Ontario's new government outlines its agenda in speech from the throne
Ontario’s new government outlined a number of new initiatives important to HR practitioners in its first speech from the throne.
James Bartleman, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, read the speech that outlined the challenges facing Premier Dalton McGuinty’s government in tackling a $5.6-billion deficit.
For HR practitioners in Ontario, the keys to the speech were:
•Smoke-free workplaces: “Your new government understands that promoting good health is as important as treating illness. It will make cigarettes more expensive to prevent young people from lighting up, and it will make public and workplaces in Ontario smoke-free within three years.”
•Minimum wage increase: “For the first time in eight years, there will be an increase in the minimum wage.”
•60-hour workweek history: “Legislation will be introduced to end the 60-hour workweek.”
•Training and development: “Ontario’s economy is strong and vibrant, but it faces challenges from beyond our borders, and a threat from within. Other jurisdictions are working hard to invest in building workforces that can attract the most investment and the best jobs … Ontario’s colleges, universities and skills training programs are critical to creating prosperity. Your new government will put in place a long-term plan that ensures the quality and accessibility of higher education for generations to come. While that plan is put in place, tuition fees will be frozen for two years.”
•Immigration, diversity and foreign credentials: “Your new government believes our province’s diversity is a tremendous source of strength. It will work with the federal government to finalize immigration and labour market development agreements that build on this strength. It will keep its commitment to ensure that highly qualified, internationally trained tradespeople and professionals can work in their chosen field, here in their chosen province.”
To read the entire speech from the throne, visit www.premier.gov.on.ca/english/Library/ThroneSpeech112003_ts.asp.
James Bartleman, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, read the speech that outlined the challenges facing Premier Dalton McGuinty’s government in tackling a $5.6-billion deficit.
For HR practitioners in Ontario, the keys to the speech were:
•Smoke-free workplaces: “Your new government understands that promoting good health is as important as treating illness. It will make cigarettes more expensive to prevent young people from lighting up, and it will make public and workplaces in Ontario smoke-free within three years.”
•Minimum wage increase: “For the first time in eight years, there will be an increase in the minimum wage.”
•60-hour workweek history: “Legislation will be introduced to end the 60-hour workweek.”
•Training and development: “Ontario’s economy is strong and vibrant, but it faces challenges from beyond our borders, and a threat from within. Other jurisdictions are working hard to invest in building workforces that can attract the most investment and the best jobs … Ontario’s colleges, universities and skills training programs are critical to creating prosperity. Your new government will put in place a long-term plan that ensures the quality and accessibility of higher education for generations to come. While that plan is put in place, tuition fees will be frozen for two years.”
•Immigration, diversity and foreign credentials: “Your new government believes our province’s diversity is a tremendous source of strength. It will work with the federal government to finalize immigration and labour market development agreements that build on this strength. It will keep its commitment to ensure that highly qualified, internationally trained tradespeople and professionals can work in their chosen field, here in their chosen province.”
To read the entire speech from the throne, visit www.premier.gov.on.ca/english/Library/ThroneSpeech112003_ts.asp.
