 It is now time for Member Statements, the Member from Leeds, Grenville. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to former Mayor Frank Cancella. Leeds Grenville lost a champion when Mayor Frank, as he was affectionately known, passed away this month at age 75. An educator, Director of Education, Rotarian, Councillor and Mayor of Leeds in the Thousand Islands, Frank left an indelible mark on countless lives. Frank knew that being a leader could be difficult, but he never flinched in the face of a challenge. Even those who disagreed with him never doubted that Frank had his community's best interest at heart. Indeed, even after he lost a bid for re-election in 2010, the community turned to Frank in a time of crisis two years later and he was reappointed Mayor. Frank held no grudge. He rolled up a sleeve and he inspired others around him to be better. And with Frank leading the way, Speaker, they were better. I had the privilege of knowing Frank as a friend and later he was my boss because he hired me as a CAO for the township. And I can tell you, Frank was the same behind closed doors as he was in public. He wanted to build a stronger, a more connected community by empowering people to step forward and do great things. Frank set out to be a community builder and that's exactly what he leaves as his legacy. On behalf of everyone who leads Grenville and the province of Ontario, I want to extend my most sincere and deepest condolences to Frank's wife, Mary Lou, his children and his grandchildren. We're all so blessed that they shared Frank with us. We love them a lot, Speaker, and we're going to miss them. Thank you very much. Thank you for your members' statements. Member from Essex. Thank you very much, Speaker. I am so happy to use my member's statement today to give a shout out to our province's agricultural workers and our farmers. Today, obviously, being two days after the first day of spring of this year, we know that farmers are busy in the preparation for planting, the food in which we all appreciate and enjoy and are sustained by, of course, we can't forget the economic impact that farmers play in Ontario, being our number two industry in the province, contributing billions of dollars to our GDP every year. Of course, the role they play in the small communities and rural communities in which they operate, Speaker, in my region, Windsor and Essex, we have one of the longest growing seasons, 212 days per year. Of course, our region is home to North America's largest greenhouse industry with over 1700 acres under glass or plastic with 328,000 acres of farmland. Windsor and Essex generates $1.2 billion from agriculture activity. Of course, Essex is also top southwestern Ontario when it comes to employment with 18,487 full-time equivalents in the sector, only Niagara region is closed second with 18,400. Speaker, thank you to the farmers who are busy preparing the food that we're going to enjoy. We appreciate and acknowledge their efforts and look forward to supporting them. Have a safe and prosperous and productive season. Thank you very much, Speaker. Thank you for the member, Stephen, the member from Mr. Saga, Brent and South. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 12 women who recently received Leading Woman Building Communities Awards at an event in Mrs. Saga, Brent and South, this past Saturday. These awards celebrate those women who demonstrate exceptional leadership in working to improve the lives of others through their work, activism and volunteer activities. They are role models for everyone in our communities and especially for young women. Despite a lot of progress for women in Ontario, they are still underrepresented in private business and leadership roles. For two of them, women are victims of gender-based harassment and violence. These women are inspirational, worth celebrating and I thank them for their service to our community. Congratulations, UD Young, Helen Burroughs, Puneet Chawla, Angela John, Lillian Kwak, Anna Mazar-Kowitz, Areefa Mazafar, Nafsingh, Norma Nicholson, Neera Rajpal, Anusri Vastwa and Arpna Vora. Kudos to all of you. I'm very proud of your work. Keep up the good work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for the member, Stephen, the member from Hollam and Orphan. Today I plan on responding to the minister's comments on food and beverage Ontario's taste for the future campaign, but the minister's statement has been cancelled. I want to start by quoting Norm Bale, CEO of Food and Beverage Ontario. We're launching a major campaign called Taste Your Future because there aren't enough people trained in our industry to take these jobs. We need young people and new Canadians interested in our sector for jobs ranging from mill rights to food scientists and marketing people. Just further to CEO Beal's numbers, he indicates Food and Beverage sector, the 132,000 direct jobs is another 172,000 indirect full-time positions. He touts it as the largest manufacturing processing sector in the province, bigger than automotive and a sector that generates $70 billion in revenue. In following the recession, and we know Ontario was hard hit primarily because of automotive, yet the Food and Beverage sector grew by 11% from 07 to 2012. So we're second only to Chicago. I just wanted to point this out. I'm not sure why the statement was cancelled. I don't know. We've seen a cut to the ministry's budget. Maybe that was one of the reasons, but I'll just leave that with the legislature. Thank you, Speaker. Further member statements? Member from London West. Thank you, Speaker. I rise today to recognize two exemplary London companies that received global recognition this month for ethical business practices and for redefining business success. On March 4, London tech firm R-Traction announced its official designation as London's first certified B-Corporation. B-Corp is an international program to recognize for-profit companies that meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. In other words, companies that use business as a force for good. Since its founding in 2001, R-Traction has been making a difference for its clients, its employees, and the London community. As a certified B-Corp, R-Traction's two brands, Digital Ellipsis and Engine 74, have joined more than 1,400 certified B-Corps from 42 countries in over 120 industries. The same week, on March 7, the US-based Ethosphere Institute named 3M, one of the world's most ethical companies for a third year in a row. For its ethical business standards, its alignment of principle with action, and its impact on shaping future industry standards. Londoners are very proud of 3M's long history in our community. Since 1951, London has been home to 3M's Canadian operations, and 3M employs almost 1,000 employees at its head office in manufacturing plant. To earn the designation as an ethical company, 3M was assessed in multiple categories, and this year 131 honorees were named, spanning 21 countries, 5 continents, and more than 45 industries. Congratulations to R-Traction CEO David Billson, and to Paul Madden, 3M Canada's President and General Manager. I'm proud of the leadership shown by London firms to demonstrate that good ethics is good business. Thank you. Members, please. Members from England to Lawrence. Yes, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to pay tribute to the innocent people that were killed and slaughtered in cold blood in Brussels this morning, and the people of Belgium who saw this act of terrorism rip their city apart, their airport. The innocent people going to work this morning on the metro in Brussels, man-women children were killed by these sadistic cowardly terrorists, and just to let the people know in Belgium and all over the world that we stand together with those that are totally in opposition to this type of cowardly, dastardly act that occurred this morning, and that this is not something that we condone or want to see repeated, and that we should encourage all citizens in every country, in every part of this great country of Canada, to stand up to this cowardly terrorism that rips apart this world and contributes to nothing but destruction and hate, and that it's our time to stand in solidarity with the people of Brussels and the people of Belgium. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Members, statements to the member from Huron, Bruce. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. This spring, along with the wonderful member from Great Bruce, Owen Sound, I had the privilege of attending the Great Bruce First Topping Ceremony at Client's Maple Syrup near Mildmay, and this particular event highlights the beginning of the Maple Syrup season. I must say, Mr. Walker particularly showcased his knack for hammering in the spicket, something to be seen, ladies. Yes, but in all seriousness, in terms of the Maple Syrup season, since its earliest settlers arrived along the coastline of Lake Huron, the sugaring season has brought together family and friends to celebrate the transition from winter to the early days of spring. Many of us share fond memories of visiting our local sugar shack to collect sap, enjoying the early springtime, and devouring taffy and pancakes at our local festivals. This season is particularly meaningful for farmers in my community, as it marks the first harvest of the season and the start of an agricultural year. In addition to its cultural importance, the Maple Syrup industry is important to Ontario's economy, Speaker. Last year alone, the syrup producers in my region produced an impressive 3.9 million gallons of syrup and contributed $41 billion to our province's GDP. Even better, the Maple Syrup industry has only expanded to grow as Ontarians seek a healthy alternative to traditional sugars. Mr. Speaker, Maple Syrup is one of Ontario's most iconic products, and I encourage all my colleagues in the House to visit their local sugar shack or their local festival and enjoy and celebrate one of our delicious snacks in this province. Thank you very much. Thank you. Further member statements? The member for Ottawa Orléans. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I was delighted to host a breakfast event in Orléans, which was such a success with over 100 great women from our community in attendance. The objective was to meet and celebrate these women, their work, and successes while giving them an opportunity to engage and get to know one another. Our event represented Canada's 2016 team of women's empowerment leads to equality. This is why I took the opportunity to present this year's leading women building communities recognition awards to 14 deserving women. I am so proud to have been able to recognize 14 women who contributed a lot through leadership in our community. Thanks to each of them, and also I would like to name them, Anne-Marie Siek, Colleen Dupri-Strong, Jennifer Babe, Karina Podvin, Cassandra Tanourie, Kelsey Lett, Lisa Wiltonton, Michelle DeRochet, Rachel LeCour, Sandra Stephanick, Teresa Whitmore, Victoria Powell, and Yasmine Fathers. Thank you and congratulations to all these wonderful women. I'll see further member statements, the member from Scarborough, Southwest. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to say a few words on Rob Ford, not as the mayor, but as a human being and as a person that I knew on City Council. Rob was first elected City Council in the year 2000, and I was a Councillor at that time as well, and we hit it off pretty well right from the beginning. I remember his grandfather lived in my riding, and when his grandfather passed away, he came to me and said, can you say a few words about my grandfather? I said, sure, Rob. So after the start of the council meeting, I said a few words about his grandfather, and I looked across from me, and I could see Rob's eyes swelling up, and tears coming down his eyes. After I finished my speech, he came over, shook my hand, and was not able to speak. He was so emotionally moved by the fact that I had spoken about his grandfather, a very sensitive and emotional person, and I remember as well that we were debating the budget one day in council, and I said, I don't want my Metro Pass. I don't want it. I'll pave my own way on the subway. And I started arguing with some members of council. Also, Rob stood up and said, I don't want mine either. It's wrong that we get free Metro Passes, and he became more passionate than I did, and it was just to see him in his passion, and the way he felt strongly about an issue. And he didn't care whether he was on the right or wrong side. He did that. And with the permission of the speaker, I may go a few minutes overhand, but I just wanted to say that when I was elected, I wanted to be chair of the Admin Committee in 2000, the administration committee, which was a big committee. And I phoned him, and I said, Rob, can you vote for me tomorrow to support me to become an admin chair? He goes, you can't. You can't phone me. That's illegal. And I said, well, it's not illegal. I'm just asking you to vote for me. So he had a friend and a mentor, Doug Holiday, the former member here, and a former councillor as well. And Doug Holiday said to me, don't worry, calm, or Rob Downey's going to vote for you. So Rob voted for me, and he was on my committee, on the committee. And he was always opinionated, but honest, and a very emotional human being who loved his job, loved his family, loved his wife, Renata, his children, Stephanie and Doug. Very close to his mum, Dianne. And I had many chances to meet with them and talk to them. And he had birthday parties at his house, and I would go with my wife. And he would get emotional during his birthdays and say, you know, thanks for coming to my birthday party and was very happy. So there's another side to him that I'm really going to miss, and we're all going to miss. And it's truly, perhaps, to eulogize him, but I just thought it was appropriate today to say a few words about a wonderful human being who will be missed deeply by his family, his family, and even us friends of him here at the legislature. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. I knew better to cut them off. It's now time for, I thank all members for their statements. It's now time for...