30 Days of Progress‏

News Release March 12, 2013 New Ontario Government Strengthening Economy and Building Fair Society The new Ontario government hit the ground running with its plan to create jobs, strengthen the economy and build stronger communities and a fair society across Ontario. Since being sworn in on February 11th, Premier Kathleen Wynne and members of her cabinet have visited communities across the province, met with important partners inside and outside government, and introduced a number of new initiatives and investments to get government working for the people of Ontario. To help build a job-creation economy, Premier Wynne has held five jobs roundtables with private sector, labour, education and training partners across Ontario. Last month, Ontario created 35,300 jobs, including nearly 21,000 jobs for young people. In February, Ontario created nearly 70 per cent of all new jobs in Canada. To help strengthen communities, the government held the first Northern cabinet meeting since 1995. It is also investing $100 million over five years to support world-leading brain research, which will improve health care. Ontario is also providing grants for community groups to clean up Great Lakes beaches or shoreline and restore wetlands.  To build a fairer society, the government introduced legislation that would, if passed, create three new categories of job-protected leave, so people can take care of their loved ones without fear of losing their job. Ontario also introduced legislation to help prevent skin cancer among young people by banning their use of tanning beds. And as part of a commitment to an open, collaborative process, Premier Wynne met with both leaders of opposition parties as her government prepares the budget. The government’s House Leader worked with opposition members to broaden the mandate of the Legislature’s Justice Committee, which is looking into the relocation of two gas plants. And the government is also participating in ongoing discussions with partners in the education sector, which have already resulted in the return of extracurricular activities in some Ontario high schools. Helping to create jobs, while investing in quality of life, is part of the new Ontario government’s plan to build a fair society and a strong economy.

QUICK FACTS Ontario employment has increased by 415,500 net new jobs since the economic low in June 2009 with full-time employment up 380,600 and part-time employment up 34,900. The government has hosted jobs roundtables in Toronto, Ottawa, Sault Ste. Marie, Windsor and London, sitting down with community leaders and representatives of the private sector, education, non-profit and labour partners. Premier Wynne has had meetings with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Prime Minister Keith Mitchell of Grenada, Premier Alison Redford, Premier Robert Ghiz, U.S. Ambassador David Jacobson and will be meeting with French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on Thursday. In February, the Provincial Council of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation voted to recommend to members to suspend their political action related to extracurricular and voluntary activities. The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer reports that the risk of skin cancer — particularly melanoma — increases by 75 per cent when tanning beds are used prior to the age of 35.

LEARN MORE Get more details on the Premier’s first 30 days in office. See the infographic. Read the Speech from the Throne.

QUOTES “Our province’s economy can only grow if our people are thriving. My team and I are working with all our partners to attract investment, strengthen our communities and protect our most vulnerable citizens. Only by working together can we meet the challenges ahead and build a fair society for all of the people of Ontario.” — Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario