The conversation began with Minister Piccini addressing the current state of affairs in Ontario. He touched on the big challenges we are facing - labour shortages, foreign workers, and housing. According to Piccini, productivity is taking a hit due to an increasing regulatory burden, labour shortages, and a lack of investment in skills. To combat these issues, he highlighted a new policy initiative which would allow for grade 11 and 12 students to earn co-operative education credits in the skilled trades. Students would also receive a new seal on their diploma recognizing their completion of the program. This will allow students to fast track their learning and hands on experience before entering post-secondary through co-operative learning. This is just one of the ways the minister is addressing our labour shortage by attracting more youth into trades.
Another incentive is the provision of grants for individuals to purchase trade materials. This provincially funded grant provides individuals looking to enter the trades industry with that first set of tools to start their careers. Covering the costs of materials for tradesmen can remove the initial investment to enter trades for individuals.
Shifting to the topic of foreign workers and immigration, Minister Piccini acknowledged the immense contribution immigration has played in building our workforce, including his own grandfather who immigrated from Italy. However, he emphasized the importance of also growing our own domestic worker base specifically in the services industry. While immigration has mitigated our labour shortage problem, it is important to continue to concentrate efforts on enticing our own local workforce to join various industries experiencing labour shortages as well.
Piccini touted the economic success Ontario has experienced without raising taxes and reducing a regulatory environment, pointing out that Ontario is the only province that has not raised taxes, and this has contributed to over $60 billion in revenue. In addition, he proudly mentioned before the pandemic we produced “0% of PPE, now 90% of PPE manufacturing is produced in Ontario” further illustrating our progress in providing a prosperous and viable market for manufacturers here in Ontario.
Next up, Cavan Monaghan Mayor Matthew Graham, and Otonabee-South Monaghan, Mayor Joe Taylor set the stage. They both had a lot to say on municipal matters such as housing, employment lands, and economic development. The mayors had their own set of experiences within their townships but faced the same bureaucratic challenges in lengthy approvals for land development.
In positive news, both townships are experiencing progress with hundreds of housing units in development! For example, Mayor Graham spoke on Millbrook overseeing 600-1200 units in the process of being built. Although housing units are progressing, the cost of development remains a concern. One person for instance, spent $2 million just on buying land and another $2 million on hydro.
Meanwhile Mayor Taylor touched on the need to develop land on cross-border boundaries with the city of Peterborough. Taylor said that “some townships do not have the capital to service city-owned lands and needs cooperation from the city.” With more cooperation this could lead to increased development in areas identified for growth between municipal boundaries.
Both mayors also spoke on the significant delays for developing employment lands. Graham mentioned “one land assessment cost $300,000 and then took four years for approval.” To mitigate these lengthy delays Graham proposes a “streamlining of services where municipalities can go to one body to meet provincial regulations rather than go through multiple bodies.”
The mayors closed off in talking about how meeting the needs of their township is their number one priority. Mayor Graham mentioned a thoughtful point about bureaucracy
acknowledging that while it can be frustrating, these are processes of our democratic system. “Some people hate bureaucracy but a lot of these bureaucratic processes and policies are democratic and to undermine them would be anti-democratic.” Despite these challenges, it was refreshing to hear both mayors remain optimistic about the future of their townships.
Finally, it was a very insightful discussion, offering a behind-the-scenes view of the work being done by our local mayors and the Minister of Labour for businesses in our community. Whether it’s Minister Piccini’s focus on tackling labour shortages or the ongoing work of our mayors to drive housing and employment land development, the topics discussed help address key challenges businesses are facing, such as labour shortages and rising regulatory burdens. The solutions offered by Piccini—encouraging youth to enter the trades and reducing the financial barriers to entry—will provide students with early exposure to the trades and fast-track their skills development. This means businesses can expect a more skilled and prepared workforce in the near future. Additionally, the mayors' focus on reducing bureaucratic delays and fostering cooperation between municipalities and the province would create more opportunities for business growth and investment in our community. It’s encouraging to see proactive steps being taken at both the provincial and municipal levels to build a better future for all.
