Ontario cities are the most competitive places to invest and grow. One reason for their success is our government lowering the cost of doing business by $7 billion annually. That has resulted in record investments being made.

TS Manufacturing in Lindsay invested $5 million and added 25 jobs and upskilled jobs. We invested $750,000 to help support this local company by supplying cutting-edge sawmill and mining equipment.

Colonial Log and Timber in Lindsay invested $1.3 million to double their log and timber framing manufacturing, with the help of $195,000 from our government. They’re creating jobs and gaining a competitive edge accessing new global markets.

All of this is because Ontario is open for business.

The Kawartha Lakes small business centre received $400,000, in addition to the almost $80,000 for their Summer Company and their Starter Company Plus programs for young entrepreneurs.

And close to 30 area businesses received $72,000 in Digital Transformation Grants to put their businesses online.

Our government eliminated the red tape, unaffordable hydro rates and taxes that the Liberals and NDP piled onto small businesses.

This is exactly what small businesses needed to ignite their entrepreneurial flames.

My question is for the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

Many entrepreneurs and workers choose to plant their roots in my riding of Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock for many reasons. With a high quality of life and ample opportunities, there’s no shortage of reasons why it’s one of the best places to operate and grow a business.

With the billions of dollars in investments that the government has been attracting across the province, my constituents want to know that they are also getting a fair deal and that the government is there to help their businesses stay competitive.

Can the minister explain what our government is doing to support businesses—namely, manufacturers—in my riding?

It’s great to hear that the people in Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock have not been forgotten by the government.

It’s also great to see that after years of Liberal and NDP governments making business costly and expensive in Ontario, investments and small business start-ups have roared back to life under this government.

Speaker, to keep this momentum going, we need to ensure that entrepreneurs have everything they need to be successful and to remain competitive on the world stage.

I want to ask the minister to elaborate on what our government is doing to support entrepreneurs who are looking to start and grow their businesses.