 But it is time for member statements a reminder to all members as they come in to please be respectful of others who have the floor Thank you member statements Okay, I recognize a member from Perth Wellington. Well, thank you speaker speaker for many students Visiting a local farm as a highlight of the school year But it is a highlight that they had to go without this year speaker if you can bring students to the farm Why not bring if you can't bring students to the farm? Why not bring the farm to the students and that's exactly what two Perth Wellington family said out to do Amanda twists and her husband James of maple twist farms in Damascus raise chickens cattle and pigs Their goal is to open a store on site and offer customers the chance to see the farm and the animals But the pandemic forced them to postpone this instead they created a YouTube series called fun facts and farm chats The project is intended to bring kids closer to the farm and closer to where their food comes from The videos are based on elementary school curriculum Their 10 year old son Colton is involved as well, and I'm told he is quite engaged in raising their chickens Jess and Ryan Fister who also farmed in Damascus started Fister farm school They also wanted to give young people a way to spend a day on the farm Their one minute videos are geared towards grades one to three Parents and teachers can use them as a resource They also allow classrooms to ask a farmer each class can submit up to five questions It's good to see that farm families in Perth Wellington promoting agriculture and education We take pride in our world-class farms and agriculture businesses We grow some of the safest and best quality food in the world And I want to thank maple twist farm and Fister farm for bringing their farms to the classroom. Thank you speaker Thank you Next statement the member for Brampton Center Thank You speaker speaker for months farmers in India have been peacefully protesting against Harmful agricultural reform bills that would have detrimental impacts to their livelihoods These peaceful protesters many of them seniors have been met with brutal violence and have been detained often illegally Activists and journalists like no deep core and these are Ravi have been subjected to torture and other abuses by the Indian police And as a great-granddaughter of a farming family from a rural village in Punjab I am proud to stand in solidarity with those on the ground in India and around the world and members of the diaspora Who continue to raise their voices against these injustices? I want to thank organizations like Kalsa aid United six and the sick motorcycle club for providing support to those protesters And helping to educate communities about these protests one of the largest in human history I also want to encourage members of this house to also learn more about the protests in India and to Understand how they can too raise their voices because as dr. King jr. Once said injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere And we all have a responsibility to raise our voices and stand in solidarity To the farmers in India. We are with you we hear you we see you continue on in solidarity Mr. Speaker during this difficult year the people of Ontario had to appreciate the things that truly matter in their lives for many Ontarians including many of my constituents in Ajax Religious faith and worship have been important vital means to cope with the pandemic in fact according to stats cans national Household survey 75% of Ontarians profess some form of religious faith and mr. Speaker in Ajax That takes the form of 30 places of worship Churches mosques temples synagogues and other places of worship have always been an integral to the social fabric of our community in Ajax and Endurham region in addition of course to worship services those Those facilities operate food banks charities child care and other supports for the most vulnerable in our community Recognizing the crucial role that these religious institutions play in Ajax like many members of this house I've been working closely and regularly with local faith leaders to provide support and make sure that there is Mutual understanding as they face the challenges of operating safely and providing spiritual emotional and and physical health support for our community Mr. Speaker later this morning. I'm proud that along with our faith leaders I'll be meeting with dr. Robert Kyle Durham's chief medical officer of health and dr. Pepe McTavish The associate medical officer of health to talk about safety concerns and ensure that our faith institutions can continue to support our Community mr. Speaker working together with public health officials will continue and to ensure that our places of worship can support Ajax and be a model across our province Thank you very much Thank you very much The next statement the member for Niagara Falls. Thank you, mr. Speaker yesterday the foreign government announced that on March 15 Residents can begin booking appointments for COVID-19 vaccines Frankly people are upset that they had to wait this long for that information in Quebec and Alberta Seniors are already able to book their life-saving vaccines The premier blames the prime minister yet other premier has been able to get vaccines for their residents over 360 people have died in Niagara and Neither the premier the minister or health or anyone from the foreign government Including the member from Niagara West has answered the question the residents of Niagara want to know So I'll ask them again We're exactly where our life-saving Moderna vaccines diverted to and when can we expect our fair share sent back to Niagara? Appointments don't mean anything if residents in Niagara can actually get the vaccine The vaccine is the only way we can safely and the premier cycle shut downs and infections This premier has failed the people of Niagara when it comes to COVID-19 vaccine rollout The residents of Niagara are owed answers and their fair share of vaccines The people of Niagara deserve to know if the COVID-19 vaccines they were promised and are now owed Will they actually be available for them when the vaccine hotline opens and again or repeat? 360 people have died in Niagara of COVID-19 most in long-term and retirement homes. Thank you Member statements the member for Barry in a spill. Thank you speaker We've just come to the end of February, which is heart months COVID-19 has had an impact on heart health in many ways people with heart conditions can be vulnerable to more severe outcomes and COVID may also cause damage to the heart's vascular system of previously healthy individuals The pandemic may be discouraging may just be discouraging some people from experiencing heart disease or stroke in Ontario from seeking medical care but this month heart month is a good reminder that our hospitals and health care providers are doing everything they can to keep patients safe and It is a reminder that the risks of ignoring symptoms of heart conditions or stroke is far greater than the risk of seeking Medical care you need and it's a reminder to make sure to keep your scheduled medical appointments and let your health care Practitioner know if you're experiencing any changes in your health Because every minute counts speaker and as the team at RVH reminds me time is muscle If you experience symptoms or you know someone who has having symptoms over stroke or heart attack Please call 911 right away and to mark heart health this month I joined MPP Doug Downey who invited me to join the heart and stroke month challenge by Jumping rope for heart and stroke and I challenged counselor Natalie Harris to do the same This campaign will help heart and the heart and stroke foundation continue to make a difference in the heart health of all Canadians Thank you The member for David Thank you. Good morning, Mr. Speaker Ontarians are waking up today to news that our province is not ready to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine and there will be even more delays Seniors over 80 won't be able to book an appointment until March 15th Those in the 60 to 65 group still at high risk will have to wait until Canada day Essential workers are still waiting for cabinet to decide when they'll get the shot and while this government hasn't even shared details About how people will be able to sign up in Quebec and Alberta today People are able to call or go online to set up their appointments We are in a race against time faster spreading variants are taking hold now We learned today that kids and staff at schools in my riding have been exposed to the variants I spoke with a public health nurse yesterday here in Toronto who told me they are very very afraid my constituents good people like Linda Grubowski who I spoke with just minutes ago are wondering what this government has been waiting for Essential workers seniors small businesses cannot afford another make it up as you go plan from this government When will the premier stop idling and shift this vital immunization campaign into high gear so we can save lives Thank you. The next statement the member for Ottawa. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Thank you, Mr. Speaker Last week at the federal government announced its plan to reinforce its bill on official languages and to strengthen French language rights throughout the country Their rights are extremely important, but it's also a reminder of what we have to continue to do provincially Francophones have the right to receive Services in French whether it's in education health these services are essential for our communities in my riding Ottawa Vanie in Ottawa we Are lucky to have Different francophone institutions such as the mofa hospital Where they offer services in French? I'm also thinking of school boards that provide French education high-quality French education in Ottawa and also post-secondary institutions that offer French language services these services exist thanks to all of the devoted work by Francophones, but they should have to fight Most regions don't have access to the services in a fair manner the government has made Certain efforts and progress in terms of recognizing the contributions of the francophone community notably recently with the francophone flag and Also in providing more legal rights to francophones I'm happy to recognize those improvements and I encourage the government to continue going forward with similar improvements. Thank you Thank you very much speaker well everyone, you know if you haven't noticed it's getting kind of cold outside And it may be time to get those thick winter jackets out those warm Canadian mittens and that nice wool tooth that grandma knitted for your last Christmas You know the one that you haven't had a chance to wear yet But you want to make sure that you're all prepared and bundled up for whatever the weather may bring But sadly this might not be the case for everyone You know as the weather gets extremely cold many years left to fend for themselves on the streets using whatever they can to keep themselves warm at night Shelters are quickly reaching capacities as less fortunate people must line up early to get a warm spot to stay A chattom Kent sees that struggle and I stand here today to proudly talk about an event that made a difference in my hometown on Saturday February 20th neighbor neighbor link chattom Kent hosted the 2021 coldest night of the year walk in total 21 teams in 135 walkers To which I was captain of our offices team set out to walk the usual five kilometer route Following COVID-19 guidelines to raise money and awareness for charity serving people experiencing homelessness I'm pleased to announce that we raised over $49,000 which surpassed their initial goal of 30,000 and this money can now be used towards neighbor link chattom Kent's exciting initiatives To help provide free of charge food and transportation to local residents Even though the walk was on Sunday anyone can still donate today by visiting the coldest night of the year website. Thank you Thank you very much. The next statement the member for Scarborough Southwest. Thank you speaker earlier this month I met a young woman who is a trained doctor She immigrated to Canada with a medical degree and since has faced immense obstacles unable to practice as a doctor When the world was opening the doors for foreign trained doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic She and many other IMDs international medical graduates took the initiative to register So they could serve the people of Ontario on the front lines alongside other doctors But we're not able to do anything other than volunteer This young woman and her colleagues have been facing barrier after barrier while trying to find a way to work as Physicians in Ontario IMDs and foreign trained physicians work day and night to complete their Qualification exams, but the current system makes it almost impossible for them to achieve any validated experience that will take them to the next step This is not an isolated story mr. Speaker many highly qualified and educated professionals come to Canada in search for better Opportunities for a better life and for the future of their children yet systemic barriers make it almost impossible to find work in their Fields and end up working minimum wage jobs despite working on the front lines Serving our communities mr. Speaker Ontario is home to many immigrants and refugees who have settled here We take pride in our diversity and our multiculturalism Our government must work together to build a comprehensive strategy to support foreign trained Workers across all fields and ensure that we are preventing brain drain and de-skilling amongst immigrant communities across Ontario Thank You mr. Speaker Thank you the next statement the member for Northumberland Peter girls south Thank You mr. Speaker mr. Speaker I was made aware of a truly remarkable story from my writing of a group of volunteers who are going above and beyond To ensure people have a place to skate in today's difficult times Places to go to get fresh air and exercise are so important in Castleton volunteers have set up three ice surfaces and a conquering for kids and families to skate on at the Castleton Sports Clubs Many volunteers have made this possible But I'd like to give a special shout out to Jeff tourney Stacy King and Bruce Bond Who routinely visit the rinks in the early mornings mid-afternoon Evening to make sure that the ice is okay that there's flooding and maintenance of the rinks community rinks like these are Essential to life in rural Ontario and these volunteers arrived sometimes as early as 5 30 in the morning Putting countless hours in the community sees the work they do and we honor it There's been no issues at the rink folks respect distancing regulations and the last one out turns out the lights That's the way we do it in small-town Ontario the rinks are located just beside Northumberland Hills public school kids come to skate after school It's been going on for so long now that the older kids help the younger kids ice up their skates Provide pox to play some pick up and all is done while safely respecting public health guidelines The rinks are located as I said at castleton sports club a non-for-profit charity So I would like to thank all the volunteers especially Jeff Stacy and Bruce Thank you for what you do to our community every day. We honor you. We appreciate you. Thank you, mr. Speaker Thank you very much. That concludes our member statements for this morning Leader the opposition has a point of order. Thank you, Speaker Speaker I seek unanimous consent for the house to observe a moment of silence to pay tribute to the 120 Ontarians who have succumbed to COVID-19 over the past week You know the opposition is seeking the unanimous consent of the house to pay to observe a moment of silence to pay tribute to the 120 Ontarians who have succumbed to COVID-19 over the past week Agreed Agreed members will please rise Thank you members may take their seats Member for london west has a point of order Thank you, Speaker Speaker I seek unanimous consent to move a motion regarding the accelerated passage of bill 239 the stay home if you are sick act To help in the fight against COVID-19 Member for london west is seeking the unanimous consent of the house to move a motion regarding the accelerated passage of bill 239 the stay at home if you are sick act To help in the fight against COVID-19 Agreed I heard an O