 I'm always pleased to rise in the House and discuss issues facing my riding of Niagara Falls, Niagara Lake and Fort Erie. Service Ontario and Niagara Falls is understaffed and overwhelmed. Seniors, residents living with disabilities, people without a computer, people new to our province are standing in line 30 to 40 people outside in the cold, often for hours. If you drive past Service Ontario location on Throne Stone Road, you can see folks quite literally lined up around the corner in the wind, the snow and all sorts of conditions. My office has received many calls and emails from frustrated residents. The situation has become so bad that we recently received a report of a neighbor opening their home to allow seniors who are waiting in line 30 to 40 people outside in the cold, often for hours. Seniors who are waiting in line to go to the bathroom to renew their health card while they wait. Wages are inadequate in private run facilities with new employees only making $16 an hour and experienced employees with multiple years of seniority only making $18 an hour. In a public run facility, they make $24 an hour with benefits. The funding agreement for these service Ontario locations are quite frankly broken. As this government well knows, many of our service Ontario locations were privatized in the 90s by the Conservative government before this one. It was a bad deal then, it's a bad deal now. Residents in every community across the province deserve high quality, timely and accessible government services, especially when it comes to something as important as renewing our health cards or registering our child's birth. We need action. We need help. We can't continue to ignore issues like these that affect people every day in our communities across the province of Ontario. It's unacceptable and it must change. Thank you very much. Member statements. The member for Aurora Oak Ridge is Richmond Hill. Thank you. Speaker tomorrow is human rights day. It's a day where we dedicate and stand in solidarity with all those around the world who continue to face persecution due to their personal political or religious beliefs. All of us as global citizens have an obligation to do more and stand up for those who aren't able to. Speaker, this year's theme focuses on equality, which means that we're all born equal and free in both dignity and in rights. And although this seems like a universal concept that should apply to everyone, but as many of you here in the legislature and those watching at home know that isn't always the case. Speaker, every year I'm fortunate enough to participate in an event hosted by the International Center for Human Rights and have the opportunity to speak with the director at issues are his audit on the work that he and his colleagues are doing here locally and in Iran and in the Middle East. And I want to thank Salmon Sema and countless others who dedicate hours of their time helping people as far away as those in the Middle East. They step up and go above and beyond and try their very best to help people where their basic rights are taken away from them. Speaker, the work of such individuals and organizations are proof that we can all do more. And as Ontarians, we can do better and we must do better. Nobody, and I mean absolutely nobody, should ever have to live through human rights injustices or face inequality over their holidays. Please take a moment to reflect on these issues and lend a helping hand when possible. And with that, Speaker, I do want to end on a positive note to all my colleagues in the legislature and everyone at home. I hope that you get to spend some time with your families and loved ones over the holidays. And I look forward to our return in the new year. Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, and happy holidays. Thank you very much, Speaker. Thank you. The next member's statement, the member for Nickel Belt. Speaker, I thought I would share my wish list with you. All I want for Christmas is a full-time nurse practitioner for the nursing station in Foliet and one in Gogama. I want a settlement of community boundaries for metagamy and one of the First Nations within a year, not decades. I want for the students of Gogama to be able to go to school in their community. Busing 10 and 11 years old kids for three hours a day is just too hard on them. I want the numerous power outages in Gogama to be fixed. There were 58 of them last year, lasting 248 hours. I want Highway 144 at Marina Road to be made safe. I want the proposal for a long-term care home in Cape Real to be funded. I want Life Lab to stop leaving frail elderly people outside in minus 20 weather in the Azilda and vile care in sight. I want the resident of Karchi, Dowling, Anna-Ping Levac and throughout Nickel Belt to have home care services finally. I want Bevel Lake Welcome Centre in Highway 17 to stay open. I want the old gold mine site on Long Lake to be cleaned up. I want Laurentian Hospital to collaborate with the AG. I want the University of Sudbury to become a... And I hope that the University of Sudbury will become a Francophone University. I want that small models of care to be a reality. I want 911 everywhere in Nickel Belt. I want Guy's Prices to be regulated. I want Highway 69 to be four lane. I want all of our roads to be better maintained in the winter. And I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Joyeux, Nair, Bonne et Roussanie. A Merry Christmas, Happy New Year. Thank you. The next member's statement, the member for Peterborough, Coortha. Thank you, Speaker. I've had the opportunity to rise in this house on a number of occasions to wax poetically about some of the great things that have come from my writing that I often refer to as God's Country. As we head into 2022, my community will be celebrating an amazing success story that will be entering its 150th year. In the spring of 1872, the very first organized game of lacrosse arrived in Peterborough. Not even with the storied history of the world famous Peterborough Pete's, has any sport come close to the success that Peterborough has had in lacrosse. In the modern era, since the Man Cup has been awarded as the national championship for senior box lacrosse and the Minto Cup has been awarded for the national junior box lacrosse championship, Peterborough holds the record for the most national championships with an awe-inspiring 29. Speaker, it's not just the combined total. We actually have more Minto Cup championships than any other community and more Man Cup championships than any other community. Stemming from that first game on Victoria Day weekend in 1872, the formation of the Peterborough Red Stockings lacrosse team started the institution that has become Canada's de facto lacrosse player factory. I invite everyone to come to Peterborough next summer to celebrate North America's oldest sport in Canada's winningest community. And let's hope that we've seen COVID far enough in the rearview mirror that my boy Corey Vitarelli will lead the Lakers to complete the almost unheard of four Pete in a national championship. Member statements. The member for Parkdale High Park. Thank you, Speaker. A groundbreaking report by Tibet Action Institute titled separated from their families hidden from the world released this week, shown a light on China's vast system of colonial boarding schools inside Tibet. The Chinese government has separated three out of four children aged six to 18 from their families, cut them off from their roots, their language, culture, religion, and subjected them to intense political indoctrination. Children are being coursed away from their families and communities. Tibetan parents have no choice but to send their children away because the Chinese government has deliberately shut down local schools and parents have reported being threatened with fines and serious punishments when they resisted sending their children away. Telled by the Chinese government as a means for providing education to a sparse and far-flung population, the schools are a cornerstone of an assimilationist agenda and a systematic effort to co-opt, undermine, and ultimately eliminate Tibetan identity in an attempt to neutralize Tibetan resistance to the Chinese rule. The impact of this on Tibetan children and their families, including psychological and emotional trauma, and the implications for whole generations of Tibetans and the long-term survival of the Tibetan identity are grave. It is imperative that the Canadian government urgently call on China to halt its implementation of this system in Tibet. We've seen it here in Canada, Speaker, and we cannot have it repeat anywhere. Thank you. Thank you very much. Member statements? Member for York Centre. Speaker, like the saying goes, full me once, shame on you. Full me twice, shame on me. It's the holiday season, but Ontarians get fooled again because the government is about to steal Christmas. For more than a year, they were telling us that vaccination is the best and sure way out of the pandemic. But now 90 percent of us are vaccinated, but we're still in the naughty list and public health won't leave us alone. Three health units are already back in restrictions. Windsor Essex and Sudbury are back in restrictions. Kingston FLA with over 92 percent first dose, one of the highest rates in the world brought restrictions back. Of course, the government pretends that it has nothing to do with it. It's a local health unit, sure. Speaker, 90 percent of us are vaccinated. If we trust the science and the vaccine is safe and effective, then why the masks, why the testing, the tracing, the isolation, the apps on our phones? Of course, yesterday, Pfizer said that we need a fourth shot against the Omicron variant. Don't act surprised. Speaker, almost all of us are vaccinated. Those that are unvaccinated, nothing can be done. It's their choice, and almost all of them, given their age and profile, are highly unlikely to experience a bad outcome. The best thing the government can do for Christmas is to leave us alone. Remember the Britney Spears video? It's back in the news. They leave Britney alone. Leave Ontarians alone. Leave us alone. It's the best thing you can do for our health. Member Statements. Member for Halliburton, North Lakes Broad. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to recognize a recent and fantastic addition to Halliburton County, a new Ontario Junior hockey team. Last spring, the Ontario Junior Hockey League announced one of its 22 franchises would be relocating to Halliburton County and are now known as the Halliburton County Huskies. Hockey is so important to Halliburton County. It's more than just a sport when a community members rally together in team colors to cheer on their players, win or lose. The Halliburton County Huskies have made the brand new S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena and mended their home ice. This is a great way to bring our community together to enjoy a new facility and to spur on the economy. Halliburton has been home to many hockey and sports heroes, some featured on Dysart's mural wall. Hockey players, NHL hockey players such as Cody Hodds and Matt Duchain, Ron Stackhouse and Bernie Nichols. Former NHL player, Walt McKechnie, came to Halliburton almost 40 years ago and never left. He opened a bar and is now a local counselor and a legend. The Huskies continue to do well this season in their division and hometown boys, Ryan Hall and Joel Boyce, along with local players in reserve if they're needed. The games are assisted by our very own local fan and voice Rick Lowe's from Moose FM. So if you're looking for some great hockey and inspiring community energy, I encourage you to come out to Halliburton County for a game this season. Go, Huskies! Go, Huskies! The member for Brampton North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to start off by wishing everyone here in the chamber a very merry Christmas and happy new year. As this is our final day of this session, I'd like to also use this opportunity to highlight a few of the great local organizations of Brampton and in Brampton North. I want to thank the city of Brampton for all their great work in highlighting the multiculturalism of our vibrant city. I had the pleasure of joining them for the Hindu Heritage Month flag raising last month and their social, cultural and economic empowerment in anti-black racism units, anti-black racism conference last week. A few months ago, I had the pleasure of touring Embrave and the Knights Table. Embrave is an anti-violence organization providing shelter, counseling and advocacy supports for women, two-spirit, genderqueer, trans and non-binary, binary folks and their children experiencing any form of violence in the region of Peel and Beyond. And the Knights Table has served the needs of people dealing with issues of poverty, homelessness, in the Peel region. They assist everyone regarding regardless of color, culture, religion, economic status, gender, sexual orientation or social condition. I also want to commend some of the many great local religious institutions. The Masjid Mubarak has been helping folks through the pandemic by hosting vaccine clinics and food drives. The Heartlake Baptist Church has also been hosting food drives and helping at-risk youth develop life skills. There are many local organizations I didn't mention in Brampton and Brampton North and I also like to thank them as well. And what I like for Christmas, Mr. Speaker, is lower auto insurance in Brampton and better healthcare in a third hospital in Brampton. Merry Christmas and happy New Year to everyone. Thank you. The member for Scarborough-Rooge Park. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My writing of Scarborough-Rooge Park is full of holiday season celebration, Christmas celebration this year. It is certainly that time of the year filled with holiday spirit and Ontario spirit to give back. In the beginning of this year, Highland Creek Community Association approached me with an ambitious goal of donating over 500,000 pounds of food. Well, Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to say that right in time for Christmas, we'll hit the goal of donating 500,000 pounds of food to the Daily Bread Food Bank, the total dollar value of over $270,000. Thank you to everyone at Highland Creek Community Association and Italpasta for their generous donation. This season is all about giving back. This Saturday, in my writing, there'll be a children's Christmas giveaway organized by Malwan Community Collective Group and Voice and Cares in partnership with Global Medic and Toronto Black Community Collective. Mr. Speaker, kids will be given Christmas toys to bring a smile on their face. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. That concludes our member statements for this morning. I beg to inform the House that the following document has been tabled, a report concerning the Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, from the Office of the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario. I'm very pleased to inform the House that Paige Felicia Pagoolian from the writing of Brampton North is one of today's page captains, and we have with us today at Queen's Park her mother, Diane Pagoolian, and her father, Russ Pagoolian. And we're also joined by the parents of another page captain, Alfie Tobichnik, from the writing of Davenport, his mother, Nadia Sapiro, and his father, Scott Tobichnik. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It's a pleasure to have you here. Member for Tomiskaming Cochran has a point of order. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent for the House to observe a moment of silence for the 39 Ontarians who have succumbed to COVID-19 over the course of the last week. Member for Tomiskaming Cochran is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to observe a moment of silence for the 39 Ontarians who have succumbed to COVID-19 over the course of last week. Agreed? Agreed. Members will please rise. Thank you. Members may take their seats. Member for York Centre has a point of order. Speaker, I seek the House's unanimous consent to observe a moment of silence for the 4,000 Canadians that according to the Canadian Medical Association have lost their lives because their surgeries were delayed. Member for York Centre is seeking the unanimous consent of the House for a moment of silence in memory of Canadians who have lost their lives because their surgeries have been delayed. Agreed? Agreed. Agreed. Members will please rise. Thank you very much. Members may take their seats. Member for York Centre has a point of order. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to observe a moment of silence for the more than 1,000 Ontarians who lost their lives last year due to an increase of deaths from overdose. Government House Leader? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I do appreciate what the member is trying to do. There will be many opportunities for us to continue to debate these things and to talk about all of the things that we can do to ensure that people who are suffering from overdoses, people who are struggling with COVID and the things that we as a legislature want to accomplish, Mr. Speaker. So in that vein, I know that the member opposite may have a number of these points of orders, but just to inform the House that I will be saying no to those. I know that's what the member wants. I think it's time that we get into question period, sir, but in no way diminishes how this legislature, a vast majority of this legislature feels on the issues that the member is raising are more appropriate ways to deal with that, Mr. Speaker. But I want the people who are impacted by these decisions to know that all of the members of this legislature understand how important these issues are and that we will not allow points of orders like the member opposite and what he is trying to do here today to distract all of us in what it is that we want to accomplish on their behalf and on behalf of the people of the province of Ontario. On the same point of order? You don't believe that... Is it on the same point of order? Yes. I don't believe that by the government House Leader is appropriate. I'm perfectly within my right to seek a point of order and to seek unanimous consent who sought unanimous consent for the victims of COVID-19 that passed away in last month. That was agreed. We sought unanimous consent to recognize the folks that passed away from surgeries delays. That was granted. I sought unanimous consent to recognize the folks that died from an increase in overdose. If the government House Leader does not wish to observe a moment of silence for those or those because of cancer screenings missed, that's entirely with us is right. But he cannot editorialize and ask the speaker to put the question again. So the member for York Center seeking the unanimous consent of the House for another moment of silence, this time in memory of the victims of drug overdose. Agreed? No. Heard a no.