Thank you very much to the member from Niagara Falls.

This act is really helping children’s aid services to perform their role. In fact, I will say, on behalf of the ministry, I understand that for most of the services, they did a great job. However, I agree there are bad actors, which is why we increased it to 20 people—20 inspectors going at different times and just checking on them.

And also, one of the new tools that we are adding is to have higher penalties, which is the administrative monetary penalties that go up to a $100,000 limit. The worst kind of offences can be up to $250,000. So we want to make sure that the bad actors will stop doing what they’re not supposed to do.

In fact, it is our government that knew that the time for more reports was over. It is our government that took the action and redesigned the child welfare system. The child advocate’s investigative function was folded into the Office of the Ombudsman and continues to this day. Children and youth in care have the right to complain to the Ombudsman, and this bill will improve the clarity and ensure that they know about their rights.

Our government is going to continue to improve on the child care welfare system because no one should be left behind in Ontario. I should note also that the former child advocate said, to this bill’s privacy provisions: “There are positive changes in this announcement.”

After going through this whole bill, the one thing that really touches my heart is the Ready, Set, Go Program. This is something that is not only allowing them to speak on some of their personal experience, but also communicating with them and understanding them, helping them—and it starts from the age of 13, understanding their needs so they know how to start their life and what are the most important things to help them.

The teenage years are the time when they really need the coaching, and we have somebody like this to help them, basically seeing them and getting them ready, get set and go. This is so dear to my heart.