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’m glad to ask the member a question on his comments on this red tape reduction bill, Bill 139. His remarks focused a fair bit on small business.

I had a recent conversation, as I know a number of us did, with the doctors from the OMA, and I heard from a young doctor, or a soon-to-be doctor. In her first six weeks of medical school, she told us that she had been nearly dissuaded from going into family practice because everyone was like, “Oh, wow, you’re going into family? There’s so much work to do. The administrative burden is so significant.” They raised the need for the community family health teams to be a priority for this government; they say it would reduce physician burnout—because you have a team that could do a lot of that administrative support. Right now, doctors are spending about 20 hours a week just doing paperwork.

Where there’s an opportunity for a centralized intake that has been piloted and these referral systems—could the government focus on that in another red tape bill since it’s missing from this one?

I apologize to the member. Just on a point of order, standing order 59, I’ll outline business for next week.

In the morning we will have Bill 136, which is the Greenbelt Statute Law Amendment Act; in the afternoon, Bill 142, Better for Consumers, Better for Businesses Act.

On Tuesday, October 31, in the morning, Bill 142, Better for Consumers, Better for Businesses Act; in the afternoon, Bill 136, Greenbelt Statute Law Amendment Act; and in the evening, the private member’s business standing in the name of the member for Richmond Hill, Bill 137, Planning for Your Silver Years Awareness Week Act.

On Wednesday, November 1, in the morning, Bill 136, which is the Greenbelt Statute Law Amendment Act; in the afternoon, Bill 142, Better for Consumers, Better for Businesses Act; and in the evening, Bill 67.

On Thursday, November 2, in the morning, again back to Bill 142; in the afternoon routine, the Minister of Finance will deliver the fall economic statement; and in the afternoon, we will return to Bill 136.

Thank you to the member from Niagara Falls. I understand and hear that you advocate for the winery business in Niagara Falls. Our government always supports all the businesses and that’s why we have this less-red-tape bill. This is the second bill that we are proceeding on and we know that this is a process and we know what you are asking for is getting there, as well.

But my question for you is, we’ve now achieved over $939 million in savings a year and we’re going to continue moving forward with the important work, and part of that is what you’ve just asked for. Would the member support these continued efforts to make it easier for people and businesses to work with the government?