The Ford government is expressing a desire to work with the opposition during a new session of Queen’s Park.
Partnership was a key theme in the Throne Speech read by Lieutenant-Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell.
“As members, you will disagree, sometimes if not often passionately and with conviction. That is the nature of a healthy democracy. However, with the province, country and world having been through so much, and as we now face new and looming challenges, now is not the time for partisanship and ideology to trump the virtues of partnership and collaboration. The people of Ontario rightly expect their government to work with others in common cause and in service of delivering real solutions,” read Dowdeswell.
The speech also outlined government commitments previously announced before June’s provincial election.
Many are contained in the spring budget, put forward before the election and reintroduced for debate Tuesday afternoon.
It includes the promised road into the Ring of Mine mining development.
“By working collaboratively with First Nations partners, the province is now in the late stages of environmental assessments and design work to build the first two sections of the road to the Ring of Fire. And recently, chiefs from Webequie and Marten Falls First Nations submitted the terms of reference for the northern road link, the third and final road necessary to complete the all-season connection to the province’s highway system,” stated the Lieutenant-Governor.
The speech also acknowledged the inflationary challenges, the affordable housing crisis and the workplace shortage plaguing the health care sector.
“Your government is actively engaging with health-system partners to identify urgent, actionable solutions and will implement whatever measures are needed to help ease immediate pressures while also ensuring the province is ready to stay open during any winter surge. As your government addresses short-term stressors, it will continue to invest in and advance meaningful reform that in the long term builds a stronger, more resilient health system that better meets the needs of patients,” read Dowdeswell.
The Speech also included the request to the federal government to increase Ontario’s share of health care dollars to 35 per cent.
