It is indeed an honour for me to rise in the Legislature today.

I’ll begin by telling a story about Eddie Sargent. Now, some here might remember Eddie Sargent. Eddie Sargent was the MPP for Grey North for one term, then that was followed by Grey–Bruce for the rest of his political career, and his political career mirrored my father’s: 1963 to 1987. Eddie Sargent realized that if you’re not going to be sitting at the cabinet table or you’re not from downtown Toronto, you had better do something to make a name for yourself, and Eddie Sargent was a character.

Here’s a story about Eddie Sargent: He was at a picnic in the summertime one year, and there had been a lot of rain. It was on a farm, and his car got stuck in the mud. They’re going to push the car, and Eddie Sargent comes up behind the car. He’s got his beautiful white summer suit on, and one of his supporters says, “Eddie, are you crazy? You’re going to ruin that suit.” He says, “That’s right, and they’ll be talking about it for years.” The fact that I’m telling that story today proves it true.

But do you know who told me that story?

I want to thank former MP Larry Miller, former MPP Norm Sterling, former MPP Bill Walker, MP Alex Ruff and also current MPP Rick Byers for their help in helping me establish some of these stories and facts about Bill Murdoch.

Outspoken, unconventional, standoffish maybe at times, but never dull: That was Bill Murdoch—unique, one of a kind. In this business, you’ve got to set yourself apart. You can be like most birds and fly in flocks, or you can be like the eagle and soar alone, and that’s what Bill Murdoch did, many times. He soared alone, because the tide was not with him, but that didn’t matter; he really didn’t give a you-know-what.

But he cared about the people he represented. When Bill came to this House—our House; your House—he came here to represent the people who sent him here. It really wasn’t that important what the people in the front rows were worrying about; it was what the people in his riding wanted to hear from Bill Murdoch. As my friend from Orléans said, Alex Ruff’s quotation after the death of Bill Murdoch was 100% on. I don’t have to repeat it, because you did. Bill was a template for anybody who wants to be a true constituency member who represents their people here at this Legislature.

I also want to thank Anna Sajfert—I don’t know if Anna is in the gallery; hello, Anna—for her help in putting this together, as well. She worked both for Bill Murdoch and Bill Walker, so I had a chance to get two opinions in, you know?

Bill started out long before I even got here. There are tales about Bill Murdoch. He brought a motion to this House—and Speaker, I think your friend and mentor Bert Johnson would have been in the Chair that day—to ban voicemail. If you look at the 10 reasons, it was almost like a David Letterman 10 reasons: “Top 10 Reasons to Ban Voicemail.” Look it up. For any of you people—and I know most of us have been sitting on hold for what seems like days, not being able to speak to another human—we know in the 21st century it’s not going to work. Bill probably knew it wasn’t going to work, but he brought it forward anyway, because he knew that the people down back home were going to agree with him 100%.

But he had his victories, too, and you alluded to it: Tartan Day, April 6—which, by the way, is my mother’s birthday. Tartan Day was something that was huge for Bill Murdoch. He was very, very proud of his Scottish roots, and when it was able to pass in this Legislature, that was a high point for him and his people.

I’ve got to tell you: When I got here, I butted heads with Bill. I was a new member in 2003, and some people might say I’m bull-headed—I can’t imagine why—but I butted heads with Bill. But I soon realized I might as well be butting heads with that wall over there, because Bill was an immovable object. When he had his mind made up, you weren’t changing it.

So I learned to be his friend and we got along very well after that, and many times we agreed 100%. Some days we disagreed, not necessarily on the issue, but how we might manage the issue. And on that very first term I was in, Bill got together with another character, one of the other great characters. You know, we’re discouraged from being characters in this place anymore, because, “Oh, the party says we’ve got to do this, the party says we’ve got to do that. Oh, you know how this is going to look in the media.”

Another character was Peter Kormos, and many of you people over there will know Peter. I knew Peter well as well, because I got to sit with him as House leader, and I sat practically beside him when I was on the other side. So Bill got together with Peter and drummed up this crazy idea that Bill was going to become a member of the NDP, so that the NDP could keep party status after the 2003 election. Now, whatever happened, I wasn’t party to all of the conversations, but do you know what? Sort of like Eddie Sargent and the suit, people were talking about it for a long time.

But what he was: He was a champion for the underdog, and I think maybe you see that in yourselves sometimes. He said, “When I have the opportunity to actually speak for”—as my dad used to say—“the little man, the little people,” he never said it in a derogatory sense, but he meant it in a way that they’re not in a position to speak for themselves. Well, Bill Murdoch made damn sure that he was here to speak for them. He was a champion for the underdog.

And I’ll tell you a little story—I know we’ve got all afternoon, right? Bill had a still, and somebody in the area had a donkey by the name of Carl. Now, Carl was becoming old and had become lame—a bad leg, sort of like myself, you know?—and he was going to be euthanized. Well, Bill took the donkey home to his farm, and he had that donkey for years. Carl, who obviously lived for years after that, was an animal just like Bill: He wasn’t going to give up.

Well, when Bill came out with his Billy Beer—Bill had a still down in Bognor swamp, and he brewed all kind of stuff, and one of the things he was brewing was Billy Beer. And in the case of Billy Beer, there were only 23 pints, because one had to be taken out for quality control. A pint was always missing. But on his label for Billy Beer, there was also a picture of Bill and a picture of Carl, and the inscription read something like this, because Carl had a nice bit of hair in between his ears. He said, “Billy Beer: Guaranteed to grow hair on your....”

Laughter.

Bill Murdoch.

It’s an honour to stand and help pay tribute to Bill Murdoch, who represented the riding of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound in its various formations from 1990 to 2011 here at Queen’s Park.

Born in Meaford in 1945, Mr. Murdoch was a lifelong community advocate. Prior to his entry into public life, he was a farmer, a businessman, a Freemason, a Legionnaire and a conservationist. He began his political career at the municipal level by serving as a councillor and reeve in Sydenham township for 12 years and then as warden of Grey county. He is the former chairman of the Grey county planning and advisory committee and former chairman of the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority. He served on the AMO board, as well as the Grey Bruce Tourist Association. Clearly he lived a life of public service.

His first bid to enter the Ontario Legislature for the Tories, the Progressive Conservative Party, for the riding of Grey in 1987 was unsuccessful, but he was never one to give up a fight. He ultimately won his seat in the second attempt in 1990 and served the people of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound for 21 years, winning five consecutive elections. During those 21 years as MPP, Mr. Murdoch served in government, in opposition and as an independent member.

One of the things he’s most well-known for, Mr. Speaker, is the creation of the Ontario tartan. The Ontario tartan, approved in the year 2000, is based on the tartan of Ontario’s first Premier, John Sandfield MacDonald, and it is green, blue, red and white. As those who might know the story know, it took a little while for that tartan to formally come into service and use because of some technical issues. But after six years of fighting the good fight, it was ultimately successful in the mid-2000s.

Mr. Murdoch was a man of conviction and of compassion. He was an advocate for his constituents and was never afraid to speak his mind and challenge the status quo. In fact, he spoke out against the Conservative government’s downloading costs to municipalities and for picking fights with teachers. For that, he was labelled a maverick and would continue to go on and often clash with his party and others. But he always stood firm to his principles and on behalf of his constituents.

He received many accolades over the years, but one that stood out to me was from the member of Parliament of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound, Alex Ruff, who said, “Bill’s reputation for speaking his mind and ‘fighting for the little guy’ was known throughout the province, and I dare say, the country. Any elected official would be hard pressed to find a better constituent politician in the country to seek advice and learn from.”

After he retired from the Legislature and his life in politics in 2011, Bill was well known as a host of Bayshore Broadcasting’s Open Line show on AM 560. He hosted Murdoch Mondays, Midweek with Murdoch, Rock and Talk with Murdoch, as well as many other programs over many years. Outside of his work in the Legislature and as a farmer, Mr. Murdoch was a supporter of local music. At one point, he managed a band called the Tombstones, organizing many concerts within the local community. He also helped build the Grey Bruce Music Hall of Fame. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, playing hockey and baseball, and I understand that he was an avid collector of hockey jerseys as well as posters for the International Plowing Match going back, I think, all the way to the First World War.

He fought cancer for two years with dignity and with grace but ultimately passed away August of last year at the age of 77. He leaves behind a legacy that inspires many others to follow in his footsteps. He’ll always be remembered as a dedicated public servant, a fierce debater, a generous friend and a loving husband and father.

So to Sue and family and friends who are with us today, thank you for sharing Bill with all of us for so very long. He’ll be missed.

The member for Orléans.

We give thanks for the life and public service of Bill Murdoch.

Today, we are honoured to remember and pay tribute to a former member of our provincial legislature, the late Mrs. Marion Boyd, who was the MPP for London Centre during the 35th and 36th Parliaments.

Joining us in the Speaker’s gallery are Mrs. Boyd’s family and friends: her husband, Terry Boyd; her friend Joseph Addley; her siblings, Sheila Bauer, Marg Black and Dave Watt; her siblings-in-law Grant Black and Lin Watt; and her friends Nancy MacIndoe, Peg McArthur, Pat Schram, Kim Tessier and Dave Tessier.

Also in the Speaker’s gallery are David Warner, Speaker during the 35th Parliament; Steve Gilchrist, MPP for Scarborough East during the 36th and 37th Parliaments; and Marilyn Churley, who was the MPP for Riverdale in the 35th and 36th Parliaments and the member for Toronto–Danforth in the 37th and 38th Parliaments. Welcome.

I recognize the member for Don Valley West.

We had caucus on Tuesday mornings then, not in the afternoon, and Bill would show up for caucus at the last minute with a bacon sandwich, heaped with bacon. Why ruin a sandwich with lettuce and tomato, right? I’ve been told on good authority that more than once, down in the cafeteria when he thought they weren’t moving fast enough, he went around the counter and made his own bacon sandwich. That was Bill. And do you know what? He would always make sure he got enough bacon on that sandwich. But he always brought a real perspective to the table in caucus—always—and you can rest assured that we learned a lot from Bill. As rural members, we learned something from Bill: that at caucus, you don’t have to be shy. You need to bring that rural perspective.

And then that same day, Tuesday, we sat in the afternoon and Bill would always get the first statement. He would get the first statement, and then he would be out of here like a rocket back to the riding to serve his people—or maybe down to the Bognor swamp to make another case of Billy Beer; I don’t know. But he would get out of here on Tuesdays.

He also had, as you mentioned, what I would consider to be—and I know people say it’s believed to be—the largest hockey jersey collection privately held in Canada. It’s amazing: 700, maybe 800 jerseys. But I know this: If it’s the biggest one in Canada, it’s the biggest one in the world, because there ain’t nobody else out there who loves hockey like we do.

So I got to visit Bill’s farm one time—you’re talking about a farmer. I went to see Bill at his farm, and when he wasn’t out fighting for the little guy and he wasn’t brewing down in the swamp, he loved it on that tractor. I showed up unannounced one day, and there’s Bill in his glory, shirtless. The sun was beating down; it must have been 107 degrees. And he was as happy as you-know-what, sitting on that tractor and cutting hay, because that’s where he wanted to be.

Talking about Bognor, Norm Sterling was telling me that Bill came in one time and apologized. He said, “I know I’m not supposed to do that. I’m not supposed to be going to those people directly, but I went to the liquor board and I said, ‘You’ve got to get a cooler for the beer in the liquor store in Bognor because they need cold beer just like you guys.’ But I apologize”—he actually apologized for doing it. But that was Bill Murdoch. He felt those people down in Bognor needed a cooler? They’re getting a cooler.

You talked about the Tombstones musicians. Bill couldn’t sing, but he was the manager of the band. Not only was it the Tombstones—and they built that music hall of fame, they started it—but they also used a retired hearse as their vehicle for driving around to shows.

I got to sing down in Keady one time. Bill called me down to come and do a fundraiser for him. So we’re down in Keady, and that’s when I first met Susan, his wife. So I got to sing at the fundraiser and I sang with Susan. And after, when we got back to Queen’s Park, I said to Bill, “How in the name of Sam Hill,” as they say, “did you ever land something like Susan?”—a beautiful, charming woman with the voice of a nightingale. I said, “Bill, how did you do it?” He just laughed at me: “Yak, that’s my secret.”

But you’ve got to know that a guy is comfortable in his own skin when, one day, Bill comes into the caucus and says, “Yak, take a look at this.” I say, “What?” He shows me a picture, and I said, “What is that, Bill?” “Well, that’s a picture of my colonoscopy. Don’t you think that it’s in good shape?” He shows me a picture—because that was Bill Murdoch. He was so comfortable in who Bill Murdoch was, he says, “Yak, have a look at this.”

I got a chance to speak to Bill before he died, and nothing had changed. He was still the same Bill Murdoch, the one we shake our heads at, but the one that, deep down, you just got to love. He stuck to his principles: the principles he came here with were the principles he left with, and the principles that he retained until the good Lord called him. Bill believed in his people, he believed in the little guy, and he believed that if you or me or anybody else has a chance to stand up for the little guy, that’s our job.

I want to thank the family—Susan and all of the family joining with us today. I know, Speaker, you listed—did you list everybody’s names? Yes, you did; thank you very much—because I was so enthralled with all of other stuff. I want to thank you all not only for being here today but for sharing this unique and wonderful man, not only with us but with all of the people of Ontario. We miss him dearly. He leaves a legacy that, I dare say, will never be repeated ever again. God bless Bill Murdoch. Rest in peace.

Applause.

If you seek it, you will find unanimous consent to allow members to make statements of remembrance of the late Ms. Phyllis Marion Boyd, with five minutes allotted to independent members as a group, five minutes allotted to His Majesty’s government and five minutes allotted to His Majesty’s loyal Opposition.

I appreciate the opportunity to rise in the Legislature today to give tribute on behalf of the government to former MPP Marion Boyd.

Now, Marion and I did not travel in the same political circles, as my friends across the aisle will understand. I didn’t know her well, but I came to respect her immensely. In preparing this tribute, I was reading her obituary the other day and some of the tributes that came out after her death last fall, and the quote that stuck to me was simply, “Marion’s life of service is a gift to be treasured.” We hear that a lot: life of service. We all do it. I get it, but when you read about her life and what she advocated for and how she led, Marion’s life truly was of service and a gift to be treasured.

When preparing this tribute as well, I don’t think anyone can say that her life wasn’t a commitment to community—London in particular—our province and our country. As was said, she ran provincially in 1985 as the NDP candidate and lost. She ran again in London North Centre in 1987 and lost. Persistent as she was, she ran for the NDP federally in London East during the 1988 free-trade election and lost. But in 1990, Ms. Boyd, through perseverance yet again, was successfully elected to the Legislature as the member for London Centre.

I remember this very well, Speaker, because I lived at that time in London Centre. And who was our MPP, but none other than—and actually a very good friend of mine—then-Premier David Peterson. So what was so significant about that night was, obviously, there was a change in government; a pretty big swing. And I remembered the then-Premier-elect saying, “I guess it wasn’t such a bad idea for an election after all.” I think somebody else was elected in that election, if I’m not mistaken, Speaker, but those of us in London were really taken aback by the defeat of the Premier in that seat, and a significant defeat it was. The upset sent shockwaves through the city and the province and, I can say, as a Tory knocking on doors in that election in that riding, which we knew we weren’t going to win, it was astounding. It was an amazing upset; it was an amazing victory. And her perseverance certainly showed the way.

As I said, I met her a few times—not a lot. But, again, when I did talk to her and when we did speak, she really wasn’t as partisan as you might think. She really cared about the community and we’ll hear, I’m sure, about the many things she advocated for.

As we all know, she was appointed Minister of Education on October 1, 1990, by then-Premier Bob Rae. While holding this position, Premier Rae decided to add the minister responsible for women’s issues to her portfolio in 1991. It was a great addition to her responsibilities as she was widely known as a feminist, which—okay. But forget that. I’d like to take the word “feminist” away. She advocated for things she truly believed in and was an organizer.

Before becoming an MPP, she was the executive director of the London Battered Women’s Advocacy Clinic—that I remember being on and sat on the committee—to end woman abuse. While holding the position of minister responsible for women’s issues, she led a campaign against domestic violence. In many ways, she was ahead of her time.

Back to politics: She became the Minister of Community and Social Services in 1991 and remained in that role until 1993, when she became, as was said, Ontario’s first female Attorney General, paving the way for future women to hold this position, such as Ministers Madeleine Meilleur and Caroline Mulroney. As well, Ms. Boyd was the first non-lawyer to hold that position—I don’t know if that ever happened before or since in this House, but I rather doubt it.

She was once quoted as saying, “So many people don’t have the same opportunities, yet when you get to know them as individuals they have just as much potential.” This must have been what Premier Rae and her colleagues experienced when they got to know Marion. I’ve been told from people who’ve sat in this House that at the time they saw her as a capable and well-respected leader.

After the 1995 election, Marion went on to serve as the MPP for London Centre until 1999. Impressively, she was one of only 17 NDP members who retained their seats in the 1995 provincial election and went on, while in opposition, to hold key positions within the NDP caucus, highlighting again her strong advocacy skills and leadership abilities.

As I wrap up, I’d like to take time to recognize her family members, who I’ll come up to and say hello to in a few minutes if you would allow me, please, and thank you for your attendance. After politics, I think everyone knows Marion continued her life of community service. In 2000, she was appointed chair of the Task Force on the Health Effects of Woman Abuse. She also served as a bencher on the Law Society of Upper Canada and as an adjudicator with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

Marion Boyd served her family, her constituents, her province and her country with excellence and distinction. God bless Marion Boyd. Her treasured gifts of service will be missed.

I recognize the member for Elgin–Middlesex–London.

I rise today to honour the life and legacy of my friend and mentor Marion Boyd: Ontario’s first woman—and first non-lawyer—Attorney General; former Minister of Education, Minister of Community and Social Services and minister responsible for women’s issues; a bencher at the Law Society of Upper Canada; a licensed lay worship leader in the United Church; and a lifelong champion for social justice.

It’s always a privilege for MPPs to pay tribute to those who came before us, but it is a rare opportunity to be able to publicly thank and celebrate a former MPP who had such a profound influence on my own life and my standing before you today.

Like many Ontarians, I first learned of Marion Boyd on September 6, 1990, when she gained fame as the NDP “giant-killer” who defeated former Liberal Premier David Peterson in the riding of London Centre. Shortly afterwards, I came to Queen’s Park myself, as a staffer in the NDP government, where I was in awe of and definitely intimidated by Marion Boyd. She was so strong, so principled, so competent, so inspiring, so clear-eyed and unwavering in her vision and commitment to social justice.

To many of us—and, I’m sure, to the leader of the official opposition—Marion was already a feminist icon when she arrived in office because of her remarkable record of advocacy and achievement as executive director of the London Battered Women’s Advocacy Centre.

Irene Mathyssen, elected alongside Marion in London–Fanshawe in 1990, remembers Marion’s incredible courage, integrity and leadership in the London community. Marion was at the table when the London Coordinating Committee to End Woman Abuse was established, Ontario’s first VAW coordinating committee. Marion worked tirelessly with the London Police Service to make London the first community to implement mandatory charging, raising local, provincial and national awareness of domestic violence as a criminal offence. Marion was there to march in London’s first Pride parade. She helped organize London’s first Take Back the Night march.

Here at Queen’s Park, Marion continued to make a difference for women, children and marginalized communities in this province, especially in her role as Attorney General. In 1992, the Morgentaler Clinic was firebombed. Death threats were made against doctors, and women seeking abortions were intimidated and harassed. As Attorney General, Marion worked immediately and closely with her cabinet colleague and then-health minister Frances Lankin to initiate and implement a legal injunction for no-protest zones around abortion clinics and hospitals that protected women’s access to health care until provincial legislation was passed in 2017. This was, her family told me, one of her proudest accomplishments.

Recalling that experience and their time together as MPPs, Frances Lankin describes Marion as brave, strong and tough, someone whose positions on issues were always carefully considered and well thought out.

Of course, Marion will forever be remembered for her courage in bringing forward Bill 167, legislation that prohibited discrimination against same-sex couples. Although the bill failed in a free vote, Marion paved the way for recognition of equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community and was delighted to be vindicated five years later by the Supreme Court ruling. I was here for Marion’s leadoff speech on that bill, in which she brilliantly referenced the Canadian family known to the world as representing the best in family values: Matthew Cuthbert; his sister, Marilla; and their adopted child, Anne Shirley. In using the example of Anne of Green Gables, Marion spoke to the obligation of recognizing that families come in many different forms and all are equally deserving of support. I knew in that moment that Marion was more than a feminist icon; she was also a kindred spirit.

After the 1995 election, I moved into Marion’s riding and was excited to become involved in her NDP riding association. I came to know her warmth and her kindness, her generosity and compassion, her deep connections with the NDP volunteers who had helped her through six campaigns, from her first three runs for office to her electoral successes in 1990 and 1995 to her final campaign in 1999.

Marion had a smile that could light up a room, often with a twinkle in her eye and an infectious, impish grin.

Another of her cabinet colleagues, Marilyn Churley, said, “Marion was a saint among us, but a saint with a wicked sense of humour and a lovely, sparkling laugh.”

Marion was also deeply committed to supporting and encouraging other women to stand for elected office, and I was a direct beneficiary of that when deciding to run for the school board in 2000. She said, of course, I should, and took out her chequebook to write me my first campaign donation. Although she had moved out of London by 2013 when the by-election was called in London West, she was one of the first people I talked to about running. Her confidence and steadfast support were instrumental in my decision.

Marion’s passion for social justice was matched only by her deeply held faith and her love of family. Family meant everything to Marion: her loving husband, Terry; and dear friend and confidant, Joseph Dunlop-Addley; her cherished daughter, Tina, who sadly passed away in 2017; her parents, and especially her mother, Dorothy, who Marion shared an apartment with in Toronto while serving at Queen’s Park; her siblings, their spouses and their children; and her large close-knit extended family circle. I want to welcome all of Marion’s family members and friends who have joined us today, and especially my own long-time friends Terry and Joseph.

On behalf of this Legislature, I offer our deepest condolences for your loss and our profound gratitude for Marion’s distinguished life of public service which made life better for so many Ontarians.

Applause.

Speaker, if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent to allow members to make statements in remembrance of the late Mr. Keith MacDonald, with five minutes allotted to His Majesty’s government, five minutes allotted to His Majesty’s loyal opposition and five minutes allotted to the independent members as a group.

It is an honour to be able to rise today and pay tribute to Keith McDonald, who represented Prince Edward–Lennox in the Liberal government from 1987 to 1990.

A special hello to his wife, Eleanor Lindsay—she’s home and watching online, I understand, herself a former municipal warden and tremendous supporter of local health care in the new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital that we’re building in Picton—as well as members of her family who are watching online; and a special welcome to Monica, Keith’s granddaughter, who joined us today. It’s great to have you here.

From time to time, we get into some pretty heated discussions in these chambers, and it shows our passion. Well, when Keith got to this place, he already had quite a reputation for being a fiery competitor with a no-quit attitude.

Keith grew up on a farm right in the middle of what we now know as Sandbanks Provincial Park. He raised cattle and crops, and he welcomed guests to the old Lakeland Lodge, which was there as well. It was a well-known cottage operation where his family welcomed tourists from all across the continent.

While he was attentive to his chores, Keith’s passion was sport. He was a tennis champ at Belleville’s Albert College, and his skills were honed against guests at the lodge over the summer months. He was an all-star third baseman in softball and baseball, but Keith’s favourite sport was hockey, and he was pretty darn good at it. According to an interview that he gave the Picton Gazette, he started skating on Athol Bay at the tender age of three, and he often skated against much older competitors.

He was so interested in hockey that the farming business might have been impacted at least once because of it—probably more often than not. One winter when Keith was in his twenties, his dad, Norman, spent some time down in Florida, and he left the cows in his son’s care. Keith got a bit tired of milking the cows and wanted to focus his attention instead on being on the ice, and he found a solution: After about a week, he picked up the phone and told Norman that he had sold the whole bunch of them, the whole herd. He was just a pest, though; he didn’t actually do it.

Keith really was a pest. He was a lot like Matthew Tkachuk, who’s playing for the Florida Panthers right now, getting under the skin of the Maple Leafs and, previously, the Boston Bruins. He would do anything in his power to give his team an edge. He didn’t only dish it out; he could also take it. Keith had to drop the gloves many times, and win or lose, he made an impact. People really took notice. Back in the late 1950s, he was recruited on the famed Belleville McFarlands, who went on to win the Allan Cup as Canadian senior champions in 1958, and then subsequently won a world championship for Canada in the old Czechoslovakia, in Prague, in 1959.

Around the same time, there was this young buck named Bobby Hull who was coming up through the system, another Quinte-area product; we’ve recently mourned his death. He was training with the Macs, and he was known for his physique, as well, and his toughness that was necessary at times. Keith made an impression on the young star, the Golden Jet, too. As a matter of fact, “He’s tougher than a night in jail,” the Golden Jet remarked. Keith was always in his teammates’ corner, and that reputation stuck with him later in life. Keith inspired these attributes in his five step-grandchildren, and they showed similar grit, skill and determination whether they were in the classroom, on the diamond or on the ice years later.

He was also a fan favourite, and, fittingly, he was the first person inducted into the Prince Edward County Sports Hall of Fame. While he stayed involved in sports as a referee, Keith transferred his passion to the political arena. He rose to become the reeve in Hallowell, and Prince Edward county’s warden in 1974. Counting his three years here, Keith spent more than 30 years in politics municipally and provincially.

While Keith made no secret about missing his Prince Edward county home, he was active in his time here at Queen’s Park. He served as chair of his government’s eastern Ontario caucus and the standing committees on economic policy and municipal government reform. He was really interested in clean energy, tourism and preserving farmers’ livelihoods in a time of emerging free trade. Those were among his main causes of choice.

Back in county politics, Keith was the model of decorum—in some ways, not all ways. He insisted that he and other councillors show up to meetings wearing a shirt and tie, and he always had time to listen to the people he represented. He often showed up to meetings first and left last. At one point, after surgery, wearing a full leg cast up to his hip, he was regularly climbing the stairs to the second-storey chambers at Shire Hall to serve.

Where he might not have been such a great model of decorum was in advocating for those constituents. We heard about Bill Murdoch earlier; I wouldn’t put him in that category, but he was pretty tough. Those who followed Prince Edward county council still spin some yarns today when they’re talking about those old council debates and his unprompted monologues at times. Regardless of the night’s agenda, there’d be a moment when Keith would say, “I’ve been talking to so-and-so,” and then he would find a way to lay out a constituent’s concerns with a passionate plea for help. Sometimes there was just no stopping him, short of the mayors ruling him out of order and sending him home, which happened on many occasions.

The neighbours knew they had found a sincere advocate, and they knew his firm handshake and his word were indeed his bond. He also argued strongly for fiscal responsibility at tax time, and he urged common sense solutions.

In total, when Keith retired from his political career following the 2014 municipal election, he had spent 45 consecutive years in public service, quite a remarkable legacy. Those who knew Keith beyond his gruff exterior—and I’m fortunate to have called him a friend—also know that he had a warm heart, and he had a lot of time for others.

Back on the South Shore farm that he loved, Keith was actively engaged in Prince Edward county community events until his passing at age 93. He was a larger-than-life character. He never quit. He’s going to be missed in Prince Edward county and my Bay of Quinte riding.

Thank you to Keith’s family for joining us online and here today in the chamber and allowing him to serve for so many years. We lost Keith MacDonald in March of 2021, but his legacy will live on in Ontario and especially in his beloved Prince Edward county.

We give thanks for the life and public service of Marion Boyd.

Today we are honoured to remember and pay tribute to a former member of our provincial Legislature, the late Mr. Keith McDonald, who was the MPP for Prince Edward–Lennox during the 34th Parliament.

Joining us in the Speaker’s gallery is Mr. McDonald’s granddaughter Monica Lindsay, and also in the Speaker’s gallery are David Warner, the Speaker during the 35th Parliament; Steve Gilchrist, the MPP for Scarborough East during the 36th and 37th Parliament; and Marilyn Churley, who was the member for Riverdale and also the member for Toronto–Danforth.

I recognize the Minister of Energy.

It’s always an honour to stand in this Legislature. Today, it is an honour to pay tribute on behalf of the official opposition to the late Keith MacDonald, a fellow deputy whip. Keith MacDonald, the former MPP for Prince Edward–Lennox, passed away March 30, 2021. He served in Ontario’s 34th Parliament between 1987 and 1990. In 1989, he was elected chairman of the eastern Ontario government caucus.

We are pleased today to be joined by his granddaughter Monica Lindsay; Karen Haslam, the MPP for Perth during the 35th Parliament; David Warner, the Speaker during the 35th Parliament; and also former parliamentarian Steve Gilchrist.

I had the pleasure to speak with Matt Ronan, Keith’s stepdaughter’s partner. Through this conversation and through his very gracious email, I gained greater appreciation and understanding of the incredible work and dedication that Mr. MacDonald provided throughout his political career and community involvement.

Speaker, I could not be as expressive on the life of a man whom I have never met, so I would like to read the very eloquent submission from his stepson-in-law Matt. Matt writes:

“Keith MacDonald was a farmer, an athlete and, as a lifelong politician, a fierce advocate for the people of Prince Edward county. A descendent of Loyalists, Keith farmed his land on the shore of Prince Edward county his entire life. Keith and his family ran the family farm on land that is now Sandbanks Provincial Park and ran a resort, Lakeland Lodge, on the same land.

“Keith did not have children of his own to pass the farm that was in his family since approximately 1814. He sold the land to the Ontario government to extend the boundaries of Sandbanks Provincial Park in the 1970s. Working with the provincial park, Keith continued to farm his land until 2020.

“It was difficult for him to see the farm, his farmland, reforested, but I know he was proud that this land would be shared with all who visit. When walking the new provincial park trails in the Sandbanks, you can read the family history and their relationship with the land on the many historical plaques placed by the parks.

“Keith was a hard-working, scrappy athlete who excelled in sports. Despite his many medals and him being a member of the 1959 world championship Belleville McFarlands hockey team, Keith would always say that it was his drive and work ethic that earned him a position on championship teams and not his underlying talent.

“Keith was a grinder who took and gave beatings. By the time he was 70 he had his hips and knees replaced multiple times. He literally could not lift his arm more than halfway up because of the damage he had done to his shoulder. His doctor said it was like he was sewing into wet cardboard when he went to surgically repair it the last time. This did not stop Keith. He would simply find a way to get the job done.

“Loved by the fans and the teammates and despised by the opponents, Keith truly had the respect of them all.

“At one point, Keith was given the opportunity to join the Detroit Red Wings. While he loved hockey, he could not stray far from his farm and returned home to Prince Edward county.

“Prince Edward county was his life. Keith served the people of Prince Edward county and the Bay of Quinte for over 50 years. In that capacity, he was the same scrappy, hard-nosed person as he was in hockey and farming. As a representative of the people, he was tenacious in support and worked hard on their behalf. As MPP, he served with pride, and while he lost in the next election and the NDP rose to power in Ontario, he was not saddened to be coming home to his farm and the people of his county.

“He would go on serving the community after losing his first wife to cancer.

“Later in life, Keith married another well-known local politician, Eleanor Lindsay. Eleanor Toby Lindsay was the first female warden of the county and was an environmentalist who also fought hard to preserve the beauty that is Prince Edward county. Keith took pride in Eleanor’s accomplishments and always boasted of her passion for the county. Having no children of his own, Keith was welcomed into the family by Eleanor’s children, Jennifer and Jim Lindsay, and their partners, Matthew Ronan and Lisa Lindsay.

“Keith relished family dinners and always wanted to discuss and debate local politics. While he knew how to create the debate, he was more interested in hearing the views of his new family and was interested in getting the views of the younger generation. Soon after, Keith and Eleanor became grandparents of five and the family farm became the place for the grandchildren—Gavin and William Ronan; and Mallory, Monica and Max Lindsay—to explore and learn to interact with nature. He was very proud and supportive of his family.

“In late January 2021, Keith’s health declined, and he had a long stay at Belleville General Hospital, and the end was imminent. Keith was stubborn and would not pass away until he returned to his beloved Prince Edward county, where he passed away with his family by his side. He will be missed but not forgotten.

“In Keith MacDonald’s own words”—and Matt quotes—“‘I lost as many fights as I won, but I could go out there and help the team by playing my style and doing whatever I could, and I was going to do it.’”

Thank you, Matt, for sharing these words with us today, because they were definitely eloquent and well written.

As you can see, Speaker, Keith MacDonald was a giant of a man and so well loved by his family and community. It’s always a pleasure to be able to pay tribute to previous members of this Legislature. As you heard previously, we will also be those people, so it is always a great honour.

Thank you to the family for sharing Keith with the province of Ontario. It’s definitely a better place because of him. Thank you so much.

The member for Hamilton Mountain.

Point of order, Speaker.

I move that, in the opinion of this House, the Ministry of Education should continue its advocacy to education stakeholders in the province of Ontario, such as school boards, faculties of education and the Ontario College of Teachers to strengthen professional learning on mental health for educators and school staff, keeping in mind strategies to support mental health and well-being with a focus on social-emotional learning skills, mindfulness, outdoor learning and physical activity initiatives with advice from local health units and approaches that foster a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment.

Speaker, my motion presented today is geared towards enhancing community safety, reducing violent and aggressive behaviours, increasing mindfulness and facilitating resiliency amongst youth by providing them with adequate mental health supports and practices in schools. Ontario’s children and youth need more mental health supports to better succeed. With this motion, students will better be supported in school and will see increased energy levels, concentration and optimism, resulting in a better overall academic performance.

According to the Ontario Child Health Study from 2019, approximately one in five Ontario students between the ages of four to 17 years old meet the criteria of at least one mental health matter that they would like or need support for. From 2019 to 2021, the need for mental health supports for youth increased from 35% to 43%. That’s exactly why we need to bolster mental health supports for our students, and that’s simply what our government, led by Premier Ford, intends to do.

In my riding of Brampton East, we have hundreds of families that rely on school boards for support to do their part in raising the future of Ontario when there isn’t appropriate help readily accessible. It has long-term effects on the students and those around them. Many concerned parents have brought forward incidents of their child feeling isolated or stressed due to academic and social factors. Ontario has a diversified population of families, eager to work hard and establish a brighter tomorrow. Through hard work and sacrifice, these families should have peace of mind, knowing that adequate supports are available to help their children face mental health pressures.

Speaker, just under half of the students part of the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey report that, in the past year, there was a time where they wanted to talk to someone about a mental health problem but didn’t know who to turn to. We understand that students spend a great deal of their day at school and can naturally wish to turn to their teacher for support when struggling with mental health.

Our province’s teachers and education staff do an impeccable job of nurturing students and play a significant role in their development. They often go above and beyond their basic responsibilities, investing extra effort to understand each student’s unique needs and providing personalized support. They design engaging lessons, facilitate classroom discussions and encourage critical thinking and creativity. However, our educators are not trained mental health professionals.

Speaker, struggling with mental health can naturally lead to negative repercussions which can impact students’ lives and cause them to react drastically. This can be in the form of avoiding classes, having difficulty making friends and/or behaving differently with teachers and classmates. In more extreme situations, it can also lead to students acting out through violent acts and aggressive behaviours.

With this motion, our government, through the Ministry of Education, will be able to better equip and train our province’s educators with the appropriate resources they need to support students and help them overcome the mental health struggles that they may face.

A recent study conducted by the Toronto School Administrators’ Association reported that nearly three quarters of principals and vice-principals at Toronto schools are finding it increasingly difficult to manage student behaviour, with many of them expressing a concern about the rise in violence.

There is stigma amongst youth when it comes to talking about mental health, and instead of seeking help and support, youth tend to act out and express themselves in a manner with negative connotations. To address this concern and reduce the stigma, this advocacy campaign needs to be implemented to provide students with a safe space that they can feel heard.

Speaker, as many of you have heard, there are six schools in Mississauga and Brampton that were targets of online threats to “shoot them up.” While the Peel and Dufferin-Peel Catholic school boards and Peel Regional Police do a phenomenal job of protecting our families and loved ones, we need to take preventative approaches to reduce crime in schools by providing accessible mental health resources.

This past week, we had a concerned mother come into my constituency office with a heartbreaking but eye-opening story. Her son was physically bullied at school, but didn’t feel comfortable telling anybody about it and instead made the excuse of feeling sick and avoiding going to school. While at school, he was bullied and faced aggression from his bully, and he was physically injured as a result.

On the other side, when you look at the other side of the story, we have a bully that’s acting out violently by injuring another student, likely in response to unaddressed or unresolved feelings. With the support of mental health, maybe that can be solved as well. While our educators do an amazing job instilling knowledge and teaching students the curriculum, they’re not always equipped to identify and recognize distress signals and mental health concerns among students.

Speaker, I’m moving this motion today in response to the countless stories such as this that I’ve heard from concerned parents, to address the growing epidemic of students needing mental health supports in order to provide them with better, nurturing classroom environments.

The previous Liberal government, with the support of the NDP, failed to understand the severity of such instances and the need for sufficient in-school supports for students and staff. They failed to provide sufficient funding to school boards to ensure that all students had access to mental health supports and services that they needed and that there were enough mental health professionals accessible to provide that adequate support. I hope they now recognize this shortcoming and support this motion.

It’s critical to have educators and school staff equipped to handle various situations so they can embed mental health promotion into the education experience and help foster a safe and inclusive classroom environment. Simply put, our government gets it. That’s why we have already made strides in paving the way for better mental health resources for these students. Every year since 2018, we have consistently increased funding to support student mental health in Ontario. For the current school year alone, we invested $90 million, which is roughly five times the amount we initially invested in 2018, which is a nearly 555% increase.

In November 2022, the Ministry of Education conducted a consultation with community stakeholders to identify and highlight what’s happening in schools and the greater community in relation to mental health and to review the coordination of mental health resources and services in schools. Ultimately, this consultation led to the recommendation of embedding age-appropriate mental health learning and resources throughout the curriculum. Our government took prompt action on this issue, and in just five months, we executed a plan to integrate mental health learning and materials for grade 7 and 8 student curriculums. We also introduced mandatory learning on mental health literacy for grade 10 students, which will help cover key topics such as how to recognize signs of being overwhelmed or struggling, as well as how to access help when needed.

I would like to commend our Minister of Education, Minister Lecce, and his ministry team, as well as MPP Pierre for their dedication and action in delivering our government’s commitments to support students and help them succeed.

Speaker, an advocacy campaign like the one I’m moving today will not only continue to build our government’s priority of supporting the mental health and well-being of students and staff across the province but also act as a proactive and preventative measure to increase mindfulness, decrease violence and aggressive acts, facilitate resiliency and, ultimately, enhance community safety. It will also focus on providing educators with social-emotional learning practices that can be introduced into the classroom routine to promote mindfulness and facilitate a suitable learning environment. Finally, the campaign will focus on establishing healthy relations between educators, students and peers in order to foster healthy and welcoming inclusive classrooms.

Providing targeted training on mental health strategies such as social-emotional learning skills, mindfulness and physical activity initiatives will allow for educators to become well equipped with the tools and resources they require to support good student mental health and will allow them to become someone for struggling students to turn to and seek support from.

School Mental Health Ontario is an organization that focuses on supporting the mental health and well-being of students and is our province’s official school mental health implementation partner. In line with the motion being moved here today, they believe that to create a mentally healthy school, as a whole-school approach, which they ask to be adopted—which means that mental health promotion should be integrated into all aspects of the educational environment, curriculum and practices.

They also stated the following: “Schools are a critical part of the overall mental health care system in Ontario for children and youth. The role is focused on wellness promotion, prevention, and early intervention. The goal is to help young people flourish while reducing the number of students in need of intensive mental health supports.”

By focusing on wellness promotion, prevention and early intervention, our government can help schools better develop students, their skills and the resilience they need to maintain good mental health while also identifying and addressing issues before they become more serious. By prioritizing mental health training for educators and school staff through this campaign, we can ensure students in Ontario have access to the support they need to thrive both academically and socially. This advocacy campaign is catered to supporting students, which will lead to better outcomes in both the short and long term, including improved academic performance; stronger interpersonal relationships with peers, teachers and families; and better overall well-being.

In summary, the motion I am moving today is asking for this House to support the Ministry of Education in spearheading an advocacy campaign to encourage educators in implementing mental health practices in their classrooms and provide them with the appropriate resources to do so. This will result in mentally healthy classrooms and will facilitate academic student success which ultimately will lead to greater community safety.

To achieve this goal, the campaign will focus on key implementation strategies mentioned earlier which include: outdoor learning opportunities and emotional well-being practices that can be utilized for all grades; providing educators with social-emotional learning practices; and fostering welcoming and inclusive classroom environments. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that all students in Ontario have the tools they need to thrive.

And then as these new resources are implemented, our ministry, supported by the PA, has been working very hard to make sure that these resources are available for grade 7 and 8 students and teachers as well as they revise the grade 10 curriculum to include mental health literacy.

As I mentioned before, most mental health issues developed between the ages of 15 to 24 during the COVID pandemic, and through this motion we’ll be able to better support them.

If you seek it, I’m sure you will find unanimous consent to see the clock at 6.

It’s an honour to rise today to pay tribute to Keith MacDonald. Born July 18, 1927, Keith MacDonald was elected to the Ontario Legislature on September 10, 1987. Mr. MacDonald proudly served the riding of Prince Edward–Lennox until 1990. He brought the voice of the rural community right here to Queen’s Park under the Liberal Party of Ontario. During his term, he was named deputy government whip and served on two standing committees.

Mr. MacDonald was not only an MPP, but also a lifetime farmer and a member of the Cattlemen’s Association of Ontario. He raised cattle and crops all over Prince Edward county. Mr. MacDonald attended his final cattle auction in Hoards Station in January 2021.

What is also clear is his love for sports. As a youth, Mr. MacDonald was actively involved in baseball, softball, tennis and hockey. His participation in hockey continued as he managed and sponsored teams. Mr. MacDonald was a referee for the Ontario Hockey Association for many years. As a player, he rose to prominence locally as a member of the Belleville McFarlands hockey club that captured the Allan Cup in a seven-game series contested in Kelowna, British Columbia, and then the world championship the following year in Prague. He is lovingly memorialized at the Prince Edward County Sports Hall of Fame, where he was the first approved member.

Mr. MacDonald’s long history of community involvement includes terms as councillor, deputy reeve and reeve of Hallowell township, as well as warden of Prince Edward county. He was a tireless public servant and aimed to serve his community well. I’m sure he is remembered as fondly in Prince Edward county as he is here at Queen’s Park.

Keith MacDonald passed away peacefully at Hospice Prince Edward, Picton, on Saturday, March 27, 2021, at the age of 93. At the end of his long life, surrounded by his loved ones, I hope he was proud of all he accomplished for his community and of his years of public service, both in this chamber and outside of it.

Thank you to Monica Lindsay, Keith MacDonald’s granddaughter, who is here today; Karen Haslam, MPP for Perth during the 35th Parliament; former MPP for Toronto–Danforth Marilyn Churley; former MPP for Scarborough East Steve Gilchrist; and David Warner, Speaker during the 35th Parliament, for joining us here today at Queen’s Park to remember and pay tribute to the wonderful life and legacy of Keith MacDonald.

Applause.