I’m hearing a lot of lip service from the government side. In the meantime, morale continues to decline because experienced conservation officers are leaving the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to take jobs where their pay actually matches their training and experience.

Conservation officers are paid up to $31,000 less than OPP officers, despite being held to the same standards of training; they have the same levels of risk and the responsibility to carry sidearms. With a stroke of the pen, the government could provide the reclassification of these workers that these workers have long deserved.

Will this government recognize that the training and duties of conservation officers far exceed their compensation and commit to reclassification?

My question is to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. On April 21, I received a letter signed by this minister stating that conservation officers did not deserve to be reclassified, thus denying them wage parity with other enforcement officers. So imagine my surprise when, 10 days ago, this very same minister stated that conservation officer classifications are being reviewed with OPSEU, together with the ministry director of enforcement.

Well, OPSEU was as surprised as I was and described the minister’s statement as not accurate and misleading the public. So I ask: Will the minister come clean on the truth? He has the power. Does he—

I ask the minister, does he or does he not intend to reclassify conservation officers to give them wage parity with other enforcement officers?