Thank you so much to the minister for this opportunity to speak on the budget. We have a great Minister of Mines. He just recently led legislation this past—recently, as I mentioned. It’s such an example of the great impact that this government has had and is going to have in the communities in the north with the development of the Ring of Fire. I’ll be talking a little bit about that in my remarks this afternoon, because this is a fundamental part of our economic development here and our vision for the province of Ontario, to create jobs in our great province, in all regions—not just here in the GTA or in mid- or southwestern Ontario, but throughout the province, right up north. That’s such an important part of who we are.

Today, it’s my privilege to rise and speak to the third reading of the Building a Strong Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2023. These legislative changes are a part of our plan to navigate the economic uncertainty facing the people of Ontario today, while laying a strong foundation for future generations. This is our plan to build a strong economy now and for the future. It’s our plan to build highways, roads, schools and hospitals for our growing population.

Interjection: Hear, hear.

It is a plan with a better deal for workers, with better jobs and bigger paycheques, to build a strong health care system that connects people to the right care. Our plan focuses on these priorities and includes a path to balance the budget.

I want to outline a little further the long-term vision of this budget and turn to one of my favourite pages in the budget, page 17. It is difficult, because there are many, many pages in the budget that I do like very much, but I’ll begin with page 17, which is an outline of the infrastructure expenditures that our government is planning for the future. It’s outlined by major sector: transportation, including transit and other transportation and highways; health, including hospitals and other health care priorities; education; post-secondary education, which includes colleges and universities; as well as social justice and other sectors. So it outlines the full range of sectors in the Ontario economy.

I started out my career as an accountant, so I find numbers exciting and motivating. Here are some numbers for you. The total infrastructure spending for 2023—in other words, the year that just passed—$17.3 billion; this year, the year that we’re in right now, $20.6 billion for 2023-24, and it will increase; then it’s $25 billion and $26.9 billion in 2025-26. Over 10 years, it’s $184 billion. What a massive expenditure program that is. It’s important from a couple of perspectives, in my opinion. Number one, it does deal with the breadth of the Ontario economy, all of these sectors that are so critical to what matters to our province—health care, transit, transportation. But the other thing related to that is that not many governments have the courage to look that long-term—10 years. Most governments are just looking towards the next election, for that matter. This government has a decade plan, and that matters—a long-term vision to get stuff done.

Mr. Speaker, the people of Ontario are depending on our government to navigate the economic challenges of today. Ontario is not an island. We’re not immune to global forces, including geopolitical tension provoked by the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the reopening of China’s economy, the energy transition, and policies such as the United States Inflation Reduction Act. Families and workers are feeling the squeeze of inflation on their wallets.

But while the seas around us may be stormy, our prudent planning and strong foundations have given Ontario a path forward—a path forward leading to a balanced budget, a return to balance that would have never happened under the NDP or Liberals. As this budget shows, it is possible to balance the budget while investing more in health care, housing, highways, transit, manufacturing, the skilled trades, and in the north, as I mentioned earlier.

Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to relay that in the 2022-23 fiscal year, the Ontario deficit is projected to shrink to just $2.2 billion. This is thanks to robust revenue growth and our government’s prudent and disciplined planning and clear priorities. Moreover, in fiscal 2023-24, we plan to further reduce the deficit to $1.3 billion. And starting in fiscal 2024-25, we project Ontario’s return to being in the black, with an approximately $200 million surplus. These are very important steps that we’ve taken.

Over the past years, with all the spending that was necessary through COVID, we kind of lost the words “balanced budget,” which slipped to the bottom of the barrel. But this government knows they are a priority, not just for us but for our kids and for the next generation, to make sure they’re not paying our bills. So it’s very exciting news, and we’re anticipating surpluses in the future years past 2024-25. The people of Ontario can have confidence that tomorrow will be better than today. This plan and its fiscal and economic approach is supported by measures in the spring budget bill.

While I am as confident as ever about the future of Ontario, there is still much that we can do to build a strong, resilient, more competitive economy here at home. A key to Ontario’s future growth is found in the opportunities of the province’s northern region, as I mentioned earlier, and particularly the mining sector. Just look at the Ring of Fire. It’s one of the world’s most promising mineral deposits. It contains critical elements that are core to the global economy today—materials essential to batteries, electronics, electric vehicles and other clean technology. The Ring of Fire can help reduce Ontario’s dependency on unstable or unfriendly foreign regimes. These critical minerals are an untapped potential that previous governments have failed to unlock for no other reason than that the work of developing them was too hard. Well, our government is not afraid of hard work. We do it all the time. But it can’t be done alone. We are working hand in hand with partners like the First Nations in northern Ontario—a true partnership to build the road to the Ring of Fire.

Building the road is one thing, but there are other legislative and regulatory and workforce considerations we need to account for, which is why our government is taking a comprehensive approach to accelerating the safe development of the north’s mineral resources. And while Ontario is investing $1 billion to unlock the critical minerals of the north, we continue to call on the federal government to match our commitment. Building the road is only one step in getting the minerals out of the ground.

We are also helping to get mines built. The Ontario government is increasing funding for the Ontario Junior Exploration Program to help more companies find critical minerals, such as nickel and cobalt, which are necessary to support the growing supply chain for electric vehicles and create jobs for northern and Indigenous communities. The funding, announced as part of the 2023 budget, includes an additional $6 million over the next two years for this successful program, bringing the government’s total investment to $35 million. This approach is part of our government’s plan to build Ontario’s economy by attracting investment and creating jobs so we can lay a strong foundation for future generations. That’s what it’s all about. That’s why we’re here. It’s not about us; it’s about those who will follow us to ensure they have the economic foundation that we were lucky enough to have in our lives. This is part of our plan to build a strong Ontario now and in the future. Launched in 2021, the program helps junior mining companies finance early exploration projects by covering eligible costs for critical and precious mineral exploration and development. So far, 48 junior mining companies have received funding and, in turn, they have invested an additional $17.5 million in these projects. That’s important work, and it matters on the ground. Once those minerals are out of the ground, they can be connected to Ontario’s world-class manufacturing sector.

Just look at the recent announcement by Volkswagen of its planned electric vehicle plant in St. Thomas. The German car company is investing $7 billion to make St. Thomas the home of its first overseas EV battery manufacturing plant—the first in the world outside of its own base. As has been observed, this is not only the largest electric vehicle-related investment in Canadian history, but it’s a huge vote of confidence in Ontario’s highly skilled workforce, our strong economic fundamentals and our competitive business environment.

In two and a half years, Ontario has attracted over $25 billion in investments from global automakers and electric vehicle batteries and battery suppliers. We heard today the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade cite these investments—$25 billion, a staggering number. But what really struck me was his additional comment about how Ontario is now number two in the world in this space. What an enormous achievement that is in such a short period of time. It will not only benefit us in the short term, as I said—and I think one of the important themes of what we are doing as a government is a long-term perspective, the next generation. This generation and the next one and the next one after that will benefit from the economic development opportunities that come, but also in the resulting benefits to our environment from electric vehicles. It’s a great long-term vision.

And we aren’t stopping there. Ontario’s manufacturing sector is on a roll. We must keep that momentum going. The capacity is there to do more. For us as a government, we must continue supporting manufacturing and other businesses and the communities that depend on them.

One of the marquee pieces of the 2023 budget and spring budget bill is the proposed new Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit. If passed, this tax credit would provide a 10% refundable corporate income tax credit to help local manufacturers lower their costs, invest in workers, innovate and become more competitive. Why this is so important as a tax credit is that often it’s for companies that are in the development stage. We think about taxes being on income. Oftentimes, these developing companies don’t have income yet. Why? Because they’re growing, they’re investing in the future, so it takes time to build up that revenue stream. This tax credit helps that process along by not having to wait down the road until they have taxable income. So it’s a very important structure and an exciting opportunity for these companies.

When combined with other business measures our government has delivered since 2018, we are helping to improve competitiveness by enabling an estimated $8 billion in cost savings and support in 2023.

Our government is also working with partners to have shovel-ready industrial sites available for new manufacturing projects so we can be ready if and when more companies like Volkswagen choose Ontario for their next investment. As the minister said when he first introduced the budget in this House, “If you are prepared to bet big on Ontario, then Ontario is prepared to bet big on you.” He’s absolutely right.

Supporting this growing world-class manufacturing takes energy—clean, safe, reliable energy. In addition to our support of the continued safe operations of Pickering nuclear generation station and the refurbishments of Darlington and Bruce nuclear power generation, he’s also looking to the future, with small modular reactors.

I want to comment on Bruce Power in particular, because this has great relevance to my riding of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound and the whole Grey-Bruce community. Ontario is fortunate to have one of the cleanest electricity grids in the world—over 90% emissions-free—and there’s one reason why: Our nuclear sector provides the emissions-free electricity to phase out coal-fired generation in Ontario, one of the largest greenhouse gas reductions ever, and Bruce Power provides 70% of that electricity.

This past March, Bruce began their second refurbishment on unit 3, part of the life-extension program that will allow Bruce Power to continue providing clean, reliable, affordable energy through 2064—over 40 years from now. That is about the future.

But as importantly, Bruce Power supports good jobs—22,000 direct and indirect—employing some of the best-paying, highest-skilled workers in Ontario. And while the head office of Bruce is in our colleague Lisa Thompson’s riding in Huron–Bruce, the Bruce refurbishment has meant suppliers like BWXT and Makwa Cahill are setting up shop in my riding of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound, supporting the local community. In addition, Bruce Power and its partners, including the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, are commercially producing life-saving medical isotopes like lutetium-177 on a scale never seen before, thanks to their innovative new isotope delivery system opening up new opportunities. So we see that nuclear energy is so important to our baseload power and also so important to our communities, like the one I am fortunate to represent.

The SMRs will be essential to Ontario’s future electricity supply and our energy supply. Our government is seizing Ontario’s clean energy advantage and encouraging companies to invest here to do the same. We have launched a voluntary energy credit registry to boost competitiveness and attract jobs and help businesses meet their environmental and sustainability goals. Proceeds from the sale of these new credits will help keep costs down for electricity taxpayers and fund the construction of clean electricity projects in Ontario through a newly created future clean energy electricity fund. This fund will help build Ontario’s clean energy advantage as the province competes for and attracts new investments in electric vehicle and battery manufacturing, clean steel and other sectors, while continuing to build its clean economy. The clean energy credit registry is part of our government’s clean energy advantage that is boosting competitiveness and attracting investments and jobs here in Ontario.

Along with growing our economy, our plan is also working to improve services that people depend on, starting with health care. This government is investing every single dollar we receive from the federal government’s recent health care funding down payment and a whole lot more into better health care services. While we will receive $4.4 billion in additional funding over the next three years under the recent federal agreement, our government is investing a total of $15.3 billion more in health care over that same period.

And I’ll just add, too, my second favourite page in the budget—as I mentioned, there are so many great pages in this document. Page 139 outlines the major categories of spending, from health to education, post-secondary, and on and on. On the health care front, in 2021-22, total health care spending was $69.6 billion; in 2022-23, $74.9 billion; this year, 2023-24, $81 billion; and up to $84.2 billion and $87.6 billion—huge increases in health care spending that are so needed and are paying off day after day.

Health care should be convenient and easy to access where it is needed most, when it is needed most. The only thing better than care close to home is care at home. We are continuing the 2022 budget commitment to invest $1 billion over three years to get more people connected to care in the comfort of their own home and community. What’s more, the government is now accelerating investments to bring funding in 2023-24 up to $569 million, including nearly $300 million to support contract rate increases to stabilize the home and community care workforce. This funding will also expand home care services, making it easier and faster for people to connect to care.

We are also investing more than $200 million to connect children and youth to care at hospitals and close to home in their communities. And we are investing in independent health facilities to speed up care while ensuring patients will always pay with their OHIP card, not their credit card. To deliver that care, we need more doctors and health care professionals practising here in Ontario. Our plan includes hiring and training thousands of more health care workers, including doctors. We’re helping more Ontario students become doctors by investing an additional $33 million over three years to add 100 undergraduate seats, beginning in 2023, and 154 provincial postgraduate medical training seats are being prioritized for Ontario residents trained at home and abroad, beginning in 2024 and going forward.

Another community impact of this—in fact, the Minister of Colleges and Universities will be in Owen Sound tomorrow at Georgian College, and this is the home of a fantastic nurse training facility where students can get their bachelor of science in nursing. There will be 30 graduates a year from this program in a few years. That’s so important because, in the past, especially in rural Ontario, students had to go away to get their health care education, and then we would hope they would come back, but having this program at Georgian College means that they will have a much higher likelihood—and most of the applications were from the local community.

So this is very, very exciting stuff and will help support a health care system for years and years to come.

Ontario residents will also be prioritized for undergraduate spots at medical schools in the province.

We’re also making it easier for people to get the medication they need for minor ailments. Starting in 2023, we’re allowing more over-the-counter medication to be prescribed by pharmacists for six more common ailments so that people can get the medication needed to treat them without having to book an appointment with their family physician or visit an emergency room.

Madam Speaker, our government is providing an additional $425 million over three years to support mental health and addiction services. Our mental health and addiction strategy is using innovative solutions to improve the quality and access to mental health supports while shortening wait times and removing gaps in service.

As Camille Quenneville, CEO of Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario, said, “The vital structural base funding commitment announced today is the largest by any government for community mental health and addictions care in a decade. It will significantly help community-based mental health and addictions agencies provide high-quality care, retain dedicated and committed staff, and address rising operating costs. The budget is an overwhelmingly positive sign that the government understands the strain our sector is facing as we support Ontarians living with mental health and addictions challenges. It also demonstrates their desire to help those most vulnerable in society”—such an important statement.

We are also improving the services in place to protect our province’s most vulnerable, such as children and youth involved with the child welfare services. Youth who have been involved with the child welfare system are at high risk of being trafficked, experiencing homelessness, and developing mental health issues, and have lower high school graduation rates than their peers. Those leaving the child welfare system deserve every opportunity to reach their full potential.

Our government is helping to improve long-term outcomes for youth leaving the child welfare system through the $170 million-over-three-year investment to support the Ready, Set, Go program. Ready, Set, Go is geared to helping these young people achieve financial independence through life skills development, supports to pursue post-secondary education and job training and pathways to employment. We’re also expanding our program eligibility to include those up to 23 years old.

Ingrid Palmer, chair of the Child Welfare PAC Canada and a former youth in care, has said this about Ready, Set, Go: “By implementing the Ready, Set, Go framework, the Ontario government is beginning to break down the complex barriers faced by youth from care who experience disproportionate risks and challenges throughout their lifetime. The Child Welfare PAC fully endorses this approach, which incorporates a data-driven system and a better resourced, graduated introduction to adulthood. With multiple pathways to brighter futures and improved outcomes, this framework will help us support our most vulnerable youth and provide them with the tools they need to succeed.”

Carly Kalish of Victim Services Toronto called Ready, Set, Go “an important step that the Ontario government is taking to help youth leaving foster care secure safer housing in their communities. We know that youth who don’t have access to stable housing are at a much higher risk of human trafficking, and by helping youth have a safe place to live it will reduce the likelihood that they will become victims of human trafficking or face exploitation.”

Our government is working to protect the people of Ontario and their families, and this approach to safety and well-being includes protecting people as consumers. There are several consumer protection items contained in this bill. These include the proposed legislative amendments to the Financial Professionals Title Protection Act, 2019. You see, the government is making it easier for families to reach their financial goals with the confidence that they are receiving financial advice from someone who has adequate training, expertise and credentials when it comes to planning their financial future. These amendments, if passed, would give the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario, or FSRA, the power to make rules governing the use of protected titles by credential holders when a credentialing body’s approval has been revoked or an approved credentialing body ceases to operate. The title protection framework is designed to ensure that individuals who use the “financial planner” or “financial adviser” titles have been approved from a FSRA-approved credentialing body.

As well, this bill includes a continued monitoring of how provincially regulated financial services are delivered. They include proposed amendments to the Insurance Act to support FSRA in ending the use of deferred sales charges and the sale of segregated funds. The proposed change here would help protect consumers by banning deferred sales charges for buyers of segregated funds if they withdraw money early. The proposed ending of deferred sales charges for new funds aligns with changes that came into effect in the Securities Act in 2022 for mutual funds.

We have a plan, a long-term vision for Ontario. We are taking real action to build a strong Ontario. I firmly believe this government can and will do it. We have the discipline to stay true to our planning convictions while maintaining flexibility as we navigate today’s economic uncertainty. We are building a strong economy that has the infrastructure and workers needed to support growing communities and better services, and while returning Ontario to the black three years earlier than projected. We can do it by passing this bill and saying yes to our plan that will support people and businesses while laying a strong foundation for future generations.

I will now hand it over to my fellow parliamentary assistant the member from Oakville.