Oakville North-Burlington Newsletter January 30, 2026
February 2, 2026
Pre-Budget Consultations Bring Local Voices to the Table
This week, Ontario’s Minister of Finance, Peter Bethlenfalvy, visited our community to take part in pre-budget consultations and to hear about our community’s priorities and challenges.
The insights shared by local residents, businesses, and community leaders and organizations were invaluable and play an important role in strengthening collaboration with our local stakeholders.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their perspectives. Your voices are helping shape a stronger future for Ontario seniors and working families.
Representing Ontario at the 42nd Canadian Presiding Officers’ Conference
As Deputy Speaker, I was honoured to join Speaker Donna Skelly and the Ontario delegation at the 42nd Canadian Presiding Officers’ Conference, held at the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton, Alberta, where parliamentary leaders from across the country came together to share best practices and strengthen legislative institutions.
Ontario Building New School in Oakville
As part of its plan to protect Ontario and prepare students for success in our workforce, our government has provided the Halton District School Board with approval to issue the tender for the new Oakville NE #5 Public School to create more student spaces and childcare spaces.
“This is great news for families in Oakville North–Burlington. The approval to move forward with the new Oakville NE #5 Public School represents a $43.2 million investment in our growing community and ensures students have access to modern, high-quality learning spaces close to home. With 926 new elementary student spaces and 88 licensed childcare spaces, this project will better support students and their families, strengthen our neighbourhoods, and help meet the education needs of today while planning responsibly for the future. I want to thank Education Minister Calandra for his leadership and continued commitment to building strong schools and communities across Ontario.”
Faster CT scans and Surgeries Funded in Oakville North–Burlington
The Ontario government is strengthening access to timely healthcare by investing in diagnostic imaging and surgical capacity across the province.
The Ministry of Health has approved up to $81 million in one-time funding to provide 324,000 additional CT scan hours at 86 hospitals during the 2025–2026 fiscal year, helping speed up diagnoses and patient care.
In Oakville North–Burlington and the surrounding region, this includes $928,250 for Joseph Brant Hospital and $2,223,750 for Halton Healthcare Services to expand CT scan capacity.
The province is also providing Incremental Surgical Recovery Funding to reduce surgical backlogs and increase access to procedures such as neurosurgeries, hip and knee replacements, gynecologic, cataract, hernia, and pediatric surgeries.
Halton Healthcare Services will receive an additional $1,699,900 through this program.
Together, these investments represent nearly $4.9 million in targeted funding for the region, helping ensure patients receive faster diagnoses and timely surgical care closer to home while improving access to high-quality care for local families.
Tim Hortons’ Special Olympics Donut Campaign Returns
Tim Hortons’ Special Olympics Donut campaign is back, offering a simple way to support athletes with intellectual disabilities. This year’s campaign features a specially designed donut by local designer Sarah Lisi, inspired by Canadian creativity. Every donut purchased helps support Special Olympics programs across Ontario.
Visit your local Tim Hortons and get a Special Olympics donut today, available until February 1.
Ontario Welcomes Massilly North America’s $85 Million Manufacturing Investment
The Ontario government has secured an investment of $85 million from Massilly North America Inc. (Massilly), a leading manufacturer of metal packaging solutions, to establish a new state-of-the-art facility that will produce cans for food packaging. Massilly’s investment will sustain 228 existing jobs and create 50 new, good-paying manufacturing jobs, while bringing new production lines back to Ontario that will reshore critical supply chains and remove reliance on imported steel packaging, marking an important milestone for the Canadian food industry to bolster its self-reliance in the face of global uncertainty.
Learn more: Ontario Welcomes Massilly North America’s $85 Million Manufacturing Investment
Ontario Deepens Partnership with South Korea
Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Vic Fedeli, highlighted the province’s strong and growing economic partnership with South Korea following a recent trade mission. The minister joined Kim Jung-Kwan, South Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources, and Kang Hoon-sik, Chief of Staff to the President of Korea, to open the Korea–Canada Industry Cooperation Forum, reinforcing collaboration in advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and technological innovation.
Archived Question Period Footage Coming to the Legislative Channel
Ontarians will soon have new access to Ontario’s parliamentary history. Beginning February 2, archived footage of Question Period dating back to 1986 will be available to view through a new feature on the Legislative Channel.
This initiative makes decades of legislative proceedings easier to access, allowing viewers to explore past debates, historic moments, and how issues at Queen’s Park have evolved over time.
By bringing archival Question Period footage back to the screen, the Legislative Assembly is expanding public access to Ontario’s democratic record and strengthening civic awareness across the province.
Learn more: https://www.ola.org/en/office-assembly/whats-happening/travel-back-time-question-period-rewind
Ontario Earns First-Ever “A” for Cutting Red Tape
Ontario has earned its first-ever A grade on the Canadian Federation of Independent Business Red Tape Report Card, marking a major milestone in the province’s efforts to cut red tape, save taxpayer dollars, and reduce costs for the businesses that drive our economy. This recognition reflects strong collaboration across government to modernize services, simplify processes, and make it easier for people and job creators to succeed across Ontario.
Learn More: https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/en/media/ontario-earns-its-first-ever-a-in-cfibs-red-tape-report-card
Ontario Receives CFIB “One to Watch” Award for Red Tape Reduction
Ontario is receiving national recognition from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business for its innovative approach to reducing red tape. The province earned CFIB’s One to Watch award for REGi, an in-house Regulatory Intelligence tool that helps identify, track, and eliminate unnecessary regulations. Alongside a broader suite of modernization initiatives, REGi is making government services more efficient, cutting costs for businesses, and saving time for people across Ontario.
Ontario Recognized in China
Earlier this month in Beijing, Destination Ontario was named a Top 5 Sustainable Family Travel Destination at the 21st National Tourism Quality Awards, presented by National Tourism, one of China’s leading travel-industry authorities.
Ontario was selected through a competitive evaluation combining performance data from major Chinese travel platforms with expert industry review. Among destinations worldwide, Ontario stood out for its strong appeal to family and educational travel, its natural and cultural assets, and its alignment with sustainable tourism practices.
Ontario is also featured on the cover and in a six-page spread of Wings of China, Air China’s official in-flight magazine, expanding international visibility as travel between China and Canada continues to rebound.
Learn more about Destination Ontario and start planning your next trip! https://www.destinationontario.com/en-ca
Ontario Connecting Ring of Fire with New Transmission Line
As part of its plan to protect Ontario and build a stronger, more self-reliant economy, the government is taking a major step to power northern Ontario and unlock the vast economic potential of Ring of Fire by declaring the Greenstone Transmission Line a priority project and designating Hydro One to develop and construct it. Today, Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines, and Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and Minister Responsible for Ring of Fire Economic and Community Partnerships, were joined by Chief Yvette Metansinine of Animbiigoo Zaagi-igan Anishinaabek First Nation, Chief Gladys Thompson of Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaaek First Nation, Chief Paul Gladu of Bingwi Neyaashi Anishnaabek First Nation, and Chief Allan Odawa Jr. of Red Rock Indian Band to announce that the Ontario government is accelerating construction of the 230-kilometre line that will run from Nipigon Bay to near Aroland First Nation and the gateway to the Ring of Fire.
Learn more: Ontario Connecting Ring of Fire with New Transmission Line
Ontario More Than Doubling Exports Through New Brunswick’s Port Saint John
Ontario Premier Doug Ford and New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt met with representatives from Port Saint John and industry stakeholders to strengthen relationships and celebrate the rapid increase in Ontario goods moving through Port Saint John over the past year. In 2025, the total volume of goods exported by Ontario companies through Port Saint John to international markets increased by 153 per cent compared to the previous year, reflecting the success of ongoing efforts to increase trade across Canada and find new markets for Canadian products overseas in response to U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods.
Learn more: Ontario More Than Doubling Exports Through New Brunswick’s Port Saint John
Key Grant Deadlines for Artists and Arts Groups in 2026
Exciting funding opportunities are available through the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Province’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. These programs help artists and arts organizations in Oakville North—Burlington realize their creative visions, build careers and audiences, and bring arts activity to communities of all sizes across Ontario.
Our full list of funding opportunities and application deadlines for 2026 is now available here:
https://www.arts.on.ca/grants/general-granting-information/grant-program-deadlines-and-important-dates
Holocaust Remembrance and the Fight Against Hate
We remember the six million Jewish lives stolen by hatred, cruelty, and indifference. Their memory is a solemn reminder of where unchecked antisemitism and dehumanization can lead. As antisemitism rises again across the world, remembrance must be matched with resolve. We have a shared responsibility to confront hatred, challenge misinformation, and stand firmly against ideologies that threaten dignity and freedom. Honouring the past means taking action today to ensure such horrors are never repeated.
Never Forget. Never Again.
Lace Up for Free Family Day Skating in Oakville!
Celebrate Family Day with a classic Canadian tradition!
Join me for FREE Family Day skating and hot chocolate right here in Oakville with your family!
Monday, Feb 16 from 2:30 to 3:30 PM
Sixteen Mile Sports Complex, 3070 Neyagawa Blvd, Oakville.
All are welcome!
Sign up/registration link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1981005261063?aff=oddtdtcreator