Response? The member from Perth–Wellington.

Third reading debate deemed adjourned.

My question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. We are working with tenants across the city of Toronto whose purpose-built rentals are slated to be demolished. They’re terrified because they’re worried they’re never going to be able to get back into their homes once the construction of the new, bigger building is complete.

This government is looking at creating new rental replacement laws, and this is my question: When I look at the Residential Tenancies Act, there’s no guaranteed right of return for a tenant who’s evicted because of demolition. There’s no guaranteed right of return. In this government’s new rental replacement bylaw, are you going to allow cities to guarantee a tenant’s right to return to their home?

The federal government has declared the first Friday in June the National Day Against Gun Violence, but we need to work to stop gun violence at the provincial level as well. Today, I will be tabling a bill to also declare the first Friday in June the provincial day against gun violence in Ontario.

Gun violence shatters lives and traumatizes communities. The number of shootings is rising, from 251 in 2005, which was dubbed the “year of the gun,” to 365 last year—and these are only Toronto statistics. Gun violence, like a virus, is spreading across the province.

On Friday, a number of community groups will be at Queen’s Park to ask the Ontario government to address gun violence through a program of prevention, intervention and healing.

Prevention begins with addressing the root cause of gun and other community violence, which is poverty and the growing gap between rich and poor. We’re calling on the government to raise the minimum wage, double ODSP and OW rates and build affordable housing so everyone has a home.

Intervention requires the police, but as the police say themselves, they alone cannot solve this issue. You cannot arrest your way out of gun violence.

Healing means we must deal with the trauma coming out of each episode of gun violence before it spirals into a vicious cycle of revenge. We need to prevent, intervene and help communities to heal.

I hope the Legislature will support my call to declare the first Friday in June the provincial day against gun violence in Ontario.

Mr. Speaker, today I have a very sad statement. Today, I’m paying tribute to deceased OPP officer Steven Tourangeau who was killed in an automobile accident this week. Steven Tourangeau was a native of Essex county. He entered law enforcement and last held the rank of detective constable with the Huron county OPP. He was 35. He is survived by his wife, Danikah, and his three sons, Everett, Luke and Drew.

My wife Jackie and Steven were first cousins. Steven’s mother and my wife’s mother are sisters. And I know this family very well. Steven’s father, Marcel Tourangeau, is a loving pépé with a big heart. Steven’s mother, Kathy Tourangeau, is a dedicated mémé with a heart of gold. They are good people, beautiful people, and this is a tragic loss.

Today, my heart goes out to the family and to all the grieving parents who have lost a child before their time.

It is of course with great pride that I rise today, and for the first time in franchise history, the Wellesley AppleJacks are the Schmalz Cup champions. Wellesley willed their way to the Ontario Junior C championship with a 3-to-2 win over the Clarington Eagles earlier this month.

Noah Bender, a rookie goalie for the AppleJacks, was named tournament MVP.

Congratulations to coach Ryan Gerber and the rest of the staff, and of course, their great leadership.

Thank you for the players, fans, volunteers and sponsors that made this historic season possible.

They had a heroes’ welcome in Wellesley earlier this week, complete with a fire truck escort through the streets for their championship parade.

We have a lot to celebrate in Wellesley as we are set to open a new and improved Wellesley arena next year. The community centre will feature a hockey rink, two soccer pitches, spaces for a youth drop-in centre and seniors’ centre, a walking track and a gymnasium. The province is contributing over $16 million to the roughly $22-million facility. We got the arena built together, but you guys got us a banner to raise.

Speaker, I have one question for you: How do you like them AppleJacks?

I want to congratulate the Seasons Centre for Grieving Children, which is based in Barrie, Ontario, who received the 2022-23 Attorney General’s Victim Services Award of Distinction from our Attorney General, Minister Doug Downey.

The Seasons Centre for Grieving Children offers services at no cost to families and opens its doors to participants aged five to 24. The centre relies totally on fundraising and generous corporate and personal donations.

The Seasons Centre for Grieving Children is extremely pleased that they have received this award, and I am pleased to welcome them here today. They’re joined today by Hope from Seasons Centre, their mascot. She has been travelling around many places and hopes to raise awareness of childhood grief. The Seasons Centre has done a lot of work, and this afternoon, I hope many people will be able to meet Hope to spread the word for children experiencing grief and learn more of how they can bring these great services to their own community.

Today, we have members in the gallery, Rowley Ramey and Johanna Stockley, who do so much work for the centre, helping families and children. I hope everyone here can join me for a round of applause to thank them for all the work they and their team do.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and a wonderful Wednesday, everyone. There is nothing gutsier than a gutsy walk. The Crohn’s and colitis society of Ontario does amazing work supporting people suffering from this chronic illness. Over 300,000 Canadians already have it, with someone new being diagnosed with Crohn’s or colitis every hour in Canada. There are no known cures for Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, and that is why we need to walk.

For my family, this debilitating disease is quite personal, as my powerful and passionate daughter Becca was first diagnosed with Crohn’s at 16. She has learned to live with this diagnosis, navigating health care systems both in Ontario and British Columbia, travelling through Asia, working, studying and trying to live a full life. She is now 23 and realizes that she will never fully be able to plan ahead in life as Crohn’s has a way of flaring up just when you least expect it. Becca McMahon, like others, puts on a brave face and tackles the world with courage every single day.

Today, I would like to encourage my fine-feathered colleagues to take part in this tremendously important crusade this Sunday, June 4, 10 a.m., all over Ontario. Be gutsy. Join the gutsy walk.

On Monday, May 29, Steven Tourangeau donned the uniform of the Ontario Provincial Police, ready to serve and safeguard our rural communities. Regrettably, Speaker, Steven’s return home was not to be. Detective Constable Tourangeau, a valued member of the OPP Perth county detachment and an integral part of the Huron-Perth community street crimes unit, met a tragic fate. His life was abruptly cut short in a devastating collision between his police cruiser and a school bus in Zorra township.

At the age of 35, we mourn the untimely loss of Constable Tourangeau—a loss that reverberates deeply throughout our community and the entire Perth County OPP Detachment. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Danikah, and their three young boys.

Speaker, it’s incumbent upon us to acknowledge that we can never fully repay the debt we owe to our first responders—those stalwart individuals who place themselves in harm’s way each and every day to safeguard our well-being.

Let us also remember the tragic fate of David Stewart, the school bus driver, who met an untimely end. For over a decade, David dedicated his days to driving a school bus, his second act following a successful career as a motorcycle and small engine mechanic. He leaves behind his cherished wife and best friend, Wendy, whom he shared 47 years with. David was a loving father to four daughters and a source of immense pride as a grandfather.

My thoughts and prayers go out to both families, burdened with unimaginable grief during this difficult time. I want to let them know that the people of Ontario stand united, offering our support and unwavering solidarity.

One code red, black or zero is one too many. That means few or no ambulances or paramedics are available to respond to emergencies. Another code black was called in my community again just last night.

Under this Conservative government, code blacks, reds and zeroes are becoming normal, and that is not acceptable. Ontarians deserve to have the confidence that if they have the medical emergency, they can call 911 and receive help quickly.

Paramedics are burning out at an alarming rate, and this government isn’t taking the necessary steps to help our crumbling health care system. In fact, they are actively making the situation worse. The staffing crisis in hospitals leads to longer wait times to transfer patients to the care of nurses and doctors. Paramedics are held up in the hospitals instead of being on the road to save more lives. Bill 124 must be repealed today.

Last week was Paramedic Services Week. I thank every paramedic in Windsor-Essex and across the province for their dedication to serving their communities.

In October 2022, my NDP colleague MPP Shaw tabled a motion calling on the Conservative government to provide necessary funding to end instances when ambulances are unavailable to respond to an emergency. The motion passed unanimously. However, in March 2023, the Financial Accountability Officer reported the government is withholding $6.4 billion in much-needed support. The Conservative government must honour their promise, properly fund the public health care system, support front-line health care workers so they aren’t doing their jobs without adequate support, and ensure code reds, blacks and zeroes are not the normal in Ontario, because lives depend on it.

On behalf of the official opposition, I’d like to welcome the board and staff of Dairy Farmers of Ontario, the people who produce wonderful dairy products in our province, and invite everyone to their reception this evening.

I’d like to introduce Rowley Ramey, the managing director of the Seasons Centre for Grieving Children, along with Johanna Stockley, the office manager. They’re here in the gallery, and they have Hope upstairs on the fourth floor. We hope you come upstairs and see her later.

Speaker, it’s my pleasure to introduce the people from the Canadian Franchise Association. I hope you have wonderful meetings at Queen’s Park today.

We’re pleased to welcome representatives of the Canadian Franchise Association here for their numerous meetings and a lovely breakfast this morning. We had the pleasure of meeting with Sherry McNeil, the president and CEO, along with members that included John Prittie, Kirk Allan, Clark Harrop and Scott Munnoch, and there are many more.

I’d like to welcome a great Ontarian, a great community advocate, my friend Ashley Steinfeld, husband to Jimmy Steinfeld and father to Brixton and Grayson. Welcome to the Ontario Legislature.

I’m very pleased to welcome to Queen’s Park today the Dairy Farmers of Ontario. Representing them, we have Cheryl Smith, Rosa Checchia, Patrice Dubé, Rey Moisan, Murray Sherk, Don Gordon, Brian Burnett, Adam Petherick, George Van Kampen, Vicky Morrison, John Wynands, and, of course, saving the best for last, from Bruce county, Mark Hamel. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

It is my pleasure to introduce members from my Waterloo riding association and the newly formed University of Waterloo NDP Club. Janice Jim is here, Mason Fitzpatrick, Damian Mikhail, Kevin Nguyen, Luke Marlatt, Craig Porter and Daniel Eskiocak. I want to welcome you to your House.

It is with great pride that I introduce to the assembly, and welcome to Queen’s Park, Jonathan van Bilsen, Port Perry’s own award-winning photographer, patron of the arts, columnist, author, keynote speaker and host of the Jonathan van Bilsen television show on the Rogers television network. He is joined by his granddaughter Sophia. Welcome to the House.

I’d like to welcome Ramona Roblin and Alison Kelly from the PEC Period Party to Queen’s Park today. The Prince Edward County Period Party is a grassroots project in Bay of Quinte that successfully advocated for free menstrual products to be made available in public washrooms, resulting in a pilot project rolled out earlier this month. Welcome to your House. We’re so proud to have you here.

Distressed, furious residents; shuttered emergency rooms; no health care when you need it—I want to ask the Premier: Is this the kind of legacy the Conservatives want to leave?

The same government statement goes on to say that the Conservative MPP for Minden has been in touch with the local hospital board, but residents and local business owners here yesterday said she hasn’t met with them, and when they were here yesterday, she didn’t even raise her head to look at them.

Speaker, why is this government trying to play people for fools, instead of taking some responsibility?

Interjections.

Good morning, everyone. It is my pleasure to welcome to the House a delegation from Spain that I met with this morning: His Excellency the Spanish ambassador to Canada, Alfredo Martinez Serrano; as well as the Honourable Luis Garcia Montero, president of the Cervantes institute; as well as Philippe Robertet and Sonia Perez Marco. Welcome to Ontario and welcome to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.