SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

Ontario Assembly

43rd Parl. 1st Sess.
June 6, 2023 09:00AM
  • Jun/6/23 11:20:00 a.m.

Ontario has attracted $25 billion in auto and EV investments in just two and a half years, and now we need to ensure that our future workforce has the skills needed to fill the jobs of the future.

Colleges, like Canadore College in my hometown of North Bay, are opening zero-emission training centres, because soon, you won’t need a mechanic—you’re going to need an EV technician.

We’re also investing $6 million through our Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network, and that will support 14 innovative education projects connecting kids from K to 12 and post-secondary students to the province’s EV sector.

The Future Workforce Program bridges the gap between students and the EV industry while reducing the stigma of skilled trades.

Speaker, as we continue to grow Ontario’s world-class auto supply chain, we’re now going to need the workers for the jobs of tomorrow.

Our plan to build Ontario is working.

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  • Jun/6/23 11:40:00 a.m.

Thanks very much to the member opposite for the question.

Quite the opposite: We’re investing in clean, non-emitting generation here in our province, like our nuclear facilities which are on time and ahead of schedule—those big Candu reactors at Darlington and Bruce—and potentially extending Pickering as well, where we get 60% of our clean, non-emitting electricity every day.

We’re investing in the largest procurement in Canada’s history in battery storage facilities. These are going to be located across the province to support all of the growth that we’re seeing in Ontario right now. Under the Premier’s watch, we’re seeing multi-billion dollar investments every day on an EV strategy.

I will point out that the member opposite loves his renewables. There is a role for renewables. But last Thursday, during the hottest day of the year, when it comes to solar, 14% of the solar capacity in our province showed up. If this member was in charge of our grid, we would have brownouts—

According to our system operator—I asked them last year what it would mean if we were to phase out gas in our system. They said it would be $100 extra per family per month—that’s more than a hydro bill—and it would result in brownouts and blackouts in our system. That is what the member opposite is advocating for. We’re not going to be doing that.

We’re going to make sure we’ve got the power that’s there so that we can continue to see the record, multi-billion dollar investments that the Minister of Economic Development and the Premier are bringing home to Ontario from other jurisdictions. They’re doing it because we have a clean grid.

We are going to ensure the power is there when residents go to turn on their lights in the morning and manufacturers are set to build—

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