Speaker, there are a lot of questions for the Minister of Education. His ministry is responsible for TVO, which has done high-quality programming work for years on public affairs and children’s programming. In the last four years, funding to TVO has been frozen or dropped while inflation has relentlessly driven costs upwards. The budget for content and programming at TVO dropped by well over 10% between 2021 and 2022, and this year’s estimates from the Minister of Education are certainly nothing to be happy about.

I have to ask, why is TVO management trying to starve TVO programming? TVO public affairs programming and children’s programming are literally award winners in this country. And yet, both the ministry and TVO management seem to be committed to slowly—maybe not so slowly—making it more and more difficult for programming to be made here in Ontario. What do they have against high-quality programming being made in this province?

Comme beaucoup de mes collègues l’ont mentionné dans les derniers jours, ça fait déjà un an que nous avons été élus pour représenter les citoyens de la province de l’Ontario. Je veux remercier les citoyens de Glengarry–Prescott–Russell pour leur confiance, et je veux les assurer que j’en suis reconnaissant et que je continuerai à les représenter au meilleur de mes capacités.

Il ne reste que quelques jours à cette session ici à Queen’s Park. Nous allons apprécier le temps que nous passerons dans nos circonscriptions respectives. J’espère que je ne manquerai pas trop mes collègues pendant les prochains mois. J’aimerais profiter de cette occasion pour souhaiter un bel été à mes collègues députés. Ils seront dans leurs circonscriptions durant les deux prochains mois pour participer à plein d’événements; rencontrer des organismes, des entreprises, des citoyens; et passer un peu plus de temps avec leur famille.

Nous serons tous très occupés à rencontrer des gens, en participant à des foires agricoles, des évènements de levées de fonds d’organismes à but non lucratif, des célébrations communautaires, festivals, et j’en passe. Les évènements estivaux sont déjà en cours dans ma circonscription et à travers la province, monsieur le Président. J’ai déjà participé à quelques évènements de ma région, et je peux vous dire que les gens sont très contents de participer à ces rassemblements.

Pour moi, les prochains mois seront des occasions extraordinaires pour entreprendre de belles discussions avec les citoyens et de leur expliquer ce que notre gouvernement fait pour améliorer la vie de tous les Ontariens. J’ai bien hâte de parcourir ma circonscription pour rencontrer les gens de Glengarry–Prescott–Russell.

I’d like to recognize, from BUSU, Brock University Students’ Union: Alyssa Hall, Carleigh Charlton, Aishah Sonekan, James Maxwell-Barillas. Welcome to your House.

But also, Speaker, on Saturday I had the opportunity to walk in the ALS walk in Niagara—and I’m proud to announce Niagara was third overall in Ontario for raising funds—and that’s where I had the opportunity to meet Kris Noakes and her daughter, Fallon, who were on the walk. Welcome to your House and thank you for coming.

I’d like to welcome Kate Laing, Heather Hanwell, Suzanne Burke, Mary Jo Nabuurs, Farheen Mahmood and Louise Hidinger—all from Ontario School Safety—and supporting them this morning, Neeya Abidi, Carolyn Marshall, Amanda Mohammed, Kari Raymer-Bishop, Henry Bishop and Jane Hanwell. Thank you so much for coming this morning and advocating for safer schools, and welcome to your House.

I’d like to welcome Michau van Speyk from the Ontario Autism Coalition back to the House again today.

And, of course, I would be remiss not to mention, thanks to this lovely, amazing place, my very best friend, Taras Natyshak.

I’d just like to introduce, from my favourite city, Cambridge, the mayor of Cambridge, Jan Liggett, and her husband, Les Kadar.

I too would like to welcome back our former caucus colleague and friend to this very peaceful place: Welcome to your House, Taras.

I’d like to welcome Stephanie Ramsay and her son Lukasz Ramsay. Stephanie’s daughter, Lauren, is an usher here in the Leg.

I’d like to welcome Momina Malik, Quinn LeFort, Soobin Sung and Joubin Seyrafian. They are the four newest members of the Ontario Liberal summer internship program.

I’d like to welcome Jaide Kassam, our ministry intern and a student at Carleton University, and as tough as it is for me to say this: Go, Ravens!

I’d like to welcome three friends to the House: Kenneth Kranendonk and retiring cadets Benny Liverance-Edwards and Nic VanNiewenhuizen.

Welcome to your House.

I’d like to welcome my good friend Chantal McCollum to Queen’s Park.

I’d like to introduce my wonderful constituency staff who are with me here today: Joanne Beatty, my constituency manager; Jennie Yeung; Matthew Fieg, Daniel Goutevets, James Madore—all three of whom are my full-time summer intern students; as well as Téah U-Ming, my OLIP intern who’s with me for only a couple more weeks. I just want to thank them for all they do to support me. Welcome to the Legislature.

I’d like to welcome to the House Patrick and Laura Porzuczek from Save the Minden ER; Ashley Fox, a registered practical nurse and member of the Guelph-Wellington health coalition; Hazel Pratt-Paige, a member of the Chesley hospital support group; and Brenda Scott, a fellow member of the Chesley hospital support group and with the Grey Bruce Health Coalition.

Welcome to your House.

It is my pleasure to welcome Dua Boztas and Mévlutte Boztas. They are the parents of my incredible OLIP intern, Esma Boztas, who I want to thank for her hard work.

In September 2021, I was pleased to announce a $100,000 Community Building Fund grant for the Barrie Trojan Swim Club. The grant was used to help the club with staff salaries to support success through and beyond a pandemic rebuild. Funds from the grant also contributed directly towards the club’s ability to continue offering quality programming for local athletes.

Not only did this grant help secure job opportunities as well as improve the mental and physical health of people of all ages in Barrie, but it also has led to a personal best for the team. The Barrie Trojan Swim Club had five swimmers participate at the 2023 Bell Canadian Swimming Trials at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, which set an impressive record for the club. The Barrie Trojan Swim Club athletes did fantastic, and as a result of their performances, two of their swimmers and the head coach have been named to represent Canada at upcoming international events. Laila Oravsky has been named to the Pan American Games team that will compete in Chile in October. Jordi Vilchez and Endi Babi, head coach, will be part of the Canadian team competing at the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships taking place in Israel this September. I want to congratulate them on their grit and their stamina and wish Laila, Jordi and coach Endi the best of luck as they take on the global stage.

Through your sportsmanship, you inspire a whole community and a generation of future athletes in swimming. Keep swimming, Barrie Trojans. Congratulations.

I’m very pleased to inform the House that we have a former member in the House with us today, the representative for Essex in the 40th, 41st and 42nd Parliaments. Taras Natyshak is here.

Welcome back.

Also with us today in the Speaker’s gallery are some very special guests: Mr. David Warner, who was the Speaker of the 35th Parliament, accompanied by his wife, Pat, and Mr. Alvin Curling, who was Speaker during the 38th Parliament.

I also want to welcome the guests of Mr. Claude DesRosiers: Suzanne Labbé; his sons, Louis and Jean DesRosiers; his daughter, Lucie DesRosiers; his son-in-law, Sean Taylor; and his granddaughter Lily Taylor.

And the guests of Ms. Deborah Deller are her husband, Garry Deller; and Denise Weeks, who was the former Principal Clerk of the North Carolina House of Representatives.

Finally, a warm welcome back to former staff of the Office of the Assembly: Zina Decker, former executive assistant to Mr. DesRosiers and Ms. Deller; Sylvia Nemanic, former executive director, administrative services; and Vicki Whitmell, former executive director, information and technology services, and legislative librarian.

Please join me in welcoming our guests to the Legislature today.

The member for Hamilton Mountain.

This morning, I’d like to welcome a very good friend of mine Gianrobert Santagato. It’s the first time that he has coming to the Legislature.

I’d also like to welcome a delegation that’s here at Queen’s Park this morning from Lazio, Italy—over 20 of them are here. I especially would like to welcome Luca Di Stefano, the mayor of Sora, and Fiorella Gazzellone, the mayor of Terelle.

Remarks in Italian.

I want to give a quick shout-out to Alessia Iafano who is with us today, a Queen’s University student and one of the leaders of the Ontario PC youth association. Welcome to Queen’s Park.