 Member Statements Thank you speaker for this opportunity my first to formally address the legislature I acknowledge the stolen First Nations land on which I stand I Rise in these chambers today because of the vibrant people of Toronto St. Paul's our resilient campaign team Selfless volunteers my mother partner mentors and friends who want to change for the better I cannot thank them enough Toronto St. Paul's is community strong Toronto St. Paul's is sage goldenberg a mother and small business owner who organized a local donation drive for Humwood house a resource center that empowers young pregnant and parenting moms Toronto St. Paul's is Julian back and Kim Lesperence local organizers behind the feel-good-lay mural project commemorating the life of beloved resident Barry feel-good Luxembourg and emcee with the local 512 hip-hop crew and Lastly Toronto St. Paul's is the late Charles Roach human rights lawyer activist and founding member of the Black Action Defense Committee and Carabana tomorrow our city will unveil the Charlie Roach Lane in our St. Clair West our area in his honor as The first out black queer woman to sit in the legislature I am deeply thankful to all people and families in Toronto regardless of how they voted I am proud to serve all residents I will continue to stand firmly in the name of social justice equity access and inclusivity my goal to work hard Collaboratively with empathy kindness and sound judgment so no one in Toronto St. Paul's feels left behind Thank you Member statements Member for Sault Ste. Marie. Thank you, Mr. Speaker Last June that 2017 I was elected in the Sault Ste. Marie by election and now from my first day in office I made it clear that I would do everything in my capacity as the MPP for Sault Ste. Marie to try to secure the fair chrome processing facility which stems from the Ring of Fire project that Norant Resources Incorporated is working on Within a few days of my election I developed a team and started conducting meetings with Norant executives here in Toronto CEO of Algoma Port of Algoma community leaders Local Economic Development Corporation and city staff to develop a team to work on the fair chrome processing facility bid for Sault Ste. Marie I even spent a day and night in each of the five fly-in Metawa First Nation communities and visited the Ring of Fire itself. I Did all this because I believed that Sault Ste. Marie was the best place to see this facility built Our location at the center of the Great Lakes the synergies we hold with Algoma and Our brownfield site I think make us a excellent location for this facility When I first started this started this process the Norant executives told me that they were not even looking at Sault Ste. Marie Because of a process we had with the CCAA process going on at Algoma Steel and Sault Ste. Marie I'm very pleased to say mr. Speaker that the work that we did to gather in Sault Ste. Marie from my election on June 1st to November 1st Had results great results and Sault Ste. Marie was given an opportunity to submit a bid for the fair chrome processing facility From not being considered at all. We were allowed to submit a bid But I'm ecstatic to report to you that last Friday Norant Indicated to us that we are now in the final two along with Timmins in consideration for the fair chrome processing facility Thank you very much future. Thank you member statements the member for London Fanshawe speaker today I address an important issue affecting my writing of London Fanshawe as well as the province Affordable housing in my own city of London. We recently faced a major loss to our already stretched social service agencies With the closure of the London housing registry London housing registry was a resource center that assisted individuals and families on low or limited income to find affordable Private market housing. They were the only resource of their kind in London after 34 years of service They had just they've just closed their doors They feel that given the low vacancy rates and a lack of affordable housing options They are no longer able to provide the service their mandate entailed We know that one in three people in London rent This is higher than the provincial and national average and almost 30% of households are in core need of affordable housing Meaning they spend more than 30% of their household income on shelter Without affordable housing options families must turn to subsidized housing Recent numbers show that nearly 3400 families are on a waitlist for subsidized subsidized housing in London and many remain on the late on the waitlist for nearly eight years Affordable housing is reaching a critical point in Ontario I would like to thank the London housing registry for their 34 years of service to our community and Make a promise to do my part to continue the spirit of their work and advocate for more affordable housing initiatives Inclusionary zoning regulations and promoting legislation that supports renters and buyers in the largest expense on a family's budget Thank You speaker I'm pleased to rise today in honor of the Hanover District Hospital Auxiliary who this year celebrate their 95th anniversary Auxiliary volunteers an important partner and resource within our health care community Their mission is to provide support and comfort to the patients of Hanover and District Hospital Additionally, the local Auxiliary raises money to purchase medical equipment such as a new dialysis chair and Renovating restrooms on the cardiac rehab floor at the hospital to make them wheelchair accessible CEO Katrina Wilson says the Hanover Hospital would be lost without its Auxiliary She says donations allow the hospital to take on projects that the hospital lacks funding for the health care committee Oh is a great debt of gratitude to the Auxiliary and their contribution to always support patient safety and care I'd like to take this opportunity to thank members of the Hanover and District Hospital Auxiliary as well as president and CEO Katrina Wilson and board chair Dave Cardwell and all of the Auxiliary and board Volunteers mr. Speaker when I was executive director of Brisbane and the health services Foundation I worked very closely with the Auxiliary and saw firsthand the dedication Commitment and compassion that they show in their job to make health care better Mr. Speaker I'd like to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating this exceptional group and the thousands of hospital Auxiliary's Association of material volunteers for their commitment and their continued service and dedication to their communities and to making health care The best it can be here in the province of interior here. Thank you. Thank you member statements member for Kingston the islands Thank You mr. Speaker and I believe it's the first time I've spoken with you in the chair. So congratulations on your victory It's a pleasure to rise in the house today to deliver my first member statement And it's fortunate that it falls on the day of my ceremonial squaring in and I'd like to introduce my family Brendan Benoit Melanie and my mother Jeanette who are in the members gallery right now Running for office was certainly one of the most monumental tax tasks I have ever taken on and I would like to use this member statement to thank everyone who dedicated so many hours so much time To helping me win the election. I'd like to recognize my family. They have been so supportive So understanding they have always been there for me and that has meant so much to me I'd also like to recognize my dedicated and talented campaign team They helped me knock on thousands and thousands of doors and talk to tens of thousands of voters Patrick leaf Yardee Amy Alden and Jason. I could have never done this without you Mr. Speaker our campaign was one that inspired we had countless volunteers who poured time into hundreds and hundreds of hours of work canvassing Phoning putting up signs and attending events like all the volunteers did for all the members who are here today Thank you to all of Kingston for believing in me and believing that I could bring change for the better to Kingston and the islands, but most importantly I would like to thank the constituents of Kingston and the islands for putting their faith in me here in this legislature Thank you Members Mr. Speaker, it's a great honor to speak in this house to represent Ottawa venue I'd like to thank all the residents in Ottawa venue for this great privilege I did the 42nd Parliament with all of you and I look forward to representing my constituents of Ottawa venue I want to use this statement to see a couple things about the disappointment of some of my constituents about some of the Issues that were missing from this speech from the throne. There was little mention about the power of Reconciliation with the indigenous peoples of this land and many of my constituents noticed that Governing is certainly about giving people what they want, but it also is about Ensuring that we do right by history It's about also inspiring us to lead by example and reflect the best instincts of human beings Michael My constituents also recognize that there wasn't a single French word in the speech from the throne and they were in Certain respect insulted by this and we I My constituency raised the issue that very little has been said about housing We need affordable housing affordable housing for seniors are affordable housing for newcomers Affordable housing for disabled people. We need more affordable housing There's an opportunity because the federal government as a national housing strategy And I hope the government will take part in this housing strategy. Thank you. Merci beaucoup Member statements the member for Niagara West. Well, thank you speaker What an incredible privilege it is to be able to stand in this house the legislative Assembly of Ontario for the purpose of Addressing issues of a port of importance that arise in our beautiful province I cannot thank the constituents of Niagara West enough for the trust they have placed in me to represent them in this house I wish to thank my strong and capable campaign team volunteers and family for their trust and support and the encouragement They provide me on June 7th the voters of Niagara West and Ontario elected a strong government for the people a Government that will listen to the people not the insiders a government that will work for taxpayers work for job Creators and work for families across our great province for 15 years speaker The people of Ontario had a government that unfortunately refused to listen to every day Ontarians But today help is here with the government for the people as I promised when first elected in 2016 my top priority will be the interests and concerns of the families and job creators in Niagara West From fighting for a much-needed West Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Grimsby to scrapping the Kathleen Wind sex egg curriculum and Fighting for lower taxes cheaper gas and better jobs in Niagara West and across our wonderful province I can't wait to get to work with my colleagues in the PC party to get Ontario back on track So we can once again proudly say that we are the economic powerhouse of Canada. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I Apologize the member for Scarborough Southwest Thank You mr. Speaker and Congratulations on your victory Mr. Speaker, it is with great honour and privilege. I rise today for the first time in this legislature I'd like to take this moment to thank the hard-working people of Scarborough Southwest for placing their trust in me to be their Voice in this legislature. I thank my family my friends and the wonderful community members who work tirelessly for months Making this campaign and making history and I am proud I'm proud to be the first Bangladeshi Canadian to be elected in Canada to a house of Parliament We defeated politics of cynicism with hope and love and my home riding of Scarborough Southwest where we have treasures like the Scarborough bluffs is a diverse riding with people from all over the world including residents who have had to leave homes in northern Ontario including Canadian Atlantic provinces or the Philippines Caribbean China Africa South Asia moving here to access jobs Education health care and for a better life While the premier's throne speech failed to address critical issues in our province such as reconciliation Environment equity and the immigrant dream. I'm confident that with the incredibly talented and DP caucus one of the largest official Oppositions in history. We will hold this government accountable and make sure that the that we protect Ontario citizens The immigrant dream brought many of us our parents our grandparents here to find shelter to this native land of our first nations and Indigenous people it is our duty It is our duty to make sure that we help make that dream a reality while respecting the rights of the people of this land Thank You mr. Speaker Humility and a sense of appreciation that I stand here today to make my very first remarks in this chamber I represent two old counties in Ontario, but in a new riding Hastings and Lenox and Addison played lead roles in the first decades of this province and of this country Starting in 1784 my two counties produced leading figures both in Ontario and Canada Sir Johnny McDonald is just one of those local legends who steps that I have to follow sadly But like Sir John A's LNA I am one of the few privileged to have served municipally Federally in the House of Commons and now here So proudly in this legislative assembly of Ontario. So folks, it's very very good company yesterday I watched though with pride in our province as a Number of new members from across the aisles here and in my own party made their first remarks and they Distinguished themselves in their eloquence and their passion I think it bodes well for for our nation for our province to have representatives like this So I tip my hat to the MPPs who have written to speak before me this week And of course to the entire class of 2018 Bollionia The public spoke collectively in June though And the bell they rung has now been answered by this government On a more somber note though. I would like to play tribute to George beer A loyal friend who passed away yesterday George was the Hastings community powerhouse He served Thurlow as a long-time reave and the councillor for the city of Balbo On sunday. He attended his last political event A thank you afternoon at my house So, thank you, George a strong conservative to the end My thoughts with you Betty you're entirely family Best of peace Member statements member for chattom can't lemington Thank you very much mr. Speaker. You don't want to weather gets hot and sunny many summer festivals Kick off around the province and chattom. Kent lemington is no stranger to fun and festivals that bring people and communities together I call it in the good old summer time Do you want to walk the streets in downtown chattom and view vintage cars? You can do that during chattom's retrofest Since we're almost in cherry season. You can enjoy the festivities During blendoms cherry fest. You can even have some fun by participating in their pit spitting contest You know speaker according to previous champions. There is a technique to get distance when pit spitting By the way, I haven't done very well, but I and many others have had a lot of good laughs along the way One of my favorite festivals is the ribfest I think it's because most of the time I get called upon to be one of the judges And those ribs and their different sauces are so good For the highlight this summer will be the international plowing match Scheduled to run from september 18th to the 22nd here in chattom kent I'll be working closely with two of my colleagues. Bob Bailey from sarnia lampton and monty mcnaughton from lampton kent middle sex The ipm draws people from all over ontario And I suspect we'll have visitors from the usa as well It's a great opportunity For our area to showcase from an agricultural perspective the various fruits and vegetables grown locally as well as vendors to show their ways Even mpps from all over ontario will be visiting the maple city for opening ceremonies market on your calendar on the 17th of september As you can see speaker, there's a lot happening in chattom kent limit in the good old summer time Thank you. Thank you. That concludes our member statements for this afternoon Reports by committees