 I'm going to now move to Member's Statements. Member's Statements, I recognize the member for Rentfru, Nipissing Pembroke. Thank you very much, Speaker. What do you do when you need health care but you don't have a family physician? Well, in my writing of Rentfru, Nipissing Pembroke, you call on the Rentfru County VTAC. That's the Rentfru County Virtual Triage and Assessment Center. Rentfru County VTAC was born out of the pandemic since that time has continually demonstrated its value and that it deserves permanent funding. Last Friday at the Rentfru County Paramedic Base, I was able to deliver the good news that permanent funding has been approved. Throughout the pandemic and beyond, I heard from Rentfru County residents and health care professionals about the importance of this program. The County of Rentfru and its staff have to be given a great deal of credit as not only the designers but through their paramedics, they're the deliverers of this tremendous service. I want to thank them for continuing to be innovative and persistent in bringing health care advancements not only to Rentfru County, but by designing them in such a way that can be adapted to any rural area in the province. I certainly want to thank Premier Doug Ford and in particular, Health Minister Sylvia Jones who could not have been more receptive in learning about understanding and becoming a strong supporter of VTAC. The people of Rentfru County, particularly those without a family physician, are grateful for this announcement and as their MPP, I share their gratitude. Thank you. I recognize the member for Waterloo. This week my office received a voicemail where a woman just said, butter at the only grocery store I can walk to is $9 a pound. Just thought you should know and then she hung up. She sounded hopeless and I don't know how to give her hope. And I'd like to be able to say that her cost of living is going to improve, but we saw the government's budget last week and there's no hope there. Food prices in particular have been a pain point for Ontarians. Grocery prices were 11% higher than they were a year ago, Madam Speaker. Have wages kept up with the cost of living? No. The government refuses to increase the minimum wage so low-income workers will continue to struggle more and after inflation. Social assistance programs are providing less help than they did a year ago. And the government's own numbers. Your own numbers show that Bill 23 has failed and their policies will result in fewer new homes being built this year than last year. Between that and no real rent control housing costs won't get any better. Madam Speaker, this government wants Ontarians to think that the higher cost of living is a new normal. But this is not normal. Our vision for Ontario with more opportunity and prosperity is possible and provides more hope for everybody. And it's shameful that this government and their budget don't share in that vision. Member statements? The Member for Newmarket Aurora. Thank you. Speaker, I would like to recognize the Women's Centre of York Region who has been and continues to be a driving force in York Region for more than 45 years. They offer unique programming and services to women who are seeking a positive change in their life. Their goal is to fully support each woman on their personal journey of discovery. Earlier this week, the Minister of Women's Social and Economic Opportunity, the Minister of Labor, Immigration Training and Skills Development and myself, we visited the Women's Centre of York Region in Newmarket as they were selected to be part of a $6 million investment over three years as part of the Investing in Women's Future program. This investment will provide a range of flexible services and employment readiness supports for women facing social and economic barriers, including those experiencing gender-based violence and social isolation. In 2021-22, the Investing in Women's Futures program helped more than 1,300 women across the province secure employment, start their own business or pursue further training or education. I am truly excited to see the positive changes that the Women's Centre of York Region will achieve for women in my riding and throughout York Region. Great seat. Member statements. The Member for Toronto, Dan Ford. Thank you, Speaker. Thank you. I just want to note that I think I fully understand now what the health strategy is for the Conservative Party. We saw yesterday with the information about people having their eye examinations reduced. Obviously, people with problems are going to have to pay and I now can see where the future is when people go to hospital for hip replacement. You go in, there will be a menu at the door. It will say hip replacement surgery covered by OHIP. Anesthetic, extra. What's it worth to you? Post-surgery recovery. Nurse prices vary, but for free we'll pin a note on your gown saying, you just had surgery, we urge you to be cautious. Hallway, free. But to get into a room, you'll have to pay extra. Speaker, that's where we're headed. The sleight of hand, the shell game with this government is, they'll cut the services, they'll cut the services, they'll cut the services. You'll get something or other covered by OHIP, but everything else will be like an American hospital where you pay for each juice and each aspirin. You will be skinned. So, Speaker, I urge people to reject the direction this government has taken because we know it will be a disaster for the health care of the people in this province. Thank you. Thank you. Member statements? The member for Kitchener, Conestoga. Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and I'm glad you're sitting down because this is big. It's even Guinness World Records big. After three long years, Mr. Speaker, the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival is back. It is the single largest maple syrup festival in the world, Mr. Speaker, and very glad to see it return on Saturday, April 1st this weekend. I want to talk about a few changes that are being made this year. Historically, the Pancake Tent has been downtown. It is moving indoors this year to Lyons Hall right beside the Willich Memorial Center at South Street and Snyder Avenue. Come meet mascot Flapjack when I try my hand at our world-famous pancake flipping contest, Mr. Speaker, and I think you may have done that once or twice over your years representing a great part of Willich Township. And again this year, we're hoping to break a record, Mr. Speaker, to see 60,000 to 70,000 people returning to the streets of Elmira. I just want to talk a little bit about what benefit we see to the community. So a lot of the funds raised from this fantastic event go to Community Living Elmira, the Elmira Theater Company, the Willich Sledge Hockey Team, Women's Crisis Services, Waterloo Region, and of course to local schools and more. So our deep, deep thank you to the new Chair Matt Jessup and the Planning Committee and looking forward to this weekend, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Member Statements, the member for Hamilton Mountain. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. This Sunday, April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day. As many of you know, this topic is close to my heart, so I'm happy to have the opportunity to speak more about this important day. World Autism Awareness Day was unanimously declared to be April 2nd in the United Nations General Assembly in 2008. And this day is more than just awareness. It is about recognition, celebration, and acceptance. People with autism are integral members of our communities, and this year's theme focuses on celebrating the contributions people with autism make to the world, including home, at work, in the arts, and in policymaking. However, people with autism still face challenges and discrimination. It is important to recognize there is still work to do that we need to do, especially as our role as MPPs. We need to ensure we are building an inclusive, accessible province for everyone. Building an accessible province means ensuring people have access to services. And overwhelming right now, children with autism are not getting the services they need. It was disappointing to see the government did not keep the autistic community in their mind when drafting their budget, as they did not mention autism a single time. So, for this World Autism Awareness Day, I encourage members to think about what they can do to build a more equitable, accessible province for people living with autism, and how their work can directly impact people's lives. Thank you very much. Member Statements. Member for Essex. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We all know that guns are being smuggled across the border from the United States into Canada, and that these illegal guns are getting into the hands of gangs. And the gangs are using these guns to go after some of the most vulnerable people in our society. And that's why, Mr. Speaker, we have a strategy. And it's the anti-illegal guns, gangs, and violence reduction strategy brought forward by this government and this premier. And it's funded. It's funded through the budget. Now, we know the NDP don't support this. We know they want to defund the police. But because of the compassionate policies of this government, we actually fund these services. And in the 2023 budget, $13.4 million is continued to provide funding for these police services to go after the illegal guns and go after the gangs. So I want to thank the Minister of Finance for continuing to fund police services and encourage the Solicitor General to continue to go after the illegal guns and go after the gangs. Member for Ottawa, Vanie. Thank you, Speaker. Speaker, this weekend there will be the official inauguration of the new sugar shock in Vanie. It's special for a number of reasons. It's five kilometres away from downtown Ottawa. This sugar shock of Mizzou in Vanie is the only one of its kind in Canada, unfortunately. In August 2020, there was a criminal fire in Arsene. But fortunately, many birch trees and maple trees were saved. And thanks to the efforts of Madeleine Meillard, the president, and her board of directors could use funds from the city to make sure that the lot was even bigger. So this weekend we'll be able to taste a number of maple products and participate in a number of activities that are very remarkable. One of my residents, Miss Madar, is very happy to share how we produce maple products, maple syrup. I'd like to thank a number of volunteers that are integral to this event. And I'd like to welcome everyone to come to Vanie and to taste these maple products and maybe to participate in a few activities with myself. Thank you, Speaker. Member for Flamborough Glandon. Thank you, and good morning, Mr. Speaker. I'm so pleased to speak about an incredibly selfless and humble individual named Paul Andrew Durden. Paul Durden has been a member of the Kinsman organization for 37 years, and last month he was recognized by the Kin Club in Flamborough with Kinsman's highest honor, which is life membership. Paul has served the Kinsman organization at various clubs throughout the Golden Horseshoe, including Lakeshore, Oakville, Stony Creek, and currently the Kin Club of Flamborough. His dedication to community service has truly been inspiring. He has stepped up to serve the Kinsman Club in so many ways, including accepting various positions on the executive, which requires a lot of time and responsibility. Whenever there was a job to be done, Paul would be there among the first to volunteer to help and never expected any accolades in return. Paul and people who know him say he brings a spirit of positivity and joy wherever he goes. When asked about him, a common response is that Paul is a blessing to have in our lives, and it's an honor to know him and to call him a friend. It was an honor for me to be at the awards dinner to meet Paul and to see him receive the life membership. I want to thank Paul Durden and the entire membership of the Kinsman Club for making Flamborough and the province of Ontario a better place to live. Member Statements. Okay, that concludes our Member Statements for this morning.