As we are all too aware, Ontario is in the middle of the worst economic crisis of the last 80 years.

It has been a difficult time for many. Ontario’s manufacturing sector has been among the worst-hit sectors of our economy.

But as so many previous generations of Ontarians have done when faced with difficult circumstances, we are going to pick ourselves up and tackle them head on.

This global recession has proved challenging for everyone, but we are going to get through it. And we are going to get through it by working together, because that is what we, as Ontarians, have always done.

Our government has a plan, and we have been working hard to implement that plan to help give Ontario the edge it needs to compete and thrive in the marketplace of the future.

With that goal in mind, 15 bills were passed into law during the Fall sitting of the Legislature, and these laws are part of the government's plan to build a stronger, more competitive Ontario.

We passed one bill to implement the new Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), which will reduce costs for business and create nearly 600,000 new jobs. But you might not know that this same bill will cut personal income taxes by an average 10 per cent, and remove 90,000 low-income Ontarians from the tax rolls altogether. Economists have said that sales tax harmonization is the most important thing we can do to strengthen Ontario's economy, and together with our proposed tax cuts, the HST will attract investment and jobs, increasing Ontario's competitiveness.

Also this fall, we made further progress in helping Ontario become the North American leader in green energy through the Green Energy Act.

Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore has said that Ontario's Green Energy Act is "widely recognized now as the single best green energy program on the North American continent."

The Green Energy Act will boost investment in renewable energy projects and increase conservation, creating green jobs and economic growth to Ontario.

The McGuinty government places a great deal of importance upon education, because we believe it is important to ensure our children and grandchildren have the tools they need to succeed in the future. This fall, we have taken steps to ensure that student achievement is the top priority for Ontario school boards.

We also moved ahead with our plan for full-day learning for four- and five-year olds. In September 2010, up to 35,000 kindergarten students will be in full-day learning. The program will be expanded in stages, and our goal is to have it fully implemented by 2015-16.

We know that investment in infrastructure is key to kick-starting our economy, which is why we are investing $32.5 billion in building bridges, hospitals and public transit.

And we worked hard to bring the 2015 Pan Am Games to the Golden Horseshoe. Our winning bid is significant because it will bring 10,000 athletes and officials; attract 250,000 tourists who will stay in hotels, eat in restaurants, shop and visit attractions; generate 15,000 jobs; showcase our region to the world, and create a legacy of sport infrastructure and affordable housing.

Our government also realizes the importance of health care to Ontario families, which is why we recently announced the opening of new nurse practitioner-led clinics in communities across the province to bring more family health care.

All of these accomplishments are part of our government’s plan to help families through the global recession and building a brighter future for all of us. We've made progress in 2009, but we know there's much more to do. That's why we'll keep putting forward positive ideas that make Ontario stronger.

And we’ll do it together, Because when we work together, we can build a brighter, stronger future for all of Ontario.

In that spirit of working together, and with the holiday season upon us, I would encourage everyone to give a little of themselves by donating to a local food bank or toy drive. Your contribution will help to make this holiday season that much brighter for someone less fortunate.

To find out more about these or any of our other accomplishments from the Fall sitting of the Legislature, contact my constituency office at 416-630-0080.