Fear, a universal emotion, occasionally grips even the strongest among us. Be it a fear of failing, the daunting thoughts of success, or the anxiety surrounding fear itself, we've all faced it. However, fear should not deter us from achieving our full potential. Don't allow fear to be your chains. Here are 9 effective strategies to tackle it. 1. Distinguish between reality and perception. Take a moment to discern the factual circumstances from mere feelings or misperceptions. 2. Detect the root cause. Understand what sparks your fear. Recognizing the trigger can equip you to address it proactively. 3. Recognize fear's physical signs. Fear often manifests in physical ways. Discover how your body reacts, and adopt measures, like stretching or foam rolling, to alleviate any discomfort. 4. Embrace gratitude. Daily, acknowledge one to three aspects of your life you're grateful for. By fostering a thankful mindset, you can gradually overshadow fear. 5. Tune into your inner dialogue. Be conscious of your self-talk. Affirmations and positive reinforcements can be potent tools against fear. Celebrate your achievements, however small. 6. Forge a positive connection. Keep reminding yourself that challenges are fleeting. Visualizing a favorable outcome can divert your focus from the immediate apprehensions. 7. Adopt a positive outlook. Positivity can reshape your reactions. Start small, identify one habitual negative thought and work on flipping it. Gradually, this will become second nature. 8. Employee breathing techniques. Deep, mindful breathing can anchor and relax you. Beginning your day with some focused breathing or employing it intermittently can make a difference. 9. Establish a sanctuary.  Whenever fear surfaces, let this place be your refuge. Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all solution. These are just nine approaches to consider. Integrate them into your daily routine and free yourself from the shackles of fear, propelling you closer to your dreams this year.


is now time for oral questions. I recognize the member for Toronto Danforth. Thank you, Speaker. Speaker, I want to welcome the people from across Toronto who've come here today to oppose the Premier's plot to silence this city. Thank you for being here. My question is for the Premier. When people in Toronto need help to fix their housing, create safer streets, protect local parks, and support development that makes our city livable for everyone. People turn to their city councillor. Why is this Premier making it harder for citizens to access their councillors? Harder for people of Toronto to have their voices heard. Premier. Through you, Mr. Speaker, to the member of Toronto Danforth, we ran on reducing the size and cost to government. We ran on streamlining government. The NDP ran on increasing government. I don't know of anyone, anyone out there that wants 20 extra politicians versus $25 million. I know the NDP they want more politicians. They want Toronto to still run dysfunctional. But what we want, we want smaller government. We want to decrease the size of government. We want to lower higher rates. And we have a great announcement today. We have a great announcement on the carbon tax. We are getting ready for the people that's reducing the burden of taxation on the backs of the people and small businesses. Remind again all members to make their comments through the chair. Start the clock. Supplementary. The member for Toronto Danforth. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again to the Premier. The Premier is making it harder for ordinary Torontonians to have an impact at City Hall. As a former Deputy Mayor of Toronto, I can tell you the Premier's plot will not streamline decision making. It will steamroll the residents of Toronto who deserve to have their voices heard. This is a plot the Premier never campaigned on. Not one day. Not one sentence. He never consulted anyone on this. And he has now no mandate to impose as well on the City of Toronto. Why is the Premier undermining democracy to silence the voices of the people of Toronto? Through you, Mr. Speaker and the member of Toronto Danforth we consulted with thousands of people. Thousands of people in Toronto. The ironic the ironic thing is did anyone in the chamber get consulted about increasing more politicians? I never got insulted. Neither did anyone else. They want to ram down more politicians. They want to increase the size of government. They want to increase taxes. We're going to lower taxes, lower hydro rates. We're going to get rid of the carbon tax and we're going to streamline government to put more money back into the taxpayers' pocket instead of the government's pocket. I know the member of Toronto Danforth loves big government, loves wasting money. We don't believe in that. We believe in reducing costs to government putting money back into the people's pocket instead of a bunch of people. Thanks, Speaker, and again to the Premier. You know, it was the Premier's brother who started the consultation on this change in ward sizes. Now, he did start the consultation. The size of Toronto City Council is a decision that belongs to the people of Toronto not to this Premier. Strong local representation is how citizens have a real say in how this city grows. How our neighbourhoods develop and how we make this vibrant city more livable and more affordable for everyone. But this Premier is riffing up Toronto's wards and showing he couldn't care less how it hurts the people of this city. Why is the Premier abusing the powers of his office and taking control of City Hall away from the people of Toronto? Premier, through you Mr. Speaker I know the member from Toronto Danforth want to protect a bunch of downtown politicians. They create their little fiefdom to protect all his political cronies. They increase taxes. My friend, we aren't going to protect your political cronies. We aren't going to protect more politicians. We're going to make sure that we take that 25 million dollars and put it into priorities that people want. People don't want more politicians. We have 25 MPs 25 MPPs Mr. Speaker Why shouldn't we have 25 councillors? We start the clock. The next question the member for Danforth. Thank you Mr. Speaker and through you my question is to the Premier. Respect for the rights of voters is something that unites Ontarians no matter which party you support. We believe in local democracy without protecting the right of all voters to decide how we are governed. But this Premier is bullying his way into municipal elections. Ripping up Toronto wards and denying people the voice that they deserve. Why is this Premier showing nothing but contempt for the people of Toronto? Through you Mr. Speaker to the member my friend it's not ironic that everyone that's opposed their bunch of downtown politicians are in favor Mr. Speaker everyone that is in favor there are 17 brave people that actually stood up 17 councillors that said city hall is dysfunctional nothing gets done under 47 councillors they want to streamline the government they've been down there for years and even the members that are for big government have been with them for four years and every one of them have told me personally it's the most dysfunctional political arena in Canada nothing gets done about wasting money increasing taxes we're going to focus on reducing taxes we're going to make sure we get rid of the carbon tax thank you we start to call it supplementary thank you Mr. Speaker supersized wards it means less opportunity for residents to meet with their city councillor and to shape the decisions that this city makes and imposing an August 14th deadline on Toronto school boards to change trustee boundaries is another outrageous intrusion on the independence of locally elected school boards the premier's assault on local democracy has absolutely nothing to do with helping people it's all about helping the premier take control of city hall through the back door the premier never have the courage to look people in the eye and tell them exactly what he was going to do through you Mr. Speaker to the member of Davenport the member of Davenport has never been down to city hall has never been on council the member from Davenport Mr. Speaker has never sat through 10 hours of debate about one issue about giving Mrs. Jones cattle to the tree and then they all vote together I've been down there for years watching how dysfunctional this government is people at Toronto want to streamline it now do you know what's amazing Mr. Speaker what was amazing what I read the poll the poll in the Toronto Star I repeat the poll in the Toronto Star showed 68% of the people are in favour of reducing the size of the clock the opposition side will please come door yes start the clock final supplementary thank you Mr. Speaker I think I've probably spent more time down at city hall than the premier has on their priorities from affordable housing to public transit to development he's making it harder for residents to access our local councillors to take control of city hall and put power in his own hands and worst of all he's trying to punish the people of Toronto who have voted against him over democracy like a real leader would premier Mr. Speaker member from Davenport I can tell you if we went in Davenport and I'll go into Davenport matter of fact I might even go tomorrow we'll door knock your MPP wants bigger government do you want more transit with a 25 million dollars do you want more housing or do you want 22 overpaid politicians from downtown it's very simple they will be very clear they want less politicians they want more transit they want more housing but guess what they wouldn't be able to get it because no decision ever gets made and it's a city hall with 47 politicians the premier will come to our classics will come to order start the clock the member for Scarborough south west my question is the minister of municipal affairs and housing the minister should be ashamed of himself he should be ashamed of his government and he should be ashamed of his conservative party the vindictive actions taken by the minister the minister should give a reward towards the voters of Toronto is astonishing will the minister apologize to the people of Toronto for throwing their election into chaos in a careless attempt to interfere in this city's election thank you thank you speaker and I want to thank the member for Scarborough south west for the question speaker during the campaign dollars. And on June 7th, with all due respect, it was clear that they wanted a government that got things done. That's exactly what we're doing. The Better Local Government Act would reduce the number of Toronto City councillors to 25. Speaker, we all know, we all know, and I'm sure that the member opposite knows, the critical important services that municipal councils provide across the province. But Speaker, we have to have those services provided in the most effective and the most efficient manner. I know the NDP will always stand up for bigger government. But what the Better Local Government Act will do for this city and that council, it will make it streamlined, it will make better decisions. Thank you. Speaker, through you, I'd like to remind the minister that no one on that side of the house campaigned on a promise to interfere in local elections. This government has no mandate to throw Toronto municipal elections into chaos. These anti-democratic actions will leave my community of Scarborough worse off. Our representation on council will be cut nearly in half in Scarborough, this after years of fighting for a strong Scarborough voice at the table. Now, will the minister apologize to the Scarborough voters for throwing their representation into chaos in order to settle old political scores? Thank you, Speaker. And again, through you to the member, we made it very clear speaker during the election. Very clear during the election order. Our government was for a smaller government that put the interest of taxpayers first. The taxpayer doesn't matter what level of government that you serve at, Speaker, whether it's the municipal, provincial or federal government, we all have one boss, the taxpayer. And it should be very clear to this member and members of the opposition that we ran on a platform for smaller government, one that respected the taxpayer all costs. Speaker, the Better Local Government Act is going to allow on October 22nd the people of Toronto to vote for a streamlined council that will be ready to make quick decisions in the best interest of the people of Toronto. That's what the bill will do, sir, and that's what the bill is going to do. Thank you. My question, Mr. Speaker, to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Under the Premier's leadership, our progressive Conservative government is taking decisive action to deliver on our mandate, lower taxes, better jobs and, yes, Mr. Speaker, the restoration of trust back in government. Mr. Speaker, today we will debate a motion brought forward by the leader of the opposition, a motion that only underscores how out of touch the NDP is with residents across the GTA who demand government to be on their side, be accountable and that they do more with less. Mr. Speaker, the NDP leader will have to explain why she is prepared to put the jobs of politicians over the interests of working people. Mr. Speaker, once again, the NDP is putting their own self-interest ahead of the public interest. This is not leadership, this is an application of leadership. Mr. Speaker, since the member will not fight for her constituents, will the Minister tell this House why this government and how this government is doing to advance the priority? Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. Through you, I'd like to thank the member for King Vaughn for the question. Speaker, after 15 years of Liberal mismanagement, there are serious issues facing our province. But clearly, the leader of the opposition doesn't care about any of these issues, she only cares about keeping government big. During the campaign, our party made a commitment to the people of Ontario. We committed to putting more money into their pockets by scrapping the carbon tax, by reducing gas prices and giving real tax relief to families. We committed to cleaning up the hydro mess and lowering hydro bills. We campaigned on restoring accountability and trust in government and doing a line-by-line audit to put an end to the culture of waste, scandal and mismanagement that plagued the previous government for 15 years. These are the things that will make life better for the people, not just of Ontario, but the people of Hamilton. Listen, Speaker, not spending $25 million on more politicians. That's my... Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. Back to the Minister and thank you to the Minister for focusing on the priorities of working people in this province. In 14 short days, 14 short sitting days in this House, our government and this Premier has taken decisive action to improve the lives of all Ontarians. Immediate action to lower taxes, to reduce hydro rates, to bring an end to the York U strike and efforts to help create the conditions for private sector growth. Mr Speaker, this is service to the people and quite the contrast from the NDP who's more focused on protecting jobs for their politicians over the pocketbooks of working people. Minister... Speaker, through you, can the Minister explain how the Local Better Government Act will create and create the conditions for better jobs, hope and opportunity in every region of this province? Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. And again, through you to the member for King Vaughan. First, I want to congratulate you on your recent appointment as parliamentary assistant to the Premier. Our priority, Speaker, is very clear to reduce the size and cost of government. We're going to ensure that Toronto Council can act on those important issues like transit and like housing. You know, those are the issues people or Speaker, that real people are so very concerned about. But day after day, Speaker, day after day, the NDP stand up for bigger government and it will only make life harder and more expensive. I can't wait, Speaker, to hear what the leader of the opposition has to say to explain to Ontarians this afternoon why her party puts saving politicians jobs ahead of saving taxpayers $25 million by giving them better local... Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. There are over 100,000 people in my riding covering two city words, what 11 and what 12. But this government is cutting our city council representation in half. That means fewer voices from my community at the decision-making table and poor service for our residents. Will the government explain how many constituents will be better served by less representation and poor services? Thanks, Speaker, and through you to the member for York Southwest and I want to thank you for the question. I disagree with the premise of the question. I believe very strongly that the Better Local Government Act will provide some some clarity for voters in the city of Toronto. You know, again what we're doing with this bill is taking the provincial and federal electoral districts and apply them to the Toronto Council. I think it's very clear you'll have 25 federal MPs representing a constituency. You'll have the same 25 MPPs with that same constituency and now under this bill, if passed, will provide 25 councillors. It will provide a more streamlined government that will be able to make those important decisions and quite frankly, Speaker, important decisions that the people want their council to make. They don't want their councils mired in dysfunction. They don't want those decisions to take days and days and days to make. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Through you, the people of York Southwestern and Scarborough aren't going to see more service, but the Premier's big developers friends might. Fewer checks and palences and busier councillors will mean less scrutiny over the developer plans. We know the Premier promised big developers easy access to the green belt, so what has he and this government promised big developers about doing business in the City of Toronto? Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Again, to the member, I'm very concerned with the tone of the question. You know, Speaker, I believe there's no one, no one that has a better pulse on what goes on in this city or the province than Premier Doug Ford. Justice province and he made it very clear during the province that not only are we for more accountability and trust in government, but the fact that smaller government, government that's more effective and more efficient is top of mind with this government. That's the essence of what we're trying to do. Member for Essex will come north. Government act and you know the members opposite can continue to how on the opposition benches about wanting bigger government. They're always going to stand up for more politicians. We're always going to stand up to respect. For Essex to come north. Question, the member for Kitchener, South Heskner. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of the Environment. For years the people of Ontario have been seeking a new course. We have heard the voices of those who cannot afford another tax and simply cannot extend themselves any further. Our government was elected on a clear mandate to put the people first and make life more affordable for Ontario families. That included our plan to bring an end to the Liberal cap and trade, cap and trade carbon tax. We have already introduced legislation to this effect, but Mr. Speaker, my constituents in Kitchener, South Heskner are concerned that the federal government is just going to replace this cap and trade with another Trudeau tax. Will the Minister of the Environment advise us what the government is doing to ensure the tax we are fighting so hard to get rid of will not be replaced with another one? Great question. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank the member from Kitchener, South Heskner for a question. I'm pleased to, as the House knows, we began the debate of Bill 4 in this legislature, the Cap and Trade Cancellation Act, which will finally put an end to the cap and trade here in Ontario. And Mr. Speaker, we did not do that to see it replaced by a federal Liberal tax. This morning I was pleased to join my colleague the Attorney General to announce the next steps the government's taking, taking to the courts to stop the federal government. Mr. Speaker, today we announced we'll be taking the feds to court to challenge their carbon tax. Mr. Speaker, it'll be a great day for Ontario when we win that court challenge and we will win that court challenge. Speaker, we promise that we would make use of every tool in our toolkit to make sure that we stop federal tax. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, back to the minister. I'd like to thank you for your response and I completely support what you are doing to respect our taxpayers. And taxes are not effective and that the people of Ontario understand that carbon taxes will not be revenue neutral. Today, with uncertainty in the global economy and turmoil in our trade relationships, the people and the businesses of Ontario simply cannot afford another job-killing tax. Now it seems the Prime Minister Trudeau is admitting it. After closed doors meetings with businesses, they're softening their tone. No doubt they heard the same things that we are hearing from average Canadians every day. A carbon tax is simply unaffordable. Minister, will you continue to fight for those who cannot afford the cost of a Trudeau carbon tax? Mr. Speaker, I'd thank the member for her supplementary question. As the member noted yesterday, the federal liberals started their climb down on carbon tax. After meetings with business, where those businesses were clear that they could not compete globally with a carbon tax hanging over their head. In effect, the Trudeau liberals are now acknowledging that they are inviting economic catastrophe with their carbon tax. The federal government is now acknowledging that their carbon tax is bad for jobs and bad for business. If the Prime Minister is willing to make deals with business on the carbon tax, it's time for him to do the right thing and scrap his carbon tax for all of the people. Mr. Speaker, our message to the Prime Minister is clear. It's never too late to do the right thing. Cancel your carbon tax. Restart the clock. Next question, the member for Brampton, North. My question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Canceling the direct election appeal, regional chairs saves no money, but appointing regional chairs allows insiders to continue holding on to power. Appointments hinder diverse views from sitting at the decision-making table for my highly diverse constituents of Brampton North. The impact will be crushing, Mr. Speaker. This decision takes away the voting power and vibrant voice of the Brampton community. Will this government apologize to the people of Brampton for its complete disrespect. Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Thank you, Speaker, and through you thank you to the member for the question. As the member knows, the Better Local Government Act, also in addition to some of the Toronto Council changes, also presses the pause button on those four regions that include Peel, York, Muskoka and Niagara, and puts that those four municipalities, those four regions back to what they did in terms of selection of a chair in 2014. It's in response to the 2016 bill that the previous government ordered without any consultation. I think I made myself very clear that it's just pressing a pause on those close four regions. We are in the interim going to take a closer look at some of the components of regional government. We're going to start at the Upholming Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference, and I'll talk more about it in the supplement. Supplementary. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Unilateral decision making is undemocratic and a misuse of power. Community voices matter, and community voices must be heard. However, with this government's completely self-serving decisions, they were not. So my question is, will this government give community members an opportunity to chime in on city politics, or will this government continue to silence their voices and speak on their behalf? I want to thank the honourable member for the question. One of the things that I think he needs to realize in some of his colleagues is that every politician at every level in every region needs to remember that we only have one boss, the taxpayer, and that's one of the things we heard very strongly during the election. As I said, we're putting a pause on those four regions, but in response to the member's comment about consultation, we are going to begin consultation on regional government, things that have worked, maybe things that haven't worked, we're going to do it very informally at the upcoming Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference in Ottawa. The conference is from August 19th to 22nd at the Shaw Center. I invite the member to encourage his member municipalities to reach out to the office. We're engaging with many municipalities, our cabinet, and our caucus will be there looking to begin that informal conversation. I'll have more. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Speaker. My question is for the Premier. Two days ago, your Minister of Community and Social Services cancelled the basic income pilot. Yesterday, your minister said she conceded to breaking a promise and said that it was a tough decision. Respectfully, Premier, the only people this decision is tough on are the people who had the rug pulled out from underneath them. People like Jody from Hamilton, a single mum with three kids, or Andrew Shaver and Thunder Bay who voted for you. Premier, they believe you. Premier, you made a promise to the people. I have to ask the member to make his address his comments through the chair. Please put your question. Can you stand in this house and explain to the people? No, no, no, no, no. The member for Ottawa South needs to put his question through the chair. Premier. Premier, through the speaker. Hey there. Services. Dear children, community and social services. Thank you, Mr. Premier, for allowing me to address this. We did not break a promise and that fake news that was in the newspaper totally mischaracterizes what we're doing. Let me tell you what we've done. We've said we are going to put a 1.5% across the board increase on Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Supports. We said we are going to wind down the basic income research project. I would like to inform the member that that project, if it were to proceed, would be $17 billion and would require a 6% increase in the HST, making life far more unaffordable for Ontario families. So what we have said is we are going to hit the pause button for one year. The best social assistance program as even the head of the Wellesley Institute agreed on CBC today is a job and this government is working to ensure there are more jobs for more Ontario families. Once again, I feel compelled to remind members that when you're speaking in the House, you make your comments through the chair. Would help if you would look at the chair. Supplementary. I promise to you, Speaker, and I'll really try not to break it. It'd be nice to hear from the Premier. Very nice to hear from the Premier. People are devastated by this. Single moms who've gone back to school, families with young children, senior citizens. You've taken their hope, Premier. You've taken their dignity. Premier, there are many people who are upset about this. One of those people is Hugh Segal, a former Conservative senator and Principal Secretary to Premier Bill Davis. He said he called it horrific. He said I'm embarrassed to be a progressive Conservative. Premier, do you have the courage to stand up? You have to freeze the question to the chair, not to the Premier. Premier, what the? Good, the Premier. Good, the Premier. Thank you very much. Could the Premier have the courage to stand in this House and tell the people why he broke his promise? Thank you very much, Speaker. Again, I thank the Honourable Member for his question. What he's really asking for is a 6% increase in the HST, and that makes life more unaffordable for the people of this province. The system, everyone agrees, including those who rely upon it, isn't working. We are going to continue to help those in need, but we need to do that in a sustainable way for all of us and a meaningful and that is meaningful and helpful to them. We have made a commitment that we will have a long, lengthy, compassionate runway in order to transition people. They will continue to receive their payments from now into the next few months and we will start to transition them, but let me be perfectly clear and listen to what I say. I will not and I never. Member for Don Valley East will come to order. I ask you to make your remarks through the chair, is because it to some degree depersonalizes the debate and keeps it focused on actual public policy as opposed to a personal disagreement. Once again it would ask the members to make their comments through the chair. Next question, the Member for Glen Gary Prescott Russell. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Attorney General during the campaign. The Premier and our team have promised the people of Ontario to use all the resources to fight against the federal government on the carbon tax for the people and the businesses. Scott Moore, the Premier of Saskatchewan and our Premier announced we'll support the position of Saskatchewan. The minister can the minister inform the House to all the actions taken by our government against the position of Mr. Trudeau in Ottawa. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the member from Prescott Russell Government in Ontario receive a mandate, a very clear mandate to oppose the federal tax on carbon. As the members said it, we committed ourselves to use all our resources to achieve that goal. That's why the environment, nature and park protection, we were proud to announce this summer that we'll contest before the Supreme Court of Ontario. Mr. Speaker, we believe that we will win. We have less in Ontario than men and women who cannot afford to pay more taxes and take legal actions to defend the interests of the people of Ontario. Compliment, supplement. Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the minister for that good news. I know all my constituents are happy to learn that the government fights for them to make sure they get more money in their pockets. Mr. Speaker, can the ministers supply providers with more information as to the reason to go before the Supreme Court of Ontario? And what is the process before the court? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will provide a member with more information. Our government will ask the Supreme Court of Ontario to determine whether the law by the pollution tax of the federal tax in fridges on the constitution is anti-constitutional tax. That's why our government works hard and use all the resources available to context this federal tax on carbon. Taking the feds to court, challenging their carbon tax. Mr. Speaker, I can tell you. Next question, member for Niagara Falls. Mr. Speaker, through the chair, my question is to the minister of municipal affairs and housing. The people of the Niagara region want to have a say in who will represent them for the next four years. The government would have known that. They would have known that if they had bothered to consult anyone before they decided they know what's best for Niagara. Well, I have news for this government. Only the people of Niagara know what's best for Niagara. Not a government who keeps cooking up secret backroom deals. When exactly and with whom did the government consult on their decision to cancel the Niagara regional chair elections? Thank you. Well, again, Speaker, through you to the honorable member, we consulted with tens of thousands of people during the election and we made it very clear, crystal clear that one of the things we would do is reduce the size and cost of government. As I've said, the Liberals imposed a piece of legislation on us in 2016 that affected those four regions. All we're doing in this proposed bill is pressing the pause button in terms of the members region in Niagara and also Muskoka, Pio and York. We're going to have a conversation at the upcoming convention. I say to the honorable member opposite and his colleagues that are sitting on either side of them. If you have feedback on what you feel has worked in regional government, what you feel may not have worked as well, we can have this conversation along with our municipal partners at the upcoming AMO conference. I look forward. Thank you. Thank you. I was just having trouble hearing one of the ministers. I would suggest that they diminish the volume of their heckling. Supplementary. Remember for Niagara. Mr. Speaker, back to the minister and I want to be clear. I'm not from downtown Toronto. The anti-democratic action of this government is disrespectful to the people of Niagara. We deserve to have our say on who is going to represent us. We will not go unheard. Will this government allow municipalities in the Niagara region to pose a referendum question to their constituencies regarding the future election or appointment of their regional chair? Thank you. Member for Niagara West will come to order. Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing responds. Thank you Speaker again through you to the member. I think we just came through a referendum where it was very clear that Ontarians embraced our words of trying to reduce the size and cost of government. Again, I think it serves taxpayers very well when we have a system where we're providing a level of government, whether it be federal, provincial or municipal in the most effective and the most efficient manner. Again, I want to refer to the bill speaker, the Better Local Government Act, that all it does is place the pause button on those four regions and allows them to select their regional chair the same way they did in 2014. Moving forward, if the bills pass we're going to have that dialogue at the upcoming AMO conference in a couple of weeks in Ottawa. We want very, very dearly to talk about what has worked in regional government, perhaps what hasn't. We want to try to figure out the best effective and efficient way to operate. I invite the member and his thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health and long-term care. Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, is a serious potentially debilitating condition that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic incident. PTSD can seriously affect all aspects of a sufferer's life, including their job and their career and can often lead to other mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and risk of suicide. PTSD has become a global health issue and the prevalence of it is gaining awareness. In Canada, between 1.1 to 3.5 percent of the general population is thought to have PTSD. In 2016, Ontario amended the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act 1997 to presume that PTSD is a workplace injury among first responders if it arises out of and in the course of the workers employment. Mr. Speaker, through you I ask the Minister of Health and long-term care what initiatives her ministry is taking to address PTSD. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to start by thanking the great member from Brantford Grant for this very important and timely question. PTSD is a significant risk to the health and well-being of people who regularly face or affected by traumatic situations. My ministry will work closely with the Ministry of Labor to ensure Ontario's first responders have access to the care and services that they need. Research shows that first responders are at least twice as likely as a general population to suffer from this disorder. We have been very clear on this issue throughout the election campaign and now as a government. Mr. Speaker, we will support Ontario's public health system by adding $3.8 billion in new support for mental health and comprehensive and connected mental health strategy once and for all is a priority for us as we all know mental health is health. Mr. Speaker, with important increases to mental health funding families especially with children and youth with mental health issues. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplemental back to the Minister. On Tuesday of this week I tabled my first private members bill entitled PTSD Awareness Day Act of 2018. June 27th was first officially recognized as PTSD Awareness Day in the United States in 2010. Since then many organizations have followed suit however despite Canada in particular on Ontario having one of the highest rates of PTSD sufferers in the world approximately one in ten. Only the province of Alberta has legislation acknowledging June 27th as PTSD Awareness Day. This private members bill proclaims June 27th as PTSD Awareness Day in Ontario annually. It will raise awareness and help deal with the stigma attached to PTSD and lead to more fulsome conversations about in the workplace at home and in society. Mr. Speaker, through you can the Minister tell us tell this House if she intends to support my legislation this afternoon later today. Thank you. Member for bringing forward this issue and bringing forward his private member bill later this afternoon and yes to answer your question I absolutely will vote in favour of your health and long-term care I look forward to working with our frontline care workers in mental health organizations like Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, CAMH, Children's Mental Health Ontario and the Canadian Mental Health Association. This government will supply the frontline workers with the supports and resources they need to serve Ontario's patients and families and that we can finally move forward with a comprehensive mental health strategy for all interiors. As the Premier has said in the past this Ontario PC government will provide faster access to care by enhancing access to primary care providers, by reducing unnecessary emergency room visits and bringing down wait times. Promise made. We start the clock. Member for Beaches East York. Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. My riding of Beaches East York has over 107,000 constituents, not a single one of them voted to have their municipal representation slashed. There were zero mentions of this plan during the provincial election. My community is extremely diverse and we deserve to have more than one voice representing us. Will this government stop bulldozing the people of Toronto and let us finish the election that many have already started? Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Thank you very much Speaker, through you Speaker, to the member for Beaches East York. I want to thank you again for the question. However, I think our government and our Premier was very clear during the election that we were going to reduce the size and cost of government during the campaign. We made a commitment to the people. We made a commitment to the people that we would respect their taxpayers' dollars, we would clean up the hard earned and reduce rates, that we would create good jobs, that we would bring accountability and trust back into government and that we would end hallway health care. Again, if the NDP either in question period or today in private members business wants to I say to those of us who are visiting in the members gallery, public gallery, you're not allowed to participate in the debate. If you continue, we'll have to ask that you be removed. We deserve a better government. We deserve to be removed. Continue to persist, we will have to clear the galleries. The House will come to order. The minister hit the floor. Did he have a few seconds left? We'll let the minister finish his response. If better for Ontarians, not spending 25 million dollars on more municipal politicians. Speaker, it's simple. The people of Toronto voted to stop the Premier from becoming mayor in the last municipal election. He voted against him in the last provincial election. The Premier is threatening to take away Toronto's representative democracy. One would expect this behaviour from a spoiled child who takes his ball away after striking out. Speaker, democracy. I'm going to caution the member again on the use of intemperate language and personal insults. It doesn't add anything to the debate and it causes discord in that. I'd ask the member to put her question. Speaker, democracy isn't a game and Toronto has done nothing wrong. Will this government stop treating the people of Toronto like they are adults and with respect? Speaker, through you to the member for Beaches East York, what we're proposing in the Better Local Government Act is nothing new. For two decades, cutting the size of Toronto Council has been discussed. The Premier talked earlier today about the Toronto Star Pole. There was another poll that I quoted yesterday from 2014 that found 56% in favour of reducing Council then from 44 to 22 seats. But it never got anywhere because Councillors always vote to save themselves. Speaker, the NDP, I will have to explain why they're the champions of the instead of supporting the leaner, more effective council that we're proposing in the bill. Speaker, the member for Willowdale. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.  In May of 2017, a 15-year-old boy named Garrett Mills from Napanee, Ontario, was killed when a 200-pound movable soccer goal toppled over and crushed him because it wasn't secured properly to the ground. For the last 40 years, there have been more than 50 deaths and hundreds of injuries from these movable soccer goals collapsing on children. Can the Minister please explain how the recently reintroduced Garrett's Legacy Act ensures that movable soccer goals in Ontario are secured safely? Thank you, Speaker, to the Government House Leader. Thank you, Speaker. I'm really pleased to answer this question. I'm really pleased that the member from Willowdale has introduced Garrett's Legacy Act into the House to be debated this afternoon. You know, Garrett was a very special young guy. His dad called him an old soul and his mom and dad, Dave and Gwen Mills, will be joining us this afternoon for the debate. Garrett wanted to change the world for the better and Garrett's Legacy Act, Mr. Speaker, does exactly that. Moveable soccer nets are becoming more and more prevalent but they can be dangerous when they're not properly secured. Garrett's Legacy Act, which was originally introduced in the last parliament by me, was reintroduced on Tuesday by the member from Willowdale and I couldn't be happier about that. This bill would establish the requirement for organizations who own these soccer goals to make sure that they're properly secured in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and this simple piece of legislation will help protect Ontario children, not just the ones that are playing soccer on our fields, but those who are hanging out on our playing fields with their friends, as Garrett was in this case and I hope all members will support this very important piece of legislation. Supplementary member from Willowdale. Thank you, Mr. Speaker and I'd like to thank the House Leader through you for for his response. I know this is a bill that he has personally championed and worked very hard on over the last year so we're hoping to get this very important piece of legislation passed very quickly. It's something that we need to do to take steps to make sure that our children are playing in a safe environment and physical activity is incredibly important and parents shouldn't have to worry about the potential dangers this common piece of equipment can pose on our sports fields at our community centres and in our parks. Can the Minister please explain to the parents of Ontario and to the members of this House how Garrett's Legacy Act will help protect children from injury and death in our communities. Thanks again to the member for Willowdale for picking up the torch on this important piece of legislation. These movable soccer goals can be a great piece of equipment for multi-use sports fields because they are movable and they can be adapted to suit the field for various different activities. However these movable soccer goals as the member talked about in this case weigh 200 pounds. In many cases they can weigh 400 pounds and they can often fall over with a simple push of a finger or a gust of wind Mr. Speaker. They're unstable and they're prone to collapsing. We want to give the parents out there peace of mind that when the kids are out playing on the fields whether they're on the soccer pitch or in Garrett's case just hanging out with his girlfriend that they're safe and they're protected from these things. Garrett's Legacy Act would ensure our community organizations are taking this very simple lifesaving precaution of anchoring soccer goals but with minimal burden of added regulation or cost and we hope that all members will support this very very important piece of legislation in honor of Garrett Mills this afternoon. Next question the member for Humber River Black Creek. Speaker my question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. When it comes to protecting our environment this conservative government cried foul against one level of government imposing terms on another but when it comes to Toronto City Council and their own self-governance this government is perfectly content to impose the will of the Premier on whoever stands in his way. So Minister why the hypocrisy. Response Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Thank you speaker through you speaker to the member for Humber River Black Creek I want to thank you for the question. We believe in better local government. We're going to reduce the size of Toronto City Hall so that decisions can be made quicker while services delivered more efficiently and more effectively and oversized council speaker makes it almost impossible to build meaningful consensus and get things done. As a result speaker infrastructure crumbles housing backlogs increase and transit isn't built. An oversized council is not what the City of Toronto needs. Toronto has 25 federal MPs they have 25 provincial MPPs and because of this bill if passed they'll have 25 Toronto City. Back to the minister the government's response shows that they have no respect for democracy and it denigrates elected officials everywhere even themselves. Across Canada virtually every municipality has three four five times more councillors than MPs because they are the frontline representatives for their local communities but we know that this conservative government's unilateral undemocratic decision is not about the people it's about silencing those who disagree with them. Will the minister admit that this is what the motive is behind the cynical and manipulative move? Thank you speaker again through you to the member our proposed legislation will not only solve a problem in this council can completely can't make decisions to the other very important issue of voter parity and I want to quote Councillor Justin DiCiano who made some remarks at a press conference here with a number of other Toronto City councillors who are supporting our bill last Friday. Here's councillor DiCiano's quote. The writings do not belong to the councillors they belong to Torontonians. There is a massive improvement over a million Torontonians who will now have a fair vote because of the decision made this morning. You know again speaker if the if the if the opposition would stop the drive-by smear attacks the terrible timmons again will come to order. Actually look into this bill actually look at the details and what we're trying to accomplish about making it more efficient and a more effective council I think you would change this. Next question restart the clock the member for Sault Ste. Marie. Thank you mr speaker my question is for the mr of natural resources and forestry. The forest fires burning in northern Ontario have caused great concern for the people in that area regarding the safety of their homes their belongings their loved ones and themselves. Just yesterday mr speaker the reports in my local media in Sault Ste. Marie suggesting that Perry Sound fire 33 was only five kilometres west of highway 69 one kilometer from the Pickerel River and had grown to nearly 10 000 hectares in size. Will the minister please provide us with a status update as to what our government is doing to try to stop these fires and prevent their further growth. Mr. Speaker I take you to the member for that question. Mr. Speaker we are actively fighting these fires attacking by air and on the ground to protect the public and critical infrastructure. We have dedicated many resources needed to fight this fire and this includes crews and aircraft from across Canada the United States and Mexico as well as seeking the help of highly skilled wildfire response support personnel who have retired. Mr. Speaker as you know I visited the command center a few days ago with the Premier and MPP Norm Miller and there we saw firsthand the dedication of and the hard work of by the efforts of these front line personnel. They are working to keep us safe day in and day out. Efforts are extensive and we are committed to protecting the community. Thank you minister and again through you mr. Speaker to with news reports showing a great deal of smoke from the fires driving conditions on Ontario highways could potentially become an issue. In fact Mr. Speaker my wife and children were just in Toronto this past weekend and while driving home to Sault Ste. Marie a few days ago my wife called me from Perry Sound and expressed concern saying that there were areas where the smoke was coming across the highway and was actually affecting visibility. Given the potential the fires could reach our highways can the minister let us know what measures are being taken to ensure that motorists would be able to safely travel across the highway both north and south of Perry Sound. Thank you for that supplemental mr. Speaker my ministry is working closely with the communities affected by the smoke and the fire and we really appreciate the sport communities are showing during this time and we encourage people to stay alert and cooperate with emergency personnel especially if evacuations are taking place. My ministry is working closely with the Ontario Provincial Police and the Ministry of Transportation to monitor smoke and fire along Highway 69 and I've been in recent communication with area mayors and leaders to offer our support and dedication to their communities. Highway 69 remains open at this time but travel restrictions are in place in areas north of the French River and west of the highway. Maps of restricted travel areas can be found at ontario.ca and we encourage everyone to stay safe and follow the direction by the OPP and local officials during this long weekend. What a great way to end question period. Member for King Vaughn on a point of order. Thank you mr. Speaker just a very brief point of order. Yesterday in this house I remarked that the member from Otto Center person Gangtunno suggested that he wants to raise the carbon tax by 35 cents a liter and I suggested mr. Speaker that was on socialist.ca I want to provide a more credible and accurate answer it in fact is on Joel Hardin.ca mr. Speaker. That was not a point of order. Just say to them just a second just a second. That was just just for the benefit of all the members that was absolutely not a point of order it's not appreciated either it's not helpful. This house stands in recess until one at one.