health care in our communities closer to home.

Thank you to the member from Kitchener–Conestoga for that question and for his advocacy against carbon tax.

Mr. Speaker, the member is right. The federal carbon tax is making life more expensive for the people of Ontario, especially forcing parents to face unnecessary costs when they’re driving to work, when they’re driving their children to school, even for extracurricular activities.

That is why I’m proud that under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government continues to oppose this harmful carbon tax. Unfortunately, the Liberals and NDP are so out of touch that they are happy to support a carbon tax that only hurts individuals and families throughout Ontario. They keep doing what they do best: They are saying no to any measure that provides financial relief to Ontarians. Speaker, they said no to 418 and 412—removing toll. They don’t want commuters to save $300 on the 418 toll, and they don’t want $150 saving on the 412 tolls.

Our government will continue to stand up to keep costs down so that Ontarians can keep more money in their pockets, where it belongs.

Our government continues to fight the adverse effects of the carbon tax by finding more ways to provide financial relief for the people of Ontario. That is why, under the leadership of Premier Ford, we eliminated licence plate renewal fees. As a result of this initiative, over $2.2 billion went back directly to the pockets of people, of seven million hard-working people in Ontario.

Speaker, whether it’s removing fees or eliminating tolls or eliminating double fares with the One Fare program, we will continue to fight to make life more affordable for the people of Ontario.

My question is to the Associate Minister of Transportation. Since the federal government imposed the carbon tax, people in Ontario have been paying more for everything. Residents in my riding of Kitchener–Conestoga tell me that they’re finding it more difficult to keep up with the rising costs of groceries and gas.

Speaker, at a time when many Ontarians are already struggling with high inflation costs, they should not have to worry about being able to drive where they need to go. Unlike the opposition NDP and independent Liberals, our government will continue to advocate for Ontarians and ask the federal Liberals to put an end to the carbon tax.

Speaker, can the minister please explain what impact the carbon tax is having on the transportation needs of Ontario families?

The reality is that the carbon tax is leading to soaring fuel prices that make life unaffordable and difficult for everyone. Mr. Speaker, if you can believe it, the federal Liberals are planning on raising this tax 23% on April 1. It’s a cruel joke. We know that cancelling this unnecessary cost will deliver more affordability for Ontario drivers and put more money back into their pockets. That’s why our government will continue to call on the federal Liberals to get rid of the carbon tax.

Speaker, can the associate minister please explain how our government is making life more affordable for Ontarians while we continue to fight this awful tax?

Far too many of my constituents are going without health care, because Ottawa is short 171 family doctors. Ottawa residents who are sick, anxious about symptoms or even simply looking to renew a prescription are forced to turn to the Queensway Carleton Hospital, one of the busiest emergency departments in the province.

But this government cut funding for emergency care at the Queensway Carleton, meaning that, by April, there will be 10 fewer hours of physician coverage in the ER every single day.

Why does the Minister of Health think people in Ottawa should have to wait hours in an overstretched ER just to receive basic health care?

The minister is expanding funding for primary care, but to only a small proportion of the clinics in Ontario that have actually asked for funding and support to expand. People in Ottawa still don’t know when or if their local primary clinic is one of the clinics that will get funding, because the government is refusing to share how they’re deciding which proposals to fund and who will actually get funding.

When will this government actually support the people of Ottawa instead of leaving them in the dark?

A number of members introduced friends of ours from Mount Dennis. There was one name neglected, though, Speaker, that I just want read in for the record: someone who meant to be with us but passed away. His name is Carl Cudlik, and I know he was with us in spirit—one of the fire-keepers from Mount Dennis. Thinking of you today, Carl.

I’d like to welcome to the House some members of the Ontario Prayer Breakfast: Charlie Lyons, our local reverend here; Reverend Steven Van Dyck; Michael Mackenzie; and Nicolas Pappalardo.

I’d like to welcome Brandon Machado, who is here from the Ontario NDP Persons with Disabilities Committee.

I would also like to welcome, from A Remarkable Assembly women’s forum, Abby Proteau from Thunder Bay–Superior North.

Deferred vote on the motion that the question now be put on the motion for second 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.

The ayes are 66; the nays are 33.

Order.

Next question.

The division bells rang from 1150 to 1155.

Mr. Sarkaria, on February 28, 2024, moved second reading of Bill 162, An Act to enact the Protecting Against Carbon Taxes Act, 2024 and amend various Acts.

On March 6, 2024, Mr. Jones, Chatham-Kent–Leamington, moved that the question be now put.

All those in favour of Mr. Jones’s motion will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Mr. Sarkaria has moved second reading of Bill 162, An Act to enact the Protecting Against Carbon Taxes Act, 2024 and amend various Acts.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry?

I heard some noes.

All those in favour of the motion will please say “aye.”

All those opposed will please say “nay.”

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

Call in the members. This is a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1200 to 1201.

All those in favour of the motion will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Second reading agreed to.

I look to the minister for a committee referral.

It is now time to say a word of thanks to this group of legislative pages. Our pages are smart, trustworthy and hard-working. They’re indispensable to the effective functioning of this chamber, and we are indeed fortunate to have had them here.

To our pages: You depart having made many new friends, with a greater understanding of parliamentary democracy and memories that will last a lifetime. Each of you will go home now and continue your studies, and no doubt you will contribute to your communities, your province and your country in important ways. We expect great things from all of you. Who knows? Maybe some of you someday will take your seats in this House as members or work here as staff. No matter where your path leads, we wish you well.

Please join me in thanking this great group of legislative pages.

Applause.

The House recessed from 1206 to 1300.

Report deemed adopted.

Ms. Thompson moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 171, An Act to enact the Veterinarian Professionals Act, 2024 and amend or repeal various acts / Projet de loi 171, Loi visant à édicter la Loi de 2024 sur les professionnels vétérinaires et à modifier ou à abroger diverses lois.

First reading agreed to.

First reading agreed to.

Mr. Cuzzetto moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr42, An Act respecting the Luso Canadian Charitable Society.

First reading agreed to.

Mr. Tabuns moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 172, An Act to improve energy affordability through distributed energy resources and deep retrofits / Projet de loi 172, Loi visant à rendre l’énergie plus abordable grâce aux ressources énergétiques distribuées et aux rénovations majeures.

First reading agreed to.

First reading agreed to.

The Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy.