I don’t know where to start. It was the NDP that’s been crying for months to make the business case public, and we have. And do you know what the business case says? That taxpayers will be saving $257 million over a 50-year span in today’s dollars, but $600 million over 50 years if you take into account inflation.

We are building a brand new science centre—one that will be modern; one with new exhibits, new technology, and one that will have 10,000 square feet more of exhibition space for the children to enjoy.

Now, I know what the NDP would like to do. They would like to just leave the building and let it continue to fall apart until they are forced to close it. What we would like to do, Mr. Speaker, is be responsible and provide a long-term solution. We want a science centre for the next 50 to 100 years, and we will have one at Ontario Place.

My question is to the Associate Minister of Small Business.

Under the previous Liberal government, supported by the NDP, businesses left our province in droves. In contrast, under the leadership of the Premier, our government has welcomed record levels of investment, job growth and businesses. It’s both unfortunate and sad that the independent Liberals and opposition NDP continue to sit on the sidelines, criticizing our businesses and voting no to measures that help make things better.

Small businesses in my riding have been vocal about the negative impact that increasing taxes and expanding red tape will have on affordability for all Ontarians.

Speaker, can the associate minister please explain the negative impacts of increasing taxes on our small businesses?

While the Ontario Liberals have doubled down on their claims that families and businesses are better off with less money in their pockets, we know that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Speaker, can the associate minister please elaborate on the consequences that increasing taxes, high interest rates and burdensome red tape will have on our small businesses?

Thank you to the great member from Burlington for her unwavering support of her amazing job creators. I know that so many of our small business owners are trying their best to keep their businesses alive. They’re working long hours, paying their bills and doing their part to create opportunities in their communities.

Businesses simply can’t pass the cost from the additional taxes and red tape onto their customers. Many in their communities are already feeling the pinch on gas, on groceries, on heating and much more. The reality that the Liberals and the NDP refuse to acknowledge are the tough choices businesses are making due to higher costs, like having to scale back staff or reduce inventory.

Higher taxes increase costs and negatively impact every single aspect of our economy, from the main streets to the farmhouses. We’re calling on Ottawa to give our entrepreneurs a fair shot at success.

Speaker, it gets even worse: The 2022 report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer showed that the carbon tax will reduce real GDP across Canada by 1.3% by 2030 and could cost us a whopping 200,000 jobs nationally by 2030. That is what this opposition needs to start thinking about: the people of this province. Start making life more affordable and join us in calling Ottawa to scrap the tax now.