The Ontario provincial government has begun its pre-budget consultations in advance of the Minister of Finance’s release of its Fiscal Plan/Fall 2020 Budget. In advance of the fiscal plan being tabled, the public is invited to provide their input and recommendations via a survey.
The survey is open until October 16.
HRAI strongly encourages its members to contribute their ideas and to share HRAI’s priorities with the ministry officials and Minister of Finance Rod Phillips. HRAI will also contribute a submission for the government’s consideration.
Ontarians have until October 16 to weigh in on the survey. The themes are focused on the province’s “economic recovery” and “supporting people,” and asks citizens to rank the importance of balancing the budget, lowering and deferring taxes, cutting red tape for businesses, creating new corporate grants, and providing direct financial support, among other options.
HRAI’s priorities regarding Ontario’s economic recovery were submitted to Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs on both July 15th and August 20th. Click here to read our full submission.
Key priorities include:
- Home and Building Retrofit Program: A joint investment by the provincial and federal governments in a Home and Building Retrofit Program that will focus on job creation, reducing carbon emissions and reducing energy costs.
- Job Creation and Training: Generating new employment and apprenticeship opportunities for those who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19. The pandemic has had a devastating impact on many sectors while the HVACR sector has been struggling with a shortage of people enrolling in and graduating from skilled trades programs. There are now thousands of people – youth and women in particular – who could benefit from upskilling and retraining to gain new skills to begin to fill these gaps in the skilled trades sector. The apprenticeship system is ideal for the purpose as it combines on-the-job training with the ability to begin to earn an income – i.e. “earn while you learn.”
- Skills Training and Governance: There are continued concerns about the skilled trades shortage and the need for consultation with the sector regarding industry governance and training to address ongoing issues, in particular, with apprenticeship training.
- Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality: HRAI offers the expertise of the HVACR sector to ensure appropriate industry standards are in place to provide safe, secure indoor air and ventilation particularly for schools, Long Term Care homes, retirement homes and healthcare facilities and commercial buildings.
Normally, provincial budgets are tabled annually in March. Due to the pandemic, however, the province did not table a full scale budget in the spring. Instead, Minister Phillips will table a Fall 2020 budget and fiscal plan. It is expected that the Spring 2021 budget will be tabled in March, as is the normal practice.
HRAI’s outreach to MPPs continues and we appreciate that members are willing to participate on behalf of the industry. It is important for elected officials to hear directly from HRAI’s members – constituents and businesses owners – regarding issues related to the HVACR sector.
For more information, contact Dorothy McCabe, Government Relations Specialist – Ontario at 905-602-4700 ext 274 or email dmccabe@hrai.ca.