With summer here and the first session of our second government mandate behind us, it’s appropriate to take a look at what our government has accomplished over the last six months.

There’s no doubt, as we continue to work to move Ontario forward, a slumping U.S. economy, high oil prices and a high dollar present a real challenge for some of our families and our businesses.

We have a plan to help families and businesses deal with these challenges, I believe our plan is the right plan for the times.

We’re cutting capital taxes for business. We’re investing in infrastructure. We’re partnering with business. And we’re strengthening the skills and education of our people.

Starting this summer, we've got a new long-term training program for workers who've been laid off.  It's called Second Career, and it allows recently laid off workers to get skills training for six months to two years -- so they can get the skills they need for their next career.

We’ve created the Next Generation of Jobs fund, which will not only create new jobs, but also works to reduce pollution, save energy and make transportation more efficient.

And we are creating jobs and improving Ontario’s quality of life by investing $1 billion in municipal infrastructure, including roads, public transit, water and other projects.

We are also building up our infrastructure by dedicating a portion of any future surpluses to Ontario communities, which has the potential to inject up to $2 billion into municipal infrastructure.

In order for people to have opportunities, we need to assist our business sector in coping with the challenges of the current economy. This is why we eliminated the capital tax for manufacturers and resource industries retroactive to January of 2007, with a 21 percent cut for other businesses.

We have also implemented a 10-year income tax exemption for new corporations that commercialize intellectual property developed by Canadian universities, colleges and research institutions. This is the first program of its kind in Canada.

Our new $205 million Venture Capital Fund, which is strengthening the ability of the province’s venture capital sector to support innovative companies.

And we are promoting the great products through our ‘Buy Ontario’ policies, which include a minimum Canadian content of 25 per cent in all transit vehicles purchased with provincial assistance, as well as investing $56 million over four years to promote Ontario food products.

Municipalities should also see a big boost through our commitment to repairing existing social housing, which includes $100 million to repair 4,000 affordable housing units, and $500 million in low-cost loans to Ontario municipalities for social housing and other infrastructure.

Meanwhile we are continuing to make progress with our plan to get more students graduating high school: new results show 10,500 more students are graduating each year.

We are reducing wait times in ERs with a new $109 million action plan to have patients seen by a nurse faster and to get ambulances back out on the street.

We introduced a dental program to help low income families access dental care.

We are working to set measurable targets to reduce poverty, by conducting grassroots consultations which will help us to set indicators and targets with an aim to build opportunities for all Ontarians.

And we passed legislation to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals by banning the sale and cosmetic use of pesticides.

There is no doubt about it – we have more to do on behalf of Ontario families.

Our plan calls for us to continue to strengthen the things that families depend on, to keep building upon our great quality of life, and to improve our economic advantage for the benefit of everyone in Ontario.

By working, building and dreaming together, we’re moving that plan forward.