“ Our government is investing $4.1 million in 2026-2027 to help connect more than 10,000 residents across Oakville, Milton, and Halton Hills to primary care services. Today, I was pleased to make this announcement with Executive Director Zoe Dawe of Connected Care Halton.
This investment will expand interprofessional primary care teams, helping residents access family doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, and other health professionals closer to home while reducing pressure on emergency departments.
Across Ontario, our government is investing in expanded primary care teams to connect 500,000 more people to care as part of our goal of ensuring every Ontarian has access to primary care by 2029.
This investment is another important step toward building a stronger and more connected health care system for Halton families.”—MPP Effie Triantafilopoulos
Burlington Chamber of Commerce Roundtable on Energy & Economic Growth
It was a pleasure to join the Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce and MPP Natalie Pierre for a productive roundtable discussion with local business leaders in Burlington.
Thank you to the Burlington Chamber of Commerce and President and CEO Terry Caddo for bringing together community partners, and to Burlington Hydro Inc. for hosting.
The discussion focused on how our government is supporting energy, infrastructure, and economic growth across Burlington, Oakville, and the broader region, while continuing to work closely with local partners to build stronger and more resilient communities.
A solemn morning of Remembrance and Reflection
I was honoured to join MPP Natalie Pierre, Mayor Meed Ward and Halton Region Chair Gary Carr at the Burl-Oak Naval Veterans’ Battle of the Atlantic Ceremony, where we laid a wreath in tribute to those who served.
We remembered the courage and sacrifice of the men and women who helped secure our freedom at sea. Thank you to veterans, past and present, for your service, and to everyone who came together to honour their memory.
Celebrated Canada Netherlands Friendship Day in Burlington
Celebrating friendship, culture, and long-standing international connections.
Pleased to join MPP Natalie Pierre and Mayor of Burlington Marianne Meed Ward at Canada Netherlands Friendship Day marking the 21st anniversary of Burlington’s twinning with Apeldoorn.
It was a wonderful event featuring the Burlington Teen Tour Band, Dutch treats, and a strong sense of community spirit.
Ontario is home to more than 500,000 Dutch Canadians, while more than one million Canadians across the country have Dutch heritage.
It was a pleasure to see former Deputy Premier Elizabeth Witmer who had championed the Dutch Heritage Month Act, recognizing this special celebration.
Met YMCA of Oakville Youth Leaders
It was inspiring to visit the YMCA of Oakville and meet with youth leaders involved in its outreach and mentorship programs.
These initiatives are making a meaningful difference for young people across Oakville by helping build confidence, leadership skills, and a strong sense of community.
Thank you to CEO Kyle, Oscar, and the entire YMCA team for the warm welcome and for the important work you do to empower the next generation.
Marking Phase 1 of new Robert Bateman Community Centre
A meaningful milestone for Burlington’s growing community and shared spaces.
I was pleased to join MPP Natalie Pierre and Mayor of Burlington Marianne Meed Ward for the opening of Phase 1 of the Robert Bateman Community Centre.
This exciting new community hub will serve residents of all ages and reflects the strong collaboration between local partners to invest in spaces that bring people together.
Congratulations to everyone involved in reaching this important milestone and thank you to the City of Burlington and all partners for making it possible, including Brock University, Halton District School Board, TechPlace, and Burlington Public Library.
Cutting Red Tape for Small Business
Cutting red tape means protecting jobs, supporting small businesses, and keeping our economy competitive. This week in the Ontario Legislature, I asked Red Tape Reduction Minister Andrea Khanjin how the Protect Ontario’s Economy and Economic Resilience Act will help deliver faster approvals, clearer timelines, and real results for workers and job creators.
To date, our government has helped save businesses $1.3 billion annually and reduced paperwork by 1.8 million hours. Protecting Ontario means ensuring our economy remains strong, competitive, and resilient. Click here to watch the video
Honoured Ontario Fire Chiefs at Queen’s Park
It was a pleasure to join Premier Doug Ford and Ontario Fire Chiefs from across the province at Queen’s Park to recognize the incredible work they do every day to keep our communities safe.
Thank you to Ontario’s Fire Chiefs, firefighters, and their staff for your continued dedication, service, and commitment to protecting families and strengthening communities across the province.
Supporting Ontario Firefighters & Fire Services
I was pleased to meet at Queen’s Park with representatives from the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs, including Oakville Deputy Fire Chief Jeremy Inglis and Deputy Fire Chief Kyle Christopher, to discuss their key priorities.
Our government continues to support firefighters and fire services through investments in emergency preparedness, cancer prevention measures and equipment for fire departments, and enhanced resources to help first responders safely respond to increasingly complex emergencies.
Thank you to Ontario’s Chief Fire Officers, firefighters, and their staff for their continued leadership and vital service to communities across Ontario.
Celebrated Community Living Month
Thank you to Community Living Toronto and Community Living Ontario for celebrating Community Living Month at Queens Park to recognize more than 70 years of advocacy, inclusion, and support for people with intellectual disabilities and their families.
A special thank you to local organizations including Community Living Oakville and Community Living Burlington for the important work you do to create inclusive spaces and meaningful opportunities for the people you support.
Thank you to the staff, volunteers, families, and advocates across Ontario for your continued dedication and leadership.
Honouring Voices of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
On Thursday, I attended a reception at Queen’s Park hosted by Associate Attorney General Michael Tibollo in honour of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People, alongside the “4000 Cover Stories” exhibit.
Presented by the Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto, the exhibit honours the lives and stories of thousands of Indigenous women taken from their families and communities while raising awareness and supporting continued reflection and healing.
Opticianry Day at Queen’s Park
Also on Thursday, I attended an event at Queen’s Park hosted by the College of Opticians of Ontario and the Ontario Opticians Association recognizing the important role opticians play in supporting eye health and vision care across our province. The event also featured complimentary eyeglass fittings and repairs, as well as a charitable eyeglass donation drive to help support Ontarians in need.
Queen’s Park Weekly Update
It was another busy week at Queen’s Park with Committee Meetings and late-night sittings in the Legislature.
Highlights of our government’s Bills introduced by Ministers, Legislation debated in the Legislature and in committee this week, and recaps of some notable events follow.
On Monday, I started off the week in the Speaker’s Chair where I oversaw debate on Bill 110, the Building Billy Bishop Airport Act, 2026.
The Building Billy Bishop Airport Act, 2026 marks an important step in our government’s plan to support the long-term modernization and expansion of Billy Bishop Airport to help meet future demand in southern Ontario, reduce pressure at Toronto Pearson International Airport, increase competition in the air travel sector to support more routes and cheaper flights, and support the creation of thousands of good-paying jobs in Ontario’s aviation, tourism and construction sectors.
Under the Toronto Port Authority’s modernization plan, an expanded Billy Bishop Airport would serve millions more passengers each year and contribute up to $8.5 billion to Canada’s GDP annually by 2050.
Following Question Period, Members voted on Bill 105, Protecting Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026 (POWER Act), passing a Motion to send it to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs.
The POWER Act is the next step in our government’s plan to cut red tape and streamline provincial permits and approvals so projects can move forward faster and with greater certainty, while supporting businesses and helping workers transition more quickly into high-demand jobs. In short, the POWER Act is designed to help workers access opportunities more quickly and support businesses by lowering costs and delays while reinforcing Ontario’s ability to attract investment.
Since the introduction of our government’s Building a More Competitive Economy Act in fall 2025, we’ve made significant progress in addressing key business permitting issues, including reducing and streamlining permissions, simplifying system navigation and improving accountability. With over 150 permits completed or currently under review, Ontario is on track to eliminate or streamline at least 35% of all business-facing permits by the end of 2028. To date, Ontario has the lowest regulatory burden per capita in Canada, saving people and businesses $1.3 billion and 1.8 million hours since 2018.
During Question Period on Tuesday, I rose in the Legislature to ask the Red Tape Reduction Minister what the Ontario government is doing to fix outdated processes that are delaying projects and costing jobs in our communities. Minister Khanjin explained that, through the Protecting Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026 – this government’s 17th red tape reduction package – our government is taking bold action to keep Ontario strong and resilient by delivering faster and more predictable permit and approval processes, clearer timelines, and consistent rules so projects can move forward without unnecessary delays.
She noted that since 2018, the government has taken more than 700 concrete red tape reduction actions – cutting unnecessary rules, modernizing permits and approvals, and eliminating duplication across government.
These changes are saving Ontario’s economy an estimated $1.3 billion every year and freeing up 1.8 million working hours – that’s time and money going back into the economy, not lost to paperwork.
Also on Tuesday, the Honourable Paul Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance, introduced Bill 114, the HST Relief Implementation Act (Residential Property Rebates), 2026 to support the implementation of the province’s 13% HST relief on eligible new homes, which is being delivered in partnership with the federal government.
This Bill will, if passed, provide buyers of most new homes in Ontario with up to $130,000 in relief and could stimulate an additional 8,000 housing starts in Ontario next year, support up to 21,000 jobs and boost Ontario’s GDP growth by $2.7 billion.
While applications for HST relief are not open at this time, those who meet the relevant eligibility criteria can apply for the relief once applications open. For example, purchasers of an eligible home acquired on or after April 1, 2026, and on or before March 31, 2027, would be able to apply at a later date to receive the HST relief, even though the application process has not yet opened.
Our proposed legislation also includes provisions that would enable buyers to assign this top-up to builders so that sellers can take the full HST relief amount off the price of a new home up front. We continue to work with the federal government to implement the HST relief through necessary federal regulatory changes and has asked the federal government to administer the full HST relief program through the Canada Revenue Agency. Further details on how home buyers will be eligible for the relief will be made available at the earliest possible opportunity.
These measures build on existing provincial housing tax supports to help increase the supply of affordable homes, support housing development and foster a robust housing industry across Ontario. This includes removing the full 8% provincial portion of the HST on qualifying purpose-built rental housing. The province is also providing historic housing-enabling infrastructure funding through the $4 billion Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program and the $1.2 billion Building Faster Fund, which rewards eligible municipalities that make real progress in getting shovels in the ground to build new homes.
On Wednesday Members commenced debate on Bill 114 and resumed debate on Bill 100, Better Regional Governance Act, 2026. Now in 3rd Reading, our Better Regional Governance Act will, if passed, make a number of changes to the way regional governments function in some of Ontario’s fastest growing regions. These changes would support lower costs for municipal taxpayers and better alignment between regional decision-making and shared provincial-regional priorities. We also passed a vote on our Bill, Bill 101, Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026, which has now passed 3rd Reading and is currently awaiting Royal Assent.
Ontario Continues to Protect Health-Care Workforce
Our government is taking historic steps in building our homegrown health-care workforce that train, stay, and build their careers in the communities that need them most,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “By expanding the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant to Peterborough and the surrounding communities, we are removing financial barriers for students and supporting the future nurses that will connect more people to care in eastern Ontario.
Learn more: Ontario Continues to Protect Health-Care Workforce
Ontario Welcomes $294 Million Investment in the Life Sciences Sector
The Ontario government is welcoming an investment of $294 million from Sanofi, a global biopharmaceutical company, to expand its Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence (AI CoE) in Toronto. Building on a strong foundation of more than 150 employees, the expansion of Sanofi’s AI CoE will leverage the province’s skilled workforce to create 50 new good-paying jobs while reinforcing Ontario’s position as a global leader in life sciences and artificial intelligence (AI).
Learn more: Ontario Welcomes $294 Million Investment in the Life Sciences Sector
Ontario Helping Connect More Students With Rewarding Careers in the Skilled Trades
To deliver on our government’s historic $236 billion infrastructure plan, Ontario will need an additional 400,000 workers in the skilled trades over the next decade,” said Premier Doug Ford. “We will continue to invest in innovative programs that introduce students and young people to the skills they need to land in-demand careers and bigger paycheques.
Learn more: Ontario Helping Connect More Students With Rewarding Careers in the Skilled Trades
Ontario Protecting Transit Users From Illegal Drug Use
As part of its ongoing work to protect Ontario and keep communities safe, the government will soon introduce regulatory changes as part of an upcoming legislative package that would crack down on illegal drug use on transit and target illegal drug production.
“Protecting Ontario means making sure people feel safe when they use public transit,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “Through these proposed changes we are giving law enforcement and their partners the tools they need to keep our communities and transit systems safe, while holding offenders and those who enable them accountable.
Learn more: Ontario Protecting Transit Users From Illegal Drug Use
Ontario Expanding Opportunities for Girls in Sport
The Ontario government is investing $480,000 in Canadian Women & Sport’s The Next Play Program to expand affordable and inclusive sport and recreation opportunities for nearly 3,500 girls across the province. This made-for-Ontario initiative will provide community sport organizations with the resources needed to support the next generation of female athletes to train and grow their skills.
Learn more: Ontario Expanding Opportunities for Girls in Sport
Happy Mother’s Day
This Mother’s Day, we recognize and celebrate the incredible mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures across Oakville North–Burlington and throughout Ontario.
Whether they are supporting their families, contributing in the workplace, volunteering in our communities, or caring for loved ones, mothers play an essential role in shaping the strength and future of our communities.
Thank you for your compassion, resilience, sacrifice, and the countless ways you make a difference each and every day.
Wishing everyone celebrating a very Happy Mother’s Day.
Join Us for an Inspiring STEM Journey
Join the MPP Youth Council for a virtual session with University of Toronto Engineering Science student Sterling Huang as he shares his journey from high school to one of Canada’s top engineering programs. Students will gain valuable advice on applications, academics, internships, and university life.