WE ARE OUT OF TIME FOR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. WE ARE GOING TO BE MOVING TO MEMBERS' STATEMENTS. [ Please Stand By] FOR THOSE ARRIVING IN CANADA. THIS IS A HUMBLE BEGINNING. SINCE ITS INCEPTION THEY'VE GATHERED OVER $425,000 WORTH OF SUPPLIES FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES. BUT ON FEBRUARY 10th WHEN THE EARTHQUAKE STRUCK TÜRKIYE AND SYRIA THEY AGAIN PUT OUT A CALL FOR DONATIONS OF BRAND-NEW BABY SUPPLIES, FIRST AID SUPPLIES, BLANKETS, CLOTHING ET CETERA. BY THE LAST DAY OF THE DRIVER, FEBRUARY 28, THEY HAD GATHERED OVER $120,000 OF DONATIONS OF BRAND-NEW ITEMS, THANKS TO THEIR WORK, THEIR DEDICATION AND COUNTLESS HOURS SPENT BY TORONTO POLICE OFFICERS ACROSS THE CITY THOSE DONATIONS ARE GATHERED AND ARE ON THEIR WAY. I THANK BOTH OF THESE GENTLEMEN FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE WORK. >> The Speaker: THE RECOGNIZE THE MEMBER FOR PARKDALE-HIGH PARK. >> THANK YOU, SPEAKER. ONTARIO PLACE OPENED IN 1971 TO SHOWCASE AND CELEBRATE THE BEAUTY OF THIS PROVINCE AND ALLOW EASY ACCESS TO OUR WATERFRONT FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY. NOW THE FORD GOVERNMENT WANTS TO HAND OVER THIS HISTORIC AND VALUABLE PUBLIC SPACE FOR A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT WHO PLANS TO TURN IT INTO A PRIVATE WATER PARK AND SPA.
THE PREMIER WANTS TO GIVE THE DEVELOPER 650 MILLION PUBLIC DOLLARS FOR A SUBSIDY FOR THIS PRIVATE SPA AT ONTARIO PLACE. THIS MAKES ZERO SENSE. HOW DOES IT ONTARIANS. THE PREMIER WANTS TO SPEND 450 MILLION PUBLIC COLLARS FOR A 200 SPOT UNDERGROUND PARKING LOT TO SUPPORT THIS PRIVATE SPA WHERE THE ONTARIO LINE WILL HAVE A STOP RIGHT AT ONTARIO PLACE. HOW IS THIS VALUE FOR MONEY? IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT THE FORD GOVERNMENT IS DOING THIS WITH NO PUBLIC CONSULTATION, CONSULTATION OR AMONG OUR HERITAGE? BY GIVING AWAY PRECIOUS PUBLIC WATERFRONT SPACE THIS GOVERNMENT IS SHOWING OPERATIONAL INCOMPETENCE, A LACK OF IMAGINATION ON HOW TO REVITALIZE THESE VALUABLE ASSETS AND DOWNRIGHT DISREGARD FOR PUBLIC LANDS. ONTARIO PLACE BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE, NOT TO PREMIER FORD. >> The Speaker: PUBLIC STATEMENTS, I RECOGNIZE THE MEMBER FOR TECUMSEH. >> IT'S WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I RISE TO TALK ABOUT MY TWO TRANSFORMATIVE SCHOOL PROJECTS IN TECUMSEH.
WE CELEBRATED THE OPENING OF THE NEW CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL IN. THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED CATHOLIC SECONDARY WILL HAVE AN OUTDOOR SPORTS FIELD. RIGHT NOW THEY DON'T HAVE ONE. SEVEN CONSECUTIVE ASKS WERE TURNED DOWN UNTIL APPRISED IN 2016. OUR GOVERNMENT GOT THE JOB DONE BY APPROVING EXTRA MILLION DOLLARS ON TOP OF THE 27 MILLION FOR THE BUILDING SO THE STUDENTS COULD LEARN AT A SUITABLE SIGHT, STEPS FROM BEAUTIFUL JACKSON PARK. IN MY OWN NEIGHBOURHOOD A PUBLIC SCHOOL HAS LONG SERVED AS THE PRIDE AND JOY OF THE BEACH WHERE IT PROUDLY STANDS OTHER THE BEACH GROVE GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB.
UNDER THE LIBERAL GOVERNMENT THEY WERE ON TRACK TO JOIN THE SCHOOL CLOSURES THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IN AT THE TE. BUT IN 2021, MINISTER LECCE APPROVED ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO KEEP IT. JUST ONE BLOCK WEST OF THE EXISTING SCHOOL ON TOP OF THE MILLIONS APPROVED. I'M PROUD TO SAY IT'S OUR GOVERNMENT THAT FINISHED THE JOB. I RECOGNIZE AND THANK THE GOVERNMENT FOR FINALLY ENDINGS THE ROADBLOCKS AND DELAYS ENCOUNTERED AND ENSURING THAT WINDSOR-TECUMSEH STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY LEARNING CLOSER TO HOME. THANK YOU. >> The Speaker: MEMBER STATEMENTS. THE MEMBER FOR OTTAWA WEST-NEPEAN. >> THANK YOU, SPEAKER. AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE BUT THIS GOVERNMENT IS OVERLOOKING SUPPORTS TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF HOSPITALS. 22 ORGANIZATIONS IN OTTAWA AND IN EASTERN ONTARIO ARE BEING FORCED TO IMPLEMENT SERVICE CUTS UP TO 40% BECAUSE OF THAT GOVERNMENT'S REFUSAL TOLL PROVIDE ADEQUATE FUNDING. THEY'RE ASKED TO RESPOND TO INCREASED NEEDS WHILE OPERATING ON 2012 FUNDING LEVELS. THE OLD FORD COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTRE IN OTTAWA WEST-NEPEAN IS ONE OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS. THEY PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SUPPORTS AND CARE FOR SENIORS AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES ALLOWING THEM STAY IN HOMES LONGER AND KEEPING THEM OUT OF HOSPITALS AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.
YET THIS GOVERNMENT'S REFUSAL TO SUPPORT THIS WORK MEANS THE OLD FORGE WILL BE CUTTING UP TO 22% OF THEIR SERVICES THIS YEAR. ON MONDAY 15 HOSPITAL CEOs IN EASTERN ONTARIO CO-SIGNED A LETTER TO THE PREMIER AND THE MINISTER OF HEALTH FOR ADEQUATE FUNDING BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE THESE SERVICES KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF HOSPITAL AND GET THEM HOME FROM HOSPITAL SOONER. AN INVESTMENT OF JUST $7 MILLION WOULD MEAN THESE ORGANIZATIONS RETAIN THEIR LEVEL OF SERVICE. POCKET CHANGE COMPARED TO WHAT WE SPEND ON THE HOSPITAL SECTOR. I HOPE THAT THE PREMIER AND THE MINISTER WILL LISTEN TO THE CALLS TO INVEST IN VITAL SERVICES.
[ Some Applause ] >> The Speaker: THANK YOU. MEMBER STATEMENTS. THE MEMBER FOR ELGIN MIDDLESEX LONDON. >> IT'S GREAT TO SHARE NEWS WITH THIS HOUSE TODAY. LONDON IS EXPERIENCING A HOMELESSNESS CRISIS. I'M PROUD TO SAY OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS OUR GOVERNMENT INVESTED NEARLY $4.4 MILLION IN HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS FOR OUR MUNICIPAL AND INDIGENOUS PROGRAM PARTNERS. HOWEVER, HOMELESSNESS REMAINS A PRESSING ISSUE AS WE ALL KNOW. IN RESPONSE TO THIS CRISIS OVER 260 CITIZENS CAME TOGETHER TO MAKE TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE AND CAME FROM HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, INSTITUTIONAL HEALTH CARE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES IS, BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CITY OFFICIALS AND STAFF FROM PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL MINISTRIES. THROUGHOUT THE LAST THREE MONTHS A COMPREHENSIVE WHOLE OF COMMUNITY SYSTEMS RESPONSE HAS BEEN DEADVISED AND APPROVED BY MUNICIPAL COUNCIL IN KEEPING WITH THE CRITICAL CIRCUMSTANCES ON OUR STREETS. INSPIRED THIS COMMUNITY-WIDE EFFORT, A FUND WAS CREATED CALMED "FUND FOR CHANGE.CA" INITIATED BY ONE LONDON FAMILY WITH AN INCREDIBLE GIFT $25 MILLION AND AN ADDITIONAL $5 MILLION OF MATCHING FUNDS INSPIRED BY THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY TO JOIN THIS NOBLE CAUSE. IMPRESSIVE, INDEED. I KNOW ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES FROM LONDON AND THIS LEGISLATURE REPRESENTING LONDON OUR FOREST CITY AND THIS MAGNIFICENT PHILANTHROPIC RESPONSE CAN INCREDIBLE SUPPORT FROM THE CITIZENS OF OUR CITY WILL PROVE TO BE A MODEL THAT CAN BE SUPPLIED ACROSS ONTARIO AND INDEED ACROSS CANADA.
THANK YOU. [ Some Applause ] >> The Speaker: MEMBER STATEMENTS. SCARBOROUGH SOUTHWEST. >> THANK YOU, Mr. SPEAKER. Mr. SPEAKER, IT IS AN HONOUR TO RISE TODAY TO RECOGNIZED AN IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION. IN ONTARIO THE MONTH OF MARCH MARKS — [ Inaudible ] — HERITAGE MONTH. WE PAY TRIBUTE AND CELEBRATE THE THRIVING STRONG AND VIBRANT COMMUNITY IN THE ONTARIO. MARCH IS A VERY SPECIAL MONTH FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS MARCH 26 COMMEMORATES INDEPENDENCE DAY, THE DAY THAT BONGAVICH DECLARED INDEPENDENCE FROM PAKISTAN. THIS LED TO THE BEGINNING OF A NINE-MONTH-LONG BLOODY WAR WHERE MANY LIVES WERE SACRIFICED. YOUTH, INTELLECTUALS MEN AND WOMEN FOUGHT AND SACRIFICED FOR AN INDEPENDENT NATION. AFTER THE LIBERATION WAR, DECEMBER 16 A NEW NATION WAS BORN. SCARBOROUGH SOUTHWEST IS HOME TO AN ACTIVE COMMUNITY, SPEAKER. WHOSE CONTRIBUTION TO OUR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE PROVINCE HAVE BEEN EXTRAORDINARY. THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT GIVES LIFE AND HOPE TO SCARBOROUGH. WITH AMAZING TALENT SO MANY LOCAL BUSINESSES, FOOD, ART AND PERFORMANCES AS WELL AS COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO CONTINUE TO STAND BY THEIR NEIGHBOURS.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SPENDING THIS MONTH HONOURING OUR CULTURE AND HERITAGE. REMEMBERING THE HISTORY AND ENHANCING THE WORK AND VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN THIS PROVINCE. AS A CANADIAN WHO HAS THE HONOUR OF REPRESENTING OUR INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY. SPEAKER, I'M HONOURED TO BE A MEMBER OF THIS AMAZING COMMUNITY AND ON BEHALF OF OUR LEGISLATURE I KNOW THAT I CAN WISH ONTARIO AND CANADA A HAPPY HERITAGE MONTH. THANK YOU. >> The Speaker: THANK YOU. MEMBER STATEMENTS. THE MEMBER FOR LANARK-FRONTENAC-KINGSTON. >> I'M PLEASED TO RISE TO APPLAUD THIS GOVERNMENT'S EFFORT TO DELIVER INTEGRATED TEAM-BASED MODELS OF CARE IN ONTARIO. IN THESE MODELS, A TEAM OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS FROM VARIOUS DISCIPLINES WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE BE PATIENT'S PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING. THANKS TO THE LEADERSHIP OF PREMIER FORD AND OUR MINISTER OF HEALTH, ABORIGINAL HEALTH ACCESS CENTRES AND FAMILY HEALTH TEAMS AND COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRES ARE DELIVERING QUALITY CARE IN AN INTEGRATED AND COLLABORATIVE WAY THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO.
RESIDENTS OF LANARK-FRONTENAC-KINGSTON ARE BENEFITING FROM THE SERVICES OF THE SMITH FALLS NURSE PRACTITIONER LED CLINIC, RIDEAU COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES, CHC MODEL, CONNECT WELL COMMUNITY HEALTH AND THE OTTAWA VALLEY FAMILY HEALTH TEAM. RECENT PROVINCIAL FUNDING ENABLED THE OTTAWA VALLEY HEALTH TEAM TO EXPAND TO RESIDENTS REVENUE MISSISSIPPI MILLS, CARLETON PLACE AND BECKWITH, THE FASTEST GROWING COMMUNITY IN CANADA. THIS IS THE TIME TO BE AN EFFICIENT COLLABORATIVE MODEL FOR A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE MARKET. OUR THANKS TO PREMIER FORD, OUR MINISTER OF HEALTH AND PARLIAMENTARY ASSISTANTS, THE MEMBER FROM EGLINTON-LAWRENCE AND THE MEMBER FROM NEW MARKET-AURORA FOR SUPPORTING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO HIGH QUALITY CARE FOR PATIENTS AT EVERY LEVEL. THE PEOPLE OF LANARK-FRONTENAC-KINGSTON THANK YOU FOR GETTING IT DONE. >> The Speaker: THANK YOU. MEMBER STATEMENTS, THE MEMBER FOR KINGSTON AND THE ISLANDS.
>> THIS GOVERNMENT CAN'T BE TRUSTED TO MANAGE THE ECONOMY AND THE MTO FAIRY CREWS SERVICE IS DISRUPTED AND YET WITH BILL 124 THIS GOVERNMENT HAS SALARIES BELOW PREVAILING WAGES AND NATURALLY WE'RE LOSING WORKERS. THE PARAMEDIC SERVICE ON WORK ISLAND WAS CUT AGAIN IN FAVOUR OF PARAMEDIC CREWS BASED ON THE MAINLAND. RESIDENTS WERE TOLD ADDING THE NEW SECOND FERRY COULD COMPENSATE DURING EMERGENCIES. NOT ONLY HAS THE NEW FERRY BEEN TIED UP AWAITING CREW AND NOT ONLY HAS THE CURRENT SERVICE BEEN DISRUPTED BY LACK OF CREW NOW MPO IS SAYING NOT SURPRISINGLY THEY HAVE TO BREAK THEIR PROMISE OF RUNNING THE NEW FERRY ALONGSIDE THE OLD FERRY BAHAMAS, WAIT FOR IT, THERE'S A LACK OF CREW.
WHAT'S MAKING THE STAFFING SHORTAGE WORSE? THIS GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN SUPPRESSING WAGES WITH BILL 124, THE WORKERS HAVE BEEN SUCK WOOD TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR. THIS GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN HIRING THE TEMPORARY CREW TO FILL PERMANENT POSITIONS AND INCURRING MUCH HIGHER COST. THE REGULAR SALARIES ARE $23 AN HOUR FOR DECK HANDS, $38 AN HOUR FOR A CAPTAIN. MY ORDER PAPER QUESTION REVEALED THAT THE CONSERVATIVES ARE PAYING $86 AN HOUR FOR TEMPORARY WORKERS, WITH SALARIES, EXPENSES AND AGENCY PROFITS.
THIS IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WE'VE SEEN — THIS EXACT SAME PATTERN WE'VE SEEN WITH NURSES IN ONTARIO. IT'S A PATTERN OF ECONOMIC MISMANAGEMENT WE CANNOT AFFORD. >> The Speaker: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MEMBER STATEMENTS. THE MEMBER FOR MARKHAM-THORNHILL. >> Mr. SPEAKER, WELCOME. WE ARE BRINGING HOPE, OPTIMISM AND REJUVENATION FOR ALL OF US. AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEW YEAR 2023 WE'RE IN NEED OF ENERGY FOR A FRESH BEGINNING FOR THE — [ Inaudible ] — AND THE CHINESE NEW YEAR IN MARKHAM-THORNHILL. IT'S A HARVESTING FESTIVAL WHICH CAN BE CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAMILY. IT IS CELEBRATED AMONG 400,000 IN ONTARIO AND AROUND THE WORLD. IT'S A FESTIVAL THAT SYMBOLIZES THANKING IT AND IMPLEMENTING TH.
Mr. SPEAKER, TAMIL LANGUAGE ONE OF THE MOST OLDEST AND CLASSICAL LANGUAGE USED IN THE MODERN TIMES. SPOKEN FOR 55 YEARS IN SOUTH ASIA AND NOW OVER 100 MILLION PEOPLE SPEAK TAMIL. I CELEBRATED AND ORGANIZED MANY CELEBRATIONS WITH MY MPPs IN BROCK AND THORNHILL. I THANK MINISTER LECCE WHO MARKED THE OCCASION BE WITH CLOSE TO 2 — MARKED THE OCCASION WITH CLOSE TO 200 STUDENTS WITH A CULTURAL PERFORMANCE. THANKS TO THE PARENTS AND TEACHERS AND DANCERS. Mr. SPEAKER, I HAVE A HUGE ASIAN COMMUNITY IN MY RIDING. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, Mr. SPEAKER. [ Some Applause ] >> The Speaker: MEMBER STATEMENTS, THE MEMBER FOR RENFREW-NIPISSING-PEMBROKE. >> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH Mr. SPEAKER. Mr. SPEAKER, LAST SATURDAY I WAS PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY MY WIFE VICKY, MEMBERS OF MY STAFF AND THEIR FAMILIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR WALK IN PEMBROKE. THE COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR BEGAN IN 2011 AT TWO LOCATIONS AND IT CONTINUED TO GROW TO THE POINT WHERE 166 LOCATIONS TOOK PART IN 2022 WITH OVER 31,000 WALKERS.
CNOY WAS INSTITUTED TO GIVE PEOPLE A SENSE OF WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS ON THE COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR. AS IN THE PAST, THE PEMBROKE WALK WAS IN SUPPORT OF THE GRIND, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHO SUPPORTS YOUTH AND ADULTS WHO ARE MARGINALIZED AND STRUGGLING TO LIVE A NORMAL LIFE. 266 WALKERS PARTICIPATED THIS YEAR, RAISING OVER $105,000. I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE TREMENDOUS WORK THAT THE GRIND DOES LOCALLY AND I'M MOVED BY THE WAY THEY OPERATE. IT'S A FAITH BASED ORGANIZATION THAT ACCEPTS AND SUPPORTS ALL PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF AGE, ETHNICITY, SEXUAL PREFERENCE OR SOCIAL STATUS, PROVIDING NONJUDGMENTAL SUPPORT AND SUPPORTING AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS. HAVING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THE GRIND MYSELF ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS HAS GIVEN ME A MUCH GREATER UNDERSTANDING AND PERSPECTIVE THE BREADTH OF SERVICES IT PROVIDES TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS, MARGINALIZED OR AT RISK. ONCE AGAIN OUR TEAM OF WALKERS KNOWN AS THE YACK PACK ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS WONDERFUL CAUSE.
IF YOU'RE IN THE AREA I ENCOURAGE BE YOU TO DROP BY E GRIPED YOURSELF AND SEE WHAT WONDERFUL THINGS ARE TAKING PLACE THEhREe . THrANK: YHAOU T.a NK >> T. ANKO YU .