If I can take a second before we begin the last question period of 2022, I’d like to wish members on both sides of the House and all Ontarians a safe and happy holiday season with those they hold dear.

On behalf of the official opposition, I’d like to also extend my thanks and best wishes to the wonderful staff of the Legislative Assembly for their incredible work on behalf of the people of this province.

To the amazing cohort of pages, I thank you for your service these past few weeks. I really hope you enjoyed the experience.

A special farewell to our outgoing Sergeant-at-Arms, Jackie. Thank you for your service and your commitment to MPPs and the legislative staff. May the next chapter bring you the best that life has to offer.

And last but not least, although a number have already said this, it remains to be said: a huge thank you from the NDP caucus to Kevin Modeste. Kevin has served our caucus in many capacities over many years. His service to us and to the Legislature as a whole has been outstanding. We’ll miss him greatly, but we’re delighted he’ll be able to spend more time with his wife and two daughters. That’s exactly how it should be. Thank you, Kevin.

Speaker, thank you for your indulgence.

My question is to the Premier.

Yesterday, the Premier said the government is throwing everything they can at the health care system, but it’s clear that whatever the Premier is doing is not working. Hospitals are overcrowded, staff are burnt out, and patients are waiting longer than they ever have in our ERs.

To the Premier: Why didn’t this government do more to prevent the current crisis in our health care system?

Today, not only has hallway medicine officially returned to Ontario, but somehow this government has made the situation worse than it has ever been.

Has the Premier forgotten his promise to Ontarians?

But our health care system is in crisis, and this minister and this Premier are sitting on their hands.

Families can’t find a hospital to deliver their baby, local ERs are closing, staff are having their wages suppressed, and for what? For this government to save a few dollars? You know that is shameful.

The government is sitting on billions of dollars of unallocated funds that could be spent on meaningful investments in health care right now. Will this government commit to doing that today?