I have the pleasure of introducing a few guests today.

From my amazing team at the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, I have Doug Brewer, Tay Rubman, Matt Frola and Stefanie Mojsovski.

I would also like to introduce and welcome President Mohamed Lachemi from Toronto Metropolitan University. President Lachemi and Matt Baker are joining us today for royal assent of Bill 26, which officially changes the name from Ryerson to Toronto Metropolitan University.

Mohamed, thank you so much for your leadership in moving the university forward.

We have some folks here today from the Brampton Rotary Club. Please join me in welcoming president Uche Okugo and president-elect Badar Shamim.

I’d like to introduce two strong and sensational city-builders who are in the chamber for the first time: the ever-lovely Diane Blake and Liane Brossard. I extend a warm welcome to them.

I’d like to welcome members of the following groups: Grand(m)others Act To Save The Planet, Stop Sprawl HamOnt, Wellington Water Watchers, Greenbelt West Coalition, and Stop Sprawl Halton. They gathered on the front lawn this morning to defend the greenbelt.

I would like to welcome OPSEU’s mental health and addiction workers who are watching Queen’s Park from north Toronto, where they are meeting today.

We can’t see you here in front of us right now, but I want you to know that we do see you. We see the work that you do, and we appreciate it very much. We know how valuable it is.

My daughter is not here today, but it is her 10th birthday and she’s watching in her class, Ms. Vandermeer’s class, at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Ingleside, in my riding.

I want to introduce Rose Cataldi, my EA, who keeps me organized every day, to her first Queen’s Park live.

And happy 83rd birthday to my father tomorrow.

I’d like to welcome students from W.H. Morden school in Oakville. They will be performing in a choir and instrumental performance by the grand staircase just after noon.

I hope you’ll enjoy your visit to Queen’s Park.

I encourage everyone here to come and listen to the wonderful singing and music from the Oakville students.

I would like to introduce my lovely spouse, Chantal, who is with us today.

Please join me in welcoming and recognizing the 2022-23 class of government of Ontario interns. Today we have with us interns from the Ontario Internship Program, the Indigenous Internship Program and the Black Alliance Internship Program. Please join me in wishing them all the best.

I’m happy to introduce members from Brampton’s oldest Rotary Club, established June 12, 1940: club president, Uche Okugo, and members Matthew Samatas, Badar Shamim, Vijay Kotamarti and Mike Shrestha. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I, too, would like to give a very warm welcome to Mohamed Lachemi, president of the now official Toronto Metropolitan University.

Mohamed, thank you for your leadership. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’d like to introduce a few residents of Timiskaming–Cochrane: Terra and Jamie Dabner and their son Krew, the family of our page Kennedy Dabner.

He’s not here today, but I know he’s watching, because I asked him to watch this morning—I want to say hello to my father, Ron Smith, and wish him a happy 80th birthday.

I’d like to welcome the volunteers from my last campaign to the House: Jenna Scheske, Karen Langill, Tara Bijan, Emily Yan, Heather Vickers-Wong, Andrew Yang, and Rosemary Fleming.

I’d also like to take this moment to introduce two other people, who are not able to be here in person today—my parents are both celebrating their birthdays next week. My mother, Gwen Glover, will be turning 86, and my father, Len Glover, will be turning 90. I wonder if everybody could give them a round of applause.

Applause.

I would ask the members to keep their introductions brief and to avoid political statements.

The member for Toronto Centre.

We’ll continue, if there are no objections, with introduction of guests.

I’d like to welcome, from the Central York Professional Firefighters Association, Jason Beuving, local president, and Andre Bourrie, secretary-treasurer, from my great riding of Newmarket–Aurora. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I also would like to introduce Dr. David Jacobs, who’s not only a friend but also the president of the Ontario Association of Radiologists.

I’m very excited to introduce two wonderful young people from Scarborough Southwest and graduates of Birchmount Park Collegiate to the House today: Aqib Abbas and Michael Tucker. They have taken on the initiative for road safety in Scarborough; more specifically, in Scarborough Southwest. Please welcome them to the House.

It’s my distinct honour to welcome Ms. Tara Bijan, my intern from TMU, who has been a wonderful addition to our constituency office. This is her very first time in the House.