Karbala we're walking, we his aynab talking Ya Hussan, Ya Hussan To your grave we're flocking, on your door we're knocking Ya Hussan, Ya Hussan On the 10th of Muharram 61AH The grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad Hussain Ibn Ali along with his family and companions were massacred on the desert plains of Karbala by the tyrannical leader Yazid son of Muawiyah Ibn Abi Sufiyah Only 50 years after the death of the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa'ala The religion of Islam had witnessed the so-called caliph of the Islamic state butchering the family of a very man who brought the religion to the world Ya Sayyidi, Ya Abul Hussan We are blessed to be in this holy city of yours You've accepted us as your zuwar, Muawlai We are following on your footsteps and going towards the city of liberation of martyrdom, of freedom You are the one who reached Karbala lifted the soil of Karbala wept and cried and said from this soil there are martyrs who will be resurrected on the day of judgement and shall enter Jannah without accountability Sayyidi, Ya Abul Hussan We are heading towards the shrine of your beloved son Sayyidi, Ya Amir al-Mu'mineen We would like you to accept our ziyarah We would like you to call us back We want to be of your zuwar We want to be of the ones who cast our eyes on your golden dome Do not make this our last opportunity to visit your blessed shrine Ya Amir al-Mu'mineen Ya Imam al-Muttaqeen Ya Ya'soob al-Deen We are now walking towards Sayyidi Shuhada about Abdullah al-Hussain We are honoring your son Abul Fadl al-Abbas We are walking in the footsteps of Zainab and Zain al-Abideen Ya Amir al-Mu'mineen We know that what we are about to do pleases you We know that what we are about to do places happiness in your hearts Ya Amir al-Mu'mineen We wish to pledge to you and pledge to Sayyidi Shuhada about Abdullah al-Hussain pledge to the master of our time Ya Imam Sahib al-Hussri al-Zaman that every ounce of our existence every drop of our body every single element of our life will be dedicated towards the Ahl al-Bait and with that commitment with that determination with that focus we are moving towards Karbala we are responding to the call of Aba Abdullah hal min nasir yansuruna hal min moghi thinyoghi thuna My name is Muhammad Abbas and I am a GP from London Alhamdulillah I've been in Ziyara before in and out of Aruba'een time I think Aruba'een, if we talk about Aruba'een specifically it's a very special time and it's always been a special time the other Ziyaras are often a time for us to introspect to look at ourselves and talk about things and speak to the imams on a one-to-one level and really often talk about our own issues but Aruba'een is probably the only time I think in the calendar when you get to meet so many other people who love Imam Sain al-Islam and sometimes you get in your mind that it's just you but actually when you're there walking with them it's the most amazing thing you're walking with millions of other people and it's not just the same person it's the young, the old from all the areas of the world and they're all coming because they love Imam Sain al-Islam and there's so many things about the walk that just inspire you this is truly the walk of love which everyone knows that but why is it the walk of love because everyone there is in love with Imam Sain al-Islam they're walking for three days or even more and their bodies are aching and yet they'll do anything for you and even to serve you even other fellows who are it's because they love Imam Sain al-Islam they're walking in one direction it's just a single mass movement of love and seeing the people on the road the people who are trying to help you it's the most unbelievable experience because in every other walk of life people are always grabbing you and saying please come here I'm trying to sell you something must buy something come it's really good for you they're saying please come and sleep in my house come and use my bathroom and just think about when would you ever have that concept in your own self of saying to someone please say if the shoe was on the other foot and it was in London someone came when would you say please come and sleep in my bed take my food eat my clothes wear my clothes eat my food stay with me etc it's something that's so alien but the love for Imam Sain al-Islam just drives all of the Iraqi people here to just do everything an estimated 20 million people from over 60 countries will make their way to the city of Karbala in Iraq to mark the 40th day after the martyrdom of Hussain son of Ali 15th of November 2016 and we have just departed Najaf we've given our last salam to Amir al-Mu'mineen Sayed Abul Hassan Sayed Abul Hassan Imam Ali al-Islam and we have departed with the group for Karbala and it's currently 9.30 am and inshallah we plan on walking about 450 poles to our first mocap where we inshallah spent the night and on the way we will be hosted by the people of Iraq and the rest of the mocap that are here along the way and their endless hospitality that has no ulterior motive has no recompensation or no repayment that is required what could possibly drive 20 million people to leave their homes and walk through desert plains in the midst of a war zone facing the threat of suicide bombing and terrorist attacks it is indeed nothing but a demonstration of love for a man who through his sacrifice for righteousness left nations eternally besotted nations who promise to give their lives in service for Hussain alayhis salam the master of martyrs nations who vow even in a matter of life or death to never forget the four to you Bismillah my name is Shabaaz Khan I'm from south London I hope you to be specific proud of it as well I'm here in Karbala in Karbala this is my I think fourth time I came once during the time of Saddam and I've come this is now my third Arba'een and I come for one Arshala as well that's actually five times hundred so blessed so blessed oh my god if you want me to compare the time of Saddam I was eight years old when I came in 2002 I remember one thing so specifically we were sitting on Thile Zainabiyah and my dad comes up to me taps me on the shoulder and he goes shabbs recite that know-how about Bibi Zainab and I started reciting the know-how about Bibi Zainab which is in Thile Zainabiyah and it goes on to Shami Ghareeba and it talks about Saddam Zainab looking on to the the killing of Imam Al-Sainab the killing of Ali Al-Aqbar Al-Salab and what she did after and the whole fact that Imam Sajjad's first ruling as an Imam was based on the question from Saddam Zainab do I protect my hijab or do I save my life so this is the know-how that reside in Urdu, Punjabi Sariqi he's got a mixture of all three I was reciting and I was reciting softly and people started crying and then they went from crying to wailing because the words become so strong and when they got to the point of wailing the guards came and picked me up and took me straight out I was so scared I was so scared because they wanted to stop anything they wanted to stop everything you weren't allowed to hit yourself you weren't allowed to do the Lebek Dihah Zain you weren't allowed to do any of that I remember even on Arba'in day we were going into the harem and one of my uncles had me on his shoulders and I'm reciting and everyone's crying and the guard turned his gun to me and said stop and I was like oh my god genuinely and you know what and then when I came the first time for Ashura was the second time I came and that was in 2013 and to see so many people surrounding the harem of Aba'abdillah I'm telling you on Arba'in day I was sitting in there I'm holding the dharia I'm reciting Zia'at al-Arshura during the time so that the harem is empty the harem was empty there's bullet holes and crates from bombs and everything all over the place from the attack in 91 it's exactly the same the place is an absolute wreck and then to come again in 2013 and see all the renovations to Aba'abdillah to see the new gold Abbas's minarets it was absolutely mind blowing and as a comparison I think there's literally a difference between hell and heaven it is incredible incredible and to see how many people that could express their love for Aba'abdillah after the end of Saddam was absolutely amazing beyond any comprehension it's just made my craving for Karbala that much more now we're here walking a few moments ago the streets were full of Diyazan the call to prayer and it reminds us of Diyazan of Khaled Ali al-Aqbar on the day of Ashura there are millions of people that are walking today to Karbala and everything has stopped life has come to a complete and everyone is heading for the washroom heading for the Hussainiyah heading to the Imamabad to pray this is one of the most important acts because we stop thinking about all of our worldly desires and we focus only on Salah only on Namaz and that is the importance of this walk to bring us back to our roots to bring us back to what is important to bring us back to what is wajib and has been decreed upon the common practice of walking towards the city of Karbala sometimes barefoot originates from the very footsteps of the family of Hussainiyah led by Zainab the daughter of Imam Ali and Ali Zainalabadin the son of Hussain the remaining family members return to Karbala on the 40th day after the martyrdom of Hussain Ali Hussain after being released as prisoners of war from the shackles of the ruler Yazid the 40th is historically noted in some traditions as the first time the family of Hussain Ali Hussain were allowed to publicly mourn the death of their family members in some narrations the companions of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam such as Jabir ibn Abdullah Lansari were also amongst those who reached the city of Karbala on this day the first gathering of lamentation took place in Karbala on this day and thus it continued as a tradition for the followers of the family of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam throughout the generations which up until today fulfills the prophecy of the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam that states that God will create a nation that will mourn Hussain Alaihi Wasallam until the day of judgement we are at 217 for our resting point for today Alhamdulillah this is my first walk it's been a great experience so far inshallah we're praying that all goes well for the rest of the day we stop at 217 tonight inshallah i think so far so good words can't describe what kind of experience i'm going through i don't know i don't know what to say feet are sore, back is sore but i want to keep going with this walk hopefully the next two days the love of Hussain will motivate us to keep going and hopefully carry on my name is Ammar i come from London i'm a mechanic, buses, cars this is my fourth time visiting Imam Hussain on the Arba'een i've been in other times but in terms of Arba'een this is the first one, first time was made a couple of friends this is with a group at the moment spiritual journeys i think everyone has a personal relationship with Imam Hussain Alaihi Wasallam and everyone comes for different reasons but probably one of the main reasons is to meet Imam Hussain Alaihi Wasallam and renew our allegiance with him and show our appreciation for what he's given us and tell him that we stand with him and stand for what he stood for generally speaking when you're in Najaf personally like i said everyone has a personal relationship but personally i feel like Najaf is a place of calm serenity, peace when writing for i mean i write my own poetry i tend to write most of my poetry either on the walk or surrounding the days of Arba'een or surrounding the days of Maharram throughout the year i don't really write much i try to but nothing comes up so i'm not sure what that is but i'm coming to Imam Hussain Alaihi Wasallam it's just sadness that's all you feel sometimes you'll be walking you walk on your own or with a group and suddenly you'll just start crying throughout the walk you'll just remember a moment and you'll just connect with him and refocus on him and begin to cry and go through different visualizations of the day of Ashurah and what happened that tends to happen quite a lot when you're walking you'll see a lot of people just walking and reciting know-how to themselves in terms of reciting you're right next to the Imam you're in his Haram in the vicinity of his sanctuary whether you're in Karbala or not you're approaching his sanctuary and that has a i think that there is a feeling that comes with it that you can't control there is something in the air there is definitely some sort of connection some spiritual connection when you're in the vicinity of the Haram that you just feel this sadness comes every now and then I don't know what else I've never asked him for anything ever I've always gone to say thank you that's it, that's all I go for so when it comes to why I go there I have searched myself and I've come to the conclusion that I just come to thank him and that's all I can do I can't really give him anything more than he's giving me and I pray that I will be a servant to him inshallah whatever small small we can do that's what we hope to gain we are on the road from Najaf to Karbala and we are now at 217 we got here before our group this is our Mulkib where we're going to be staying tonight and I'm standing here on the road just to make sure that none of our group, none of us are far from our group go past this point inshallah we'll stay here we'll have a medialist tonight we'll start making our way for the second day of this trip we intend to be in Karbala by Saturday inshallah so we're taking three days to make our journey we have just arrived at our Mulkib the poll number 217 we started at poll number zero this morning at about 9.30, 10 o'clock it's taken us a few hours to get here but we've finally reached the Mulkib so we're going to be staying behind you you have the polls that we are organised by so we have polls one to ten and poll number one is at the front two, three, four going all the way to ten covering us so that people who walk at different paces are covered if you want to walk fast there is the poll number one and poll ten for people who want to take their time experience all the different services all the different foods all the different khedme we've just reached here everybody is a little bit tired but excited we can't wait to reach Karbala inshallah tomorrow is the main day, the longest day but inshallah the energy will be up, we're about to have a Mejilis I'm going to say a Hadith to and it's hard for me to say this Hadith but one of them when I said to me he said he don't say this Hadith regularly but we are on our way to Karbala my mom and brother say he don't tell me I wish about everything that happened in Karbala I don't know about it Ibrahim left his family in a barren land so did Iba'am de laa and that's why when Imam al-Sahab rode Ziyarat Wahab it's something of that barren land hurt Imam al-Sahab because in the last few days before Imam al-Sahab died they kept on oppressing Imam al-Sahab they kept on torturing him how would they torture him, not physically in jail they tried to burn that house of Imam al-Sahab while he wasn't alive Imam al-Sahab was one of the soldiers that bring his daughters the house of Imam al-Sahab so one of the soldiers came he lit the fire in the house of Imam al-Sahab our hearts are in Medina with him they lit the house on fire Imam al-Sahab what Hadith mentioned ran from one part of the house to the other carrying the daughters of Imam al-Sahab carrying the daughters of Imam al-Sahab he could imagine Imam al-Sahab carrying the daughters of Imam al-Sahab carrying the daughters of Imam al-Sahab until he eventually left the house when he left the house you could imagine the state of Imam al-Sahab that fire all over his dress fire all over the daughters of Rasulullah amongst those who went to see him one of them said I came to Imam al-Sahab he was crying after that day like I've never seen him I said to him what makes you cry what is it that makes you cry you are Muhammad have been through the worst of oppression but I see you cry like I've never seen you cry before he said to him I don't cry because of what's happened to us what is it that makes you cry he said rather I cry because when I was going around collecting my daughters rather when I was going around collecting my daughters with their dresses on fire I thought to myself what happened to Zainab on the night of the 11th of Ramadan when she carried the daughters of Rasulullah from one side to the other he said I now pictured the night of the 11th of Ramadan when I saw my aunt Zainab running from one tent to another I'm so old sisters, it is right now 10.30pm at night we have just finished a Majlis with Dr. Saeed Ammar Nashwani as well as some Matam Latmiya by Sayed Hyderal Jayzani Mullah Ammar Nashid and we are absolutely exhausted at the moment we are here at pole number 217 so we did about 400 poles today and if you could just spin the camera that way and take a look at all of these people that are already knocked out inshallah we have a lot of brothers here who have been walking all day by Alhamdulillah we are 400 poles closer to Imam Nashain and inshallah tomorrow we will begin with day 2 of our walk towards Aba Abdullah and Abul Fadil Allah inshallah right now it's about 5.30pm in the morning day 2 of the walk we are all just waking up getting ready for Salat al Fajr after the Majlis we are going to have food breakfast and then we are going to head out our goal is to reach Mokhab 808 by the end of the day as per tradition Iraqi natives leave their families and their homes in order to set up tents known as Mokhibs to simply serve the lovers of Hussain on the roads towards Karbala services such as handing out free food distributing water providing shelter to the pilgrims or carried out by locals and people of all ages who come from various different countries simply to serve Hussain alayhis salam and his pilgrims be it through life or in the face of death nothing prevents the continuation of honouring the 40th of Hussain alayhis salam it's day 2 of the walk love you just see how many people there are every morning you wake up and you are so humbled to be here again you give me the opportunity to come to Aba something there you just feel that you want to come back to Karbala all the time but then sometimes you forget that you're not the only person you love to Aba and you see that you love the amount of people who are devoting themselves physically, mentally, spiritually, financially everything they have to come to see Aba to serve Aba and people who are also walking and serving people who are working and devoting people who are helping from home and giving money it's just something so humbling to be part of and to be here again it's just such a blessing really the thing about this walk is amazing you've seen so many denominations of people from different places around the world all driven by the love of Allah wanting to be with Him but wanting to be with each other hugging each other holding each other can't help but think of this walk we're doing the sooner of this walk is the sooner of the museum the communications and those who are the guiding lights are the ones who helped us so much we're treated in the worst of ways and we or at least myself the worst of people are treated in the best of ways it just makes you think it just breaks your heart because this is this is just not the right way and the thing that strikes me is the depth and the number and the range of Zuhwa it just never ceases to amaze me I think this year I've seen so many small two three-year-olds who are giving out tissues who are standing in a row with their parents saying I'm a big young saint trying to encourage the Zuhwa's to kind of keep going and be motivated and giving out juice and I've taken pictures of all these young young Zuhwa's but also those lovers of Moms Saint because it's just so fascinating and inspiring to see how the love of Moms Saint is brought into them from such an age and then on the other side you see just today I was walking and I was walking next to some man and he was really old and the more I walked the more I realised he was taking two or three steps for every one step everyone else was taking so we kind of tried to say you know can we help you can we give you a hand his head was bent down he had a small stick and he was just going to help he said no Moms Saint and he was drawing power for Moms Saint the closer he got you could feel he was getting more energy and strength and it was something just miraculous to see as a scientist as well I think there's something to be said about the food that we eat you know when you walk you break down or when you do any exercise you break down your muscle your protein breaks down and then as you eat you replenish that protein yeah with whatever you eat this food is special and I tell people people say to me should I eat on the walk because you know you're a doctor would you advise I say eat everything eat everything obviously don't overeat eat in a nice way don't do us rough but eat everything try everything one the people who are who are offering it to you are so in love with Imam and Ahlul Bayt Leysam there when you when you just have a bit of their food they feel so happy they feel like their sacrifice has been accepted and you feel connected to them give them that reward for the efforts they've made but two and this is the bit that is amazing is that but the end of this three days spiritually you're walking and every time you walk you think this is hard but Imam Sajjad Leysam went through something harder this is hard but say the same this is harder and she had all of those expectations and importance and the whole Islam was riding on their shoulders if anyone had an opportunity to stop is Imam Sajjad he's seen everything he's got all these aches and pain he's been whipped he's the best of creation being treated in the worst of ways we are the worst I am the worst of creation the sinful being treated in the most loving of ways and yet Imam Sajjad continues we must continue follow his steps I want to go too far ahead and like number two gets closer see flag number two coming just down the road so if yours will now go ahead try and keep everyone together so we don't lose anyone this year I was blessed to come and participate in the blessed walk from Najaf to Karbala 2016 this is my first time for the Arbaeen walk towards Karbala I came to Karbala once before in December 2002 Saddam was still alive at that time and the difference between my experience now compared to back then is a major difference I see that this year a lot more stronger here the more confident and more open in practicing their faith Alhamdulillah and also coming towards Karbala back then when I came for the first time I was only 16 years old so I had a limited knowledge of Karbala and its significance this time coming now a more mature man with more understanding of the battle of Karbala more understanding of the Mount Hussain more understanding of the struggles it means so much more to me it's more significant and also more personal I'm coming to Arbaeen for my first experience and the first time I'm actually experiencing Mokim's and the Khidmah and it's really like a hot woman how they come they stop you in the middle of the road and they're like come come eat drink whatever you need we'll provide for you we'll give you massage we'll give you food we'll give you a place to stay we'll give you wifi cigarette whatever you want we'll provide for you and it's really humbling and it shows you the love that they have for Imam Hussain that they love Imam Hussain so much and the guest of Imam Hussain is treated like a king like a king in his homeland it's a beautiful experience very humbling the walk is very very different to what you see here on television because on television it's very easy to look at anything in the comfort of your own home in the comfort of your sofa with your cup of tea the heating on the window or the fan on when it's the summer but being here actually experiencing the struggle actually experiencing the steps walking forward actually experiencing the hospitality you know it gives it such more of a sentimental touch and a more personal touch I'm actually here I'm breathing in like that air that Najafi air that Qarbala'i air you know I'm actually experiencing the mohkibs coming up to me saying oh you are Zawar Imam Hussain come pull in my arm this way pull in my arm that way you know being here is so much more beneficial right there's only a limited amount you can experience much in television but actually being here soaking in the atmosphere me as I started you know I would do it with my knee and I'm walking towards Imam Hussain just thinking about that relationship you have with Imam Hussain that bond strengthens as you get closer and closer and closer which you're not going to get saying how much in television or even in Majlis it's limited of being here it's limited of being here it's limited of being here and being here and I'm walking towards Khardulat that bond is inside me of the Zaharat Trust serving the Zawar of Aba Abdullah Hussain as they are doing Alhamdulillah one of the many mohkibs who are being set up for several weeks to try and provide services amongst the number of many projects that the Zaharat Trust organized may Allah SWT bless them and this is such an honor to be able to serve these Zawar of Aba Abdullah Hussain in the millions this year destination towards Karbala Aba One of the more familiar stations during the route is the Zaharat Trust station or mohkib The Zaharat Trust has helped over 50,000 refugees provided more than 10,000 hot meals launched over 96 aid projects and has more than 5,000 registered orphans to look after and yet they come every year without fail to volunteer their time and serve the pilgrims of Imam Hussain that is First year at the Arbaid Mashallah this is the most amazing experience Anyone can ever get Alhamdulillah I've been given the chance to serve my mohla Imam Hussain I'm currently in Zaharat Trust mohkib hoping that the Zawar giving them food giving them something to drink you know because you are a walker yes but you're also a Khadim you're a servant of Allah you have to help everyone that's walking By doing this your iman goes I'm telling you it's an amazing amazing experience Any of you that have any doubt of coming to Al-Ba'ayn during the mashayah I'm telling you leave that all behind and come and visit your border amazing experience you won't regret just the light the people that you see it's just it's another world it's another world you know first thing we must understand Say the Zainab I will say never had a choice she had no choices we come here and some of us are tired on my leg hurts we sit down and we rest and we hungry and we want food to walk remembering Imam Hussain but also remembering Zainab it's not a question of do you feel pain do you feel anything do you you walk this walk and you say the more pain I feel the closer I get to why I came and we must understand that Imam Zainab he wasn't given a choice no one said to him do you want a rest or are you thirsty or do you want a cup of tea or in my case coffee and you say to someone I want hot water no one did that they didn't care they just dragged them and took them and didn't give two hoots about what they felt what their needs are so when we're walking we must keep in our mind that we're walking the walk of no choices so don't make choices for yourself don't say oh I'm in pain I want to walk this walk when it's 45 degrees and I want to collapse because I know my Imam collapsed time and time again the first thing I do when I reach Karbala and I see that these shrines these golden magnificent doms that give heaven their life is I do my Sajdah to Allah to thank Him that I managed to actually fulfill this walk I completed this walk and that I was blessed to be able to do this walk then I look at my Imams and I turn around and look at them and I say don't make this my last time my Zahra because if I don't come back that would be my death because I can't take separation from them my love for them is at a level where I cannot explain to anybody and I don't come to ask for them I come to visit them I don't want anything I don't want any I don't want money I don't want health I don't want anything I haven't come to ask them anything come to visit them I've come to say to them look I am your servant in this world I'm your servant in the hereafter this is my allegiance I will take every stress pain to come and visit you to say to you that if I was there in Karbala I would have given my life before anybody else I don't want nothing I haven't come to ask them for anything I come here just to say to visit you remember me remember that I visited you and my mom if hell is what is destined for me then all I ask from them this is the only prayer I say just once let me meet you and kiss you and then let me watch today again my name is Mufad al-Dalal I'm from Dubai right now I'm walking on day 2 around 8pm I've been like the last guys feel like a bunch of five of us stayed back absorbing the whole thing this is my third year actually back to back on my first year on the walk I met one of the sayids and just outside about Dila's home and he told me that you've been here for the first time you are actually on the guest list you're the special people who've been invited to gain this opportunity and he said that you've come here inshallah first time you'll be here for the next 40 years a stupid question came out like you know I would be like 75 then and he said that it's about Dila he's gonna keep bringing you in so alhamdulillah this is my third year first three years when very scot-free no blisters on the way very helpful all is the worker of the Imam and all his du'as he's been helping a lot very motivated very picked up and alhamdulillah my name is Hossain Jihanna from Minneapolis Minnesota I came here because I feel like honestly I was one of my Imam Hossain this is the only year I could come for next year I'm starting from the Jala Master's Degree and so I figured I guess I just got married as well and my wife said that let's go to Karebala we'll do the walk and I said that of course so alhamdulillah I'm here now it's the second day it's a little chilly but not too bad we're still awake it's about almost nine o'clock and there's people still walking they've been walking for days and it's alhamdulillah tomorrow it's the last day of walking so we're hoping to get there about two o'clock but it's just amazing to see so many people giving from their hearts they don't have much but the people here they really really love Imam Hossain and they love this Imam Hossain which is something I think that's very very rare if even like exists anywhere else in the world so I'm so glad to be here it's my first time and I want to come every single year inshallah that happened to the love of Imam Hossain but alhamdulillah alhamdulillah we're 12 I'd have love to go on to day 3 but unfortunately I can't so inshallah next year we're about 25 to 30 kilometers from the holy city of Qalab-e-Lah inshallah today we intend to get to Qalab-e-Lah around the bandwagon in time which is about 5.36 o'clock so if I visit Hossain it is as if they are visiting Qod the Almighty in his throne may Allah bless you and your efforts and your dedication


It is now time for oral questions. I recognize the leader of his Majesty's Loyal Opportunity. Speaker, my question to the Premier. Yesterday was an historic victory for Ontario workers. The courts recognized that 800,000 public sector workers and new Democrats have been saying for years that Bill 124 was unconstitutional. That was affirmed by the courts. Bill 124 is unconstitutional. This is a hard fought and long overdue victory for workers who deserve a government that will respect this decision and work with them to move forward. Why won't the Premier respect the court ruling and stop appealing yet another court loss for this government? The Attorney General. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I think the member opposite knows that we're reviewing the decision. We intend to appeal, and so I can't comment further on how to comment there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Order. Supplementary question. Speaker, we have seen the consequences of this government's wage restraint across the public sector. But nowhere have the facts been more acute than in our health care sector, where Bill 124 has directly contributed to our province's current health care crisis.  Respond to President of the Treasury Board. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As the Attorney General said, we are reviewing this decision. Our intention is to appeal. But we will speak to our investments in health care, and especially in health human resources. Since March of 2020, we have added over 12,000 health care professionals to the system. Just this year alone, the Ontario Colleges of Nurses has registered over 12,800 nurses just this year. Two months to go. Mr. Speaker, we will continue to make these historic investments to support health care workers and the delivery of health care services all across this province. Final supplementary, the members of sector. Thank you, Speaker. Speaker, the Ontario Superior Court Justice threw a bill 124 in its entirety, ruling it absolutely null and void. Justice Conan found that Ontario was not facing an economic situation that, in quotes, justified an infringement of charter rights, that the law was substantially interference on the constitutionally protected bargaining rights of hundreds of thousands of worker speakers. Bill 124 has been bad for workers in Ontario period and should never have seen the light of day in the first place. Speaker, it's long past time the government started showing workers the respect they deserve from day one. With the cost of living sky rockings, Speaker, my question is will the government get out of its own way, get out of the way workers protected right for the bargaining of fair wage and finally respect this decision? Branding and skills development. Speaker, we're continuing working for workers every single day in Ontario. Mr. Speaker, that's why we partnered with private sector unions, employers and trade people to bring in the building opportunities in the skilled trades act to get tens of thousands of people into well-paying jobs in the province. Mr. Speaker, that's why we brought in historic legislation in working for workers one and working for workers two to ensure that workers have the right to disconnect. That for the first time in Canadian history we're recognizing international credentials so when newcomers come to this province they can work in professions that they've studied. Mr. Speaker, we became the first in Canada to give truck drivers access to washroom facilities across this province. And Mr. Speaker, we are the first in North America to move forward with expanding portable benefits so millions of workers that don't have health and dental benefits today are going to get those benefits under Premier Ford. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, again to the Premier. Today's Auditor General report showed a real state of affairs, a sad state of affairs on this government stewardship of the environment. Under the Liberals, Ontario lost an average of 1,825 hectares of wetlands per year. And the wetlands that do remain have very little, if any, protection. Now nearly half of southern Ontario's remaining wetlands are at risk of being lost with no requirements for wetland evaluation before land use changes to the Premier. What does this government have against wetlands? Seriously, what do they have against them? That's resources and forestry. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks for the question. You know the other side links to talk about what could happen, might happen, maybe happen. I'll tell you what will happen. We're going to continue to protect wetlands in Ontario. We're going to continue to protect those wetlands. We've got a plan, Mr. Speaker. We've got a plan to build 1.5 million homes in this province over the next 10 years and keep a robust ecological footprint. Homebuilders will still go through a process. Species at risk, there's legislation to cover that. Wetlands are disappearing. We've heard that. We've got an opportunity to not only preserve them, but expand them. And a plan to do that as well. Don't believe the hype, Mr. Speaker. Wetlands are here to stay in Ontario. You're making a question. That was pretty amazing. Speaker, again to the premier. The auditor found that along the Niagara Scarpment there was no environmental monitoring because there are no staff. Reports of violations, including high-risk incidents of construction and buildings have gone unenforced. And nearly all development permit applications have been approved in the past five years. Even when they went against the Niagara Scarpment Plan. Speaker, why isn't the premier doing anything to protect the Niagara Scarpment? That's resources and forestry. Mr. Speaker, thanks again to the member opposite for the question. The Niagara Scarpment is an arms-length body that does great work, Mr. Speaker. And we know the Niagara Scarpment is a beautiful and wonderful area in Ontario that we want to protect. We've got feedback from the Scarpment folks all the time and talk with them constantly about what can be done to make things better. We'll continue to speak with them. But again, they're their own body. They make their own decisions, and we respect those decisions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I'll supplement you. Speaker, how is it in just a few short weeks we've seen this government attack the green belt, conservation authorities, farmland, wetlands, and do nothing to protect the Niagara Scarpment. And today, the auditor found that the province is missing in action on addressing urban flooding risks. There is no coordinated approach, no effort to protect against the loss of green space, and basically nothing to address aging stormwater infrastructure. All while this government strips revenue from municipalities and the effects of climate change are felt more every year. Why isn't this government doing more to protect homeowners from the devastating impact of flooding? That's a result, Mr. Speaker. Thanks again, Mr. Speaker. And thanks for the question. You know, flooding is something I've lived personally in my community. Members will recall before I got here that my community suffered two very significant floods. And that's why I was so excited, Mr. Speaker, to see the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry over the years step up their game. Go to Water Street, Mr. Speaker. Go to Water Street and see the facilities that are there to ensure that Ontarians are protected against flooding. It is amazing. They're doing an amazing job. Conservation authorities, we're asking them to focus on flooding and hazard lands that keep people safe. That's the focus and the priority. Build homes, keep people safe, build Ontario. That's what we're going to do. Member for Nick? Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Premier. Today's Auditor General's report put in writing what we already knew. Ontario vaccines roll out with sloppy and uncoordinated. The government didn't listen to public health experts and let 3.4 million vaccine... House will come to order. Member for Nickel Belt has the floor. The government didn't listen to public health experts and let 3.4 million vaccine doses go to waste. Poor planning resulted in nine high-risk neighbourhoods being left out of the province targeted hotspot strategy while low-risk neighbourhoods receive early vaccine access. The Premier assembled a vaccine tax force but neglected to include any public health expert on it for weeks. Why did the government not listen to public health experts during the vaccine roll out? The Deputy Premier and the Minister of Health. Thank you, Speaker. While I have a great deal of respect for the Auditor General on this, I cannot agree with her. I know that we have done an incredible job protecting our most vulnerable through a vaccine roll out that is second to only Japan. The member speaks about things that we can look at and point to as successes. Govax buses that were going into communities that had lower vaccine uptake. Operation remote immunity where we partnered with our partners at Orange to make sure at the very beginning of the pandemic when we had limited supplies of vaccines that they were going in with our partners at Orange to vaccinate remote and fly in communities. Other opportunities that, frankly, other provinces looked at and wanted to emulate because Ontario was leading in ensuring that our most vulnerable, vulnerable communities were getting access to those vaccines as quickly as possible. The Auditor found that the Ministry's approach to communicating factual information to the public was disorganized, inconsistent and lacking details about the benefit of COVID vaccine and vaccination. She also found that the Ministry missed out and informed the public of the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine and ultimately this government undermined public confidence in vaccination. Why did the government undermine public confidence in COVID-19 vaccination? Mr. Pelt. Speaker, the numbers don't add up. When you talk about that you're suggesting that we don't have over 80% of Ontario adults aged 12 who are fully vaccinated. We have led the world because we ensured that we had mass vaccination clinics. We had clinics in businesses, in manufacturing facilities. We had GoVac buses going around to higher risk neighbourhoods to make sure that they understood the value and had those conversations. We had Sick Kids Hospital open up a phone line with parents and caregivers about their questions that they had when we had vaccines available to children. I will not apologise for our vaccine rollout. We have a lot to be proud of and the numbers prove that out. Next question, the member for Burlington. Speaker, parents in my writing of Burlington want to know that their children are well positioned for success. They want assurances that their children are being taught a modern curriculum in schools that are technologically connected and safe. I'm proud that our government is determined to support our children by ensuring they have the necessary learning tools. Everyone wants to see our students succeed in and outside of the classroom. Speaker, can the Minister of Education please provide an update on how our government is taking the right steps to ensure our students have everything they need for a successful and fulfilling education. Thank you very much Mr Speaker, I want to thank the member from Burlington for the wonderful question and her continued focus on young people and their success. Under our government we have undertaken a focus on helping young people graduate and get access to good paying jobs from a modern curriculum to modern schools to merit based hiring of our educators. We are overhauling our curriculum with a focus on increasing outcomes graduation rates results Mr Speaker, we have reformed our curriculum labour market align for the first time including mandatory learning on financial literacy on coding, on real life application on learning about the importance of balanced budgets because we know on this side of the house budgets do not balance themselves. We also know about the concept of debt and inflation, paying taxes we're teaching kids about problem solving skills and leadership development. When it comes to modern schools with over $500 million every year and Mr Speaker we're ensuring the best educator gets hired in the meritocracy so that the best leaders in front of children in this project. A supplementary question. Mr Speaker, young families in my writing of Burlington are facing economic hardship due to rising inflation and economic uncertainty. Child care has long been a significant expense for working parents who want to ensure that their children stop quality care while they're at work. Speaker, we know that under the previous Liberal government, child care costs became too expensive and inaccessible for many. This was unacceptable and created a tremendous burden on individuals and families. Speaker, to the Minister of Education what is our government doing to provide much needed relief for our working families across the province? Mr Speaker, at a time of rising national inflation, the cost of living our government is stepping up in a big way to deliver financial relief for Ontario families. It's why, Speaker, we signed a better deal with $3 billion and an additional year of investment on the table to ensure for-profit, non-profit parents, which would have been excluded by the Democrats and Liberals that they have access to the financial relief of roughly $10,000 by the end of this year alone. Four times our government has stepped up with direct financial relief to parents. We just rolled out another catch-up payment which is going to deliver $1.6 billion in total into parents' pockets where we know they need it to face the rising costs. We're also standing up against the Federal Liberal Carbon Tax, which has raised the cost of home heating of baby supplies, of food making clear this aggressive tax hurts the most vulnerable within our communities. We're standing up for affordability and will continue under our Premier's leadership to make life more affordable and childcare more accessible for Ontario parents. Thank you. Next question. Member for Niagara Centre. Thank you, Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Over the past few weeks, this government has been dealing with some issues regarding insider information and plans to open up the green belt and the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve with certain parcels purchased just weeks before the announcement. Some of the Premier's most loyal developer friends, the DeGaspers family, own 20 properties on the land this government is opening up for development. Just this week, we learned that tax developments controlled by Silvio DeGaspers and members of his family borrowed $100 million at an interest rate of 21% annually to purchase green belt land of all things in 2021. Speaker, in the Minister's experience is a 21% interest rate and $100 million a good deal. Speaker, the government has been very clear in our postings what our intention is regarding the property. We've been open, clear and transparent and look forward to receiving comments from the public. Supplementary. Thank you, Speaker. It turns out the loan was in fact a very good deal for the DeGaspers family. In 2020, they bought 475 acres of green belt land for around 24,000 an acre. They own nearly 2,000 acres within the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve. They bought this land cheap because it was protected as farmland in perpetuity. Early estimates find that the soon-to-be newly-developable land could be worth at least $380,000 an acre. That's a big payoff for a green belt gamble, Speaker. Did the Minister or any other government land order or developer or any of their lobbyists or representatives information about the government's plan for removing lands from the green belt before it became public on November 4th? Mr. Mr. Farris. No. I'm going to be assisting the integrity commissioner and his investigation. I look forward to be vindicated and I look forward to the apology from the official opposition. Thank you, Speaker. Speaker, like many provinces, Ontario is facing our most significant labour shortage in a generation. This labour shortage greatly impacts our economy and communities, particularly in the skilled trade sector. As our province plans to build for the future, we must ensure that we have enough workers with the right skills to help us meet this challenge. Every skilled trade's job that remains unfilled is to set economic opportunities for our great province. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. I ask the Minister, what is our government doing to address the ongoing skilled trade's labour shortage? Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Renfrew, Nipissing, Pembroke for that very challenging question this morning. Our government from day one is on a mission to train more workers so they can build better lives for themselves and fill the jobs that families and businesses across Ontario rely on. That is why we are reinventing our programs so that welfare and disability support recipients are no longer left on their own. Instead, the changes we're making are providing tailored solutions like work boots to get them started and a transit pass to get them to their first shift. Mr. Speaker, our message is clear. For anyone looking to find well-paying and meaningful work, our government will give you a hand up. Supplementary. Thank you, Speaker, and I want to thank the Minister for his answer as well. Helping people gain the skills employers need means they can support themselves, their families and our entire province. For far too long, people eager to work hard and contribute to our economy with difficulties, navigating bureaucratic processes, leaving them discouraged. Nothing gives a person a greater sense of pride and worth than the ability to contribute through their work. Our government should act to remove burdens and lift barriers to help people find work opportunities. Speaker, my question again to the Minister, how does our government help more individuals find meaningful employment in this great province? Mr. Labor. Mr. Speaker, under the previous government, only 1% of people on social assistance were finding employment each year. That might be good enough for those across the aisle, but it's not good enough for us. In the parts of Ontario where we've started our new approach, the results are outstanding. 79% of job seekers are working at least 20 hours per week and 55,700 people are now on a path to finding employment. Speaker, this is how we lift people up and this is how we're going to achieve our ambitious plan to build Ontario. Thank you, Speaker. My question is for the Premier. Municipalities are reeling from the alarming passage of Bill 23 on Monday. The lack of consultation, the absence of respect and facts has resulted in a deeply flawed piece of legislation that will undermine housing affordability, increase homelessness and compromise the integrity of the green belt ecosystem. Last week, the member of Kitchener Conestoga claimed that seven Waterloo Region municipalities were sitting on over $200 million of reserve funds from development charges that have already been collected. Specifically, he went on to say that the township of Woolwich was sitting on $6.5 million of DC charges that they didn't know about it. In fact, all of the DC reserve funds are allocated and they are in the municipal five-year economic forecast. You just have to learn how to read, I guess. The drastic reduction in development charges will... I'm no personal tax master. Conclude your question.  The drastic reduction for Kitchener Conestoga will now come to order. Member for Waterloo, conclude the question. Will negatively impact the municipality's ability to facilitate housing which is so important in the province of Ontario. Why is the government implying that these funds are not being used and that municipalities are negligent in their duties? Mr. Minister, there's a house. The member opposite is incorrect. The member for Kitchener Conestoga is a great member. He meets regularly with this municipality. The financial information that's provided to the ministry. So if in fact the numbers that municipalities are giving us for the amount of DC reserve they have is incorrect, perhaps we should have a deeper dive into the documentation that the ministry is being sent. There were councils in every council chamber, in every corner of the province campaign in advance of the October 24th election that said they wanted to prioritize affordable housing. Bill 23 provides the opportunity to be able to discount to incent having more affordable housing, having more attainable housing, having more inclusionary zoning units, just doing the exact opposite of what the member for Waterloo is suggesting. Thank you. Following the shocking comments by the member from Kitchener Conestoga I wrote municipalities about the government's concerns. Woolwich Mayor Shant set the record straight and I quote, based on the pace of our growth we will actually require additional funding to be able to do all of the forecasted work. We are staying with the best practice approach that as much as possible growth should pay for itself. We do not want existing taxpayers to pay that heavy burden that's neither fair or appropriate. Mayor Cromby herself said Mississauga will lose 885 million over 10 years of development charges until 2023. She says it's equal to losing 20% of their capital budget. Why is this government undermining municipalities and their ability to facilitate affordable housing? Mr. Municipal Affairs and Housing Speaker, the member for Kitchener Conestoga is actually standing up for the dream of home ownership of potential homeowners that have a home that meets their needs in their budget and any Mayor like Mayor Cromby who's holding doesn't think that $132,000 development charge on a semi-detached home in Mississauga isn't going to get turned over to the buyer. She's living in a dream world. Those mayors who speak against our bill have one message. They're saying to that young family, stay in your parents' basement. You're never going to have a home that meets your needs. We on the government side realize the dream of home ownership. Member for Kitchener Conestoga will come to order. Member for Waterloo will come to order. Order. Mr. Municipal Affairs will come to order. Start the clock. Next question. Member for Kingston and the island. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Picture this grim scene 2300 years ago in Ascolum. The Macedonian general Pyrrhus surveyed the battlefield. Roman legions, Greek phalanxes, elephants, archers, cavalry, lie wounded dying. A battle so costly historical accounts disagree on whether any side won. Pyrrhus himself said if we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans we shall be utterly ruined. Today picture this. Paramedics lined up at overcrowded emergency rooms, overwhelmed ICU nurses, cancers going undetected, tent communities across Ontario, educators in physical danger because of understaffing even skilled ferries. Why won't the Premier accept the Ontario Superior Court ruling against Bill 124? Realize that any appeal we'd be at most a Pyrrhus victory. Don't start another battle, renegotiate a fair deal and get to work on our real problems. To respond the President of the Treasury Board. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker as a member opposite knows that we are reviewing the decision that is before us as the Attorney to appeal that. But let's compare our record of investments into this province against the 15 years of the previous Liberal government. Let's look at healthcare. They left this healthcare system on life support. They cut residency spots. This government is building two new medical schools. One in Brampton a new medical school in Brampton a new medical school in Scarborough increasing the amount of doctors in the north. That is in stark contrast to the members opposite. We will continue to make these historic investments supporting healthcare, health human resources across this province and we will take no lessons from the members opposite on how to make those healthcare investments. Thank you. Now let's come to our supplementary question. Well Mr. Speaker you could either try to learn from history or try to rewrite it like this side does. My question really is now what does the Premier hope to gain for the people? He should be sitting down with unions. He should stop fighting the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, negotiate a fair deal and focus on real problems of working families. So my question is what do the Conservatives hope to gain from appealing the Ontario Superior Courts ruling against Bill 124? And the President of the Treasury Board. Mr. Speaker, as we said, we intend to appeal this decision as it is before the courts but we will stand on our record of investments that we have made that is again in stark contrast to the members office. Let's look at health human resources. Since March of 2020 we have added over 12,000 healthcare professionals into the system just this year alone. Over 12,800 registered nurses at the Ontario College of Nurses. The members opposite oversaw firing nurses across this province. They cut hospital budgets. They closed hospitals. They stopped building hospitals in Brampton in communities like mine that were neglected for 15 years. We're building hospitals in Brampton. We're building hospitals in Mississauga because the previous government failed to make those investments. We will take no lessons from the members office on how to make those investments. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. All of us in this house share a common goal, keeping Ontario's roads safe for all drivers. In the last year we have seen an alarming increase in fatal collisions on our roads particularly in the north. Injuries and fatalities are twice as likely to occur on a northern highway as compared to a highway in southern Ontario. Speaker, this is unacceptable. As the winter season is upon us, drivers in my writing are concerned that the government is taking action to put their safety first. Speaker, can the minister of transportation please tell the house what our government is doing to support transportation safety in northern communities. Thank you. Welcome to apply the minister of transportation. Thank you, and thank you to the member from Thunder Bay Attacoken for the great question. Under Premier Ford's leadership, our government is taking concrete steps to make roads safer. Our government took another step forward to deliver the first ever two plus one highway pilot in north America. Speaker, this model is used in jurisdictions around the world and it's been shown to improve road safety and enhanced traffic flow by issuing the request for proposals for the new pilot on highway 11 north of North Bay. Our government is demonstrating real progress to get shovels in the ground on this critical project, making roads in North America safer. A two plus one highway pilot is part of our government's plan to build Ontario and, Speaker, we're getting it done. Thank you, Speaker. And thank you to the minister for her answer and for the great work she's doing in her ministry. I want to commend the minister for her leadership in delivering much needed safety improvements in the north. Speaker, after 15 years under the previous liberal government, life became more difficult for people and our government failed on winter road maintenance, cancelled northern passenger rail service and neglected to make the meaningful targeted highway investments our region desperately needs. Speaker, can the minister please elaborate on her newly announced innovative project and how it will support the communities of northern Ontario. Thank you, Speaker, and thank you again to the member for the question. Speaker, we have received resounding messages from the minister of health and safety, including the minister of health and safety from going the extra mile for safety as well as members of our government's northern transportation task force. The two plus one highway pilot will support northern development and boost economic growth in the region after decades of neglect by the previous liberal governments. And, Speaker, this builds on other initiatives championed by our government to support northern drivers 11 and 17 in northern Ontario to be cleared within 12 hours after a winter storm 4 hours faster than the previous standard. But, Speaker, this is not a one and done deal for northern drivers. We will continue to look for even more ways to support safer and more prosperous communities in the north. Thank you, Speaker. According to the Ontario coalition for better childcare, the province will now have 65,000 new childcare staff over the coming years to meet the expected demand for $10 day childcare. 65,000 childcare staff is an enormous number. To get anywhere close to that will require a long term strategy to retain and recruit childcare workers. Without a strategy, parents and families will lose access to $10 day childcare. My question to the premier is the minister of education. Mr. Speaker, because of our premier's leadership, we have been able to deliver a better deal with $3 billion on the table more and an additional year of funding guarantees that will ensure childcare remains more affordable and accessible for all Ontario families. Mr. Speaker, and it's fundamental we remind the people of Ontario that having Democrats liberals had their way, we would have omitted literally 30% of the government's budget to provide a better education for all Ontario families that are depending on government to come up with a sustainable inclusive program to reduce costs. On average by Christmas of this year we are looking at $12,000 per child. This is a monumental step forward and the member opposite is right. We will need more ECEs to fulfil the 86,000 spaces this government is working to create. It's why we have a plan speaker. To ensure we've got the requisite staff we continue to increase wages and we continue to roll out a program that has 92% of operators in rolling because they believe in this program and the people of Ontario depending on this government to get the job done. Any advisory group on the workforce has to include the voices of workers. I want to remind the minister that in section 4.2 of the report that he refers to Ontario committed to consulting on a comprehensive recruitment and retention plan for childcare workers this past summer. I've tabled the bill to start addressing the childcare work for crisis by ensuring that solution put forward by workers and advocates are listened to. My question to you minister will you listen to childcare workers. Thank you Speaker what I can confirm is that a work-face stabilization advisory group is going to be launched this fall with the aim this winter with the aim of including the voices of all those working at our childcare space because we want to rely on their expert experiences ensuring that we have the right staff who are trained and supported with the right levels of salary so that we can retain and recruit these high quality workers. We're going to hire thousands of additional ECs in our problems to staff the 86,000 more spaces this government will create more access in addition to more affordable childcare. It rose by 400% under the former Liberal government an indefensible record and this government and our premier knows we can make childcare affordable for families for future generations and we're going to get the job done. The next question the member for Hastings Lennox in Addington Thank you Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker my question is for the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport I recently learned of a wonderful grant to a local theater group called the Tweed and Company Theater a fine organization that has benefited from the support provided by the Ontario Trillion Foundation the support they received likely won't make headlines in the news but that funding will have an immense impact on ensuring the sustainability and the expansion of this fine organization's productions I'm always impressed by how much can be accomplished when not profit organizations receive the funding that they greatly deserve Mr. Speaker can the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport please tell us more about the resources available so that other community organizations across the province can realize the same benefit Mr. Tourism, Culture and Sport Mr. Speaker thank you very much and I'd just like to say we don't look for headlines we look for results right I'd like to thank the member for his question and for the strong leadership representing the residents of Hastings Lenox and Addington he will be interested to know that our government agency created 40 years ago under the great leadership of the PC Premier Bill Davis continues to build healthy and vibrant communities across Ontario since the voters Ontario and trusted Premier Ford to lead the PC Government $2.4 million has been invested through the Ontario Trillium Foundation in non-profit sector Hastings, Lenox and Addington we'll later speak because I'm running out of time but I'll go back to the point that we get results we're not worried about what people talk about thank you Mr. Speaker and thank you as a minister for that response $2.4 million for my writing is absolutely wonderful in my previous role as a municipal mayor I was fortunate to witness the many impressive achievements made possible through support but from the Ontario Trillium Foundation whether it's replacing benches and bleachers and three of our sports facilities in Tweed support for the Royal Canadian Legion and Bankraft or providing assistance to the heart of Hastings Hospice all these programs have greatly benefited Mr. Speaker once again can the Minister of Tourism and Culture and Sport please provide additional information additional details on how the Ontario Trillium Foundation can help non-profit organizations across the province Mr. Speaker I'd be happy to do so I joined the representatives from all parties in this house for a breakfast celebrating Ontario Trillium Foundation's 40th anniversary just over a week ago recognition of OTF's value is universal and I'm happy to promote the foundation whenever possible because it's important to all of us the OTF's Resilient Communities Fund is making positive contributions in communities across Ontario working towards economic recovery with grants of up to $150,000 to help non-profits rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19 in fact the deadline is coming up it's time to get it done that deadline is December 7th 2022 so I encourage organizations to do that get it done our government invests $105 million through community building fund non-profit tourism, culture, sport and recreation organizations that create great experiences and great events across this province I'll continue to work with the OTF and help them do what they do best help us and our province next question thank you Speaker my question is to the Minister of Agriculture Ontario loses 319 acres of farmland everyday development 319 acres that will never ever grow food again and now the government is trying to pave over the green belt as well and farmers are concerned because the three farm organizations that represent almost every farmer in this province have written an open letter to the premier expressing that fact and I'd like to quote from that letter and I quote these losses are not sustainable and will become increasingly worse with the overreaching effects of bill 23 that was built faster in 2012 my question to the Minister is does she agree with the farmers of Ontario that farmland loss at this rate is unsustainable Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs well thank you very much Mr Speaker it's a pleasure to rise in this house to address the amazing industry that we have in Ontario our acre food sector and you know just on Monday we released a grow Ontario plan that has been well received by every commodity organization and every general farm organization in this province and part of that strategy over the next 10 years is to see production increase by 30% farmers and agri-food businesses alike are applauding the fact that we have a strategy that's going to see our agri-food sector not only excel but year over year increase yield as we embrace new innovations and new technologies that are going to see our yields go through the roof because why Ontario consumers need confidence in their food supply not only in this province but across Canada and the rest of the world is watching our industry because they're seeing us as leaders so again Speaker our future is bright in Ontario's agri-food industry thank you very much Thank you Speaker I'd like to thank the Minister for that answer but you have the Ontario Federation of Agriculture the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario the National Farmers Union those farmers telling you that yields are great but yields are per acre and when you lose 320 acres a day over the long term you're losing the ability to produce food they are ringing the warning bells to your government they've written to the Premier the warning my question is and I've asked this question several times and yet to hear the Minister say the word farmland does she actually represent farmers at the cabinet table to say the word farmland thank you Mr. Speaker that assertion is absolutely bananas coming from that credit I can't answer to see what that acronym stands for because the fact of the matter is we have released a strategy that has been embraced by every single player and stakeholder in our value chain we're looking to strengthen our agri-food supply chain over the next 10 years we're increasing production by 30% we're increasing food manufacturing by 30% we're increasing our exports by 8% annually and most importantly we're looking to increase our food and beverage manufacturing by 8% again Speaker the future is bright because we have a government that not only understands but cares for the agri-food industry in this province and by working through our three pillars again to strengthen our supply chain to embrace innovation and agri-tech as well as growing our labour force our workforce and the talent within our agri-food sector we are going to excel and the world is going to see us as a world leader thank you so much next question the member for Simcoe Gray thank you speaker ensuring police services in Ontario have the resources they need to keep the communities in Simcoe Gray and across our province safe is of the utmost importance having up-to-date technology means that our officers will have the best information available to carry out their work effectively recently the Solicitor General spoke about our government's investment of $61 million in new technology to fight auto theft across this province investing in new crime fighting technology is crucial to helping our police services solve outstanding cases and bring closure to the victims and their families Speaker can the Solicitor General please tell us how investments our government is making in the new technology will assist our law enforcement partners in delivering justice to our residents great question Mr. Solicitor General Mr. Speaker I want to thank my friend from Simcoe Gray for the question we are investing in Ontario we are investing in the latest technology and using cutting edge techniques to keep Ontario safe and we are a province of innovation and progress and we are proud of this just last week the Ontario Provincial Police with the help of the state of the art genetic based technology were able to close a 1980 murder case of Michelin Saint Amour and this science is transformational and I want to recognize Superintendent Dave Trot and retired Detective Constable Mike Hickey for their work in solving this homicide and now Michelin's family can finally have some peace Mr. President Mr. Speaker as a Solicitor General I think the safety of our province is of utmost importance and the premier of Ontario is doing the best we can for the province Mr. Speaker and thank you to the Solicitor General for that answer it is reassuring to hear that this revolutionary new technology was instrumental in delivering justice for the victim and helping to bring peace to their family after all these years as reported by the media because of our government's investments police services across our province will be able to advance unsolved cases for DNA technology investigation in the coming years Mr. Speaker please provide more details on how Ontario's police services can use investigative genetic genealogy as an investigative tool Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker on Monday of this week the Toronto Police Service arrested a suspect in Moussinee in the murders of two women that happened back in 1983 now after four decades of work the families of the victims can have some closure history is proud to have provided a grant used to fund genetic genealogy for the Toronto Police Service science, technology and innovation helps police in their pursuit of justice for everyone and to keep our community safe they will never give up and we want to thank Detective Sergeant Steve Smith and his whole team from Toronto's homicide and missing persons cold case unit we will continue to invest in leading edge technology so that our police have the tools and resources they need to fight crime Mr. President we want to continue to do whatever is needed in order to guarantee safety for Ontario question from London North Centre my question is to the Premier speaker London Health Sciences Centre has an innovative plan to redirect patients suffering from mental health episodes to a new emergency room Ontario refuses to help or provide funding unless the already cash-strapped City of London ponies up $300 million of the total cost $300 million my question to the Premier why are you forcing the City of London to pay when health care funding is a provincial responsibility thank you speaker you know from the very beginning our Premier had a focus on mental health and addictions which is why of course we have our first Minister of Mental Health and Addictions here the province of Ontario we understand that there are partnerships that exist within communities that need to be fostered and part of those commitments are ensuring that the responsibilities of the municipality of the health care system federally are working together to make sure all of these innovative proposals are appropriately funded I would love to look in more detail at the program or idea that the member opposite is interested in sharing and happy to follow up with him after question period my question is back to the Premier because how can this government talk about commitments and working together when they refuse to meet with frontline workers to discuss solutions to our health care crisis in bill 23 cities lose democracy with bill 39 and now Premier Ford who is sitting on billions wants to download responsibilities onto municipalities and taxpayers to fund provincial health care my question why is this government downloading huge cost onto municipalities like London when they are underfunding health care by almost 900 million dollars Minister of Health with the greatest respect we voted on a budget that increased health care to oppose those investments that we are making in health care we are making with hospitals in mental health and addictions organizations that are doing incredible work across Ontario we've made the investments we've increased the number of beds that are available in communities to make sure that people are getting the services they need the member opposite needs to look himself in the mirror and say I'm going to report that $5 billion added increase in August next question the member for Carlton thank you Mr Speaker my question is for the Associate Minister of Housing Ottawa is home to over a million Ontarians and is among Canada's largest cities significant population growth is projected over the next decade for the Ottawa area including in my riding of Carlton Ottawa and the surrounding areas there are multiple destinations for newcomers to settle and with new immigration targets set by the federal government there is a real concern Mr Speaker regarding housing availability needs to meet both current and future demands as many newcomers will arrive in Ottawa and the surrounding areas housing availability will remain a pressing concern Speaker through you can the Associate Minister of Housing please explain what our government is doing to provide housing relief for new and existing Ontarians in the Ottawa area Thank you Thank you very much Speaker and I want to thank my honourable colleague from Carlton for the question and also for her strong advocacy Mr Speaker when it comes to housing on behalf of her constituents Mr Speaker I was in the members local city last week alongside my federal and municipal counterparts to announced a $90 million housing announcement across the city of Ottawa to support the construction of more than 270 units Speaker these units will meet a variety of accessibility and affordability needs ranging from studio to three bedroom apartments I look forward to continuing our partnership with all levels of government as well as the non-profit and private sector to ensure that all Ontarians Mr Speaker including the most vulnerable in our communities have a safe place to call home Thank you Mr Speaker and thank you to the Associate Minister of Housing for his answer Fantastic Minister and the people of Aurora Oak Ridges which Minnell are blessed to have a hard working hard working member and you know it's really reassuring Mr Speaker that our government is implementing strategies addressing housing availability in Ontario including in communities in my riding of Carlton like Finley Creek, Riverside South Stitsville, Greeley and more and by working with all levels of government housing supply will expand to address the needs of the current population and newcomers settling in the Ottawa area So through you Mr Speaker can the Associate Minister of Housing please expand on our government's plan to address housing projects that will benefit local communities in Ottawa Thank you Associate Minister Absolutely can Speaker and again I want to thank my colleague from Carlton for the follow-up question and Speaker to add to my previous answer the funding will support five projects across the city of Ottawa including the project that our government is supporting which is located at 159 forward avenue Mr Speaker this will be a four-story building with a total of 49 units 30 of which will be designated as affordable and the remaining 19 will have rents that are on par or below average market rent Mr Speaker as I've said from day one Mr Speaker will continue to do everything we can to support projects like this one because they prioritize and support the most vulnerable and with lack of supply and housing prices out of control for many Ontario and Speaker will continue to work again with all partners all levels of government to increase supply and support housing in every corner of our province Thank you very much Mr Speaker Next question the member for University Rose Thank you Speaker My question is to the Minister of Health I was contacted by a constituent Elliott Elliott's doctor has announced new fees for previously insured OHIP services Elliott is now being asked to pay for basic services like getting prescriptions, referrals and transferring medical records forcing people to pay for basic services like getting a prescription refill is not just a hurdle it's a threat to people's health and well-being why are patients like Elliott being charged these surreptitious fees Mr Hill As with many questions that come from the NDP caucus there needs to be more detail to that question I would begin with what are we talking about in terms of are they phone appointments phone consultations because there is a change that is coming up as of December 1st to ensure that more family physicians have the ability to meet indirect with their patients directly as opposed to temporary codes that were put in place during the height of the pandemic to make sure that individuals had access to their primary care physicians we put those virtual care codes in place because we wanted to make sure that individuals had the opportunity to continue relationships with their primary care physicians there is a change that has been approved by the Ontario Medical Association voted on that will ensure a switch to while virtual care continues in the province of Ontario it will be funded at a different level than in-person care Thank you My question is back to the Minister of Health Elliott's doctor won't perform these services without a $20 e-transfer or a yearly subscription fee of $125 Accessing public health care shouldn't require e-transfers or credit cards Those unable to pay could start avoiding their family doctor and wind up in emergency rooms What is your plan to ensure Ontarians can get the health care they deserve using only their OHIP card Our plan is our plan to stay open Our plan is to build two new medical schools in the province of Ontario in Brampton, in Scarborough Our plan is to build two new medical schools that have happened since a previous Conservative government has been to work with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario to ensure that as internationally educated graduates medical practitioners have the opportunity to get their education you assessed and ultimately practiced medicine and the province of Ontario can continue to do so I will never suggest that what the member opposite is saying is appropriate, but I will also say our family physicians have stepped up consistently to assist in the vaccine rollout and protecting the people of Ontario Thank you very much speaker My question this morning is to the former speaker for too long the previous Liberal government propped up by the NDP failed to make the investments that were needed in broadband infrastructure in so many communities such as in my riding of Niagara West and rural communities across Ontario the failure to make these investments meant that our people were not able to be connected to the jobs of today and tomorrow Speaker, broadband access isn't just a requirement for families to ensure that they are able to access important social communities ties as well as speaking with their family members speaker, our government has made historic investments in this crucial infrastructure area and I'm wondering if the minister of infrastructure would be able to explain to the house and to the people of my community what investments are being made to ensure that rural communities across Ontario are being connected today and tomorrow for the question as everyone knows we are investing $159 billion over 10 years to build critical infrastructure across this province, 4 billion of that funds will be allocated to make sure that everybody in the province of Ontario including our rural communities will be connected. We completed our reverse auction this summer 8 internet service providers have been selected to connect 166,000 homes Mr. Speaker we have 40 to 60,000 more premises to connect we are currently working on our last last mile strategy to make sure that everyone in Ontario has quick and easy and reliable access to high speed internet across the province. Supplementary Thank you my thanks to the minister of infrastructure for her response to my question that her ministry as well as so many others are making in rural Ontario for too long the previous Liberal government propped up by the NDP ignored the needs of rural communities under the leadership of Premier Ford and this Ontario PC team that is changing the minister spoke about some of the investments that are being made in communities such as mine and when I think of places like Kimbo, Winger Grassy, St. Ann, small communities where historic investments are having a real impact in the lives of so many constituents I know that it's important this work continues Can the minister speak more about the important plan to ensure that each and every household in the province of Ontario is connected to modern high speed internet Minister of infrastructure Thank you very much Mr. Speaker I think it's really important for us to recognize that prior to COVID there were 700,000 premises that did not have access to high speed internet. How could a family quite possibly earn an income working from home or educate their child or reach their doctor at home without access. Mr. Speaker we have 40 to 60,000 premises to go we will not stop until every single one is connected. That concludes our question period for this morning Member for Storma Dundas, South Glen Gary Thank you Mr. Speaker I have a point of order. Most people know today to be St. Andrew's Day I would also like to recognize that today is Scottish Heritage Day in Ontario I'm proudly wearing my Mactanel tie which is the regimental tartan of the SDNG Highlanders of my riding It is also the family tartan of my predecessor Jim Mactanel whose private members bill last year proclaimed November 30th in each year as Scottish Heritage Day in Ontario Just one part of Jim's legacy as an MPP in this house Jim the good Scott, Barbara Stevenson is stopping by with some Starbucks He says the house will want to inform the house that we have a special guest in the West Visitors Gallery and the National Assembly who served the riding of Nelligan for four terms Russell Williams Being no further business this house stands in recess until 3pm