 Now time for members statements and I recognize the member for Hamilton Mountain. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker today is World Autism Awareness and Acceptance Day. This year I had the privilege of speaking with many autistic adults from an organization called Autistics for Autistics, Ontario. A4a has shared with me the importance of really listening to the voices of autistic adults. In their view provincial decision-making has excluded autistic people so far. When it comes to policy decisions they say nothing about us without us. And you know what? They're right. We need to do a better job of including their voices. A4a members are also the reason I'm wearing this infinity symbol pin today. They taught me that this symbol is one of the preferred symbols of autism rights and neurodiversity movements. The basic premise of the neurodiversity movement is that neurological differences are like any other human difference. This movement does not see autism as a disease to be cured. Instead it's just one of the ways that humans are wired. And so our job is to accommodate and to support people on the spectrum. There is a lot of wisdom in this approach. On World Autism Acceptance Day I want to recognize the self-advocates for their work. Thank them for their work. Thank them for their courageous stand in making sure that they're speaking out and acknowledge that there is still work to do to ensure that people on the spectrum are supported. Thank you very much. Thank you. Member Statements. The Member for Carlton. On Saturday March 30th I had the pleasure of accompanying the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services as well as the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade alongside my colleagues MPP Roberts as we toured the Bayview Yards. I want to thank Michael Trombley, President and CEO of Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards for organizing a fantastic tour of their facilities. Bayview Yards is the ultimate one-stop shop and mash-up of technical, business and market capabilities, resources and expertise that helps technology entrepreneurs and companies launch, grow and thrive. And I particularly enjoyed riding in the driverless vehicle with Ministers McLeod and Smith and MPP Roberts. Afterwards I had the pleasure of attending a round table on immigration both from the economic and from the refugee and social side of things with both Ministers McLeod and Ministers Smith. It was a fantastic round table. It was incredibly informative. It was a pleasure to be there to listen from members of the community. And I want to thank the Ministers for including me in their tour. It was fantastic and it's just great to see them there. And at the end of the day, Mr. Speaker, organizations like these are critical in helping to ensure that entrepreneurs get the support they need to help grow their businesses and create more jobs for Ontario workers. Our government for the people will continue to work with workers and business owners in order to make Ontario open for business. Thank you. Member Statements, Member for Beaches East York. Thank you, Speaker. Today is World Autism Awareness Day and here in Ontario we are watching the effects of the government's disastrous autism plan which went into effect yesterday. After weeks of declaring that our plan was going to proceed unchanged on April 1, the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services backed down and made some, after all, not enough, however, to prevent the plan reeking havoc with the lives of affected families and not enough to prevent job losses. One of my constituents in Beaches East York has reached out to me in desperation. She's a board-certified behaviour analyst in Toronto and her husband works in the same field. He's already lost his job as a result of the OAP changes, one that he'd held for over a decade, and she has reason to believe that hers may be in danger as well. In a matter of months, this couple has gone from a secure, stable future with good jobs that they both loved and that allowed them to start planning for a family to not knowing whether either of them will have an income a month from now. The Minister's plan has devastated families like my constituents across the province. Families with kids with autism who can't get the therapy they need and families of therapists who suddenly don't have the good jobs they left and counted on. We need an evidence-based needs-based autism plan, no caps or age restrictions, and we need a government that consults with stakeholders before it acts and not after it has wreaked havoc on people's lives. Thank you very much. Member Statements, the member for Northumberland, Peterborough South. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, ensuring the safety and security of people is one of government's most fundamental responsibilities. In our community, I would like to thank all of the incredible first responders and the work they do on a daily basis. I would like to take this opportunity to highlight a very important roundtable we had with Public Safety and Correctional Services Minister Sylvia Jones a week ago to discuss the Comprehensive Ontario Police Services Act. I would like to thank Coburg Police Chief Kailu, Port Hope Police Chief Bryant Wood, OPP Detachment Commander Brian O'Halloran and former Commander Lisa Darling for joining us around the table alongside other members of the service, including their respective associations, other frontline officers, special constables and auxiliary members. Before the last election, Mr. Speaker, the previous government passed one of the most anti-police pieces of legislation in Canadian history. Our government made a commitment to restoring our relationship with the police officers and the important work they do on a day-to-day basis. New measures include enhanced oversight, increased fairness measures and due process for officers, better governance, training and transparency. Mr. Speaker, having done ride-alongs with the men and women of our frontline police services, I can tell you they serve with distinction. They're effective communicators, and they are integral members of our community. And I would like to give them a sincere thank you for the work they do on a day-to-day basis to keep our community safe. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. The member from the Schiechewalk James Bay. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's a pleasure for me to be here today. It's the world census day in La Loutise. The changes in the Ontario program in La Loutise will have a significant impact on the Francophone families in Northern Ontario. A region with many Francophones and more than any other in the province. I spoke with the Francophone parents that their children don't have access to French services. Their children do not have access to French services. Her is Valérie in Sudbury. She's a pretty little girl who is diagnosed with severe autism. She has communication and understanding delays. She cannot talk because she needs intervention. She needs 25 to 45 hours of therapy, which costs $55,000 to $110,000 a year. They have a fixed income. It's not an option to pay for private therapies. Furthermore, there's a long waiting list in the north, especially for Francophone services. This woman is desperate. These people are ignored and these children deserve the help from this government. We need to invest more and we need to establish a program based on scientific approaches. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Member Statements. The Member for Markham Unionville. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A few weeks ago, I joined our Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, Honourable Ms. Christine Elliott, for a meeting with local health care service providers in York Region. We met with loft community services, complex care and seniors, community health services, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Family and Community Medicine, and many more to discuss the state of our health care system and also the critical role that these local service providers play within the great health care system. Mr. Speaker, we have listened to health service providers and we have heard that the current health care system serves the bureaucracy more than it does to the patient. Our Minister of Health and Long-Term Care has recently announced that there will be changes made to our system which will eliminate inefficiencies which disadvantage the patient. One of the ways in which this goal is set to be achieved by shifting funding and decision making to local Ontario health teams. This will allow for more seamless transition when a patient is transferred to different facilities and specialists. A proper functioning health care system works for not against the patient. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Member Statements. The Member for St. Catherine's. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to speak about Ontarians suffering with spinal muscular atrophy. This government who claims for the people can truly make a difference in the lives of those living with SMA. Ontarians living with SMA have dreams. They have aspirations. Aspirations just like the rest of us here. However, their bodies are becoming weaker over time. SMA patients lose their motor skills and lung functions. Although all along they are knowing that their bodies are failing every day without getting the proper treatment. Jared Wayland is a young man who lives in my riding in St. Catherine's. Jared knows all too well the physical and psychological effects spinal muscular atrophy has. Jared played many sports just like others young men of his age. Now diagnosed with SMA, he cannot physically move like he used to. SMA has confined Jared to a wheelchair. Speaker, Biogen's drug, Spenanza, that is used in other provinces is the only hope for people and patients with SMA. This miracle drug stops the disease from progressing. Spenanza can be the difference between life and death. No one should have to choose between the two. All life-saving medications should be readily available for Ontarians when they need them. Thus, I implore this government, the minister, to research to look into what steps are needed to provide to fund Spenanza for SMA patients who need and want to utilize it. Thank you very much. Member statements to member from Markham Stovill. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to talk about an event that happened last week in my riding. I know many of the members have similar events. It was the Wichurch Stovill Chamber of Commerce Small Business Awards, Mr. Speaker. We all talk about how important small businesses or small, medium and large job creators are to us. I just want to highlight a couple of the recipients of the awards. The Small Business Award went to the Trentedew Torres Real Estate Team. Now, Mr. Speaker, this is a very dynamic team. We have great realtors in my riding, but the work that this team has done to reach out to the community is second to none. The Large Business Award went to Finlayson Hospitality, Todd and Marcia Finlayson, who are the owners of not only the McDonald's in my riding, but a number of McDonald's across York Region. They've donated over $100,000 to our local McDonald's homes at our hospital, Mr. Speaker. And also, the special award went to O'Neill's Funeral Home, Mr. Speaker. Now, O'Neill's Funeral Home is one of those places that has been in Stovill for as long as anybody can remember. When you look at all the historical pictures of the founding of the town, O'Neill's was there. But what we learned was that O'Neill's furniture store, what makes them unique was that not only, well, they're not a furniture store anymore, they're a funeral home. But they started off as a furniture store. So originally, they did both. You could buy furniture and if calamity happened, you could get a casket and they would bury you. So just a special thank you to all of those small businesses who would do a great job, employ a lot of great people in the community, Mr. Speaker, and especially to the Chamber of Commerce, that does such great work. Thank you. Member Statements, the Member for Mississauga Center. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's an honour to rise today in remembrance of a faith leader whose impact and legacy will live on forever. Fourteen years ago today, St. Pope John Paul II has left his earth to go to the House of the Father. That is why April 2nd is recognised and celebrated in Ontario and Canada as Pope John Paul II Day. October 16, 1978 was a day that many polls around the world, including my grandmother, remember Vivitli, that white smoke coming out of the Vatican chimney. He signalled that the Archbishop of Kraków, Cardinal Carol Wojtyła, was elected as Pope and leader of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the second longest serving Pope in modern history, leading the Catholic Church for 27 years. He is also recognised for his role in ushering in the end of communism in Poland. He is one of the world's most travelled leaders in history, having visited 129 countries. His love for people and especially youth transcended religious and racial boundaries, earning him the title of the People's Pope. As a Canadian and of Polish descent, I am honoured to have the opportunity to commemorate an individual who made such a profound impact on the world. He was Poland's gift to the world. One of St. John Paul II's most notable contributions to the Catholic faith was the addition of five new mysteries of the Rosary. Mr. Speaker, to commemorate the 14th anniversary of his passing, I would like to recite the Hail Mary and ask my fellow members to join me if they wish to do so. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou amongst men and women, and blessed is the fruit of Diom Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, praise for us sinners, now and in the hour of our death. Amen. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much.