My thanks to the member opposite for her participation in debate, and my thanks to all members today for speaking to this legislation and for the Legislature considering what I believe is a very important change to the structure that we have in place protecting students in post-secondary educational settings.

I have the great privilege of currently still attending a post-secondary institution. I’m not sure if I’m perhaps one of the only members in the House to do so. I’m currently a McMaster student. Since January 2017, shortly after I was elected, I have been plugging away at my undergrad studies part-time. I’m thankful for that opportunity to be able to go to a world-class university here in Ontario.

Perhaps not a lot of people know this, and I’ll share it with the Legislature—it isn’t something, I don’t think, that I have on the record, but prior to getting elected, I actually was accepted to university for music performance. Music performance is sort of my passion, it’s my background, and before getting involved and working in politics, that was my life, really. I spent many hours every day practising: singing in choirs, playing the piano and studying for Royal Conservatory exams.

When I thought about what I wanted to do after high school, I saw the opportunities that an undergraduate degree of, frankly, almost any stripe here in the province of Ontario will provide. I understand and respect those who are getting into the skilled trades. As a government, we’ve done a lot to promote that. I have many family members who are working in the skilled trades, who are in agriculture, who are in business, and many family members who went to college as well. I have a very large family, so it’s easy for me to say there are many family members in a lot of different areas.

But music was my passion, and I applied to a number of different universities for a degree in music performance. I was accepted; I ended up actually going off to Ottawa, working on Parliament Hill for a year instead, because of some opportunities that arose at that time, and I wasn’t able to practise to the extent that, of course, is needed in order to take that level of education in music. But it’s still something I try to pursue in my spare time and it’s something I believe in.

When I was elected in the fall of 2016—actually, I believe yesterday was the sixth anniversary of my swearing in here in this chamber.

Interjections.

And I know; I know. You can laugh. I get that a lot. But frankly, again, these are young people, for the vast majority. They’re 17, they’re 18, maybe 19. They’re coming onto campus. Their joie de vivre, their appetite for learning, is limitless. The best courses are first-year courses, before they become a little bit jaded by the time they get to third or fourth year and they don’t engage as much. But the first-year students, they’re there to learn, they’re there to discuss, they’re there to experience post-secondary education, and I can’t imagine how devastating and how destructive an act can be to someone coming in with those expectations.

And that, then, is a call to all of us to take that seriously, to act not just in this way—this is an incredibly important piece of legislation that builds on the work that’s been done in a non-partisan way, and I know that any member in this House would be the first to say that it’s not the end, that there is more work that should be done. I, frankly, don’t know exactly what that is. If I did or if we did, then I know we would bring it forward. But I know that that’s something all of us share, a belief in always doing more, being better and serving—serving those who we strive to represent, including those young people who are seeking to improve themselves and to contribute, to make a difference in our communities.

And that’s why I’m speaking in favour of this legislation this afternoon, Speaker. It’s because when I think of the people that I go to school with and the people who have gone to school and have experienced, unfortunately, the terrible trauma, the déjà vu, if you will, of having been abused or having been harassed or having been assaulted by someone who is in a position of authority, in a faculty position, and then going back onto that campus, seeing that person at the front of class, teaching, speaking with authority—I can’t imagine what that would be. And I recognize, Speaker, that I’m not someone who is in a position that likely will ever experience that. I pray no one in my family will experience that; I pray that no one I know will experience that. But there are many who have.

So then it’s not enough for us just to say, “Well, the existing processes are good enough. It’s good enough, what we’ve got. Yeah, it’s not perfect, but it’s good enough.” There’s a flavour of that in what I hear. Defending these unethical NDAs—the approach of the past, frankly, in approaching these sensitive and important topics, is not good enough. That’s why this legislation is needed and it’s why I support it.

I would just ask all members to think either of their family members—or perhaps, if not family members, those they know, those they interact with. Think about the university or the college in your community. So many of us have them. There are so many amazing colleges and universities in this province that do fantastic work. Think about when you go there—we’ve all been there, right? They invite us. Perhaps it’s a new facility opening. Perhaps we get asked to speak to a class. Perhaps we’re invited to visit a high school and share about our life as an MPP or the policies that our government is providing.

When you look out upon that group of children or young adults or teenagers and think about the terrible statistics that have necessitated this type of action, the fact that so many have experienced terrible abuse or trauma from those in positions of authority—consider that when casting your ballot, and vote yes. Vote yes to a safer university campus. Vote yes to a safer college campus. Vote yes to supports in place that provide opportunity, that encourage growth so that that eager and enthusiastic group of students who I see when I go to campus don’t have the devastation and disappointment of experiences that I pray none of us will ever see.

Speaker, in conclusion, I strongly support this legislation. I will be voting for this legislation and I ask all members of this House to join me in doing so. Thank you very much.

Whether it’s this legislation or other legislation, I’m committed to working and listening. It’s so important to ensure that we’re listening to those who have had lived experiences. Whether it’s in seminars or events—I frankly don’t get to quite as many events on campus as I would like to, just given the other requirements of the job—I’m going to continue to listen and have those help inform my work and advocacy here as an elected member as well. My thanks to the member for the question.

My thanks to the member for Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry. It’s not just the glasses. The glasses are part of it, but I can’t wear a collared shirt. I find that with collared shirts, people will recognize me as well, so I have to wear T-shirts. A sweater is preferable, maybe a Mac one.

What I’m hearing from students—and it’s unfortunate—is a bit of a feeling that they are on their own and that governments historically haven’t had their back. I think that, again, is just why this type of legislation is so important. This type of legislation says, “No, we have your back.” It says to young people who I hear from in seminar—again, they don’t know I’m a member; they’re just talking about their experiences or their frustrations with the system. They see a piece of legislation like this, and I believe that they know then, “Okay, there’s a government that’s listening. There’s a government that’s taking action. They’re not using students as pawns. They’re not using them as bargaining chips in negotiations or in contract talks; they’re listening and they’re taking action.” I believe that’s what I’m hearing from my colleagues on campus.

It’s not just saying, “This is the end of all harassment on campus”—it’s not. Despite the fact that the majority of sexual harassment on campus might be from student to student, that doesn’t excuse or stop us from having to take action against that which is based in faculty. I think there’s always more that can be done. I know that our government is committed to always doing more, but this is a step in the right direction.

I would say that my understanding of the legislation specifically is that that’s not the process that this particular piece of legislation is intending to push for educational awareness around all these issues. This is specifically around that need to address sexual violence, specifically as it pertains to faculty members perpetrating acts against students.

But I also think that the member opposite does raise an important point, which is a call to all of us as individuals, whether we’re on campus or whether we are MPPs, to be able to raise awareness around these crucial issues. So I invite the member to promote the awareness of that, as well as myself and everyone else in this chamber.