 It's now time for members statements member from York Center. Thank you very much mr. Speaker this past Sunday I had the honor to attend the bomber command bar awards of the Royal Canadian Air Force Georgian Ring 429 meeting in Pfeffer law today I would like to again congratulate the seven veterans and their families who received the award Larry Manel Frank Ferguson Owen Slingerland art West Garth Lloyd Bell Hillier Dean and Ab Wallace the bomber command bar Recognizes commitment and bravery in the face of some of the most difficult odds of the Second World War Despite great risk thousands volunteered Almost half of all air crew never made it to the end of their tour I think the Georgian Wing 429 for allowing me to be a part of this special and meaningful Ceremony we are grateful for the service of these veterans and we will always Remember and honor their courage and sacrifice. Thank you Remember from Windsor to come see thank you speaker I'd like to take a minute today to say goodbye to two of our NDP staff who are in the gallery today Margo Duncan Started here back in 2002 with Michael Pru She then worked for Paul Ferrero when he was elected And for the past seven years speaker. She's put up with the member from Hamilton East Tony Creek He's walking one of his daughters down the aisle and Calling us every day to see what he's missing and to make sure to give us advice on how to hold the government to account So I'm trying to one up him while he's away by jumping in front of the line to say the first public farewell to Margo She has four grandsons ranging in age from seven weeks to 13 years And they will become her priority in the weeks months and years ahead So speaker I also want to pay tribute today to the best legislative assistant I've ever had okay. He's the only one I've ever had but Denny Tim is leaving at the end of the week for a much better paying job at the town of Ajax an amazing opportunity for him and Denny's career path has always been in the municipal sector. I've known him since he was a kid I convinced him to put his career on hold for a year to help me set up my office Here at Queen's Park and put in place a filing a protocol system that even I have could understand And he's done an outstanding job Denny is a former chair of the Windsor youth committee youth advisory committee at the city of Windsor a former board member at transit Windsor And at the Windsor Public Library I hired him away from the city of Thunder Bay where he was a management intern And I know the town of Ajax will benefit from his enthusiasm His energy and his knowledge and the experience he gained speaker from working here within the provincial legislative system to both I say I'm sorry to see you go happy trails and please stay in touch Notice I did give you some extra time because of the Hamilton East Stony Creek reference I I do have his back so leave him alone. He's a nice guy Member statements the member from Etobicoke Center. Thank you, mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker as MPPs were all here to serve our respective communities But I today would like to highlight the work of a group of parents who are doing a wonderful job of serving my community of Etobicoke Center This earlier this fall mr. Speaker actually this I was able to attend a first I was good I got a firsthand look at the power of Community organizing by attending the Silver Creek Park rejuvenation project family fund a organized by a dedicated group of parents in Etobicoke Center Silver Creek Park is located in the heart of my riding between Kipling and Islington North of Eglinton And like many parks provides an important gathering place for families and their children promotes health and wellness and Provides an accessible leisure space for people of all incomes the park is adjacent to a community pool a baseball dime at a tennis court a Soccer field and of course the Etobicoke Children's Center for mental health very important park Unfortunately, the play structures need to be renewed and made safer and the park would benefit from past benches and landscaping a group of parents Form the Silver Creek Rejuvenation Committee to raise the money needed to do those improvements and they've successfully raised almost $120,000 already mr. Speaker anyone interested in supporting the cause can go to Silver Creek Park CA the committee was formed by members of the local neighborhood who despite busy schedules continue to volunteer their free time for this important cause I'd like to thank them for their hard work I'd like to congratulate them for hard work and all they've done for the community and These families reflect the best of what our province has to offer collaborative spirit that produces revolt results for all of our benefit And particularly in this case for Etobicoke Center. I look forward to supporting the committee I wish the committee and other project project volunteers the very best as they work towards their goal. Thank you mr. Speaker Thank you very much mr. Speaker today I want to share excerpts from a letter written by mr. Ted Whitworth who has been well served by my seatmate and colleague the member from Dufferin Kaladin, but Enough is enough speaker and I think people in this house need to hear what he is actually experiencing and It goes like this. We have lived beside the Amaranth transformer station for almost nine years And have had our family our farm and our lives ruined We have asked for help and have been promised many times by the ministry of environment and climate change that they were going to take action But now they say what is happening to us is not their responsibility This ministry has met with us many times, but have not carried out the promises made to us We have reported our issues to the spill center over 200 times with no results How many times should we be Reporting issues before we can expect something to be done. Our house is by MOEC measurement 490 meters from the transformer station our fence line where our cattle are it's about 150 meters our livestock suffers with regards to milk Production and conception and we suffer as well our doctor a former medical officer of health says we should not live in our house MOEC would not look at the his letter for a year and a half Speaker enough is enough. I stand here today on behalf of the Whitworths Whitworths And I will make this pledge to them I'll be following up with a letter to both the premier and the minister of environment and climate change to request a response to the Inquiries put forth multiple times over the past few years by the Whitworths This is a life-altering issue and this government must address it. Thank you very much Members thank you so much Thank you very much mr. Speaker mr. Speaker I've risen I've risen the house previously to mention this issue And I'd like to raise this issue once again the peal region has seen some of the most rapid growth in the entire province Currently, there's 1.3 million people that live in the peal region This is 11% of the population of Ontario 27,000 new residents each year make the region appeal their home However, the funding formulas have not changed to keep up with this high growth area The funding formula does not take into consideration the fact that the peal region has grown so Astronomically particularly when compared with other regions around the province this government has done very little to address this problem This is a serious issue. It impacts people not only in health care Not only in children's issues and then the education sector But all sectors were funding is that matter in the peal region for example The Toronto has 32 community health centers which are phenomenal places of care Windsor and London have six the peal region Has only three community legal clinics peal is a region that is so understaffed and under service when it comes to community Legal services they have 16 staff compared to Toronto, which has 109 peal residents deserve access to justice This is a serious issue. If you look at housing 12,600 families are waiting for affordable housing daycare There's a recent study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, which has found that daycare is the least expensive in Brampton We need this government to take action on a fair share for peal Thank you. Member statement the member from Trinity Spadina. Thank you, Mr. Speaker today I rise to in this house to congratulate College of Ontario on yet another successful college day He'll help here in the legislature yesterday, November 25th. Mr. Speaker. I'm sure the members Like the Minister of Citizenship Immigration were left with fond memories of delicious delicious sample of food That students prepare for us But Mr. Speaker what we really ought to recognize is the important role that colleges play in preparing students was the necessary Skills for jobs in today's global economy mr. Speaker I know our premier and a minister for training College of University the Honourable resident already Recognize this important role that the colleges play They are indeed key contributors to their local economy building communities and their people from the ground up Congratulations to all 24 members of the Association to Linda Franklin and their chair David Agnew on a successful day I look forward to working with them to continue building a better more prosperous and more competitive Ontario. Thank you, Speaker Thank you. Member statements the member from Bruce Gray on sound. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker Two history teachers from Bruce Gray on sound were bestowed on November 3rd The 2014 history award for excellence in teaching by his excellency the right Honourable David Johnson the governor general of Canada David Alexander and Ryan McMahon man from the Owensound Collegiate and Vocational Institute won this prestigious prize After taking a unique and exciting approach to teaching their students about the first and second world wars Messers Alexander and McMahon man brought history to life when they assigned their students individual profiles of Canadian soldiers who died in the World Wars some of them whom themselves were OSCVI students at one time the students researched and studied a treasure trove of letters Written to former OSCVI student many right by soldiers who served and sacrificed during the great war The students also researched 54 Canadian servicemen who were killed on June 6th, 1944 Particularly those from the Owensound area a final highlight came when a Canadian forces CC 130 Hercules from RC AF 424 squadron Made a memorial flyover of the school after students to research the lives of two former students who died tragically together While serving in the same Lancaster aircrew the result of these clever projects entitled war and memory legacy project is a permanent collection of Information that future students can learn from and add to I would also like to recognize Holly burner of Meeford Who was recently recognized for her project entitled Aboriginal heroes influencing our youth by the government of Canada history awards These awards are Canada's top honours in the field of history and heritage the OSCVI and Georgian Bay Secondary School are tremendously fortunate to have these exceptional teachers who are not only passionate about their subject Who also work diligently to challenge and inspire other students? I want to commend Messers Alexander and McManaman and Ms. Burner for showing a true commitment love and dedication to teaching and wish them The best in future. Thank you, mr. Speaker Members from Eglinton Lawrence back this thank you, mr. Speaker I'd like to say a few words about the passing of the big Irishman Pat Quinn as you know, mr. Speaker Pat passed away this week after an incredible career I remember I first saw him when I was at St. Mike's as a student and he was playing for the Hamilton Tiger Cubs It was a long time ago, but Pat has been an incredible success as a he's been a lawyer. He's got a law degree He's been a general manager, you know with Vancouver's coached with Edmonton for the Alpha Flyers and with the Leafs He's one of the best coaches we've ever had and we used to win when Pat was here in Toronto And you know about Pat He was always respected by all his players all his fellow professionals He always had his heart in the right place. He was a man of great strength and although Bobby Orr Doesn't have too many good memories about that hit. We remember that hit but anyways Pat was a incredible role model for everybody in hockey and you know the thing that we remember most about Pat as he led Canada to the Gold medal in Salt Lake City in 2002 first time we won that gold medal for 50 years Pat was the leader of that team in Salt Lake City And the last thing I'll say about Pat shows we're kind of a guy He was the only time people have ever seen him cry in public is when in Salt Lake City the Canadian women's hockey team won the gold medal and beat the Americans in that game Pat was shedding tears of Joy for the great Canadian women's hockey team So we say to Pat I hope you're in heaven a half hour before the devil knew you were dead Thank you Members say this the member from beaches east York Mr. Speaker and I'd like to take this moment to discuss a very important health care issue that most of us rarely think about Oregon and tissue donation But first I'd like to recognize again We have Ronnie Gavsey and Adam Lemon in the gallery there with the trillion gift of life network And the Trillium gift of life network plans promotes Coordinates and supports for organ and tissue donation and transplants across Ontario Its mission is to save and enhance lives through the gift of organ and tissue donation and transplants Now most of us are lucky enough mr. Speaker not to have to think about it However for over four over 1500 Ontario's currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant This is issue is a daily reality and many of them live right here in Toronto It's astounding to think that a single person who dies prematurely Can save the lives of up to eight people through the gift of organ and donation and Significantly enhance the lives of 75 others through tissue donation yet despite these life-saving benefits the recipients Most Torng's are not answering the call province-wide about 26 of Ontarians have signed up for the Trillium gift of network But only 17% of Toronto residents now I'm proud to share and say that in beaches east York We're at the leading edge of the GTA with about 25 percent of our residents having signed up But that number is not enough the fact is that there is a chronic shortage and we need to be addressed So people can go on if they're 16 years of age go on to the website be a donor dot CA sign up I'm going to I've done it and I hope you all do too. Thank you Thank all members for their statements and it's now