 It's now time for a member's statements. I recognize the member for Mishkegawa James Bay. Thank you Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak about a problem that adults with disability face in Moose Factory. Last week I had the honour and the pleasure to visit the Billy Bayou Program, a community-based program dedicated to improving the quality of life of adults and young adults with intellectual disability who are members of the Moose Creek First Nations. The program is run by five incredible staff with a financial assistant at the Moose Creek and the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Service. The love and the commitment of their staff is beyond words Mr. Speaker. The participants are all 21 years or older and have no other program offering at their disposal but the Billy Bayou. And as their parent age and try to keep up with their other responsibility, Billy Bayou is the heart and soul of their lives. Mr. Speaker, sadly the Ministry has not lived up to its funding promise. On January 17th the Ministry informed the program that the contract would be terminated because your government's focus is on reducing the province deficit. It means that as March 31st the program risk to disappear. The closure of the Billy Bayou program would be devastating for these people, their family and Moose Creek community. I invite the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Service to travel with me to Moose Factory to see with her own eyes. Otherwise I would be more than happy to meet with the Minister to provide a solution to this matter. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Member Statements, the member for Kitchener, Conestoga. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Today is Waterloo Region Advocacy Day here at Queen's Park. From day one MPP's Amy Fee, Belinda Kara-Haleos, and I have hosted multiple Ministers and Parliamentary Assistants in our region. This includes the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade to announce the Restoring Ontario's Economic Competitiveness Act provision for fair and open tendering. The President of the Treasury Boards visited the Communitech Hub earlier this month. The Minister of Infrastructure to open a bridge in Wellesley Township. The list goes on Mr. Speaker, but I want to highlight one visit in particular. Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to invite the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to sit down with local mayors and CAOs. In two meetings, first with the rural townships of Wellesley, Woolwich and North Dumfries, and then with the Region of Waterloo and the Cities of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge. The Minister engaged in a fulsome discussion with the City of Waterloo, the Golden Horseshoe Growth Plan and Affordable Housing. They were encouraged that they had a Municipal Affairs Minister with real experience as a Mayor and CAO who understands the constraints of municipal budgets and particularly the burdensome regulatory process for project approvals from Queens Park. I will continue to stress that Waterloo Region with its incredible rural and urban diversity and resolute pioneering spirit should be encouraged to continue to go to the next level. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Member Statements, the Member for Kiwetanomu. Mr. Speaker, colleagues, today I want to outline the notion of jurisdictional ambiguity. Most First Nations are keenly aware of this. In fact, we've had to survive its consequences over many generations. Given conversations in the House recently, particularly those about Cat Lake First Nation, I come to realize that my colleagues across the floor either don't know about this notion or when they do, they simply do not care. Jurisdictional ambiguity came to light when a little boy named Jordan Andersen from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba was left to suffer in the hospital from birth until he died at the age of five. Neither the province nor the federal government felt it had the constitutional responsibility to provide Jordan with care at home. Jordan and his family waited for the care at home that never came. Like Jordan, children and youth and elders in Cat Lake First Nation currently require healthcare by both levels of government. Instead, we argue about responsibility. We are told by the government I called the chief yesterday or we are working towards a solution or worse we even floored the federal government to act immediately because this is their responsibility. It is time to move past jurisdiction or ambiguity because the consequence of our complacency will result in health deteriorating or lives lost. Miigwech. Thank you very much. Member Statements, the member for Mississauga, Erin Mills. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Through the completion of the Credit Valley Hospital Re-development project in my writing of Mississauga, Erin Mills, our government has shown its commitment to improving healthcare for all Ontarians and giving our frontline workers the resources they acquire and need to provide the ultimate and optimal care. The Premier, Minister of Health, Minister of Infrastructure, along with my fellow PC colleagues and myself join Trillium Health partners for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 23rd of last year. Our government has made a promise to make our health a priority and we have already taken immediate actions. We are investing in Credit Valley Hospital $542,080 to help those in need of mental health and addiction treatment. I was pleased to go in person at the Credit Valley Hospital and see the new mental health beds added in the emergency and let me tell you, Mr. Speaker, it was definitely needed. Also our Minister of Health and long-term care made an announcement in January regarding investments in hospital upgrades, repair and maintenance. Part of that investment, Trillium Health partners have received more than $4 million to ensure their facilities continue to meet health code and maintain a safe environment at their hospital sites. I want to congratulate the Trillium Health partners, the CO, Michel Hanwell and all the team for their great work ethic and how efficiently they continue to operate and plan to help end-way, whole-way health care and provide a patient-centered experience. Thank you. Thank you. Member statements. The Member for Algoma, Manitoula. Thank you, Speaker. I want to talk about Josephine Mademine, who is a well-known elder and a water protector from First Nation, who has recently passed on to the spirit world at the very young age of 77. In 2003, she was the co-founder of Mother Earth Waterwalk. She also eventually walked across and along all the shores of not one, not two, not three, but all five of our great lakes for a total distance of 17,000 kilometers. Josephine leaves behind her husband, her eight children, 13 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. Josephine inspired Autumn Pelty, who is also a water protector in the midst of us. Josephine served as the head of the Anishinaabic Women's Water Commission, along with the Waterwalk Group, received the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Excellence in Conservancy. You know, sometimes there are certain individuals that, you know, grace us with their presence and are amongst us, and we don't pay enough attention to what they're doing for all of us. They walk in silence, but they walk with a cause. And I have to say that I am very proud to have known Josephine, but I'm also proud that Josephine has touched Autumn Pelty, and Autumn Pelty will be taking up her cause, will be taking up her journey, and will be taking up her quest in protecting our waters for all of us. Member Statements, the member for Glen Gary Prescott Russell. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight Milestone celebrations in my writing. Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Township of Alexandria, one of the historical pillars of the province of Ontario. The evening's gala was the culmination of two years of work. A big thank you to the organizing committee and I had the honour for me to highlight the 125th anniversary of the St. Albert fromagerie cheese factory, which is one of the oldest cooperative in Canada, the oldest one in the Francophone world. It continues to function for over 100 years. And there's no place I'd rather be than here, representing the great people of Glen Gary Prescott Russell. Thank you to my staff for all the balloons in my office today, especially the ones that say 22, because hopefully I still look like that. And also for the flowers from my very special friends in Ottawa, they know who they are. And to all my constituents who have been writing and calling, it's really nice to my heart and I really appreciate it. Thank you. Merci. Member Statements, thank you very much. Thank you, Speaker. On Friday, February 8th, I, along with my Durham Region colleagues and the Minister of Seniors and Accessibility had the pleasure of attending the opening ceremony of the Ontario Parasport Games at the Abilities Centre in Durham Region. The Ontario Parasport Games promote public awareness of Parasports and showcase Ontario's best athletes. During the Games, people of all abilities had the opportunity to compete, show their skill and demonstrate sportsmanship. I want to thank the Games Organising Committee and the hundreds of local volunteers who made the Games possible. And even special Durham Region 2019 tukes for the Games. Thank you for making the Games a great success. The Games are delivered through a partnership between host municipalities and through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. They are an opportunity for all of us to demonstrate our commitment to accessibility and inclusivity. And I'm proud of the strong legacy of Parasport leadership in Durham Region. The Abilities Centre, spearheaded by the late Honourable Jim Flaherty and our incredible Minister of Health and Deputy Premier Christine Elliott, along with the Region of Durham have been on the cutting edge of providing support and opportunities to people of all abilities. Speaker, to quote one of the taglines of the 2019 Parasport Games, when we all play, we all win. Thank you, Speaker. Member States, Member for Hamilton East, Stoney Creek. Speaker, the official website for the Tourism, Culture and Sport states that it is responsible for championing participation in sport and through recreation activities across our great province. If this were indeed the case, Speaker, the big debate within the Ministry would be focused on more than just Ontario's place as future casino or condos. All the while, Speaker, the people of my riding, particularly the people of Stoney Creek and Winona are having to pack their kids into minivans and drive as far as the GTA to ensure that they can continue to remain active in sports because December 4th of last year, when I first officially asked the minister and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports to sit down with me to have a serious discussion about the issues of players' paradise being sold to another private firm and it was turned into a marijuana production facility. I made the issue abundantly clear that people of my riding were losing not only their only climate controlled year round indoor sports facility in the region and there are no plans to fill that massive void in recreation space. No one from the Ministry of Tourism came back to me, put simply athletics, exercise and sport are now more difficult to obtain in my riding than ever before. At a time where public service announcements, daily tweets and media releases remind the people of this province of the importance of daily exercise our government has no answer to the public's demand for a space where they can stay fit and have fun. No one speaker should have to drive from Hamilton to Toronto for their child to play soccer just as no senior should be expected to commute to the other end of the park in a fitness program inside a climate controlled facility. Speaker, it is time the provincial and federal government step up to the plate and help our community. I'm sure the minister will get back to me very soon. Member Stevens, the member for Carlton. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Next Friday, March 8 is International Women's Day. This is a time to take the opportunity and reflect on the hard fought progress of women and the men who have supported them towards their community. My team and I, along with local city councillors, have a long day of events planned all across Carlton to celebrate the occasion. Rito Goldberg and councillor Scott Moffitt's team and I will be starting off by hosting a breakfast reception from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. that morning at Dambi's Roadhouse restaurant located in the beautiful town of Richmond just steps from my constituency office. Then you can join me for lunch in Stitsville at the local one p.m. and afterwards I'll be heading over to Metcalf to enjoy high tea at the City of Ottawa Client Service Centre with councillor George DeRue's from 2 to 4 p.m. Finally, I will be ending my day with some appetizers at the Ritoview Community Centre in Riverside South from 4.30 to 6.30 p.m. joined by councillor Carol Ann Meehan. These events are free and open to the public and I encourage everyone to join me. I'm looking forward to this important day, Mr. Speaker and I would like to ask all members of the Assembly to join me in acknowledging all of the amazing women across the province who continue to inspire us. To learn more about my events you can go to my website, goldiempp.ca Thank you. Member Statements, the member for Mrs. Saga Moulton. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, violence against women and girls is one of the most common violation of human rights. On one hand, none of us and I really appreciate this life without a woman on the other hand. Just in Canada alone, violence claimed the life of a woman or a girl every two and a half days and sadly, 44% of those lost lives happen here in Ontario. Mr. Speaker, I'm fortunate to have interim place as an organization in my writing of Mrs. Saga Moulton devoted to help women and children who face violence. The organization provides shelter, counseling and advocacy and act as a lead agency of the Peel Committee Against Women Abuse. Since 1984, interim place has helped over 42,000 women and children. In 2018 alone, they have safely sheltered 155 women and 98 children. Responded to 1700 crisis calls supporting 485 women and 275 children trapped in abusive relationship. We know how devastating and real this issue can be. The recent murder of 11-year-old Ria Rajkumar again from my writing shook me deeply. As a parent of a young daughter, I am concerned. If violence against women has to stop, we all need to play a role in speaking up and speaking out against violence. I'd like to thank Sharon Floyd who's here and Rebecca Rogers, all the staff and board member of interim place for the amazing work they do at their service. Interim place is raising funds by hosting annual Ray of Hope gala on Saturday March 2nd at Lakeshore Convention Center. I will be attending Mr. Speaker and I'll request other members to join me in supporting the women and children who access interim place and service by attending and helping to spread the word about this Ray of Hope gala. Thank you.