Thank you, Speaker. No business.

I rise today to extend my warmest wishes to the Jewish community in Toronto Centre and across Ontario as they prepare for Passover.

Passover commemorates the liberation of the ancient Hebrews from slavery in Egypt and their journey to freedom. The story of Passover reminds us all of the importance of standing up against oppression and the power of hope in the face of adversity.

Across Toronto, the Jewish community has made invaluable contributions to our rich, vibrant cultural tapestry. From the bustling streets of Kensington Market to the historic synagogues dotting neighbourhoods, Jewish heritage is woven into the very fabric of our province.

Over the years, I have attended many Passover celebrations where families and friends gather around the Seder plate and table to retell the story of the Exodus, enjoy traditional meals, and strengthen the bonds of love and kinship.

This year is special, as we will be hosting a Seder at our home for our friends and chosen family. We’ve taken the time to appreciate the blessings, where we will reflect upon freedom and reaffirm our commitment to building a world rooted in compassion, justice, equality and peace for all, including Israel and Palestine.

May the message of Passover inspire all of us to work toward a future where every single person can live safely in dignity, peace and freedom.

To the Jewish community in Toronto Centre and beyond, I wish you a happy and meaningful Passover. Chag Pesach Sameach.

Film, television and digital media are powerful tools for entertainment, education and reflection. Ontario’s film and TV industry provide opportunities for artists to showcase their talent by fostering creativity, providing economic benefits for residents through job creation and encouraging community engagement. Through storytelling, we can capture diverse perspectives, provoke thought, spark dialogue and reflect on the human experience.

Right here in Ontario, the film and television industry contributes to over $3 billion in production. Our enticing tax incentives are attracting filmmakers around the world, while its vibrant pool of talent lures development houses.

Mississauga takes pride in its significant year-round filming activity, with more than 314,000 square feet of studio space across 12 sound stages.

Our government is helping to make sure the industry thrives. That’s why we are investing more than $900 million to support Ontario’s cultural media tax credits.

To filmmakers and production houses alike, Ontario extends a warm invitation to continue crafting content for a global audience.

To all my fellow MPPs, I urge you to advocate for the growth of the film and TV industry in your community so we can continue empowering artists and supporting our growing economy. Let’s increase the revenue for Ontario and Ontarians. Let’s continue to build a prosperous Ontario.

Good morning. Let us pray.

Prières / Prayers.

The House recessed from 0901 to 1015.

I was delighted to visit the Tendercare Living long-term-care home in my riding to inform them of the historic investments our government is making into long-term care and what this funding means for the residents of the home. These investments into care will ensure that residents can connect to the right care immediately, instead of having to go to hospitals or outside health care providers. This funding will also help reduce and avoid unnecessary emergency department visits and hospital stays.

This is part of a broader investment, including a new $46 million in budget 2024 in the long-term-care sector to help seniors with complex needs like dementia and bariatric care to get the care they need at their convenience, quickly and close to home.

Our government is keeping its promise to our seniors and families to fix the long-term-care sector, which was ignored and neglected by the previous Liberal government.

In addition, our government invested $4.9 billion over four years to hire and retain 27,000 long-term-care staff to provide the care residents need.

Furthermore, we are investing a historic $6.4 billion to build 58,000 new and upgraded beds.

Our government also hired 193 new long-term-care inspection staff, including 156 new inspectors.

We owe it to our seniors to provide them a dignified, healthy and active life during their retirement days.

Tenants and landlords in my riding of Don Valley West are concerned about the unreasonable delays at the Landlord and Tenant Board caused by this government’s bad decision to fire qualified, experienced adjudicators and appoint their friends. Just like with the $8.3-billion greenbelt giveaway and the gravy train in the Premier’s office, this government takes care of their friends at the expense of Ontarians. According to Tribunal Watch Ontario, the backlog of cases is over 53,000—almost four times worse than when they took office. The average wait for a landlord needing an arrears eviction hearing has risen to 342 days—10 times worse.

Speaker, the delay for tenants is even worse. Their average wait is 427 days, versus 70 days in 2018. Tenants are waiting over a year for their day in court about a problematic above-guideline rent increase or unlawful eviction—just one more way that life is worse for tenants under this Conservative government.

Today, my colleague from Kingston and the Islands will be debating his Bill 179, the Fewer Backlogs and Less Partisan Tribunals Act. The government has a chance to fix the LTB mess of their own making by voting for this bill. Voting against it is one more sign that this Premier is happy to be the conductor of his very own gravy train.

Today, I’d like to celebrate the 38-year career of Inspector John Lyons, because last Friday, John retired. He started his career way back in 1986, before I even had my driver’s licence. Back then, as part of his contract with the Peterborough police, he had to agree to live in the city limits in order to be a police officer.

He started with Peterborough police. There was a merger with Lakefield, and the service became the Peterborough Lakefield police. And then, eventually, it became the Peterborough Police Service again.

He joined the force after moving from Gananoque to attend Sir Sandford Fleming College in their security and administration program. He moved up through the ranks throughout his career and ended his career as an inspector.

When I was first elected, John was the officer who took me along for my very first ride-along. It was an interesting day, to say the least. Those who know John know he has a lot of stories to tell. I think I heard almost all of those stories that day in the cruiser.

John epitomizes what a community police officer should be. He loves his community. He loved his job. And everyone around him loved to be with him.

John, we’ll miss you on the beat, but I know that this really just frees up your time to give back to your community. Congratulations on your retirement.

The Toronto District School Board is calling for a new provincial funding structure to help address their near $27-million deficit, and I’m calling on this Conservative government to support their demands, for the sake of our children, youth, families and the caring adults who teach and support them. Our schools are at the heart of our community, and we need them properly funded in order for them to function.

The Minister of Education says he expects school boards to put student achievement first. Well, guess what? In order to do that, we need funding that keeps up with inflation, instead of the chronic cuts we’ve seen throughout this government’s tenure. We need this government to fix our schools, not tinker with them. Fixing our schools requires billions of dollars, which this government has and can invest in education.

Schools are losing invaluable staff because they can’t keep up with salaries and benefits. TDSB programs supporting the most vulnerable are being cut. We only need to look at special education to see where your government’s cuts are impacting the most vulnerable students.

This government continues to toss money at the rich while having austerity measures for those who need the most help.

Stop blaming and shaming our TDSB and other school boards across Ontario and start helping them put student achievement first.

I hear from families regularly that the Ontario Autism Program is not working. Despite recent funding announcements, families are still calling, begging for help for their children.

Jessica reached out to my office for support for her beautiful daughter. Jessica wants to share this message with the government:

“The OAP program has failed many families who are now without essential services and supports during their most vulnerable moments.

“I know my daughter is capable of accomplishing a lot in her life, but we need help to get her there.

“And there are so many other families who are in the same boat, and so many other families who are at their breaking point because they have nowhere to turn.

“True success should be defined as celebrating differences and fostering an environment where everyone belongs, regardless of their abilities.

“Let’s work together to build a society that values inclusion and empowers individuals with diverse talents to flourish.

“Let’s also build systems that support those who need help; and provide a way for that to happen before it’s too late.”

Families like Jessica’s are making sacrifices every day to provide the best care that they can for their children. Our government needs to match their efforts. Receiving consistent, robust core services is essential for autistic children to thrive.

We need a concrete plan attached to the funding announcements to make sure this money helps the kids it’s intended to so every child in Ontario receives the supports that they need. Jessica’s family and her daughter deserve that.

Last week in my riding of Mississauga–Lakeshore, I attended a public meeting on safety and security issues hosted by my friends at the Lorne Park Watercolours Residents’ Association. Over 250 residents joined us at St. Luke Catholic Elementary School to share their concerns about auto theft in Peel. We have an average of 20 cars stolen every single day—the most per capita in Ontario.

I’d like to thank the Peel police for joining us and listening to the concerns of our community. Particularly, I’d like to thank Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich, who spoke about Project Vector, in which almost 600 vehicles were recovered from shipping containers at the port of Montreal. Superintendent Joshua Colley spoke about crime in Mississauga–Lakeshore, and Detective Gregory O’Connor gave us some tips on how to protect ourselves.

I was proud to speak about the great work our Solicitor General is doing on this issue—$49 million over three years to give our police services the tools they need to fight back against auto theft, and $46 million over three years to purchase four new police helicopters, to help improve response times to major incidents and serious crimes in Mississauga and across the GTA.

Again, I’d like to thank the Peel police as well as our first responders for all the work that they do to keep our communities safe all across Mississauga and the province of Ontario.

I recently joined my colleagues for a groundbreaking at the site of the soon-to-be patient care tower for the Queensway Health Centre. Once completed, this $1.3-billion centre, operated by Trillium Health Partners, will serve the growing needs of families in Etobicoke and Mississauga. This is exciting news. Because of investments like this, our government is improving health care services in Mississauga and meeting the needs of future growth. This is part of our goal to ensure every Ontarian has access to convenient and connected care when they need it.

Right now, our province is expanding all six medical schools and supporting new medical schools at York University and TMU.

Over the next three years, the government is spending an additional $546 million to connect approximately 600,000 people to team-based primary care.

And I was happy to see that our investments to support nursing are being sustained, allowing 2,000 more registered nurse spaces at colleges and universities, and 1,000 more registered practical nurse seats.

Speaker, as our city continues to grow and the population continues to age, we will need these health services more than ever. I am excited to see those investments pay off, bringing convenient and connected care to everyone.

I would like to welcome to the chamber today three special guests from the beautiful riding of the government House leader and MPP for Markham–Stouffville: Mr. and Mrs. Yogarajah—Sundareswary Yogarajah is celebrating her 75th birthday; she is also president of Box Grove Seniors’ Community Wellness Club and a well-known volunteer across Markham—and their granddaughter Suwetha Sivaneswaran. Welcome to the House.

It gives me great pleasure to recognize today’s page captain Nate Rochwerg. Nate is from Hamilton. Joining him today are members of his family. We have his parents, Bram and Rachel Rochwerg; we have his grandparents, Ken and Shelley Rochwerg and Bonnie and Dave Loewith; and Nate’s three younger brothers, Leo, Henry and Jake, who I am sure, after today’s experience, will want to be page captains when they grow up as well.

Welcome to Queen’s Park.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome the family of today’s page captain Jerome Bow Pearce: Jerome’s mother, Jennifer Bow; brothers Vincent Bow Pearce and Dominic Bow Pearce; as well as family friend Jennifer DeSilva. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’m pleased to welcome climate action advocates Sharon Sommerville, Franca DeAngelis and LeeAnn McKenna to Queen’s Park today. Welcome to your House.

I’m delighted to introduce Zihan Erwin Wang, a bright and enthusiastic student from Silver Stream Public School in my Richmond Hill riding, who serves as our page. Observing while the House is in action promises to be a remarkable experience and a significant highlight of his educational journey.

Mr. Speaker, it is also my pleasure to extend a warm welcome to Xiaoping Yuan, who is here with us today as the proud mother of page Erwin Wang.

Welcome to your House.

Recently, the Ontario government honoured 14 exceptional individuals and two volunteer organizations with the June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism.

Grace Shaw from Whitby was one of those recipients. Grace has volunteered at the VON Durham hospice service centre for over 10 years, providing care and empathetic support to individuals dealing with grief after the death of a loved one.

Named in memory of the late author and journalist June Callwood, the award recognizes the leadership, innovation and contributions of individual volunteers, volunteer administrators and volunteer organizations who have stepped up to help others, support communities, and build a stronger Ontario.

Speaker, I am grateful for the tireless work of remarkable volunteers like Grace who continue to give back and drive change in the town of Whitby. May their kindness, dedication and selflessness serve as an inspiration for others to learn from.

Congratulations, Grace.

I just want to introduce my talented, lovely and beautiful wife and the love of my life, Melissa, who is in the Speaker’s gallery here today.

Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’d like to welcome members of my youth council in Kingston and the Islands. I’m not sure if the bus has arrived or not, but they will be here for question period.

I wish to take a moment to address the House on a matter of some importance.

On April 12, I received a letter from the leader of His Majesty’s loyal opposition. Since her letter to me has apparently been released to the media, I will not read it now, but I will instead summarize the request that she made of me. She asked that I permit the wearing of the kaffiyeh in the assembly.

I replied in writing to the Leader of the Opposition on April 16, and I hope she has seen my reply, but I have placed a copy on her desk in the event that she has not.

I will take a moment now to reiterate one of the points in my letter.

As always, any member may seek the unanimous consent of the House to wear clothing, buttons, ribbons etc. which may fall outside the established rules or customs of the House. If a member sought unanimous consent to wear a kaffiyeh, and if the House were to grant such consent, I would obviously accept the decision of the House.

Since I sent that reply, the leader of the Green Party has made a similar request to me in writing—that I permit the wearing of the kaffiyeh in the assembly. And last night, the Premier and the leader of the Liberal Party both made the same public request via social media, addressed to me.

As Speaker, I am the servant of this House. While I made my decision in this regard after considerable research and reflection, if the House believes that the wearing of the kaffiyeh in this House at the present time is not a political statement, I would certainly and unequivocally accept the express will of the House, with no ifs, ands or buts. Again, I would be willing to entertain such a point of order at any time and put the question to the House forthwith.

The Leader of the Opposition on a point of order.