2ND SESSION (2013), 41ST LEGISLATURE, ONTARIO 60 ELIZABETH II, 2013

BILL 1 AN ACT FOR A BOLDER, STRONGER, FORWARD ONTARIO

3rd Reading February 1, 2013

Preamble The most important issue for Ontarians is a strong economy, and the Government of Ontario understands that a strong economy requires a robust education system combined with an innovation-friendly environment. The Haq Government continues to build upon the best education system in the English-speaking world by improving the quality of education in Aboriginal and rural communities, while establishing innovation hubs across the province to maintain a lead for Ontario in a rapidly changing global economy. Ontarians deserve a bolder, stronger, forward-thinking Ontario.

II. Improving educational performance in our Aboriginal Communities The Haq Government is focused on delivering quality education throughout the entire province. The Haq Government believes that all students in Ontario, including Aboriginal students, particularly those living in rural Ontario, deserve an equal opportunity to develop stronger math, science, and literacy skills and graduate to brighter futures. We believe that we can actively contribute to the increased success of Aboriginal youth by committing and contributing to the direction found in The Ontario First Nation, Mtis, and Inuit Education Policy Framework. This policy was designed to help close the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students in the areas of: Literacy and numeracy Retention of students in school Graduation rates Advancement to postsecondary studies

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows: 2.1. The Legislature acknowledges that the Ministry of Education has already worked to implement Strategy 1.1 of The Ontario First Nation, Mtis, and Inuit Education Policy Framework in school boards across Ontario. Section 1.1 worked to implement voluntary, confidential Aboriginal student self-identification policies in order to ascertain the proportion of aboriginal learners in school boards across Ontario. This, by extension, builds capacity for effective teaching, assessment, and evaluation practices. 2.2. The Legislature pledges to create a seamless transition from accomplishing strategy 1.1 to accomplishing 1.2, entitled: Enhance support to improve literacy and numeracy skills, by developing a hybrid student and teacher taskforce through the Ministry of Education. This hybrid taskforce would actively evaluate the results of the self-identification policies across Ontario school boards and work to determine what factors contribute to the widening gap between aboriginal and non-aboriginal student achievement from a student perspective. These recommendations would then be submitted to the Ministry of Education for Evaluation. 2.3. The Legislature pledges that before the taskforce submits their recommendations to the Ministry, they will launch a forum for student consultation. This will ensure that consultation concerning Aboriginal student achievement occurs, not only with Aboriginal Leaders, educators and parents, but aboriginal students. Students will have the opportunity to share their personal experiences and articulate how they feel they can best be supported through their learning journeys. 2.4. The Ministry will ensure that the hybrid taskforce will also generate ideas and assistance in developing strategies to collaborate with faculties of education, the Ontario College of Teachers, and Aboriginal teachers and communities to provide focused support for the ongoing education of teachers of Aboriginal students in literacy and Numeracy strategies. The taskforces process will be measured through monthly reports provided to the Ministry of education by the individual deemed chair. 2.5 The Legislature is committed to ensuring that the The Ontario First Nation, Mtis, and Inuit Education Policy Framework is fully embraced and implemented successfully. Aboriginal students must have access to the highest possible quality of education as does every other student in Ontario.

III: Innovation Essentials for a Future-Friendly Ontario The world did not end on December 21, 2012, suggesting that there is indeed a future to be excited about. The Haq Government moves forward with Ontarians in leading the world in scientific and technological innovation. The popular adage of You only live once might be true, but scientific and technological innovation has enabled Ontarians to live longer lives. The Haq Government understands that strong public services require a strong economy, and a strong economy in 2013 requires a strong entrepreneurial spirit among Ontarians. Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows: 3.1. The Legislature pledges that the Government of Ontario take bold, measured steps to establish innovation hubs in each region of the province, ease and increase access to private venture capital, encourage entrepreneurship through a public awareness initiative, and decrease socio-economic barriers to starting a business. 3.2. The Legislature pledges to expand Ontario Network of Excellence (ONE) locations into other countries, for the purpose of encouraging more direct foreign investment and relocating talent as well as firms into Ontario. 3.3. The Legislature pledges to commission a study with the strict goal of establishing clear policy directives on long term economic growth, technological innovation, and curtailing income inequality in Ontario. 3.4. The Legislature pledges that the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities, and the Ministry of Economic Development & Innovation, work in tandem with one another to: 3.4.1. Establish and share best practices for fostering an environment of inclusion and collaboration between faculties and students, R&D innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit within students at post-secondary institutions. 3.4.2. Expand ONE into every Ontario University and college, within the next 5 years, through a mixture of business incubators, accelerators, and research facilities. 3.4.3. Provide new Ontario graduates an OSAP repayment window extension of 12 months, instead of the current 6 months, should they choose to start their own business working with a ONE incubator. 3.5 The Legislature pledges to invest in a combined LTE and fibre-optic infrastructure project, with the clear intention of force-feeding competition into the internet service providers' market, speeding up internet speeds to up to and over 1GB/s, and bridging the digital divide between rural and urban Canada by 2020.