Today, I’d like to welcome some amazing people from our ag and food industry, and specifically representatives from the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, the Ontario SPCA, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, Ontario Veterinary College, Colleges Ontario, ROMA, Equine Guelph, Ontario Goat, Ontario Association of Bovine Practitioners and the Rural Ontario Institute. Welcome to the House. We have a great afternoon ahead of us.

Mr. Saunderson moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr40, An Act to revive 1000151830 Ontario Inc.

Today, I’d like to welcome to the House representatives of the College of Veterinarians of Ontario; representatives of the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians; two veterinary technician students, Elizabeth Crouchman and Joner Kuo; as well as representatives from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and Farm and Food Care. Welcome to Queen’s Park. We’re going to have a good day.

I really appreciate that thoughtful question from the member from Kitchener–Conestoga.

It’s important to recognize that our government understands that to keep our agri-food supply chain strong, farmers across this province need confidence in the fact that they have services when they need it and where they need it. That’s why I am losing my voice—because I am talking so much about the amazing partnership that we have with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities as well as my ministry, OMAFRA.

With the support of our cabinet colleagues, we have introduced a new program. It’s a collaborative program whereby the University of Guelph and Lakehead University are establishing a collaborative doctor of veterinary medicine. This is going to be a 2+2 program, where we’re going to see 20 more veterinary students per year look at the first two years at Lakehead University—the follow-up two years at University of Guelph. This is an initiative that is demonstrating that—

On Monday, we just hosted our second annual Grow Ontario Food Summit, and everybody was buzzing about the fact that we’ve listened and we’ve taken action. But we’re doing more.

Over and above that collaborative partnership between Lakehead University and the University of Guelph, our PA, the member from Elgin–Middlesex–London, is reviewing the vet act. And over and above the program introduced, we’re making sure students are incented, so we’ve introduced an additional $5-million program that’s going to incent and reward people for pursuing a career in large animal veterinary medicine. This is a crisis that we’ve identified, and we’re taking action. This particular incentive program is going to see students who are large animal vets receiving $50,000 over five years for working in remote and underserviced areas in rural and northern Ontario.

My question to the member opposite is around the Ontario Veterinary College, which is in his riding. I’m sure he’s aware of the crisis that we have on our hands with regard to the need for more large-animal veterinarians. In this budget, we are demonstrating that we’re listening and we’re working for people across this province, introducing new skills and opportunities to meet the needs.

I ask the member opposite, surely you’re going to support this bill because you understand the need for more large-animal veterinarians and that by having the 2+2 program, seeing the University of Guelph and Lakehead University collaborate to address this crisis—I know we can count on your support. Is that not right?