To the member from Essex: Recently, I was speaking with the chief of police in Hamilton, and he was commenting on how difficult it was to attract new recruits to policing. I spoke with young recruits about why they entered the force, and they said it’s very challenging when they hear comments, as we’ve heard and read, by people—for example, the member from Hamilton Centre, who tweeted some very disparaging remarks about police officers. We know that previous members of the NDP also made some very disparaging comments about police.

We also know, from a recent article in the Hamilton Spectator, that a heightened police presence actually impacts the level of crime. We saw the drop in break-and-enters in Hamilton, right across the city, because of a heightened police presence.

Can the member speak to why it’s important to reach out and provide opportunities to people who may be considering policing? They’re not always getting the support in communities—and we’ve seen that by members of the NDP.

During constituency week, I had the pleasure of visiting the First Unitarian Church of Hamilton as they hosted an open house for HATS, the Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters. HATS is a not-for-profit organization working as part of the solution to the unhoused crisis in Hamilton. Their vision is to create a village of small, heated cabins to provide transitional housing and support services for residents living on the street. I had the chance to tour a charming tiny cabin and to meet so many devoted volunteers, such as Tom Cooper, the director of the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction; Kim Martin, the executive director of the Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton; and Julie Shea, the director of Centre[3], an arts organization that created a fantastic 3D model of the HATS village.

HATS has already raised more than $300,000 and has support services lined up from various community partners. HATS has the funding, the resources and the partners in place. They are now working to find a site.

Thank you for your compassion and devotion to helping others in our community. Hats off to HATS.

And there was no place more beautiful to be this weekend than on the shores of Hamilton bay at the most westerly point of Lake Ontario. It was a pleasure to participate in the annual sail-past and to recognize the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club for achieving silver in the Clean Marine eco program. The Clean Marine eco program is an environmental program that encourages environmental practices associated with recreational boating across Ontario.

Congratulations once again to Cindy Brown, Susanne Broe-Vayda, Paul Vayda, and Ross Munro, chair, of the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club environment committee.