 All right, it is now time for member statements, and I recognize the member from Muskegawit James Bay, I knew that Thank You speaker Speak about Peter Beck Indian and Wook Community Culture and Recreation Center project in Fort Albany First Nations This project would play a critical role in the preservation and revitalization of the history culture and language of the Muskegaw people and I would also feel it would also feel a gap in Fort Albany Community infrastructure and services Speaker the lack of infrastructure in Fort Albany would be a disgrace for any municipality in the province In light of the ongoing mental health crisis in Fort Albany this center can provide a safe space for youth and elders an Area to highlight and celebrate the local culture and the arts the library adults learning facility and Most important of all it includes a library and archive to preserve the history of the people of Miss Kegel Miss Kegel walk ASCII and the history of abuse Elineation alienation and the violence of children suffered in the infamous St. Down residential school of Fort Albany. I don't ask I just ask the minister of infrastructure To support the positive project so that Ontario and Canada can start acting like treaty partners. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much further member statement the member from Sarnie, Atlanta. Thank you speaker It's a privilege to rise today to announce more important investments tolling over $530,000 in my writing of Sarnia Lampton by the government of Ontario This funding is slowing through the resilient communities fund Which was launched by our government to support the nonprofit sector? Recover and rebuild from the impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic I'm pleased to share that in Sarnia Lampton eight important community organizations will be receiving funds from the resilient community funding including St. Joseph's hospice the family counseling center community living Sarnia Lampton your house boys home theater Sarnia Sarnia Lampton rebound the center community to our regional Sarnia Lampton the women's innerville home of Sarnia Lampton and Mr. Speaker we believe that organizations like these enrich the lives of people in our communities They will play an important role in the recovery and building back a strong and prosperous Connie and Sarnia Lampton and Ontario. Thank you, Mr. Speaker and look forward to sharing more good news about Sarnia Lampton with you in the south in the future. Thank you Very much further member statement the member from York Southwestern thank you, Mr. Speaker I rise today to recognize a valuable and very insightful report on Housing released last month to the great work by social planning Toronto This five-year study is a first of its kind that maps out the way racialized individuals a specific racialized population groups and Newcomers and refugee disproportionately affected by the housing crisis in Toronto The report is entitled the spaces place and places of exclusion Mapping rental housing disparities for Toronto's racialized and immigrant communities as member of the provincial parliament for York Southwestern and Through my role as member of the black occurs and the youth engagement critic for the official opposition I can affirm that the Stubbing statistics and evidence of disparities that exist along racial social and spatial lines is all too familiar The official opposition's own housing plan in title Homes you can afford Recognizes that housing policies must be responsive to different communities and different regions to ensure that housing is addressed across racial social and geographic divides them I Welcome the key Foundings and policy and research directions provided to address urgent housing and housing related needs. Mr. Speaker. Thank you Thank you very much further member statement the member from Carlton. Thank you, Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker, I know it's been a very tough year for everyone We've all had to make sacrifices for the greater good of our society But I'm pleased to say that COVID-19 can't stop Christmas festivities in Carlton Just this past weekend the Richmond Lions Club held their annual Christmas cheer fundraising drive to support local food banks in Collaboration with the Richmond Village Association's annual Richmond Santa Claus parade This year the Richmond Santa Claus parade took on a new format Instead of asking people to gather in crowds on the streets to watch the parade floats and Santa go by The floats were stationary and separated to maintain physical distancing And the community was encouraged to drive through the floats at the Richmond fairgrounds I was pleased to set up a float just like I do each year and I was of course accompanied by my dog Baxter Who was wearing Christmas lights and is a fan favorite? Mr. Speaker the community turnout was absolutely incredible the drive-through parade was supposed to start at 5 30 But doors actually opened at 450 because there was such a long lineup I'm also proud to say that the community raised an incredible amount of food for the local food bank There was barely any room left in the back of the pickup truck that was collecting all of the donations for the community Many community members had also decorated their own cars and were wearing Christmas lights as they drove by participating in the Christmas festivities Mr. Speaker it was such a wonderful event and even though I was standing outside in the cold for almost three hours I didn't feel a cold at all because the Christmas cheer excitement shouts of merry Christmas and the opportunity to speak briefly with residents As they drove by kept everyone warm and happy Thank you to the Richmond Village Association, and I can't wait to do it again this Sunday December 13 in Metcalf Further member statement the member from Parkdale High Park. Thank you, Speaker a new year is almost upon us One of the things we are hopeful 2021 will bring is the end of the pandemic The COVID-19 crisis has changed us all and people want to heal from it We want to hug our grandparents dine in at our favorite local restaurants Celebrate birthdays and other milestones with family and friends To heal speaker and to save lives and lift restrictions Ontarians need an efficient and equitable vaccine distribution We must be aware that even when this desperately needed highly anticipated vaccine is available Many will be hesitant to take it the world's health organization identified vaccine hesitancy as one of the top 10 global health threats and it has been a growing trend in Ontario over the past few years due to disinformation Now that we have a vaccine against COVID-19 we need to acknowledge that people may be feeling vaccine hesitancy The good news is that there are best practices from the fields of public health to drop on The mo it is most important to clearly communicate the benefits of a vaccine while transparently addressing people's concerns The COVID-19 vaccine is the key to finally putting a stop to the needless deaths from the virus I urge this government to work with the experts with communities that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and With all of us across political party lines on a clear effective and culturally appropriate Public health campaign to build trust and confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine our collective health depends on it Thank you very much further member statement. I recognize the member from Perry sound, Muskoka Thank you, mr. Speaker I rise today ahead of the holiday season to encourage residents of Perry Sound, Muskoka and all Ontarians to shop locally For Christmas and other gifts this winter as we all know the COVID-19 pandemic has hurt small businesses across Ontario so it was more important than ever that we support them during the biggest shopping season of the year My writing of Perry Sound, Muskoka is home to many talented artisans small manufacturers family-run shops and restaurants Who have adopted their businesses during this health crisis? Even if you don't want to go into stores right now many local shops have developed websites So you can browse their inventory from home or they will be happy to take orders over the phone for curbside pickup or delivery Restaurants are offering gourmet takeout meals and a break from cooking dinner always makes a good gift I encourage everyone to support local businesses in their communities as much as possible this holiday season Not only by shopping at local stores, but by looking for high quality products made in Ontario or Canada When we shop local money goes back into our communities and supports the local economy We help our fellow Ontarians put food on the table and we help our province recover This Christmas give a gift to your community shop local by local. Thank you Thank you very much further member statement the member from Brampton East Thank You Speaker Farmers in India are under attack right now farmers are fighting for their very Lively hood as they protest the mass privatization of farming by the Indian government in response The Indian government has used tear gas water cannons and beaten peaceful farmers Now thousands of people from across the world have protested in solidarity with these farmers including people across Canada Leaders across the world has spoken in solidarity with these farmers including leaders from across Canada But Premier Ford has remained silent and his silence is deafening That's why I'm calling on Premier Ford to immediately speak in support of these peaceful farmers and their struggle for justice Right now farmers in India are fighting for their very survival New laws put forward by the Indian government will put farmers at the mercy of super rich corporations as Farmers rise up to peacefully protest these unjust laws They're being met with violence and repression and that's why I want to send a very clear message to the Indian government The whole world is watching we are watching as you unjustly beat Brutalized tear gas and water got water cannon these peaceful protesters We are watching reports that internet is being disrupted for these peaceful protesters. We're going to share these injustices with the world We're going to yell it from the rooftops, and we won't stop until farmers get the justice that they need and that they deserve Thank you very much further member statement. I recognize the member from Northumberland Peterborough South Thank You mr. Speaker. You know mr. Speaker as a member for venture Parliament I often have the wonderful opportunity to thank so many in our community organizations individuals Who interact with the provincial government and or supported? But I wanted to take a special thank to thank the United Way Northumberland for the remarkable work that they're doing in our community They're showing local love in our community They've launched a call for applications for their emergency community support fund And I'd like to thank Bruce McCartney and president whose president and Nick Palales the treasurer for the work They're doing the entire board but especially the remarkable staff at United Way who each and every day work hard to give and support Those in need and those organizations in need in our community Bobby Kathy Diane Maggie Helen Thank you for the work that they do this fund mr. Speaker provides financial support to charities and nonprofit organizations adapting their frontline services to new COVID-19 realities they've supported community care in Northumberland Cornerstone violence and Family Prevention Center Greenwood Coalition to help Center North Northumberland local food for local good salvation Army and finally the YMCA Northumberland Despite East challenging times mr. Speaker the work of United Way in our community has never been more important It's the largest funder outside of government for social service programs in our area They are quite literally bringing people together And I'd like to thank the staff again the team at United Way for all you're doing for our community in Northumberland Thank You mr. Speaker Thank you very much further member statement the member from Peterborough, Kawartha Thank You Speaker It's with a heavy heart today that I rise to inform the house of the passing of June Turner on Saturday December 5th Some of you will know June is the wife of former Speaker of the house John M Turner Her youngest son Ian described her to me as the living embodiment of what the TV character June Cleaver was supposed to be Her love for her community Her friends and her neighbors was only surpassed by the love that she had for her family Loving loyal supportive and welcoming all described June She was born in what was once known as York County near here in 1925 She moved to Peterborough with her family in her early teens where she embarked on a lifelong friendship with Ruth and Beatrix June met John not long before John will go overseas to defend Canada in the Second World War Their courtship like many at the time would continue by correspondence until John returned home after the war Eventually they would marry in 1947 During the war June worked at General Electric in Peterborough But decided that her true calling Was that of the noblest of pursuits? And that was being a mother She left GE shortly after getting married to focus on raising a family eventually having six children and all June will be dearly missed by all who knew her for she's one of those rare individuals That I can truly say made the world a better place For those who had the pleasure of her company Thank you mr. Speaker I asked for unanimous consent for a moment of silence for June And all the spouses of Those who have served in Ontario Burr is seeking unanimous consent to pay respect to the passing of mr. Turner and all others Agreed agreed may we stand for a few moments, please you may be seated