It’s an honour to rise in the House today as part of the government’s leadoff of third reading debate of Bill 162, the Get It Done Act, 2024, alongside my caucus colleagues the Minister of Transportation, the Associate Minister of Transportation and the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

On behalf of the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery, it’s my pleasure to be here to highlight the details of the bill, which, if passed, will impact every corner of the province to provide relief to millions of drivers, vehicle owners and users of the Ontario photo card.

Since first forming government in 2018 and given a second mandate by the Ontario voters in 2022, our government and our ministry have been focusing our efforts on delivering customer-focused services to you—the hard-working people and businesses of Ontario, and we continue delivering this commitment through ServiceOntario, our hub for service delivery for the province and the public face of government.

Madam Speaker, our government is taking a responsible approach to rebuilding Ontario’s economy through smart investments and without—and I say this twice—without raising taxes. While Ontario households continue to struggle, families are feeling the pressures caused by high interest rates and global instability. Ontarians need to know that their government will be there for them. Under the leadership of Premier Ford, rest assured they can count on us to provide real, meaningful changes for Ontarians through this signature omnibus bill. By keeping costs down, we are going to do what’s needed to get it done.

This is not just important legislation, it’s a key piece of our government’s overall strategy to save the people of Ontario time and money and make government services simpler, faster and better. That is why our ministry has been proud to work with the Ministry of Transportation to make this a reality—changes that allow people and businesses of this province to keep more of their hard-earned money in their pockets while modernizing systems that they rely on.

Speaker, it has been two years since our government first removed licence plate renewal fees and stickers for passenger vehicles like trucks, motorcycles and mopeds. This change has resulted in an annual savings of $120 for vehicle owners—per year, per person, per car—in southern Ontario and $60 a year in northern Ontario.

Our latest proposed changes to the Highway Traffic Act are paving the way for the transition to automatic renewal of licence plates. With this bill, we are building on our government’s decision in 2022 to eliminate licence plate renewal fees, making the entire renewal process automatic, providing both convenience and affordability. In the meantime, it’s important to note that before the automatic renewal process begins later this year, vehicle owners will still need to renew their licence plates, at no cost, which can easily be done online or in person at a ServiceOntario centre.

With the renewal of licence plates being one of the most in-demand government services, we are proud to share this service to Ontarians 24/7 through ServiceOntario. Automatic licence renewal is just another way our government is working to develop new and improved online services to match the fast pace of our ever-evolving digital world.

Of course, we need to make sure that every driver renews their licence plates, and while our government has eliminated the fee, we did not eliminate the requirement to renew the licence plate itself.

Speaker, it is very important to note that this automatic renewal process will only be available to drivers in good standing. This means drivers that have outstanding fines or tickets and do not have valid insurance will not be able to renew online or at ServiceOntario until those procedures are paid. Starting this summer, this new process will begin to save drivers’ time by automating the licence plate renewal process, resulting in savings of more than 900,000 hours each year for vehicle owners.

Interjections.

Thank you.

Additionally, the Get It Done Act, 2024, also proposes to make the current freeze on drivers’ licence and Ontario photo card fees permanent through this legislation. We originally put a freeze in place through regulation in 2019, and it has saved applicants $22 million since that time—a remarkable number. It’s estimated this change will save drivers $66 million over the next five years.

We have seen time and time again the opposition parties have never seen a tax hike they did not like, and that is why we are enshrining this freeze into law to ensure that when they attempt to hit you with more fees, they cannot sneak these fees in.

This legislation is a catalyst for positive change. It is all about putting customers at the centre of everything we do to save people precious time and money by putting money back in the pockets of fellow citizens and residents and stimulating economic growth. It ensures that our citizens and residents are respected and saved from the financial obligation of increasing fees when paying to renew their driver’s licence and when obtaining their Ontario photo card.

Last year, our government removed the tolls on Highways 412 and 418, and with this legislation we are proposing to prohibit the introduction of any new tolls on any highways. This is one of the most common-sense ways we are helping to boost our economy without adding any financial burden to the people of Ontario.

If passed, the Get It Done Act, 2024, will build on our government’s commitments to date with streamlined approvals for major infrastructure projects, housing and keeping costs down for people and businesses and support economic growth for long-term prosperity. It will also play a valuable role in empowering the citizens and businesses of Ontario by giving them a leg up in making ends meet more easily. This legislation aligns with the work our government and our ministry, the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery, has done to help create stronger communities in Ontario and better opportunities for future generations.

Madam Speaker and fellow members, our government is on a mission to keep costs down for families and businesses, and it ultimately makes life simpler, faster and more convenient for Ontarians in every corner of the province. I am very proud to stand here and say we are well on the road to building a strong Ontario.

With the growing number of passenger vehicles on the road, this multifaceted piece of legislation promises to be a game-changer for millions of vehicle owners who call Ontario home. The Get It Done Act, 2024, has garnered significant support from stakeholders such as the Ontario Motor Coach Association, Motor Coach Canada, the Ontario Trucking Association, the CAA Club Group and many more, including municipal partners. It is thanks to the support and feedback of our stakeholders that we can continue working with them to get it done for this great province.

A strong Ontario needs better transit, better roads, expanded high-speed Internet availability and more homes built for our growing population. To support these essential goals, Ontario is helping contain the costs of building roads and new homes.

The House recently passed the Building Infrastructure Safely Act, 2024, which enhances the locate delivery system and prohibits underground infrastructure owners and operators from charging fees to locate underground infrastructure. Underground infrastructure owners or operators will not be able to charge fees for locates. We are reducing the potential for spiralling costs while protecting our workers and the public as well as the critical infrastructure below us. It also enhances efficiency and is an effective approach to building critical infrastructure safely, like improving transit, connecting people to high-speed Internet and getting homes built.

Our government is making tremendous progress on reducing regulatory burdens and enhancing consumer protections so the people and businesses of Ontario can thrive. The Get It Done Act, if passed, will allow Ontario to reduce red tape and streamline approval processes for key infrastructure investments to help get shovels in the ground sooner and save taxpayer dollars.

Our proposed measures in this bill reinforce our commitment to cutting red tape and improving processes to better the everyday lives of fellow citizens and residents across Ontario. This is why our ministry is always considering ways to reduce burden, improve predictability and save businesses compliance costs by looking for these opportunities to eliminate administrative burdens for those seeking permits, licences, information or any other type of government approval, and improving the overall user experience by making it easier than ever to get required information and services.

This past January, our minister announced measures to make it easier and more affordable for Indigenous people to access records and services, reducing barriers for Indigenous communities and individuals seeking that information. We introduced permanently waived fees for death registration searches, death certificates and certified copies of death registrations for impacted Indigenous people. During what is no doubt an already extremely difficult time, this latest update will provide ongoing financial relief for impacted Indigenous communities and their families throughout Ontario.

Madam Speaker, these are just a few examples. I am proud of the role that I play in the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery in fulfilling our government’s commitment in reducing barriers for Ontarians and saving them time and money.

It has been my pleasure addressing you all today to highlight in detail the exciting components of this proposed legislation that touches upon our ministry’s work. As always—

Now more than ever, we need to keep costs down for the people and businesses, and this is why our government is putting more money back in families’ pockets by removing unnecessary fines and fees, strengthening protections against new toll highways. Since day one, it’s always been a priority for our government that we wanted to do this.

We have also enhanced affordability and convenience for the eight million vehicle owners by eliminating licence plate renewal fees and the need for licence plate stickers. This will save Ontario drivers approximately $66 million between 2024 and 2029 due to the government’s proactive action in freezing fees for drivers’ licences and Ontario photo cards.

Our government has extended the gas and fuel tax rate cuts through June 30, 2024, and, with this extension, it is expected to save households an average of $260 each year. Also, thanks to our Fewer Fees, Better Services Act passed in 2022, our government has abolished licence plate renewal fees and the need for licence plate stickers for specified vehicles. Lastly, we’ve invested over $28 billion across Ontario to make commuting and our infrastructure more affordable.

Our government has taken action to get it done for the people of Ontario by proposing—