Press Releases

Wilson congratulates David and Clara Johnson on 60th wedding anniversary

"It was my pleasure to congratulate David and Clara Johnson on their 60^th wedding anniversary at their garden party celebration in Wasaga Beach last weekend. This is an incredible milestone and it was an honour to attend such a special occasion," said MPP Jim Wilson.

Wilson attends Essa Salmon Riverbank Derby

"I had a great time at the 16^th annual Essa Salmon Riverbank Derby on Sunday afternoon. I want to thank the organizers for the invitation and congratulations to all the anglers who participated in the competition," said MPP Jim Wilson.

Minister's Wilson and Yurek in Angus to discuss Ontario Tree Seed Plant

(August 29, 2018) Yesterday, Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson and representatives from the office of Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry were in Angus to tour the Ontario Tree Seed Plant. Following the tour, MPP Wilson and Minister Jeff Yurek, who participated by teleconference, met with industry experts and local advocates to discuss options for the facility moving forward.

Our Government Keeps Promises!

Promise Made, Promises Kept: a review of our top 20 achievements so far

Queen’s Park: Today, Ontario Government House Header, Minister Todd Smith recapped our government’s promises kept since coming to office. Focusing on our top 20 achievements, these historic changes will save families money, make life more affordable and bring accountability back to government.

“During the election, we presented our Plan for the People. Citizens across Ontario supported our plan by sending us to Queen’s Park with a strong majority,” said Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson.

“Since July, we have delivered key initiatives that will help lower gas prices and reduce your hydro bills, restore accountability and trust in government, and send a message to the world that Ontario is open for business,” said Todd Smith, Government House Leader and Minister of Government and Consumer Services.

Since forming government, under the leadership of Premier Doug Ford, we have been busy passing legislation and taking action on many files to improve life for Ontarians, including:

Passing the Urgent Priorities Act, including immediate action to protect students by ending the York University Strike, bring unprecedented transparency and accountability to Hydro One, and cancel an industrial wind turbine project in Prince Edward County that had been improperly approved during the general election.

Passing the Better Local Government Act, which will reduce the size and cost of Toronto’s city council — saving local taxpayers $25 million dollars that can be invested in other priorities. The Act will also prevent gridlock in Peel, York, Muskoka and Niagara by removing yet another layer of elected politicians.

Introducing the Cap and Trade Cancellation Act that, if passed, will save the average Ontario family $260 and bring gas prices down by 4.3 cents per litre.

Overseeing the renewal of Hydro One including the departure of the previous CEO and Board of Directors and instalment of a new Board, backed up by real accountability and transparency measures.

Dedicating an additional $100 million to fight forest fires across Ontario

Introducing a responsible plan for Ontario following the legalization of cannabis that will focus on protecting youth, eliminating the illegal market, and embracing a well-regulated private market.

Challenging the constitutionality of the federal government’s plan to impose a carbon tax on Ontario families, workers and businesses and joining Saskatchewan’s similar challenge of the federal government’s job-killing carbon tax.

Forging a pan-Canadian consensus on the issue of costs associated with illegal border crossings. Every province and territory agreed that it is the federal government’s responsibility to pay for the mess that it has created from its own border policy decisions.

Taking immediate action to clean up the scandals, mismanagement and waste inherited from the previous government by striking an Independent Financial Commission of Inquiry under the leadership of former British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell. We also launched an outside line-by-line audit of all government spending in order to get Ontario’s finances back on track.

Consistently advocating for Ontario jobs, Ontario workers and Ontario businesses threatened by the current trade dispute with the U.S., including direct diplomacy from both the Premier and Jim Wilson, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, south of the border.

Taking urgent and long-overdue action to reform Ontario’s Social Assistance system so that its focus can once again return to helping people get back to work and get their lives back on track.

Cancelling all pre-construction Green Energy Projects as part of the government’s commitment to bringing hydro bills down by 12 per cent.

Announcing the reform of OHIP+ to make it more sustainable by focusing benefits on those who do not have existing prescription drug benefits, while continuing to guarantee that every child and youth still receives the prescription drugs they need.

Leading the fight against gang and gun violence with a $25 million investment that will be directed to the priorities that have been identified by the police themselves.

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Queen's Park Report: Buck-a-Beer is returning to Ontario

(August 8, 2018) - Our new government has fulfilled another one of the promises we made during the election campaign.

This week Premier Doug Ford, Finance Minister Vic Fedeli and Minister of Government and Consumer Services Todd Smith announced that Buck-a-Beer will return to Ontario by August 27.

Premier Ford promised during the election campaign to bring back ‘Buck-a-Beer’ and I am happy to say: Promise made, promise kept.

The government is lowering the minimum price floor to $1 for any beer with an alcohol volume below 5.6%. The minimum retail price for beer was $1 in Ontario from 2005 to 2008 until the previous Liberal government banned Buck-a-Beer by increasing the minimum price.

To encourage brewers to lower their prices in time for the Labour Day long weekend, the Premier formally launched the Buck-a-Beer Challenge. Any brewer who agrees to lower their prices on or after August 27 will, for a limited time throughout the year, receive LCBO promotional considerations such as limited time discounts, in-store displays on end aisles and shelf extenders, or advertising in LCBO flyers and newspaper inserts.

We are not subsidizing brewers, as the opposition claims; we are working with brewers and giving them the option to lower prices for consumers. There are no financial incentives from the government and the tax portion of the cost of beer is not being reduced. Buck-a-Beer does not apply to draft beer sold in restaurants and bars and ciders, wines and spirits.

“We’re going to do this smartly and responsibly,” said Premier Ford. “And we trust Ontario beer drinkers and other consumers to make their own smart, mature and responsible choices.”

I am proud to say that Ontario is open for business. Our government was elected to eliminate job-killing red tape and put people first. Buck-a-Beer is part of our commitment to change alcohol retailing across the province including expanding the sale of beer and wine to convenience stores, grocery stores and big box stores.

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Wilson thanks Minister Yurek for honouring commitment to review Ontario Tree Seed Plant closure

Throne Speech Lays Out Road Map for PCs Plan for the People

Government for the People outlines top priorities for the next four years

QUEEN’S PARK – Yesterday the newly formed Government for the People outlined its plan to deliver real change for Ontario. The Throne Speech identified key issues that Premier Ford intends to address, which include cleaning up the hydro mess left by the Liberals, protecting students, ending hallway medicine and restoring accountability to government.

"We have a clear mandate from the people," said Premier Doug Ford. "We are ending the deadlocked strike at York University so students can get back to school. We are striking the cap-and-trade carbon tax from the books. And we are cancelling unnecessary renewable energy projects to help lower your electricity bills."

After 15 years of Liberal waste and mismanagement, there are a number of pressing issues that need to be resolved. The Government for the People’s Throne Speech made it clear just how serious this government is about bringing relief to the people of Ontario and creating jobs and economic opportunity.

Minister Jim Wilson is honoured to serve the constituents of Simcoe-Grey as their MPP, and the province as Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “I am honoured to be a part of the newly formed Government for the People. I want to thank the constituents of Simcoe–Grey for entrusting me once again to represent and advocate on their behalf. I will work hard to honour the commitments I made to you, both before and during the campaign,” said Minister Wilson.

“As Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, I have started to meet with stakeholders and I look forward to making Ontario open for business. I will work hand-in-hand with Ontario’s business community, job creators, and employees, to make Ontario the economic engine of Canada once again,” said Minister Wilson.

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Wilson thanks voters for support, looks forward to the next four years

(July 3, 2018) - I want to take this opportunity to thank you, the residents of Simcoe-Grey, for allowing me to continue to serve as your Member of Provincial Parliament at Queen’s Park. This is a tremendous honour and I promise to represent you as your voice in the 42^nd Parliament of Ontario.

My reelection would not have been possible without the wonderful support of my volunteers who did so much work on my behalf. I want to thank them for the excellent job they all did over the course of the campaign. Election campaigns require immense amounts of work including: hammering in signs, answering phone calls, knocking on doors and speaking to voters about the important issues facing the riding and the province as a whole.

I also want to congratulate my fellow candidates. Running as a candidate in an election is a tremendous challenge. It requires a deep commitment and a significant amount of time. Those that put their names forward for public office deserve praise and respect.

This is an exciting time for the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. For the first time in 15 years, we will form a government under the leadership of Premier Doug Ford. I look forward to serving in this new government and I am excited about the future and the opportunities to do great work for all Ontarians. This will truly be a government for the people.

I am proud to be able to serve as Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade in our new administration. It’s always a tremendous honour to be asked to serve in cabinet by the Premier and I look forward to this new challenge.

Our new government has an amazing amount of new and returning talent. The members of our caucus are very impressive and will do an outstanding job on behalf of the people. We are committed to returning trust and accountability to the government, lowering hydro prices, ending hallway health care, reducing gas taxes and making Ontario open for business again.

Locally, my priorities continue to be the redevelopment of Collingwood General and Marine Hospital and Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston. It’s time for these critical projects to move forward. I am committed to reviewing the decision to close the Ontario Tree Seed Plant in Angus. It is also important to get new washrooms built and the waterfront cleaned up in Wasaga Beach. I will continue to advocate in favour of getting the four new hospice beds open at Campbell House Hospice in Collingwood.

Representing you as your MPP is a job that I love. There is a lot of exciting and interesting work ahead and I look forward to taking this journey with all of you by my side. Please, do not hesitate to contact me or my offices if I can help you, your family or your neighbours in any dealings you have with the Province of Ontario.

Once again, thank you for your many years of continued support. I am humbled by the confidence you have placed in me and I will continue to be your voice at Queen’s Park.

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(VIDEO) Wilson congratulates Matthews House Hospice and asks government about funding for Hospice Georgian Triangle

(May 7, 2018) Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson is pleased that Matthews House Hospice is receiving $1.2 million in capital funding from the province, and, in the Legislature last Thursday, praised the community for their hard work on the project. 

"I wanted to begin by congratulating the staff and many volunteers of Matthews House Hospice in Alliston. I was pleased to participate in a funding announcement made by the member for Barrie last week where the hospice received $1.2 million to go toward the construction of their new 10-bed facility. This hospice is also to receive operational funding for all 10 of their beds, once open."

Wilson also questioned the government on funding for Hospice Georgian Triangle in Collingwood. 

“Hospice Georgian Triangle in Collingwood, who received no capital funding at all from the province for their ten bed facility, only receives operational funding for six of their ten beds. In fact, their four remaining beds are not allowed to be used and have already sat idle for a year,” said Wilson.

Hospice Georgian Triangle has submitted a number of proposals to fund these beds, Wilson noted. Including: using the beds in collaboration with Collingwood General and Marine Hospital, using them as respite beds or funding the beds themselves.

“All of their requests have been turned down,” said Wilson. “I find it unconscionable four in demand beds are sitting idle at the direction of this government.”

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(VIDEO) Wilson disappointed Minister has done nothing to fix farmers’ compensation

(May 1, 2018) Today in question period, Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson pressed the government on compensation for farmers facing livestock loses.

“My colleagues and I have been raising concerns with this government about the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program since it was created,” said Wilson. “The minister has said he would review and fix the program, but farmers in my riding and right across the province continue to tell us that they face huge livestock losses and that they’re receiving no compensation.”

One in five claims for predation kills are currently rejected by the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program.

“I ask the minister, when will he fix this program and give farmers the compensation they’re entitled to, and will that compensation be retroactive, as the program has not been working for the last year and a half?”

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