I’d like to talk about a group of people from my riding who have inspired me on so many occasions to do more. One of the things that I’ve instilled consistently in my children is, if you can do more, then do it. If you can help someone, then help them. If you can make a difference in someone’s life, then step forward and make that difference.

Four ladies in my riding started something for their adult children, because there wasn’t a social entrepreneurial program for people with Down syndrome. It started in Norma’s backyard as the Down syndrome business group and has grown to its own charity now called Hearts 4 Joy. At present, it’s 16 artisans with varying exceptionalities who come together and create some truly inspiring art. I’m sure all of you have heard of Elf on the Shelf, but did you know about Gnome in Your Home? Maybe you have tiki lights on your deck and you’d like to replace them with hand-painted lanterns that look like stained glass.

On February 10, I had the pleasure of being at their official opening of their new shop in the Charlotte Mews. The new space will allow for a retail outlet for the group to sell their crafts and a great space for the artisans to do their masterpieces.

Norma, Debbie, Sharon and Irene, what you have done for Emilia, Allyson, Derek, Julie, Nicole, Carly, Tyler, Connor, Jessica, Josh, Jory, Luke and Kacee can’t be measured. You inspire everyone who meets you to do more and to be a better person.

I rise today to recognize and appreciate the immense contributions of the non-profit sector in Ontario. The non-profit sector plays a vital role in our communities by providing essential services and resources to those in need, supporting social causes and enhancing the quality of life for everyone.

I’d like to extend my gratitude to the staff and professionals of the non-profit sector. They are the community champions who have dedicated their time and effort to make a positive impact on our society. They have worked tirelessly to provide much-needed support and assistance to the most vulnerable members of our communities.

I thank the government for supporting Non-Profit Sector Appreciation Week, and I appreciate all the members here going around in their communities thanking each of them. Definitely they deserve our appreciation. I commend their unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of Ontarians. Their selfless dedication and hard work deserves recognition and appreciation.

Page Lindsay Matheson from Parkdale–High Park is page captain today, and I’d like to give a warm welcome to her parents Lauren and Donna Matheson who are sitting in the members’ gallery.

Also, we have Ian Snider, member’s statement writing competition winner for 2023, from Humberside Collegiate Institute, and his mother Elin Goulden. Welcome.

I beg to inform the House that the following document has been tabled: a report entitled Expenditure Monitor 2022-23: Q3, from the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario.

I have the honour today of introducing to the House Dr. Trevor Hall, his wife Tanya Staples, Jadyn Hall, Julian Hall and Marlaena Hall. Thank you for coming today.

I’d also like to welcome AMAPCEO to Queen’s Park, Ontario’s professional employees. This is their Queen’s Park lobby day. They’re having a reception later on today. Please join them.

Including the guests who the member for Guelph just introduced, I’d also like to welcome Grant Burns, who’s also with AMAPCEO and my former EA in my office.

It’s a great pleasure to welcome Marta Hajek and the Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario team to the Legislature. A number of us had a chance to have breakfast with them this morning. Thank you for the important work you do for older adults in Ontario.

I, too, would like to welcome the amazing group from Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario and thank them for their breakfast and all the great work they do to keep our sensational seniors happy and safe across Ontario, and also to thank Minister Cho for his joyful, joyful comments this morning and encouraging us all to smile, which we could do a lot more of in the chamber.

I’m really excited today to welcome Malcolm McLean to Queen’s Park today. Malcolm is the grandfather of legislative page Charlotte Tamminga. I’ve actually known Malcolm since I was a legislative page back in 1991. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’d like to welcome the grade 10 students from Père-Philippe-Lamarche secondary school from my riding of Scarborough Centre this morning to Queen’s Park.

It is my great pleasure to welcome the Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario in the members’ gallery, one of whom is a University of Windsor student.

I would also like to welcome faculty from the University of Windsor—the university is proudly in my riding: Dr. Gordon, Dr. Houser, Dr. Georgie, who I’ll be meeting with later, Dr. Van Heyst, Dr. Sheppard-LeMoine, Dr. Porter, Dr. Marquardt, Dr. Kar, Dr. Carriveau and Dr. Pratt.

Go, Lancers, go!

I’d like to welcome representatives from AMAPCEO who I’ll be meeting with later today, who are in the chamber: Dave Bulmer, Cynthia Watt, Angela Freeman, Colleen Walsh, Suzanne Conquer and Jennifer Harewood. Welcome to the Legislature.

I had a wonderful meeting today with the Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario team, where they expressed that elder abuse has increased by 250% over the last two years. I want to welcome CEO of Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario Marta Hajek, Mary Shkoury, Mehnaz Rafat, Angela Yenssen, Debra Sayewich, Jane Teasdale—from our Davisville community in St. Paul’s—and Lily Hoang. Thank you for a wonderful meeting, and I look forward to the solutions together.

In follow-up to my member’s statement, I’d like to acknowledge representatives here from the University of Windsor on behalf of members for Essex and for Chatham-Kent–Leamington. A warm welcome to President Gordon, Vincent, Chris, Heather, Ivona, Tom, Lisa, Narayan, Drew, Rupp, Debbie, Bill and Amy. We’re delighted to have you all here with us today. They’re up in the visitors’ gallery to my rear.

On behalf of my colleague, the member for Thunder Bay–Superior North and the NDP caucus, I’d like to welcome members from the Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario, in particular Camille Duhaime, the treasurer, and Brandon Rhéal Amyot, a student at Lakehead University. Welcome.

It’s my honour to introduce two good friends of mine from the village of Osgoode in the great riding of Carleton: Canadian veteran Corporal Greg Thurlow, who served from 1971 to 1989 in the air force as an air medevac specialist in search and rescue, as well as his better half, Elizabeth McNee, a dedicated community volunteer and organizer of the Osgoode senior luncheons at the Legion. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’d like to welcome very important people, members of Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario, to Queen’s Park. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I know she’s watching at home—she’s not here in the gallery, but I’d like to wish my Italian wife, Rita De Luca-Gates, a happy 27th anniversary.

Well, Speaker, I’ll be here for 17 more years; maybe you’ll get it right. Thank you.

I want to introduce and, obviously, say hello to our friend Paul Miller, who we all spent a great deal of years with.

I also want to recognize a friend and somebody I got to learn from in a previous incarnation as minister: Vincent Georgie, who’s up with the University of Windsor today, but also with the Windsor International Film Festival.

Welcome to our assembly.