The economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are making it challenging for businesses in Ontario to find the skilled women and men they need to grow and prosper. Small business owners continue to feel the pressure of the labour shortage, and the skilled and semi-skilled labour shortage remains one of the main factors limiting business growth. We know that small businesses are a significant contributor to Ontario’s economy, so it is essential to help them thrive and feel confident about the future.

Speaker, can the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development share with the House what assistance our government is providing workers to train them with the skills they need to help restart our economy?

Thank you, Minister. The future of our economic recovery and the success of our businesses rely on Ontario becoming a skilled trades and training leader. Our province badly needs carpenters, electricians, plumbers and a full array of skilled trades and blue-collar workers who will help us overcome our housing shortage, reconstruct our infrastructure and help restore our economy.

Our workers are the best in the world, and they deserve to have a government that values the contributions they make day in and day out.

Mr. Speaker, can the minister tell us what our government is doing to help level up skilled trades for our province’s workers, which will help return our economy and businesses to their previous position of strength?

I appreciate the member for Barrie–Innisfil’s question. I do want to address the energy issue head-on, because this government’s plans to ramp up gas plants will increase climate pollution by 300% in the next decade and up to 400% over the next two decades. At a time when the International Energy Agency—a relatively historically conservative and pro-fossil fuel organization—has said that if we have any hope—any hope—of addressing the climate crisis and leaving our children and grandchildren a stable, livable future that can have a healthy economy, we cannot expand fossil fuel use anywhere in the world.

Speaker, 10 years ago the Liberal government paid high prices—I would argue too-high prices—for renewable energy. But since then, the price of solar has dropped by 90% and is now the lowest-cost source of electricity generation in the world. Wind has dropped 80%. Yet this government cancelled renewable energy contracts and is now doubling down on gas plants that generate electricity at twice the cost. So, yes, I would say to the member: Let’s create good green jobs by investing in low-cost renewable energy, which will also set the province of Ontario up to be a global leader in green hydrogen. We just had Germany here saying, “Hey, we need more green hydrogen.” Let’s double down on low-cost clean energy and reverse the government’s plans to ramp up gas plants.