 It's now time for Member Statements, the Member for Scarborough Southwest. Here, in Toronto alone, the government is cutting $1 billion in public health funding over the next 10 years. I've spoken to a lot of residents who aren't exactly sure what the cut to public health will mean for Scarborough, both in my riding of Scarborough Southwest as well as the five other communities represented by other MPPs at the legislature. In fact, the Premier himself doesn't seem to understand how crucial these public health services are. In a radio interview, he called these nurses and health professionals, and I quote, the folks that go into restaurants and put the little stickers on saying it's safe to eat here. End quote. Speaker, for us Scarbarians, public health means an awful lot more than that. In my riding, a billion dollars in public health cuts would jeopardize students' breakfast and lunch programs at 33 schools. The cuts would threaten to skill building programs for at-risk youth at the West Scarborough Neighborhood Centre as well as the Burshmount Bluffs Neighborhood Centre. These cuts would also mean 130 schools across all of Scarborough losing students' immunization programs. And these cuts come at the same time as news yesterday of a confirmed case of an adult measles outbreak in Scarborough and possible public exposure. Speaker, protecting public people from measles is not a partisan issue. This government must rethink their dangerous cuts to Toronto Public Health. We all need to do better. We all need to stand up and fight for the health of our communities. Thank you very much. Senator Forra Arora, Oak Ridges, Richmond Hill. Thank you very much, Speaker. I think I'm happy to deliver a statement on behalf of the great MPP for Barry Springwater Armadonte. For more than 30 years, AboutFace, a Canadian charity headquartered in Toronto, has been supporting individuals and families affected by facial differences through programs and services which focus on psychosocial health and well-being. AboutFace estimates more than 2 million Canadians live with a facial difference, which refers to anyone whose appearance from the neck and above has been affected by congenital, acquired or episodic condition or syndrome. Living with a facial difference is something you cannot hide. It can often create barriers to communication, socialization, education, employment and aspirations and can affect one's mental, emotional and social health. Starting tomorrow, global celebrations will begin for the first time ever the International Face Equality Week. The main goals of the week focus on raising public awareness on facial differences, promoting the fair treatment of people with facial differences and working at breaking down barriers for individuals living with a difference. Just as we rightly work to increase inclusion of those of different backgrounds than us, AboutFace International Face Equality Week work to increase inclusion of those with facial differences. Thank you very much, Speaker. The Member for Spadina, Fort York. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last weekend I had the honor and pleasure of working at the Liberty Village Respite Center and helping a number of volunteers from a group called Project Comfort to serve lunch to the people who are there, many of them, most of them, all of them homeless, many with mental health issues. But it's the work, you know, I want to congratulate the volunteers for the work that they've done and that they are continuing to do and the serving of the lunch is just one part of it. The bigger part of the work they're doing is actually building relationships with people who are homeless and listening to their stories and understanding their stories. And it's the stories that I heard that day are not the stories that we would expect. Many of the people who are homeless there have university degrees. They've had professions before. They've got a blip in their income. They've got a, you know, they lost a job and it speaks to how quickly people can go from being housed to homeless in our society. And the real danger, too, that some of the staff were highlighting for me, was the danger that's posed by this government's decision or potential decision to redefine what a disability is. If they redefine a disability, they will drop people from ODSP at $1,200 a month down to Ontario Works at $735 a month. And that will lead to hundreds and hundreds of people losing their homes. And there will be more people at that respite center. And no matter how many meals we serve, it won't make up for the loss of their homes. So, Mr. Speaker, I ask the government to reconsider redefining what a disability is. Thank you. The member for Thornhill. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And I just want to inform the House that today's International Celiac Awareness Day and May is Celiac Awareness Month in Canada. And I'm very pleased that we have some members of the Celiac Association of the Canadian Celiac Association here today to raise awareness. Celiac disease impacts 1% to 2% of Ontarians. That's over 150,000 people. And another 5% have gluten sensitivity. It's often misunderstood as a gluten allergy, but it's actually an autoimmune disease, highly linked with type 1 diabetes as well as thyroid disease. And unlike many other diseases, there's no cure. The only treatment is to go on a gluten-free diet for life. Many people with Celiac disease suffer for as long as 10 years before they're actually properly diagnosed because the symptoms can vary so widely. And the symptoms can include migraines, anemia, gastrointestinal issues, fatigue, reproductive issues, malnutrition, and low bone density. Sometimes there are no obvious symptoms at all. And if left untreated, Celiac disease can lead to a very dangerous cancers of the gut and devastating neurological problems. We know that a lot of people are going gluten-free because they think it's healthier. It's kind of a health fad that's going on now and a hot new trend. But today, in honor of Celiac Awareness Day, let's remember that for Ontarians with Celiac disease, gluten-free is definitely not a fad and it's a medical necessity. I want to thank the member for Peterborough Cortha for joining me at a meeting. And he pointed out that the prevalence is much higher in special needs communities, especially with Down syndrome. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. The member for Windsor West. Thank you, Speaker. Hyatt House is the only 24-hour crisis intervention and emergency shelter for abused women and children in Windsor and Essex. Their mission is to break the cycle of domestic violence through public education, research, and specialized counseling and outreach services. I cannot overstate how important their work is in our community. In Windsor, one in four women live below the low-income line. Windsor also has the highest rate of children growing up in low-income households, about 16,000 children. Despite this clear need, the conservative government has cut funding to domestic violence services by $17 million. You know, the minister really shouldn't heckle me while I'm saying this. She should be listening. In Windsor, we recently learned that Hyatt House has removed six beds because the province is two months late in providing them with their annual budget and they are anticipating cuts. The minister of children, community, and social services should be listening, not heckling. This is serious and it's her ministry. Last year in March, I held a press conference. Sorry to interrupt. The minister of children, community, and social services has to come to order. Apologize to the member for Windsor West. I will give you extra time. Speaker. Last year in March, I held a press conference with Hyatt House and a number of other community service agencies in Windsor. At the press conference, Hyatt House reported that they were forced to turn away 148 women and 118 children from the shelter over the past year. A recent needs assessment has identified that Hyatt House needed 40 more beds to match the average number of beds available in other communities. Hyatt House hasn't had a funding increase in over 10 years, but the demand on their services keeps growing. I am imploring this conservative government to consider the gravity of the decisions they are making. The minister of children, community, and social services cannot claim to support women and children while cutting domestic violence services, forcing vulnerable people to stay in dangerous situations. They must change course now. Give Hyatt House and domestic violence services the resources they need to save lives and the minister needs to stop heckling and actually listen to the people in this province. Member's statements. The member for Mrs. Agamal. Share our funding announcement. I believe that we all deserve to be happy. We all deserve to live a life that lights us up. Mr. Speaker, too many people struggle silently with their mental health. Mental health is a health. Mr. Speaker, there's one in five Canadians experienced a mental illness and or addiction problem. I'm excited to share the news of the funding announced by the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care for Mental Health and Addiction Services. As a part of the investment, healthcare service provider in my writing of Mrs. Agamalton will receive $3 million in funding. In other words, relief is on the way. 40% of the respondents in Canada response to a survey agreed that they have experience, anxiety, or depression, but never got any help. Mr. Speaker, it is the time to end the stigma around mental health and to do something. The healthcare service provider receiving the funding are associated youth services of Peel, PCHS, Peel Addiction Assessment and Relief Center, Peel Children's Center, Service and Housing in the Province. To these organizations, thank you for choosing Mrs. Agamalton and thank you for your service. The funding will be going towards reducing wait time, creating additional housing, building capacity, and investing in services for the indigenous community. To the resident of Mrs. Agamalton, it is always a pleasure to be your voice at Queen's Park and I am committed to work with the Minister to make sure Mrs. Agamalton and all Ontario has the resources available for mental health and addiction support it needs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Member Statements, the member for Ottawa Center. Thank you, Speaker. I'm sad to die today on two somber notes from home. This morning at 7, 20 a.m., a cyclist was hit at the intersection of Laurier and Elgin. The 50 year old gentleman succumbed to his injuries in hospital this morning. Unfortunately, the person who hit him fled at first in the van and then on foot and the Ottawa police are asking anybody who knows anything about this incident to please call 613-236-1222 at extension 2481 and please give your information. To the gentleman at risk, your conscience is never gonna recover from this and I encourage you to step forward and do the right thing and make sure that this cyclist and this person's family can make amends and you can make amends with yourself. I also wanna say, Speaker, we lost a giant in Ottawa Center on May 2nd, Murray Thompson. Murray Thompson was 96 years old. He was a recipient of the Pearson Peace Prize. He was a recipient of the Order of Canada. He was a lifelong constructive troublemaker I admired and he believed in a world without nuclear weapons and he started his life in his 20s with the RCAF and what he saw was a world increasingly decade after decade that was becoming more violent and Murray, your family, the image that you gave me and so many others in Ottawa was an image of peace. You told me once in a conversation over tea that we could bomb the world to pieces but we can't bomb it into peace and I agree with you, my friend and I agree with all of us who are trying to fight for a more just and stable world to keep up that fight and Murray, we will always remember you. Thank you. Member for Mississauga Lakeshore. Mr. Speaker, recently I joined the Member from Atobical Center, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transportation in Mississauga to announce that our government is investing in repairing the QEW bridge over the Credit River. Originally built in 1934, the Credit River Bridge was the first major bridge construction for the future of the QEW, a signature heritage bridge. It's designed to set standards for major bridge construction along this corridor. Thousands of commuters and commercial vehicles cross this bridge every single day and for thousands of young athletes who use the Credit River for canoeing and kayaking including my two sons. This bridge is a symbol of the Credit River Valley. However, over 80 years old it needs repairs now to ensure it remains safe for the public. Ensured our bridge are in good stand state for a repair to keep drivers safe. I will also improve traffic flow and help support economic growth in Mississauga Lakeshore and across Ontario. Thank you. Thank you very much. Member's statements. The Member for Mississauga Streetsville. Good afternoon, Speaker. Last week I welcomed the Premier to my great riding of Mississauga Streetsville where he attended the announcement of our Life Science Ontario Scholarship Program. I'd like to begin with how we conceived this scholarship and mentorship program. Soon after being elected, I met with Roche where I first heard that my riding was home to Pill Hill due to its large number of pharmaceutical companies. I learned about the immense contribution that the industry plays in Ontario's economy, the vast number of well-paying jobs and how we are the perfect place for clinical trials. Soon after, during a visit with Novenordisk, we heard of the challenges it faces from issues with the federal government's PNPRB to the cost of doing business in Ontario and attracting and retaining great employees. It is a well-known fact that the company invests immense resources to train new employees only to lose that worker once they find employment closer to home and to their families. It would also leave companies to poach from one another coming at great expense. What a possible solution. Let's build a bigger talent pool. And the Life Science Scholarship Program was born. Thank you to Life Science Ontario for administering and monitoring this program and thank you to all of the companies who take part in making a massive difference in these students' lives. Novenordisk, Roche, Sinofe, Horizon Farmer Bayer, Gilead, AstraZeneca, and GlaxoSmithKline, thank you. And to those of you interested, please call my office 905-569-1643 for more information. Thank you, Speaker. Thank you, that concludes our time for our member's statements this afternoon. Reports by committees.