 It's time for member statements. I recognize the member for Brampton West. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Monday, November 27th, members of the Sikh community celebrated Gurpurab, the 554th birth anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism. Gurpurab is a holy and religious holiday for members of the Sikh community, including myself. This most sacred day in the Sikh calendar is traditionally observed by attending Gurudwaras and participating in seva, selflessly serving others without expectation of recognition or reward. Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji travelled on foot with the mission of uniting the world through love and kindness. His teachings and lessons contributed to the creation of the Shri Guru Granth Sahib, which is the central holy religious scripture in Sikhism. The three core teachings in Sikhi are Nam Jaapnaar, Membring God, All Times, Kirtkarni, Earning and Honest Living, and Vanshakna, Sharing, Your Earning with the Less Fortunate. Speaker, I would like to emphasize Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji's selfless and compassionate nature, always preaching for kindness and unity. Gurpurab serves as a commemoration of his life, accomplishments, and notably his enduring legacy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Member Statements, the Member for Nickel Belt. Thank you, Speaker. Heart and Stroke is at Queen's Park today. Since I was elected, we have worked together many times to call on the government to introduce Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Initiative. I'm happy to report that thanks to their support, we have taken many steps forward. Ontario has banned flavored Cigarello. They were marketed to youth to get them addicted to nicotine. The restaurant now put calorie labeling on their menus to help people make healthier choices. In 2019, Heart and Stroke joined me in support of a bill to create an automatic external defibrillator registry that 911 operator could use to direct callers in an event of a cardiac arrest. Although it became law three years ago, it is still not implemented, but I'm hopeful. Heart and Stroke is here today because there's so much more that needs to be done. Ontario needs to be informed, educated, and raise awareness about heart and brain health. We need to accelerate critical research to improve outcome for people living with heart disease and stroke, and we need to support people in their health journey and recovery. Heart and Stroke does all of this with their advocacy for public policy, for healthier environment, for improved access to support services, and for a strong and equitable healthcare system. Thank you, Heart and Stroke, for all you do, and for all that your volunteers do. Ontario is healthier because of your hard work. Thank you. Thank you. Member Statements, the Member for Glengarry, Prescott Russell. Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Associate Minister of Housing, Minister Flack, for his visit in Glengarry, Prescott Russell last week. We had the opportunity to participate to the inaugurations of two new senior citizen housing projects in St. Albert in Venkliquil. Our government did provide close to $3 million to help create affordable housing units in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell to support our seniors. The new building at the Residence La Joie in St. Albert consists of a two-storey building with 26 units, six of which fully accessible. Residents have access to fitness equipment, a shared recreational space, and a meeting room. The new three-storey building at the Venkliquil Senior Citizen Manor includes 30 housing units. The building is also energy efficient and designed to meet visitability standards with the accessibility features such as white doors and everything. It was nice to meet with the new tenants that have moved only a few days prior to our visit and we were able to reiterate on our commitment to helping more Ontarians find a new, find a home they can afford and that meets their needs. I would like to thank the board members from both nonprofit organizations. They have some opportunities from different government for funding, but it takes their implication to these volunteers on the boards to do the work and make it happen. Me and the minister stopped by the St. Albert Cheese Factory to get some cheese curds and also stopped by Bozbear and Dunrub in the Distillery in Venkliquil to shop for Christmas present. It was a great day, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Member Stanton is the member for Windsor West. Ontarians are relying more on food banks than ever before, yet the Premier says Ontario is 1,000 times better now than when he took office in 2018. Speaker, make that make sense. Feed Ontario released its 2023 Who's Hungry report Monday. It shared concerning statistics about the reality for hundreds of thousands of Ontarians. Food banks are struggling to keep up with the continued rapid rise in demand. Between April 1st, 2022 and March 31st, 2023, over 800,000 people accessed a food bank in Ontario visiting nearly 5.9 million times. This is an increase of 38% and 36% over the previous year and the largest single year increases ever recorded by Ontario's food bank network. In Windsor pre-pandemic, they were serving about 300. Now it's about 1,500. The report states two in five visitors have never visited a food bank before and increased of 41% over the previous year. Workers are turning to food banks in greater numbers with more than one in six visitors now citing employment as their primary source of income. Social assistance remains a significant driver of food bank use with recipients of OW and ODSP increasing by 17% over last year. The majority of food banks are worried about meeting the need in their community with 69% of food banks concerned about having enough food and 53% indicating that they were worried they do not have enough funding to adequately sustain service. Speaker, poverty is a policy choice. It's this conservative government's choice. Ontarians deserve better. Member, statements? Member for Thornhill. Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. Last weekend our country and really the world lost a remarkable individual. Mr. George Cohan, founder of McDonald's Canada, passed away at the age of 86 and I wanted to honour his memory in the House today and acknowledge his incredible legacy and impact on our province and country. Although George was born in Chicago, he believed completely in Canada's distinct identity. He made sure he used Canadian suppliers including the red Maple Leaf logo in the Canadian arches in McDonald's. And in 1977 he created McHappy Day. And in 1981 he brought the first Ronald McDonald House to Canada. Today there are 16 houses across the country helping over 26,000 families a year and giving them a place to stay while their children face health issues in hospitals. He has been honoured with so many distinctions for his philanthropy including the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario. And in 1982 Toronto Santa Claus Parade almost came to an end and George stepped up and he saved and he preserved it and usually he dressed up as a clown and he joined in on the fun. But when he was asked about his biggest accomplishment, George said this, getting involved with McDonald's has allowed me to do for other people and that's the charities. The Ronald McDonald Houses, the McHappy Day, the pride I have not only to sell hamburgers but to be a good member in communities around the world to help society. So for George it was always about community over self. May his legacy live on. Thank you very much. Thank you. Member Statements, the member for Spadina for George. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Today the members in the legislature are wearing purple scarves in the honour of the Rapton Courage Campaign. And today we have many agencies that support female victims of violence and that are also fighting for an end of violence against women. This Rapton Courage Campaign was organised by the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses and they note that it takes an entire community to bring an end to gender-based violence. And they are asking everyone to support the survivors of gender-based violence and become part of Ontario White efforts to bring an end to this violence. And that they are in the house today, and I just met some of them before this just a few minutes ago, that they're in the house today is very auspicious because this morning we had the third reading of Bill 41 which is a bill to bring an end to coerced debts for survivors of human trafficking. And this bill was passed by all parties, it's an all party bill and we're looking forward to the implementation so that survivors who are encumbered by debts from their trafficking, by their traffickers will have those debts expunged so that they can get on with their lives. I want to thank all of the agencies who are here for the Rapton Courage Campaign for all of the work that you do to provide supports to women who are victims of abuse and also to survivors of human trafficking. Thank you for being here and we're all looking forward to the day of November 25th and we will note that it's International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and it's a day that we should all recognize and all commit ourselves to do our part to bring an end to gender-based violence. Thank you. Thank you very much. Member Stave-Links. Member for Renfrew Nipissing Pembroke. Speaker, it's Christmas parade season and all across the valley communities are getting together to do something that everybody loves. By writing, each and every parade is a special experience that speaks in a very visual way about the people, the organizations, the businesses and their expressions of community spirit. This past week I was able to attend the parades in both Cobdon and Pembroke. The Cobdon parade is a daytime parade that brings out people from all around the area and sends out the message that Christmas is near. As the first parade of the season, that is most appropriate. I even had the opportunity to entertain the crowd with my rendition of the Burlives Classic have a holly jolly Christmas. The Pembroke Parade is an evening event and this year's edition was truly spectacular. Over 100 floats took part in the parade witnessed by the biggest crowd I've ever seen. The floats and the work that goes into them is something to appreciate and my hat goes off to all those who work so hard to make these parades so very special. What really is the most wonderful part of the Christmas slash Santa Claus parade is the joy and excitement shown by the children as they anxiously await the arrival of the jolly old elf. As I move along the route, exchanging greetings with so many people it is the reactions of the children that leave the most lasting impression. The joy of children, isn't that what it's all about? I look forward to experiencing more of it this weekend. Member statements? Member for Canada Carlton. Thank you Mr. Speaker. It was a pleasure to join everyone at the Canada Santa Claus Parade this past Saturday. I can't wait for all of our other communities to join in the fun. Constance Bay on Saturday the 2nd and the villages of Carp and Fitzroy Harbour on Saturday the 9th. I want to thank all of the volunteers that make these parades happen. This time of year is a special opportunity to come together to celebrate the spirit of generosity and to appreciate the blessings we have as a community. Whatever tradition you celebrate may this season bring you love, joy, reflection and time with your loved ones. In Canada Carlton our loving communities are our strength. As we gather with friends and families let us also remember those who may be facing challenges and extend the hand of kindness and support and I would encourage everyone to give to their local food bank. May the festive lights brighten your homes and the laughter of loved ones warm your heart. As your representative in the Ontario Provincial Parliament I am grateful for the privilege to serve the people of Canada Carlton. I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a very happy holiday season. Love, joy and peace be the gifts we give each other. Lord knows the world could use more of that. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much. Member Statements to Member for Leeds Grenville, Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. I want to pay tribute today to the recipient of the Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce Award of Excellence for Citizen of the Year and my riding my friend Tom Russell. As a community volunteer Tom has played instrumental roles in fundraising campaigns that have secured millions of dollars in support of many many worthy causes. In his professional capacity as the long-serving Executive Director of the Thousand Islands Community Development Corporation he's played a critical role in supporting hundreds of small businesses with tens of millions of dollars in financial assistance, countless hours of professional advice helping to create and maintain thousands of jobs in my riding. Tom has worked closely with a variety of stakeholders to author or co-author numerous funding applications which have collectively generated additional millions of dollars in support for community projects. His extensive volunteer and professional roles has Tom sit or chair on many influential boards and committees over the years in my riding. Tom was born and raised in Brockville and has been with his lovely wife Kimberly for 34 years. Tom Russell is one of those special people who has dedicated his life to public service. My riding really owes him a debt of gratitude. Congratulations my friend, your parents, Ron and Emma would have been so very proud of your accomplishments. Congratulations. Thank you Member Statements, the Member for Whitby. Thank you Speaker. Durham Tourism and Partnership with the Durham Economic Task Force in the community. The shop local this holiday season during the shop and term celebration. The celebration highlights the region's vibrant and diverse business community serving as a reminder to support local businesses during the season of gift giving and beyond. Speaker the region's eight local area municipalities are home to a wide variety of small businesses with unique finds for all of your gift giving needs from home decor and artisan markets to fashion boutiques and vintage closing stores. By shopping locally residents help to play a part in creating local jobs and strengthening the region's economy and helping to strengthen our small business community as well. Speaker when you spend your dollars locally you're helping local business owners continue to work they love providing unique experiences, services and products to the community. Thank you Speaker. Thank you very much. That concludes our Member's Statements for this morning. Thank you.