I’m very pleased to speak today on Bill 171, the Enhancing Professional Care for Animals Act. In my new role as parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, along with my colleague from Essex, this is the second time I’ve had the opportunity to speak to Bill 171. It’s important for me to share that I have been impressed with the work by this minister and her ministry on this proposed legislation and the extensive consultation that went into shaping this bill.

I was also fortunate to sit on the Standing Committee on the Interior. The consultation was evident during the hearing at the Standing Committee on the Interior and was noted by both the government and members from the opposition.

I need to do a shout-out to our Associate Minister of Housing and our deputy government House leader for the work that they did as PAs in consulting on this particular bill.

We heard from a number of delegates that they appreciated that the government, and the minister in particular, listened to their ideas and concerns as this bill was being drafted. As a result of that consultation, we heard a lot of support for this bill.

During their presentation to the committee, the College of Veterinarians of Ontario’s president Dr. Wade Wright and registrar and CEO Jan Robinson spoke of the college’s support for Bill 171. The registrar and CEO stated that Minister Thompson has heard the need for the modernization of the delivery of veterinary medicine in Ontario. and that Bill 171 has the opportunity to ensure a platform that responsibly brings a modern approach to the regulation of veterinary medicine. We certainly appreciated the College of Veterinarians of Ontario’s ongoing support and collaboration on the bill’s development.

At committee, we also heard from the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Brendon Laing, president of the OVMA, told us that they support this bill and appreciate the government’s work on this file.

The Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians is the body that both represents and currently regulates registered veterinary technicians in Ontario. The OAVT has also been actively involved in the development of this bill. At committee, Elise Wickett, the executive director and registrar of the OAVT, told us that the “extensive consultation has culminated in a comprehensive bill that will significantly enhance access to professional veterinary care in Ontario.”

These strong expressions of support demonstrate that, if passed, this legislation would be met very positively by those who are directly impacted by it. In fact, these three organizations—the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians, the College of Veterinarians of Ontario and the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association—have been working with OMAFRA for more than a decade to bring about these changes. It is great to see organizations working together with government to bring forward positive solutions, so I congratulate them on those efforts.

The committee also heard from groups representing owners of both farm animals and pets.

The Beef Farmers of Ontario’s president, Craig McLaughlin, expressed the organization’s full support for the efforts made to modernize the current Veterinarians Act and, particularly, for the in-depth consultation process. Beef Farmers of Ontario noted that the relationship between a livestock farmer and their vet is a very important partnership for ensuring optimal animal health and welfare. Large animal vets certainly play a critical role in supporting the viability of beef farmers.

From my own riding, Don Badour, cow-calf director with the Beef Farmers of Ontario, and Sheila James, vice-president of Lanark County Beef Farmers, sent this: “Beef farmers in the Lanark, Frontenac and Kingston area support efforts to modernize the Veterinarians Act. It is our hope that the changes related to incorporating veterinary technicians within the act, and clarifying the roles around the scope of practice and authorized activities that can be performed by veterinarians, veterinary technicians and other professionals, will provide more opportunities for farmers to access veterinary care on-farm.”

Reg Campbell, sheep producer in Beckwith township, just down from my own farm, said: “When it comes to labour-intensive situations like conducting ultrasounds on pregnant ewes, vets can’t afford that kind of time commitment. That’s a perfect example of where a trained technician could step in and provide the service when needed during a busy season, reducing the cost and streamlining the efficiencies for the production of the herd.”

I used to raise sheep; sheep are very high needs. You need to watch for coyotes, you need to control parasites, and sheep aren’t the brightest bulbs in the box. They are always putting themselves in precarious situations, so they need a shepherd, but they also quite often need a vet.

Beef Farmers of Ontario also noted that in recent years, there has been a growing concern particularly around accessing timely large animal veterinary care. I know from my own farm experience, there are many animal care and best practice procedures that are carried out on the farm by non-vets and by the farmers themselves, who are either formally trained or trained through experience. But when a farmer needs a vet, it’s usually an urgent need and they need access to that vet. The accessibility of our veterinarians and our vet techs is important for both the animal’s well-being and to mitigate the stress and anxiety placed on the farmers themselves.

I know for some in eastern Ontario, access to a vet can be difficult, but I’m sure the challenge is even bigger for those who farm in the more remote parts of the province, in our north. I am sure my colleague from Timiskaming–Cochrane is fully aware of this challenge.

And while I mention the member from Timiskaming–Cochrane—I did have the pleasure of visiting his part of the world to attend the Earlton Farm Show, and I want to thank him for the time he took out. I also want to do a shout-out to Norm Koch, who is an integral part of the organization of the Earlton Farm Show—both great ambassadors for farmers in the north.

Other agricultural groups who sent in written comments on Bill 171 said similar things. The Chicken Farmers of Ontario support the bill and talked about their reliance on veterinary professionals to control the spread of diseases like avian influenza. I’ll quote from their written submission: The Chicken Farmers of Ontario thank and appreciate the government of Ontario “for recognizing that veterinary care is delivered in a team-based approach—formally acknowledging the role of veterinary technicians—as this will help alleviate the pressure on the limited veterinary resources in rural areas and improve access to veterinary services, and ultimately, support reaching the goal of responding promptly and efficiently to mitigate potential disease spread.”

General farm organizations like the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario also support this bill. I had the opportunity to speak to both of these when I was in Earlton. Drew Spoelstra, president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, showed his support during the hearings when he said, “We applaud the government for acknowledging that modern-day veterinary care is delivered using a team-based approach. Bill 171 does an admirable job of reflecting the true nature of today’s veterinary practices and in acknowledging the vital role of veterinary technicians in delivering quality care to the province and animal population.”

The Christian Farmers Federation wrote in to the committee saying that they supported the bill and the proposal to bring veterinary technicians together with veterinarians under the College of Veterinary Professionals of Ontario. In their written submission, they said, “We see significant benefits for all animal owners, especially for livestock farmers, in having both professions recognized, licensed and regulated under one professional body.”

Veterinary care for farm animals is important, but we realize that animals other than livestock require veterinary care. Humane societies were also consulted on this bill and spoke to the committee.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: During the committee hearing on Bill 171, the SPCA’s director of government relations, Drew Woodley, spoke about the organization’s key priority in promoting greater access and availability of veterinary care throughout Ontario. Mr. Woodley stressed that accessing veterinary care is increasingly becoming a challenge for individuals and families who are caring pet owners. To this point, Mr. Woodley said the Ontario SPCA was happy to support Bill 171, noting, “This bill makes important changes to how veterinary care is governed in Ontario, which will hopefully improve access to care throughout the province.” He also described how important it is to recognize the training and skills of veterinary technicians—supporting the move to create a governance model that respects their contributions to the practice of veterinary care. We appreciate that the Ontario SPCA spoke in support of Bill 171, because safe and accessible pet care is important to the more than 50% of Ontario households that have a pet.

Speaker, having the support from both agricultural groups and the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society is a testament to the thorough consultation process that was undertaken by the minister and the team at OMAFRA.

In closing, Bill 171 rests on the shoulders of all the people who chose to engage to make sure that in Ontario, we have the best professional care for animals, both in our homes and on our farms.

Once again, I want to thank everyone who took part in the consultations and everyone who appeared before or wrote to the committee on the interior. Without their input, we wouldn’t be where we are today, debating this bill designed to help enable enhanced access to veterinary care for all animals in Ontario.

With that, Speaker, I’ll turn it over to my colleague from Essex.

I was pleased to join the Minister of Health last month for a very important virtual announcement which will positively affect many families in Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston. A new regional pediatric surgical program was launched to address the wait-list for surgeries for children and youth in eastern Ontario—part of this government’s investment of an additional $330 million each year in pediatric health services in our hospitals and community-based health care facilities.

Led by the Kids Come First Health Team, this initiative brings the CHEO day surgery program to two sites: the Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital in my riding of Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston, and the Brockville General Hospital in my neighbour MPP’s riding of Leeds–Grenville–Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.

Funding will go toward equipment and training at the Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital, including pediatric advanced life-support skills as well as general and orthopaedic surgery.

My thanks for the hard work and dedication of Mary Wilson Trider, who just recently retired from her position as CEO of the Mississippi River Health Alliance, which includes the Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital; Nicholas Vlacholias from Brockville General Hospital; and Alex Munter, CEO of CHEO.

Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the government is providing significant financial support to hospitals and communities to improve how they deliver pediatric care, ensuring families in Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston and across the province can access care easier, faster and closer to home.

Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston—close. Thank you, Speaker.

Thanks to the member opposite for his comments and his work on committee. To the member opposite through you, Speaker: you started into your presentation with, “I can’t support things in the bill,” and then you went on to talk about—which is common—things that aren’t in the bill. So my question to you is, what specifically in the bill do you not support?

Thank you to the minister for that presentation. I want to congratulate her, as well, because I think she said in the House a number of times about the 30% increase in women working in the trades.

I’m wondering if she can comment on what she feels the success factors have been in the past and present, and additionally, are included in this bill for that growth.

Thank you to the member for her comments and her passion.

I had the fortunate pleasure in my previous career of having 240 staff, and 231 of them were women, so I appreciate and know the importance of women in our workforce.

With trades, this is something that we’re trying to build. Also, in my riding I’m very thankful for the—not crumbs, but the investments that this government has made to Interval House. I’m thankful to the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services for visiting community services for visiting and spending the time with the women in that shelter. So there’s definitely an awareness here.

My question is: Is there anything in this bill—not things that could be in future bills or in past bills; anything in this bill—that you think will help the environment for women in the workforce?