Critical metals, like cobalt, lithium and nickel, go into batteries. Rare earths like dysprosium, neodymium and praseodymium go into electric vehicle motors and wind turbines. Recycling these critical materials is a strategy which would give Ontario workers a shortcut into the value chain between the mine and EV.

Right now, rare earths mining and processing is led by China, which also dominates in other critical minerals such as graphite. Australia and South America are leading sources of lithium. Indonesia leads in nickel, but much of this is controlled by Chinese companies, as well.

In the future, for economic, environmental and security reasons, a circular economy must develop for critical materials.

Today, production of critical metals and rare earths involves value-added work in chemical processing, and it is performed offshore. However, Ontario is amongst the global leaders in technology to recycle critical metals and minerals.

To maximize the economic benefit to you and me of EV and battery production in Ontario—production for which the federal and Ontario governments have agreed to pay dearly—I believe we must be a first mover and leader in the cyclic economy for critical materials. This means supporting the ecosystem around critical minerals processing and recycling before other regions in North America begin to dominate.

I just wanted to welcome two of my very dearest friends, who have been so for a very long time, Jamie and Joanne McCormick. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I just wanted to give a warm welcome—she’s always watching us every day—to Barbara Stevens. Thank you for tuning in through this entire session. It’s great to have you as a phenomenal supporter in the riding of Kitchener–Conestoga.

It is my great pleasure to welcome Thornhill resident and cofounder of the Indigenous Action Committee and most excellent guitar player, Mr. Matthew Bergman.

It is my pleasure to inform this House that in my riding of Durham, the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and thriving. I’ve had the pleasure to attend some grand openings and reopenings for small businesses over the past few months.

In Port Perry, I had the opportunity to meet with Stacey Burns and her team for the grand reopening of Ocala Winery.

In Bowmanville, I proudly joined Amanda Green in cutting the red ribbon to open her dream business, Exquisite Lashing Co. Amanda acknowledges our government’s cutting of red tape and regulations helped make her business dream a reality.

One block west of my office in downtown Bowmanville, Carmela and George Mangos just opened Sugar Dust Sweets and Cafe, delighting their customers with elegant cakes, sweet treats and delicious lunches.

Earlier this month, one of the youngest franchisees for Firehouse Subs, Jasmine Nellis, opened her second franchise in west Courtice, to a sellout crowd.

Like many successful entrepreneurs across Ontario, my constituents are expanding their businesses and creating jobs, because our government is getting it done by reducing red tape and regulation, and creating an environment for growth and prosperity.

On behalf of all members of this House, I want to congratulate all the small businesses of Durham. Keep up the great work. Let’s grow together. Let’s make Ontario strong.

I’m delighted to welcome, from York Centre, Lisa Fruitman, a person who has followed in her own parents’ footsteps as a great innovator and advocate, especially for Reena; together with Colin Ruskin; Stan Greenspan; and Rabbi Sean Gorman. Welcome to the Ontario Legislature.

I’m pleased to inform the House that we have with us in the Speaker’s gallery today a delegation of members from the Standing Committee of Selection from the Parliament of Ghana. They are accompanied by Mr. Hakeem Balogun, who is the consul general of Ghana in Toronto. Please join me in warmly welcoming our guests from Ghana.

Applause.

I would like to thank Milan Viswanathan, who is one of our pages, from St. Paul’s, for doing a wonderful job. I understand his mom and grandfather, Karen and Ashok Gautam, are in the audience today in the members’ gallery. It’s very, very nice to see the two of you.

I also want to say hello to Ross Dixon and Joanna Dixon and their son, Silas, who is a wonderful young man, who has also been a page. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’m delighted to introduce to the House today two of my dedicated constituency staff, up to Toronto for the first time: Jada Malott and Brianna Robinson. Welcome to the House.

I’m very happy to introduce Elaine, a marvellous volunteer from my riding of Scarborough North. It is her first time here today at the Legislature. Welcome to Queen’s Park, Elaine.

Speaker, as the 43rd Parliament rises for the summer, I’d like to acknowledge my fellow MPPs on both sides of the House for your continued dedication to your constituents and connecting with them over the summer months.

As we look forward to a season full of family gatherings, graduations, vacations and day trips to some of the most beautiful destinations in Ontario, I invite you to visit my riding of Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston. From hiking the trails to taking in live music at one of the world-famous festivals, there is something for all ages.

Enjoy cultural events like the Spirit of the Drum Pow-Wow this Saturday and Sunday in Smiths Falls. Experience one of our festivals, like the world-renowned Stewart Park Festival in Perth, Puppets Up! in Almonte, the Sydenham Lakes and Trails Festival and the Blue Skies Music Festival in Clarendon, just to name a few. Families will enjoy our many fairs in Lombardy, Carleton Place, Pakenham, Mississippi Mills, Smiths Falls, Perth and many others.

Experience canoeing or kayaking along the natural waterways in Lanark and Frontenac counties and take in the pristine, protected wilderness, or travel the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Rideau Canal, which passes through Perth, Smiths Falls and many other towns from Ottawa to Kingston.

Mr. Speaker, I wish everyone a safe, happy and healthy summer, and if you’re thinking about a day trip or a multi-day adventure, remember: There is much to do and see in Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston.

I want to welcome Gulshan Bakshi, a retired CAF veteran air officer, and his daughter, Aananya Bakshi, our page captain for today, sitting to your right.

I’d like to welcome my EA from MCU, Navita Sukhdeo, who is here today in the members’ gallery with her daughter, Eliyanna Ali, and also my EA from my constit office, Caroline Raskin, who is here today with her husband, Steve Raskin.

I would like to welcome two amazing ladies from my constituency office, Barbara Greene and Yesenia Morillo. I’d also like to wish a very happy birthday to Yesenia’s daughter Mia, who is watching from home today and graduating from school. All the best.

I noticed in the gallery one of my interns, Adshayah, is here. Also, Spencer Fair from my office—he says it’s his mom, but I think it’s his sister: Valerie Fair is with us as well.

I’d like to introduce L’Arche Daybreak to Queen’s Park today: executive director Trish Glennon; regional director Jeff Gilbreath; and core members and my very dear friends, Amanda Winnington-lngram, Kim Lageer, Darryl Dickson. Welcome to Queen’s Park. Thanks very much for being here.

I have my amazing team visiting from the MTO. We’ve got Michael Thomas, Greg MacNeil, Nicholas Tibollo, Matthew McIntosh, Barbara Stevenson, Ashley Seo, Tony Manful and, although he’s not in the Legislature, David Lu. And from my constituency office, we’ve got Vanessa Clarke, Rosanna Ma and Jess Lee. Welcome to the Legislature.

First of all, to Jack Sullivan, who is moving on, I say thank you very much. It’s been an amazing journey.

Secondly, I’d like to welcome to the House the OMAFRA interns: William Hollis as well as Faiq Farooq.

I believe my nephew, Jack McMillan, is in the House somewhere as well.

It’s a true honour to rise today to pay tribute to Ontario’s eighth legislative Clerk-in-chief, Todd Decker, for his service to the members of the Ontario Legislative Assembly and the people of Ontario, and for the leadership, Todd, you have provided for everybody who works in this building.

Prior to being appointed Clerk-in-chief in 2016, Todd served in this building for 32 years, totalling 39 years of service to the people of Ontario. He has earned our trust and our respect with his wisdom, his integrity, his non-partisan guidance and his famous poker face.

Todd has had to navigate this Legislature through extraordinary times during much of his tenure, not only during the pandemic emergency, where he played an essential role in ensuring the functioning of the parliamentary democracy in this province and the business here in the House, but also in managing an unprecedented number of independent members of the Legislature.

My election as Ontario’s first Green MPP in 2018 resulted in the first time that there was a fourth party elected to this Legislature since 1951 and, with the results that the Liberals experienced in that election, the most independent members in the Legislature since the 1940s. Let’s just say the standing orders were not written for such an unprecedented number of independent MPPs. I’ll admit that I spent much of the summer of 2018 in Todd’s office, not only learning how this place works, but also working with him to ensure the rights and privileges of independent members in this House.

Todd, I’ll be forever grateful for the wisdom, guidance and time that you took, and the patience you had to work with a team of newbies who had no idea how this place worked, and to work with us to ensure that we had the opportunity to have full participatory rights in this House. That legacy will endure. Todd, our democracy is stronger because of your service, and the people of Ontario and all members of this Legislature owe you a debt of gratitude—

Applause.