Speaker, supply chain issues caused by the pandemic created global shortages of many vital health care devices. One such shortage was epidural catheters, the medical standard when it comes to providing adequate pain relief during labour—or so we’ve been told.

We put out a call to re-shore manufacturing of epidurals right here in Ontario. One company, Canadian Hospital Specialties, answered that call and will now manufacture epidural catheters at their plant in Oakville. Last week, with our MPPs from Oakville and Oakville North–Burlington, CHS announced a $1.5-million investment to fill that critical supply gap and hire 10 people along the way. What a great example of seeing a problem and solving it right here in Ontario. Premier Ford calls that “the Ontario spirit.”

Our new Life Sciences Council will help to accelerate commercialization and encourage adoption of made-in-Ontario health innovations. Much like when we did the auto sector’s Driving Prosperity plan, we’ve now introduced Taking Life Sciences to the Next Level. It’s their plan for Ontario’s first life sciences strategy in over a decade. This will ensure that Ontario is the global life sciences centre for our world’s innovators.