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May 19, 2020

42nd Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2020-May-19 (PDF)

L161 - Tue 19 May 2020 / Mar 19 mai 2020

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Tuesday 19 May 2020 Tuesday 19 mai 2020

Jennifer Casey

Opposition day motion

COVID-19 deaths

Members’ Statements

Small business

Front-line workers

Front-line workers

Community Care Durham Community Food Box program

Security guards

Small business

COVID-19 response in Burlington

Small business

John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport

Peterborough Strong COVID-19 fundraiser

Question Period

Long-term care

Long-term care

Long-term care

Economic reopening and recovery

Long-term care

Long-term care

Prescription drugs

COVID-19

Child care

Protection for health care workers

Indigenous public health

Long-term care

Small business

Supply chain management

Introduction of Bills

Workplace Safety and Insurance Amendment Act (Presumption Respecting COVID-19), 2020 / Loi de 2020 modifiant la

Loi sur la sécurité professionnelle et l’assurance contre les accidents du travail (présomption concernant la COVID-19)

Petitions

Public sector compensation

Access to justice

Health care

Fish and wildlife management

Health care

Ontario economy

Public sector compensation

Access to justice

Public sector compensation

Order of business

Opposition Day

Long-term care

The House met at 0900.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Let us pray.

Prayers.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Orders of the day. I recognize the government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Thank you, Speaker. No business.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): There being no business, this House stands in recess until 10:15 a.m.

The House recessed from 0902 to 1015.

Jennifer Casey

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I understand that the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services has a point of order he’d like to raise.

Hon. Todd Smith: Point of order, Mr. Speaker: If you would grant me a couple of seconds to speak about my friend Captain Jenn Casey, who was lost in the Snowbirds crash in British Columbia on Sunday night.

I had the pleasure of working with Jenn Casey—Jenn Howell at the time—at Quinte Broadcasting in the Belleville-Quinte region. She went on to join the military in 2015, did the boot camp training, came back and became the public affairs officer at 8 Wing Trenton, which is Canada’s largest air force base, for a couple of years. She found her love for aerobatics with the CF-18 Demo Team and then joined the Snowbirds and had a tremendous career with the Snowbirds. An operation that was expected to lift all of our spirits during COVID-19—the operation unfortunately ended in BC on Sunday night with the terrible tragedy that claimed the life of Captain Jenn Casey.

I would ask for a moment of silence as we keep her, her friends and the Snowbirds—again, Nova Scotia has lost another leader in their community. If we could have a moment of silence, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Children, Community and Social Services is asking unanimous consent for a moment of silence. Agreed? Agreed.

The House observed a moment’s silence.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much.

Opposition day motion

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I was advised that the member for Ottawa South may have a point of order.

Mr. John Fraser: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. A point of order.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Point of order. I recognize the member.

Mr. John Fraser: I would like to put forward a motion concerning today’s business. Notwithstanding standing order 46(b)(iv.1), the time allotted to independent members for debate on the opposition motion scheduled for debate today shall be up to a—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I will say to the member, you’ll need to seek unanimous consent of the House before you can move the motion.

Mr. John Fraser: My gosh, I forgot to do that.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Ottawa South is seeking unanimous consent to move a motion. Agreed? Agreed.

I recognize the member for Ottawa South.

Mr. John Fraser: Thank you. Notwithstanding standing order 46(b)(iv.1), the time allotted to independent members for debate on the opposition motion scheduled for debate today shall be up to a maximum of 25 minutes, which may be shared among the independent members.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Mr. Fraser has moved that notwithstanding standing order 46(b)(iv.1), the time allotted to independent members for debate on the opposition motion scheduled for debate today shall be up to a maximum of 25 minutes, which may be shared among the independent members.

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

Motion agreed to.

COVID-19 deaths

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m advised that the leader of the official opposition has a point of order as well, and I recognize her.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I seek unanimous consent for the House to observe a moment of silence to honour all front-line workers who have died of COVID-19 since we last met, including nurse Brian Beattie and the PSW from Sisters of St. Joseph of London, whose name has been withheld, and for all the others who have succumbed to COVID-19 over the past week.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Leader of the Opposition is seeking the unanimous consent of the House for a moment’s silence in memory and recognition of those who have lost their lives since we last met, with respect to COVID-19. Agreed? Agreed.

The House observed a moment’s silence.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much.

Members’ Statements

Small business

Ms. Jennifer K. French: Businesses in Oshawa, Durham region and across Ontario are very concerned about the devastating impact of COVID-19. They’re trying to survive and make it through to the other side. I’ve been hearing from businesses, downtown BIAs, the chambers of commerce and boards of trade.

The Ontario NDP submitted the Save Main Street plan, filled with recommendations based on what small and medium businesses have been asking for. They need tools like the successful Digital Main Street program so that business can get online and get to their customers and community; and enhanced wage subsidies, because the feds’ 10% isn’t going to cut it. We need to institute a utility payment freeze, postpone tourism and marketing fees in the hospitality sector, dedicate resources to ensure the food supply chain has what it needs, and invest in the tools and resources entrepreneurs need for the future.

Commercial landlords are still not taking advantage of the federal money, so the Premier should pick up the phone and use Ontario’s influence with the feds. Small and medium businesses are desperate to open, but worried at the same time, so support them with help and ensure that there are clear guidelines. How will they get PPE? What happens if they need support? They want to know that there is some security if they need it.

Small, main street and medium businesses have always been the backbone of our communities. Especially now, in the face of such uncertainty, we have to listen to them and support them. Reshaping the future is a big job that will take all of us. This government needs to put its money where its mouth is. We have to invest in and ensure the future of small businesses, not just hope it happens.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I hesitated to interrupt the member during the course of her statement, but I would ask the House to come to order so that I can hear the member who has the floor and is presenting to the House.

Front-line workers

Mr. Will Bouma: I rise today to recognize the extraordinary front-line workers not only in my home riding of Brantford–Brant, but throughout Ontario.

In our hospitals: doctors, nurses, cleaning and kitchen staff, IT workers and all support staff.

On our roads: paramedics, fire, police, military, dispatchers, delivery personnel and all support workers.

In our long-term-care homes: nurses, PSWs, cleaning staff, recreational and therapy workers.

In our fields: farmers, farm workers and farm families.

In our stores: pharmacists, assistants, grocery store clerks, security staff, and workers tirelessly restocking shelves.

The workers that you never see: hydro technicians, municipal sewage workers, water treatment staff and telecommunications professionals that link and give us access to information, the ability to talk to our loved ones remotely and to keep us entertained.

A huge thank you to all in our province who have stepped up either working to treat COVID-19 patients, working to prevent outbreaks, and the Ontarians that work daily to keep us safe, comfortable and fed.

Recently, I reached out to our long-term-care homes in my riding of Brantford–Brant to hear first-hand the reality of what was going on on the ground. While my thoughts are with the residents who cannot see their loved ones in person, I was most impressed with the level of preparedness and dedication to fight this deadly virus.

If you are a team leader, a manager or a director and you want to recognize excellence in your organization, I urge you to contact your local MPP.

Front-line workers

Ms. Laura Mae Lindo: The pandemic pay announcement was made on April 24, but it wasn’t until May 15 that the ministries responsible contacted eligible employers to provide more details. That meant four long weeks of critical front-line workers continuing to put their lives on the line to protect Ontarians while wondering if they would qualify for this pay, wondering if their work was valued by this government.

We know staffing shortages plague the system because of the government’s cuts leading up to the pandemic, and now exclusions based on random criteria that were never disclosed to the public have added insult to injury.

PSWs at long-term-care homes qualified for pandemic pay but called my office asking why the person working alongside them did not, simply because they had stepped in to provide temporary help through private home care companies.

Why were ambulance attendants not on the list or people who provide MRIs? What about clerical support staff, organizing and prioritizing appointments, or laboratory technicians who do our testing? What about health care workers supporting the unsheltered or those helping people navigate addictions in the community? Why are they missing?

For four weeks my staff monitored the list, and while we’re grateful to see more roles added, we’re frustrated it’s taken this government so long to see that front-line workers are part of an intricate web of people who rely on each other to keep us all safe. Real leadership requires well-thought-out plans and complete transparency. So do better. Ontario is watching.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m going to have to ask the independent members to keep the volume of their voices down. We’re in members’ statements. I need to be able to hear the member who has the floor. We need to show respect for each other.

Community Care Durham Community Food Box program

Mr. Lorne Coe: In response to the pandemic, staff at Community Care Durham have launched the Community Food Box program. The program was developed to support residents from communities in the region of Durham unable to safely acquire the essentials needed during this unprecedented time.

With the support of local businesses and farms, the food boxes contain the essentials for healthy eating, much of which is locally made or grown in the region of Durham. These boxes are delivered throughout the region of Durham and help to relieve the pressure from immediate family members unable to provide the necessary care to their vulnerable loved ones.

Community Care Durham is a multi-service charitable organization with a long history of providing community support services to adults and their caregivers who have needs related to aging, physical and/or mental health.

Community Care Durham will continue to partner with local businesses and farms to bring Durham residents in need during this extraordinary time a truly community experience.

Thank you to the staff at Community Care Durham and all the volunteers who are delivering the community food boxes. Know that you’re making a difference in so many lives throughout the region of Durham.

Security guards

Mr. Kevin Yarde: Demand for security guards has drastically increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. These men and women have been asked to take on challenging roles on the front lines, ensuring that our grocery stores, hospitals, government facilities and care homes are safe.

There is currently an acute shortage of licensed guards in Ontario. Many guards are currently being asked to work double shifts and overtime, but demand persists. In a province posting historic job losses, there are as many as 5,000 positions that remain unfilled. This demand will only increase as the government moves slowly to ease economic restrictions.

The good news is that there are thousands of Ontarians ready and willing to take on these roles. Unfortunately, new licences and testing have been suspended, rendering it impossible to become qualified as a security guard in Ontario while testing and licensing facilities remain closed.

The province urgently needs a temporary move to online testing and certification for the duration of the pandemic. We understand that a similar program has been undertaken in Quebec.

Despite the dangerous essential work that security guards are carrying out, reports are that guards are not receiving the $4-an-hour top-up the government promised. To be clear, many guards are working in care homes, hospitals and detention centres. Most are working in roles that require placing themselves and their families in danger while screening and interacting with members of the public. This needs to change.

Small business

Ms. Mitzie Hunter: Speaker, it’s an honour to rise today on behalf of the people of Scarborough–Guildwood. Today I thank everyone who is doing their part to curb the spread of COVID-19, especially our health care heroes. I had a chance to meet several of them at the Scarborough Health Network on Friday when the Scarborough Business Association delivered food packages for lunch. I thank these essential workers who are keeping our province moving.

At the same time, I’d like to acknowledge the hardship experienced by small businesses not only in Scarborough, but across the province. Over the past weeks, I have touched base with a number of small business owners in my riding of Scarborough–Guildwood. I hosted a virtual small business recovery consultation and heard from owners such as JC’s Banquet Hall, a fine arts instructor who does her instruction now over Zoom, and G&G Electronics, a family-run business that has been operating continuously for over 65 years. I want to thank Katie Tsuyuki for moderating this session.

I’d also like to thank the Scarborough Business Association for hosting a virtual set of meetings to facilitate networking, information sharing and promoting new and innovative partnerships.

It’s clear that some industries will do better and are better situated to recover and adapt to COVID-19, but whether or not our small businesses survive depends in large part on the steps that the government will be taking in the coming weeks.

The message from small businesses is loud and clear: With drastically reduced incomes, they need support now. They are asking for commercial rent relief and—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much. Members’ statements.

COVID-19 response in Burlington

Ms. Jane McKenna: Burlington is a community like no other. In good times and in bad, we rally together to ensure no one is left behind. I’d like to thank some of the local organizations that have lent a hand to make each day a little brighter for someone else.

The Burlington Food Bank, last month, served 650 families, twice as many as last April. In addition, organizations like the Compassion Society, Food for Life, Burlington’s Salvation Army, and Wellington Square United Church are also providing support.

I want to acknowledge the Burlington Dads group, who held a bottle drive a few weeks back and raised $6,110 and 387 pounds of food for Halton Women’s Place and the Burlington Food Bank.

We’re also coming together online. More than 10,200 people have joined the Facebook group BurlingtonON Restaurants Takeout/Delivery. This group supports local restaurants and promotes Burlington’s takeout Wednesday.

When the lockdown began, I also extended my office hours to help Burlington residents navigate the supports available from all levels of government.

We’ve also arranged marriage licences in several urgent cases. A special thanks to Amber LaPointe, the city clerk in Port Colborne; Sarah Kim, the town clerk in Grimsby; and the clerks’ office in Markham for going above and beyond to help.

Adjusting to our current reality of six feet apart has been challenging for all of us, Speaker. As always, Burlington has stepped up—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much. Members’ statements.

Small business

Ms. Jessica Bell: When I walk through my neighbourhood of University–Rosedale, I see more and more empty storefronts and “for lease” signs. College Street, Bloor Street, Dundas Street, Kensington Market—small businesses are giving up and going under. They can’t pay insurance. They can’t pay utilities. They can’t pay their astronomical rent. Two thirds of commercial tenants didn’t make May rent.

An Tran, a parent and first-time business owner of a bakery on Bloor Street, invested everything into his business—closed.

Matthew Languay, owner of Basecamp Climbing gym, invested thousands into renovating a former adult movie theatre into a popular gym—closed.

NishDish, a thriving Indigenous-run restaurant café on Bloor Street, faced so many additional barriers to open—closed.

Il Gatto Nero, an Italian restaurant on College Street run by Carmine and Michael Raviele: In a Facebook post, they wrote, “We feel fortunate and proud to have had the opportunity to serve this city since 1960, and honoured that we were able to be a part of so many people’s lives, through their trials and tribulations, their triumphs, and joys”—closed.

These businesses make our city. They employ people. They give Toronto its character, culture and identity.

Ontario government, this is a message for you: Put a moratorium on commercial evictions now and provide rental support to commercial tenants. Help us and help my riding survive this pandemic.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): For the third time, I’m compelled to ask members to keep their voices quiet when other members are presenting their statements in the House. This time, I have to ask the government side. We have to respect each other.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, come to order.

Members’ statements?

John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport

Ms. Donna Skelly: I’m pleased to rise today to talk about the critical role Hamilton International Airport is playing in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Hamilton is the nation’s hub for the delivery of personal protective equipment to front-line workers. It is also the largest domestic express cargo airport in Canada.

On April 11, a 767 Cargojet landed in Hamilton from Shanghai with 75,000 pounds of desperately needed PPE. Since then, planeload after planeload of N95 masks and other vital medical supplies has arrived at Hamilton airport from sources right around the world.

The shipments are temporarily stored in a 77,000-foot air cargo space before being delivered to sites across the country. The facility at Hamilton specializes in the shipment of pharmaceutical and biomedical supplies. Hamilton airport, Cargojet, and their delivery partners DHL, Purolator, UPS and Canada Post, continue to work around the clock to meet the surging demand for PPE and other medical supplies.

I want to commend all of the air cargo and delivery teams at Hamilton airport and CEO Cathie Puckering for their commitment to supporting the supply chain and keeping Ontarians safe.

Peterborough Strong COVID-19 fundraiser

Mr. Dave Smith: What seemed like an eternity ago, way back in the last week of March, a gentleman named Tim Burke reached out to me to see if it would be possible under the COVID-19 restrictions to put on a fundraiser, telethon style. Tim has been involved in a number of initiatives to help with mental health and addiction supports in our community through an organization named Peterborough Strong.

His original idea was morphed and modified so that we could observe all of the social distancing rules, and with the help of people like Meg Murphy, Pete Dalliday, Neil Morton, Jef Dueck, and David Feeley at Cogeco Peterborough, the final concept was put together. Artists and celebrities across Peterborough would record songs or inspirational messages, and all of it would be combined into a two-hour show broadcast on Cogeco’s YourTV, as well as through Facebook Live and YouTube. In total, more than 55 local artists took part, and 35 local celebrities and community leaders provided messages of hope to our community. Our very own Premier Ford took time to send a message of hope.

All of the proceeds from this event will go to Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough and to the United Way in support of mental health initiatives for those suffering during COVID-19.

The telethon ended with a very fitting rendition of the Tragically Hip’s Bobcaygeon, sung by the Peterborough Singers.

Question Period

Long-term care

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, before I begin my first question to the Premier, I do want to acknowledge that today is PSW Day. I can’t imagine any other group more deserving of our praise and our thanks today, so happy PSW Day to all those front-line workers.

Applause.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, the crisis in long-term care continues, but the Premier has yet to commit to a full, independent public inquiry. Families and front-line workers deserve openness. They deserve transparency and the concrete change that can only come with a full and open public inquiry. A government commission is simply not good enough.

If the Premier is truly committed to getting answers and ensuring all voices are heard, why is he refusing to commit to an independent public inquiry?

Hon. Doug Ford: I also want to thank all the PSWs out there for doing an incredible job. They come in day after day and put the community and patients ahead of themselves, so, again, thank you.

Mr. Speaker, we’ve been clear that we will review the long-term-care system once we get through this pandemic. I have said over and over again to the public that we have a broken system, and we’re going to get down to the bottom of it. How we’re going to get down to the bottom of it is to expedite the problems that we have seen—to make sure they get fixed, as we’re fixing long-term care on a daily basis.

We have a broken system, and I’m not going to stand up here and politicize that this happened under the previous government with the support of the NDP. I’m not going down that road. We have an issue, and together—together—we should all work together to make sure we fix the system.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, families who have lost loved ones, and nurses and PSWs who have put their health and safety on the line, won’t be heard in another backroom process.

Past public inquiries have been called following a single death.

Over 1,300 seniors have died in long-term care. Why does the Premier think they don’t deserve a full, independent public inquiry?

Hon. Doug Ford: We are going to wait years for an inquiry to return the results. It’s very simple: We need to fix it now. Ontario deserves more. The people, the families, deserve more, and a quicker result.

That’s why an independent, non-partisan commission—and, I repeat, non-partisan—is the best way to conduct a thorough and expedited review.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, the Premier will know that the Ontario Command of the Royal Canadian Legion wrote him this week about the crisis in long-term care. In fact, I have a copy of the letter right here, and it can go over to the Premier via a page, if that is appropriate at this time.

What they say in the letter is that they’re concerned about the government’s refusal to even respond to previous concerns that they’ve raised with this government. They’ve told us that veterans are “dehydrated and malnourished,” and some have been “left in diapers for days on end.”

These brave women and men fought for our country; they shouldn’t have to be fighting for their lives now that they are in long-term care. They are demanding answers. They don’t want the Premier to hide behind a backroom, government-controlled commission. They deserve a full public inquiry. So my question to the Premier is: Why will he not side with the veterans of the Royal Canadian Legion and call for a complete, full public inquiry?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Long-Term Care to reply for the government.

Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: Thank you, Speaker, and thank you for the question. All Ontarians deserve answers to what has transpired, and that’s why we are creating an independent commission to address questions surrounding this. Ontarians have losses of their loved ones. Our government is committed to taking every measure possible, using every tool possible.

When we look at the public inquiry from the Wettlaufer case, Justice Gillese’s public inquiry—we were acting on that as soon as we became a Ministry of Long-Term Care last summer. It took two years.

Time is of the essence. Ontarians deserve to get the care that they need. We cannot lose more time. Our government has been working since the onset to look at staffing, look at capacity, look at wait-lists and at an expert panel for staffing strategy. We have been moving decisively and swiftly because Ontarians deserve it. That’s what we’re doing.

Long-term care

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is also to the Premier. The reality is that people have been raising the alarm bells on long-term care for years now. The president of the Royal Canadian Legion notes in his letter to the government that he has written many times. He has written on behalf of veterans and has never received a reply. Front-line workers in long-term care tell very similar stories. They’ve also been calling for a public inquiry.

No one has asked for yet another Ford-government-controlled commission. We owe it to the thousands of staff and residents who lost their lives to get to the bottom of this. We owe it to their family members, to their friends and to their communities. We owe it to them, Speaker.

If the Premier won’t listen to veterans’ groups, will he listen to health care heroes who put their lives on the line every single day of this crisis and call for a full, independent public inquiry?

Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: Thank you again for the question.

We’ve seen COVID-19 impacting our elderly across the country, across the globe. Ontario is no different. When we look at what has transpired in our long-term-care homes, it is a tragedy, and we need to address that tragedy. But we cannot lose time. There is a sense of urgency. Our residents in long-term care need the care. They need to be looked after. We need to address the staffing. We need to look at capacity.

After 15 years—decades—of neglect of this sector, here is where we are. Look around. Many of you were here, making decisions about long-term care.

We need to move forward, and we need to move forward now. We cannot lose time. Years cannot go by before we address the critical issues in long-term care, and that’s exactly what we’re doing: looking at staffing, looking at capacity.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Front-line health workers, veterans and health experts are all calling for a full, independent public inquiry, and so are families who are concerned about loved ones they have lost or who are still working on the front lines. In fact, last week we received a letter from Gord, whose sister-in-law is a PSW working in a long-term-care home. He told us that the home his sister-in-law works in wasn’t just unprepared for the COVID-19 crisis, but that they have no plan to deal with the residents who tested positive. The workers there still don’t have access to proper PPE.

Gord and his family deserve answers, Speaker. He is joining others in calling for a full public inquiry, not a government-controlled commission. People deserve more than a government-controlled commission. Will the Premier give that to them?

Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: Thank you again for the question.

This is a non-partisan, independent commission. That is absolutely key to keep advancing the reforms that are needed in long-term care.

We saw under the previous government a neglect of this sector. Only 611 beds were built between 2011 and 2018.

We know that we need to keep moving on long-term care. Our residents deserve it. Their families deserve it. Looking around the world, you can see how families and residents of long-term care have been impacted. An independent commission will provide us the answers that we need in a timely way so we can keep advancing long-term care.

We know that there were numerous measures in terms of PPE, in terms of testing that need addressing, and our government has been working across ministries to address those issues. We need to move forward.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The next question? The Leader of the Opposition.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, I think this is the final supplementary in my second question.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I apologize. Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: That’s fine. No problem.

What I do want to do is make sure that the Minister of Long-Term Care has actually read her government’s press release, because it speaks specifically to a government-controlled process, government-controlled terms of reference and government-controlled appointees on this commission. That is not public, that is not independent, that is not transparent.

The newly formed seniors’ advocacy group Seniors for Social Action Ontario has also been calling for an independent public inquiry into the high infection and death rates in Ontario’s long-term-care facilities. They agree that a government-controlled commission just isn’t good enough and say, “A review, like that proposed by the Minister of Long-Term Care, is not enough and would only serve to keep information from the public and protect the interests of the multinational companies that own many of these homes rather than the interests of the residents that reside in them.” Perhaps that’s why they’re doing a commission.

Will the Premier do the right thing, do what seniors are asking for and agree to a full public inquiry into long-term care?

Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: Thank you once again for the question.

This is a non-partisan, independent commission. There is too much at stake to wait. The Wettlaufer inquiry went from 2017 to 2019—two years. We cannot—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order. Okay. The House will come to order. This House has declared a state of emergency in the province of Ontario. I would expect a certain standard of decorum in question period today.

I apologize to the Minister of Long-Term Care.

Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: Thank you, Speaker.

Looking at the years of neglect, the staffing crises, the capacity crises—all of these were contributing factors. We know there are issues in the long-term-care system. In terms of Justice Gillese, she called the system “strained.” Under COVID-19, it is broken.

We do not need to take years and years identifying the issues. Many of the issues are clear, and we need to be acting decisively on those now. All Ontarians deserve it. Residents of long-term care and their families deserve advancement in long-term care.

Long-term care

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is to the Premier—but I look forward, then, to the permanent increase of wages for PSWs, sick days, benefits, pensions, full-time jobs. I think those things can be fixed just like that. Let’s hope the government does it.

The question is to the Premier. Doctors are also raising concerns, Speaker. Dr. Janice Lessard, who specializes in seniors’ care, says this: “The people of Ontario deserve to know the facts about their long-term-care system independently from government, as well as make recommendations based on their desires and values for the redesign of a long-term-care system that will be part of their own aging in the years to come. Only a public inquiry can accomplish this.”

Will the Premier do the right thing and listen to the doctors, nurses, veterans and families calling for an independent public inquiry into long-term care?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Long-Term Care to reply on behalf of the government.

Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: Thank you again for the question.

If we look back over the last 20 years—two decades—what we’ve seen is societal neglect of long-term care. Government after government has neglected and ignored the needs of long-term-care residents, their staff, and how long-term care can be integrated into the health care system as a whole.

We have learned lessons from COVID-19. We have learned how important it is to integrate our long-term care system with the acute care system, how our hospital expertise can help our long-term-care homes. We’ve learned how a merciless enemy arrives invisibly in our long-term-care homes and how we need testing and PPE and increasing measures to reduce the entry of this beast into our long-term-care homes.

Every government has been responsible for ignoring long-term care. We are changing that. Our government will make a difference for long-term care.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: It seems the Premier thinks a government-controlled commission is good enough for Ontarians, but for everyday Ontarians like Ramona Cole, they tell us that the only way we’ll get to the bottom of what happened in long-term-care homes is through a full, independent public inquiry. Ramona has been calling for an inquiry into long-term care since 2017. It’s unfortunate that when the Liberals had the chance, they didn’t call a full, broad public inquiry into long-term care.

What Ramona says is this, “Heroic front-line workers are overworked and underpaid ... but without a public inquiry ... our overworked heroes will go back to the status of overworked unsung heroes. Please do the right thing.”

Will the government listen to people like Ramona and ensure that all the voices of Ontarians are heard in a full, independent public inquiry?

Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: Thank you again for the question.

It is Personal Support Worker Day, and I want to make sure that they are acknowledged in the way that is necessary, for the efforts that they have made valiantly on the front lines of long-term care. Our long-term-care homes have been the front lines. If we look at the pandemic pay that we brought forward to recognize their efforts above and beyond what anybody should have to go through—we recognize the importance of personal support workers and all staff serving on the front lines. We have recognized and acknowledged that.

The measures that we have taken, looking at COVID-19, the damage that it’s done to our long-term-care system—we have addressed the staffing issues. We have an expert panel looking into this, as we speak, on how to move forward after COVID-19. COVID-19 has broken long-term care; our government is fixing it.

Economic reopening and recovery

Ms. Donna Skelly: Good morning, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier.

Premier, many of my constituents are grateful for all of the hard work, sacrifice and dedication from our front-line workers. Because of their actions, we continue to see fewer and fewer cases being reported and more individuals recovering.

Last week, our government had some positive news about how the province will slowly ease restrictions, allowing for more businesses to open while ensuring health and safety standards are maintained.

Speaker, can the Premier share with the Legislature what today’s phase 1 reopening means for my constituents and the rest of the province?

Hon. Doug Ford: I want to thank the member from Flamborough–Glanbrook for her question.

We’re getting thousands of people back to work. We laid a solid foundation for economic reopening and recovery. We have the framework, we have the workplace safety guidelines, we have the capacity in our health care system, but most of all, Mr. Speaker, we have some of the most talented people anywhere in the world right here in Ontario.

As of today, we are entering a new stage, stage 1, of reopening of our province. We can reopen retail stores with a street entrance that are not located in shopping malls, with strict social distancing measures in place. This includes other seasonal venues like outdoor sports fields, certain health and medical services, and the lifting of essential construction limits to allow construction to resume.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question?

Ms. Donna Skelly: Speaker, my question is back to the Premier.

Premier, this is excellent news and shows how Ontario’s steady, scientific-based approach is working. I know that many of my constituents will be happy about the reopening of seasonal venues during this time, including outdoor sports fields, tennis courts and off-leash dog parks, as people are becoming active. Further, the restarting of critical construction projects demonstrates the continued importance of infrastructure projects that will serve the people of this province.

Premier, please share with the Legislature how our government will ensure that health and safety is protected while still being able to reopen the economy.

Hon. Doug Ford: Again, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member from Flamborough–Glanbrook.

I want to be clear that businesses should open only if they’re ready. And I’ll repeat that: only if they’re ready. If you aren’t ready, then don’t open.

Ontario’s labour laws are clear: Businesses must protect the health and safety of their workers and customers. Our inspectors are visiting workplaces to ensure that everything is being done to keep workers safe and, through our great Minister of Labour, have compiled over 90 guidelines for different workplaces.

If we follow the medical advice, if we take our time and get it right, then we’ll be able to open more businesses, get people back to work, where they want to get to.

Mr. Speaker, we have a long way to go, we have a long road to recovery, but let’s take some time today and be grateful for how far we’ve all come.

Long-term care

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: My question is to the Premier. Families with loved ones in care have been clear: The crisis we are seeing in long-term care demands a full public inquiry.

I know the Premier has received letters from families across Ontario, including ones from veterans and family councils in long-term-care homes across Ontario.

Rick McEllistrum is a family council chair at Henley Place long-term care, which saw an outbreak of COVID-19 last March. He writes, “As a member of a family council of a long-term-care home hit hard by COVID-19, I know that families like mine want to know why our loved ones have been put at risk by COVID-19 and frankly, the realities of Ontario’s broken long-term-care system....

“I am urging you today to support a full public inquiry into long-term care in Ontario.”

Will the Premier support Rick’s request?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Long-Term Care to reply for the government.

Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: Ontarians do have questions, and they deserve to be answered. That’s exactly what we’re doing with an independent commission that will be non-partisan.

From the outset of this pandemic, our government has been decisive. We have acted swiftly and responsibly. We have created a number of measures to support our long-term-care homes, including bringing in the Canadian Armed Forces and integrating hospital infection prevention and control teams—rapid response teams—into our homes to help with staffing.

We’ve issued over three emergency orders and two amendments to regulations to provide important aspects to staffing flexibility. Some of the decisions have been very hard, including “essential visitors only.” We have taken measure after measure after measure to defend our loved ones in long-term-care homes. We’ve done it consistently.

Even before, as soon as we were a dedicated ministry, we were looking to reform and rebuild long-term care. This is ongoing. Our government will persist.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: Speaker, I hope this government will actually listen to the calls on this House for a full public inquiry. If this is not the time, I don’t know when is.

Rick is far from alone.

Anna Tremblay writes, “As a member of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada, I urge you to launch a public inquiry to examine conditions and problems in the present system.... If there is one thing we learned during this pandemic, is that the most vulnerable people in our society ... need protection....”

The Rev. Dr. Peeter Vank of Markham writes, “I have personally been involved with care homes for many years as a volunteer, primarily as a visitor of parishioners ... I have watched the continual deterioration of care, despite the dedication and efforts of many of the staff.... There needs to be a comprehensive evaluation [provided by a public inquiry].”

Speaker, will the Premier heed the words and commit to a full public inquiry today?

Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: I want to acknowledge long-term care and the quality of care that needs to be provided across Ontario for our loved ones. As a family doctor, over 30 years ago I started in long-term care. I know the sector well. I’ve lived it personally as well, with my own family members. I know how important it is for people to have the care that they need when they need it.

That’s why our government is looking to address questions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic with an independent commission that is non-partisan. There is a sense of urgency. We must keep reforming, rebuilding and advancing long-term care, but it has been so badly neglected for decades. This has been building for decades, and now COVID-19 hits and it has broken our system.

We will rebuild it. We will reform it. We will move long-term care forward for each and every Ontarian, who deserve the high-quality care that Ontario can provide.

Long-term care

Ms. Mitzie Hunter: I, too, want to acknowledge our personal support workers on this day of acknowledgement. I know how hard they’re working on the front lines, and some have even given their lives during this pandemic.

My question is to the Minister of Long-Term Care. Speaker, our long-term-care system is in crisis, and the minister herself has said that COVID has broken the system. But despite the government’s promise and commitment to put an iron ring around long-term care, there have been unacceptable delays to the actions taken by the government, and there have been gaps in the response. This has resulted in avoidable deaths, whether it’s those who are working on the front lines or the residents who reside there during COVID-19.

The government has said time and time again that they are responding, and yet, since I asked my first question on March 11 for restricted access to these facilities, those actions continue to be delayed.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Question?

Ms. Mitzie Hunter: My question today is: Will you use the power that you granted yourself to take over those facilities that are currently in outbreak so that we—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much. The Minister of Long-Term Care.

Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: We have acted swiftly and decisively, as early as February 3, bringing guidance to protect and contain COVID-19 in long-term-care homes. We acted. Every few days, there was an action. This was throughout the process in the last few months, so we have acted decisively on this.

I would ask the opposition and the member sitting across: Where were you on February 3 and after? You didn’t raise a single question, after the House returned, on COVID-19—

Mr. John Fraser: She did.

Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: No, not between February 18 and 21. So where was the opposition? Where were you?

I’m saying to you: We all have a responsibility to make sure that our residents in long-term care get the support that they need. We have an emergency order that will be used to support homes in crisis when needed, and it will be used if needed.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.

Supplementary question.

Ms. Mitzie Hunter: I’m very shocked at the response from the minister. And just check Hansard: On March 11, I asked this government to put restrictions on access to long-term care to keep those who are residing there safe. That was asked.

At this stage, it’s not about pointing fingers. It’s about taking decisive action. It’s about doing what is required to keep people in those homes safe. If you see an issue that needs to be resolved, I urge you to take immediate and decisive action. This government has put aside $1 billion for COVID-19 response. Utilize those resources that are available to you to save lives. The dignity of—the people who reside in those settings deserve it.

My question to you is: Will the government go beyond an internal review that you can control to do a full, transparent and independent public inquiry so that the families and—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much. The Minister of Long-Term Care to reply.

Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: To the member opposite: If I in fact have misinformation on that, I apologize to you. I appreciate what you’re bringing forward.

I would have to say that we have acted decisively and swiftly through all of this. This is a global pandemic, moving swiftly across the world affecting our seniors and our elderly in long-term care at a devastating rate. Ontario is not alone in this. This is happening across the world, across the country. We are taking decisive action; we have from the very beginning. We have taken measure after measure. Our government has acted swiftly and decisively.

It is a new virus. The science is emerging. It will continue to evolve. That is not politics; that is science. We have to make sure that we continue to take action, and we will do that. A public inquiry will slow our action. It will delay our reforms. We need a sense of urgency.

Prescription drugs

Mr. Jim Wilson: My question is to the Minister of Health.

In February, I asked if the minister would commit to negotiating an agreement with the pharmaceutical firm Vertex for life-saving cystic fibrosis medication. Since that time, a lot has happened that, frankly, has only made the situation worse and even more dire for patients.

Cystic fibrosis is a disease that affects the lungs and breathing, much like the COVID-19 virus. Catching COVID-19 would be a death sentence for children like the two young boys of Jamie Larocque and Sasha Haughian, who live in my riding.

Speaker, the government has put billions into this pandemic to help people suffering from breathing issues. Why won’t the government give the same consideration to cystic fibrosis patients who are presumably at much greater risk of complications if they contract COVID-19?

Hon. Christine Elliott: Thank you very much to the member for the question. I know this has been important to you for a number of years and you’ve been a very strong advocate for patients with cystic fibrosis. We also take this situation very, very seriously, and we know that, when there are new, emerging drug technologies coming forward, patients are very anxious about that, especially with more rare disease conditions or health conditions. So it’s even more important that some of these solutions come forward. We have been working on that. We have not given up on the challenge that patients with cystic fibrosis face.

We have been working with Vertex, the manufacturer of the three major drugs being used for cystic fibrosis—or to be used for that purpose—Orkambi, Symdeko and Trikafta. We have had meetings recently, in March and even into April, with Vertex, with our provincial, federal and territorial partners. But we understand that the recent offer Vertex presented does not address the concerns that were raised by the pan-Canadian—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much. Supplementary question.

Mr. Jim Wilson: Thank you to the minister. I’m glad to hear you’re at least at the table with Vertex. I appreciate that, on behalf of CF patients.

You mentioned the drug Orkambi, which is available at this time and approved—made by the same company. But as you know, the prescribing criteria that your ministry has attached to this medication are so cumbersome that not a single Ontario cystic fibrosis patient has ever had access to Orkambi—because of the prescribing criteria.

So I ask you today, on behalf of those patients who would benefit greatly—particularly during this time of the COVID-19 virus. Since your ministry put the criteria on, clearly your ministry has the power to loosen those criteria and give cystic fibrosis patients access to Orkambi, a drug that we all agree is essentially a miracle drug for these patients. I’d ask you to loosen that criteria today and let those patients breathe, and breathe freely.

Hon. Christine Elliott: We continue to review the criteria, but there’s also the fact that the offer that Vertex put forward didn’t satisfy the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance. While that’s disappointing, of course we’re continuing our negotiations with Vertex with respect to that issue.

We also want to make sure that they can bring their other drugs forward as well. We understand that Symdeko has not yet been submitted to CADTH—the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health—for approval, and Trikafta has not been submitted for Health Canada approval.

So there are still many steps that Vertex needs to take, but we recognize that we need to continue to do our work as well because we know that the health of many young people, in particular with cystic fibrosis, depends on that. So, notwithstanding all of the work that we’re doing for COVID-19, we’re not letting those current concerns sit aside. We’re continuing to work on them, and we hope that we will have a response from Vertex very soon that’s going to satisfy the criteria that they’re put to.

COVID-19

Mr. John Vanthof: My question is to the Premier. The Premier and the Minister of Health stated last week that Ontario has been a national and international leader per capita COVID-19 testing. The data shows something else. Yesterday, Ontario finished just 9,155 tests, less than half of the Premier’s own target. Today’s numbers are even lower—5,813.

The province lags behind the Northwest Territories, Alberta and Nova Scotia on a per capita basis. That’s not a national leader. Worldwide, the United States is completing more per capita testing than Ontario.

Why has the Premier said that Ontario’s per capita testing is world-leading when the data shows otherwise?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Health to reply.

Hon. Christine Elliott: The Premier said that our testing capacity is world-leading because it’s actually true. I think the people of Ontario need to know that Ontario is the leader in Canada for testing. We have seen the changes. Week to week, there is always a lag on Mondays—days, volumes—for Tuesday because of some of the issues with transportation, with couriers and so on. That doesn’t mean that we’re falling behind. In fact, we’ve met our testing capacity 91% of the time.

We’re continuing to increase testing. We’ve expanded our lab capacity, besides the work that is being done by Public Health Ontario. We’ve included it to over 22 partners, with university labs, hospital labs and private labs being included. We know that this is really important, as we open up the economy—that testing is going to continue to be very important.

As I said before, Ontario is the leader in Canada in testing now.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question?

Mr. John Vanthof: The government’s own initial target was 18,900 tests per day by mid-April. Not once in April did the government meet that target, and since that target was to be met, Ontario averaged less than 13,000 tests a day. Testing targets are important because they allow public health officials to trace where the virus has spread in the community and to try to stop its spread. Ontario should be leading the country with tests. There’s no reason why we’re not.

In Alberta, their government has injected further funding into their public lab system to ensure that their testing capacity is increased. Why isn’t Ontario meeting its own testing targets, and what has caused Ontario’s lag? Is it funding, is it a lack of testing equipment, or something else?

Hon. Christine Elliott: Well, in fact, as I’ve indicated, Ontario is leading Canada. In terms of testing, we have exceeded the capacity; we had over 19,000 tests. We continue to have—other than on Mondays, for the reasons which I’ve already explained—a significant number of tests, which we know are going to have to continue. And Ontario did make $100 million available through our action plan in additional investments for public health units to support COVID-19 testing, including funding to support enhanced contact tracing as well.

We know what we need to do is continue our testing of vulnerable populations. We have completed our testing of all long-term-care residents and staff. We are now moving into testing residents of retirement homes, group homes and other places of congregate living, including shelters. We’ve expanded our testing so that if someone is symptomatic and comes to one of our assessment centres, they will be tested. We also need to increase our surveillance testing in the general population as we open the economy so we can determine the effects of the opening on our public health generally. We continue to do that.

Child care

Mr. Michael Coteau: Before my question, I’d like to personally thank the Premier and the Minister of Health for directing the government to collect COVID-19 race-based data. I know there are a lot of people out there that appreciate it. Thank you so much.

My question is to the Premier. Premier, last week you released the government’s plan to reopen the economy. As a result, parents have been calling my office concerned about how they return to work while their kids are still at home.

Through you, Mr. Speaker, does the Premier have a plan to help parents with child care—or at least some alternative—so they can participate in opening up our economy?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I recognize the Minister of Education to reply on behalf of the government.

Hon. Stephen Lecce: Thank you to the member opposite for the question.

Obviously, we appreciate full well the importance of child care and home care to enable parents to return to the labour market. Later today, the Premier, the Deputy Premier and I will be making an announcement on keeping kids safe while they’re learning at home. That will include components dealing with child care.

What I can confirm to the member is that we’re proud that over 1,600 students every day are receiving emergency child care in this province to support our front-line heroes and workers making a difference in COVID-19. Our expectation is that child care will reopen over time, subject to strict public health guidance to ensure that we keep the children safe in this province.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.

Mr. Michael Coteau: Even before the pandemic began, we were facing a child care crisis here in Ontario, both in terms of cost and spaces available. With social distancing guidelines in place, we will see less capacity within the sector. This will put our province’s economic recovery in jeopardy as many parents will not be able to return to work.

Premier, many Ontarians will be forced to choose between staying at home with their kids or letting the bills continue to pile up. Opening up the economy must include massive planning, investment and expansion of publicly funded child care.

What is the Premier’s plan, and will he direct his government to invest resources into creating more child care spaces so parents can get back to work?

Hon. Stephen Lecce: Thank you to the member opposite, again, for the question.

When it comes to enabling our economic recovery, obviously, we want to ensure the sustainability of the child care sector. I’m proud that in partnership with the federal government, with Minister Ahmed Hussen, we landed, I think, on a positive plan that’s going to help ensure these operators remain strong and that these child care spaces remain accessible to parents.

We’re doing that through providing the rent subsidy—the province is participating at 37% in that investment for those operatives that participate. We’re also ensuring the federal wage subsidy has been expanded to include child care operators. And at the Ministry of Education, we’ve expanded our operating support to enable some additional supports for those operators dealing with enhanced fixed costs in the province of Ontario. That’s going to ensure the system is strong.

When it comes to parents, we put in an emergency order that denies operators from charging them for a service not rendered. That was important from a consumer protection perspective. When it comes to money in the pockets of parents—$200 per child under 12, $250 per child under 21, in the pockets of every working parent in this province to help them get through this difficult time.

Protection for health care workers

M me France Gélinas: Ma question est pour le premier ministre.

“It’s so frustrating hearing that the front-line people are having problems getting the PPE.” Those are words from the Premier, and I agree.

In my constituency of Nickel Belt, I’ve been contacted by a chiropodist, an occupational therapist, a physiotherapist, nurses, family physicians, PSWs—the list goes on. All of them continue to say that they cannot get PPE, that they are not properly protected to do their job. Workers in long-term-care homes across the province are still struggling to access PPE that are either kept under lock and key or are not available at all.

Why have front-line staff, our health care heroes, not been provided the personal protective equipment to protect them from the spread of COVID-19?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Health.

Hon. Christine Elliott: Thank you very much to the member for the question. This is vitally important. We have front-line health care heroes who go to work each and every day, including our personal support workers, whose day we’re celebrating today. We want to make sure that they’re protected for themselves as well as for their families when they go home. So we want to make sure that they have the personal protective equipment that they need to continue to do their great work, which we do have.

Despite an international surge in demand for PPE, we’re still placing our regular orders. We’re placing new orders wherever we can, and we’re working with some great Ontario companies that are able to produce these pieces of equipment, including gowns, hand sanitizer, ventilators, masks and other support equipment. We want to make sure that they have it on the front lines.

We’re going to continue to do that despite the demand, because that’s the very least that we can do for them. They are doing all the work for us. It’s our duty and it’s something that the Premier and I and many other members of government are working on on a daily basis—to get more PPE to send to the front lines.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.

M me France Gélinas: Too many health care and other essential workers have to beg to get the proper PPE at work. The Premier has asked people to call him. Speaker, there has to be a better solution than demanding front-line workers take time away from their jobs of caring for us to be on hold with the Premier’s office to get the PPE that they need.

Now that other areas of the economy are opening up, the risk for workers to go without proper PPE is even greater. If the Premier and the minister insist that appropriate PPE is available, then how can they explain why front-line health care workers are still telling me that they are struggling to gain access to PPE, and why so many workers are getting infected, getting sick and dying?

Hon. Christine Elliott: It is vitally important that our front-line workers have the appropriate level of PPE to wear, depending on what procedure they are going through. If it’s an aerosol-generating procedure, they will need an N95 mask. We know that. There are other procedures that will require that too.

That said, we have a system for delivery to hospitals, long-term-care homes and retirement homes. If they need PPE, for which they give us a daily inventory, it is sent to them. They have it. Whether they use it or not in some of those centres is a different question. We’ve had a situation where we have had hospitals that have gone in to assist some of these long-term-care homes with providing the infection procedures and control and, in some cases, providing staff members, because some people have fallen ill or they’re just not coming in because they’re afraid of falling ill.

So we need to make sure that we figure out why that’s not happening. The hospitals are doing their work, and they’re coming in oftentimes with their own supply of PPE to make sure that their workers are protected, as well as the existing workers are protected. That is one of the questions that we—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. Next question.

Indigenous public health

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: My question is for the Premier. First Nations in Kiiwetinoong have been doing everything possible to keep COVID-19 out of their communities. They’ve gone through great lengths to keep communities safe, such as implementing strict lockdowns and travel restrictions. But this government needs to do more to remedy the issues that make First Nations people more vulnerable to COVID-19 in the first place, such as overcrowding of homes, access to clean drinking water and lack of hospitals.

How is this government working with the First Nations on dealing with this pandemic?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Health to reply on behalf of the government.

Hon. Christine Elliott: I thank the member very much for the question. You’re absolutely right that many First Nations communities and some Indigenous communities are very vulnerable to COVID-19 for a whole variety of reasons. First Nations communities have been identified by us at the Ministry of Health as being a group of people we need to work with to make sure that they receive the necessary supplies, the necessary testing kits and so on.

My colleague the Minister of Indigenous Affairs has been working very hard on this, as we have at the Ministry of Health. We have been on a number of phone calls with the Regional Chief, RoseAnne Archibald, as well as some of the other leaders to understand what the needs are and to make sure that those needs are met. I know that my colleague the Minister of Indigenous Affairs actually, when he flew north to Kenora the last time, took a planeload of equipment in response to the needs that were expressed to him.

I’ll explain more in my supplemental.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: It’s clear that the current situation poses a risk to the health of our communities in the north that is higher than the risks faced by most people in Ontario.

Agencies and leadership in the north have a great deal of advice that this government should actually listen to on how and when the north should be reopened.

Once the north is opened up again, the second wave of COVID-19 could spread to First Nations across the north. What is the government doing to listen to and support communities in planning for that possibility?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Hon. Todd Smith: It’s good to see the member opposite again after 10 weeks. Thank you for bringing this question to us.

Our government has acted, and we acted quickly, to meet the needs of those in our Indigenous communities—and working with the Minister of Indigenous Affairs, Mr. Rickford, who is doing great work in communities, as the Minister of Health has alluded to.

On April 7, we were able to announce $37 million in funding that was going to support outbreak planning in those northern and rural and remote communities. That money is being spent to provide prevention and mitigation efforts in those communities and ensure the health and well-being of those Indigenous people and those communities at this particular time—particularly those in those remote and northern communities who need the assistance. Acting together across ministries, with social assistance and with the Minister of Indigenous Affairs and the Minister of Housing, we were able to provide that funding to those vulnerable communities.

Long-term care

Mr. John Fraser: My question is for the Premier.

I want to start by thanking all of the PSWs who are out there working hard on the front lines every day, caring for the people we care for most.

I want to begin this question by saying that we all have questions here. I know you have questions on the other side. I know you’ve announced an independent commission of inquiry. I just would like to remind this House that with the last independent commission of inquiry, both the FAO and the Auditor General called some of those results into question. That can’t happen this time. Nobody can question the results of an inquiry. We owe that to families. We owe that to workers. We must ensure judicial independence. We need to get those questions answered. You have the same questions. I know you care the same amount. But we can’t do a half measure.

So, Speaker, I respectfully ask, on behalf of families, that the Premier reconsider and call a public inquiry.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Long-Term Care.

Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: Thank you for the question.

Ontario families and residents of long-term care—let’s call them “on wait-lists,” because they’re not actually in long-term care—37,000 people on the wait-list, and growing. That has been growing for years and years and years.

We need to understand how we can move forward with a sense of urgency. Delaying our reforms and delaying the advancement of long-term-care solutions will only mean more people waiting for care, more people not being able to access the care they need.

We’ve seen the inaction by the previous government for 15 years. We have seen the inaction and the lack of interest in COVID-19 from the opposition when it first began.

Our government understands what needs addressing. We have learned from COVID-19. We understand the issues. A non-partisan, independent commission will give us the best opportunity to provide the solutions and create the change that is needed for Ontarians across—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much. The supplementary question.

Mr. John Fraser: That was a disappointing response, Mr. Speaker. I don’t understand the reluctance to allow judicial independents to look at our response—because it’s not just about the decisions that you made over here or maybe we made over there, but it’s other people who made those decisions, outside of us, that we live with. You know that.

We can walk and chew gum, folks. We can walk and chew gum. We can have a commission and we can have an independent inquiry. Nothing prevents us from doing that. We owe that to people.

I know you have questions. You’re not going to ask them out here, but you have questions in your head, about “Why do we do this?” and “Why didn’t we do that?” and “Why did this happen?”, under your watch, under our watch and under everybody’s. That’s why we have to do it. It’s for those families. That independence is critical. So again, I ask the Premier: Please reconsider.

Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: Thank you again for the question.

What’s truly disappointing is the neglect of the long-term-care system for 15 long years. That wait-list grew. That wait-list grew to the tens of thousands under the watch of the previous government, so what I am truly disappointed in is the neglect of the previous government.

What we need to be doing is clear. We need to be addressing the shortcomings in long-term care, and that’s exactly what we will be doing. When you ask for a delay for a public inquiry for years, you are asking to add to your legacy of neglect, and I do not accept that. We will move forward with long-term care, getting people the care that they need when they need it, and we will do it with a commitment that your government never had.

Small business

Ms. Jessica Bell: My question is to the Premier. An Tran owns Ba Noi, a restaurant in my riding. He is a new business owner and he has invested everything into his business. Before the pandemic hit, Ba Noi was closed for construction, but because of this crisis, they still haven’t been able to open. An’s family has a new baby, and they’re worried that if they don’t get the support that this government has promised was on the way, they’ll have to close for good.

Businesses like Ba Noi are falling through the cracks and can’t wait any longer. Why won’t this government do the right thing and give businesses the direct financial support they deserve?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Finance to reply.

Hon. Rod Phillips: I thank the member for the question, and I do thank the opposition party for its new-found interest in small business and business. I know that that community will appreciate it.

Mr. Speaker, as you know, this Legislature passed $10 billion in support. That included $6 billion in support related to deferral of taxes, $1.8 billion in regard to property taxes that we enabled municipalities to do, and $1.9 billion in WSIB supports. We also cut the employer health tax by $355 million, so 90% of those businesses won’t pay that tax this year. We also reduced electricity costs by $300 for each business each month.

This is a government that understands the needs of business. We are pleased that the federally sponsored program that has been endorsed by all the provinces and will be over $1 billion in rent support will be coming online. We understand that the application will be made available this month. That is the kind of support that small business is asking for and it’s the kind of support that they’ve come to expect from this government.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Scarborough Southwest.

Ms. Doly Begum: Thank you, Speaker. Omega Health and Fitness is a family-owned business which employs 30 people and provides services to patients, seniors and people with mobility issues, actively reducing the number of people who need to visit hospitals. Their landlord has been unwilling to negotiate and has refused to apply for the CECRA program. They have now had to maximize their lines of credit to pay the last two months’ rent and are worried they might not be able to pay the next month’s rent.

Mr. Speaker, many other businesses are facing the exact same reality as Omega Health and Fitness. This government’s lack of action resulted in many of these businesses being evicted or threatened with eviction. Too many businesses have already shut down. Too many families have already lost their livelihoods. We cannot lose any more.

Will this government commit to issuing a moratorium on business evictions now?

Hon. Rod Phillips: I thank the member for the question and, again, I know that businesses everywhere will be pleased next time we suggest a tax cut for small businesses, which we did, or next time we reduce regulations for small businesses, which we’ve done, and that your side will support those as well, because that’s important to business.

What we have done is, as the Premier has talked about, in a prudent and safe way, presented our framework for reopening businesses. In addition to the supports I talked about, in addition to the rent support, which will be over $1 billion for businesses in Ontario, we have found a safe and a sensible way to gradually open businesses, like the ones that you’ve spoken of.

We are committed to getting those businesses open when it’s safe, working with the science and best health advice, and we will continue to support small businesses as we always have.

Supply chain management

Ms. Jane McKenna: My question is to the Premier. During this pandemic, I know that some of my constituents in Burlington and across this province have experienced some food and product shortages, whether it was reports of shortages of disinfecting wipes, toilet paper or, now, increased demands for flour, yeast and sugar in our food sector.

Premier, I know that these shortages are top of mind for you, like many individuals in our government. Can you share with the Legislature what our government is doing to ensure that the people of Ontario will be able to continue to have access to the food and supplies that their families need during this time?

Hon. Doug Ford: I want to thank the great member from Burlington for all the great work she’s doing out there.

Last week, I had a phone call with the consumer goods and the food supply chain companies, some of the largest in the country. They’ve been working around the clock to keep up with demand. They’ve been adding shifts and new lines to keep up with the demand on some of the critical items. People enjoy baking now, so flour is going off the shelves quick—yeast, hand sanitizers and other items.

But, after speaking to them, I’m happy to announce that we have enough essential items. When we go into the store, we can’t be clearing the shelves and putting it in our basket; we’ve got to be respectful of one another. When you’re buying the toilet paper, maybe get one pack instead of two. But even the tissue companies are telling me they have more than enough capacity. We just have to respect each other when we’re—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much. The supplementary question.

Ms. Jane McKenna: My question is back to the Premier. Premier, thank you for that answer and for your continued commitment and hard work to ensure the people of this province have the supplies they need.

I want to take the opportunity to personally thank and commend the hard-working members of the agriculture community, who are the backbone of our province’s enormous and complex supply chain system. They are on the front lines each day, ensuring we have food on our tables and we have the products we need in our day-to-day lives to keep us healthy and connected.

Speaker, through you, can the Premier elaborate on the support our government is continuing to provide to this sector going forward?

Hon. Doug Ford: I want to thank the member from Burlington.

I know that many of our farmers out there are struggling. I had a conversation with many farmers last week, with our great Minister of Agriculture. What I hear is, they need help, and they have an ally and a champion in our government.

What we need is support from the federal government. Organizations like the grain farmers are in desperate need. When we see what’s happening south of our border, in the United States, where the grain farmers are getting $19 billion from their federal government, it puts us in an unfair competition.

What we’re going to do is, we’re going to support our farmers, but we can’t do it alone. We need the support of the federal government, and I’ve put a call out to the federal government to support our farmers, our salt of the earth.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): There being no deferred votes, this House stands in recess until 1 p.m.

The House recessed from 1139 to 1300.

Introduction of Bills

Workplace Safety and Insurance Amendment Act (Presumption Respecting COVID-19), 2020 / Loi de 2020 modifiant la

Loi sur la sécurité professionnelle et l’assurance contre les accidents du travail (présomption concernant la COVID-19)

Mr. Gates moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 191,

An Act to amend the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 with respect to presumptions in connection with COVID-19 for workers in essential businesses / Projet de loi 191, Loi modifiant la Loi de 1997 sur la sécurité professionnelle et l’assurance contre les accidents du travail à l’égard des présomptions en matière de COVID-19 concernant les travailleurs dans les entreprises essentielles.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Would the member for Niagara Falls care to explain his bill briefly?

Mr. Wayne Gates: The bill amends the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997. New

section 15.0.1 of the act applies with respect to workers who work for businesses that have been listed as essential businesses in an order made under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. If a worker for an essential business receives a positive test for the disease known as COVID-19, the disease is presumed to be an occupational disease that occurred due to the nature of the worker’s work unless the contrary is shown.

The presumption applies to a positive test received on or after January 25, 2020.

Petitions

Public sector compensation

Ms. Jennifer K. French: I would like to thank Sarah Labelle, who is a medical laboratory technologist in my area who shared these petitions that were collected among front-line health care workers at the hospital, garnering hundreds of petitions, with more than 36,000 signatures on the online version and counting.

This petition is to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the Ontario government has announced the temporary pandemic pay in recognition of the dedication, long hours and increased risk of working to contain the COVID-19 outbreak;

“Whereas this increase will provide $4 per hour worked on top of existing hourly wages, regardless of the qualified employee’s hourly wage. In addition, employees working over 100 hours per month would receive lump sum payments of $250 per month for each of the next four months;

“Whereas those eligible to receive the payment will be staff working in long-term-care homes, retirement homes, emergency shelters, supportive housing, social services congregate care settings, correction institutions and youth justice facilities, as well as those providing home and community care and staff in hospitals;

“Whereas staff providing front-line clinical services along with those providing support services will be eligible to receive the pandemic payment;

“Whereas it is vital that front-line health care providers are retained as together we continue our fight to stop the spread of COVID-19; and

“Whereas the Ontario government remains committed to using every resource it has to support the front-line workers as we work to stop the spread of COVID-19;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“Request that the Premier of Ontario, Deputy Premier and the Minister of Health include all front-line health care providers committed to providing front-line clinical services.

“Health care is comprised of many professionals that provide front-line care and support, and all front-line health care professionals should be included in the temporary pandemic pay program.”

I wholeheartedly support this, affix my signature to it and will send it to the Clerks.

Access to justice

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Petitions? The member for Thornhill.

Mrs. Gila Martow: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s very nice to see you. I think everybody’s hair is a little bit longer than when we left.

“Petition for Smarter Justice.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas after 15 years of neglect under successive Liberal governments the justice system grew outdated and unnecessarily complex;

“Whereas Ontario’s class action legislation has not been significantly updated in more than 25 years. The current system is outdated, slow and doesn’t always put people at the centre of class actions in Ontario;

“Whereas lives can be—and have been—destroyed by serious crimes like sharing intimate images without consent. Cyberbullies can communicate broadly and quickly, making targets feel like they have no escape and often causing enduring mental and emotional harm;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“Proceed as effectively as possible to stand up for victims and law-abiding citizens, provide better, more affordable justice for families and consumers, and simplify a complex and outdated justice system to better serve the people of Ontario by immediately passing Bill 161,

An Act to enact the Legal Aid Services Act, 2019 and to make various amendments to other Acts dealing with the courts and other justice matters, so that:

“

(1) A flexible, sustainable and accountable legal aid system is built...;

“

(2) Ontario’s outdated class action legislation is updated...;

“

(3) Criminals don’t profit from crimes...;

“

(4) How a small estate is handled is simplified...;

“

(5) Notary and commissioner services are modernized...;

“

(6) It is made easier for cyberbullying victims to sue their offender...;

“

(7) In the tragic death of a loved one families are given closure...;

“

(8) Who can perform marriage ceremonies is expanded...;

“

(9) Lawyers and paralegals are held to the highest ethical standards...;

“

(10) Juror privacy and security is protected...;

“

(11) Reappointing case management masters is more efficient...;

“

(12) Taxpayer dollars are no longer used to pay legal fees for judicial officials removed from office...”

Of course, I affix my signature and give it to, I guess, a page that’s in the virtual world.

Health care

Mr. Tom Rakocevic: The petition is entitled “Save Our Health Care.”

“Whereas the Ford government is currently proposing massive restructuring to the entire health system without any public consultation;

“Whereas the proposal eliminates local planning and control of health care;

“Whereas the proposal will open the door for unprecedented levels of for-profit providers in our health care system;

“Whereas the last Conservative government privatized home care services, creating a system that fails too many families;

“Whereas the current hallway medicine crisis is a direct result of inadequate home care, long-term care and community care services;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to request the government to abandon Bill 74, The People’s Health Care Act, and focus on improving our province’s not-for-profit delivery of universal health care system.”

I certainly will be signing this and giving it to a page.

Fish and wildlife management

Mr. Mike Harris: I have a petition for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas the ban on hunting and trapping in sections of Ontario to protect the eastern hybrid wolf was put in place without regard for the overall ecosystem;

“Whereas this ban has adversely affected the ability of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), hunters and trappers to properly manage animal populations and Ontario’s ecosystem;

“Whereas this ban is no longer needed and is in fact causing more damage to Ontario’s ecosystem and increasing unnecessary encounters between wildlife and Ontarians;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“That the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry immediately lift the ban on hunting and trapping set in place to protect the eastern hybrid wolf.”

It’s my pleasure to read this petition into the Legislature again. I wholeheartedly support it. I’ve affixed my signature and will pass it to Corey.

Health care

Mr. Joel Harden: I have a petition today entitled “Save Our Public Health Care.” It reads:

“Whereas the” current Ontario “government has passed omnibus legislation to drastically overhaul our health care system with no commitment to publicly delivered health services;

“Whereas the previous Conservative government” in Ontario “privatized Ontario’s home care system, which contributed considerably to our present-day hallway medicine crisis; and

“Whereas every night hundreds of Ontario’s patients wait for care in hospital hallways, showers and TV rooms;

“Whereas Ontario sits near the bottom of developed countries for hospital beds per patient and has the fewest registered nurses per patient in Canada;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to ensure the Ontario government protect and invest in a robust, publicly funded and publicly delivered health care system and reject any further private delivery of health services.”

I’ll be happy to sign this petition and pass it to the Clerks’ table.

Ontario economy

Ms. Donna Skelly: As my colleague mentioned, we all have long hair here in the Legislature. I would just like to invite everyone, when you are looking to get your hair cut, my son has a hair salon in Hamilton, Maddison Avenue hair salon. So please, everybody, I’m inviting you all to get your hair cut in Hamilton.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas over the last 15 long years under the previous Liberal government costs for businesses skyrocketed; and

“Whereas the Ford government has been eliminating thousands of regulations and ensuring regulation to the point of integrity by introducing the Making Ontario Open For Business Act, Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act and the Better for People, Smarter for Business Act; and

“Whereas the government has reduced business premiums for the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board; and

“Whereas the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade has been travelling” around the world; and

“Whereas our government has scrapped the job-killing carbon tax; and

“Whereas our government has reduced the costs of energy by passing the Access to Natural Gas Act and the Fixing the Hydro Mess Act; ...

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“That the government continue its efforts to reduce the cost of doing business in Ontario with the goal of building on the record-breaking job” numbers “of the past 18 months.”

I will affix my signature and give it to whichever page is available to take it.

Public sector compensation

M me France Gélinas: I have this petition and I would like to thank Kate, Pam, Kristen and Mary for sending it my way.

“Whereas the Ontario government has announced the temporary pandemic pay in recognition of the dedication, long hours and increased risk of working to contain the COVID-19 outbreak;

“Whereas this increase will provide $4 per hour worked on top of existing hourly wages, regardless of the qualified employee’s hourly wage. In addition, employees working over 100 hours per month would receive lump sum payments of $250 per month for each of the next four months;

“Whereas those eligible to receive the payment will be staff working in long-term-care homes, retirement homes, emergency shelters, supportive housing, social services congregate care settings, correction institutions and youth justice facilities, as well as those providing home and community care and staff in hospitals;

“Whereas staff providing front-line clinical services along with those providing support services will be eligible to receive the pandemic payment;

“Whereas it is vital that front-line health care providers are retained as together we continue our fight to stop the spread of COVID-19; and

“Whereas the Ontario government remains committed to using every resource it has to support the front-line workers as we work to stop the spread of COVID-19;”

They petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“Request that the Premier of Ontario, Deputy Premier and the Minister of Health include all front-line health care providers committed to providing front-line clinical services.

“Health care is comprised of many professionals that provide front-line care and support, and all front-line health care professionals should be included in the temporary pandemic pay program.”

I support this petition and will affix my name to it.

Access to justice

Mr. Dave Smith: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas after 15 years of neglect under successive Liberal governments the justice system grew outdated and unnecessarily complex;

“Whereas Ontario’s class action legislation has not been significantly updated in more than 25 years. The current system is outdated, slow and doesn’t ... put people at the centre of class actions in Ontario;

“Whereas lives can be—and have been—destroyed by serious crimes like sharing intimate images without consent. Cyberbullies can communicate broadly and quickly, making targets feel like they have no escape and often causing enduring mental and emotional harm;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“Proceed as effectively as possible to stand up for victims and law-abiding citizens, provide better, more affordable justice for families and consumers, and simplify a complex and outdated justice system to better serve the people of Ontario by immediately passing Bill 161,

An Act to enact the Legal Aid Services Act, 2019 and to make various amendments to other Acts dealing with the courts and other justice matters, so that:

“

(1) A flexible, sustainable and accountable legal aid system is built (Legal Aid Services Act);

“

(2) Ontario’s outdated class action legislation is updated...;

“

(3) Criminals don’t profit from crimes...;

“

(4) How a small estate is handled is simplified...;

“

(5) Notary and commissioner services are modernized...;

“

(6) It is made easier for cyberbullying victims to sue their offender...;

“

(7) In the tragic death of a loved one families are given closure...;

“

(8) Who can perform marriage ceremonies is expanded...;

“

(9) Lawyers and paralegals are held to the highest ethical standards...;

“

(10) Juror privacy and security is protected...;

“

(11) Reappointing case management masters is more efficient...;

“

(12) Taxpayer dollars are no longer used to pay legal fees for judicial officials removed from office....”

I fully support this petition and will affix my name to it and give it to whichever page comes up.

Public sector compensation

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: I have a very important petition today.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the Ontario government has announced the temporary pandemic pay in recognition of the dedication, long hours and increased risk of working to contain the COVID-19 outbreak;

“Whereas this increase will provide $4 per hour worked on top of existing hourly wages, regardless of the qualified employee’s hourly wage. In addition, employees working over 100 hours per month would receive lump sum payments of $250 per month for each of the next four months;

“Whereas those eligible to receive the payment will be staff working in long-term-care homes, retirement homes, emergency shelters, supportive housing, social services congregate care settings, correction institutions and youth justice facilities, as well as those providing home and community care and staff in hospitals;

“Whereas staff providing front-line clinical services along with those providing support services will be eligible to receive the pandemic payment;

“Whereas it is vital that front-line health care providers are retained as together we continue our fight to stop the spread of COVID-19; and

“Whereas the Ontario government remains committed to using every resource it has to support the front-line workers as we work to stop the spread of COVID-19;

“We ... petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“Request that the Premier of Ontario, Deputy Premier and the Minister of Health include all front-line health care providers committed to providing front-line clinical services.

“Health care is comprised of many professionals that provide front-line care and support, and all front-line health care professionals should be included in the temporary pandemic pay program.”

I fully support this petition and will send it to the table.

Order of business

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’ve been advised that the government House leader wishes to raise a point of order.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Thank you, Speaker. Pursuant to standing order 9(f), I would like to indicate to the House that no business will be called during orders of the day tomorrow morning.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The government House leader has indicated that no business will be called during orders of the day tomorrow. Therefore, tomorrow’s meeting of the House will commence at 10:15 a.m.

Opposition Day

Long-term care

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I would like to move the following motion:

“Whereas more than 4,400 residents and staff at Ontario long-term-care homes have contracted COVID-19, with over 1,235 deaths to date and more infections and deaths expected; and

“Whereas there is mounting evidence that the government of Ontario was ill prepared, indecisive and slow to respond in protecting staff and residents in long-term care; and

“Whereas there is data to suggest that decades of underfunding, chronic staffing shortages, lax inspection and oversight, inadequate regulation, and rampant privatization under successive governments contributed to the unacceptable shape of Ontario’s long-term-care system at the outset of the pandemic; and

Whereas the families and loved ones of the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic and chronic neglect of Ontario’s long-term-care system deserve to know the truth of what went so badly wrong; and

Whereas Ontario’s long-term-care system must be dramatically and fundamentally overhauled to ensure this tragedy is never repeated, and only a broad, thorough, completely independent, public and transparent inquiry can be trusted to investigate and provide answers to what led to the sickness and tragic deaths of so many staff and residents in Ontario’s long-term-care system;

Therefore the Legislative Assembly calls on the Government of Ontario to immediately launch a full, independent public inquiry, under the province’s Public Inquiries Act, examining pre-pandemic conditions and what led to the problems in long-term care in Ontario, the government’s preparedness and response to the pandemic in long-term-care facilities and the role and future of for-profit care in the province’s long-term-care system.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Ms. Horwath has moved opposition day motion number 2. I look to the Leader of the Opposition to lead off the debate.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I’m really quite honoured to stand in this House and speak to this motion. I have to say that no matter where we are here in this province, where we call home across Ontario, the people of this province believe in taking care of one another. The COVID-19 pandemic has put this core value that we share on full display. From health care heroes at their patients’ bedsides, to grocery store staff braving each and every day, to kids who pour their hearts into decorating their windows and sidewalks with encouraging messages for neighbours, we’ve all been in isolation together, and we’re as much a community as ever.

But despite our solidarity, in Ontario it feels like there are two separate COVID-19 pandemics: the one that we are all slowly making some progress against together, and the one that’s tearing through long-term-care homes across our province. So 1,408 of the 1,919 COVID-19 deaths in Ontario were long-term-care residents. You’ll notice the motion had different figures. Of course, we filed that last week, and since we filed that motion, there have been more deaths and more cases. So 1,408 of the 1,919—as of today—COVID-19 deaths in Ontario were long-term-care residents—73% of the people who have lost their lives thus far have been long-term-care residents.

There’s no doubt that there are yet lives to be saved. Ontarians are incredibly grateful to the health care heroes working tirelessly to save those lives. But we will never look back and believe that we won this battle. We have not. We have already lost far too much.

Every member in this House knows very well that there were major cracks in long-term care long, long before COVID-19 came to Ontario. Every member in this House knows that.

I’ve stood on the floor of this Legislature more times than I can count over the years and shared disturbing, shameful stories from the front lines of Ontario’s long-term-care system, notwithstanding what the minister suggested in question period today: seniors hospitalized for dehydration and malnourishment because their care home didn’t have enough staff to help them eat and drink; residents ignored in their beds for days, developing horrifying bedsores, bedsores that literally went to the bone—that’s what seniors in long-term care have had to deal with—front-line workers who were pleading with Liberal and Conservative governments for decades, asking for more staff, more support and more funding.

Speaker, there are lives that are yet to be saved, the lives of family members whose loved ones are in long-term care, who are not hearing regularly from their long-term-care homes where their loved ones are.

They are not hearing anything, until the time comes when they have to ask: “What happened to my mother? How did she break her hip? How did she fall? Why was she alone? Who was watching after her?” The stories I’ve heard over the years, Speaker, of family members who arrive to visit their loved one with unexplained bruises, with broken bones, as I mentioned, with horrifying bedsores, the lack of personal hygiene being taken care of, inappropriate meals, lack of nourishment—it shouldn’t be happening. It should never have been happening, Speaker. It should never have been happening.

It was Conservative Premier Mike Harris who opened the floodgates in long-term care, allowing private for-profit corporations to start making money on long-term care in Ontario. Somehow, the making of profits was more of a priority than the care of our residents in long-term care—our loved ones. With next to no regulations in place, many of the companies looked at our province’s long-term-care system and saw a cash cow, a way to make a tidy profit by cutting corners in seniors’ care and pocketing the difference. That same Mike Harris is now chair of the board of one of the biggest private for-profit corporations in long-term care in this province: Chartwell.

The cracks continued to widen over the 2000s, leading up to the horrifying Wettlaufer murders, which took place in southwestern Ontario. Between 2007 and 2016, a nurse murdered eight people and attempted to murder six more, with literally no one noticing.

Following these heinous crimes, an inquiry was launched, but that inquiry was restricted only to issues in long-term care directly connected to the Wettlaufer murders. I was one of a chorus of voices calling for an expansion of that inquiry. We initially asked the Liberal government of the day to scope that inquiry very broadly, because everybody knew that there were huge problems in long-term care—everybody knew. But instead of doing the right thing and scoping that long-term-care inquiry as broadly as possible, they chose not to. They scoped it to deal with only what was wrong in long-term care that could have allowed those murders to take place. That was not good enough.

Then we asked the government: “Launch a second phase of that long-term-care inquiry. If you want to separate out the Wettlaufer piece, fine. But do the right thing by the people of Ontario, by our seniors in long-term care and by the loved ones who watch their elder family members suffer so much, day in and day out, for decades in long-term care. Listen to those voices and bring in a second phase of that inquiry.” That’s what we asked the Liberals to do. It’s not just me; many, many, many people asked for that broad public inquiry a couple of years ago. Did they step up to the plate and do the right thing?

No, they did not. We wanted a second phase that would look at things like staffing, things like the quality of care, and much, much more.

Today, it is horrific—horrific—to have to stand in this House and remind everybody here that the previous Liberal government chose to block that inquiry from happening. They chose to sweep the problems under the rug. And here we are, a couple of years later, and look what has happened to those vulnerable seniors—those horrified family members not able to go and visit their loved ones in long-term care because COVID-19 was sweeping through the homes that their loved ones live in.

The Liberals decided to sweep the problems under the rug, just like they did a few years earlier when they cancelled the annual resident quality inspections in long-term-care homes. What are those? Those are surprise inspections, inspections where you don’t have a warning that there’s someone coming to proactively determine what’s happening in the home. We fought a very long time to get the Liberals to finally bring back those resident quality inspections in those long-term-care homes. You know, they had to be shamed. The Liberals had to be shamed, both by us in this House and in the court of public opinion, into restoring the practice of those resident quality inspections.

Sadly, the restoration of those inspections didn’t last. Instead, what we’ve seen over the last year now is this current government deciding to conduct a pitiful nine—do you hear that number?—nine comprehensive resident quality inspections in a province that has 626 long-term-care homes. That is not good enough. That is, again, ignoring the problem, walking away from those vulnerable seniors when they need us the most.

Today, one can find care homes a few blocks apart with drastically different protocols, drastically different standards of care and drastically different reputations. Very few of them have enough staff, and the personal support workers we rightly lionize as heroes of the pandemic, today being personal support worker appreciation day—who are those folks? Those PSWs are largely, predominantly women, and especially racialized women, and they are paid barely above minimum wage and have been forever.

Because for-profit homes find it cheaper to employ many part-time workers instead of one full-time worker, these heroes often have to cobble together many part-time jobs just to put a roof over the heads of themselves and their families: cobbled-together part-time jobs without pensions, without health benefits and without enough paid sick days to make it through a cold, never mind COVID-19.

The status quo of seniors’ care over the past three decades, culminating in this government’s response to COVID-19, has been an unmitigated failure to ensure seniors’ health and safety, and this failure has caused too much pain, too much anguish, too much suffering, and it has caused death. The people of this province know that this is not the best we can do. They know we can do better, and especially do better for those people who built our province.

We have to adopt urgent measures to stamp out COVID-19 hot spots, absolutely, and this includes not just creating the apparatus for the province to take over those unsafe facilities, but to actually step up and get it done. Take over those facilities already, where the outbreaks continue to rage.

There are many facilities right now, as I speak, that are not doing enough to protect residents from COVID-19. We need to finally make sure that every single health care worker has the personal protective equipment that they need to be safe, including N95 masks. Again, this is something we raised in question period today because we continue to hear about it. If we’re hearing about it, surely to the Lord you’re hearing about it too. I mean, really, people are not getting the PPE they need, to this very minute.

No matter what the Minister of Health says, I take the word of the PSW who says they can’t get the PPE that they need. I take the word of the nurse. That’s who I’m listening to. Those are the people on the front lines, and they know whether they’re getting PPE or they’re not. They wouldn’t be calling our offices if there was no problem. Why would they call our offices if there wasn’t a problem at all? Why would they be saying to the media that there’s a problem, if there was no problem at all?

So you can start to see why folks like us, in the role of the official opposition, think it is extremely important that a public inquiry take place in regard to COVID-19 and its impact on long-term care, but also the entire long-term-care system that was in place over the last number of years that led to such devastating results when COVID-19 ripped through. We owe it to the people of Ontario.

More importantly, we watched today in question period—in our regular question period where we try to hold the government to account, because that’s our job, the responses we heard from the ministers and from the Premier were not good enough. They are not admitting what the problems are now. How can we trust this idea of a commission, of a government-appointed commission, where the government decides who is on it, the government decides what the scope is, the government decides what the frameworks are, and the government controls the whole thing? That is not acceptable. We are already not getting the answers that Ontarians deserve. Ontarians deserve those answers.

To suggest that this government is not prepared to undertake a full public inquiry is horrifying to me. People deserve so much better than that. That’s why this motion is here. It’s here to urge the government to do the right thing.

When the Conservative government was in office and there was the horrifying murder that took place of someone named Dudley George, what happened? A public inquiry took place. It was supposed to take place. It was the right thing to do.

When 44 workers died of SARS, front-line health care workers, a public inquiry took place. Why? Because people deserve transparent, independent, accountable answers when the unthinkable happens. And that’s what’s happening now: the unthinkable.

When six people lost their lives because of the tainted water problem that occurred in Walkerton, a public inquiry took place, because people deserved nothing less.

These 1,919 seniors who have lost their lives in long-term care deserve nothing less, and those hundreds if not thousands of seniors over the last couple of decades who had low quality of care, who had unexplained injuries and bruises. Those workers who are unable to get a decent job and have to work three or four jobs, who we now call our heroes—the fact that they’ve had to work in those conditions year after year after year, literally stressed out, sobbing when they leave a shift, knowing that they couldn’t provide the care and the quality of care that the residents in the home that they’re working in deserve.

That’s happening. That has been happening. These are the conversations I’ve been having with people over the last number of years.

Those PSWs, those nurses, those nutritionists, the occupational therapists, all of those folks who work in long-term care—the administrators, the residents, the family members—every single one of them, every single one of us deserve the proper response, the responsible response by the government of Ontario. That responsible response is a complete, independent public inquiry, and nothing less will do for the people of Ontario.

I don’t even know—I’m not even on my speech anymore, Speaker. I just can’t tell you how much I’m concerned. Watching what has been happening over these last number of weeks, I’m extremely, extremely concerned. A government commission is not a public inquiry, and no matter how much this minister and this Premier try to spin and justify, everybody knows it. That’s why the Legion has written two letters now asking—demanding—that the Premier undertake a full public inquiry.

A government commission is just a review. Those are the weasel words the government was using over the last number of weeks when they talked about the fact that we have to look into this, that we need a review. We knew right away that the review—

Interjection.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I withdraw, Speaker. I withdraw.

We know that a review is not enough, and now that they’ve changed the word from “review” to “commission,” it is still not enough. A commission where the government brings in someone to justify the decisions that they’ve already made and propose the changes that they were already planning to make is the same backroom process that Premier Ford used to have Gordon Campbell justify his deep cuts in his first budget. Let’s remember that, folks. That was what this government calls a commission.

It was the Gordon Campbell commission, and they brought Gordon Campbell here so he could basically put the same numbers out there that the government was already spinning, which were then found by the Financial Accountability Officer and the Auditor General to not be the right numbers.

How can it be that the true independent, non-partisan people came up with a number that was so, so different from what the government was pushing? Oh, and guess what? Their hand-picked commissioner, the person that was doing this commission, Mr. Campbell, just happened to have the same number as the government. Well, surprise, surprise.

That’s what’s wrong with a commission. That’s what’s wrong with that idea: because it is going to be utilized to back up whatever the government decides they want to have public. They’re going to use that commission to justify whatever actions they’ve taken and to hide behind if the recommendations are not up to snuff.

Ontario families will not get the answers that they deserve, Speaker. They will not get the voice in the process that they deserve. The overhaul in long-term care will not come about as the result of this government’s commission process.

This is about voice. It’s about independence, it’s about transparency and, yes, it is about accountability as well, because the people of Ontario deserve nothing less. Those are things that only a full, independent public inquiry can provide, as set out under the Public Inquiries Act.

As I mentioned before, that’s why, from the death of Dudley George at Ipperwash to the six people who lost their lives in Walkerton to the eight seniors murdered in the Wettlaufer case and to the 44 Ontarians who died in the SARS outbreak, previous Ontario governments have called public inquiries. That’s what you have to do. That’s what you’re supposed to do. For this government to dig in their heels and insist that they will not hold a public inquiry when more than 1,919 Ontarians have died is utterly unconscionable. It’s a complete disgrace. It’s an abuse of power. The people of this province deserve so much better than that.

Only a public, non-partisan process will give voice to residents, will give voice to their families, will give voice to the loved ones that we’ve lost to COVID-19, and to the staff. And only an independent public inquiry will help Ontario make a decision about who should own and operate long-term-care residences.

It’s no surprise to this assembly that I don’t support profit-making in long-term care. I don’t think you should be making a profit off of the care of our seniors. Nobody should be surprised that I do believe that every single senior citizen has the right to high-quality and dignified care, regardless of the size of their bank account.

So that’s why I envision something completely different than what we’ve been dealing with here in this province for years now, completely different: a public, community-based, non-profit seniors care system, one that doesn’t siphon away front-line funding to pad the pockets of former Premiers and multinational corporations but instead uses every single penny to deliver the best possible care.

I envision a future where health care workers are paid a living wage with benefits and a pension that reflect how much we value their hard work, not just during COVID-19. That means they should have one full-time job, not three jobs. And I want enough of them on each and every shift so that they can take the time to interact with residents and to deliver excellent care, the excellent care that I know they want to be able to deliver.

I also envision culturally sensitive care rooted in close-knit, engaged communities where residents can communicate in their mother tongue, whether it’s Mandarin, Punjabi, Finnish or Oji-Cree. I want inspections, regulations and high standards baked into the system without shareholders and lobbyists constantly resisting them.

This shouldn’t be about the interests of shareholders. It shouldn’t be about the profits of private corporations. It should only be about the care of our loved ones, the quality care of our seniors in long-term care.

This is Canada, after all. Medicare is in our DNA here in Canada—well, for most of us, anyway. It’s part of who we are, because as Ontarians and as Canadians, we take pride in taking care of our neighbours and taking care of each other. Our seniors have spent their lifetimes helping to build this province and this country, raising all of us up. They have a right to quality, safe care in nursing homes, regardless of what they can afford.

We can make this a reality. We can bring that kind of system to our province. And we can start by passing the motion today giving Ontario families and all those who have been impacted by this infectious disease called COVID-19 the answers, the accountability and the changes that they deserve in long-term care.

And let me just say this: When we were trying to get the Liberals to call a proper inquiry into long-term care, we talked about a find-and-fix inquiry so that you don’t have to wait to implement the solutions that are so obvious already. We know what those solutions are, some of them; some of them we don’t. So there’s no reason, during the process of a full, transparent, non-partisan public inquiry, why we can’t do things like fix the wages problem, fix the staffing problem, fix the oversight problem, fix the regulations problem.

Get the profits out so that the public money that’s paying to provide care for those loved ones of ours in long-term care actually goes to the provision of care, and not to the billions of dollars in profits that are being made off of the watered-down care that they’re currently receiving.

We can start today. Pass this motion. Get the government on the track it should be on, respecting the people of Ontario, respecting all those folks who have lost their lives, respecting all the families who have gone through such anguish during COVID-19 and for years and years and years—the last couple of decades, at least.

Let’s pass this motion, get the government to do the right thing and call a full, transparent, non-partisan public inquiry into long-term care. People deserve no less than that. Those 1,919 seniors, and counting, deserve nothing less.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Further debate?

Hon. Merrilee Fullerton: The subject that we are debating today is one that should be very important to each of us and to society, collectively. I appreciate everyone in this chamber understanding the imperative to heal long-term care.

Long-term care is a priority for our government, and over the eight months before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the Ministry of Long-Term Care was diligently working to modernize and redevelop the long-term-care sector—so neglected for many, many years—and to address the ongoing staffing issues, as well as the recommendations from a recent public inquiry led by Justice Gillese. This is critical work and it must continue at a decisive pace. The well-being of our long-term-care residents and those waiting depends on it.

As we take action, we are grounded in compassion and caring. Long-term care touches us all in some way. I have had the privilege of visiting many long-term-care homes and residences and have seen dedicated and caring staff and innovative models of care, such as the butterfly model. I will always remember the residents who touched my life, some over 30 years ago, when I first started as a family doctor, and some more recently, as Minister of Long-Term Care. Long-term-care homes are often at the heart of their communities, and the important work done caring for society’s most vulnerable people must be remembered throughout this difficult time as we seek to shine a light on what has unfolded.

While we get to the bottom of this, we must remember the good work done to help others, and how communities of caring give us purpose and meaning. Those who have come before us must be valued. Their lives must matter to society, and we must be grateful for their contributions to our lives. A civilized and compassionate society requires this.

The context of this unprecedented tragedy, related to the COVID-19 pandemic, should also be understood. The impact of COVID-19 has hit across continents and borders in a way that seemed unimaginable just a few months ago. COVID-19 is causing untold fear and suffering for older people around the world, who are dying at a higher rate, and especially for those over 80, whose fatality rate is five times the global average, according to UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Over 95% of fatalities due to COVID-19 in Europe have been people 60 and older. In the United States, 80% of deaths are among adults 65 and older.

Ontario, unfortunately, is no different, and like seniors around the world, our seniors in Ontario have been attacked by COVID-19. It is a merciless enemy that can spread without symptoms, and this asymptomatic spread has been more serious and widespread than anyone could have ever expected. COVID-19 is a deadly virus new to the world, for which the evidence is constantly evolving. This is science, not politics.

Long-term-care homes became the front line of this fight against COVID-19 around the globe. As we grieve the loss of our loved ones, we are fighting COVID-19 fiercely and taking action to address the safety and the well-being of residents in long-term care now and into the future.

It is very important that we understand the scope and scale of this pande