I’m pleased to speak about Cordelia Clarke Julien, esteemed chair of the board of trustees for Lakeridge Health, who’s been recognized as one of the 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women. Cordelia’s recognition showcases her excellence in leadership, not only as our board chair, but also in her commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility and anti-racism efforts within Lakeridge Health. Speaker, Cordelia’s journey is not just an individual triumph, it reflects the collective support and mentorship she received along the way.

Cynthia Davis, Lakeridge Health president and chief executive officer, rightly describes this achievement as a tremendous accomplishment and a wonderful moment for Lakeridge Health. Cordelia’s dedication has played a pivotal role in helping Lakeridge Health achieve its vision of “One System, Best Health.”

As we look forward to the 2024 edition of the biennial book, which features all of the 100 honorees, let me quote Cordelia: “My advice to Black women would be to never diminish the light within you, as that is what makes you great. So when someone tells you that ‘You are too much,’ just know that your light is shining bright, and they just need to get a pair of sunglasses.”

This past Saturday, I attended the Coldest Night of the Year in my community of Niagara Falls. The Coldest Night of the Year is a fundraiser for Project Share, an organization that does incredible work in our community supporting food security, housing help and healthy living. On Saturday, they raised $65,000.

But their job is getting harder and harder. We know we have a cost-of-living crisis across the province of Ontario. In Niagara, 20%, or one in five households, are food insecure. Over 75,000 individuals in Niagara experience food insecurity.

When it comes to housing, a person earning minimum wage in the province of Ontario needs to work 81 hours to afford a two-bedroom rental.

We have several encampments throughout the region of Niagara of individuals experiencing homelessness. In this last fiscal year, Project Share served one in eight residents in Niagara Falls.

As a province, we must do more to tackle the affordability crisis. We must get government back in the business of building affordable housing and bring back rent controls, which this government took out. We must increase social assistance, end the practice of deeming and fund social services agencies appropriately. Finally, we must have the courage to take on corporate price gouging wherever we see it. By taking action, we can make life more affordable for the residents of Ontario.

Good morning. Let us pray.

Prayers.

We recently hosted a town hall in our riding, in the Chinatown area, and the top issue that came up was that people are losing their family doctors. If you are 75 years old and you don’t have a family doctor, then your health could be at risk. We decided to investigate the problem. We did a review of the number of doctors in downtown Toronto who could provide service in Cantonese or Mandarin, on the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario website, and we discovered a very concerning fact: Of the 24 doctors operating in downtown Toronto, 80% of them have been practising for 43 years or more, which means that they are about to retire. And that is what we are hearing in our community. Five doctors have just retired, and there are two more who are about to retire. That means there are thousands of residents in Chinatown who have just lost their family doctor.

This is not an issue that is unique to Chinatown. We know that 2.2 million Ontarians do not have access to a family doctor, and that number is expected to double in just two years.

Our health care system depends on people having a primary care provider, or a family doctor. Residents should not have to go to the emergency room at Toronto Western just to get a prescription for antibiotics because there is nowhere else for them to go.

This is the message from Chinatown to Queen’s Park: Fix the family doctor shortage in Chinatown and across Ontario by investing in primary care.

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, March 8, I will be hosting my annual Carleton women’s day breakfast once again in Richmond.

International Women’s Day is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Each year, this day serves as a powerful reminder of the progress made toward gender equality. It also serves to remind us of the work that still needs to be done.

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is “Inspire Inclusion.” The campaign theme underscores the crucial role of inclusion in achieving gender equality. It calls for action to break down barriers, to challenge stereotypes and to create environments where all women are valued and respected. “Inspire Inclusion” encourages everyone to recognize the unique perspectives and contributions of women from all walks of life, including those from marginalized communities.

I cannot forget to give a shout-out to the Iranian women and the Iranian men supporting them who won the 2022 Heroes of the Year award from Time magazine. Standing up for women’s rights around the world has never been as important as it is today. That’s why events on International Women’s Day are so important. I truly hope all members get a chance to host or participate in an International Women’s Day event in their riding.

In closing, I will share these poignant words delivered by Gloria Steinem: “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist, nor to any one organization, but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.”

As we say in Iran, “Zan, Zendegi, Azadi”—“Woman, Life, Freedom.”

I’m honoured to rise today to talk about a few amazing, outstanding individuals from my community of Brampton East and Brampton in general. Speaker, I’m honoured to represent a community that’s full of so much diverse talent. Time and time again, Bramptonians showcase remarkable contributions in arts, culture and sport.

Today I would like to recognize the outstanding achievement of two great Bramptonians, Zeda Ali and Tajon Buchanan. Zeda Ali is a dedicated music teacher at Sunny View Middle School in Brampton East and will be heading to the Juno Awards on March 29, as she has been nominated for the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award. I’d like to extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Zeda for her outstanding achievement and well-deserved recognition.

Speaker, I would also like to recognize 24-year-old Tajon Buchanan. Tajon recently made history by becoming the first Canadian player signing with Serie A club Inter Milan in January. Tajon’s journey from starting soccer at the age of eight in Brampton to the international stage serves as a great example of talent and success.

Zeda and Tajon are a great example of individuals who contribute their talents to make Brampton a hub of creativity, diversity and excellence.

Bramptonians continue to shine and impact the world, leaving a legacy of achievement and inspiration for generations to come.

Once again, congratulations, Zeda and Tajon, on this well-deserved achievement. Good luck in all of your future endeavours.

Community organizations play a crucial role in addressing social issues and inequality. Whether it’s offering food assistance, mental health support, education and rehabilitation programs, or assistance to find housing, these organizations work tirelessly to uplift the most vulnerable members of society, addressing gaps in government services. The Vanier Community Services Centre, the CALACS, Montfort Renaissance, Le Cap, Lowertown Community Resource Centre, St. Joe’s Women’s Centre, Centre espoir Sophie, Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard—all these organizations and many more play this important role in Ottawa–Vanier. All of them, however, have described to me how the decreased funding they have seen over the last few years is threatening their very survival.

Because of their deep roots in the community, these organizations are uniquely positioned to develop and implement tailored solutions to local challenges in an efficient and cost-effective manner. By providing adequate financial support to these organizations, the government can amplify their impact and achieve greater outcomes at a fraction of the cost. So I beg the government to provide the financial support required to keep these entities alive and thriving.

Workers scored a major victory when this government was forced to repeal Bill 124, which suppressed public sector workers’ wages, after the courts ruled that it violated charter rights. The court stated, “Because of the act, organized public sector workers, many of whom are women, racialized” and “low-income earners, have lost the ability to negotiate for better compensation or even better work conditions that do not have a monetary value.”

Speaker, now, with our public health care in crisis, Ontarians must live with the consequences of Bill 124. In Niagara, we’ve lost after-hour emergency surgical services at the Welland hospital and reduced hours at the Port Colborne and Fort Erie urgent care centres. We have a shortage of beds, long wait times, frequent 911 crises in EMS, unacceptable off-loading delays and health care workers fleeing the sector.

I’ve been meeting with front-line health care workers, including PSWs, and was shocked when some of them told me they were still for fighting their $3-an-hour pandemic pay and pay equity—this despite huge pay increases for managers in the public sector.

After wasting an untold amount of public dollars fighting front-line workers in court, it’s time to start fixing the disaster Bill 124 created by ensuring health care workers are treated with dignity and receive fair, competitive compensation for their work.

I rise today to share the story of Bob Hayward, an Oxford local and Canadian motorsports legend. Over 60 years ago, Bob and his boat, Miss Supertest III, had a winning streak that is unmatched to this day.

Bob was born and raised on his family’s chicken farm in Embro, becoming interested in drag racing as a teenager. His knowledge of racing engines led him to join the all-Canadian Supertest speedboat team in 1957, as their mechanic. They were determined to end the 39-year American domination of the Harmsworth Cup, an international speedboat competition. To do so, they needed the fastest speedboat around, so they built Miss Supertest III. They also needed the best driver, so Bob was promoted to pilot. Together, they won the Harmsworth Cup in 1959 and successfully defended the trophy for 1960 and 1961.

Unfortunately, Bob’s life was tragically cut short. While he was piloting the older Miss Supertest II in a race, it flipped at over 155 miles per hour. He was 33 years old.

Bob and Miss Supertest have not been forgotten. He was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame, and Canada Post issued a stamp honouring Bob and his boat.

In celebration of Bob’s achievements, the Thistle Theatre in his hometown of Embro is also putting on a play about his life and racing career next month.

Bob was a quiet and humble man, but it’s safe to say that this Oxford underdog made a big impact in speedboat racing.

It’s my pleasure to welcome to the House the Rehoboth students from Rehoboth Christian School. I had the pleasure of meeting them this morning and am looking forward, very much so, to their singing of O Canada today.

I want to remind them: There’s the eagle that I told you about. You can’t see the owl, but maybe later on you can. Thank you so much for being in the Legislature today.

There are still members who want to introduce guests. Unless there are objections, I’d like to continue.

It’s my pleasure to introduce this morning Tamara Witcher, president of OSSTF District 30; David Sykes, executive coordinator of OSSTF District 30; and Julien Abraham. Welcome.

I’m pleased to welcome a neighbour from Oshawa, Glady Farquharson, who is here this morning with the Citizens’ Climate Lobby. Welcome to your House, Glady.

Good morning, everyone. Good morning, Speaker. I would like to welcome the Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada to Queen’s Park. It’s wonderful that you were able to host a reception this morning.

I also want to extend my personal warm gratitude and welcome to Sue Graham-Nutter, the CEO of the Rekai Centres, a distinguished long-term-care facility in our community of Toronto Centre, and also the chair of AdvantAge Ontario.

It’s my privilege to welcome some fine folks from AdvantAge Ontario—in fact, 27 of them, including CEO Lisa Levin and chair of the board Sue Graham-Nutter.

AdvantAge is one of our government’s fantastic partners in the long-term-care sector, representing non-for-profit homes and the vital work they do for our seniors. Let’s not forget it’s their advocacy day, so everyone, please join them in committee rooms 228 and 230 at 5 p.m. for a fun reception. Thank you for coming to Queen’s Park.

On behalf of the official opposition, I’d also like to welcome the board of AdvantAge, and in particular, one of the members of the board is from my riding, Paul Chatelain. He is the administrator of Rosedale Manor in Matheson, South Centennial Manor in Iroquois Falls and Villa Minto in Cochrane. He’s also the CEO of those three respective hospitals. He’s a very busy guy. Welcome, Paul.

I’d like to welcome Julie Wheeler. Julie is the director for seniors’ services at Sunnyside seniors’ services in my riding of Kitchener Centre. Thank you, Julie, for your selfless work for seniors in the region of Waterloo.

It’s my pleasure as well to welcome a member of the board of AdvantAge Ontario: Jennifer Cornell, who is director of long-term care for Grey county, does a great job in our riding. Thank you for all your great work, and welcome.

I also want to welcome all the members from AdvantAge Ontario and recognize the great work that they do for seniors in this province, and a special welcome to Carey Duncan, director of Lanark Lodge, in beautiful Perth, Ontario. It’s one of our most preferred homes thanks to the hard work of Carey Duncan and all her staff. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’d like to welcome, from my riding, Linda Tracey, the CEO of Marianhill long-term-care home in Pembroke, who is also here with AdvantAge Ontario. Linda also encourages everyone to join her and her colleagues at the reception between 5 and 7 in 228 and 230. Thank you for joining us, Linda.