 There being none it is now time for our members statements member from here on Bruce Very much, mr. Speaker. It's my pleasure to rise today to applaud over 540 volunteers family and friends who helped organize the 66th annual turkey supper in Belgrade this past month Belgrade is my home Hamlet if you will I was lucky enough to be home along with over a thousand others from our broader community to share a delicious Thanksgiving meal and I can tell you over a thousand pounds of turkey 1600 pounds of potatoes 224 turnips 1080 pies there was surely no shortage of excellent food and in fact there was even second helpings of dessert But seeing people come together for a tradition like this unlike any other is truly humbling It so clearly emulates what it is to be a community and I'm honored to be part of that To give you a sense of this community Belgrade is a hamlet of approximately 200 people and it says a lot that in 2014 they can attract a larger community of over a thousand people To give thanks and celebrate the bounty of the harvest this community support is truly valued because it is the one key Fundraising event of the year for the Belgrade Community Center as a member of this house I have the honor of meeting and interacting with so many volunteers and organizations across my riding and province And seeing the passion selflessness and generosity of these individuals day in and day out is truly remarkable Volunteers are the cornerstones of our community And we would not have amazing events like the Belgrade fell supper if it weren't for them, and I thank them Thank you speaker. Thank you members stay bits the member from Parkdale High Park Thank you, mr. Speaker, and I know that our leaders are coming in a few minutes to speak But I just wanted to to say because I know we're all thinking the same thing a real Great vote of thanks to our incredible sergeant at arms and to all of our security Staff here. I know that we're feeling their presence and many many members are saying thank you to them in their own ways And we should probably do that more often than on today So I just wanted us to say thank you to them and give them a round of applause actually. Thank you I also wanted to mention. I'm a United Church minister as many folk know and Today on Twitter. I was absolutely moved by the incredible outflowing from all of our faith Organizations all faiths across this country calling for calm calling for peace and calling for love. Thank you Thank you members statements the member from brettin's finger Thank You mr. Speaker mr. Speaker I've had the opportunity over the past few weeks to attend a number of Diwali celebrations also known as the festival of lights Which is celebrated by the Sikh Hindu and Jain communities Diwali ushers in new beginnings And there's a time to celebrate with family and friends Diwali is celebrated in many ways through prayer and worship the lighting candles in a Grand a grand feast but most of all it is a time to be with loved ones and be thankful for what we have It was wonderful to see all the families that came together in our community to celebrate I would like to specifically thank the premier for joining us and attending the 34th annual Diwali gala Organized by the Canadian Museum of Hindus in the civilization. It was fantastic to have her in Brampton I've also had the opportunity to attend the South Asian focus and Indo-Canadian art councils Diwali festival of lights It was a great event and I'm fortunate to be a part of it Speaker we've also had the opportunity to celebrate Diwali here at Queens Park There's a success and a wonderful time to share this Festification with my fellow colleagues and their guests. I want to wish everyone a very safe and happy Diwali Thank You mr. Speaker I'm proud to rise today to recognize the work of organizers of the Shabbat project a unique international grassroots Jewish identity movement That unites all Jews to observe one full Shabbat together as the sun sets this Friday evening Jewish people around the world will come together to observe Shabbat the Jewish Sabbath a day of rest Jews from all walks of life and all corners of the world will unite to celebrate Shabbat in a coordinated manner The Shabbat project was introduced in South Africa in 2013 Following its success the international Shabbat project was born. It now has 1500 partners in 340 cities around the world one of the unique aspects of the initiative is that all fractional identities all denominations affiliations ideologies and yes, even political differences are put to the side The tagline of the Shabbat project is keeping it together this Thursday I am privileged to take part in one of the GTA community events I along with 3,000 women across the GTA many from my own riding of Thornhill will be participating in a Hala bake Hala is a ritual bread eaten on the Sabbath evening. I look forward to sharing in this most commendable experience I thank the many volunteers and grassroots community organizers for their tireless efforts in preparation for this Shabbat Shabbat Shalom Members, Davids, the member from Hamilton Mountain Thank you speaker today as the house will know the Ombudsman released his report on his investigation into unlicensed childcare in Ontario An investigation I called for in January of last year I had intended to use my statement today to comment on that significant and important report However, due to the events in Ottawa this morning, those comments will be made at a later time And I would like to use this statement to express my condolences and support for those directly affected by the situation in our nation's capital As Remembrance Day approaches, today we are reminded of the dangers faced by the Shabbat Shalom We are reminded of the dangers faced by our armed forces and in this case right here in our own country I understand the soldier who died this morning was a reservist from my hometown of Hamilton I am shocked by this event and I extend my sincere condolences to his friends, family and colleagues Also today members of the police association of Ontario are visiting Queen's Park And I had the pleasure of meeting with some of them from the Hamilton Police Service To take their presence for granted and it is time like this that we truly appreciate the job they do And remember that their job is to put themselves in danger's way to serve and protect us They deserve our sincere gratitude As elected representatives we think with concern of our colleagues in Ottawa We stand with them to uphold our democratic traditions and to ensure the important work we do on behalf of the people who sent us here continues Thank you Thank you Speaker, it's with a heavy heart that I rise today to honour a good friend, a wonderful husband and family man And an honourable local leader In the early morning hours of Saturday October 18th Jean-Paul St. Pierre passed away peacefully at his home in Russell, Ontario My heart and the hearts of everyone who crossed paths with GP as everyone and most of us called them Were deeply saddened upon hearing the news Our thoughts and prayers immediately turned to his wife Jocelyn and his family It's near impossible to comprehend the feeling of loss for them during this difficult time Johnny as I heard her call him on many occasions was a true gentleman in every sense of the word As Mayor of Russell Township, as warden of the United Counties of Prescott Russell And as Chair of the Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus He led with compassion, respect and understanding These qualities which he brought to his public life were mirrored in his personal life as well He was always warm and kind, always willing to listen or help And his doors were always open It was very generous He was passionate about the game of golf He was one of the top golfers in Glen Gary Prescott Russell And I will always regret that I never did have the opportunity to join him on the golf course Alongside the residents of Russell Township in the United Counties of Prescott Russell I want to offer my sincere condolences to Jocelyn and her family We have lost a wonderful person, a strong leader and a true gentleman We have lost a great man We love a true gentleman, a true leader And he was a friend Thank you Member Statements Member from Holm Mr. Speaker, I rise today to tell you about a special program in Halton But before I start, I just want to let you know that our thoughts and prayers are with our friends, neighbors, family and colleagues in Ottawa during this very difficult and challenging time This is a time for all of us to come together and we have in this house And I want to once again emphasize that our thoughts are with our colleagues and friends in Ottawa Mr. Speaker, I rise today to tell you about a very special program in Halton For ten years, a small team of volunteers have been gathering once a week in schools, gyms, churches and halls in my riding and surrounding areas to pack boxes Now, these aren't ordinary boxes, these are containers chock full of the freshest vegetables Halton has to offer It's all part of a terrific initiative called the Halton Fresh Food Box Program I recently dropped into a ten year anniversary celebration for this great program For a decade, this wonderful initiative has been providing needy Halton families with tasty, delectable, locally grown fresh veggies The idea is to get young families and those in need of assistance like seniors, newcomers and the less fortunate access to the best produce grown in our backyards The program is funded in part by the Ontario Trillium Foundation The Halton Fresh Food Box Program makes it easier for residents in our community to put healthy, nutritious and delicious food on the table And that's important because when the food on our plates is from our own backyards, it not only tastes better but it keeps our communities, families and our local economies healthy Thank you Yes, thank you, Speaker Just last week in Kitchener Waterloo, the 36th annual Oktoberfest concluded after nine long days of the Barbarian Festival Which is the largest Barbarian festival in North America outside of, of course, next to the largest Barbarian festival in Munich, Germany Over the course of the nine days, tens of thousands of people experience truly what it's like to be German in Kitchener Waterloo with a strong tradition of German culture in the region of Waterloo 22 million dollars is generated through its economic impacts throughout the nine days of the festival Raising millions of dollars for not-for-profit charitable organizations within the community And Speaker, this couldn't have happened without the resolve and dedication of the hundreds of volunteers that work year-round to ensure that Oktoberfest is one of the best and brightest festivals in Ontario I had the pleasure of attending opening ceremonies bright and early on Friday morning I was honored to be attended and joined by our interim leader, Jim Wilson, who participated in this year's keg-tapping festivities But again, I'd like to thank the volunteers for its 36 years of success and...prost And tell them about your leader Thank you Members, David, it's the member from Northumberland, Quincy West Well, thank you, Speaker It's my pleasure to stand before the House today and share my experiences as a guest at a full-day kindergarten classes at St. Anthony's Catholic Elementary School in Port Hope I'd like to thank Principal Egan, Ms. Rackas, and Ms. McAllister, who were a delightful host and provided me the opportunity to meet their classes of clever and energetic kindergarten students St. Anthony's one of 32 schools in my writing that offer full-day kindergarten In the words of Principal Egan, this program supports the philosophy of developing the whole person by establishing a strong foundation for the early years by providing young children play-based learning experience This enables them to make a smooth transition to grade one and to improve their prospective success in their lives beyond school And a more school-good news speaker, tomorrow afternoon I will have the pleasure of welcoming to the legislature students from grade four and five of Ms. Morrison from VP Carlswell Elementary School in Trenton and Mr. Milligan's grade 10 civic class from Campbellfort High School It's always a pleasure to introduce young minds to new experiences and adventures Thank you, Speaker I thank all members for their statements, I appreciate them, and now I think I'm going to turn to the member from Northumberland