It is both an honour and a challenge to serve as Ontario's Minister of Labour. It seems each day brings another piece of good economic news to confirm that Ontario is on an economic roll. Unemployment is way down. Consumer confidence is up.
Government finances are in great shape.
And more of the same is forecast for the year ahead. And a key feature of this agenda has been the reshaping of Ministry of Labour laws and regulations to encourage investment, growth and jobs. Reforms like Bill 99 put the workers' compensation system back on track. Reforms like last year's project agreements could spur billions in new construction. And reforms that have revolutionized the health and safety system in Ontario have us comfortably on track to reducing lost time injuries by 30 per cent between 1995 and 2000.