The member from Eglinton–Lawrence spoke about how Bill 46, the Less Red Tape, Stronger Ontario Act, is helping to protect and amplify small businesses. I guess I wanted to know, then, why it was her government that granted small business grants to businesses that weren’t even in Ontario to the tune of some $200-plus million during the pandemic—money that was supposed to be supporting our small businesses going out of province. That seems odd.

I know that the member from Eglinton–Lawrence knows that we share communities like Little Jamaica and small businesses in midtown that are squelching for funds and had their grants turned down because of little administrative glitches.

I’m just wondering what the government has to say about that, and particularly the member from Eglinton–Lawrence.

Those were wonderful comments from our member from Humber River–Black Creek. Thank you for also talking about juries and the need for diversity within our jury selection.

I recently learned that jury members in Ontario, I believe, are not paid for 10 days on the jury, and I’m wondering if you would suggest to this government that they look into that aspect. If jurors aren’t paid, that in itself creates an economic barrier for folks from different socio-economic backgrounds to participate in the jury system. And I might guess that women and BIPOC folks may be disproportionately impacted by those unpaid days as a juror.

I have one question with regard to WSIB. I’m wondering what the government thinks about the billions of dollars, the WSIB surplus, that is going to employers, to big corporations, as opposed to injured workers. We know 50% of injured workers are living in poverty. I’m wondering if this bill addresses injured workers in a comprehensive way that actually puts money back into their pockets.

I’m happy to share a few words on Bill 46, the Less Red Tape, Stronger Ontario Act.

I would like to start by saying that I think it’s a good thing—or something that’s at least okay—for us to be working with our judges post-retirement. However, I do note that this can create less opportunity for more diverse judges, for younger judges. I’m not being ableist, but I’m just recognizing that there are some justices who may be more attuned to technology, attuned to equity issues than those retired judges.

What I also want to ask the government about is the piece around red tape and mental health—

With regard to the government’s bill, the Less Red Tape, Stronger Ontario Act: I see that the government has tinkered with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act. I’m wondering if the government’s bill has any changes that will actually help protect the 50% of injured workers who we know are living in poverty. I’m wondering if this bill actually brings back any of those billions of dollars of “WSIB surplus” into the hands of injured workers, as opposed to billion-dollar corporations.