I’m so glad to be back in the House today. During our time away, I had many opportunities to reach out to my constituents and enjoy the many community events while connecting with the residents of Etobicoke–Lakeshore.

Speaker, there has been plenty of good news to share. The long-awaited construction of not one but two Etobicoke–Lakeshore schools has begun. Thanks to the parents, the faculty and, of course, the Minister of Education for helping to make this happen.

St. Leo Catholic elementary school has broken ground, supported by an investment of $22.7 million, which includes additional funding of $10.3 million. The redevelopment will also include the renovation of the school’s heritage piece, which allows the students to learn what happened in the past. The new school will include 500 student spaces, three new child care rooms and one new EarlyON Child and Family Centre.

Our second school that broke ground is Holy Angels Catholic School. It’s being rebuilt and is supported by a government investment of $22.5 million, and it will include 600 student spaces, five child care rooms and 88 child care spaces.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to fill my schedule with meetings with constituents and going to many community events such as the Long Branch Tree Fest, the 15th anniversary of the conferment of the US Congressional Gold Medal on Tibet’s Dalai Lama—the Building Up training centre.

And this weekend I was at the Mimico market, where I picked up these earrings.

Please make sure to support your local markets this Christmastime and pick up those extra gifts. Support local, and have a great time in your communities.

It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to rise in this Legislature as the re-elected MPP for Etobicoke–Lakeshore. I want to extend a big thank you to the people in Etobicoke–Lakeshore for your trust in me, and the team of countless volunteers for your hard work and dedication. I would not be here without you. I also want to extend a thank you to my constituency staff for your years of service for the people of south Etobicoke, because we all know we can’t do these jobs alone.

Over the past four years, we have accomplished so much for the people of Etobicoke–Lakeshore: securing over $1 billion for the redevelopment of the Queensway Health Centre, adding over 150 new beds, and another $1 billion for St. Joseph’s Health Centre, adding over 100 new beds; securing over $100 million to refurbish and build new schools, like St. Elizabeth, St. Leo’s, Bishop Allen and St. Marguerite d’Youville, and those who drive up Islington can see the shovels in the ground for the new Holy Angels school.

We announced a new long-term-care home that will provide 256 new beds; new transit projects, such as the Kipling Transit Hub, the Mimico GO station, and for the growing population of Humber Bay Shores, finally the long-awaited Park Lawn GO.

Over the summer, I have been busy attending many events in person and I see the Etobicoke spirit everywhere I go. It was great to attend the grilled cheese festival hosted by the Lakeshore BIA, and I’m pleased to announce that our government is investing $60,000 through the Ontario Reconnect Festival and Event Program so we can look forward to a bigger challenge next year.

I look forward to a productive term and will continue to get it done for the people of Etobicoke–Lakeshore.