I’d like to thank the member for Thunder Bay–Atikokan for the question—a very important question. Our government believes that everyone has a right to feel safe and to be safe, and we believe that no matter where you live, access to support and services should be available for the victims of gender-based violence and sexual exploitation, so we acted. We invested up to $6.5 million in support so survivors can access the services and supports they need to heal and rebuild their lives, and to get their children access to the early intervention they need to heal from experiencing and seeing violence at young age.

Under the Premier’s leadership, we are ensuring that timely intervention and diverse care is available to help survivors where and when they need it.

Bill 46, An Act to enact one Act and amend various other Acts / Projet de loi 46, Loi visant à édicter une loi et à modifier diverses autres lois.

The act requires the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to develop a strategic action plan that aims to protect Ontario’s farmland and arable land from development, aggregate mining and the effects of fluctuating commodity prices and the availability of vacant land. The minister is required to engage in consultations when developing the strategy and must prepare a report setting out the strategy within nine months after the act receives royal assent.

The act also establishes the Farmland and Arable Land Advisory Committee, whose mandate is to provide advice and recommendations to the minister that aim to prevent further land degradation in order to protect farmland and arable land for generations to come and ensure short-term and long-term food security for Ontario.

Farmland and arable land is productive, valuable and essential, but most importantly, it is finite and non-renewable. This is an important consideration in the face of increasing pressure to develop housing in Ontario.

Mr. Vanthof moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr14, An Act to revive 1753461 Ontario Ltd.

I want to thank my colleague the Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, who is also going to be speaking about this very important topic.

I’m pleased to have the opportunity to recognize Black History Month in the House today. This is a time to celebrate the many contributions Black Ontarians have made to this great province and to have important conversations about issues affecting the Black community. I’ve been honoured to participate in numerous special events over the last few weeks to mark this month and bring greetings on behalf of our government. As a Black woman, Black MPP and Black member of cabinet, I am a voice for the community in my constituency, here in the Legislature and across the province.

The Black community is an integral part of the rich cultural fabric of this province and of our history. In fact, this province is home to more than half of the total Black population in Canada. While close to half of Ontario’s Black population were born in Canada, the other half hail from an astounding 150 different countries. What an incredible wealth of diversity this brings—from art and storytelling to music and dance, to food, traditions, history and academia, and so much more. African Canadian culture has truly contributed to Ontario’s cultural fabric at large. That is something we should be very proud of.

For the Black Ontarians born here, their perspectives are just as valuable. Whether descended from past immigrants who made the journey to this province from around the world or descended from the former slaves who found freedom here after arriving via the Underground Railroad, all are a part of our history and contribute to making Ontario the vibrant place that it is today.

Like my family, many Black people immigrated to Canada seeking employment opportunities and a chance to put roots down in this beautiful country and province we all call home.

As we reflect on the contributions Black Ontarians have made to this province, the examples are countless. There are, of course, the well-known icons, such as the Honourable Lincoln Alexander or Michael Lutrell, a.k.a. “Pinball” Clemons, for instance. But there are also many who are not well known. Yet those quiet contributions have made a difference in the lives of those around them and in their communities, like Myrna Adams, VP of CARP and seniors’ advocate, or Quentin VerCetty, a multi-award-winning Afrofuturist artist responsible for the bust of the Honourable Lincoln Alexander.

From Black youth workers and mentors to coaches and educators, to community volunteers and caregivers, there are a host of role models in communities across the province who are setting strong examples and inspiring Black children and youth each day, like Skye and Orlando Bowen, a power couple advocating for equity and inclusion and elevating the voices of youth, or Obioma Dike, who supports young people along their entire apprenticeship journey to ensure they are successful.

As we recognize all of these contributions, Black History Month is also a time to reflect on the injustices and inequities the community has faced throughout history, some of which continue to this day. Acknowledging that there is still a lot of work to be done in this province to overcome racism and discrimination is an important step to achieving equity for all Ontarians.

I am proud of the work our government is doing to combat racism and hate and remove barriers to create an equitable Ontario.

As the Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity, I see first-hand the barriers that many women face in achieving financial independence—and these barriers are even greater for Black women.

Mr. Speaker, as we near the end of Black History Month, I encourage all Ontarians to join members of this House in paying tribute to our fellow Black Ontarians. We do have much to celebrate. But we also must renew our individual and professional commitments to removing barriers so we can create an equitable Ontario that celebrates our differences and our vibrant communities.

Instead of seeing differences as a hindrance, we must draw strength from our different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Because when we work together, we are stronger.

I am a Black woman in a leadership role with a voice at the table. I am an example of what can happen when people are given opportunities.

I thank the Premier for his leadership and commitment to seeing this government reflect our province.

To every young Black person watching this today: If you can see me, you can be me. You are strong, and your voice is important, and you are powerful beyond measure.

Happy Black History Month.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

First reading agreed to.

First reading agreed to.

Mental health care is health care, and it should be part of medicare. It must be made accessible to all those in need of it when they need it, regardless of their financial situation, especially as we’ve seen spikes in depression, anxiety, eating disorders, evictions and other mental health challenges during the pandemic and as a response to the pressures of the affordability crisis and the trauma of systemic discrimination. Here in Ontario, every Ontarian should be able to access mental health supports with their health card and not their credit card.

My bill, Making Psychotherapy Services Tax-Free Act, 2023, co-sponsored by our fantastic health critic, the MPP for Nickel Belt, will immediately remove the 13% HST tax from registered psychotherapy services as a critical, cost-saving first step and an immediate change this government can make to move our province in the right direction towards mental health care being fully incorporated into our publicly funded health care system.

Ms. Brady moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 62, An Act to provide for the development of a farmland and arable land strategy and an advisory committee on farmland and arable land / Projet de loi 62, Loi prévoyant l’élaboration d’une stratégie en matière de terres agricoles et de terres arables et la création d’un comité consultatif des terres agricoles et des terres arables.

Tomorrow is Human Trafficking Awareness Day—a day dedicated to better understanding the warning signs and how we can help victims and survivors when and where they need it. This vicious crime creates lasting emotional, physical, spiritual and mental trauma for victims and survivors. We know that human trafficking poses a real and growing threat to the children and youth of our province.

That’s why, in 2020, our government released a comprehensive, five-year strategy to combat this crime. Our $307-million strategy includes actions across government to raise awareness, interrupt supply, protect victims, support survivors, and hold offenders accountable for their crimes. It is the largest total investment in dedicated anti-human trafficking services and supports in the country.

Today, with my colleague the Solicitor General, we will be sharing some of our government’s progress on delivering that strategy. A key focus is protecting children and youth from sex trafficking, as they are among those most vulnerable to being targeted by traffickers.

In 2021, as part of our strategy, we launched a new model of intervention called Children at Risk of Exploitation Units, or CARE units, with an investment of $11.5 million over three years. These specialized teams pair police officers and child protection workers to proactively identify children and youth at risk of being sex-trafficked and connect them to resources they need. These units have already had life-changing impacts on vulnerable young people. Over six months last year, CARE units had 319 interactions with children and youth suspected of being trafficked. They supported 27 human trafficking investigations, and 77 criminal charges were laid as a result of this work. This new approach has resulted in successful interventions with children—some younger than 12 years old—who were at risk. The success of these units is based on their collaborative approach. CARE unit members have built relationships with children who sometimes have no one else who can understand their trauma.

Another highlight of our work over the past year has been the delivery of cross-sector anti-human trafficking training. This training is designed for front-line professionals most likely to encounter children and youth who are being sex-trafficked, who have been trafficked in the past, or who are at risk. It is an intensive training program that equips participants with the knowledge to better identify suspected instances of human trafficking, including how to respond and support victims. It is also survivor-centred, involving individuals with lived experience at every stage, from development to delivery, as leaders of the training. And 95% of those who have taken this intensive training have said that they felt better equipped with the knowledge and skills to understand, identify and appropriately respond to human trafficking.

Finally, I’d like to mention another community-based service being delivered as part of our strategy and the difference it is making. The Ontario Native Women’s Association is one of the organizations being funded under our strategy to deliver community supports. Over the last year, they helped 316 individuals exit from being trafficked. They connected with more than 5,800 individuals to provide resources and support through street-based outreach work, and they have delivered training and educational programs to more than 5,600 people.

The examples I’ve shared today speak to the results that we have achieved by working with partners to deliver Ontario’s Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy. I am proud that these initiatives are having an impact, and I am grateful to everyone who is taking part.

But there is a role we can all play in stopping human trafficking.

I would like to encourage all members of this House to take the time to learn the signs of human trafficking and exploitation by visiting ontario.ca/humantrafficking. Together, we can make our communities safer places and help victims and those at risk be connected to the supports that they need.

Thank you to my colleague the Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity for her incredibly powerful words—and I truly can’t say it better myself here.

I am both humbled and appreciative for the opportunity to rise in the House today to celebrate Black History Month.

Black history is Ontario’s history. During Black History Month, we take time to pause, to recognize and celebrate Black history, culture and individuals whose achievements have played a vital role in making Ontario what it is today.

From the arts and sciences to sports, medicine, business and politics, Ontario has been home to generations of Black leaders who excelled in every field in communities right across our great province—as said earlier, from Lincoln Alexander to Jean Augustine, the first Black man and woman to be elected to the House of Commons and to serve in cabinet; to Doug Salmon, the first Black surgeon in our country; to Wes Hall, a renowned innovator, entrepreneur and philanthropist; to Tajon Buchanan, Derek Cornelius, Jonathan David, Junior Hoilett, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Cyle Larin, Richie Laryea, Kamal Miller and Dayne St. Clair from the men’s national soccer team who proudly represented our nation on the world stage last year at the FIFA World Cup.

Looking around this room and in this Parliament, we have remarkable Black leaders on both sides of the aisle, including my government colleagues the associate minister from Brampton Centre and the members from Ajax and Scarborough Centre. Collectively, these members have served their communities in many different ways over the years and continue to use their voice to advocate for their constituents, for Black communities and for the people of Ontario here at Queen’s Park.

These are just some examples of Black Ontarians who have inspired their communities, myself and people across our great province.

But as the associate minister said earlier, there are also many who are not well known, yet whose quiet but mighty contributions have made a big difference in the lives of those around them and in their communities; for example, organizations like the Early Childhood Development Initiative in my riding of York South-Weston, who are doing incredible work to support Black children and families in our communities—and I was proud to have them in the Legislature today.

There is an organization in Windsor that is connecting Black youth to academic supports, career exploration and mental health resources.

There are historical societies that are actively preserving and showcasing the stories of Black Ontarians, from their journey to Ontario and their lived experiences upon arrival.

I also know an organization in Ottawa that is empowering Black entrepreneurs through mentorship, networking and supports.

Ontario’s strength is in our diversity. Ontario is stronger because of the hard work, dedication and resilience that Black Ontarians have shown and continue to show each and every day.

The theme of this year’s Black History Month is “Ours to Tell.” While we take pride in the many ways Black Ontarians have strengthened communities, schools, workplaces and all aspects of society, we have the responsibility to listen, learn and further our collective understanding of Black history and the lived experiences of Black Ontarians, both past and in the present.

Today, challenges and barriers that Black Ontarians face are still ever-present, and it’s important that we as a province and a society acknowledge that anti-Black racism and injustice still exist today.

There remains much more to do and much more to learn, but our government and I stand shoulder to shoulder with Ontario’s Black communities, to move forward and continue the ongoing work to recover, build bridges and fight anti-Black racism head-on, not just throughout Black History Month, but every day. The work does not stop on February 28.

Let us all recommit ourselves to being allies and partners in supporting the Black community, now and well into the future. I know that when we work together, we can do anything. Together, we will build a stronger Ontario and a better and brighter future not just for Black Ontarians, but for all Ontarians.

Speaker, I rise today as a member of the official opposition and as the first queer Black person to be elected to the Ontario Legislature. But make no mistake: I stand on the shoulders of former honourable members like Zanana Akande, Lincoln Alexander and Alvin Curling, to name a few.

The government has done a good job talking about Black history, so I’m going to talk about Black present and future.

Black communities, along with Indigenous and racialized communities, have been on the front lines of this most recent health care crisis. And I want everyone in Ontario to be reminded that this government has, frankly, disrespected predominantly Black women—the PSWs, the nurses, the very front-line health care workers this government has refused to respect, protect and pay what they’re worth, through their callous Bill 124.

Black History Month is an opportunity for this government to make systemic changes to allow for social, cultural and economic progress of Black folks here in Ontario, and it cannot stop after February. Doing right by Black folks in Ontario means listening to Black health leaders and recognizing anti-Black racism as a public health crisis—recognize the physical and mental health toll of racism, and legislate policies that create the social and material conditions we need to thrive. It means ensuring the Anti-Racism Directorate is fully funded and collects and transparently shares necessary data to make our lives better. It means overhauling our “justice system” that continues to fail Black Ontarians, and overhauling broken accountability infrastructures like the SIU to finally start addressing anti-Black racism.

I encourage every person in this House to read the report titled Anti-Black Racism in the Criminal Justice System—in policing, the courts, incarceration, and criminal records. I thank the John Howard Society in my riding for their leadership and their scholarship on this and so much more.

Speaker, February is Black History Month, but in this position, we must also take account of Black lives now and what we can do to make them better. It means ensuring Black small business owners and entrepreneurs like my folks in Little Jamaica have meaningful access to financial support and aren’t consistently and disproportionately hit with anti-Black racism when trying to secure capital. It means taking real action to address anti-Black racism in education by developing and implementing mandatory Afrocentric curriculum across Ontario schools—a call me and the member for Kitchener Centre, the Ontario Black History Society and local activists like D. Tyler Robinson have long called for.

I want to thank People for Education, also from my home community, for their leadership. They recently published A Progress Report on Anti-Racism Policy Across Canada. Some key findings:

—64% of Ontario schools reported that their school boards collect race-based and/or demographic student data; 25% were unsure; 7% ain’t collecting anything;

—94% of Ontario’s schools reported providing PD specific to anti-racism and equity, but only 37% reported partnering with community-based orgs in their anti-racism and equity work;

—while 73% of schools reported focusing on anti-racism and equity in their school improvement plan, 26% of school board websites did not mention racism in their equity policies, and only 28% of school boards had an anti-racism policy, strategy or approach; and

—87% Ontario principals identified their racial background as white.

Speaker, children cannot be what they do not see. They need to be reflected in their curriculum, in the caring adults who work in their classrooms, and in the adult leaders in our schools.

These are just a few of the many ways that the government could actually invest in Black lives and legislate liberation, as opposed to oppression on a day-to-day basis—which often happens here in the Legislature.

Finally, I just want to say that schools need to be a place of joy. They need to be a place of self-esteem and confidence-building for all children, including Black students. That means ensuring kids are seeing themselves, ensuring kids are being celebrated, and ensuring, as I said before, that their curriculum is seen and heard.

Thank you, Minister Fullerton.

Today is a day for Ontarians to stand up to deliver a powerful message that trafficking in all of its forms is a vicious and violent crime that must be brought to an end. Human trafficking can prey on anyone, and especially society’s most vulnerable. Tragically, this largely includes young girls, those trapped in poverty and Indigenous women.

It is our duty to act decisively and effectively to protect everyone from exploitation. As a government, as a provincial Parliament, we have a shared duty to protect our communities. We must continue to do what is hard to keep Ontario safe.

Monsieur le Président, nous devons continuer à faire ce qui est difficile : assurer la sécurité de l’Ontario.

Today is a day of reflection. Moreover, it’s a day of action.

The Ministry of the Solicitor General, the Ministry of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services worked together to develop Ontario’s Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy. We are investing $307 million in this comprehensive strategy. It brings together community advocates, social services, health care providers, law enforcement, and justice partners. This is all with the shared goal of raising awareness, protecting victims, supporting survivors, and holding offenders accountable—a comprehensive strategy made stronger with the passing of the government’s Combating Human Trafficking Act, 2021. I want to recognize my predecessor, the Deputy Premier, for shepherding this important legislation through the House.

Speaking as the Solicitor General on behalf of law enforcement and the justice sector, Ontario has the range of tools needed to improve our ability to identify perpetrators, intercept human trafficking networks, and bring criminals to justice. We are making good use of these tools. This is particularly evident when you consider advancements in training, intelligence gathering, and community grants.

Well-trained police officers are critical to our government’s anti-trafficking strategy. Police officers must be trained in early-detection techniques, effective anti-trafficking investigations, prevention, and how to approach and support the victims.

The Ontario Police College, for example, has greatly enhanced its human trafficking investigation course. Participants there learn about various types of human trafficking, vulnerable groups, trafficker profiles, indicators and how the sex trade is intricately linked to sex trafficking.

I want to give a special mention to a wonderful advocate I’ve met: Timea Nagy. A survivor of human trafficking herself and founder of Timea’s Cause, she and a dedicated team of volunteers and professionals have worked hand in hand with Peel Regional Police to develop tailored, anti-human trafficking training for over 2,200 officers.

Mr. Speaker, traffickers may operate in the shadows, but they can’t operate without leaving footprints. Transportation, advertising, accommodations and other costs of doing business all leave a trail.

Intelligence gathering and the free flow of information between jurisdictions is critical to the success of closing down human trafficking rings and bringing criminals to justice. We have increased intelligence gathering and investigative capacity to identify, monitor and target human traffickers and support the victims. To this end, I want to recognize the dedicated agents of the Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario, who I’ve had the chance to meet working with law enforcement across Ontario.

Mr. Speaker, I’ve talked about law enforcement response to end human trafficking. But our communities, schools and especially social media platforms are recruiting grounds for human traffickers. Cybercrime presents an additional threat that we must continue to combat—and to address this, our ministry is investing over $21 million over three years for this initiative. As a noteworthy example, this fall I joined the Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, the Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity, and my own parliamentary assistant, the MPP for Etobicoke–Lakeshore—at that time, I announced our government’s latest investment, through the Safer and Vital Communities Grant. We’re funding partnerships between community organizations and local police services to develop resources, enhance outreach, and boost education, with the objective of preventing local residents from becoming victims.

Mr. Speaker, on this National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, I want to recognize all first responders, social workers, health and mental care professionals, and everyday citizens who help us take a stand against human trafficking and deliver support for its victims. These are incredible people who support their communities every day.

Targets and victims of human trafficking are often trapped in social, economic and physical circumstances that place them closest to the margins of despair.

This government has a track record of not listening to the needs of rape crisis and sexual assault centre front-line staff, and survivors and those living with mental health challenges, among others who are trafficked. Therefore, it is really difficult to stand here today on behalf of the official opposition, recognizing human trafficking day tomorrow, while the government pats themselves on the back but we haven’t seen actual implementation of their plans.

This is the Ford government that dismantled the Ontario violence-against-women round table the moment they took office in 2018, and that began the callous cuts to rape crisis and sexual assault centres and, again, survivors—such as when this government cut survivors’ access to pain-and-suffering funds. Human trafficking is violence against women and children.

This is the Ford government that refuses to forgive human trafficking victims of provincial fines, outstanding OSAP student debt. Wipe these fines clean so they don’t continue to be the victims of financial exploitation, bad credit ratings, and crushing debts caused by their traffickers.

This is the Ford government that was asked to respond within six months to the Renfrew county inquiry recommendations that came out on June 28, 2022—68 of which land squarely on the shoulders of this provincial government—and they missed the deadline. The first of these recommendations was for the government to name intimate partner violence what it is: an epidemic. I asked them to implement this recommendation twice this morning during question period, and the government refused. How can this government pretend to be leading on human trafficking, which disproportionately impacts women and girls, yet they’re unable to name gender-based violence and intimate partner violence—which disproportionately impacts women and girls—an epidemic. It doesn’t make sense.

While your government mulls over these recommendations, more victims are targeted, violated and will die.

If this government wants to eradicate human trafficking—or any other form of violence against women, at that—recognize it as a hate crime. Support the front-line workers—understaffed, underpaid and burnt out. Properly fund the sector with annualized funding. They are direct lifelines for victims, survivors and their families.

All of these solutions and so much more I’ve shared today would actually put us on the right track to eradicating human trafficking as one of many forms of gender-based violence impacting women and children.

It is an honour to rise in response to the minister’s statement, on behalf of the people in my riding of Scarborough–Guildwood.

February is Black History Month in Ontario. It is a time when we reflect on the rich 400-year history of Black communities in Ontario and all across Canada. Black history is indeed Canada’s history. Black people have been here and helped shape Canada from the beginning—people like Chloe Cooley, a young Black woman who was enslaved in Upper Canada.

On March 14, 1793, in Queenston, Upper Canada, Chloe Cooley resisted being sold, screaming and struggling to be free as her slave owner was taking her across the Niagara River in a small boat. The witnesses of this public struggle are believed to have contributed to providing testimony about her struggle and her resistance about being sold, and this contributed to the passage of the Act Against Slavery in 1793, which John Graves Simcoe, the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada and an abolitionist, was seeking to pass. Chloe Cooley’s public struggle and their witness testimony helped pass this act. The act banned the import of enslaved people to Upper Canada and made the children of enslaved women free when they turned 25. It also provided legal refuge to those fleeing slavery, which provided a safe haven to 30,000 Black Americans seeking freedom in North America.

In marking the significance of this month, we renew our commitment to the ongoing struggle of building an equitable society and future for all.

TAIBU Community Health Centre in my riding is seeking to improve outcomes for Black health. This is something that is extremely important.

Black History Month is a time to commemorate the steadfast perseverance of Black Canadians in the face of systemic discrimination, racism and inequities. We acknowledge that more needs to be done. I was very pleased to hear the minister agree with that.

Canada’s history includes Black history, as our roots have been here since the very beginning, and we ought to recognize it every day of the year. Reflecting on these roots is particularly important in our province that over 630,000 Black people call home. Celebrating Black history is about discovering the rich history of Black people in Ontario and Canada.

I’m pleased that this Legislature unanimously passed the Emancipation Month Act just a year ago. In the words of Amanda Gorman, the American poet, “For there is always light, / if only we’re brave enough to see it, / if only we’re brave enough to be it.” Chloe Cooley was brave enough, and her public struggle and using her voice to resist enslavement helped light a path to freedom for so many here in Canada.

We are celebrating the final year of the International Decade for People of African Descent, from 2015 to 2024, as declared by the United Nations. The purpose of the decade is for Black people to have full inclusion in society, education, employment, justice and health wherever they live. Let us redouble our efforts here in Ontario to ensure that that does happen.

I’m responding to the minister’s statement on human trafficking awareness.

We all agree that human trafficking is a despicable crime that is tragically common in Ontario, with 95% of trafficked persons being women, teenagers and marginalized groups, including Indigenous people.

When addressing trafficking, it is critical that we take a holistic approach: (1) We need education programs and community awareness to prevent trafficking, (2) we need enforcement to crack down on it, and (3) we need measures to assist those who have been trafficked.

Unfortunately, we often focus specifically on law enforcement approaches to trafficking instead of addressing every aspect of this vile crime. Prevention is an essential component of the fight against human trafficking. We must adequately educate our young people to help them avoid dangerous situations, both in person and online.

Supporting survivors is also critical. Survivors need access to housing, education and health care, and governments should be a partner in the provision of these services. One significant measure the government can adopt is to ensure that loans are not denied to survivors on the basis of debts forced onto them by abusers, thus revictimizing the survivors. There will be an opportunity to take that step later this week, and I hope we can move forward together on this. It is all too easy to forget that the important work of combatting trafficking doesn’t stop when an abuser is arrested. We must also work to fight the harm done and support victims as they rebuild their lives.

I have a petition titled “Ontario Should Say No to Federal Gun Buyback.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the federal government is banning a large number of firearms legally owned by private citizens; and

“Whereas the federal government has introduced legislation for confiscation of the banned firearms and wants provincial law enforcement agencies to execute said confiscation; and

“Whereas participating in this confiscation will take law enforcement personnel off the streets; and

“Whereas the governments of the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and the Yukon territory have said they won’t allow provincial resources to be used for the federal gun confiscation;

“We, the undersigned, petition Ontario’s government to tell Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Ontario will not take police off the streets to execute his gun control measures.”

I support this petition and I will affix my signature to it and send it to the table with page Georgia.

Thank you, Speaker. Despite the circumstance, I rise with a smile on my face because I’m going to speak about one of the hardest-working community figures in my region of Windsor–Essex, Michael Ray.

Mike was a professional leader, leaving no ambiguity at all as to where he stood on a given issue. Mike set the bar high. From a young age onward, he stayed well dressed, with suit and tie. Even though he grew up in Hamilton and attended Western University, deep down Michael was always a Windsorite at heart. He observed, early on, the corollary of community benefits with strong, local political representation.

Our community was blessed to first gain Mike when he arrived at Essex District High School as a memorable business and economics teacher, widely respected amongst his peers.

While he loved teaching, a passion for law drew Mike in. He graduated from the University of Windsor law school in 1972, worked at the city of Windsor, and, in 1974, was appointed as the director of Legal Assistance of Windsor.

In 1980, Mike was elected to serve on city council on a platform that observed that the corporation could no longer be left in the hands of councillors who exhibited a lack of care or concern for the public interest, an unwillingness or incapacity to attend diligently to council business, or a disregard for the type of behaviour and conduct the public is entitled to expect from its elected officials. This said it all about Mike: high standards, high ethics, and high decorum.

Mike notoriously worked the phones like no other. He took feedback as an opportunity to do better. His campaign billboard truly cemented the clarity that Mike was known for. It had Mike’s picture, saying, “Mike Ray Listens.” He would arrive in-person with flowers when someone he knew passed away. He picked up the phone and called the people he knew and cared about to check in on them. He found the time. Mike was your friend, and you didn’t have to pay a heavy cost to be his friend.

Mike had a particular interest in environmental integrity, sound urban planning, fiscal responsibility and access to justice. He represented those who were unable to represent themselves. He didn’t pursue judicial appointments; he believed in public service.

In 1987, Mike was elected as the member of provincial Parliament for Windsor-Walkerville, and here too he didn’t shy away from candour and colour. He went head to head with his own government on multiple occasions. He would never abandon his studiousness in understanding the implications of his government’s policies.

In 1990, Mike returned to Windsor full-time and continued his work helping people. He rejoined the community legal aid clinic and worked hard to give Windsor law students courtroom experience. And even with significant opposition, he was successful in his efforts and brought those who were initially skeptical about the curriculum involving courtroom time for students as expert presenters. For his efforts and distinction, Mike was selected for the University of Windsor Law’s 2021 Builders of Windsor Law Award.

In the words of his long-time colleague Marion Overholt, Mike Ray was a committed and tireless advocate. Throughout his career, he was never afraid to say what he thought and to do what was best. He championed clinic law practice, and his tenacity and commitment to this community never wavered. As the director of Legal Assistance of Windsor, he advocated for opportunities for students to provide essential legal services to low-income residents at a time when student clinics were a novel and sometimes controversial idea. Mike persevered and showed the profession that providing students with an opportunity to learn and apply practical skills, all while giving back to their communities, was an essential component of their legal education and professional development. And watching him in action, you knew Mike knew his material, and any organization that had Mike’s experience in hand was one that you knew was truly left in good hands.

In closing, I want to thank former MPP Dave Cooke, Jamie Henderson, Marion Overholt and Al Santing, who helped me tell Mike’s story today, and former Windsor mayor Eddie Francis for introducing us.

And to Lea, Tim, Dane, Stacey, Cole and Cathy, who have joined us today, thank you for sharing Mike with us.

It’s an honour to rise today and table this petition on behalf of thousands of residents of Ottawa West–Nepean who have signed it, entitled “Support the Protecting Human Rights in an Emergency Act.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas people with mobility challenges who live in multi-storey apartments and condominiums require an elevator in order to be able to get in and out of their own homes and access food and medical care;

“Whereas access to clean, safe water is a human right, and people living in multi-storey condominium and apartments buildings depend on water pumps in order to have clean and safe water in their homes;

“Whereas climate change is causing an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, which will make prolonged power outages more common;

“Whereas power outages cause significant hardship for people in multi-storey apartments and condominiums that do not have backup power generators, forcing them to remain in their unit without access to food, water, or medical care, or diverting emergency responders to evacuate residents;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to support the Protecting Human Rights in an Emergency Act, which will ensure that all apartments and condominiums have an emergency backup power generator installed in their building that can power an elevator, water pumps, and lights in common areas.”

I wholeheartedly endorse this petition, will add my name to it and send it to the table with page Keira.

I would like to thank Monique and Don Henri from Alban in my riding. They are two of 500 signatures that I have on the petition.

“Keep the Noëlville OPP Detachment Open....

“Whereas insufficient communications and consultations have taken place with communities and relevant stakeholders concerning the OPP Noëlville detachment’s continuing operations; and

“Whereas the residents and visitors of the municipalities of French River, Markstay-Warren, St.-Charles, Killarney and Britt-Byng Inlet as well as the First Nations of Dokis and Henvey Inlet deserve equitable access to a reliable, timely and efficient police response;”

They “petition the Legislative Assembly ... to direct the Ministry of the Solicitor General and the Ontario Provincial Police to continue having Ontario Provincial Police officers reporting to an operational detachment location in Noëlville.”

I support this petition, will affix my name to it and send it to the table with a page who is sure to come shortly. Merci beaucoup.

The government House leader.

Today we are honoured to remember and pay tribute to a former member of our provincial Legislature, the late Mr. Michael Charles Ray, who was the MPP for Windsor–Walkerville during the 34th Parliament.

Joining us in the Speaker’s gallery are Mr. Ray’s family and friends: his sister Catherine Therrien; his daughters, Lea Ray and Stacey Ray; his son-in-law Tim Salayka; his grandsons Dane Salayka and Cole Seguin; and his family friend Sharon Wyatt. Also in the Speaker’s gallery is Mr. David Warner, Speaker during the 35th Parliament.

I recognize the member for Windsor–Tecumseh.

If you seek it, you will find unanimous consent that a change be made to the order of precedence on the ballot list for private members’ public business, such that Madame Collard assumes ballot item number 23 and Ms. Bowman assumes ballot item number 24.

I rise on behalf of the NDP caucus and as the member for Windsor West to pay tribute to Michael Charles Ray, a former city of Windsor alderman, MPP, lawyer and community advocate in Windsor-Essex. Most importantly, to his family, he was a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and uncle.

I want to welcome Mike’s family and friends who are with us today: Mike’s daughter Lea, her husband, Tim, and their son Dane—and thank you, Lea, for your time going back and forth with me as I prepared this tribute; Mike’s daughter Stacey and her son Cole; Mike’s sister Cathy; his friend Sharon Wyatt; and, as was mentioned, David Warner, the Speaker for the 35th Parliament here at Queen’s Park.

I also want to acknowledge Mike’s family who are joining us remotely from Ontario, Quebec, Florida and all the way into Scotland: Mike’s wife, Joyce; grandchildren Carmen and Reid; and Mike’s sisters Dee, Mary, Pat and Loretta.

Speaker, oftentimes when we pay tribute to a former MPP who has passed away, we start our remarks highlighting when the former member was first elected to the Legislature and their term as an MPP. It seems like the natural place for all of us to start. I’m going to start closer to the beginning of Mike’s story. Mike was born on August 27, 1936, and grew up in Hamilton in a middle-class family. His father, Art, was a sales manager at Stelco and his mother, Elvera, focused her time—and I would suspect a whole lot of energy—on raising six children. Mike was their firstborn, followed by five younger sisters.

His mom would play the piano for hours each day. Mike’s daughter Lea told me she had the talent to be a concert pianist but was too busy raising six kids. Mike was raised to appreciate music, something he carried throughout his life. He always supported the arts, like Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Windsor Light Music Theatre, and University Players.

He graduated from the University of Western Ontario with an honours BA in economics and political science. He received a teaching degree from the Ontario College of Education and started his career as a high school teacher. He met his wife, Joyce, also a high school teacher, while they were both working in Thunder Bay. They married in 1964 and moved to Windsor in 1967. Mike wanted to become a lawyer, so he returned to law school. He was a member of Windsor Law’s first graduating class and was called to the Ontario bar in 1973.

He was a man of deep faith, which was an important guiding factor in his life and something that he ensured was a central factor in his children’s lives, as well.

Mike followed the decisions made by different levels of government and public bodies, and he was immensely interested in the sociological impacts they would have on marginalized members of society. His daughter Lea shared with me that Mike would walk up and talk to people living on the street because he wanted to understand why they were on the street. He would often say to his children, “No one chooses to be homeless”—a belief that I also share—and as a lawyer and politician, Mike wanted to understand what brought them to that circumstance, what brought them to living on the street. He wanted to help change the systems that caused people to be on the street.

Mike worked as a lawyer and was director of clinical law at the faculty of law, legal assistance program at the University of Windsor. His passion for fair representation for all was something he proudly passed on to his law students.

He was elected to Windsor city council in 1980 and served as an alderman until 1987—we call them city councillors now.

In 1987, Mike was elected as the MPP for Windsor–Walkerville in the 34th Parliament. He proudly served as MPP until 1990.

He returned to law following his career in politics. When Mike left provincial politics in 1990, he said—and I think there are people here who can relate to this—“It’s a welcome relief from politics. It’s nice to get back into the practice of law. Politics was seven days a week—including nights and weekends—operating in two cities and constantly travelling back and forth. It was a full calendar.”

Mike was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus and served on the boards of the Windsor Port Authority and Windsor Police Service.

He was a member of the YQG Windsor International Airport board and the Windsor Regional Hospital board at the time of his death on October 7, 2021, at the age of 85.

Mike is remembered by his colleagues as “fun to work with,” “believed in freedom and democracy,” “a great fighter” for his constituents, and a very respected MPP. He always stood up for what he believed was right—sometimes literally moved to his feet during intense debates.

Mike cared about the environment and defended it constantly, from the local environment in Windsor-Essex to preserving and protecting the greenbelt.

People voted for Mike because they believed in him, and he never wanted to let them down.

Mike always thought that local community was where the best of life was lived and that Windsor was the perfect size to have a wonderful life. That is why he fought so hard to improve on our infrastructure, hospitals, the downtown core, which I am a proud resident of, and our parkland, and to have the Windsor waterfront preserved for public use. Speaker, the beautiful waterfront, which I believe you saw not too long ago, stretches for many kilometres, and that is his legacy to our city.

Mike was an incredibly caring and kind person. I share this from his tribute that was posted online:

“While in the hospital, Michael often remarked about the professionalism and compassion displayed by the nurses, doctors and other staff. He was reassured that part of his life’s work came to fruition with the ongoing efforts to provide quality care to the patients at” Windsor Regional Hospital. “Beyond his forthright manner and diligent quest for justice, he taught us all that doing the right thing was not always popular, but was the necessary path. Compassion was the basis of his morality, and his impassioned stories, whether anecdotal or serious, will be missed. Michael was a true scholar and a gentleman.”

Leading up to his final days, Mike took time to call his loved ones, family and friends to let them know how he felt about them. His biggest concern was making sure that his family was taken care of.

Speaker, I read through the tributes to Michael Ray that were shared after his passing, and I will echo what the member for Windsor–Tecumseh said. I was going to read Marion Overholt’s quote, but he already did. But what I will say is that Marion Overholt doesn’t give out praise easily; you really have to earn it, and the fact that she spoke so highly of Michael Ray shows what an incredible advocate and human being he was for our community.

Speaker, Michael Charles Ray is a man I wish I had the pleasure of knowing and learning from.

I join members of my community in honouring Mike for caring so deeply, for his lengthy years of service and unwavering dedication to our community.

And a heartfelt thank you to Mike’s family for sharing him with all of us and for sacrificing your time with him as he fought for the betterment of our community.

Rest in peace, Mike, knowing others will continue to fight the good fight and will follow the path that you inspired us to take.