For those who missed them earlier, proudly representing Brantford-Brant in the chamber today are: for the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, Chief Petty Officer First Class Aurora Linnington and Chief Petty Officer Second Class Charlie Downey, joined by Acting Sub-Lieutenant Kyle Au Coin; for the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, Corporal Danika Parasram and Sergeant Tobias Ven Berkel, joined by commanding officer Captain Celina Corner; for the Royal Canadian Army Cadets, Master Warrant Officer Kyrianna Jorgenson and Warrant Officer Ethan Russell, joined by commanding officer Captain Josh Jennie; for the Navy League of Canada, we have Leading Cadet Alissa Bartlett and Ordinary Cadet Nathan Learned, joined by commanding officer Lieutenant Richard Carpenter and Sub-Lieutenant Celina Barnard. Thank you for joining us today in your House.

Please let me introduce some great Ontarians, leaders in the agri-food business that help keep Ontario fed every day and the founders of St. Helen’s Meat Packers: Robert Bielak; his wife, Gloria; and their daughters Rachel and Jaclyn. Welcome to the Legislature of Ontario.

It’s my pleasure to rise to recognize the talented Loreena McKennitt of Stratford. Many will know Loreena for her work as a talented singer, actress and composer. She is also a two-time Juno Award winner.

However, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Loreena on a new accomplishment: Loreena was recently inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. She also received a fine tribute at the Opera House in Toronto during International Women’s Day. This is a great achievement and will add Loreena to an exclusive list of Canadians to receive such an honour, including Alanis Morissette, Bryan Adams, David Foster and many other legends. Along with these great accolades, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame at the National Music Centre in Calgary is dedicating a permanent exhibit to Ms. McKennitt.

Loreena has been a lifelong resident of the city of Stratford and has contributed so much to our community through her volunteer work and by putting on many charity performances. She has also long contributed to the yearly Remembrance Day ceremonies at the Stratford cenotaph. As an honorary colonel in the Royal Canadian Air Force, she has worked hard to keep our memories of our veterans alive and in the minds of all Canadians.

Congratulations again, Loreena, on all of your hard work and all the success you’ve had over the past four decades.

If you seek it, you will find unanimous consent to allow members to wear purple ribbons in recognition of May 10 being Lupus Awareness Day.

I understand the member for Markham–Unionville has a point of order.

Also with us today in the Speaker’s gallery is Dr. André Lecours, the president of the Canadian Political Science Association. He is joined by Dr. Peter Constantinou, academic director of the Ontario Legislative Internship Program. For over 47 years, the Ontario Legislative Assembly has partnered with the Canadian Political Science Association to host the OLIP program. Later today I’ll be joining Dr. Lecours and Dr. Constantinou at the annual OLIP spring reception and I hope that many members and other program alumni will be there as well. Once again, welcome to the Legislature. We’re delighted to have you here as well.

I’d like to welcome from the Save Minden Ontario Emergency Room group: Brenda Culver; Diane Forbes; Cathy Barnes; Wendy Ladurantaye; Kim Galen; Deloris Bailey; Jim and Bernie Davis; Dave Hammond; Judy Toye; Dean Curtice; and Pat Bradley. Thank you so much. Welcome to your House.

I’m seeking the unanimous consent of the House that, notwithstanding standing order 100(a)(iv), five minutes be allotted to the independent members as a group to speak on second reading of private member’s Bill 100.

I would also like to welcome CareNow Ontario to Queen’s Park for their lobby day and acknowledge that May 12 is international awareness day for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and environmental sensitivities. Thank you for the work you do and welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’d like to welcome the Nigerian delegation to Queen’s Park. They are a 50-member delegation. They are from all parts of Nigeria. The team ranks from mayor, commissioners, senior staff and CFOs. They are here today to observe our parliamentary session and to visit and tour the legislative facility. They will be having a gathering in room 247 from 11:45. All are welcome.

I’d also like to recognize the team that has put all the pieces together: Glenn De Baeremaeker, former deputy mayor; Jim Karygiannis; Mike Yorke; Tom Perdikis and Jeremy Beamer, along with my two staff, Ms. Novlette Mitchell and Cathy Quinton. Thank you.

Today being Lupus Awareness Day in Ontario, I am excited to welcome an amazing delegation from Lupus Ontario who have done so much to improve the lives of people. They include Diana Bozzo, Tanya Connacher, Yadira Castro, June Alikhan, Linda Keill and 16 others.

I have two remarkable constituents who are here today, the president of Community Living Ontario, Michael Jacques, and his father, Marcel. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I welcome to the Ontario Legislative Assembly today Mr. John Olah, leading Ontario trial lawyer and a 1973 fellow graduate of Osgoode Hall law school with the late Honourable Jim Flaherty.

I want to give a special welcome to Elizabeth Witmer. Kitchener–Waterloo was well-served by her and that continues today. Thank you very much, Elizabeth.

I’d like to welcome the grade 10 students from Francis Liebermann Catholic High School who are visiting Queen’s Park today. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

On behalf of myself and the member from Chatham-Kent–Leamington and the member from Windsor–Tecumseh, we would like to welcome Karen Bolger, executive director of Community Living Essex County, and Brianne Taggart, Ray Renaud, Beth Renaud, Marilyn Godard, Shelbey Pillon, Cynthia Castellucci, Amanda Pritchard and Kirti Ladwa. Welcome.

Later this morning, joining us from India is the high priest Swami Govind Dev Giriji Maharaj. I’d like to welcome him to Queen’s Park.

I would like to welcome Carlene Wisdom and April Cleugh, area and regional managers from Christian Horizons. Christian Horizons is a non-profit organization providing services for adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities in Ontario and Saskatchewan. Back in 2019, I met their central district executive director Irene Moore and listened to their ideas of supporting for more affordable housing access. They now—

Thank you, Speaker. I knew it would come around to me eventually. I see that Patricia Franks is here from the beautiful riding of Dufferin–Caledon, no doubt to mark Community Living Day, so welcome.

Why are we making those investments? Because we understand that there are short-, medium- and long-term plans that we can put in place and that we have put in place, including an investment of $33 million to make sure that an additional 100 graduates are going to have the positions and availability to practise, train and teach and practise in the province of Ontario.

In northern Ontario, there’s a shortage of 350 family doctors and specialists. We also know that nursing stations on reserves are staffed by federal and agency nurses. It’s like this: Federal nurses have to reach out to on-call doctors by phone to provide a diagnosis. That’s normal in the north. That doctor shortage leads to unnecessary suffering. It leads to unnecessary deaths of patients in far northern Ontario.

I ask, how is this going to immediately help the people of northern Ontario suffering because of the doctor shortage?

I’d like to welcome Community Living Oakville: Alexandra Hoeck Murray, the executive director, Nazeem Lahashmi, Hugo Troccoli and Andrea Interior.

From my area, I’d like to welcome everyone from Community Living, but especially Community Living Essex County. Karen Bolger and the team at Community Living Essex County do an incredible job, not just for Essex, but for all of Windsor and Essex county. Welcome to Queen’s Park.