Thank you to the member for his comments this morning. It’s interesting—his background in labour as an electrician and direct experience in the sector.

If we look at the objectives of what this bill is trying to achieve with putting in new supports and stronger protections that would safeguard health and safety and dignity of workers, addressing online harassment at work, ensuring workers are protected; changes to regulations to address women’s needs on construction sites, conduct a comprehensive review of the facilities in the construction sector—a large number of major objectives here, which I would have thought were very practical and supportable.

Does the member not see these as objectives that are worth supporting?

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, and I thank the member opposite for his remarks. I always appreciate listening to him. In fact, his area makes me draw back to earlier in my life when I was a rebar bender at the Stoney Creek plant of Harris Steel back when—so a connection on labour and one very small part for me.

Anyway, I noted his remarks on the tolls and I noted his reaction that—observing there was very strong, positive press from that announcement, and we were pleased with that. And that shows that the folks out there who—pleased to hear confirmation there are no tolls on—whether it’s the QEW down to Niagara, Don Valley Parkway or other highways.

So won’t the member support us in this confirmation of no new tolls on these—

I appreciate very much and thank the member for his remarks on this important piece of legislation. I know the member talks a lot about his labour background, and I admire that. Earlier in my life, I was a rebar bender and a crane operator, so I have worked in a labour environment for a little while. And obviously, the member had a great success, because he talks a lot about his Maple Leafs tickets—and I don’t know whether they’re gold tickets or platinum tickets, but obviously, he did very well. I saw him going to a Leafs game once.

But my real question is, aside from the fact that—the most important thing, in my view, that this bill is doing, is any changes to the greenbelt in the future require a legislative change. That’s a very significant change and a much more open process. Isn’t that something that the member can support, this important change to the process in the future?

It’s a very quick question. To the member opposite: I’m just reading through the Financial Accountability Office report for labour stats in the last couple of years, and Ontario’s economy posted the largest job gain in the history of the province over the last two years, and that’s continuing now. It’s based on all groups and genders. We’re continuing that with this bill, Madam Speaker. I wanted to ask the member: Does not this tangible support of job growth in Ontario support the work we’re doing and look forward to continuing with this bill?

In my riding of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound and across our province, many Ontarians are looking to join the workforce. However, those with prior involvement in the criminal justice system often face barriers to finding work. As Ontario continues to address our most significant labour shortage in a generation, our government must provide the necessary tools for individuals looking to gain secure employment.

Speaker, can the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development please share with this House what our government is doing to empower individuals, helping them to get a second chance?