Mr. Speaker, Ingersoll, Tillsonburg and Woodstock chambers of commerce have recently handed out their annual awards of excellence. These awards honour local businesses and entrepreneurs for their success and recognize their contributions to our community.

I’d like to congratulate each of this year’s winners. From the Ingersoll chamber: E&E McLaughlin Ltd, Red Dragon Dairy, Kayla Han for Youth Citizen of the Year award, Ian Robertson for the Mark Warnick Citizen of the Year award and Ella Shelton for the President’s Award.

From Tillsonburg chamber of commerce: Tillsonburg Garden Gate, Tillson Pizza, Fleetwood Metal Industries, Legend Fleet Solutions, Execulink Telecom, Martinrea International, Rob Bilger for Entrepreneur of the Year Award and Amy Rohrer for the Esseltine positive change award.

From the Woodstock chamber of commerce: VON Sakura House, Noods Pasta, Oxford Energy Solutions, Paws Up Obedience Training, the WOMB, Jarful Local Refillery, Willow Grove Animal Wellness Centre and Jack Streef for the President’s Award.

Mr. Speaker, these winners demonstrate that Oxford spirit, hard work, innovation and community giving is going strong in Ontario.

I rise today to honour that, at the end of this week, on Friday, November 25, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign will begin.

In this chamber, we have an obligation to reach across the aisle and across communities to do everything in our power to end violence against women and girls. In this province, we have the road map to reduce, prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

Over the summer, the coroner’s office reported that the province’s inquest into the triple homicide in rural Renfrew county resulted in 86 recommendations; 68 were directed at this provincial government. It has been six months, and this provincial government has not publicly responded to the inquest recommendations in any way—ranging from formally declaring intimate partner violence as an epidemic to the creation of a survivor-advocate role to looking into interpersonal disclosure laws, like my PMB, Clare’s Law.

If we only use our voices to memorialize and honour those we lost, while being silent when asked to meet the moment with action, then we need to reflect deeply on our own values.

These recommendations are responsible and reasonable, and it’s our obligation as leaders in the province to make sure they see action. We all know that the vast majority of domestic homicides are both predictable and preventable. I hope all my colleagues will challenge gender-based violence with action.

For the first time since 1986, the Canadian men’s soccer team will be playing in the FIFA World Cup hosted in Qatar. Not only is this a proud moment for Canadians as we enter the cup after 36 years, it’s a proud moment for Bramptonians as well.

Speaker, Brampton is a city with an immense amount of talent, and a week ago Canada’s roster for the FIFA World Cup was announced. I’m so proud to hear that over a quarter—seven out of 26 players—on the Canadian men’s national team will be from the great city of Brampton. All seven of these players started their youth career in the city of Brampton. The dedication these men have displayed throughout their careers is not only impressive but is motivating for our youth and for our community.

I would like to acknowledge the seven Bramptonians representing team Canada in the FIFA World Cup: Cyle Larin, Liam Millar, Jonathan Osorio, Iké Ugbo, Tajon Buchanan, Junior Hoilett and Atiba Hutchinson. These players are homegrown heroes and, as we prepare for the games to begin, we as a community are extremely excited to cheer them on, as well as all of team Canada, as they head to their first game with Belgium on November 23.

I would also like to welcome members of the Ontario Medical Association from the Ottawa region: Dr. Aly Abdulla, Dr. Tarun Rahman, Dr. Alan Drummond, Dr. Bev Johnson, Dr. Reed Morrison, Dr. Sephora Tang and Dr. Karen Breeck. I’m looking forward to meeting you later. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

November 23, 2022, Speaker: That’s the date when 26 players on Team Canada’s men’s rosters will make history, and Canadians from coast to coast to coast will stand witness. For the first time since 1986, and only for the second time ever, Canada’s men’s team has qualified for the FIFA World Cup.

Speaker, this World Cup could not be more special to the great people of Brampton. As a certified Brampton boy, it fills me with tremendous pride to say seven of the 26 players on Canada’s World Cup roster are from Brampton. Speaker, they would have had an eighth player from Brampton, but I told them that I was busy in this House, fighting for taxpayers.

I’ve had the privilege to rise in this House on multiple occasions and speak on behalf of my constituents and the residents of Brampton. I know how hard they work for what they have. Brampton is home to people from all walks of life, who chose to build their home here and make a life that they are proud of. The hard work, the sacrifice, the resilience—I see it every day in Brampton North. It makes me proud to be their voice here at Queen’s Park.

I want to wish Tajon Buchanan, Cyle Larin, Jonathan Osorio, Junior Hoilett, Liam Millar, Atiba Hutchinson, Iké Ugbo and the rest of the team the best of luck. This is a historical moment. I encourage every member of this House to cheer on our Canadian boys as they take on the world in Qatar.

Speaker, there’s a special energy and optimism in Chatham-Kent right now. Recently, a small group of local business leaders purchased the Downtown Chatham Centre—a large, outdated, underoccupied mall. In earnest and at their own expense, these community partners developed a visionary concept for the future of the downtown entitled Imagine CK. This bold plan proposes entertainment, education, culture, accessible resources, business and a wide range of modern housing to the downtown core, all while preserving charm and historic features and facades. Most importantly, this was accomplished in collaboration with residents and officials.

A modern, inclusive community hub will serve as the new library, art gallery, museum and civic centre. This new design replaces and centralizes several aging, inefficient municipal offices requiring millions of dollars in repairs. Once complete, this hub will also showcase Chatham-Kent’s rich agricultural roots and celebrate the area’s important Black and Indigenous history.

Anchored by a new state-of-the-art family-focused entertainment complex, the second phase includes a modern 4,000-seat multi-use arena as well as space for farmers’ markets, festivals and concerts. With a focus on sustainable growth that embraces multi-generational residents and youth retention, Imagine CK offers people of all ages a reason to make Chatham-Kent their home and brings meaningful, well-paying employment and a multitude of lifestyle opportunities back to the area.

I’d like to introduce the following members from the Ontario General Contractors Association: Lewis Cowan, president, BDA, and chair of the OGCA executive committee; Sheila Thompson, president, Rosenberg and Parker of Canada; Francis Pomerleau, chief executive, national strategies, Pomerleau; and David Morley, VP, national strategy and government relations. Welcome to Queen’s Park, and thanks for building Ontario.

I want to wish everybody from the Ontario Medical Association a warm welcome to Queen’s Park; I’m trying to take names off my list, as some of you have already been introduced, but certainly: Dr. Rose Zacharias, president of the OMA; Stephen Singh, president of the palliative care group; Cathy Mastrogiacomo, family medicine group; David Urbach from Women’s College; and, of course, Dr. Vera Etches from Ottawa Public Health. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

As with others, I would like to welcome the Ontario Medical Association. I am pleased to recognize the doctors in the public gallery who have come from across Ontario to meet with MPPs to share their solutions for increasing patient access to care.

As part of today, the OMA is hosting a panel discussion with doctors who will be sharing solutions for reducing wait times, addressing the doctor shortage and expanding palliative care. The event starts at noon in room 230.

I would also like to recognize and introduce the leaders of the Ontario Medical Association, who are in the members’ gallery: CEO, Allan O’Dette; board chair, Dr. Cathy Faulds; and president, Dr. Rose Zacharias. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’d like to thank the Ontario Medical Association for a wonderful meeting today, and especially Dr. Naomi Macrae, Dr. Victoria Young, Dr. Hava Starkman, Dr. Kunal Kolhatkar, Dr. Ali Kajdehi, Dr. Inna Ushcatz, Dr. Raghu Venugopal, and Dr. Lorne Sokol. Thank you for your outstanding work and for meeting with me today. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Like everyone else, I’d like to welcome members of the Ontario Medical Association here, but particularly my friend and constituent Dr. Audrey Karlinsky.

Like other MPPs, I’d like to welcome the OMA to Queen’s Park, in particular: Dr. Ganesh Ram, Dr. Andrew Park, Dr. Sunit Nanda; Dr. Sean Peterson, from the London area; and Dr. Cathy Faulds and Dr. Sharad Rai, who I know are London West constituents.

I just want to introduce a good friend and a past president of the OMA who is here with us today—a great golfer as well, as I just found out: Adam Kassam, welcome. Thank you.

I’m pleased to say that we have with us in the Speaker’s gallery today a very special guest, Ms. Susan Crystal, who is the consul general of the United States of America, based here in Toronto. She is accompanied by Michael Benton, Claudia Valladolid, Paul Hur and Katherine Zhang from the US Consulate General.

Please join me in warmly welcoming our guests.

I’d like to welcome the Ontario Medical Association, who is with us today. We have Marla DiCandia and Lou Vedovat, and doctors from my riding: Dr. Luay Ali Al-Kazely, Dr. Karen Trollope-Kumar, Dr. Teresa Chan, Dr. Ross Male and Dr. Raymond Harb. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I want to introduce one of the doctors from my area of Algoma–Manitoulin, from the place so nice they named it twice, in Wawa. Welcome to Queen’s Park, Dr. Switzer.

I’d like to welcome from the Ontario Medical Association, Dr. Aly Abdulla, and, my own Ottawa medical officer of health, Dr. Vera Etches, as well as several other doctors from the Ottawa area who have joined us here today.

I’d like to welcome a good friend of mine visiting from eastern Ontario today. He’s not a doctor—he’s actually a lousy golfer. His name is Brian Erwin and he’s from McDougall Insurance, part of the IBAO delegation here today. Welcome, Brian.

That concludes our introduction of visitors.

The government House leader has informed me that he has a point of order he wishes to raise.

Agreed? I heard a no.

Interjection.

The final supplementary.

The Minister of Health, to reply.

Minister of Municipal Affairs.