I am really excited to have family members of mine here today: Dr. Deb McNaughton from Grand Bend, Ontario, and Barb Newcomb from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I want to thank the member for Markham–Unionville for this very important question.

Through you, Mr. Speaker, our government really understands Ontario is facing a historic labour shortage. In fact, today in the province there are nearly 400,000 jobs going unfilled. We need all hands on deck to build a stronger Ontario. That is why we’re connecting job seekers with the skills and training they need and promoting the lifelong careers that are available in the skilled trades. We’re also making it easier for out-of-province workers and immigrants to fill in-demand jobs, and we’re calling on skilled workers from right across Canada and abroad to come here to Ontario to collect these paycheques that are waiting to be collected.

Mr. Speaker, our government has an ambitious plan to build, and we’re going to get it done.

Thank you again to the member for that very important question.

As a government, we are determined to continue to open doors for young people and help them get the training and financial supports that they need. It’s our mission to give more people a hand up to better jobs and bigger paycheques. That’s why our government is investing billions in innovative training programs that connect workers to these bigger paycheques. Working together with our labour unions, government and business, we’re making Ontario a place where hard work pays off and big dreams come to life.