 therefore it is no time for members statements the member from Dufferin Callaghan thank you speaker I wanted to share with members of the House a letter I received from a constituent of mine about the unaffordability of hydro they wrote quote for many like myself and my husband we are finding it impossible to pay our utilities I've been on disability through work for the past two years the employer my husband worked for previously for 20 years shut down and went south of the border the only work he was able to get pays him barely more than minimum wage we live in Shelburne we're so proud that we finally have saved enough to purchase our first house 14 years ago although we do not bring in a lot per year we are still a few thousand dollars over the low income threshold for any kind of government assistance with our utilities each month we have to decide who to pay pretty soon we will be more than likely end up with one or more utilities being disconnected life seems bleak right now do we pay our utilities and starve without a roof over our heads if someone isn't isn't done sorry if something isn't done soon then our fine province will end up like Detroit derelict and abandoned speaker just the other day the Ontario Association of Food banks stated that many of their users are having difficulty as well affording hydro this government has forced people to make the difficult choice of whether to eat or pay their skyrocketing hydro bill it's time for the government to provide real relief to thousands of individuals and families like my constituent thank you speaker thank you further member statements the member from Windsor West thank you speaker it's my pleasure to rise today on behalf of my constituents of Windsor West in particular all those working in the skilled trades the so-called building Ontario up for everyone act disrespects those working to actually build Ontario and jeopardizes their health and safety bill 70 undermines routine workplace inspections the process that ensures workers are properly trained and working in a safe environment it devalues the skilled trades at a time when we are encouraging our young women and men to become certified tradespeople when we are touting the quality of life and satisfaction that the trades will bring our next generation of workers this liberal government is hollowing out health and safety legislation and paving the way for privatization it's not surprising given that this liberal government views routine safety checks as a burden their word not mine in an email the ministry staff stated this program would reduce the burden of unnecessary processes such as routine inspections while this government views routine inspections as a burden those actually working in the trades view them as essential a proactive process that prevents injuries prevents occupational illnesses and saves lives I couldn't agree more that's why new democrats called for schedules 16 and 17 to be removed from this bill that's why new democrats student solidarity with thousands of skilled trades workers outside queen's park this morning and why i'm bringing their concerns before the legislature this afternoon speaker new democrats don't just stand with workers when the cameras are flashing like the conservatives that don't support the college of trades we fight for the right to a safe and secure workplace every day inside this chamber and we'll continue to do so thanks speaker mr. speaker i want to share a statement that was shared by cameron batty a representative the hamilton mountain mosque at the hamilton were members of day garrison parade reads and i quote 885 moslems including 400 000 indian moslems were recruited by albide forces to fight in world war one today there are moslems serving in the canadian armed forces including many friends of mine from this city many of the moslems who came to this country have come from nations where there is no freedom transparency or democracy our veterans have served our nation to protect these values and remind us of what it means to be canadian it's because of our veterans that people are able to flee from oppressive regimes and find refuge in safety here in canada veterans remind us of the meaning of responsibility honour sacrifice integrity and selflessness our veterans to find what it means when we say we're in this together there is no greater unifying entity in canada than commemorating those who serve our veterans are those who came together to protect one nation one flag the flag of canada as a community we need to now commit to serve you as you have served us this begins with me i commit to you all to be a servant in any way that i can to assist in any way possible my commitment to you is to continue to promote the values which you fought for the protection of civil liberties freedoms human rights and inclusivity for all thank you member statements to member from wellington halton hills mr. speaker working together for almost a decade we in wellington halton hills have been actively pushing for improved go train service for the residents of our communities and we've made some significant progress the act in go station was reopened in january of 2013 giving our area residents another access point for commuter rail service to the greater toronto area additional new trains along what we now call the kitchener corridor give our georgetown area residents greater flexibility for their daily commute however we have not forgotten the promise that was made by the liberal government in the 2014 election campaign to establish all day two-way go train service between kitchener and union station in downtown toronto it was only after the 2014 election that was over that the government admitted that they were planning to take 10 years to keep the commitment to two-way all-day rail service through wellington halton hills from kitchener to downtown toronto this demonstration of political cynicism was disappointing to say the least but it only served to strengthen our resolve soon as it was possible to do so after the 2014 election on july the second i tabled a private members resolution calling on the government to immediately move forward to fulfill their commitment to provide full-day two-way go train service on the kitchener line between waterloo region and the gta with stops in wellington halton hills it was one of the first resolutions on the Ontario legislature's order paper when the new session began in september i again tabled my private members resolution supporting better go train service it continues to stand out as one of the very first resolutions on the order paper we appreciate the work metro link staff are doing and recently i asked them for an updated briefing on their progress to improve go train service that meeting took place at my queen's park office last week we call upon the minister of transportation to undertake all reasonable efforts to expedite the prerequisites for acute go train service along the kitchener line and in doing so keep the government's thank you to our community further member statements the member from Niagara Falls thank you mr. speaker this morning i had the honor of joining more than 4 000 men and women who make fantastic contributions to the Ontario economy on the front lawn of queen's park those 4 000 plus men and women who are outside today are skilled trades workers they represent the thousands upon thousands of men and women who work every day to make Ontario a better place to live work and play mr. speaker these men and women are represented international brother electrical workers and electrical contractor association Ontario they represent the Ontario pipe trades council uniform trades they represent the sheet metal workers of Ontario united united association canadian pipe trades and the canadian automatic sprinkler association all of these organizations and all these workers are here today for one reason they're here today to tell the liberal government that the changes they are trying to force through with schedule 16 and 17 the bill 70 are wrong those schedules will do safety of workers it will open up the trades the people who don't have necessary trading and will do this all without having consulted those workers who are affected mr. speaker we need policies that encourage young people to pursue trades we need policies that encourage more women to pursue trades these are jobs that pay well are mostly unionized and because of the taxes they bring and fund our health care our education might even allow us to stop the sale of hydro one it's time for the liberals to do the right thing and remove schedule 16 and 17 from bill 70 work with our skilled trades people instead of against them and actually take action to encourage more people to become a thank you for their member statements the member from the topical lake shore thank you mr. speaker earlier this month over the course of two weeks i held two town hall meetings in my riding of the topical lake shore on the topic of reform of the ontario municipal board mr. speaker i had over 120 residents attend and these were people that i've worked shoulder to shoulder with over the course of the last 25 years dealing with the issues in our neighborhoods and communities about how to ensure good planning mr. speaker the ideas that were brought forward by my constituents uh were very thoughtful and well thought out they were talking about ways to give make sure the municipalities decision making is respected through the appeal process they had suggestions on how we could ensure that residents and communities could be better engaged in the appeal process at the ontario municipal board mr. speaker we also highlighted the number of steps that have already been taken to circumscribe some of the authority of the ontario municipal board and residents thought that was a good avenue to continue pursuing to make sure the local communities and local councils have more final decision making say mr. speaker in ontario we have a very robust land use planning system but it does take away some of the authority of municipalities by allowing too many venues for various types of appeals to be undertaken to undermine that local decision making my residents brought forward good ideas and i'm looking forward to seeing them implemented mr. thank you for your members statements to member from haulderman norfolk canada is in mourning following the death of fighter jet pilot thomas mcqueen 29 and a royal canadian air force training accident mcqueen's cf18 hornet crashed on the cold lake weapons range which straddles the alberta scotch one border and we do appreciate the ontario legislature taking a moment of silence for captain mcqueen from my riding in haulderman norfolk thomas was the eldest of four from a farm just outside fresherville in haulderman county mcqueen was home schooled and while the family was private they were involved in their close-knit community many of the homes on concession road four where the mcqueen family farm is located have hung their flags at half mast mcqueen had the honor of being an escort pilot for santa claus during norwood's annual holiday santa cam trancor he guided santa fissureville resident lin reiner told the toronto sun everyone in fresherville was ecstatic that's the kind of guy he was he would do that mcqueen was a member of 409 tactical fighter squadron at cfb four-wing cold lake a 10-year rcf veteran with time served in canadian military both in the middle east and in eastern europe uh i have a very nice quote from general jonathan vance chief of defense staff which time will not permit captain thomas mcqueen 1987 2016 will be forever missed and we are so proud of him thank you further members statements the member from glen gary prescott thank you very much speaker there's so many great people and great things happening in my riding at glen gary prescott rustle speaker on thursday evening i had the honor of presenting the premier's awards for agri-food innovation excellence in mooresburg and on friday afternoon together with board members staff and stakeholders of valoris we celebrated the official opening of the new administrative building in ombrer in russell township on friday evening i had the privilege of attending the fifth anniversary of the russell kin club and speaker what a night it was not only were all of the club's accomplishments and community contributions highlighted and celebrated but speaker there was a surprise a local dedicated community leader and volunteer cindy anthony was awarded with kin canada's highest honor a life membership cindy is well known in the community for taking the lead and playing a major role in dozens of projects and events over the last five years congratulations and well deserved and speaker on saturday night in rockland we celebrated a successful and productive year without going warden gi deja vu of the united counties of prescott russell and i take this opportunity to thank and acknowledge the great work and strong leadership he provided across the region congratulations warden mayor deja vu at the event the second annual jp st pierre award was awarded to duck anthony this award presented by josson st pierre uh jp's wife recognizes exceptional contributions and dedication to communities congratulations to doug for his involvement and leadership in the russell kin club toast masters and pout masters among many other events but particularly for his amazing work on the future russell sport stone what a weekend it was congratulations cindy and doug anthony thank you for their members davis the member from deficit thank you and good afternoon speaker communities in my writing are expressing concerns about the government's flawed cap and trade plan which they say will have a particularly negative effect in northern communities the communities of pawson chism and calendar have all recently passed municipal resolutions regarding their concerns the government's cap and trade plan includes a 4.3 cent per liter increase in gasoline uh and average monthly costs of five dollars or more for natural gas the leaders of these communities note that northern ontario already faces challenges with higher and rising gasoline costs has colder winters impacting home heating costs furthermore in the north residents often face further driving distances between major centres for services such as health care and education as a result the municipalities of pawson chism and calendar resolve that quote the government exempt northern ontario from natural gas hikes under the cap and trade plan and eliminate the proposed increase of 4.3 cents per liter in gasoline costs speaker it's time for the government to start listening and stop making life more unaffordable for ontario families thank you thank all members for their statements it's therefore time for reports by committees