for oral questions. I recognize the leader of His Majesty's loyal opposition. Good morning, Speaker. Our public colleges and universities are nearing the breaking point after decades of underfunding, while for-profit career colleges have been seeing a massive expansion under this government. Yesterday we got a hint about why, in a report that was done by the Trillium, they found out that government members have raked in more than $151,000 in political donations from private college operators since 2018. One of the biggest beneficiaries? The local campaign of the Minister of Colleges and Universities herself. That's thousands of dollars in donations from the very same insiders who stand to benefit directly from her decisions as Minister. So to the Premier, is it acceptable for the Minister of Colleges and Universities to take donations from people lobbying her office on behalf of private colleges? Let's talk about the international students and the chaos that the federal government has caused in the post-secondary sector across Canada with the provinces or the institutions themselves. I am hearing from Ministers on this side about the impact that this is going to have in their ministries. In fact, the Premier and the Prime Minister just signed a historic healthcare deal. Where do you think the PSWs and the nurses are going to come from, that the Minister of Long-Term Care and the Minister of Health are going to need? Where are we going to find the skilled trade workers, that the Minister of Labor and the Minister of Infrastructure are going to need to build the houses, the roads, the schools, the hospitals in this province? Mr. Speaker, absolutely no consultations with the provinces or the institutions themselves. Absolutely discussing from the federal government. The supplementary question. Speaker, it gets even sketchier. Most of the donations came from a single event hosted by the Minister in March 2022. Nearly a third of the attendees were connected to these private corporate colleges, all paying a thousand bucks a pop, Speaker, for an audience with the Minister. Private colleges have existed for years, but under this government they have exploded. So much so that even the Auditor General flagged it. Speaker, is this really how things are going to be done in today's Ontario? Minister of Colleges and Universities? Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't know if the Leader of the Opposition has done anything to lobby for additional seats in this province, but we on this side have been working hard at that. In fact, I've met with the labor and tourism industry and the Minister of Labor and Tourism, Culture and Sport, the number of workers that your Minister needs alone. The look at March break coming up, the resorts, the front desk, the ski hills, the workers that we need in this province is absolutely incredible, and that's our disgusted with the federal government for dropping this on the provinces with no consultation. The Minister of Labor and I tried to meet with the Minister months ago and were not able to because they kept cancelling on us. We have been there working with our stakeholders, the colleges and universities to ensure that we have a pathway forward as we deal with the disgrace that the federal government has dropped on us. It's pretty clear who can get it done under this government. Anyone willing to fork over the cash? They started handing out licenses to private health care companies after receiving thousands of dollars in donations from clinic owners and investors looking to set up private hospitals and now here we are we can connect the dots again. The massive donations to the PC party, massive expansion of private health care. For Essex come to order. How can the Premier defend a return to the battle days of liberal cash for access culture where policies are decided by how much you're willing to hand over to the governing party? I'm having difficulty hearing the Leader of the Opposition ask her question. So I'd ask the House to come to order so that I can. Restart the clock to respond for the government. The government House Leader. Listen Mr. Speaker, I sympathize with the Leader of the Opposition. She is correct that under the previous Liberal government these types of programs became endemic and we didn't see of course any results with the previous Liberal government. Now I remind the Leader of the Opposition that she and her party supported the Liberals throughout that time when they actually held the balance of power and what is so disappointed by that Mr. Speaker is that during that time of support we didn't see investments made in health care, transit, transportation. We didn't see investments made to build new subways. In fact they left us the most indebted sub-sovereign government on the planet Mr. Speaker. They left us the most over-regulated jurisdiction in Canada. They scared away 300,000 jobs throughout all of that. The NDP supported them Mr. Speaker. That's the legacy of the previous Liberal government. I'm glad the Leader of the Opposition finally recognizes the destructive nature of the previous. Once again the Leader of the Opposition. Speaker, even while they are under an RCMP criminal investigation, this government continues to dig into a cash for access culture and it gets so much worse. While communities across Ontario are doing absolutely everything they can to support people who are struggling with addiction, with recovery, with mental health issues, the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions is hosting a $1,000 a ticket fundraiser called unbelievably a mental health mixer. My question is for the Premier. What exactly are attendees getting out of spending $1,000 to attend the Minister's Mental Health Mixer? The opposition on the choice of words that she's using entered questions and government house leader will respond. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. Look the reality is that since we came to office we have been pouring money into mental health and addictions. You know why Mr. Speaker? Because under the previous Liberal government supported by the NDP like so many other sectors across the province of Ontario mental health and addiction were completely ignored. They closed down beds, they laid off nurses, they didn't build hospitals, they did nothing. They did absolutely nothing Mr. Speaker. There are so many people that have come to me and I'm very passionate about this Mr. Speaker. So many people that have come to me and have talked about the failings of the previous Liberal government which have left their families, their children without the ability to get care and through it all the NDP supported them. Now the Liberals scream and holler over the order. But you failed the people of the province of Ontario.  Absolutely. And the member for Ottawa South to come to order start the clock. Supplementary question. Speaker this government is putting a price tag on mental health. That's what they're doing. Weightless for mental health services are out of control. It takes up to a year more sometimes for people to access treatment. Just last week 17 people in Belleville experienced an overdose overdose in just one day. The mayor is absolutely begging his local conservative NPP and the minister anyone to help. But instead this government's priority is hosting a fundraising mixer with the minister. So out of touch speaker. So to the premier again. I hope he answers this question. Why is this government and this minister playing a cash for access game with the mental health of Ontarians? Take their seats. The associate minister of mental health and addiction. Thank you, Mr Speaker. You know, we answered this question yesterday, but I'm going to try to answer it again. One of the things we did, one of the first things we did was speak to the mayor, speak to the first responders, speak to CMA to find out what the immediate needs were. And we were there. We made those investments. We also went out to Belleville and had the opportunity to meet with all the first responders with the mayor. And we discussed a plan that needs to be put in place. Now I drove out to Belleville and I spent the time with the mayor and the other service providers. Where were you? Where was the NDP at that point in time? You were busy making CAD videos, I assume. But let's just talk about the reality of what's happening in Belleville and everywhere else in the province. We are the first party that is making substantial investments and creating continuums of care in the communities, looking after everyone. And we're doing it in a culturally safe way, not just in southern Ontario. Thank you. Let me take a seat. The final supplementary. Speaker, that is very disappointing. I would say shameful response to that question. Ontarians, I think the government needs to wake up. Ontarians have caught on to this government's backroom deals and their insider favours. There are communities all across this province who are waiting for an answer from this government about funding for critical services. And that minister is holding a mixer tonight, $1,000 a pop to raise money for his own campaign coffers. While the mayor of Belleville is so desperate, they're willing to go it alone. Is this order are supposed to finally get action on the mental health crisis facing their communities or the education crisis? The university students? I mean, my goodness, my question to the premier is what's next? Our toddler is going to have to give up their toys for childcare spaces. Like what is next? That's my question to the premier. The associate minister of mental health and addiction. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again, I cannot believe how out of touch the leader of the opposition is. We have time going back to the province speaking to service providers, community based organizations that are need of support and help. Where are you and where are the other people in your party? We are speaking with people. We're meeting with them. We're holding roundtables and we're making investments with real dollars, $525 million a year on addiction and recovery fund of $90 million that opened 400 beds, 7000 treatment spots. Where were you? I know where you were making CAD videos, sitting here critiquing what we're doing and not standing with us and actually making and supporting the decisions that this government is making, which are the people of the province of Ontario. Take their comments through the chair, not directly across the floor of those. The next question, the member for Waterloo. Thank you very much. My question is to the premier. In the auditor general's annual report released last December, it was revealed that this conservative government spent about $25 million on partisan ads and I quote, the primary objective of these ads was to foster a positive impression of the government. The report stated $25 million spent on ads while Ontario experienced 203 emergency department closures, $25 million on ads while 2.3 million Ontarians did not have a family physician, $25 million on ads while regions across Northern Ontario declared a health state of emergency. This government added insults to injury by opting for a Super Bowl ad, the most expensive ad on television speaker. Will the minister of finance, will the premier please tell the citizens of this great province exactly how much of their money was spent on these fictional Super Bowl ads? So again, I'm having difficulty hearing the member who has the floor duly recognized to ask a question, ask the government side to allow me to do so, start the clock. Premier can respond. Well, well, Mr. Speaker, you know, I got a call this morning from someone that landed in LAX and they said they got off the plane and all they saw is on terror wads running all the way down in Toronto. It's in Chicago, they're all over the U.S. You know why they're all over the U.S.? They're our number one trading partner, Mr. Speaker. And when governors and senators coming up to me, when they come here and said, wow, what are you doing? You're eating our lunch. We created more jobs, manufacturing jobs in all 50 states combined. We saw an EV auto sector that both these parties, the Liberals and NDP, absolutely destroyed, chased the whole sector over the province, 28 billion dollars of investment, more to come this year, Mr. Speaker, 20 billion in tech, 3 billion in life sciences. That's the reason they basically chased 300,000 jobs out of the province. And there's 700,000 more people working today than there was five years ago. You need a lesson on Mark. Another question back to the member for Waterloo. This this premier needs a lesson on how to govern with integrity in the province of Ontario. Not just one commercial from this government was aired during the Super Bowl commercials, which he's bragging about. In Waterloo Region, I had to stop the clock. I apologize to the member for Waterloo. The member for Carleton will come to order. The member for Sault Ste. Marie will come to order. The member for Kitchener Conestoga will come to order. Start the clock. The member for Waterloo, I apologize once again. Mr. Speaker, not just one commercial, several money was flowing out of the Treasury Board from this place, instead of people having access to doctors to education. In Waterloo Region, I have a constituent who's been waiting six months for a mammogram. Mammograms save lives. Is that a priority of this premier? No, it is not. There are almost 300,000 people on a waitlist for mammograms. These tests save lives. So I want to ask this this premier who's bragging about commercials in the LAX airport. Can he explain to Ontario why he's spending public money praising himself over the people of the province that you are elected to serve? The member for Renfrew, Nipissing, Pembroke will come to order. The member for Sault Ste. Marie will come to order. The member for Niagara West will come to order. We'll start the clock. The premier can respond. Oh, we're Mr. Speaker, you know something. We have seen massive growth. We are now an economic powerhouse around North America. The world is talking about Ontario that they never talked about Ontario before. Mr. Speaker, we're investing $28 billion in transit. And one sector alone, we're building $70 billion. We're the transit across the province. We're investing $28 billion in highways and roads and and bridges. We're building hospitals. We're building schools. This is a place to open up business. Everyone knows in the U. S. Again, Mr. Speaker, we're eating their lunch.  We have another $30 billion of investments coming to Ontario this year alone. Hundreds of thousands of people are going to collect a bigger paycheck, a better job because of what our government's doing. Thank God you guys are never going to be in government. Members to make the comments through the chair. Member for Hamilton Mountain will come to order. The next question, the member for Scarborough Agent Court. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Associate Minister of Transportation. In my riding of Scarborough Agent Court, constituents have raised concerns over the transit cost. At a time when many individuals and families feel like they are struggling to get ahead, paying a double fare is another added expenses to their household budgets. Speaker, commuters who travel daily to make a living are looking to us to make a public transit more convenient and affordable. We must act now to lower transit cost. Speaker, can the Associate Minister please share what our government is doing to make transit more affordable across Ontario's fast-growing communities? Thank you. Thank you. The Associate Minister of Transportation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you so much to the member from Scarborough Agent Court for that question. Speaker, our goal has been always to provide Ontarians with affordable, reliable and convenient transportation across this great province, Mr. Speaker. That's why starting this coming Monday, February 26th, under the leadership of Premier Ford, we are introducing and eliminating one fare, Mr. Speaker, that will save $1,600 every year. Mr. Speaker, this program, one fare program, is fully funded by our provincial government, Mr. Speaker, and this program will boost the ridership to buy nearly 8 million new riders per year. That means elevating the gridlock and taking cars off the road, Mr. Speaker. We'll continue to put more money back into people's pockets and that's exactly what we're doing. We'll get it right. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary question. Thank you, Speaker, and thank you to the Associate Minister for his response. It is exciting news that our government is once again putting money back into the pockets of public transit riders. Speaker, many of my constituents in the Scarborough Agent Court need to take the TTC and the GO train to work each day. Having more affordable transit options is essential to save commuters time and money. Our government must remain committed to delivering real, tangible relief for Ontarians. Speaker, can the minister please elaborate on how one fare will keep cost down for the hardworking people in my riding and across Ontario? Thank you. To apply the Associate Minister of Transportation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With one fare program, Ontarians can use any form of payment of method. For example, prosto card, debit card, credit card, and also Google Wallet on mobile phones as well, Mr. Speaker. This program is coming across GTHA starting from Durham Region, York Region, Miss Saga, Brampton, Berry, Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Mr. Speaker. Right across GTHA, the one fare program is going to eliminate the double fare. When a transit rider, going from one transit to another transit agency, moving from one city to another city, no more they have to pay this double fare, Mr. Speaker, and they're going to have affordable payment, as well as seamless transition between one transit to another transit agency, Mr. Speaker. And we want to make sure premium made it crystal clear. We want to stand for affordability. We will work with all the municipal boundaries, all the municipal leaders to make sure one fare goes beyond. Thank you. Thank you very much. The next question, the member for Kiwet now. Speaker, question is to the premier. Howard Mishaki of Sulakout is one of my constituents. His wife, Jeannie, had a stroke back in 2018, leaving her paralyzed and needing 24-hour care. Speaker, he had presented to the pre-budget committee in 2020, and the government promised to help him access home care. So I asked, I asked this government, what is Ontario doing for Jeannie and others in the north who have, haven't had been able to access proper home care support closer to whom? As we respond, Parliamentary Assistant Administrative Health, member for Eglinton Lawrence. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the member opposite for the question. Our government has recognized that the status quo is not working and that more needs to be done, and that is why we launched our Your Health plan We're taking bold and innovative action to eliminate surgical backlogs, reduce wait times for publicly funded surgeries and procedures, and that plan is working. We want to have a strong home and community care sector as a key part of our plan, and we want to make sure that these resources are available across the province, including in Northern Ontario, and that's why recently, as the minister said yesterday, we've announced new interprofessional primary care teams in the north, including in Sue St. Marie and Timmins and others, so we're making sure that the care is there for the people who need it. Supplementary question? Thank you for the the answer, but Speaker, it's not working in part of Ontario where I'm at. Sue St. Marie is 2,000 kilometres from where I am in Sueco. Howard has spent the last five years trying to navigate a badly broken healthcare system, and things are just getting worse. His family can used to be ignored and abandoned by this broken system. Speaker, this government made big promises in 2020 saying Jeannie would get the home care she needs to live in dignity, and nothing has changed. Will they ensure families in the north get get the access to the home care they need, yes or no? Members, please take your seats. Member for Eglinton Lawrence. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Our government has made a commitment to make sure that people get access to the care they need when and where they need it, and that is everywhere across the province including the north. We're making sure we make those investments, and we've made a billion dollar investment in the home care sector over three years accelerated those investments so that 569 million was in the budget for 2324, including 300 million to support wage increases to stabilize personnel in the home and community care sector, including immediate funding for support to support community programs such as Meals on Wheels. And we passed legislation recently to further modernize the home care sector, integrating it with our Ontario health teams, Ontario health teams who are also being established in the north. Ontario is taking steps to have integrated care coordination, flexible care planning and delivery, and needs-based care. We're not focused on hours of delivery. We're focused on patients, and we're going to make sure that they get the care they need in the north and across Ontario. Good job. Thank you. The next question, the Member for Niagara West. Thank you very much, Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health. We saw the previous Liberal government here in Ontario stretch our hospitals to a breaking point in Niagara West and across the rest of this province. We saw that hallway health care, reckless mismanagement, out-of-control spending, and scandals defined their management of our health care system. And since I was elected in 2016, I've been advocating on behalf of my constituents and all the people of Ontario for an improved health care system. I know that this Premier and this government are getting it done by prioritizing investments in our patients' care when and where they need it. So my question to the Minister's Speaker is what is this government doing to ensure that every person in the province of Ontario has access to primary care when and where they need it? I want to thank the Minister of Health and Member for Eglings and Lawrence. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the exceptional member from Niagara West. Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government has been making record investments in health care. We also recognized early that when it comes to your health, the status quo is not working. For over a decade, the NDP propped up the Liberals as they cut medical residency positions, cut the number of physicians practicing in family health teams and cut access to care, creating the longest health care wait times in Ontario's history. That's why one year ago our government introduced your health, a comprehensive plan to make bold, innovative and creative changes to strengthen all aspects of our health care system, making it easier and more convenient for Ontarians to connect to the care they need closer to home. And we're already starting to see results. We're moving on over 50 hospital developments, including Niagara, that will add over 3,000 new hospital beds to the 3,500 we have already added since 2020, adding more beds in four years than the Liberals added in 14 years. Supplementary question. Well, thank you, Speaker. And I think we can see in the parliamentary assistance response that the contrast behind the broken record of the Liberal government and our government taking advantage of the way that we can move forward in transformation for the people of Ontario couldn't be more stark. And it's encouraging to see that this government is making record investments to help people in my community and so many others. I was pleased to see that 11 primary care organizations in the Niagara region actually received funding as part of a historic announcement into our area. From Wayne Fleet to Port Colburn, from Fort Erie to Grimsby, Niagara is going to be getting the convenient care that the people in our region deserve. A $2.4 million investment will mean that an additional 7,600 constituents are going to be receiving primary care. We know that every person in Ontario should have access to well connected care when and where they need it and that it is exactly what this minister is working on. So could the minister please elaborate on what this government is doing to connect people in every corner of our province to the care they need? Thank you, Speaker. And I want to thank the member from Niagara West for his question again. Ontario currently leads the country with over 90% of people connected to regular health care providers. And we have added hundreds of medical residency positions specifically for family doctors across the province. But we can do better to improve access for people in Ontario not connected to primary care. And that's why on February 1st the minister announced an investment of $110 million to connect over 300,000 more people to primary care teams. This will add over 400 new primary care providers as part of 78 new and expanded interprofessional primary care teams. And these teams will help people currently without a family doctor connect to primary care. Together with Ontario's largest expansion of medical school spots while breaking down barriers for internationally trained doctors. Ministry of health modeling shows that all of these initiatives together will connect up to 98% of people in Ontario to primary care in the next several years. We won't stop until we get it done. Thank you. The next question the member from our London North Centre. Good morning Speaker. After six years of this Conservative government the housing crisis has gone from a fire to a raging inferno. People are struggling and yet Conservatives made new roadblocks from municipalities to access provincial housing funding. Conservatives even admitted that the government building affordable housing is like and I quote taking power away and would destroy the integrity of the free market.  Speaking of words at a time when no one can afford housing would the Premier please provide a definition for his term attainable housing. You can do it. Minister of municipal affairs and housing. I know the member must be grateful for the 21% increase in homelessness funding in his riding Mr Speaker. Not something that he asked for but something that was delivered by the Associate Minister and housing. So let's get this straight. So the NDP sat here while the Liberals presided over obstacle after obstacle after obstacle in the way of building homes. The NDP have become so irrelevant in the discussion really have it there because they supported a decade and a half of inaction by the Liberals. When it comes to building housing people know that it is this government that's going to get the job done. That is why since the housing supply action plans that we brought in place we have seen housing starts at their highest level in decades. And Speaker get this. Purpose built rentals at their highest ever in the province of Ontario. So unlike the Liberals who put obstacles in the way we remove obstacles and we deliver for the people of the province of Ontario and we'll continue to do so. Supplementary question. Speaker through you to the government house leader I've been asking for emergency homelessness funding for my community of London since I was elected in 2018. Back to Premier. Across the province the finance committee heard from municipalities were breaking under the burden of providing affordable and supportive housing yet this government has spent 18 months trying to figure out what their own words meant. It's pretty embarrassing that this government uses slogans that literally mean nothing. Literally mean nothing even to themselves. Kind of reminds me of the kid who tries to give themselves a cool nickname and nobody and I mean nobody actually uses that name. When will this government stop using empty words and make good on their promise to make municipalities whole? Yeah.  Speaker you know who is very supportive of the work that we are doing to build more homes to get roadblocks out of the way. It's the Mayor of London who recently at a council meeting talked about how good the Associate Minister of Housing has been to help unlock housing in that community. Now the reason the reason Speaker you will know the reason that London is in such a crisis is because for far too long Liberal and NDP members of Parliament have been there but of course with the Associate Minister of Housing on the job we have been able to deliver a 63% increase in the member's own writing when it comes to homelessness prevention. The member talks about definitions. Well I'm not sure what he's talking about because he actually voted in favour of our definition not long ago in the bill that was presented in front of this house the affordable definition of housing which he and all members unanimously voted in favour of this Speaker. What they're worried about is that we're actually delivering for the people of the Province of Ontario Mr. Speaker I say to the member don't worry despite your inability to get the job done we will. Next question for member 4 Algoma Manitoulin Thank you Speaker my question is to the Premier Last November 25 hospital CEOs in Northern Ontario wrote a joint letter to your government about the precarious financial situation that they are in. In the letter they outlined the fact that hospitals in Northern Ontario have been directed by your Minister to avoid closures of emergency department support surgical recovery and to avoid reductions of hospital services at the same time they are expected to cope with the financial pressures of private agency staffing the impacts of Bill 124 infrastructure costs and inflation as well as the discontinuation of the locum incentive program on March 31st. Despite these pressures being communicated to the ministry Northern hospitals have received no funding to support their work pushing many of our Northern hospitals to the brink of having to consider drastic measures to continue to operate. Question Premier Why has your government ignored the requests of Northern hospitals and allowed them to reach this crisis point? Our Metro Assistant the Minister of Health and Member for Lake Eglinton Lawrence Thank you very much Mr Speaker for over a decade the Liberals supported the NDP sorry the Liberals supported by the NDP underfunded the healthcare system Order closing hospitals and hospital beds firing nurses and cutting medical school residency spots Our government inherited a healthcare system under pressure due to failed policies of the previous Liberal government Under the leadership of Premier Ford our government has made record investments in healthcare Since 2018 we have increased the healthcare budget by over 18 billion dollars investing 80 billion dollars into the system in this year alone and the total healthcare budget in Ontario is the same as that of almost every other province and territory combined Continuing their legacy of not supporting healthcare across the province the Liberals and NDP constantly vote against our investments and bold innovative action by this government we've seen an increase in new nurses and new physicians registering and starting to practice and we're going to make sure that we get it done for our hospitals across Ontario The stuff I mentioned question again to the Premier When the letter came to my attention followed by the auditor general scathing report on Northern hospitals I met with the leadership teams in each hospital in my writing Northern hospitals are approaching a crisis that will impact services and will mean emergency closures services suspended and potentially complete hospital closures The situation is especially dire in small communities where they deal with more complex delivery of care work with fewer resources and are often the end all and be all of healthcare for a very large area Speaker Northern hospitals are poised for catastrophe This crisis is real Premier Premier these hospitals raised this alarm months ago What are you waiting for? Member for Eglinton Lawrence Thank you very much Mr Speaker We continue to work with our hospital partners including the Ontario Hospital Association to ensure that all our hospitals have the tools they need to continue to deliver high quality care that patients in Ontario deserve and this includes communicating to the Ontario Hospital Association and hospital corporations throughout the province that our government will provide financial support to hospitals facing financial challenges and that means that we have their backs This includes a 4% increase to the hospital sector an additional $44 million to tackle emergency department wait times as well as a historic $330 million in annual funding for pediatric care in every corner of the province We'll continue to support and work with our hospital partners who deliver convenient care to patients close to home Response Thank you The next question The member for Newmarket Aurora Thank you Speaker My question is for the Minister of Infrastructure Great Minister The previous liberal government left many water infrastructure programs in Ontario underfunded and poorly managed Shame Under their watch much of the infrastructure was in need of critical repairs and upgrades As our government continues to build Ontario it is essential for our municipal partners to have the tools they need to build stronger more prosperous communities That's why we must invest in critical infrastructure to support our rapidly growing population unlock more housing opportunities and spur economic growth Speaker Can the Minister please share what our government is doing to support municipal water projects to help build more housing That's a good question To reply the Minister of Infrastructure Thank you very much to the hardworking member and you're right we are building this province Mr Speaker Our ministry met with over 50 different rural municipal partners at the Roma conference and that is addition to past Roma meetings and AMO meetings and the consultations that occur in between But what was very clear Mr Speaker was the need for water infrastructure The need for drinking water wastewater and storm water infrastructure You cannot build housing without connecting them to the pipes that flow clean water Discharge dirty water and treat that waste water Mr Speaker In the fall economic statement we announced the $200 million housing enabling water systems fund The intake for applications opened at the end of January and we encourage all municipalities in the province of Ontario to apply A supplementary question Thank you And thank you to the minister for that response It is encouraging to see our government support municipal water projects to help build more housing and provide residents with clean reliable drinking water Speaker Despite our numerous calls to the federal government they have not yet provided Ontario its fair share of infrastructure funding The people of this province are waiting They are waiting for the federal government to step up and address unmet infrastructure needs We must all continue to build a stronger Ontario together through a responsible targeted approach Speaker Can the minister please explain how our government is bridging the gap in housing and water projects while holding our federal counterparts accountable Again, thank you to the member Two years ago we knew that the investing in Canada infrastructure program program that was very successful and benefited many communities represented by members here in the House We knew that all of the dollars would be allocated For the last two years we have been advocating and working and starting that conversation with the federal government to encourage them to give money to support Ontario infrastructure projects Even the big city mayors as well as AMO wrote letters of support stood behind us and lobbied the federal government Unfortunately we saw nothing in their fall economic statement we've seen nothing in their budget But to the communities across the province do not feel discouraged We just released $200 million There is an intake process Please apply and the province is here to support you to support you in growing your communities and enabling housing across the province of Ontario Question The member for Niagara Falls Thank you Mr. Speaker My question is to the Premier Speaker When it comes to my community in Niagara the Premier and his Minister of Health promised over a year ago to provide a nurse practitioner to the town of Niagara and a lake The town desperately needs a nurse practitioner and the Premier has failed to act Speaker When will the Premier ensure that the people of Niagara and a lake get the public nurse practitioner service they need and deserve To respond the Premier So disappointed with the member as he voted against a brand new hospital over a billion dollar hospital right in his own region But Mr. Speaker when I was happy with him he handed out my cell number to everyone so I got to actually tell him the truth about you I actually told him the truth that you voted against doctors voted against nurses voted against the hospitals and you know something after I was finished talking to endless people not a little bit Mr. Speaker I must be over a hundred people I spoke to in his own writing they agreed but you know it's very very difficult and we're doing everything we can because we've registered over 10 000 doctors is having doctors in that area to make sure that they're taking care of when 80% of the people see the physicians in between 10 in the morning till 8 at night we need more doctors in the area we're working very very hard to attract doctors attract the nurses that we're paying for their education and during that time from 10 at night till 6 in the morning or 8 in the morning they see about eight patients Premier Weld please take a seat and I'll remind the members to make their comments through the chair a supplementary question questions back to the Premier and you might be a stranger to the truth why won't the health minister to withdraw the unparliamentary remarks draw I can't hold this up but this is a headline in the Nagorno Lake local paper not by me Premier by the local written by Penny Coles why won't the health minister keep her promise to Nagorno Lake so it's not me Speaker back to the Premier Niagara we have families in desperate need of primary care doctor a recent report the audio general revealed that the Premier is underfunding public health care by 21 billion dollars while increasing funding to for profit hospitals and clinics by 300% we have an urgent care center in Fort Erie and why I gave your cell number out closed to residents overnight and still no nurse practitioner in Nagorno Lake we have emergency rooms closing and urgent cares closing last year in record numbers Speaker when will the Premier drop the privatization scheme invest in publicly funded publicly differed nurse practitioners for every resident in Ontario thank you Premier well Mr Speaker I think he has the numbers mixed up with increased spending in the province by 21 billion not not cut it by 21 billion we've registered over 80,000 nurses 10,400 doctors we're building medical schools and by the way I'd like to ask him why he have voted against a brand new hospital in your area billion dollar hospital in the area but I'd also like to ask him maybe he can go out and help us maybe you can recruit some doctors and nurses to work in that urgent care facility because right now it's very very difficult to find him it's not a money issue Mr Speaker we need doctors across the province and if the nurses like I said earlier you know they work in rural areas we'll pay we will pay for their education that's why there were 17,500 nurses registered last year alone rather than complain why don't you get off your lazy butt and start working the next question the member for Kitchener Center Mr Speaker my question is for the Premier tenants and the Kitchener Apartment building are fearing the worst because they're handed an eviction notices they're worried that their landlord is trying to evict them to raise their rents their seniors newcomers folks on ODSP single parents people who can't afford for their rents to go up they have no place to go the Ontario landlord and tenant board has been failing to prevent bad faith evictions so much so that the Ombudsman's report called the board fundamentally failing Speaker will the Premier help these folks by saying yes to real eviction prevention for renters by implementing vacancy control to limit huge rent increases between tenancies and stop these bad bad faith evictions plaguing our communities to apply the Attorney General thank you Mr Speaker and I'm honored to take the first question from the new member Mr Speaker now just to give you a bit of background for the new member Mr Speaker in the year 2014 to 15 the annual report of the landlord tenant board 2015-16 2016-17 2017-2018 they were taking in more cases than they were exposing of Mr Speaker they were creating a backlog and this when we came into COVID all of a sudden Mr Speaker the system actually failed because they hadn't maintained the system they I'm talking about is the Liberal Party Mr Speaker the Liberal Party and when the NDP held the balance of power when they held the balance of power they did nothing nothing to identify these as issues Mr Speaker we're going to get it done Mr Speaker we cover the number of adjudicators we put a new system in place Mr Speaker we've added more response we're making things work Mr Speaker we're going to get to balance Mr Speaker despite the pile of mess that the Liberals left us Mr Speaker the metric question back to the member for Kitchener Center Mr Speaker does the Premier know how many landlords have been fined over the past four years 13 of those four have paid fines of an average of $5,000 that's unacceptable the government's failures are only driving up the cost of housing right now the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $2,200 how is a person on a full time minimum wage a month supposed to pay that much that's all their money how can single parents retirees folks on ODSP survive speakers my constituents cannot afford to wait again will the Premier commit to real protections for renters implement vacancy control now and limit the huge increases between tenancies and de-incentivize these bad faith evictions plaguing our communities the Attorney General Mr Speaker we've increased the fines for landlords that are inappropriately evicting people Mr Speaker the important thing Mr Speaker is that they get a fair hearing that they get a fair hearing Mr Speaker that's why we've doubled the number of adjudicators we put in a system that is more transparent and it's moving faster Mr Speaker we're at a point now where 90% of the orders are being issued 30 days or less 90% 30 days or less Mr Speaker we're coming back to balance we're going to make sure that those tenants have a fair chance at a fair hearing so that they can get their matters resolved and if the if the landlords are being inappropriate if they're doing things they shouldn't be doing then they will be but let me remind you Mr Speaker that as the Minister of Municipal Affairs indicated we have the highest number of purpose-built rentals in the history of this province Mr Speaker that's what tenants need thank you the next question the member for Peterborough Coortha thank you Speaker before I ask my question I just want to wish a happy birthday to my good friend from Mississauga Center my question is for the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks our government must remain committed to the protection of green spaces by expanding the amount of conserved natural spaces across the province we're not only helping to preserve the environment but to promote physical activity and improve mental health and we need to continue our work with Ontario's conservation partners because these are our shared goals last week I was honored to join the Minister and my colleague from Halliburton Coortha Lakes Brock for an important announcement in Trent Lakes Speaker can the Minister share with the House how our government is protecting ecologically important natural areas in my community and all across Ontario that's a great question Minister of the Environment Conservation and Parks thank you Minister thank you Speaker and I want to thank the member for that great question and I want to thank him for being a special advisor to Parks because you know while this government's building roads bridges and housing for people we're also building great parks and preserving great green spaces and it's under the leadership of Premier Ford that our government is taking action to conserve Ontario's natural beauty and protect its unique biodiversity for future generations last Monday I had the pleasure to announce the latest investment our government has made under the Greenlands Conservation Trust $2.9 million to protect 1,400 acres of wetland fields and natural shoreline along Pigeon Lake Speaker this was one of the largest non-for-profit conservation projects in Coortha ever and the largest conservation project by the Coortha Land Trust by working together Speaker this project proves that we can not only protect our great land of conservation but we can build the great things that we're doing in this process Thank you Speaker and thank you to the Minister for a response last week's announcement demonstrates our commitment to preserving our ecosystems across all of Peterborough Coortha Speaker Ontarians want to see our government take meaningful action to ensure a healthy environment now and into the future We know that conserving natural areas such as wetlands grasslands and forests help mitigate the effects of climate change That's why we must continue our efforts and work in partnership with conservation leaders like Coortha Land Trust to increase our opportunities to protect nature Through you Speaker can the Minister please tell the House how investments in the Greenlands Conservation Partnership has enabled the government to lead the way in our conservation efforts Very good Very good to the environment Conservation in Parts Thank you Speaker and this is a great great partnership we have with with private donors and folks all across the province to really continue to lead the way in conservation as the province And Speaker since 2020 our government has protected over 420,000 acres of land an area two and a half times the footprint of the City of Toronto Through the Greenlands Conservation Partnership this is real progress in conserving Ontario's biodiversity and since the launch of the program in 2020 we have had remarkable success These successes include Hastings Wildlave Junction Batchawada Island and most recently Wetlands in Manitoulin Island And thanks to our hard work these lands are now permanently protected But our work is far from done Our government under the leadership of Premier Ford will continue to invest in conservation projects and Ontario's rich biodiversity and build Ontario's climate resiliency for generations to come all while building the critical infrastructure like roads, bridges and roads and response Thank you The next question the member for Humber River Black Creek Thank you Speaker My question is for the Premier Speaker nobody asked for it but this government is closing down service Ontario locations and putting them into Staples and Walmart Even worse they're paying these American mega corporations over $1.7 million dollars to do so in the form of makeover renovations Now this government will pay for the rentals in Walmart or Staples but not in existing service Ontario locations owned by small Ontario business owners So why the double standard Why does this government always put the interests of big U.S. companies over small homegrown Ontario businesses Thank you Mr. Speaker The member for Humber River Black Creek more for less The customer comes first the people of Ontario come first And so we reached out my ministry officials reached out with the opportunity of the expiring locations in nine venues in the province of Ontario to look at further alternative delivery models You know every party at Queen's Park every party that's ever formed government here at Queen's Park has embraced the alternative service delivery model of the private sector and the retail partnership model which is now added to with Staples Canada which extends hours to 9 p.m. on weeknights all day Saturdays as well that's what people are embracing was the success with Canadian Tire IDA and the hardware we're continuing that and in fact the member opposites party supported the liberal government on that retail partnership initiative in 2011 Thank you Speaker The minister told us he's paying Staples and Walmart to run service Ontario to save costs but he can't give us a solid amount and keeps changing the answer and the minister refuses to give an answer as to why he's giving out sole sourced contracts to big U.S. companies so will this government come clean with the numbers how much is it going to cost Ontario taxpayers to run service Ontario out of Staples and Walmart and why the secret sole source process Mr. Public and Business Service Delivered Thank you Mr. Speaker and the member opposite the answer is more for less the answer is value for money the answer is a million dollars in savings over three years for this pilot project that's great news for the people of Ontario and for a million dollars in savings the people of Ontario in these nine locations will get extended hours more parking online booking interacting with government in 15 minutes or less and of course all day Saturdays and every one of the employees at the expiring locations are eligible to be employed at the new Staples Canada locations that's great news for Ontarians that's great news for service delivery that's the name of my ministry Public and Business Service Delivery thank you very much thank you to the member ministers for Public and Business Service Delivery the next question the member for Brampton West thank you Mr. Speaker my question is for the Solicitor General people in my riding of Brampton West are concerned about ongoing car thefts in their communities they like many Ontarians rely on their cars for their commute to work and to drive their family members to school and extracurriculars with the reports of violent car jackings becoming more prevalent across the country people in our province are justifiably concerned they want to see our government combat the rise in auto theft in Ontario so they can feel safe in their own communities Speaker, can the Solicitor General share with the House what our government strategy is to deal with this new wave of auto theft good question you reply the Solicitor General well thank you Mr. Speaker and I want to thank my friend for the question auto theft in Ontario is a serious issue car thieves have no morals and no decencies and they don't share the values of who we are as Ontarians and this government will not tolerate this crime we are of a firm belief that these criminals belong in one place they belong in jail we will lock them up and we will throw away the key but Mr. Speaker our government is taking this very seriously by investing over 160 million dollars we're investing 51 million dollars in the auto theft grant monies that are flowing to the First Nations Municipal and the OPP Police Service Mr. Speaker we're investing over 100 million dollars in bail compliance to keep these violent and repeat offenders off our streets and Mr. Speaker we're putting over 800 new police officers on the ground by making it easier to get to the Ontario Police College for our government public safety is a priority morning, noon and night a supplementary question back to members of Brampton West thank you Mr. Speaker it's encouraging to hear the Solicitor General talk about the actions our government has taken to combat auto theft and ensure violent offenders remain behind bars Speaker we have seen media reports of Ontario vehicles being smuggled overseas this has left many people in our province troubled about the safety and security for themselves and their loved ones but Speaker this issue extends across Canada our government must collaborate with other provinces and the federal government to put a stop to this criminal activity Speaker can the Solicitor General tell the House what our government is doing to advocate for the people of Ontario and to make sure that our borders are protected well said and to reply to the Solicitor General thank you Mr. Speaker and the member is absolutely correct just a couple of weeks ago together with the member from Simcoe Gray we attended the auto theft summit in Ottawa and we had excellent discussions with our federal counterparts and I appreciate as a result of sending a very strong letter to the federal government we need them to step up at the Port of Montreal and we need them to instruct CBSA to take the same protocols as they are for incoming sea containers the same should be done for outgoing sea containers because Mr. Speaker that's where our autos are going I had very detailed and excellent meetings with my federal with my provincial counterpart in the province of Quebec and they agree that more has to be done Mr. Speaker at the end of the day we have one message for those who think it's okay to steal cars in our province or anywhere in Canada we're putting you on notice we're putting you out of business all right that concludes our question period for this morning a number of members have points of order they wish to raise I'll start with the government house leader understanding order 59 thank you thank you Mr. Speaker I am pleased to rise on standing order 59 as I do every week when the house is sitting to outline the order of business I will speak slower for the Liberal Caucus who have raised the concern that they are unable to keep up with my recitation of the weekly business so on Monday February 26 we will be introducing a bill later today and we will be debating that on Monday February 26 in the afternoon February 27th in the morning and in the afternoon we will continue debate on that bill that evening on February 27 there will be no private members public business so colleagues can organize themselves accordingly on Wednesday February 28th we will be debating a bill which will be introduced later today in the afternoon we will be debating bill 162 the get it done act it's private members business we will move to debate on the member for wealth bill 156 on Thursday morning bill 162 again will be featured for debate which is the get it done act there will be in the afternoon routine a ministerial statement on Black History Month and proceedings for the afternoon on February 29th are yet to be determined at 6 p.m. the member for Toronto Centre will have bill 42 Mr. Speaker last order of business I thank colleagues for a very good week thank you I'll recognize the member for St. Catharines on a point of order thank you speaker although this is not really a parliamentary point of order but I think it's worth pointing out that today is my husband's my best friend's the first lady of St. Catharines 61st birthday so I'd like to wish you Jimmy a very happy birthday and all your wishes come true thank you point of order the member for Ottawa South very much Mr. Speaker and I would like to thank my O-lip intern Milena Bosiana who it's your last day today I hope she's up there somewhere I can't see her she's probably hard at work for those last few hours so she was calm in an office that sometimes a little bumpy as you can imagine Premier and I know that some lucky member on the other side is going to get her so thank you very much Milena oh are you up there push me over here and I would also speaker speaker I would also just like to take a moment to let the government house leader know that I'm always able to hear thank you pursuant to standing order 36 oh sorry member for Guelph I thank you speaker I also want to take a moment just to thank my O-lip intern Evan Cameron who's watching on on video and say that whoever's office he will be in next you're going to have a fantastic O-lip intern thank you for his great work Evan cutting well trained order Mr. Speaker I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my amazing O-lip intern Caitlyn Galant she's been remarkable and some lucky individual will get will get her and I'm so grateful thank you pursuant to standing order 36 a the member for London North Centre has given notice of their dissatisfaction with the answer to their question given by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing regarding attainable housing definition this matter will be debated on Tuesday following private members public business so in standing order 36 a the member for Waterloo has given notice of their dissatisfaction with the answer to their question given by the Premier regarding Super Bowl commercials this matter will be debated on Tuesday following private members public business next we have a deferred vote on private members notice of motion number 75 following the members this is a five minute bill


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I'm sitting with Joe Jimenez. My name is Elizabeth Rodriguez. Do you might introduce yourself, Joe, as a writer, as a creative? Sure. My name is Joe Jimenez. I live here in San Antonio. I teach 12th grade at Thomas Jefferson High School. I have a collection of poetry entitled The Possibilities of Mud. I recently released a young adult novel entitled Bloodline and I'm the recipient of the 2016 Letras Latinas Red Hand Poetry Prize. Congrats. Thank you. And will you tell us a little bit about your latest work? My latest work, the young adult novel, is really a retelling of Hamlet. When I was in high school, I was deathly afraid of Shakespeare in those days and even perhaps today in classrooms, you're given a book, you're told to read, answer questions at the end. I really had no way to access the text. I thought it was a really good reader, but looking at Elizabethan writing, I was, ah, this makes no sense to me. I don't know what it means. I guess I'm incompetent or inadequate in some sense. And so it really intimidated me up until I had to face my greatest fear as an English major at Pomona College and actually take a semester of Shakespeare. I was blessed to have a professor named Martha Andreessen who, for the most part, helped us dive in because we were going to perform a play.  And you've been in some classrooms today because then you would have been cheating by talking or collaborating. Now, collaboration is something that we embrace in classrooms. In early 90s, late 80s, not so much. So she had us perform and we had to work in groups. So we would read and talk amongst each other and build meaning that way, which, in all shapes and forms, that was my access point for Shakespeare. And so writing this novel, I said I'm going to write about something that I think my students should have access to. I don't believe that British literature is, is a, should be a requirement for students. It might be elective, but I think it's super imperialist and there's still colonial mindset that, oh, we must worship the British and the English crown. Because, because of who they are, I think students in high school should, um, should spend more time in American Lit, I mean junior year's American Lit, but it's just when you. Right, right. Nonetheless, the um the novel is a retelling of Hamlet. I used the second person because I wanted it to be a direct address to really young Latino readers. It's a novel that asks the question, do you have to have a father in your life to be a good man? The protagonist name is Abram. He is raised by his grandmother, have through these, and her partner, Becky. The big challenge in the beginning of the book or the big conflict is that because Abram is having difficulties managing his temper, he's getting into, he's getting into trouble at school by fighting, we're through fighting. And the grandmother's really kind of like last ditch effort to save him is to bring his uncle Glalio into the house because she's thinking that perhaps a man can can show him how to be a, how to be a man really. The part of how Becky is like, oh hell no, you don't need a man, you need good people, period. And that's how the novel begins. And um, what has your experience been with, uh, working with the youth? Um, here at Macondo? Or in general, because you also teach, right? I teach fourth grade, yeah, I'll focus on Macondo. I think this is the first year that we've had the Macondo young writers, you know, thank God for Lorian having this vision of being more inclusive of young people. I think the idea of younger voices who have access to experiences that as a 39 year old, I have no access. These are not my stories. I couldn't be telling these stories in 10, 20, 30 years. These people who are 18, 19, they'll be writing the great novels that are, that our people need to read. They have a breadth of knowledge that I think for so many reasons, either they don't value or they don't have the confidence or they don't believe it. They don't think it's even valued or even matters. So I'm hoping that this, you know, these past few days, one of the lessons that kids have taken to heart is this idea that you do matter, that your stories are important, that people need to hear these things. And in that, you are the only person who can tell this story, your story, whether it's a poem, whether it's a memoir, which is what we're working on today. Either way, the world deserves, our community deserves to have your voice in it. Right. And will you tell us what drives your own creativity? I never wanted to be a writer when I was younger. I didn't have it in the set in my room and say, gosh, when am I going to be an author? Oh, I really want to write a book. I did like to read, but it wasn't like that was my main goal. When I was younger, my main goal was to get a good job, get a house, get a truck, have a family and get dogs. That was my goal. And then it's so funny when I think about it. When MySpace was about, I had this really horrible MySpace, which is super cheesy, but I posted some of the things that I wrote in there in a photographer from Los Angeles named Dino Dinko read something I wrote about ironing. And he emailed me about creating a short film about this for a film festival. Oh yeah. Oh, thanks. I was like, yeah, sure, go for it. And we ended up pitching the idea to the London Fashion and Film Festival, and it was fun. So we made a film and from that point forward, I began thinking, well, I might take this more seriously. I might actually pursue it. And so then I ended up attending an MFA program. I focused on poetry, which is my first love. But even if you read Bloodline, you see the elements of poetry, there's lyricism and the novel. In terms of how I create, my biggest challenge is time. I think it's kind of like when I was writing about this the other day, but it's kind of like when you're poor, growing up, and you don't have a lot of food. Every piece, everything you have matters. You have to make the best out of what you have, and you should be grateful for what you have. You should always want more, of course, I think, especially when it's something that nourishes you. But at the end of the day, it comes down to just making do with what you have. Because my time is so spare, I have summers as a high school teacher, I have summers, I have Thanksgiving break, and then I have Christmas break where I can really write. And so so much of my creative process really just pivots on how much time I have to work on something. Right now, I'm really interested in essays and nonfiction. So I've written them. I recently wrote an essay, which I don't know if I'm going to read it this afternoon, but it's about a response to the events in Orlando. I'm looking at one particular video that I watched from time to time, which is are you familiar with RuPaul's Drag Race? Yeah, I've watched it a few times. It's not a show that I watch a lot, but every now and then I'll read about it on Facebook or somebody will tell me about one of the lip syncs. And this season they were super, super good. But there was one a couple of years ago that just broke my heart when I saw it. And it was two friends Raven and Jujube, and they had to perform against one another at some lip sync for your life. One of them is going to stay, one of them is going to go. And when Orlando happened, I really thought about just the sense of loss. I mean people's lives, of course, people's families being broken, relationships broken. But it reminded me a lot of the sense of loss that communities felt in the 80s and the 90s with HIV and AIDS. And just thinking there are people who should be here right now. I mean there's people who should be at Macondo right now. And my heart does grow heavy when I think about it, but they're not because in my opinion our government didn't respond fast enough.  You're expendable. It's okay if y'all are dying. It's not that big a deal.   It's permissible almost because people aren't valued. Their lives don't matter to mainstream or to people in high positions of authority. So I began thinking about just the sense these 49 people that were lost and the people who were injured, of course, their losses. But I thought then about what it means to lose friends. What it means to lose friends when you are isolated in the world. What it means to lose friends when you are weird or you have darkness inside you or when you're queer. In some way, your friends matter even more because it's your family. And when I thought about all the people who died in Florida and I thought about the fact that in 10 years, there'll be places like Mokko Rondol or family reunions or weddings and they should be there. And they really should. They really, really should and they won't. And it's not just one or two people because that would still matter if it was one or two people. But it's 49 people. And so I wrote an essay about that performance between juju and raven and what it means to perform loss and to perform sadness in that way of not wanting your friend to go because maybe you've never had a friend who really, really understood you. Maybe you've never had a friend who didn't judge you. Maybe you've never had a friend at all. And loneliness, I think, is an isolation for our communities. I think once you find that connection, places like Mokko Rondol and the places like LGBT bars or groups, it matters in a way that's so much different or so much more profound than just belonging to something like, oh yeah, I was on the big team in high school. Yeah, I was in the soccer team. That's important and that's valuable. I don't want to diminish that, but it is very different and very distinct when you finally come home to your tribe or to your people. What do you want to say to any LGBTQ youth that are thinking about using Mokko Rondol as a space for writing? I say go for it. I say go for it. Go for it. Go for it. The first thing you have to believe is that you deserve it. You deserve to have people invest in you and your skills to listen to your stories. And more than that, you deserve people to help train you and to help you say, you know, this is what I want to say. What's the best way I can say it? The first time we write something down, it may sound great. Maybe it won't, but at the end of the day, I think if you really want to make a commitment to yourself and to your writing, be committed to change, to change your writing, allow it to evolve, allow yourself to listen to other people's voices, to read other people's work, and really let yourself be the writer that you were meant to be, that you want to be. The only way that really happens is with access. If you're not getting in a school or a classroom, not getting in a church or not getting it at home or not making it happen for yourself, places like Mokko Rondol, this is how it happens. Doors are open for you. People love you and care about you and will open windows and open your eyes and open doors so that you can walk in and have a place at the table where the rest of us are sitting now. And on that note, how has Mokko Rondol created social change for help to create? Yeah, I think for me, in a very real way, I've seen that people who have gone through Mokko Rondol just embody the idea that writing can have a profound impact on the way the world works and how we believe and how we fit in the world and how we make spaces for ourselves. Sometimes I wonder, is spending time in my room or in my living room writing poems or working on a novel, does that matter as much as maybe building a house for somebody who doesn't have a house? In my heart, I don't think it matters as much as that. But at the same time, I would hope that the things that I write help shape people's ideas about what it means to be poor or what it means to want a better life for you and your family, what it means to survive difficult things. So I don't know that through my own eyes that writing in and of itself is the most profound way to change the world, but it is a way to change the world. And it's not to be competitive and say, oh, my way is superior to yours. It is, though, just for me being practical. I think if I wasn't writing, I would definitely be helping to build houses for people or to, I don't know, do something that still contributed. Everybody has, everybody has something to bring to the table. So the dish I bring to the meal happens to be poetry. Beautiful. And as we conclude our interview, is there anything you want to add? I'm just a great feeling of gratefulness. When I was growing up, I hated being told by my mother or my grandmother and all, it has a malo agradecido, you know, you're, you're ungrateful. I hate that, right? Because it was such a good insult. Like I want to be a grateful person. And I want to appreciate it. And so I hope that, that, um, and everything I do in my condo is that the sense of appreciation, the deep appreciation that I have for everything that the people who came before me from San Francisco's Neville's to all the people over the last 15, 20 years who've given so much to create these opportunities that, that they hear the appreciation from us. And I hope to repay that by, by helping build for future generations and by opening doors for, for people. By just vocalizing it. This is a very rare space and it's an important space. It's an endangered space, but we're living in dangerous times. It's a necessary space. Thank you. Thank you very much.


It looks like a city, and in every way except name, it is one, a very sizable city. But it is more than a city, much more. Again, except in name, it is a university, really a multiversity. And it is an infantry training center. America's probably the world's largest. This is Fort Benning, Georgia, the United States Army Infantry Center and home of the Infantry School. Fort Benning is vast, over 182,000 acres, 620 square miles of forest, underbrush and open country. The Chattahoochee River gives it an amphibious dimension for water crossing problems. Plus 23 firing ranges and 1,222 problem sites. On any working day, its population hovers at the 60,000 miles, 50,000 military and 10,000 civilians. Another 50,000 people linked to Fort Benning live in its environs, Phoenix City, Alabama and Columbus, Georgia, making the total population serve over 110,000 people. Many are the families of active and retired military personnel. The fort itself is named after a distinguished Confederate general, Henry L. Benning of Columbus. So there is good reason why local ties with Fort Benning are strong. This closeness is actively expressed by a monthly meeting of representatives of Fort Benning, Phoenix City and Columbus. This is the Civilian and Military Council. The commanding general of Fort Benning sits with his civilian counterparts, the mayors of Columbus and Phoenix City. The provost marshal with the chiefs of police. The Fort Benning Information Officer with newspaper publishers, radio and television executives and educational leaders. The post chaplain with local representatives of the church. There is a cross section of leaders in the business, industrial and civic communities as well. Fort Benning moves to a military beat, but there is a strong family heartbeat as well. It shows in its recreational life and in its social activity. A community feeling makes itself helpful in many ways. Faith is a powerful ingredient in the spirit of Fort Benning regardless of creed or denomination. It is particularly meaningful and sustaining to many families that live in the vicinity of Fort Benning. Families of husbands and fathers who serve in a foreign land. Fort Benning trained infantrymen are skilled and resourceful soldiers. They rightly claim a lion's share of this nation's combat successes. The Benning mission is simple but lofty. To produce the world's finest infantrymen and combat infantry leaders, a mission symbolized by its towering statue of a rifleman and the traditional cry of the infantry soldier, follow me. The heart of the training effort is lodged in the new six-story infantry hall. The Fort Benning complex and its huge educational plant are under the direct control of a major general who is both commanding general of the post and commandant of the school. He is aided by an assistant commandant for school activities and a chief of staff who coordinates the activities of a large directorate and a special staff. On any given school day, approximately 12,000 officers and men including students from 57 allied countries, throng corridors and classrooms with another 2,000 engaged in outside studies. They study a wide-ranging spectrum of subjects, 240 grouped in 27 courses, whose effectiveness is constantly being evaluated by the director of instruction and his staff. There is every type of visual aid including closed circuit television. Two TV studios are kept busy turning out video training teams. All grades are computerized to record and evaluate the progress of the students and the effectiveness of teaching methods. But more important than any computer or teaching device is the human relationship between students and teachers, most of whom are veterans of Vietnam. They are aware that the students, often of senior commissioned rank, have come to learn and are eager to be challenged. This huge complex teaching program produces over 56,000 highly trained infantry specialists and leaders each year. The largest group of graduates is turned up by the school's airborne department, over 25,000 annually. Despite its rigorous training and hazardous mission, there never is a shortage of volunteers. In three crammed weeks, they learn the fundamentals of military parachuting. How to exit a plane, the correct positions for body and feet, and the proper landing technique. A high point, literally, is the jump from the 250-foot tower, where the student has the experience of controlling a parachute during an actual descent. He is taught how to follow through on the ground by controlling the parachute despite adverse winds. In the final week, the student must make five jumps to qualify. On the last jump, he carries a full combat load. There is tension in the jump plane, but training, conditioning, and the presence of an experienced jump master calms the students. Whatever hesitation they feel, there is none when they jump. It is a memorable moment for each newborn paratrooper. He has proved himself to be a superb embodiment of the spirit of Fort Benning. A member of a fighting elite emerges from the Ranger Training Command of the Infantry School. It not only graduates some of the world's toughest, most resourceful fighting men, it also develops combat leaders. They are capable of operating for an extended period over any type of terrain in either a conventional or counter-guerrilla environment. The training is deliberately severe and challenging in order to toughen the Ranger's body and mind. A series of confidence tests develop control of normal human fears, such as fear of water, height, and bodily injury. Engineers estimate the trainee hits the water with an impact of 50 miles an hour. Hand-to-hand combat teaches him aggressiveness and confidence in his ability to defend himself with his hands and feet.  He moves to the mountains of Georgia for training and mountaineering skills and conventional warfare. He becomes a dept at handling rope, using it to scamper up and down sheer walls with ease. Employing it as a lifeline for litter evacuation. Building rope bridges so that he can cross difficult terrain with a minimum of time and effort. The emphasis is on patrols, day and night, of exhausting length and intensity. They continue in the swamps of Florida, where training shifts to counter-guerrilla warfare. This part of the course teaches the Ranger to operate in thick underbrush and in water. The hunger, fatigue, sleeplessness, and other hardships he must endure often exceed those he will have in combat. The course concludes with an offensive operation against jungle-trained experienced troops who simulate a guerrilla force. Superbly trained, daring and resourceful, it is no wonder the Ranger was given the accolade of the Army's ultimate soldier. The Army's need for highly trained small unit leaders has long been answered by Fort Benning's superb officer candidate school. The candidates move through a rigorous 23-week course, striving for the gold bars of a second lieutenant. Each man becomes proficient in the operation and maintenance of all infantry weapons. Most important, he learns how to handle troops in combat. He is confronted with a variety of realistic battlefield situations which tax his skill and command ability to the utmost. The grueling months of training are climaxed by the most strenuous exercise of all, a company assault on an enemy position supported by combined arms. During the exercise, each candidate rotates through different command positions in the squad, platoon, and company. Only when he proves to the satisfaction of watchful officers that he has the quality of leadership can the candidate hope to win a commission. This is only a part of the immense and complex training effort carried on by the infantry school. The large numbers of men, weapons, and vehicles necessary to stage over 320 instructional problems performed approximately 12,000 times annually are provided by the 197th Infantry Brigade. This brigade is the world's largest, over 7,000 men strong. To stage these demonstrations, the 197th draws foot soldiers from three infantry battalions, tank and artillery from armored and artillery battalions, combat engineer companies and a chemical platoon from brigade headquarters companies, and a scout dog detachment. Every skilled infantryman and infantry leader was once a beginner, and these recruits are raw beginners indeed. Every week, nearly 900 inductees enter Fort Penning's Infantry Training Center to receive eight weeks of basic combat training. The transition from civilian life is abrupt for these youngsters, but they are helped to adjust by their drill sergeant. These experienced sergeants are hand-picked non-coms, all volunteers. There are three per platoon, and they stay with the same platoon all the way through basic training. The fledgling soldier learns how to use and care for his weapon. He learns the ways of the army, and is toughened mentally and physically for rough bodily contact by training exercises like the use of the Pugelstik. In eight fast-moving weeks, the awkward rookie has taken on considerable polish and self-confidence. He has become imbued with the spirit of the infantry. He is now ready for advanced individual training as an infantryman or schooling as a technician. Fort Penning is the birthplace of air mobility. The large numbers of helicopters and crews required for training in this type of warfare are provided by an aviation group, one of the largest tactical army aviation organizations in the United States. It teaches gunship pilots and door gunners the art of suppressive fire. It also conducts a variety of transitional training programs for helicopter crews and gives aviation mechanics the maintenance skills for direct and general support. Entirely separate from the aviation group is the Lawson Army Aviation Command. It is primarily a service and support operation for the infantry senate. Lawson easily ranks among the top 20 of the most active airports in the United States, civilian as well as military, with over 200,000 takeoffs and landings yearly. Thus in many ways Fort Penning operates as a major and very active metropolitan area, self-sustaining to an extraordinary degree. Like any large city, it must have a large number of municipal services to keep it running smoothly. These are provided by personnel of the center troop command, which includes a women's army corps detachment. There are police and fire protection services, transportation facilities, fuel, finance, communications, engineering services of an unlimited variety and an army field printing plant. This giant plant operates around the clock to meet the instructional needs of Fort Penning and the 360,000 students and instructors in the ROTC, National Guard, Army Reserve and Army Infantry non-resident programs. One of Fort Penning's most vital installations is Martin Army Hospital, a modern nine-story structure. It offers a complete range of medical, surgical, diagnostic and pathological services. Martin has a 930-bed capacity and can be expanded to meet future needs. One of the hospital's happiest functions is the output of brand new Americans, as many as 2,000 babies are born here each year. Hardly less impressive in size and specialization is the Army Dental Clinic. Its dispensaries and laboratories provide a complete range of dental services. Scattered throughout Fort Penning are a host of tenant units, all concerned with improving the combat capabilities of today's and tomorrow's infantrymen. Among them are the Infantry Board, which tests and evaluates newly developed weapons and equipment. The Infantry Agency, whose concern is the development of future combat material and doctrine. The Human Resources Research Unit, whose personnel study training needs and human factors that determine combat effectiveness. A marksmanship training unit, which promotes individual effectiveness with weapons and prepares Army shooters for Olympic and international competition. Fort Penning is huge and marvelously complex in its varied activities. But its spirit is not to be found in its massive educational plant or in its overwhelming statistics. Its spirit is alive, vibrant, warming the blood of the fighting men who train there. It is in the young recruit who attains manhood in the rigors of combat training. The Officer Candidate, who discovers in himself the magic power of leadership. The Ranger, who makes the wilderness his home. The Airborne Men of Steel, who learns to assault the enemy from the sky. Their spirit is found in the families of these men who share their trials and triumphs and give them tireless devotion. There are very special words for these people at Fort Penning. Words expressed by the President of the United States.  You are a community of courage. The spirit of Fort Penning finds its most exalted expression in the epic poem, I am the Infantry, which is a stirring climax to graduation exercises held in Infantry Hall. I was there from the beginning, meeting the enemy face to face. For two centuries I have kept our nation safe, purchasing freedom with my blood. I am the Infantry. Follow me. From Bull Run to Appomattox, I fought and bled. Both blue and white were my colors then. Two masters I served and united them strong, proved that this nation could right a wrong and long endure. I am the Infantry. Follow me. At Chantal Thierry, first over the top, it was I who cracked the Hindenburg line. In the argon, I broke the Kaiser spine and did not come back till it was over, over there. I am the Infantry. Follow me. A generation older at Batan, I took a beating, then bowed to return. I invaded Tunisia on the African shore, dug into the sand at Anzio. The English Channel, stout beach defenses and the hedgerows could not hold me. I broke out at Saint-Laud, unbent the bulge, bolted the Rhine and stormed into the Nazi heartland. Hitler's dream and the Third Reich were dead. In the Pacific, I hopped from island to island. I did return to hit the beaches and to set the rising sun. I am the Infantry. Follow me. In Korea, I gathered my strength around Busan, drove across the frozen Han, outflank the Reds at Incheon and marched to the Yalo. Follow me. A bayonet and the wings of power keeps the peace worldwide. My allies in the mountains and forests, in the jungles and rice paddies, I teach, I aid, I lead. Follow me. Where brave men fight, there fight I in freedom's cause. From conquered bridge to harbour, from the Arctic to the Mekong. The Queen of battle, always ready, then, now and forever. I am the Infantry. Follow me. Follow me. Follow me. Follow me. Follow me.


Another interesting variation on the scatter plot is this one right here, which is depending on whether you're speaking in English or in French, the Delaney triangulation or the Delonné triangulation. And what this does is it uses each point as a connection between lines. So let's just come down here and pick our same two movie dimensions, the ratings on IMDB for the X and the total domestic box office earnings in the Y. And now you can see, for instance, the overall shape is nearly identical to the convex hole we had in the previous example. But now each point is defined by these intersections, these vertices. And, you know, it's kind of a pretty graph. But it also is a nice way of seeing the density of the points as well as which ones are outliers. Again, we know from earlier that this one over here is the Twilight movie and it's really far away from everything else in terms of both IMDB ratings and in terms of overall earnings. And so a Delonné triangulation can be another interesting way of looking at the connections between the points in your scatter plot.