It’s my distinct pleasure to congratulate Dr. Jennifer Kagan, who was honoured with the Attorney General’s Victim Services Award of Distinction. This award recognizes the dedication and achievements of individuals and organizations working to support people who have been victimized due to crime, and to raise awareness of victims’ issues in Ontario.

From the tragic death of her daughter Keira, Dr. Kagan has been a tireless advocate for women who are victims of intimate partner violence and for children traumatized by the violence. She has called for policy and legislative change to better protect victims of domestic violence in the family courts and child protection system.

Her leadership on this important issue inspired me to introduce the Kiera’s Law motion which was unanimously passed last year. My motion shone a bright light on the need for specific education and training about intimate partner violence and coercive control for judges, justices of the peace and other legal professionals. I applaud the government for including in Bill 102 the need to enhance training for judges and JPs. It is an important first step.

To Jennifer, we thank you for not giving up and being a strong leader for so many. This battle has come with the utmost pain, but let it be known, your little girl Keira is changing the world for the better.

I would like to take this opportunity to update the House on a flooding situation in Timiskaming–Cochrane, in Elliot Lake, just outside of Iroquois Falls. It has been in flood conditions for a few weeks now. A lot of my riding had the flood and the flood flowed away, but Elliot Lake is unique because, for residents around the lake now, their septic systems are flooding; they no longer work. They’re having to boil water and now it’s questionable whether the foundations around their homes are going to be maintained.

Elliot Lake is unique because part of it is in the municipality of Iroquois Falls and they have declared a state of emergency, and part of it is in unorganized territory.

I would like to say, I met with the Minister of Natural Resources and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and we are working together to try and alleviate the situation. It’s hard to find the short-term solution, but there are long-term consequences to what is happening here. It is unprecedented. Elliot Lake, in my time, hasn’t flooded and people around this area have never seen this before. There’s no such thing as an easy flood, but if a flood comes and goes, it’s one thing, but this flood came and it stayed and it’s staying.

I’m going to continue to work with the ministries to work on behalf of the people of Elliot Lake.

Not long ago, I joined colleagues to announce an investment of over $36 million to York region as part of our Homelessness Prevention Program. The issue of homelessness is complex and our government is continuously working on it. Everyone deserves a place to call home.

I’ve had many opportunities to engage with homeless support programs in my riding. I’ve joined St. Joseph the Worker Parish’s Street Patrol program, packing meals for those in need alongside remarkable Thornhill teens. And while volunteering at the Holy Trinity Church homeless shelter, I met two dedicated sisters, Miriam and Hillary, along with a remarkable young woman by the name of Cindy. Cindy arrived at the shelter back in December. She’d suffered from some very hard times and found herself homeless for the night. She showed me the exact mattress she lay on that night; she had a picture of it. She was approached by Rehana Sumar, executive director at Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold program. Today, just a few months later, Cindy is employed as a PSW. She’s moved into new, permanent housing and working side by side with Rehana to give back to the community.

Mosaic, part of Blue Door, recently received an OTF grant to help them continue their significant work. I am so proud to be a part of this cause, and this is not only to prevent homelessness, but to provide resources.

This morning, I’m rising in recognition that we’re rapidly coming to the end of the spring session, and while I have truly enjoyed this sitting of the Legislature, working with all of the members and moving forward with the government’s plans to build Ontario, to build homes and to bring jobs and prosperity to all parts of Ontario, I am very much looking forward to spending the summer back in my riding, visiting with our residents and working locally to achieve the very necessary goals.

From the shores of Lake Ontario, through farms and forests, villages and towns, all the way north to Algonquin Park, I have the privilege of representing what must be, in my opinion, the most beautiful and varied riding in the entire province. Over the summer, I have been invited to so many different fairs, festivals, exhibitions and social events, with summer fairs in Tweed, Napanee, Odessa, Stirling and Coe Hill, and even the World’s Fair in Shannonville, Ontario. And amazing events, like Tamworth’s 175th anniversary, the Farm to Table Community Dinner and so many more—with all of these events leading up to the Hastings County Plowing Match and then even more events in the fall. Speaker, it will be a very busy summer, because the people of Hastings–Lennox and Addington are very excited and energized, and we know that Ontario is on the right path. It’s going to be a great summer, Speaker.

I’d like to welcome to the House today my summer interns: Sam, Levi, Halle, Abi, Celina, Steve and Vanshika. Thank you for the incredible work that you’re doing in our community telling people about what we’re doing.

It’s my honour to welcome Shaykh Imam Imran Ally, a leader in the Taric Islamic community, a leader of interfaith dialogue, a chaplain for first responders. It’s also my honour to introduce leaders of the Turkish-Syrian relief effort here in our city, Sinan Erdemir and Can Gursoz. Thank you for your leadership, and welcome to the Ontario Legislature.

Unless there are any objections, I’d like to continue with introduction of visitors.

I recognize the government House leader and Minister of Legislative Affairs.

Motion agreed to.

Applause.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome Glenda Brindle. She is the chair of the Bereavement Authority of Ontario. Welcome to Queen’s Park. Looking forward to meeting with you this afternoon.

Once again, I’d like to welcome Michau van Speyk to the House, from the Ontario Autism Coalition. And I see my friend Kim Wright in the chamber, too. Welcome back to Queen’s Park.

I’d like to welcome to the House today a young gentleman who, as a student, is destined to be a future law student, a future trial lawyer and maybe even a future parliamentarian: young Mr. Liam MacCarthy.

It’s ALS Awareness Month. Today in the House we have Ilayda Ulgenalp and CEO Tammy Moore. Welcome to the House.

I’d also like to extend a welcome to the OPSBA president, Stephanie Donaldson, who was the former trustee for the beautiful riding of Spadina–Fort York.

I’d like to welcome Dr. Arun Seth and Honourable Dr. Asha Seth to Queen’s Park. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Good morning, Speaker. This question is for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Earlier today, the NDP released a document obtained from freedom-of-information requests showing that officials at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing were discussing the removal of specific greenbelt lands prior to the last election.

Will the minister tell us which officials were discussing these greenbelt removals and was he one of them?

Well, Speaker, there wasn’t much detail there, but I believe that I am familiar with what the opposition is referring to. My understanding is that the third party in question was the city of Hamilton and that the record should be released in due course.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The June 1 is Global Coptic Day. I would like to wish all the Coptics around world a happy Coptic day.

I do, Speaker. If you seek it, you will find unanimous consent to move a motion without notice concerning the appointment of the next Clerk of the Legislative Assembly.

As we all know, June is ALS Awareness Month. I am also pleased to join and welcome members from the ALS Society of Canada here at Queen’s Park. Welcome.

Speaker, I’d like to introduce my good friend Steve Armes and his son, Liam Armes, to the Legislature today. Steve is the director and chief instructor of Shoshinkan Martial Arts. Over the years that I’ve known him, I have witnessed his service and dedication to community. Welcome to the Legislature.

I’m honoured to introduce one of the hardest-working volunteers from my campaign, Reese Nemeth, to the House, as well as some of his colleagues: Christian von Donat, Jayme Wilson, Charlotte Reed, Sara Clark, Noah Mondrow and Holly Yoon. Welcome to the Legislature.