 call. There being no further introductions it is now time for member statements the member from York Simcoe. Thank you Mr. Speaker and Mr. Speaker today I rise to draw attention to the opposition in my riding of York Simcoe to the Liberals latest tax plan. Mr. Speaker young couples often dream of buying a home. A home to build a life in. A home to raise a family in. This is a dream that has been shared by generations. However the Liberal government is threatening to make this dream even further out of reach. The proposed municipal land transfer tax is simply another tax on home buyers. If introduced this tax would make Ontario the most expensive place in North America to buy a home. Adding about $4,600 to the price. Recent studies show that more than 1 in 4 Ontarians agree that this proposed new tax would limit their ability to buy a home. When asked if they oppose the implementation in their area that number jumped to 9 out of every 10. When this tax was introduced in Toronto in addition to the already existing provincial tax there was a decline of 16% in the sale of single family homes. Mr. Speaker add all the taxes Ontarians pay and then add to that they're ever-growing hydro bills at the ill-advised ORPP. Quite simply our taxpayers are tapped out. This tax is an unfair burden on our young couples and families who are working hard towards their goals. Thank you member statements to the member from Kanoa Rainier River. Thank you Speaker. I have been inundated by pleas for help from desperate Northerners who are struggling to stay afloat. Northerners are telling me things like quote I live in Dryden and food prices are terrible. You cannot afford to buy meat unless it is on sale. The writer Joanne goes on to say it was cheaper to buy food in Sioux St. Marie when she was there on a trip and drive it back to Dryden frozen in a five day cooler than it would be to buy it in her home community. Jamie writes when I'm visiting my dad in southern Ontario and see how cheap groceries are there in comparison to here I am in total disbelief. Food prices are getting exorbitant and unaffordable and these are examples from the urban areas in my riding. Only Ontario's one percenters can afford to buy nutritious food in our remote First Nation communities. Speaker Northerners are pushed to the brink and they see the writing on the wall. We know what happens when the cost of living outpaces our wages pensions and social assistance rates. It means we can no longer cover essentials like food housing and hydro bills. As one Northerner succinctly writes between the price of food and ever rising cost of hydro I think many more of us will become homeless in the next five years. Speaker this government has a lot of catching up to do to ease the heavy burden on Northerners. We're looking to this provincial government to do the right thing and act now to make life more affordable in Ontario's north. Thank you. For the members. The member from the political center. Thank you speaker. This week Mr. Speaker is hold more awareness week and I'm standing to pay tribute to the whole more. This week we pay tribute to the 82nd anniversary of the famine genocide known as the whole the more when Joseph Stalin closed Ukraine's borders confiscated all grain to destroy a Korean population that was opposed to his rule a population that sought the same freedom the same independence that the people of Ukraine are fighting for today. 17 people per minute 1000 per hour and 25 thousand per day were dying at the height of the whole of the more. Mr. Speaker the world was silent and millions died as a result. My grandmother was one of the people who survived the famine and she used to say that she would hope that the victims of the whole the more would not only be remembered but honored honored she said meant not just remembering or commemorating them but taking the steps to make sure that a tragedy like this one never happens again and that is why I'm so proud to stand here today with our Premier and with our Minister of Education because they have worked with the community to do several things that are very important. They've ensured that the whole the more is in the Ontario curriculum so that every young person can learn about the whole the more and they have provided funding to the whole the more mobile classroom in the whole the more awareness tour to a bus that has been retrofitted that will travel the province educate our young people across Ontario about the whole the more and the lessons of the whole the more. This week is important that we not only commemorate speaker and we remember we also redouble our effort and our commitment as a people to learn from tragedies like this one make sure that tragedies like this crimes like this never happen again and today by taking these steps the Premier the Minister of Education I think I've done with my grandmother and what so many victims in the past have asked for they have helped to commemorate the victims they've helped to remember the victims and they have helped to honor them. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today to speak about Tamil remembrance day. I would like to welcome to the Legislature my friends from the Tamils for Patrick team, the trans national government of Tamali Lam, the Euthan newspaper, and CMR Tamil radio. We all remember and mourn people who were killed during the war in Sri Lanka for the for the people of Tamali Lam and for Tamils living in Canada and many many other parts of the world. The 27th of November is the day on which they remember and mourn over 100,000 people who were killed during the war. None of the perpetrators of this war crime have been brought to justice. The genocidal onslaught for the Tamils in the island of Sri Lanka is still a reality in many parts of the island and they seek the attention of the greater Canadian community and its support in order to live with dignity and freedom in their own land. On this day, they seek to rededicate themselves to the cause of justice, freedom and elimination of racism for those who have died shall not have died in vain. Like all free people in this world, the Tamil population also want the freedom to express their political will through a referendum in accordance with international norms on the island of Sri Lanka and in the Tamil diaspora. Too many friends in the Tamil community, some who are here today that have made Ontario their Ontario their home after experiencing the tragedy of this genocide in Sri Lanka. The Tamil population has contributed significantly to our province and their warm just generosity and rich culture is reflected in what makes Ontario great. On behalf of our leader Patrick Brown and the PC caucus, I say that we stand firmly with you in your quest for peace, freedom and justice in Sri Lanka, as well as the elimination of racism everywhere. Regretfully inform all of our members that are observing you're only allowed to observe and that any demonstration is not allowed. And I would appreciate if the I would appreciate if the member from Hamilton Mountain would not do any coaching the member from Timon Bay. First of all, Mr Speaker, I want to make sure that our guests here understand that New Democrats support what was just said. I'm here today in order to report some good news, Mr Speaker, from the James Bay coast and at a Wapaskat. As you know, some time ago last December, there was a diesel spill at the Ottawa Wapaskat Hospital, a fairly new facility that was built some 20 years ago. And the fuel handling system that feeds the generators and feeds the eating system. For some reason, this brand new system that's supposed to prevent a spill spilled and the diesel was contaminated underneath the hospital. As a result, we ended up having to evacuate that hospital. People had to be sent pretty far away from the community to be able to secure a bed for them. Those that stayed in the community. We had to double up at the health center and other places to offer services. I want to say that the work of the community working when a bagel hospital, but also the work of our minister, Minister Hoskin, was key in order to be able to get this thing unstuck. I want to make this point. We had a diesel spill in Ottawa Wapaskat at a school. It took over 20 years and a death of a young woman for that school to be rebuilt by our federal government. And I just want to say that our decision to have transferred health care on the James Bay from the federal government to the provincial government was the right thing to do because in this case, because the Ministry of Health and the provinces and the business of delivering health care in this province, we had the capacity to respond to what was a crisis. The minister did his job. The people in the community did their job. Winnebago did their job. And what's best, Mr. Speaker, is our hospital is now opening. We still have some issues that we have to deal with, but I think it shows that when the promises involved on First Nations issues on reserve, we can do a heck of a lot better than I think the feds can. And I want to thank all those people, including the minister who was involved. Thank you. Thank you for the member statements. The member from New Market Aurora. Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the current Syrian refugee crisis gripping the national conscience, communities need to come together to welcome these families with open arms to ensure their basic human rights are met. One organization in my writing of New Market Aurora is making a difference. It's the Interfaith Refugee Resettlers. This organization is made up of members from Trinity Anglican Church, Aurora United Church, and the New Market Islamic Centre. Together, they're working to sponsor a refugee family. This includes, of course, raising funds for accommodation, food, clothing, and ESL training to help the family transition to life in Canada. Together with or a Canadian charitable organization that is assisting in the sponsorship and resettlement of refugees, the Interfaith Refugee Resettlers have set up their subcommittees, and they're well on their way to raising their $30,000 target. In fact, they're confident they'll be able to raise double that and perhaps bring two families to New Market Aurora. It's their hope in mind that the residents of New Market Aurora and communities across the country come together to support future families that will be starting new lives in Canada. I'm also proud to represent a government that promotes a welcoming and inclusive society by supporting the plan to bring 10,000 Syrian refugees to Ontario. However, without the assistance of community organizations such as Interfaith Refugee Resettlers, this goal is not attainable. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, where, after all, the universal human rights begin in small places, close to home. Organizations such as the one in New Market Aurora demonstrate how local actions can help make this world a better place. Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. You know, it was just over a year ago that I stood here and talked to the death of Art Fleming, one of the most respected and beloved figures in West Niagara. And today, sadly, I want to acknowledge another great man from the community, a Beamsville in West Niagara, who he lost to cancer on November 15th. And sadly, it's Art's son, Thomas Fleming. And I can't imagine the depth of loss. Such a young age and a vibrant man that his wife, Joanne, has gone through with their children, Andrew and Rachel. And my heart particularly goes out to his mom, Val, who sadly has buried both her husband and her son within a year. You know, Speaker Tom learned a lot from his dad, both in business and in life. He had strong business smarts. He successfully ran the local family business Fleming chicks. And he's a Queen's Park many times. I suspect many of my colleagues here will remember Tom. He was a leader in the poultry sector. He's known for his firm, warm grip, his bright smile. I suspect Speaker, he voted the right way, but he had tremendous respect for this institution and the work that's done under this roof. He always said a bit of mischievous twinkling in his eye too. I remember one of the first times I spent with Tom, who is always a great advisor to me on agricultural issues. I went to the Fleming chicks. So newly hatched chicks come out on a conveyor belt and they go around in a circle. And then those working at Fleming chicks sort out the chicks between male and female chicks. They grow at different rates. So he asked me to take part in this. And there's no pink or blue diapers for the chicks. So I did confess. I hope it's parliamentary. What most people would do, I looked between the chicks legs. But that was the biggest route. It doesn't work so hot for chicks. It's something to do with the wings. I don't know if I still have learned, Speaker. So Tom and his team had a good laugh at that. I suspect it was not the only politician who has been put through that process. But I spoke to his spirit, speak fondly of his strength in the community. He also was a great singer, always led his choir. So knowing Tom's character, his strong Christian spirit, his great singing voice, and the fact that he's not afraid to throw a few elbows from time to time, he's probably leading a choir of angels now, Speaker. What do I say? Great man, sad loss. One of our leading citizens of West Niagara. I feel he missed. Thank you. Member Stavis, the member for Bradley Springfield. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In recent weeks, there have been, there has been an upsurge in racially motivated and unprovoked attacks on the Muslim community. Here in Ontario, a string of suspected hate crimes have taken place in the days following the horrific Paris attacks. A mosque in Peterborough was badly damaged by a fire that appears to have been set deliberately. In Kitchener, Hindu temples and windows were broken by rock throwing vandals and in Toronto a Muslim woman reported that she was attacked while on her way to pick up her children and that two men who beat her called her a terrorist. These are just a few of the incidents. It is likely that these incidents are misguided retaliations by a few malicious individuals for what happened in Paris, but that does not make it acceptable. Such violence has no place in our society. These hateful incidents are completely conflicting to Canadian values. We are all inclusive, we are an all inclusive global community. We must accept everyone as equal human beings. The safety of all Ontarians is a collective responsibility of this government and it is my job as a member for Brampton Springdale to raise issues affecting my constituents. I call on our law enforcement agencies to ensure swift action is taken against these perpetuating violence and ask everyone to remain vigilant. Ultimately, whether it happens in Paris, Baghdad or Buru or here in Ontario, an attack that causes terror is a terrorist attack. Such cowardly attacks of violence are affiliated with nothing but their own evil. As Ontarians, as Canadians, we must stand in solidarity in condemning terror, which has no place in our world. I stand with all our brothers and sisters of the Muslim community in condemning these acts. Family, friends, colleagues and neighbours have been affected by violence and vandalism. Let us stand as one in providing support to those deeply affected by these horrific attacks. Thank you. Thank you. Member Stevens, the member from Etobicoke Lakeshore. Thank you Mr. Speaker. In the spirit of the season I want to bring to the legislature's attention that for the past 25 years Santa Claus has arrived a little bit early in Etobicoke Lakeshore. As our residents celebrate the start of the holiday season with the annual Etobicoke Lakeshore Santa Claus parade. This is the 25th anniversary of the parade ranked as one of the four best in Ontario. The parade plays an important role in our community bringing together local businesses, industry and residents to pull together the best possible event to welcome Santa Claus to our neighbourhood and to the region. There will be 15 amazing floats created by volunteers, 10 marching bands, representatives of first responders, athletes and mascots like Carleton from the Maple Leafs and Jason from the Argonauts and over 250 local volunteers, costume, discharacters, clowns, polar bears and smirks. Local organizations like Storefront Humber and Lamp Community Health also get in on the fun. Mr. Speaker, this parade is filmed by Rogers Cable. It attracts about 60,000 people out each year and again I want to thank the BIAs of Lakeshore Village and Long Branch for getting together to help launch this 25 years ago by just borrowing some trailers and getting a group of local people together to work on it. People like local realtors Carl and Liz Port who donated a great deal of time and spirit to have this done. I have the honour of having helped the organizers to secure their very own Santa's workshop over the years where they can work and store the floats throughout the year and my six-year-old daughter can't wait to join me at the Etobicoke Lakeshore Santa Claus parade on December 5th and greet Santa to Etobicoke Lakeshore. The only thing that saved you was invoking Santa Claus so I just thought going over time. I do want to remind all members of their work count it's time consuming and although it's friendly we try to stay within the time frame. Thank all members for their statements as