Thank you to the member for his remarks this morning—like me, in a rural riding. I was particularly interested in the issues he talked about regarding transportation, both for individuals and for businesses. I do note, in the fall economic statement, the commitment by the government to extend the reduction of fuel tax and gas tax to the end of 2023. I hope the member sees that as good news.

On the health care front: Again, the rural hospital network, whether it’s Wawa, Elliot Lake, or, in my riding, Wiarton, Lion’s Head, Markdale—these places need to work hard and do work hard. The member talked about funding reductions, but I point out—on page 8 of the fall economic statement—that the health care funding will rise from $69.6 billion this year to $75.2 billion this fiscal year, an increase of $5.6 billion. I hope the member sees that as a positive step and will support the government in this legislation.

I’d like to thank the minister for sharing his time with me and for his very excellent speech. I’d like to continue on what the minister was speaking about.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of Bill 36, the government’s proposed Progress on the Plan to Build Act (Budget Measures), 2022.

Le document comprend le tout premier rapport d’étape du gouvernement sur son plan pour bâtir l’Ontario, ainsi que de nouvelles mesures ciblées pour faire avancer son programme visant à bâtir l’économie, à s’attaquer à la pénurie de main-d’oeuvre dans la province, ainsi qu’à aider les familles et les entreprises à garder les coûts bas.

Faits saillants relatifs aux mesures ciblées qui font progresser le plan du gouvernement :

—lancer un registre de crédits pour l’énergie propre, volontaire, pour stimuler la compétitivité, attirer des emplois et offrir aux entreprises plus de choix quant aux moyens d’atteindre leurs objectifs en matière d’environnement et de développement durable, grâce aux mesures législatives proposées;

—accorder aux petites entreprises de l’Ontario un allégement de l’impôt sur le revenu de 185 millions de dollars au cours des trois prochaines années, dont profiteront environ 5 500 petites entreprises grâce à l’élargissement proposé de la fourchette d’élimination progressive du taux de l’impôt applicable aux petites entreprises.

Amid uncertainty due to global geopolitical conflict, elevated inflation, rising interest rates and ongoing supply chain issues, Ontario’s economy has proven resilient. Through its flexible and responsible plan, the government is working to support a long-term plan that will ensure the province is in a strong position to maintain risks in a challenging global economy, while investing to build a stronger Ontario. By preserving flexibility, the government is prepared to provide targeted supports to people and businesses, while maintaining a responsible plan to eliminate Ontario’s structural deficit.

Our government’s priority is to ensure long-term economic growth, while addressing the labour shortages and keeping costs down for families and businesses. We will continue to help grow the economy by getting boots to shovels in the ground to build key infrastructure projects and investing in skills training for Ontario workers and newcomers.

We’re also providing an update on our economic and fiscal outlook, highlighting how its flexible and responsible plan is positioning the province to be ready to manage any hurdles that come our way. In fact, the government is now projecting a $12.9-billion deficit in 2022-23, nearly $7 billion lower than the outlook published in the 2022 budget. The road ahead will not be easy, which is why now is the time for governments to show restraint. Whatever the economic uncertainty may bring, our government has a plan, and I am confident in the resilience of Ontario’s economy, its workers and its people.

Our government is helping to manage rising costs for low-income people with disabilities by planning to adjust core allowances under the Ontario Disability Support Program. The changes made under this plan would allow a person already on ODSP to keep more of the money they earn, by increasing the monthly earnings exemptions from $200 per month to $1,000 per month. This would allow the approximately 25,000 Ontarians currently in the workforce to keep more of their earnings, and it could encourage as many as 25,000 more Ontarians to participate in the workforce.

In the spirit of boosting our economy and giving businesses and consumers more choice to be environmentally conscious, our government is launching a voluntary clean energy credit registry, which will boost competitiveness and create more jobs.

For small businesses in Carleton and across Ontario, we’re providing $185 million in income tax relief over the next three years, benefiting about 5,500 small businesses through the proposed extension of the phase-out of the small business tax rate. And we’re automatically matching property tax reductions for small businesses in all municipalities that adopt the small business property subclass.

As already announced over the weekend, we’re proposing to extend the cuts to the gas tax and fuel tax rates so that the rate on gasoline and fuel would remain at 9% per litre until December 31, 2023.

By eliminating the licence plate renewal fees for passengers and light commercial vehicles, drivers in southern Ontario will save up to $120 per year and northern Ontario drivers will save up to $60 per year.

Our Ontario seniors, who have worked hard all their lives, deserve to retire in dignity. That’s why we’re helping to manage costs for about 200,000 of Ontario’s lowest-income seniors by proposing to double the Guaranteed Annual Income System payment for all recipients for 12 months, starting in January. That’s a maximum increase of almost $1,000 per person in 2023.

Since the announcement of the 2022 budget, the government is enhancing its plan to catch up by increasing direct payments to parents by $140 million, bringing total investments this year alone to over $365 million. This funding will help make life more affordable for parents and ensure students receive the support they need.

Building upon the government’s plan-to-catch-up investments, Ontario is providing further supports with these recently announced initiatives:

—math action teams deployed to underperforming school boards;

—early reading enhancements that further the government’s response to the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Right to Read report;

—new digital resources to support parents, students and educators; and

—new universal screening for reading for Ontario’s youngest learners.

Ontario will soon be approaching that time of year when we all have to file our income tax. Our government will continue to support families by offering the following tax credits:

—the Low-income Individuals and Families Tax Credit, also known as the LIFT tax credit;

—the Ontario Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit;

—the Ontario Staycation Tax Credit;

—the Ontario Jobs Training Tax Credit;

—the Ontario Childcare Access and Relief from Expenses tax credit; and

—the Seniors’ Home Safety Tax Credit.

This government is unleashing the economic potential of critical minerals, including those in the Ring of Fire, with Ontario’s first-ever Critical Minerals Strategy and a commitment of close to $1 billion to support critical legacy infrastructure such as all-season roads to the Ring of Fire. To show how serious we are about this and our commitment and dedication to this, our government even has a Minister of Mines. When was the last time that Ontario even had a Minister of Mines? That goes to show the dedication and commitment of this government.

While our province experienced strong economic growth throughout 2021 and in the first half of 2022, we are now in uncertain times, and these are factors that are beyond our government’s control. That’s why the Ministry of Finance has developed faster-growth and slower-growth scenarios that the economy could take over the next several years to provide more transparency about how any of the scenarios could impact Ontario’s finances.

Our government is committed to eliminating the province’s structural deficit and is redoubling its efforts to bring Ontario’s finances back to balance. Our fall economic statement clearly shows that our government has a responsible plan with targeted new measures to help navigate these economic challenges.

Madam Speaker, the people of Ontario re-elected us with a super majority because they believed in our plan; they believed in the budget that we had put forward. They have seen in the past four years how much we were able to accomplish after 15 years of Liberal waste and mismanagement that was propped up by the current opposition; it’s for that fact that the Liberal Party still doesn’t even have party status. After four years, the people of Ontario could not forget, did not forget. And yet, there are so many members of the government that we don’t even all fit on one side of the House. I think that goes to show the commitment and the dedication that this government has shown in the past four years and will continue to show in the next four years.

It is my hope that all parties in this House will join with the government and vote in favour of this bill.

Whatever the economic uncertainty may bring, the people of Carleton and Ontario can rest assured that our government will always be prepared and will always have their backs.