There was considerably less drama in the house today, as no MPPs were <a href="https://www.qpbriefing.com/2021/12/07/your-question-period-briefing-a-removal-from-the-chamber/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">escorted out by legislative staff</a>. But every question period is exciting for lovers of democracy. Let's dive in.
Nurse staffing crisis
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath kept up the pressure regarding Ontario's nursing shortage, which has increased strain on hospitals and long-term care homes throughout the pandemic as nurses leave for other professions or other places.
Horwath said Ontario now has the lowest nurse-per-capita rate in Canada and asked what the government plans to do to fix it.
Health Minister Christine Elliott pointed to government spending to help upskill and recruit new nurses and expand home and community care.
"The minister of health talks a good game, but when I talk to nurses, they are saying new nurses might be coming in the front door, but experienced nurses are walking out the back door," Horwath said, calling for 20,000 nurses "just to keep the system afloat."
She also accused the government of doing "literally nothing," which, as Elliott had just explained, isn't true.
The health minister ran through some more health spending numbers before Horwath pivoted to Bill 124, which limits public sector wage increases to one per cent per year until 2022. Nurses have protested the bill mightily during the pandemic.
Treasury Board President Prabmeet Sarkaria fielded this one but dodged its substance, saying the government has spent $342 million to add over 5,000 new and upskilled nurses.
Rapid tests
Horwath said the province needs to get free rapid tests into the hands of any Ontarian who wants one, instead of just symptomatic people and those who were close contacts of a COVID case. She pointed to <a href="https://www.qpbriefing.com/2021/12/07/ontario-extends-capacity-limits-as-modelling-warns-of-possible-surge-of-covid-cases/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">science table modelling from Tuesday</a> that predicts a potential rise to 3,000 cases per day by mid-January to justify her concerns.
PC MPP Bill Walker said Ontario has rolled out 33 million rapid tests, noting that the province with the next highest amount is Quebec with five million.
That's "missing the point," Horwath said. "Ontarians should have free access to the rapid test." She quoted science table head Dr. Peter Juni: "'It makes sense from a scientific perspective to use rapid tests more frequently, for example, schools, in workplaces, in congregate settings, and to make rapid tests more available in this province.'”
Elliott said the tests are already "free of charge to the people who need them." Opposition members and some experts have argued that it would be extra safe for people, say, hosting family gatherings over the holidays to be able to test themselves even if they don't feel symptoms, just in case.
Later, Liberal health critic John Fraser said it was "time to free the RATs," meaning the rapid antigen tests. He pointed to Nova Scotia, Germany, the United Kingdom and other countries that are giving them away for free to anyone who wants one.
Elliott, perhaps tired of fielding the same question again, attempted to make herself extra clear.
"I think it’s really important for me to advise the member opposite about what actually is happening in Ontario," she said, repeating the 33 million number. "There is nothing sitting in storage. They are being deployed across the province. They are being deployed to assessment centres, to pharmacies, to primary care. They are being deployed and they are being used. We know that while vaccination remains the single most important way to protect people, testing is, of course, also very important. That is why they are available, free of charge, to anyone who needs one. If they’re symptomatic, they’ll receive one free of charge. If they are asymptomatic, but they have been in contact with someone with COVID, and there’s reason to suspect they may be infected, they will also receive a test free of charge."
Read more about the issue here, as Premier Doug Ford spoke about it in his news conference today.
Housing task force
NDP MPP Bhutila Karpoche implied the government's new housing affordability task force looks like a sham.
"The task force consists of bankers, developers — most of whom are PC Party donors. Missing from the task force are housing advocates, co-op and not-for-profit housing providers, municipal partners, representation from tenants and those experiencing homelessness. Why is the premier ignoring the voices of those most affected by this issue while focusing on the voices of developers and donors?" she asked.
Housing Minister Steve Clark ignored the question and went on the offensive, painting the NDP as the party "that says no to building housing," deploying the Tories' "yes vs. no" messaging ahead of the 2022 election.
Karpoche said the committee's mandate ignores issues like speculation, money laundering, housing commodification, illegal evictions and rent gouging.
Clark said the task force "represents a range of experts" in housing-related fields and attacked the NDP again.
The government has focused heavily on increasing supply in an attempt to lower housing prices. It has drawn considerable criticism for its use of minister's zoning orders to push through development without local input, and for the many knock-on benefits for PC developer donors.
For more on the new task force, check out the Toronto Star's <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/12/08/doug-fords-housing-affordability-task-force-is-already-facing-scrutiny-heres-a-look-at-the-nine-panellists.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rundown</a> of the nine panellists, their histories and interests.

Your question period briefing: ‘Free the RATs’

Read this for free.