We’ve heard time and time again that the Liberals and the NDP have damaged rural Ontario’s economy. That’s why in 2018 we promised families that our government would do things differently, and we have. We quickly launched a $100-million Regional Development Program to support businesses and create rural jobs. This program supports regional and rural Ontario companies and it invests and creates jobs. It has attracted almost $1 billion to date in outside investments and created 2,200 jobs.

In Woodstock, ArcelorMittal Tailored Blanks invested $17.4 million in a project to upgrade its auto parts manufacturing facility. With the help of our rural Regional Development Program, 32 jobs were created. Speaker, that’s an example of our commitment to the people of Oxford and the families of rural Ontario.

Together, the Liberals and the NDP turned the dreams of entrepreneurship into nightmares. Red tape, unaffordable hydro, high taxes: All of that threw cold water on their entrepreneurial flames. We saw the problems that they created, so we cut red tape, reduced taxes and fixed their hydro mess. We lowered the cost of doing business by $7 billion each and every single year.

We are providing $362,000 to the Woodstock Small Business Enterprise Centre, to offer those entrepreneurs all the tools they need to start and grow their businesses, and another $95,000 for Oxford’s Summer Company and Starter Company Plus, to help students and young entrepreneurs start their business. Speaker, that’s how we’re helping those entrepreneurs.

Under the previous Liberal government, people and jobs in rural regions like mine felt abandoned. Announcement after announcement of investments and employment concerned only the GTA. My constituents want to know that things are different with our government. What is the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade doing to ensure that my constituents and others in rural Ontario will have good, secure, well-paying jobs for themselves and their children for years to come?

Last week, I heard the member from Newmarket–Aurora mention that her constituents are concerned about entrepreneurship opportunities in her riding. Well, today I’m echoing those concerns for my constituents. Entrepreneurs and their small businesses employ thousands in Oxford. While the Regional Development Program supports companies in Oxford and across the province, it does not have provisions for those with business aspirations or in the start-up phase.

Entrepreneurs and those with small business ambitions need support too. Speaker, what is the minister doing to help entrepreneurs in my riding start and grow their businesses?