I think the Premier said it so incredibly well—but let’s go back in time a little bit, when they were in power for 15 years and they increased the debt by $200 billion. It’s kind of incredible to think that all those hospitals they built and all those highways they built and all those subways they built and all those—

Interjections.

I have to correct the record: They built nothing. In fact, they saw the tail lights on those cars—those manufacturing jobs leaving Ontario to go to the United States.

Do you know what you’re seeing now? Those headlights of the people coming to Ontario, 700,000 headlights coming back to Ontario—good-paying jobs in St. Thomas, in Alliston, and now in Port Colborne.

There’s something happening in Ontario. The member opposite should take note of that.

And the Yonge North subway line. The Ontario Line, the Yonge North subway line, the Scarborough line—I could go on, but of course the time limits me to 20 minutes.

Madam Speaker, we’re also enabling the future widening of Highway 401, from Brock Road in Durham region and right on. We’re investing in more transit in the north, with the Northlander. These investments will help get people to where they need to be faster, and it’s going to help them spend more time with their family and loved ones, instead of being stuck in gridlock.

The people of Ontario can know that we are working for them. Everywhere, we are working for our families, workers, students and seniors. We know the challenges.

As we help create jobs across the province, we still face a persistent labour shortage in key sectors such as health care and construction—particularly those—education workers, skilled trades and many other significant sectors. That’s why we are investing an additional $75 million over the next three years in our wildly successful Skills Development Fund. We’re also providing an additional $224 million to leverage private sector expertise and expand training centres and union-led training halls, so we can help prep skilled workers for the jobs of not only today, but for the jobs of tomorrow.

We know that the Bank of Canada’s rapid interest rate increases and inflation have increased pressure on household budgets. That is why our government didn’t wait to act when the cost of living began to rise. We took early action to keep costs down for the people of Ontario. We eliminated licence plate renewal fees and licence plate stickers, and refunded the past two years’ fees for eligible vehicles, saving the average household over $600 so far.

Interjections.

We also are eliminating double fares for commuters transferring from GO Transit to most local transit systems in the greater Toronto area, saving transit riders up to—get this—$1,600 a year.

Interjection.

But, Madam Speaker, we did more than that. We increased the minimum wage by 6.8% in October 2023.

And because of the low-income individual tax credit, Ontario has some of the lowest personal income tax rates in the country for low-income workers, so they can keep more money in their pockets.

And we’re providing an estimated $115 million through the Ontario Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit this year to over 200,000 low-to-moderate-income senior families with eligible medical expenses.

We temporarily cut the gas and fuel tax rates. Contrast that with the city and the government down the road in Ottawa, where the carbon tax is hitting many people hard. We know that inflation remains high and people and businesses continue to feel the pressure—especially, as I just said, as the federal government’s carbon tax continues to make everyday essentials more expensive.

Passing this bill would extend the gas and fuel tax rate cuts to June 30, 2024. If passed, this would see savings to households of $260, on average, since the tax rate cuts were first introduced.

Madam Speaker, despite the uncertainty facing the world today, I’m confident in the future of Ontario, its economy, its workers and its people. Madame la Présidente, malgré l’incertitude qui règne actuellement dans le monde, j’ai confiance en l’avenir de l’Ontario, en son économie, en ses travailleuses et ses travailleurs, et en sa population.

We’ve seen before what the people of this province can accomplish when we come together. We can overcome any obstacle in our way.

By passing this bill, the members of this House can help us build a strong Ontario together.