Good morning, everyone. I’d like to extend a very special welcome to all the participants of the Remarkable Assembly women’s forum, including Reena Shaw Muthallay from Toronto Centre. It is wonderful to see you here today.

I have a few more introductions. I’d also like to welcome Floyd Ruskin, who is doing remarkable work in saving the Ontario Science Centre. We would also like to extend a special welcome to David Anderson, of the Moss Park Coalition as well as from the Toronto Community Benefits Network, who has been here this morning to support the community of Mount Dennis.

I would. Thank you very much, Speaker, for the opportunity.

The bill enacts the Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act, 2024. The act requires the government of Ontario to recognize that intimate partner violence is an epidemic in Ontario. The Renfrew county inquest into the deaths of Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam at the hands of intimate partner violence yielded 76 recommendations. This bill would enact the first recommendation of the inquest and formally declare that intimate partner violence is an epidemic in Ontario.

The tragic deaths of the Renfrew county women should not be in vain. This bill is dedicated to them and all Ontarians who have experienced intimate partner violence, and to those working tirelessly to end it.

Thank you to the member from Toronto–St. Paul’s for your very passionate presentation. I know that education is close to your heart, and certainly, you are a subject matter expert.

I’m very interested—because one of the biggest contributors of stress and anxiety and depression for post-secondary students is financial stress. It’s the biggest barrier for students to actually seek support and treatment. The second, of course, is the wait-list to get access to those services, and the third is the lack of available services. These are all things that the government has the power to do something about. Is there anything in the bill that actually resources the students so that they can actually access the services that they need to combat anxiety and depression?