The committee met at 1300 in committee room 2.

Selection of estimates

The Chair (Mr. Brian Riddell): Good afternoon, everyone. The Standing Committee on Social Policy will now come to order.

On our agenda this afternoon is the selection of the 2026-27 estimates for consideration. Pursuant to standing order 62(b), the estimates, upon tabling, are deemed to be referred to the standing committees to which the respective ministries and offices were assigned, pursuant to standing order 113(b).

All committee members should have received an electronic copy of the 2026-27 estimates from the Clerk.

The estimates for the following ministries have been referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy for selection and consideration:

—Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services;

—Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security;

—Ministry of Education;

—Ministry of Health;

—Ministry of Long-Term Care;

—Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility.

The objective of today’s meeting is to select the estimates of certain ministries for review by this committee. Standing order 63 sets out the process by which the committee makes its selections. With each turn, each recognized party may choose the estimates of one ministry. If members of one party declines to make a selection, the selection then passes to the next party in rotation. The process concludes when either there are no further ministries available to select or all parties decline to make further selections.

The estimates of these ministries not selected for consideration will be deemed to have been passed by the committee. As Chair, I will report those unselected estimates back to the House, and they will be deemed to be adopted and concurred in by the House.

With making your selections, please look at the list of ministries in the estimates book or as displayed on the screen in front of you, and give the correct names of the ministries when you select them for consideration.

Do members have any questions before we begin? I recognize MPP Gélinas.

M^me France Gélinas: I was just curious to know, do we know when they will take place and how many we will have time to do? I know that there is a hard deadline of—I forgot—November 16?

The Clerk of the Committee (Ms. Vanessa Kattar): The third Thursday in November.

M^me France Gélinas: The third Thursday in November is the fixed deadline. Do we know if we are going to do this during the summer recess or is this something we will do next fall? Any idea when we are going to do this?

The Chair (Mr. Brian Riddell): Yes, it probably will be during the summer. I don’t know right now, but we’ll determine that. As soon as we know, we’ll let you know. It’s up to the committee to determine.

M^me France Gélinas: Okay.

The Chair (Mr. Brian Riddell): I know nobody likes to sit during the summer, and I respect that.

Any further questions? Okay.

Selections: I would like to start with the official opposition for their first selection. MPP Gélinas?

M^me France Gélinas: I’m sure everybody will be really surprised that my first choice is going to be the Ministry of Health.

The Chair (Mr. Brian Riddell): Now I’ll go to MPP McMahon.

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: Thank you for having me, Chair and committee. I would like to choose the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, please.

The Chair (Mr. Brian Riddell): Now I’ll go to the government.

Mr. Anthony Leardi: The Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility.

The Chair (Mr. Brian Riddell): I’ll come back.

M^me France Gélinas: My next choice is the Ministry of Education.

The Chair (Mr. Brian Riddell): And the third party?

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon: I would like to choose the Ministry of Long-Term Care, please.

The Chair (Mr. Brian Riddell): And to the government?

Mr. Anthony Leardi: The Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security.

The Chair (Mr. Brian Riddell): Thank you for all your selections. Thank you everyone for attending today’s meeting.

The committee now stands adjourned.

The committee adjourned at 1305.

STANDING COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL POLICY

Chair / Président

Mr. Brian Riddell (Cambridge PC)

First Vice-Chair / Première Vice-Présidente

M^me France Gélinas (Nickel Belt ND)

Second Vice-Chair / Deuxième Vice-Présidente

MPP Andrea Hazell (Scarborough–Guildwood L)

Ms. Aislinn Clancy (Kitchener Centre / Kitchener-Centre G)

Ms. Jess Dixon (Kitchener South–Hespeler / Kitchener-Sud–Hespeler PC)

M^me France Gélinas (Nickel Belt ND)

MPP Andrea Hazell (Scarborough–Guildwood L)

Mr. John Jordan (Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston PC)

Mr. Anthony Leardi (Essex PC)

MPP Robin Lennox (Hamilton Centre / Hamilton-Centre ND)

Mr. Billy Pang (Markham–Unionville PC)

Ms. Natalie Pierre (Burlington PC)

Mr. Brian Riddell (Cambridge PC)

Mrs. Daisy Wai (Richmond Hill PC)

Substitutions / Membres remplaçants

MPP Billy Denault (Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke PC)

Ms. Mary-Margaret McMahon (Beaches–East York L)

Clerk / Greffière

Ms. Vanessa Kattar

Staff / Personnel

Ms. Sandra Lopes, research officer,
Research Services