December E-News Letter

Message From Your MPP

Dear Neighbours,

As we welcome the season of festivities with the stringing of vibrant lights and humming of Christmas carols, I want to wish everyone a happy and exciting time with family and friends.

December is a month of unity, peace, and affection. It is a great way to commemorate the values and connections that bring us together and unite us through generosity, and gratitude. The holiday season is a special time of the year as we snug into the spirit of creating memories and giving back to the community while preparing for your get-togethers and making the gift list, make sure to express your gratitude to small businesses and shop local. I thank everyone for buying fresh Christmas trees. Every year Ontarians buy about one million locally grown Christmas trees, generating about $12 million in farm sales, significantly contributing towards increasing local employment.

Carrying the spirit of festivity, the Ontario government remains committed to supporting our seniors to get the quality of care and life they need and deserve by recruiting more personal support workers into Long-Term Care. I am thrilled to share that our government is investing more than $300 million to help attract our passionate elderly care-providing graduates to establish their careers and deliver high-quality care for our aged residents in long-term care homes.

Thank you everyone for joining me for the Remembrance Day wreath-laying ceremony and remembering the sacrifices of men and women in uniform for our freedom and peace.

I am pleased to invite you all for the festive afternoon of Christmas Open House on Saturday, December 9th, 2023, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 7895 Tranmere Drive, Mississauga. Looking forward to celebrating the blissful aura of the season and making lifelong memories with you all.

As always, please remember that my office is here to serve you. Please do not hesitate to reach out. Your input is invaluable, and together, we can continue to make Mississauga-Malton an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Wishing you all a safe, enjoyable winter season.

Sincerely,

Deepak Anand

Christmas Open House

I would like to invite you to join us for a festive afternoon of Christmas cheer.

Bring the whole family out on Saturday, December 9th from 2:00-4:00 pm, at 7895 Tranmere Drive for an afternoon to celebrate the joyous spirit of the season. We look forward to a memorable afternoon filled with warmth and good company.
Refreshments will be served. There will be games and a children’s craft corner.

Free and open to all!
Please register at the link below.

Investments In Ontario

$200 Million is being invested over three years toward critical drinking water and infrastructure in municipalities.
This project is to repair, rehabilitate, and expand critical drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. This means that the province’s rapidly growing population will have access to clean and safe water for their daily needs.

$107 Million manufacturing investment by Heddle Shipyards has been secured with $3.4 million from provincial funding.
This investment will help the largest ship repair and construction company on all of the Great Lakes to increase their Vessel Life Extension program keeping Canadian ships working longer.

$68 Million in additional funding is being invested to increase access to pediatric services for children and youth in the GTA.
This funding will go to eight different hospitals across the Greater Toronto Area to reduce wait times, upgrade facilities, and hire more staff

$60 Million investment by Dana Canada Corporation has been secured with $2.5 million from Invest Ontario.
This investment will help the global manufacturer of drivetrain and electric propulsion motor systems expand the capacity of their plants which make vital components for EV batteries; and will create over 100 new well-paying jobs.

$4.1 Million is being invested through the NOHFC for five mining supply and services projects in Northeastern Ontario.
By implementing strategic initiatives and policies, the city aims to support job creation and attract new investments throughout the north of Ontario.

$4 Million is being invested in partnership with SWIFT to provide Elgin County with access to reliable internet service.
The Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) program focuses on supporting the development and expansion of broadband infrastructure for improved quality of life for residents in rural and underserved areas.

$3.5 Million is being invested to help small & and medium-sized automotive parts suppliers enhance their competitiveness.
This investment will help 26 companies acquire almost $9.6 million in new tools and technologies while creating over 100 new, well-paying jobs.

$1.5 Million is being invested in four new multi-year projects to improve the ecological health of Lake Simcoe.
These projects will focus on a variety of initiatives, including implementing agricultural best management practices, reducing the amount of phosphorus from urban stormwater runoff, improving wetland habitats, and monitoring water quality in the lake.

Updates from Queen’s Park

Member Statement on
Canadian Film Industry

Ontario’s film industry contributes over $3 Billion to our province’s economy every year while supporting more than 45,000 jobs! The many film festivals annually bring people together to experience new cultures, powerful art pieces, and wholesome entertainment.

Recently Mississauga-Malton was home to the twelfth annual International Film Festival of South Asia (IFFSA) Toronto. This year’s eleven-day festival features over 120 films, in 22 languages. I was proud to speak in the Legislature to thank them for the opportunity they provided our community to come together to celebrate South Asian culture and talent.

Through the IFFSA Talent Fund, the festival fosters homegrown talent. It extends its impact throughout the year with a comprehensive Learning Series and various year-round activities, providing invaluable opportunities for skill development, industry insights, and artistic growth.

Member Statement on
Disabilities in Canada

Being inclusive means embracing diversity with open arms, valuing every voice, and fostering a sense of belonging for people with different abilities.

That is why, the Ontario government is extending support to 3,770 individuals with disabilities, in their quest for meaningful employment, through a $6.5 million investment, through (the SDF) Training Stream while championing the cause by supporting businesses with the Discover Ability Roadmap, enhancing inclusivity through the EnAbling Change Program, and offering tools for accessible recruitment and accommodation information.

I was grateful for the opportunity to recognize in Legislature all of the innovative work of Jake’s House, right here in Mississauga-Malton who are a shining example of helping individuals with disability to find meaningful employment opportunities, in fields like construction and security.

Working for Workers Four Act

The Ontario government is introducing the new Working for Workers IV Act to continue leading the country in ground-breaking protections for workers by expanding the Working for Workers Acts, which has helped millions of Ontarians earn bigger paycheques while supporting the integration of newcomers in building our province.

These initiatives demonstrate the government’s commitment to creating fair and equitable working environments for everyone. The proposed changes in the Workers’ Protection Act not only aim to ensure workers are treated fairly and not taken advantage of by their employers while promoting economic growth and stability. Key changes include:

Requiring employers to disclose salary ranges in job postings
This will allow job seekers to have the details they need to make informed decisions about their career choices. Increasing transparency in the application process is the first step in obtaining fair compensation for workers by creating an equal playing field for all Ontarians.

Taking Action to Support Injured Workers
Our government is supporting those injured in the workplace through new legislation that will annually adjust payments made by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board to account for inflation.

Banning the Requirement for Canadian Work Experience
To make Ontario a more inclusive and fair province, the government is also making changes to ban the requirement of Canadian work experience in job postings. This will open up opportunities for more qualified candidates who may have international education or work experience.

Strengthening Wage Protections for Restaurant and Hospitality Workers
We are introducing new wage protections for restaurant and hospitality workers by protecting their hard-earned tips, banning unpaid trial shifts, and prohibiting employers from punitive pay docking over dine and dash, gas and dash, or any other theft.

Click Here for Details

Investing In a Stronger Ontario

Our government released the 2023 Fall Economic Statement: Building a Strong Ontario Together which lays out our plan for taking a responsible and targeted approach to building a strong and resilient Ontario for current and future generations.

We are taking the steps needed to improve the lives of all Ontarians while building a strong foundation for future generations by attracting more people and businesses to the province and driving further economic growth.

Opening an Ontario Trade Office in Singapore, our first in an ASEAN member country
Investing an additional $100 million in the Invest Ontario Fund to attract more leading companies to the province
We are launching the Ontario Infrastructure Bank, a new arms-length, board-governed agency to enable public-sector pension plans and other trusted institutional investors to participate in large-scale infrastructure projects across the province.
Helping build more affordable rental housing by removing the 8% provincial portion of HST on qualified projects.
Extending the current gas and fuel tax rate cuts through to June 30, 2024

Click Here for Details

Second Round of Real Estate Improvements

Our government has released the newest round of real estate market changes as part of the Trust in Real Estate Services Act (TRESA) 2022, to strengthen consumer protection, better educate home buyers and sellers, and enhance professionalism within the real estate services sector.

Effective December 1, 2023, the following changes come into effect:

Renaming the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act
Allowing an Open Offer Process
Updating the Code of Ethics Regulation
Enhanced Disclosures and Information
New Powers and Tools for the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO)
Allowing Designated Representation

Training More Personal Support Workers (PSWs)

Our government is helping thousands of people start careers as personal support workers and connecting long-term care residents to more hours of direct care and expanded home care services.

To incentivize those with personal support worker certifications to pursue careers in long-term care homes, we are offering students and recent graduates up to $25,400.

Up to $5,400 to students while they complete their clinical placement in long-term care or home and community care;
$10,000 for current students and recent graduates who commit to working in a long-term care home or with a home and community care service provider for 12 months; and
$10,000 to help with relocation costs to graduates who commit to working in a long-term care home or with a home and community care service provider in a rural, remote, or northern community for 12 months.

Incentives are retroactive to April 1, 2023, for students who recently completed their clinical placements.

Click for more details

Expanding the Roles of Nurses

Our government is working hard to get more nurse practitioners trained in classrooms and working in the field.

Since September, we have added 121 new spots at 9 different universities across the province, bringing us closer to our 350-seat goal that will help train ON’s healthcare workforce for the future.

Click Here for Details

Additionally starting in January 2024, registration is expected to open for registered nurses to receive training that will allow them to work more independently and prescribe medications for certain conditions such as contraception, immunizations, smoking cessation, and topical wound care in a variety of settings close to home, including long-term care homes and retirement homes.

Click Here for Details

Ontario’s Plan for Child Care

Ontario is launching the most significant and comprehensive Child Care Workforce Strategy in the province’s history.

Our new strategy will help recruit, train, and maintain standards for qualified educators.

Starting in 2024, initiatives in the strategy include:

Increasing the starting wage for Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECEs) employed by childcare operators enrolled in the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system to $23.86/hour in 2024 from the planned $20/hour
Extending the eligibility ceiling for a $1/hour increase so more RECEs can benefit
Supporting entry into the profession and career development
Cutting red tape for employers and providing more flexibility in staffing their programs
Launching a promotional campaign to bolster awareness and value of the childcare profession
Requiring all licensed childcare operators to implement a Safe Arrival and Dismissal Policy by January 1, 2024

Click Here for Details