 No, that's okay. I know you were expecting it, but I need to interrupt as it's 10.15 and we need to move to Member Statement, and I recognize the Member for Sarnia Lampton. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you. It's my privilege to rise today and inform the House that this past Sunday, in front of a capacity crowd of thousands of rock of fans in Sarnia, the Lampton College women's basketball program won their first ever Ontario College's Athletic Association Championship with a convincing 78 to 56 win over the previously undefeated and number two ranked team in Canada, the Algonquin College Wolves. With the historic victory in the provincial championship game, the mighty Lampton Lions secured the school's first ever invitation to the Canadian College of Athletic Association Championship Tournament being held next week at Lakeland College in Lloydminster, Alberta. Led by coaching prodigy, Janine Day and conference player of the year and number and first team all Canadian, Brianna Pretty, the 2023-24 Lampton Lions utilized a smothering full court defense and relentless fast-paced offense to dominate on the hardwood this season, compiling a 19 to 2 record so far. The average margin of victory for the Lions this season is nearly 29 points per game. As the Lampton Lions prepare to make the trip west for the national championship tournament, I want to say to all the coaches and the players at Lampton College on behalf of the Ontario government and all the members of the Legislative, congratulations and good luck and we'll be cheering for you. Go Lions! Next member statement, the member for Tamiskimi Cochrane. Thank you. On Sunday I attended a celebration of life for Mr. Craig Connell. Craig made an incredible difference in my life and judging by how full that room was on many others. I first met Craig as a fellow board member on the board of dairy farmers of Ontario. I can honestly say I have never disagreed with anyone as often and as vehemently as Craig Connell and I have never enjoyed someone's company so much. Craig was the first person I told that I was going to run for MPP and he he was staying we're staying at a bar at an event and I said if he asked me if I was going to run for the boards and I'm gonna run for MPP he said oh you'd be great and I was as I was walking away I heard a mumble my god he might run for the NDP. He came over to my table and he stopped and he said I have an announcement to make and he put his hand on my shoulder and he said John here is gonna run for MPP and if he was in my riding I'd even vote for him even if he's running for the communists. He leaves behind Mora and his son Allison daughter Allison son Lloyd and their families and an incredible business legacy wicket to learn farms and he leaves behind an incredible legacy to all of us for all the things that he fought for he emigrated from Scotland brought his skills to this country and made all our lives better whether we know what or not on all on all our baths thank you very much Greg. Next member statement the member for Bradford Brandt. Good morning Speaker. Last week I was pleased to welcome the Associate Minister of Housing to the city of Brantford to announce a three million dollar housing investment from our government as part of the Building Faster Fund and there he goes. This funding was awarded to Brantford because they were able to exceed their housing target by 8% last year. Brantford broke ground on a total of 788 new housing units unlocking an additional $400,000. Brantford should be proud of the work that they have done to get shovels in the ground faster. I am honored to represent a city that is dedicated to ensuring that residents have a place to call home and I am appreciative that our government provides the necessary tools to help the city of Brantford achieve their goals. Brantford continues to grow at an unprecedented rate and I am grateful to all those in the Brantford brand community including Mayor Kevin Davis for working with our government to meet the development and investment needs of our community. I am thankful every single day for the incredible working relationship that I have with the city of Brantford with the support of these provincial funds our community will sustain its expansion while creating new job opportunities and business growth. Brantford will continue to be the best place to live, work, play and raise a family in Ontario. Thank you Speaker. Member Statements. The Member for University, Rosedale. Thank you Speaker. It was beautiful weather yesterday. For May, not March. Toronto's winter was the warmest on record. It is an extreme weather event, just like the Texas Smokehouse fires, just like the fires across Canada, the dark and dark eastern seaboard for weeks last year, just like the warmest ocean temperatures that have ever been recorded. They were recorded this January. These are terrifying signs about the health of our planet. Now the Conservatives have set a completely irresponsible target of reducing emissions by 30% by 2030. This government is ideologically opposed to wind and solar and energy efficiency. They are spending billions of dollars on a highway that we don't need and they're doubling down on paving over farmland to build homes that people simply cannot afford. This is not the kind of leadership that an advanced industrial state like Ontario should be demonstrating. It is an example of failure. Ontario needs to reduce its emissions by 50% by 2030. It needs to put in place the investments, policies and programs to deliver on that goal, from retrofitting homes and buildings to investing in energy efficiency and to investing in public transit. We have the know-how, the technology and the workforce to act on climate. What we need from this government is the political will to ready us for the future. It is time to rise to the challenge and act in a manner that meets the crisis we face. Thank you. Thank you very much. Member Statements. The member for Mississauga Lakeshore. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. February 22nd was Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day. At Turtle Creek Manor in Mississauga Lakeshore, I hosted a free stethoscope check event for local seniors with Ellen Ross and her team from Heart Valve Voice Canada. I want to thank cardiologist Dr. Guru Parmar and nurse practitioner Shirley Lowe from the Heart Team at Trillium Health Partners for all their help with this event and for everything they do to care for patients living with Heart Valve Disease. And again, I want to thank all members for supporting my private members bill, Bill 66, the Heart Valve Disease Awareness Act, which is now a committee on social policy. In 2021, I was proud to cosponsor another bill to raise awareness for sickle cell disease with the minister of the environment. Lanry and the sickle cell awareness group of Ontario were the driving force behind Bill 255 and they're back at Queens Park today and I'm proud to sponsor their reception and invite all members to join us tonight at 5pm in room 228 and 230 to learn more about sickle cell disease. And lastly, Speaker, the kidney patient and donor alliance of Canada will be here tomorrow and I'm proud to sponsor their reception as well. And I invite all members to join us for lunch tomorrow in room 228 after question period to learn more about kidney care from patients and donors from across the province of Ontario. Thank you. Thank you very much. Member statements. The member for Sudbury. This last week, I had the pleasure to join a group to celebrate the 50th of the Francophone students. The Howard is an organization that offers several services incredible services. And the students were here. The first association of association of Francophone Terrians 50 years of existence during the celebrations. I presented their request for their 50th anniversary since it's inception. The association has played a role at the Laurentian University. They offer a number of services to support the students of the French language. They should be proud of the realization that they do. I would like to wish them for the future years to all the members to all the students that were involved with the AOF for this step and congratulations for that French association. Thank you very much. Member statements. The member for Thunder Bay at Acoca. Thank you speaker. I rise today to recognize a good friend and colleague O'Connor Township Councilor Bishop Garfield Rassaco who sadly passed away on December 30th. Bishop's journey began in Sudbury but through the twists and turns of life he made his home in the Township of O'Connor in 1993. Shortly after moving to O'Connor Bishop embarked on a new chapter in his life dedicating himself to the betterment of his community by running as counselor a role he fulfilled with unwavering commitment and integrity for the next 24 years. Bishop's passion for the Township of O'Connor was evident in everything he did and he worked tirelessly to advocate for the wildfire and prosperity of its residents fueled by a deep seated belief in the potential of his community. Bishop was a friend to many a beacon of kindness compassion and generosity. His love of people drove him to open his food vending operation where he served up his own brand of hometown advice in conversations along with hamburgers hot dogs and poutine. His warm smile and genuine concern for others endeared him to all who had the privilege of knowing him whether offering a helping hand or a listening ear. Bishop was always there ready to uplift and support those in need even during very difficult times in his own life. I extend deepest sympathy to Bishop's wife Linda, son Mitchell and grandson Bishop and the rest of the family. Bishop's legacy of service and compassion will endure for generations to come and we shall honor his memory by continuing the work he began. Rest well my friend. Thank you. Member statements the member for Guelph. I want to thank the 600 Guelphites who walked in the coldest night of the year on February 24th to raise funds for Hope House. Together we raised $193,592. I was proud to walk on Team Orpha led by Orpha Thrasher who was 102 years young. Orpha is the mom of my constituent staff member Shelley and the wife of the late Ivan Thrasher MPP for Windsor Sandwich from 1964 to 67. Hope House alleviates poverty by building community. Hope House feeds 2400 people, supplies fully stocked backpacks to 2,300 school children and provides services to meet the basic needs of over 1,500 people. Organizations like Hope House are trying to help people find a safe, affordable place to live and I'm proud to say that my community in Guelph has mobilized to build a 32-unit permanent supportive housing project and I want to thank the government for contributing $3 million in capital funding for the project. Now, now I urge the government to fund the healthcare supports needed to open that permanent supportive housing project so we can ensure that we can move people from the streets intense into a home. Thank you Speaker. Thank you very much Member Statements. The Member for Napaia. Thank you very much Speaker. This year's theme is invest in women and accelerate progress and there's many women here who've done that and I wanted to acknowledge a few in my life who've been able to do that like Louise Mercier who has been a leader with the Navy League of Canada who works with the Conference of Defence Associations and has been on the executive of the foundation of the Rideau-Perle long-term care facility or Barbara Farber who's a leader in our Jewish community is involved in commercial real estate and is not only a philanthropist but the honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the Cameron Highlanders. Sonia Shuri, members of Ottawa would all know, has been leading in Vesta Ottawa as the interim CEO and just like any strong woman she can hustle better in high heels and stilettos than any man ever could. I'd like to congratulate Lynn Hamilton for her work as equal voice and prompting the voices of women and of course my own mother and my late Aunt Ina who despite the fact it was my father who was elected six times it was my mother leading my Aunt Ina's campaign for election to school board that really got me involved in politics and of course speaker I'd like to say thank you to all women in this chamber for showing their strength of leadership and character as well as the women who support us both inside this chamber and out as staff of either yours or ours. Finally I would just like to wish one of our colleagues in particular well this International Women's Day Caroline Mulroney our Treasury Board President she was a former seatmate of mine a friend and a valued colleague and I know this week has been very difficult for her with the passing of her father the right Honourable Brian Mulroney but before he was the Prime Minister of Canada he was Caroline Mulroney's father and he dedicated his life to his family her and her three brothers and I know through her grace her kindness her intelligence are all characteristics and traits that he passed on to her as well as her mother Mila Mulroney and I want to say on this International Women's Day that we will continue to invest in women across this province and we will continue to accelerate their progress and to all women in this chamber happy International Women's Day thank you member statements to member for Brampton North thank you thank you thank you Mr. Speaker yesterday was a wonderful wonderful day and Brampton North I spent the afternoon down at Lofors Lake and if you haven't had a chance to walk around Lofors Lake on a sunny day Mr. Speaker you really ought to try it yesterday I had the pleasure of showing off Lofors Lake to Ontario's terrific minister of the environment conservation and parks we're joined by Brampton's mayor and city council as well as a ton of local community groups namely the people against littering the Brampton Environmental Alliance Heartlake happenings the Guru Anonic Mission Centre and of course the legendary Heartlake Turtle Troopers we're happy to see the minister and even happier when she brought a big check with her I'm pleased to report to the house that the Ontario government is investing in Lofors Lake and the surrounding wetlands through the wetland preservation grant to a total of two and a half million dollars this this money will be used for a few purposes restoring Lofors Lake shoreline combating invasive species enhancing the natural flood mitigation around Etobicoke Creek planting 6,500 trees up near conservation drive and more all of this work will happen by the end of 2024 Speaker restoring the Lofors Lake shoreline is a task I've been seized with for literally a year and a half I'm thrilled we're getting it done this early in my term yesterday was a wonderful wonderful day thank you very much that concludes our member statements for this morning