Thank you to the member for Nickel Belt—it really expresses the need for this Ministry of Red Tape Reduction and all the work that it has to do and has done.

I’m pleased to rise and join the debate in support of the fall red tape reduction bill, the Less Red Tape, More Common Sense Act, 2023. This comprehensive package of regulatory and policy adjustments introduced by the Minister of Red Tape Reduction builds upon the achievements of previous efforts to alleviate the burdens placed on individuals and businesses by either ineffective or outdated regulatory burdens.

Most things in life come and go in cycles. The saying “out with the old, in with the new” exists for a reason. It’s just a fact of life that at certain periods, what has been in place to manage or fill a need may have run its course, is no longer effective or is in need of alteration. The old saying, “Well, we’ve always done it that way,” just doesn’t cut it.

When systems are designed using the tools at hand to manage the efficient and productive flow of businesses and services, change is inevitable. It is incumbent upon policy-makers to monitor the impact of lifestyle, technology, geography and overarching societal changes to revise best practices and keep pace with our ever-evolving world.

While we all agree that regulations are a necessary part of the functioning of a civil society, there can be unintended consequences to the enforcement of outdated and cumbersome policies and procedures. The productive and efficient flow of business and service can and should go hand in hand with a mandate for high-quality standards and trustworthy results.

Unfortunately, regulations, much like old items in an attic, tend to accumulate over time. We heard yesterday that the minister will soon be launching a mandatory regulatory review. It’s important to keep that attic cleaned out. With the exception of time-sensitive statutes, regulations have no expiration date. Once they are legislated, they become a valid part of our framework unless we actively revisit specific examples to take them out—and that’s what’s happening with this bill.

Imagine a library that never updates its inventory. Over time, the shelves become cluttered, and finding relevant information becomes a challenge. Similarly, regulations without expiration dates can clutter our systems. Regular review and pruning are crucial for a streamlined and effective governance framework.

In the absence of a proactive approach to identify and rectify wasteful, outdated or burdensome regulations, the proliferation of such rules, along with the associated costs and time investments needed for compliance, will persistently grow over time. This accumulation not only hampers efficiency but also places an undue burden on individuals, businesses and the economy as a whole. Therefore, it is imperative that we engage in a consistent and vigilant effort to streamline and modernize our regulatory framework, ensuring that it remains relevant to the real-world conditions it is meant to reflect.

Continual enhancement of government services and the reduction of unnecessary burdens on individuals and businesses remains a steadfast goal for this government. This necessitates an ongoing commitment to streamlining processes and modernizing outdated practices across diverse sectors of government.

I understand that ministries don’t initially aim to create laws or regulations that are costly or challenging to comply with. However, without regular evaluation, many existing rules and regulations hold precedence in official records long after their original purpose has been achieved.

We observed an excessively cumbersome regulatory landscape during the previous government. Back in 2017, under the preceding Liberal administration, Ontario bore the highest compliance costs in Canada, amounting to $33,000 per business—$4,000 higher than any other province. An environment of over-regulation emerged, which created undue hurdles for businesses and hindered job growth. This excessive regulatory framework pitted the government against the people of Ontario.

When our government took office in 2018, it was evident that change was imperative. We embarked on a determined mission to eliminate the unnecessary and outdated regulations that were impeding the great potential that this province holds.

To that end, our Minister of Red Tape Reduction has been hard at work, travelling the province and meeting with stakeholders at every level to get first-hand feedback on the challenges faced when interacting within the existing framework.

Recently, Minister Gill held a red tape reduction round table in my riding of Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston. There, we heard from a diverse and proactive representation of businesses and services who told us how, when and where the system was failing them in their attempts to react to the needs of a competitive market in a productive, timely, cost-efficient manner. Stakeholders from the agricultural community, chambers of commerce, health professionals and service providers all had valid, informative input to give us a real-time picture of the inefficiencies of outdated regulations and their impact on the effective flow of business and service. We listened to their feedback and the feedback of like-minded, hard-working professionals across the province, and we’re moving forward to revoke, revise and update the regulations that are causing backlogs, confusion and unnecessary lag time in an evolving, fast-paced market.

Since forming government in 2018, our government has reduced the number of regulatory compliance requirements affecting businesses and other regulated entities by 6%. To date, our government has implemented over 550 measures to cut through red-tape-related hurdles, all while steadfastly upholding public health and safety and environmental standards.

Our government has been resolute in slashing Ontario’s regulatory load by a significant 16,000 compliance requirements. I congratulate the Minister of Red Tape Reduction and his PA, the member for Niagara West, for their great work.

Furthermore, since 2018, these dedicated initiatives to reduce red tape have yielded substantial results, culminating in savings exceeding an impressive $939 million in annual gross regulatory compliance costs. This achievement has brought tangible benefits to a wide array of entities, including businesses, non-profit organizations, municipalities, universities, colleges, school boards and hospitals.

However, our government must continue on this path. According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, small businesses in Canada incurred billions in dollars in costs due to red tape last year. This is simply unacceptable. That is precisely why it is incumbent upon our government to take a step back and critically evaluate the relevance and necessity of the regulations put forth by various ministries. We must ensure that they evolve in tandem with societal needs, adapt to technological progress, and remain attuned to shifting circumstances. Through this conscientious approach, we can maintain a regulatory framework that serves the best interests of our citizens and bolsters the vitality of our economy.

The Less Red Tape, More Common Sense Act, if put into effect, will mark a significant milestone in the continuous efforts of the Ontario government to alleviate regulatory burdens. This proposed act introduces practical adjustments that aim to create an environment conducive to the growth and prosperity of both individuals and businesses. These measures are specifically designed to enhance services for individuals and reduce operational expenses for businesses, while also streamlining engagements with the government. When it comes to eliminating unnecessary red tape, only our government will get it done. This encompasses a range of enhancements, from fine-tuning government forms to alleviating administrative pressures on physicians—by doing so, we afford them more invaluable time to dedicate to providing optimal care for their patients. Furthermore, it extends to the creation of more accessible pathways into skilled trades, actively fostering an influx of apprenticeships in high-demand sectors.

Our steadfast commitment to alleviating burdens which have a tangible impact on both businesses and individuals remains resolute.

The proposed strategies encapsulated in this comprehensive package position us to forge ahead in establishing a regulatory framework that is both transparent and highly effective. Through these measures, we ensure the safety and well-being of Ontario’s labour force and families. Concurrently, these actions fortify protections for our environment and the invaluable resources that sustain our province. It also encompasses a comprehensive array of 32 innovative measures. These measures are strategically designed to enhance services for individuals, while simultaneously relieving financial burdens for businesses.

Upon full implementation, the collective impact of these measures is projected to result in substantial time savings of up to 100,000 hours annually for both individuals and businesses, underscoring the remarkable potential of these initiatives—when you think a full-time employee works between 1,820 and 2,000 hours, that’s over 50 full-time equivalents. It’s significant. This demonstrates the significant strides that can be made toward a more efficient and prosperous regulatory framework.

On this side of the House, we recognize that the key to enhancing services for individuals, reducing expenses for business and fostering smoother interactions with the government lies in our sustained efforts to alleviate the everyday burdens faced by both citizens and enterprises.

When we aggregate these annual savings, the cumulative figure soars to nearly $2.8 billion in removed compliance costs since the inception of our term in office, and demonstrates once again the importance of the minister’s work. This stands as a testament to our government’s unwavering commitment to lightening the load and seeking efficiencies, ultimately benefiting the economic landscape and the province as a whole.

If this bill receives approval, it will herald a significant stride towards efficiency and modernization in various government departments and key sectors of Ontario’s economy.

The proposed adjustments range from refining government paperwork—a move aimed at alleviating administrative burdens on physicians, thereby affording them additional time to provide top-tier care for their patients. It’s strengthening our commitment towards quality of health care delivery.

Our minister of trade has spoken many times about the importance of creating an environment where the economy can succeed. Eliminating red tape is helping to create that environment.

In summary, this bill entails the creation of more accessible pathways into the skilled trades, a strategic move to entice a greater number of apprentices into high-demand fields. This not only prepares Ontario’s workforce for enduring, fulfilling careers but also bolsters the foundation of our industries.

Additionally, this bill emphasizes bolstering consumer protection. By ensuring consumers are armed with the knowledge they need, particularly when making significant transactions like buying or selling vehicles, we fortify their ability to make informed decisions.

These proposed changes collectively signal a proactive approach towards fostering efficiency, innovation and a thriving economy across Ontario. They reflect a concerted effort to adapt and progress in a rapidly evolving socio-economic landscape.

Speaker, one important aspect of this bill that is of great interest to me and the people of my riding of Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston is the creation of more pathways into the skilled trades, which will attract more apprentices to in-demand trades and help prepare Ontario’s workforce for rewarding, lifelong careers. Encouraging individuals to pursue high-demand trades is not only crucial for alleviating labour shortages but also for fostering robust economic growth and securing a proficient workforce for the years ahead.

As an integral component of our comprehensive fall package, we are presently conducting a thorough review of joint health and safety committee certification training standards. This review is focused on identifying opportunities for streamlining certification prerequisites, eliminating redundancy with other mandatory training, and pinpointing areas where administrative barriers and associated costs can be reduced. This strategic overhaul is designed to uphold the relevance and practicality of the training, thereby elevating workplace safety standards and mitigating workforce shortages resulting from injuries. In tandem with this effort, we are also embarking on a substantial enhancement of our database, which houses nearly three million records of workers who have undergone mandatory safety training.

This initiative is a pivotal aspect of our broader strategy aimed at making Ontario one of the safest work environments. The database serves as a cornerstone tool utilized by the ministry to cultivate secure workplaces. The impending transition involves the development of a custom-built, cloud-based database using government platforms to bolster system and procedural efficiencies. This system will be used by an extensive network comprising over 700,000 workers, employers and ministry personnel. Its primary function will be to authenticate that workers have undergone requisite training for tasks such as working at heights or obtaining joint health and safety committee certification. Furthermore, this platform will provide training providers, workers and employers with an improved user experience, granting swift, accessible, all-in-one access to thousands of training records. This transformative enhancement underscores our steadfast commitment to fostering safer, more efficient work environments across the province. That is why I support this bill.

Every day, I speak with people in my riding of Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston who are engaged in business start-ups, running the family farm, or applying the tools of their skilled trade to a demanding marketplace. These hard-working professionals are pitted against cumbersome, limiting and financially burdensome regulations. When people are trying to support our families and be productive members of their local communities, the government should be working with them.

There are seven principles for this bill. The Less Red Tape, More Common Sense Act contains 32 burden-reduction initiatives to help improve services for people and reduce costs for businesses.

By fixing broken systems that were ignored, our government is helping businesses save $939 million annually in gross regulatory compliance costs. To date, our government has removed over 16,000 different types of red tape, all without compromising health, safety or the environment.

This fall 2023 would build on the close to a billion dollars in gross annual compliance cost savings we’ve achieved to date, strengthening Ontario’s position as a key player in the North American and global economy.

Since July 1, 2018, this government has reduced the number of regulatory compliance requirements affecting businesses and other regulated entities by 6%.

I think the extension of the chair’s role is important to continuity. In the organization where I came from, we created a past chair role just to be able to maintain that historical knowledge. So I think there’s a lot of common sense to that particular one.

So far, there have been 16,000 different types of red tape reductions. There’s a lot of work to do, and we’re going to continue to do it. I know the minister plans to bring another bill forward in the spring, so the work has just begun. We now have a Ministry of Red Tape Reduction. To your point—we’ll continue to chip away at the thousands of red tapes that we have in this province.

In my previous career, I worked in a multi-sector, multi-funded organization. We’re talking about the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services; the Public Health Agency of Canada—grants from time to time. It would even come to a point where you would have to decide not to accept a grant because the administration burden was higher than the value of the grant. There are so many examples of that that this ministry is directing its efforts to.

We had a round table. We had agriculture; we had our paramedics around the table—and multiple examples. The minister was there and has taken notes, and we’ll see those coming forward in the future.

There are 12 key forms to streamline, through working with the OMA. It results in 95,000 hours back to physicians—that’s not inconsequential, by the way—which is around 50 full-time equivalents. That means the nurse that the physician has—or sometimes the physician just has one staff, so they’re using their nurse for both administration and—they could be doing other things, like preparing the patient to see the physician, doing the blood pressure, instead of doing unnecessary paperwork. It results in 285,000 additional patient visits—not inconsequential.

Questions?

I appreciate the debate.

This is, quite frankly, a dull bill. There are one, two, three, four, five schedules that basically say a university “provides that a member of the board may not serve for more than six consecutive years. The act is amended to permit an exception to that rule in certain circumstances for a member who is serving as chair of the board.” I agree that we need to clean up regulations when appropriate—but the way that I’m hearing it debated, like this is the second coming of Christ, is not factual.

I feel like the Conservative government is out of touch with what’s going on with people. We’ve talked several times here about the need for take-home cancer medication to be covered—you get a pill, you take it at the hospital, it’s covered; you bring it home, you have to pay out of pocket, fill out forms, get reimbursed. That is regulation and red tape that we can get rid of.

This might be necessary, but why can’t we get the common sense stuff done in this House? That’s my question.

I want to thank the member from Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston for an excellent presentation on the proposed legislation in front of us.

He mentioned in his remarks that he hosted a round table on red tape removal with the minister. I’d like the member to speak about what he sees to be the effect of this proposed legislation within his riding. I know he’s doing a lot of hard work for the local businesses in that area.

It is just common sense—simply put, if you have a business with $10 of revenue and $12 of expense, what choices do you have? You have to leave, you have to close down, or you have to find ways to make sure it becomes competitive. That’s what this government is doing—making sure, by reducing the red tape, that we’re reducing the cost to the business.

My question to the member is, what exactly has the government done since 2018 to support our businesses so that they become competitive and grow in the province of Ontario?

I would like to thank the member for Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston for his comments this morning in the debate on Bill 139.

As the member for London West, I engage frequently with businesses in my riding, with people who are involved in economic development, and one of the things that I hear the most, when we talk about some of the barriers to growing our economy and supporting businesses in London—it is the need for housing; it is the need to make sure that people have access to a family doctor; it is the need to make sure that new employees who are coming to this city can bring their kids and there’s going to be access to good schools that don’t have as many portables on the property as they do in the school; it’s access to child care; it’s access to transit.

So my question is, why are we dealing with a bill that has such inconsequential, meaningless housekeeping amendments instead of dealing with these big challenges that businesses are facing?

I agree with you 100% that we have to keep our physicians—have all our health care providers working to full scope and minimize the amount of administration they have to do. Central intake is certainly one of those things. The government is working with the OMA on red tape issues, and that will continue as well. Our Minister of Health has provided funding for interdisciplinary care. There have been proposals received and waiting for approval.

In my riding of Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston, we’ve seen the expansion of the Ottawa Valley Family Health Team from Almonte; it’s now going to be in Carleton Place as well.

Those are great models of care, because they allow the physicians to really scope on doing doctor work and not running a business, not hiring staff, not worrying about whether the hydro bill got paid. The interdisciplinary model, the CHCs, the family health teams, are great models, and the minister has supported that initiative.

I’d like to talk about something that I believe falls within the bill—but also, because of the words “common sense.”

I received a letter this morning from Unifor Local 4212, and I think it goes to all of us. The seaway, right now, is a very important part for transporting grain, our food—and everything along the St. Lawrence Seaway. They said, “We write to you, as a member of provincial Parliament from Ontario representing a constituency along the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp., operating the Welland Canal. We aim to express our deep solidarity and strongly urge the employer to engage in meaningful—with the workers’ last offer, which unfortunately resulted in a breakdown of negotiations.

“Our collective goal should focus on establishing fair wages and working conditions by negotiating in good faith with Unifor for your workforce along the seaway, both in Niagara and beyond. The Welland Canal and the entire St. Lawrence Seaway is a beacon of pride for Niagara. The nearly 400 Unifor workers and their families that go to work at the Welland Canal deserve nothing less than their full commitment to ensure their rights and livelihoods are met.

“These are more than workers. They are our neighbours, community volunteers, our local leaders, that make contributions to Niagara every day, and they deserve to be treated with fairness and respect.

“In these challenging times, we have seen inflation rise by double digits. It is critical to acknowledge the tenacity of the workers to stand up for fair wages, pushing back about the recent efforts towards contracting-out of skilled workers and good-paying jobs.

“We understand that negotiations are complex, and there are many factors at play. However, the importance of the strike on Niagara workers”—and, I’ll add, right across the province of Ontario—“for our economy cannot be underestimated. It implores the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. to approach these negotiations with the urgency and the sincerity that it requires.

“Together, we stand with the workers in Niagara fighting for a fair contract. Our combined teams are ready to assist in any way possible to facilitate a fair negotiation and support workers in Niagara and our communities through our difficult times.”

I’m suggesting that all parties write a letter to support getting back to the bargaining table. We have grain that is sitting out on our lake here, Lake Ontario, that’s not getting to our customers to feed people. They’ve got to get back to the table and get a fair collective agreement. And I will say very clearly that I stand with all the workers at Unifor Local 4212.

I know it might be a little off the red tape part, but I thought I’d read that letter because of the importance of the St. Lawrence Seaway and those workers to our food sources and other materials for small, medium-sized and large businesses. So I appreciate the time to read that letter. I know you’re probably not happy with that, but I had to get it out. So I appreciate it, and I’ll move on.

Madam Speaker, speaking to this bill is a great opportunity to discuss the details, but also to discuss the real lack of direction from this government. They seem to continue to fail to meet the moment. We have a bill here that does a number of technical amendments and changes, many non-concerning, but it’s also one, again, that misses so many important opportunities.

Let’s really think about what we’ve done in this session so far. Has this government come out and said they are truly going to tackle the major challenges people are facing in their lives today? No, they haven’t. Affordability, health care, housing—they seem to ignore all of them.

The housing file is potentially one of the biggest areas of concern. The new minister spends more time complaining about the federal government than actually doing his job. The minister, who has recently been the poster boy of flip-flopping and backtracking on bad decisions, is not getting housing built and most definitely not getting affordable housing units built in all our ridings. How can the minister even do his job when he has to spend so much time filling in for the Premier in question period? It’s a fair question.

Madam Speaker, government is all about priorities, and this government’s priorities are all over the place. The member for London North Centre put forward thoughtful, pragmatic legislation to get affordable housing built. Guess what this government did? They said no. They voted it down, because we all know they don’t want affordable housing built in this province. They aren’t concerned with the couple in their mid-thirties making a decent living who can’t move out of their parents’ house and will never be able to afford a down payment on a home. Those aren’t their donors, and they don’t create policy to help them.

What this bill tells us right from the beginning—this government continues to fail to meet the moment in this province. I’m going to read that again, because it’s important. This bill tells us, right from the beginning, that the government continues to fail to meet the moment in this province. It’s more status quo, just like we saw with the previous Liberal government.

This government seems to follow in the same direction as the previous Liberals when it comes to underfunding health care, but this time it’s even worse, because you’re going into privatization of our health care—one of the biggest mistakes I think your government will ever make. This legislation and the bill brought forward before it this session have done nothing to address the growing health care crisis in our province.

I can talk to it because I’m from Niagara—as you know, Madam Speaker, from our years of knowing each other. You know I’ve lived in Niagara my entire life.

The story of Fort Erie—it’s a community; it’s a border town. They had a hospital there. There were decisions made to close that hospital, and then it became an urgent care centre. In Fort Erie, we’re growing—in the next few years, we’re going to have over 40,000 residents living in that community. We had an urgent care centre that was 24/7; just recently, they decided to only open it up 10 hours a day.

I’ll give you a couple of examples of what happened in Fort Erie. There was an 11-year-old boy who had an appendix attack, and he went to the hospital in Fort Erie, when it was still 24/7. If he’d had to go to Niagara Falls or to St. Catharines—because they’re the two hospitals that people have to go to after 8 o’clock at night now—he would have died. But, because it was open, those nurses and the doctors who were on shift saved his life. That’s one example.

I have an example of a senior who had a heart attack and, again, because it was 24/7, he went to the Fort Erie hospital. They were able to stabilize him, and then they sent him off to Hamilton, where he had open-heart surgery. Again, do you know what happened, Madam Speaker? Those nurses and doctors in Fort Erie, because it was open 24/7, saved his life. And yet, the decision that’s being made today is that it’s going to be open 10 hours a day.

You say to yourself, why are those decisions being made? We hear from the government all the time—and, Madam Speaker, you know this—that we’re investing record numbers of dollars into health care, even though it’s not completely accurate. But that’s what they’re saying.

So I’m saying to this government—you always say we never come with solutions. Well, I want to give you a solution around the red tape. Why do we continue to fight Bill 124 in the courts and attack our nurses and our health care workers? Why don’t we get rid of Bill 124, reinvest those dollars that you’re paying high-priced lawyers in Toronto, invest in workers and nurses and health care, and make sure that Fort Erie’s hospital is open 24/7 for the residents?

The one thing I want to add to that is that over 25% of all residents who live in Fort Erie are seniors, and there aren’t a lot of transportation options in Fort Erie.

I’ll give you one more example of why it needs to be open. We’re getting close to Christmas. I saw somebody in the elevator yesterday for the PCs who had Christmas cards—

Interjection.

Last Christmas—I think it was December 23; I might be out by a day—we had that terrible ice storm. Does anybody remember that ice storm we had that was down in Niagara—more in the Fort Erie area—where in Buffalo people froze to death in their cars? In Fort Erie, we lost a couple of people who had had heart attacks and couldn’t get out of their rooms. Guess what happened? They closed the highway. The highway was shut down for five days—five days. As a matter of fact—and I think you worked for CHCH at one time, Madam Speaker—the crews couldn’t get to Fort Erie. They got stuck on the highway and ended up in the ditch.

Well, in Fort Erie, now that it’s only open 10 hours a day—meaning it’s closed from 8 at night until 8 in the morning—what do we do in that same situation if it happens this Christmas? Where do they go to get service? More residents are not going to have their health care.

It’s important that we make sure that Fort Erie is taken care of. Our public—

Further debate?

The member from Hamilton Mountain mentioned volunteers, so it’s a great segue.

Communities throughout Ontario are built on the backs of volunteers. We depend on them. These dedicated and passionate individuals donate their time, skills and knowledge in the communities they call home and beyond. They are instrumental in supporting families, patients, students, seniors and children. Without volunteers, many organizations, events and services would not exist.

On Thursday, September 21 and Tuesday, October 17, the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism held special Ontario Volunteer Service Award ceremonies in Brockville and Kingston, respectively. Many residents from my riding of Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston were recognized for their years of service, like:

—Vivian Buchanan, who has dedicated over 29 years to Perth Seniors Fellowship and 10 years with the Table Good Food Bank;

—Kathryn Mellon, who has given 35 years of her time and talent to the United Way Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington; and

—Edward Wilson, for his 20 years of dedication to the North Lanark Historical Society.

There are many benefits to volunteering. It offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes and the community. It also connects you, the volunteer, to new friends, reduces stress and provides a sense of purpose.

To all of the Ontario Volunteer Service Award recipients, a resounding thank you from everyone you have assisted over the years. And if you haven’t done so already, consider volunteering. It’s a great experience.

Bill 139 does talk about less red tape and more common sense, so I’m talking about the common sense part of the bill. That’s the name of the bill. You put it in the title, so in my thinking, these are common sense things that we can do that make life better for the residents of the province of Ontario.

I don’t like the words “common sense,” by the way—I’ll say this just because you raised it. The last time I saw it used in the province of Ontario—do you know who used that as a slogan to get elected? Does anybody remember? You must remember—long before you ran. It was Mike Harris. Remember? He talked about common sense.

Interjection.

That was at a time when he decided, under the Common Sense Revolution, to cut services. I can talk about Walkerton, where we had seven people die from tainted water. Again, “common sense”—they used it. And I can talk about how they closed 26 hospitals and laid off 6,000 nurses.

So when you ask me about common sense, I think these are common sense things that we can do—I’m begging you to put 24/7 back into my hospital in Fort Erie. I think that’s fair. I think it’s reasonable. I think that is common sense. I don’t think any resident, because they live in Fort Erie, should die between 8 at night and 8 in the morning. I’m sorry; I think it is common sense.

I’m going to get on to another health care issue, if that’s okay with you. The closure of health care facilities is another worrisome trend. The loss of essential services can have devastating consequences, especially for vulnerable populations. I just talked about Fort Erie. Many residents rely on this facility for urgent medical attention, and the closure left them in a difficult situation. I’ve been working tirelessly to raise awareness about this issue and push it to reopen 24/7. I’m asking you guys to do that again.

I’m going to talk about another part of my riding, Niagara-on-the-Lake. I know the member, Madam Speaker, has been in Niagara-on-the-Lake a lot. I’ve seen her down there a few times. I’m going to turn your attention to Niagara-on-the-Lake. It’s concerning that there is a lack of primary care service in our town. As you know—maybe you don’t know, but you closed our hospital in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Every resident deserves access to a family doctor or a nurse practitioner, yet many are left without their basic health care needs. I am fully aware of the urgency of the situation and have been actively advocating for a solution. The arrival of a nurse practitioner in Niagara-on-the-Lake would be a positive step, common sense. Nurse practitioners play a critical role in our health care system, providing essential primary care services—

I apologize to the member.

I recognize the member for Chatham-Kent–Leamington.

I’ll let you continue.

Second reading debate deemed adjourned.

Point of order: We’ve indulged the member from Niagara Falls for some time now, but pursuant to standing order 25(b)(i), I ask, through you Speaker, that the member from Niagara Falls please return his remarks in this debate to the subject matter of the bill.

Today I stand before you representing the amazing people of Ajax. I rise to recognize Durham Youth Services, located in Ajax and led by Shannon Jackson and her dedicated team. They extend a helping hand to youth in Ajax and the Durham region, offering them a lifeline during a difficult time.

Under Premier Ford’s leadership, our government recognizes the immeasurable value that organizations like Durham Youth Services offer to residents facing challenges in Ontario.

This year, Durham Youth Services was the recipient of over $180,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation Resilient Communities Fund.

I’ve met with Shannon and her team and have seen the amazing work that they do.

DYS was also this year’s charity of choice for the Home Depot Canada Foundation. The foundation selects one project in Canada for a community build each year. Over 70 Home Depot associates, partners and vendors from across Canada came to Ajax to work on this project. In just two days, two homes were transformed with new siding, landscaping, fencing, updated doors, kitchens and bathrooms, storage solutions and much more—all at no cost to the charity.

Thank you to Shannon and her team and the Home Depot Canada Foundation for the great work they do every day to support our youth in Ajax and the Durham region. We appreciate your passion and your dedication.

Today I’m excited to share an invite to my annual pumpkin party happening this Saturday, October 28. The fun will be at T.B McQuesten Park from noon until 2:30. Many will know this amazing park is located at 1199 Upper Wentworth Street on Hamilton Mountain, which has tons of free parking, is fully accessible and is on many HSR bus routes.

This annual event is family friendly, free of charge and sure to get you in the Halloween spirit, so wear your costumes and come join in the fun. We have free pumpkins to carve and all of the pumpkin carving tools you will need to make your perfect jack-o’-lantern—and the best part is you can leave all the messy parts behind.

A big thank you to the volunteers who will be making sure you have hot chocolate, popcorn, treats and a goodie bag.

While you enjoy the afternoon with your family and friends, you can also head over to our photo booth and snap a picture of a day that is to be remembered.

New this year is the Hamilton Fire Department stopping by to say hello and to bring some very important information about fire safety and prevention.

Come out this Saturday, bring your costume, your carving skills and creativity. Let’s spend the afternoon together as a community at T.B McQuesten Park and have a spooktacular time. As always, full details are available through my office and online. Give us a call, drop us an email if you have any questions. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone there.

Have a very happy Halloween.

Speaker, it is time. It’s time for symbolic gestures, the ones that come cheap, to be done. We stand at a crossroads, faced with an epidemic of intimate partner violence. Two weeks ago in Niagara, it took an innocent life, and just yesterday, in Sault Ste. Marie, five more. We have lost mothers, children, friends, community members, and it’s time to say, “No more.”

Speaker, I lost a friend to femicide. I rarely speak about it in this House. However, I know almost every woman in this chamber carries a similar story, a shared grief.

Last year, alongside my colleagues, strong and fierce advocates from London West, Toronto Centre, Toronto–St. Paul’s—all united, urging this government to respond to the Renfrew county inquest recommendations. When the response came, it was in half measures, refusing to declare intimate partner violence a crisis, refusing annualized funding to the sector.

Now it’s time for a real commitment to accept all of the Renfrew county recommendations—not just the easy ones, not just the cheap ones, but all of them.

My advocacy and the advocacy of my colleagues is built on the shoulders of giants, the women in the sector doing the work. It is time we support them fully and unconditionally. It is time. It really is time.

I was honoured to tour the new location of the London Children’s Museum with the MPPs for London West and London–Fanshawe.

Founded by Carol Johnston in 1975, it is the oldest children’s museum in Canada, and it is a one-of-a-kind destination for all of Ontario and the United States. Children have opportunities to watch, interact, move, problem-solve, collaborate and think critically, which instill in children lifelong skills, ones which are prized by employers today and well into the future. They offer fantastic curricular supports for school tours and also help children who come from low-income households. The children’s museum inspires lifelong learners.

Everyone in London has fond memories of the children’s museum and remembers what they learned in that space. It has launched careers because of its engaging nature. Speaker, it was actually my very first job, as a young volunteer.

Their new space at 100 Kellogg Lane reflects the London community through exhibits of the forest, community displays, agriculture, space, archeology, a maker space to support the trades, water, gears and pulleys, and much more. It’s designed by children for children.

London MPPs were surprised to learn the provincial capital contributions to this project were minimal, while federal and municipal governments have stepped up with millions in support.

We look forward to hosting the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport at Canada’s oldest children’s museum, a world-class facility where kids learn, grow and thrive with a second-to-none educational experience.

I will even drive you there today.

All the best to the great people at the children’s museum for their ongoing work to help children build confidence, foster relationships and ignite curiosity.

I rise to recognize the importance of Small Business Week, celebrated from October 15 to 21. Even though that was last week, our small businesses should be remembered all the time, as they play a crucial role in driving our local economy.

I was once a small business entrepreneur.

In York region, more than 84% of our businesses are classified as small businesses, highlighting their contribution to the region’s prosperity. They are the heart and soul of our community, fostering job growth. It is the backbone of businesses in Richmond Hill.

I’m delighted to share the success of the fourth annual Entrepreneurship Finance Conference, hosted by city of Richmond Hill economic development on October 19. This virtual conference provided entrepreneurs with insight into capital and financial resources through interactive sessions and professional advice. The Honourable Nina Tangri, Associate Minister of Small Business, attended the conference.

Our government supports them and continues to cut red tape to save businesses time and cost.

Let’s continue to champion the over 400,000 small businesses in Ontario, ensuring they have the support and resources that they need to grow and thrive.