 Thank you Mr. Speaker. I'm very proud to rise today in recognition of the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Corporation who had a noticeable and influential presence at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada's 2024 conference. On March 4th, Jamie Taylor and her team at the Thunder Bay EDC hosted their inaugural Thunder Bay Mining Link event at PDAP which saw over 170 attendees representing Northwestern Ontario's active mines and advanced exploration projects. Thunder Bay service and supply companies, Indigenous communities and businesses, stakeholders and partners were all in attendance. This event celebrated and facilitated connections between attendees and graded generated significant energy that resonated throughout the conference, which speaks to the excitement that Thunder Bay region remains a key player in the Ontario's mining sector. The interest and attendance of this event demonstrated the large Thunder Bay contingent at the conference and the continued interest in mining in our region. Later in the evening the enthusiasm continued at the Northern Ontario mate which was very well attended and supported by our government. Thunder Bay CEDC is actively working with companies interested in the EDE battery supply chain, continuing their work to attract new mining supply services while supporting the growth and prosperity of all the Thunder Bay businesses. Please join me in celebrating the continued successes of the Thunder Bay region as we connect people in place prosperity. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Member Statements, the Member for Humber River, Black Freedom. Thank you Speaker. For Calyx Protestants and many Christian denominations, this past weekend marked the start of Holy Week, beginning with the triumphal arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem called Palm Sunday. During this sacred and very solemn week many profound liturgical events came to pass. The Last Supper, the betrayal and baseless arrest of Jesus and his terrible crucifixion. But at the end comes the most significant day for all Christians, the resurrection of Jesus Christ celebrated on Easter Sunday. I wish all those here and everywhere commemorating this special time a very blessed week and a happy Easter on Sunday. Speaker, for the majority of Orthodox Christians who follow the Julian calendar, Easter falls on May 5th of this year. Last week the members of this House unanimously supported the second reading of my bill entitled Orthodox Christian Week. If passed, the special week would formally commence in Ontario every Orthodox Easter Sunday and would recognize the presence, contributions and history of Orthodox Christians in our great province. On behalf of Orthodox Christians in Ontario, I deeply thank you all. It is my hope that we can continue this strong spirit of collaboration so that the bill will pass third reading and receive royal assent, bringing Orthodox Christian Week to life in Ontario. Thank you. Thank you very much. Member statements, the Member for Essex. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the people in the riding of Essex are tired of taxes. This is the message that I have received over and over again, whether it's at the downtown Espresso Cafe in Amersburg or whether it's at the Red Lantern Coffee Shop in downtown Kingsville or at Acorn and Oak Company in Essex or at 22 Coffee House in Bell River, my taxpayers have told me over and over again they are tired of taxes. Next week, Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Government in Ottawa will increase its terrible carbon tax and across the province, municipal governments have increased their property tax rates to record levels. But there is only one government in the province of Ontario that is actually lowering taxes and that is the provincial government of Premier Doug Ford. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is Budget Day in Ontario and I have a message for the Finance Minister from the taxpayers of the riding of Essex. This is a message that I wish to deliver on behalf of my constituents, my constituents in the riding of Essex want no new taxes. Thank you. Thank you very much. Member Statements, the Member for London West. Speaker, Muslims around the world are observing Ramadan, a month of fasting, faith, reflection and family. But the shadow of the humanitarian disaster inflicted on Gaza has made these holiest of days particularly difficult. In my community, every single Palestinian family has been personally affected and their pain is deeply felt by all London Muslims. Muslims who were struggling before the trauma of Gaza with Islamophobia and the terrorist attack on our London family are experiencing increased mental health stress and many are turning to Imams for help. That is why the efforts of Imam Tuakal, founding member and chair of the London Council of Imams, are so critical. In collaboration with CAMH, Imam Tuakal is delivering a series of Friday sermons to break the stigma and shame of mental health and addictions and encourage Muslims to get support when they need it. Imam Tuakal told me that about 70% of the calls he receives result in referrals to London's Muslim Resource Centre. The capacity of the MRC to respond, however, is limited. Despite MRC's success in building a unique evidence-based model for culturally integrative support, one that is being replicated in cities across the province, the agency receives no core funding. Speaker, I urge this government to recognise the value and importance of MRC's culturally informed services by providing the core funding necessary to meet the significant and growing mental health needs of London's Muslim community. Thank you. Thank you. Member statements, the member for Oakville North, Burlington. Speaker, today Greek Canadians and Greeks around the world celebrate Greek Independence Day. On March 25, 1821, Greeks rose in revolution, achieving independence, after living under Ottoman despotic rule for over 400 years. Today, Hellenes and their friends all over the world mark the restoration of Greek freedom and democracy. That is why, in 2019, I brought forward Bill 77, the Hellenic Heritage Month Act, which wrote into law that March would serve as Hellenic Heritage Month every year. Today, Ontario is the only jurisdiction in Canada and indeed in the world that has enshrined this recognition into law. As well, for the first time in over 40 years, a Greek Prime Minister, Kiriakos Mitsotakis, is visiting Ontario. It is fitting that he is in Toronto today to celebrate this anniversary with us. Friends, Hellenic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the accomplishments of more than 150,000 Ontarians of Hellenic origin in our province. Greeks started coming to Canada before Confederation and today we are involved in every part of Ontario life, law, medicine, business, government, the arts and much more. Hellenic culture, learning and democracy are part of the common history of the West and the world. Zito Yelada, Zito Kanadas, Long Live Greece, Long Live Canada. Member statements. Member for Hamilton West and Dundance. Tomorrow this government will table their budget and it has been said many times in this House that a budget is a moral document. Theology teaches us that those with political power and economic wealth are to use their position to benefit those whose society has marginalized. And at a time when so many Ontarians are struggling to find housing, to feed themselves, we are looking for this government to provide relief. We are also witnessing a large increase in femicides in this province. Gender-based violence is an epidemic and despite our pleas this government has continued to refuse to name it as an epidemic. This government has failed to introduce any new initiative of investments to protect and ensure that women and children are safe in Ontario. Women in my riding are waiting over six months for services from Sexual Assault Centre and 18 months for supervised access programs. Organizations across Ontario that help victims of gender-based violence have not had an increase in 15 years. But unfortunately what we are seeing is a government that is increasing their tax dollars, our tax dollars, going to campaign-style ads that are nothing but self-congratulatory. This government refused to tell us how they are spending our money so through a Freedom of Information request we have discovered that the government has spent about 8 million so far and that doesn't include the 38 million on ads this government has placed since 2019. That's a lot of tax money that could have gone into investments in health care, in housing and preventing gender-based violence. Ontarians will be watching and hoping to see a budget that shows this government understands that it is their more responsibility to help the people of Ontario. Thank you very much. Member statements, the member for Perth Wellington. Thank you, Speaker. As many in this place will know, by 2026, one in five jobs will be in the skilled trades. And through the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, our government is ensuring students are gaining the necessary skills to secure these good-paying jobs. Recently, the Avon-Maitland District School Board held its first skills competition this month enlistable. Students from four area high schools demonstrated their craftsmanship and technical skills, taking part in welding and carpentry competitions. Among the standout performers was Leland Gill, a grade 12 student from LDSS, whose exceptional skills secured him a spot at the upcoming qualifying competition at Fanshawe College. Listable students Mack Frey and Kieran Coulter earned a place in the team two carpentry provincial competitions on May 7th in Toronto Speaker. And students in hairstyling and individual carpentry will also be advancing. Students from St. Mary's DCVI Stratford District Secondary School and Godrich District Legion Institute also participated, showing the area's depth of talent. Thank you to the tech teachers at Avon-Maitland District School Board for organizing this important skills competition, allowing local students to showcase their technical talents but also helping prepare the next generation of skilled tradespeople. Through the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program and many other initiatives, our government will continue to ensure students are prepared for the jobs of the 21st century. Thank you, Speaker. Thank you very much. Member statements, the Member for Ottawa South. Thank you very much, Speaker. I'd like to take this opportunity to say a few words of remembrance for our dear friend, Jeffrey Paul Church, who passed away suddenly on February 29th. Jeff and I met in high school. We had a lot in common. We both skied, had part-time jobs in grocery stores, loved music, and all those other things that teenage boys like to do. We had a lot of fun together and somehow managed not to get into any really serious trouble. It was Jeff who first introduced me to Linda back in high school. He had known Linda since grade school and it is something that we're both still very grateful for. He was the best man at her wedding. Jeff met the love of his life, Joey, and they remained together until her passing in 2018. I was the best man at their wedding. They were godparents for our daughter, Kirsten. After leaving Ottawa, Jeff and Joey lived in Halifax, Charlottetown, the island of St. Croix in Picton. The island life appealed to them. Here are some words from Jeff's sister, Pam. He was such a sweet guy. Boating, aircraft, guitars, and classic rock history were Jeff's passions. There may never again be someone who knows more about the artists and albums of classic rock. He also took up playing guitar as a teenager and amassed quite a beautiful guitar collection. He was working on a custom guitar build the day he passed away. Boating, especially sailing, and working on boats was a way that Jeff loved to relax. To his sister, Pam, and brother-in-law, Glen, you were both so very good to him. To his nieces and nephews and his many friends, we will all miss Jeff. And we know that he is now reunited with his beloved Joey. Rest in peace, my friend. Thank you very much. Members' statements? The member for Mississauga, Aaron Mills. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take the opportunity to wish all Christians who celebrate the Good Friday and Easter a happy Easter. Speaker, a number of diverse businesses in Mississauga are flourishing, and new ones continue to open shop. They are choosing Ontario as a home for their businesses because we have created conditions for prosperity and growth that haven't been seen in long In just a few weeks alone, I have attended multiple grand openings, including two Pakistani restaurants on Ridgeway Drive, Lahore, Shatkarah, and Lahore Flame. We were also in the opening of New Tahini Shore, Mount Glen, Aaron. They started in London, Ontario, and now they have 30 locations. And I visited a few international and ethnic grocery stores, including Hyperama South African Shop and Avna Farm South Asian Market. Speaker, these are just limited examples of recent grand opening in Mississauga. People come from all around to visit new businesses, restaurants and stores in Mississauga, Aaron Mills. Because in Mississauga, we have diverse and prosperous local businesses sharing all cultures. You can see, smell and taste every culture from every nation, and ethnicity is an ethnicity. Trust me, if you want to explore ethnic food, international cuisine, multicultural businesses, there is no better place in Canada than Aaron Mills. And the grand openings aren't ending anytime soon. Mississauga is growing, commerce is thriving, and Ontario remain open for business. Thank you. Thank you very much. Member statements. The member for Glen Gary, Prescott Russell. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week, I got the opportunity to participate, to participate, to two legislative assembly virtual tours offered to students of the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School, which is located in the town of Russell in my writing. I want to take this opportunity to thank the tour team here at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for this great initiative. Ontario is a big province, Mr. Speaker. To have these virtual tours available both in English and French for every school of the province is a good occasion to teach students about all the provincial government works. It was great to be able to participate to these virtual tours and greet students and answer their questions at the end of the tour. I believe that there is a possibility that we might have some of these students that are after my job, Mr. Speaker. A few students asked me how to become an MPP, and I told them that the best way is to get involved in helping each other and offer their service to the community. I really enjoyed explaining the role of an MPP and the kind of services we offered to our constituents. I want to thank all the students who took part of the event and would like to invite all schools in my writing to participate to these virtual tours so students can learn more about the provincial government of Ontario. Thanks. Thank you very much. That concludes our member statements.