Today, I focus on our government’s support of workers. Career training and skill development opportunities change life for the better.

Ontario invests in workers to provide job prospects, career training and education options such as the PSW training fund program. This investment reaps rewards. Karen, a constituent in my riding of Don Valley North, received financial support from the $54.7 million in funding our government invested in the PSW training program. Karen is grateful for the help, and today, she contributes as a working PSW in health care.

People like Karen who benefit from paid training programs also strengthen our health care system by addressing a shortage of PSWs in the province. Together, we work hard to inspire optimism and promote excellence in Ontario’s workforce. We rely on the skilled workforce to deliver the services we need, especially as we rebound post-pandemic.

As Ontario continues to stimulate and fuel the resilient economy, we will continue to invest in workers and their promising future and ours.

My question is for the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. All women and children in Ontario deserve to live without the threat of violence. Sadly, incidents involving human trafficking in women fleeing abuse occur in our province. Many women who leave these circumstances often face challenges in finding support. These obstacles are more pronounced in rural and remote parts of Ontario, where distances make accessing resources extremely difficult.

Everyone has the right to be safe. As a government. we are responsible for directly addressing this issue. What is our government doing to support these women and children?

Speaker, how is our government ensuring appropriate funding for women in rural, remote and northern communities?