 Member Statements, Member for Oakville, North Burlington. Thank you, Speaker. This is my first opportunity in the 43rd Parliament to thank residents of Oakville, North Burlington, who put their trust in me for a second time and re-elected me to represent the net queens. I am grateful to my campaign team and the volunteers who worked hard to achieve a victory in our community. Under the leadership of our Premier, we presented a strong and clear message to the people in my community and across Ontario. Rebuilding Ontario's economy, building highways and key infrastructure, working for workers, keeping costs down by cutting cast access and building 1.5 million new homes over 10 years. We promised to get things done for Ontario and the people responded. Because in communities like ours, this government was getting things done long before the election. Five new schools in four years. More than 1,100 new long-term care beds. 295 million for electric vehicles at Ford Canada in Oakville. 120 acres added to the green belt along 14 mile creek. And we are continuing to get things done in Ontario. Catching up in schools with 225 million for families with kids and 26.6 million for education this year, the highest effort. Keeping our hospitals open with 6,000 new health care workers. $10 a day childcare. We've got a great record, a great plan, and we can look forward to a great future for the people across Ontario. Member Statements. The Member for Niagara Centre. Thank you, Speaker. My constituents in Niagara Centre need affordable places to live right now. I've been telling this government that repeatedly since 2018. The affordable housing crisis has been getting worse and worse over this government's term and they've done nothing to address it. Weightless in Niagara out of control. And with rising costs, folks are becoming more and more desperate. My officer from Barry Smith, who lives in Welland with his wife and five-year-old daughter. Barry's on disability. His wife worked but didn't qualify for CERB. They were suddenly faced with a single ODSP income. His wife was then diagnosed with the rare lung disorder and is now also disabled. She's applied for ODSP but because of health care backlogs she's stuck waiting for a doctor's report. They've lived in their home in Welland for 10 years. Never laid on rent, never any problems. Now they have to move because landlord says they are renovating and moving in. Their rent was $1,000 a month. They've looked and looked and have been turned down by property management companies over and over. One such place was a basement apartment running for $1,600 a month. The requirements to apply are a credit score of $700 or more and you need to be working. It doesn't matter that they are excellent tenants and wonderful people. It's all about the numbers, a dehumanized process. I want to once again urge this government to listen to the stories of Barry, of Steve who I spoke about back in April, of Christine and Dave Hunt, whose story I told in November, and act swiftly to ensure people have affordable safe places to live. The government has an obligation to all Ontarians, regardless of their background, to ensure they can keep a roof over their head because housing is a human right. Thank you. Members statements to Member Paul Whitby. Good morning, Speaker. You'll know that the World Renown Ability Centre, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, is situated in Whitby. So I'm particularly pleased that its membership and town residents can now apply for, renew and replace lost or stolen accessible parking permits online from a comfort of its home. Local not-for-profits like Continuing Care Durham who support disabled residents will also be able to take advantage of this full suite of online services anytime, anywhere. What's clear, Speaker, is that we're improving our services to make life easier for all Ontarians, especially those with accessibility needs. Speaker, with these new online services, residents can apply for their new accessible parking permits, renews subject to change permits, and replace lost or stolen permits. Providing a full suite of online options to obtain an accessible parking permit is a major step forward to the hundreds and thousands of members of the Ability Centre, making services more accessible to them and organizations supporting them like Community Care Durham. Thank you, Speaker. Member Statements to Member for Windsor West. Thank you, Speaker. I'm honored to rise in the House as the MPP for Windsor West for a third term. I want to thank my constituents for again placing their trust in me. I want to thank my family. No MPP can effectively do their job without the support of their family. Every one of us in this House can attest to that. Thank you to my campaign team, Farah, Kaylee, Robin, Ian, Darlene, Mirna, Brian, Moe, Melanie, Dougie, Joyce, and every volunteer for all their work supporting me and the people of Windsor West. I rise today knowing many in my community are struggling to make ends meet. The immense pressure from increasing costs of living and stagnant wages is causing great distress for families in my community. Everyone in this province deserves a safe, stable place to call home. They deserve to have access to food and shelter without having to choose between the two or to rely on food banks. People with disabilities live in legislated poverty, something this government could change but won't. Mental health and addiction struggles are impacting many in my community and across the province as financial pressures escalate. Our health care system is in crisis and government policy is making it worse. We're losing our doctors and nurses while this government continues to chip away at public health care. Seniors deserve the best care to live with dignity, to choose where they live in the community they want to live in. Yet this government is ramming through a bill that strips them of the ability to consent to where they live and receive support and who has access to their personal information simply because they access hospital care. My NDP colleagues and I will continue to stand up for the public good rather than private interests and I will continue to rise in this house to fight for what matters most to my constituents. Thank you, Member Statements. Member for Brampton East. Thank you, Speaker. Speaker, as the amazing weather continues, peel has been flourishing with community events across the region. Firstly, I would like to congratulate MPP Graham McGregor on a successful community barbecue in Brampton North as well as MPP Tangry in Mississauga Streetsville and MPP Smith in Scarborough Centre. Speaker, just this past Saturday I had the opportunity of visiting the Bay Ridge Street Block Party in support of Sick Kids Hospital in my riding of Brampton East. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the young boys and girls who organise this amazing yearly fundraiser and applaud their commitment to giving back to the community. Through their efforts of selling locally donated items and knocking on friends, families and neighbours' doors, they have managed to raise over $10,000. A commemorative achievement as they are all preparing to go back to schools, college and university in the coming weeks, I would like to wish them well and hope they have an amazing academic year ahead and continue to make us proud. Speaker, I would also like to recognise Grugobinsing Children's Foundation on hosting their annual Inspirational Steps 5 and 10K run over this past weekend dedicated to raising funds in support of educating children and helping those less fortunate across the world. Thank you, Speaker. Member Statements, the Member for London North Centre. Speaker, I'm proud today to offer my congratulations to Nasim Qadri and the whole Muslim community in London. On Saturday, Qadri, who was born and raised in London, brought Lord Stanley's Cup to the London Muslim Mosque, the first time hockey's highest trophy has visited. Incredibly gracious, Qadri thanked the Muslim community as they were essential to his growth as a hockey parapheros. He told the massive crowd, I'm very appreciative, very privileged and honoured to be the first Muslim to bring the Stanley Cup to the Mosque. It was a bright and beautiful moment for the Muslim community in London who have had an incredibly difficult few years dealing with the aftermath of the murder of a Muslim family. Dr. Munir Al-Qasim told the Thousand Strong Crowd, we are a strong community who learns to cope. With every difficulty, there is ease. And welcome Qadri back to London in a heartfelt speech. Qadri's an inspiration to many, especially young Londoners. What sets him apart is not simply his focus on being a champion on the ice, but his work outside of the ring. The Qadri Foundation gives back with a focus on mental health and supports for kids and he states, the true meaning of being a great NHL player is to be good on the ice and great off the ice. From our Chamber, I'd like to thank Nasim Qadri for always remembering his roots, his family and his community. Thank you for visiting our great city and for being such a strong role model for young people. Next statement, the member for Oxford. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've always been proud of the youth of Oxford because they punch above their weight and are a huge asset to our community. I'm constantly amazed at their success and these past few weeks have been no exception. Elanda Rosnick, who was a student at Glendale High School in Tilsonburg, was crowned Miss Teenage Canada on August the 20th. As youth across Ontario are struggling with their mental health, Elanda has used her platform to be a positive role model spreading a message of positive body language and self-love. She's been speaking to schools across Southwestern Ontario about social media, bullying and how it's okay to reach out for help. The youth of Oxford have also shown their incredible talent at the Canada Summer Games with their training, hard work and perseverance. It's no wonder Oxford's athletes do so well and I want to congratulate all who participated. I would like to give a special mention to Mason McKay and Mitch McKay of Tavistock in their gold medal in softball. Mason found this fort for a gold medal and bronze medals in wrestling and Kate Foster of Swiburg for a gold medal in Box La Crosse. It's often said that the youth are the leaders of tomorrow, Mr. Speaker, but I disagree. The youth of Oxford are already showing that they are leaders today. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Member's statements. The Member for Kingston and the Island. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn the verbal attacks, intimidation and misogyny inflicted upon Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Christopher Freeland as documented on video this past weekend. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Assaults against women are endemic to Canadian politics today. In our recent election, I heard from female Ontario Liberal candidates who were assailed in even more extreme ways on the streets in front of family members in social media messages and emails. I'm sure candidates from other parties experienced equally appalling assaults that for their own health I would not want them to recount. Speaker, why is it important that I make this statement here? In February 2014, when new MP, Christopher Freeland, stood up in the House of Commons during question periods, she was dramatically interrupted by members who made fun of her raising the picture of her voice to make a point and prevented her from finishing. This led directly to social media which mocked her for not speaking with a deeper voice. There was no licence granting bogeymen south of the border to blame back then an elected body was to blame. Today I not only condemn this attack against a female Canadian leader but all the attacks that have happened and are increasing, which are a threat to women, democracy and Canadian values. I call on this assembly to lead by example and to not repeat the mistakes of the past. Member Statements, the Member for Etobicoke Lakeshore. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Good morning everyone. I am raising this as the House today to celebrate the return of an important annual event in my writing, the taste of the Kingsway. For two years, the taste of the Kingsway has been on hold and I'm very glad to inform this House today that it will be returning September 9th to 11th and I'll be kicking it off at 6 o'clock p.m. It's located at Etobicoke's bustling Kingsway Strip and this festival has been a history of more than 20 years and it is the largest street festival in south Etobicoke. At the taste of the Kingsway you can experience live music, rides and games, a ferris wheel, street performers, children's activities and even a dog show. This festival has been a critical event on the Etobicoke Summer Calendar for a number of years and I'm sure my excitement is shared with many people in the Etobicoke community that it will be returning. Not only is it a fun time, it is supporting a great cause. The taste of the Kingsway is a proud supporter of Campfire Circle a non-profit summer camp for children affected by childhood cancer. The taste of the Kingsway can be reached via Royal York Subway Station and the city will be closing Bloor Street for the festival. I sincerely invite all members of this House as well as the broader public to come down and help celebrate the return of this local institution and please while you're at the taste of the Kingsway enjoying our local shops and restaurants don't forget to drop by my booth and visit me and say hello. Two member statements. The member for Chatham Kent Leamington. Good morning, Speaker. It gives me great pride today to share the story and outstanding efforts of a grassroots charity organization informed in my hometown of Leamington. Hogs for Hospice was the vision of a small group of local citizens who shared a love of motorcycling and community. Recognizing that many of us will at some point require the compassionate support offered by palliative care this dedicated group sought to create a world-class family-friendly motorcycle and music festival to raise money, to build and maintain a world-class hospice campus while advancing healthcare in Leamington and surrounding communities. This past civic holiday weekend, Leamington welcomed thousands to the fifth annual Hogs for Hospice. This event featured exceptional food vendors, a motorcycle stunt show, a guided motorcycle ride along the shores of Lake Erie and Peely National Park, and a culminated in the amazing live music concert at our Sunset Amphitheater, headlined by legendary rock band The Cult and country music artist Brett Young. To date, Hogs for Hospice has raised over $1.5 million for Erie Shores Hospice. I want to thank and personally recognize the many volunteers, the dedicated board, and everyone for their efforts this worthwhile cause. This event could not be possible without the leadership of Oswald, Danny Pacheco, Benji Mastronardi, Brian Cornies, Dave Haudaire, Tim Miles, and Kevin Sifrance. In 2023, we're going to continue this tradition and I welcome everyone to bring your families and enjoy Hogs for Hospice in Leamington. Thank you. Thank you very much. That concludes our member's statements for this morning.