44th Parliament, 1st Session

44th Parliament, 1st session



44e Législature, 1re session



Votes and Proceedings



Procès-verbaux



No. 5




Nº 5




Tuesday
April 29, 2025



Mardi
29 avril 2025



Hon. Donna Skelly
Speaker

L’hon. Donna Skelly
la présidente

 


9:00 A.M.

Prayers

9 H

Prières

The Speaker informed the House,

La Présidente a informé l’Assemblée,

That pursuant to Standing Order 62(c), the 2024-2025 Estimates of the Office of the Assembly, Office of the Auditor General, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, and Ombudsman Ontario, having been approved by the Board of Internal Economy and tabled on April 17, 2025, are deemed to be concurred in.

Accordingly, the 2024-2025 Estimates of the following Offices were deemed to be concurred in:

OFFICE OF THE ASSEMBLY

201

Office of the Assembly

$

204,608,500

202

Commission(er)’s

41,641,800

OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL

2501

Office of the Auditor General

$

30,358,700

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER

501

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

$

45,694,400

OMBUDSMAN ONTARIO

2301

Ombudsman Ontario

$

33,097,100

The Speaker addressed the House:

La Présidente s’adresse à l’Assemblée :

Members will be aware that appearing on today’s Orders and Notices Paper is a notice of motion for an Opposition Day, scheduled to be debated tomorrow, April 30, 2025. Standing Order 45(a) provides for five Opposition Day debates in each of the spring and fall meeting periods. However, the timing of the opening of the current session has resulted in an abbreviated spring meeting period. Given that the scheduling of Opposition Days is prohibited during the last eight sessional days of the meeting period, pursuant to Standing Order 45(b)(vi), and that Opposition Days are limited to one per meeting week pursuant to Standing Order 45(b)(i), it will only be possible for three Opposition Days to be scheduled and debated before the House adjourns for the summer.

When faced with similar circumstances in previous Parliaments, the Speaker has determined the allocation of Opposition Days between the recognized opposition parties on the basis of the membership of the caucuses relative to each other. This is the approach provided by Standing Order 45(b)(iii), used to determine the distribution of the five Opposition Days, so it is fair and reasonable to apply the same approach to the distribution of the three total Opposition Days that may be held during this meeting period. This formula provides that two Opposition Days will be allocated to the Official Opposition, the first of which will occur tomorrow, and one Opposition Day will be allocated to the Third Party.

I hope that this provides clarity for Members and that it will help avoid any confusion going forward.

I would like to thank the House for its attention.

The Speaker informed the House,

La Présidente a informé l’Assemblée,

That, during the adjournment, the following document was tabled:

Que pendant l’ajournement, le document suivant a été déposé :

Ontario’s Labour Market in 2024 from the Office of the Financial Accountability Officer of Ontario (Sessional Paper No. 16) (Tabled April 24, 2025).

Le marché du travail de l’Ontario en 2024 du Bureau de la responsabilité financière de l’Ontario (Document parlementaire no 16) (Déposé le 24 avril 2025).

Orders of the Day

Ordres du jour

Second Reading of Bill 5, An Act to enact the Special Economic Zones Act, 2025, to amend the Endangered Species Act, 2007 and to replace it with the Species Conservation Act, 2025, and to amend various Acts and revoke various regulations in relation to development and to procurement.

Deuxième lecture du projet de loi 5, Loi édictant la Loi de 2025 sur les zones économiques spéciales, modifiant la Loi de 2007 sur les espèces en voie de disparition et la remplaçant par la Loi de 2025 sur la conservation des espèces, puis modifiant diverses lois et abrogeant divers règlements en ce qui concerne le développement et l’approvisionnement.

Debate arose and after some time, the debate adjourned at 10:15 a.m.

Il s’élève un débat et après quelque temps, à 10 h 15, le débat était ajourné.

10:15 A.M.

10 H 15

The Speaker informed the House,

La Présidente a informé l’Assemblée,

That the adjournment debate standing in the name of the Member for Ottawa South (John Fraser) scheduled for today has been withdrawn. Consequently, the adjournment debate will not be held today.

The Speaker informed the House,

La Présidente a informé l’Assemblée,

That pursuant to Standing Order 9(g), the Clerk received written notice from the Government House Leader indicating that a temporary change in the weekly meeting schedule of the House is required, and therefore, the Afternoon Routine on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 shall commence at 1:00 p.m. (Sessional Paper No. 18).

Que, conformément à l’article 9 g) du Règlement, le greffier a reçu un avis écrit du leader parlementaire du gouvernement indiquant qu’une modification temporaire doit être apportée à l’horaire hebdomadaire des séances de l’Assemblée et, par conséquent, les affaires de l’après-midi du mercredi 30 avril 2025 commenceront à 13 h (Document parlementaire no 18).


The House recessed at 11:47 a.m.

À 11 h 47, l’Assemblée a suspendu la séance.


3:00 P.M.

15 H

Reports by Committees

Rapports de comités

Teresa J. Armstrong from the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs presented the Committee’s Report:

Teresa J. Armstrong du Comité permanent de la procédure et des affaires de la Chambre a présenté le rapport du comité :

It is recommended that the Ministries and Offices of the Government be assigned to the Standing Committees as follows:

Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs

Cabinet Office

Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade

Ministry of Finance

Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development

Ministry of Red Tape Reduction

Office of the Premier

Treasury Board Secretariat

Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure, and Cultural Policy

Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism

Ministry of Infrastructure

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing

Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming

Ministry of Transportation

Ministry of Sport

Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Standing Committee on the Interior

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness

Ministry of Energy and Mines

Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

Ministry of Natural Resources

Ministry of Northern Economic Development and Growth

Ministry of Rural Affairs

Standing Committee on Justice Policy

Ministry of the Attorney General

Ministry of Francophone Affairs

Ministry of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation

Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement

Ministry of the Solicitor General

Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response

Standing Committee on Social Policy

Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services

Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security

Ministry of Education

Ministry of Health

Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs

Ministry of Long-Term Care

Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility

Pursuant to Standing Order 113(b), the Report was deemed to be adopted by the House (Sessional Paper No. 19).

Conformément à l’alinéa 113 b) du Règlement, le rapport est réputé adopté par l’Assemblée (Document parlementaire no 19).

Teresa J. Armstrong from the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs presented the Committee’s Report:

Teresa J. Armstrong du Comité permanent de la procédure et des affaires de la Chambre a présenté le rapport du comité :

It is recommended that the membership of the following standing committees be appointed for the duration of the 44th Parliament:

The Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs: Ernie Hardeman, Dave Smith (Peterborough—Kawartha), Logan Kanapathi, Bill Rosenberg, Effie J.Triantafilopoulos, Joseph Racinsky, Brian Saunderson, Doly Begum, Sandy Shaw, Rob Cerjanec, Bobbi Ann Brady.

The Standing Committee on Government Agencies: Laura Smith, Robert Bailey, Andrew Dowie, Mohamed Firin, Billy Denault, Sheref Sabawy, Wayne Gates, Alexa Gilmour, Tyler Watt.

The Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy: Laurie Scott, Brian Saunderson, Aris Babikian, Deepak Anand, Hardeep Grewal, Amarjot Sandhu, Guy Bourgouin, Catherine McKenney, Mary-Margaret McMahon.

The Standing Committee on the Interior: Aris Babikian, Rudy Cuzzetto, Paul Vickers, Dawn Gallagher Murphy, Andrew Dowie, Chris Scott, Sol Mamakwa, Guy Bourgouin, Jonathan Tsao.

The Standing Committee on Justice Policy: Lorne Coe, Monica Ciriello, Silvia Gualtieri, George Darouze, Stéphane Sarrazin, Tyler Allsopp, Kristyn Wong-Tam, Catherine Fife, Karen McCrimmon.

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts: Michelle Cooper, Bill Rosenberg, Jess Dixon, Mohamed Firin, David Smith (Scarborough Centre), George Darouze, Tom Rakocevic, Jessica Bell, Lee Fairclough.

The Standing Committee on Social Policy: Brian Riddell, Anthony Leardi, Natalie Pierre, John Jordan, Daisy Wai, Billy Pang, Jess Dixon, France Gélinas, Robin Lennox, Andrea Hazell, Aislinn Clancy.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109.1(a), the Report was deemed to be adopted by the House (Sessional Paper No. 20).

Conformément à l’alinéa 109.1 a) du Règlement, le rapport est réputé adopté par l’Assemblée (Document parlementaire no 20).

The Speaker informed the House,

La Présidente a informé l’Assemblée,

That Standing Order 66(a) provides that each Standing Committee shall present one report with respect to all of the Estimates and Supplementary Estimates considered no later than the third Thursday in November of each calendar year.

The House did not receive a report from the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs in this 44th Parliament on the following Estimates: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Ministry of the Attorney General; Cabinet Office; Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services; Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism; Ministry of Colleges and Universities; Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade; Ministry of Education; Ministry of Energy; Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks; Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Francophone Affairs; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Indigenous Affairs; Ministry of Infrastructure; Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development; Office of the Lieutenant Governor; Ministry of Long-Term Care; Ministry of Mines; Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry; Ministry of Northern Development; Office of the Premier; Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery; Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility; Ministry of the Solicitor General; Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport; Ministry of Transportation; Treasury Board Secretariat.

Pursuant to Standing Order 64(b), the 2024-2025 Estimates of these Ministries and Offices, not having been selected for consideration, are deemed to be received and concurred in.

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

101

Ministry Administration

$

22,492,100

107

Better Public Health and Environment

101,401,200

108

Strong Agriculture, Food and Bio-product Sectors and Strong Rural Communities

517,325,300

109

Policy Development

16,523,200

MINISTRY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

301

Ministry Administration

$

357,001,900

302

Prosecuting Crime

380,233,700

303

Policy, Justice Programs and Agencies

525,702,900

304

Legal Services

31,370,500

305

Court Services

567,316,400

306

Victims and Vulnerable Persons

149,924,200

307

Political Contribution Tax Credit

10,346,400

308

Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario

79,256,900

CABINET OFFICE

401

Cabinet Office

$

61,602,700

MINISTRY OF CHILDREN, COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL SERVICES

701

Ministry Administration

$

97,517,900

702

Children and Adult Services

19,768,436,800

704

Children, Community and Social Services Capital

193,184,600

MINISTRY OF CITIZENSHIP AND MULTICULTURALISM

4601

Ministry Administration

$

5,430,300

4602

Anti-Racism Directorate

26,585,900

4603

Citizenship, Inclusion and Heritage

38,643,000

MINISTRY OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

3001

Ministry Administration

$

15,682,300

3002

Postsecondary Education

7,588,677,500

3005

Research

281,565,400

MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOB CREATION AND TRADE

901

Ministry Administration

$

23,624,500

902

Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade

2,803,876,200

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

1001

Ministry Administration

$

24,913,300

1002

Elementary and Secondary Education

31,728,292,600

1003

Community Services Information and Information Technology Cluster

56,454,300

1004

Child Care and Early Years

5,561,057,500

MINISTRY OF ENERGY

2901

Ministry Administration

$

13,305,700

2902

Energy Development and Management

142,323,500

2905

Electricity Price Mitigation

7,336,133,200

MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT, CONSERVATION AND PARKS

1101

Ministry Administration

$

61,128,800

1112

Environmental Policy

27,584,100

1114

Environmental Sciences and Standards

59,570,700

1116

Environmental Compliance and Operations

113,154,200

1118

Environmental Assessment and Permissions

29,909,300

1119

Climate Change and Resiliency

14,921,000

1120

Land and Water

133,998,100

1121

Emissions Performance Standards

4,000

MINISTRY OF FINANCE

1201

Ministry Administration

$

34,246,900

1202

Regulatory Policy and Agency Relations

18,774,700

1203

Economic, Fiscal, and Financial Policy

485,466,700

1209

Tax, Benefits and Local Finance

4,138,721,500

1215

Building Ontario Fund

5,000,000

MINISTRY OF FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS

1301

Francophone Affairs

$

13,256,700

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

1401

Ministry Administration

$

99,496,400

1402

Health Policy and Research

1,194,523,000

1403

Digital, Data and Analytics

144,049,700

1405

Ontario Health Insurance

25,009,948,600

1406

Population and Public Health

1,539,584,000

1407

Health Capital

2,281,037,400

1412

Provincial Programs and Stewardship

4,355,405,900

1413

Information Systems

202,365,700

1416

Health Services and Programs

37,827,188,400

MINISTRY OF INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS

2001

Indigenous Affairs

$

136,030,700

MINISTRY OF INFRASTRUCTURE

4001

Ministry Administration

$

11,865,300

4003

Infrastructure Policy, Planning, and Projects

2,541,155,400

4006

Government Real Estate

831,107,200

4007

Infrastructure Partnership Projects & Agency Oversight

621,595,800

MINISTRY OF LABOUR, IMMIGRATION, TRAINING AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

1601

Ministry Administration

$

28,955,000

1602

Pay Equity Commission

3,462,300

1603

Labour Relations

24,996,400

1604

Occupational Health and Safety

253,047,000

1605

Employment Rights and Responsibilities

41,077,200

1607

Employment Ontario

1,515,369,100

1608

Global Talent and Settlement Services

109,927,900

OFFICE OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

1701

Office of the Lieutenant Governor

$

2,652,400

MINISTRY OF LONG-TERM CARE

4501

Ministry Administration

$

11,218,100

4502

Long-Term Care Homes

9,348,688,200

MINISTRY OF MINES

4901

Ministry Administration

$

7,305,700

4902

Mines and Minerals

204,327,400

MINISTRY OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS AND HOUSING

1901

Ministry Administration

$

23,713,000

1902

Municipal Services

23,765,500

1903

Local Government and Planning Policy

25,647,200

1904

Housing

1,982,966,200

MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND FORESTRY

2101

Ministry Administration

$

31,104,200

2103

Natural Resource Management

465,476,000

2104

Public Protection

205,091,300

2105

Land and Resources Information and Information Technology Cluster

32,715,000

MINISTRY OF NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT

2201

Ministry Administration

$

6,598,900

2202

Northern Development

960,164,400

OFFICE OF THE PREMIER

2401

Office of the Premier

$

2,326,800

MINISTRY OF PUBLIC AND BUSINESS SERVICE DELIVERY

1801

Ministry Administration

$

36,553,700

1809

Privacy, Archives, Digital and Data

66,158,900

1811

Enterprise Business and Financial Services

52,159,400

1814

ServiceOntario

262,915,200

1816

Consumer Services

29,677,600

1817

Government Services Integration Cluster

79,069,200

1821

Enterprise Information Technology Services

263,884,100

MINISTRY FOR SENIORS AND ACCESSIBILITY

3501

Ministry Administration

$

8,535,700

3502

Policy, Program, and Strategic Partnerships

168,999,500

3503

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities

8,046,400

MINISTRY OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL

2601

Ministry Administration

$

64,305,800

2603

Public Safety Division

520,986,900

2604

Ontario Provincial Police

1,680,869,500

2605

Correctional Services

1,101,264,600

2606

Justice Technology Services

92,860,100

2607

Agencies, Boards and Commissions

7,367,800

2609

Emergency Planning and Management

147,313,600

2610

Strategic Policy Division

6,923,300

2612

Inspectorate

11,042,300

2614

Emergency Services Telecommunications

594,204,400

2615

Data Insights and Strategic Initiatives

8,650,900

2616

Health Services

81,860,100

2617

Infrastructure

697,501,000

MINISTRY OF TOURISM, CULTURE AND SPORT

3801

Ministry Administration

$

24,435,100

3803

Sport, Recreation and Community

60,664,600

3804

Tourism and Culture Capital

85,174,400

3805

Tourism and Culture Programs

92,016,900

3806

Ontario Trillium Foundation

103,557,000

3808

Ontario Cultural Media Tax Credits

1,034,448,800

3811

Agency Programs

209,542,300

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION

2701

Ministry Administration

$

65,902,800

2702

Transit

10,737,464,600

2703

Transportation Safety

187,024,100

2704

Transportation Infrastructure Management

3,294,037,700

2705

Labour and Transportation Cluster

63,109,700

2706

Integrated Policy and Planning

28,186,600

2707

Operations

717,483,600

2708

Oversight and Agency Governance

131,190,100

TREASURY BOARD SECRETARIAT

3401

Ministry Administration

$

27,541,900

3402

Labour Relations and Compensation

133,135,000

3403

Employee and Pensioner Benefits (Employer Share)

1,368,000,000

3404

Treasury Board Support

2,463,401,600

3405

Centre for People, Culture and Talent

76,359,800

3409

Central Agencies Cluster

38,222,200

3411

Bulk Media Buy

51,949,200

3412

Office of the Comptroller General

54,280,000

3415

Emergency Management Ontario

68,802,400

3416

Supply Chain

325,505,800

Pursuant to Standing Order 64(b), the Report of the Committee was deemed to be received and the Estimates of the Ministries and Offices named therein were deemed to be concurred in.

Introduction of Bills

Dépôt de projets de loi

The following Bill was introduced and read the first time:

Le projet de loi suivant est présenté et lu une première fois :

Bill Pr2, An Act to revive MFIS Holdings and Investments Inc. Brian Riddell.

Petitions

Pétitions

No./

Petition title/Titre de la pétition

Presented by/Présentée par

P-1

Lunettes de prescription pour des personnes âgées

France Gélinas

P-3

University funding

Ted Hsu

P-4

Take home cancer drugs

France Gélinas

P-7

Health care privatization

France Gélinas

P-17

Social assistance rates

Teresa J. Armstrong

P-17

Social assistance rates

Alexa Gilmour

P-18

Student attendance

Chandra Pasma

P-19

Fuel taxes

Will Bouma

P-19

Fuel taxes

Anthony Leardi

P-20

Education workers in classrooms

Chandra Pasma

P-20

Education workers in classrooms

Jamie West

P-21

Community living agency funding

Mike Schreiner

P-22

Post-secondary education

Jamie West

P-23

Assistive Devices Program

France Gélinas

Orders of the Day

Ordres du jour

Motion for an Address in Reply to the Speech of Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor at the Opening of the Session.

Motion portant l’Adresse en réponse au discours prononcé par Son Honneur la lieutenante-gouverneure à l’ouverture de la session.

Debate resumed and after some time, the debate adjourned.

Le débat a repris et après quelque temps, le débat était ajourné.

6:00 P.M.

Adjournment Debate

18 H

Débat sur la motion d’ajournement

At 6:00 p.m., the following matter was considered in an adjournment debate.

À 18 h, la question suivante a été examinée dans un débat d’ajournement.

Member for Kingston and the Islands (Ted Hsu) to the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy and Mines (Chris Scott) – Bill 5.


The House adjourned at 6:11 p.m.

À 18 h 11, l’Assemblée a ajourné ses travaux.


Sessional Papers Presented Pursuant to Standing Order 43

Documents Parlementaires déposés conformément à l’article 43 du règlement

No., Suffix/Nº, Suffixe

Title/Titre

Date tabled/Date de dépôt

14

Cabinet Office, Certificate pursuant to Standing Order 110(f)(1) re Intended Appointments: April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

15

Government of Ontario, 2024-2025 Published Plans and 2023-2024 Annual Reports, Volume 1: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs – Ministry of Indigenous Affairs; and Volume 2: Ministry of Infrastructure – Treasury Board Secretariat/Gouvernement de l’Ontario, Plans publiés 2024-2025 et rapports annuels 2023-2024, Volume 1 : Ministère de l’Agriculture, de l’Alimentation et des Affaires rurales – Ministère des Affaires autochtones; et Volume 2 : Ministère de l’Infrastructure – Secrétariat du Conseil du Trésor

April 23, 2025

17

Cabinet Office, Certificate pursuant to Standing Order 110(f)(1) re Intended Appointments: April 25, 2025

April 25, 2025