As the parliamentary assistant to the Solicitor General, it gives me distinct honour to introduce representatives of the Police Association of Ontario who are joining us today at Queen’s Park: President Mark Baxter; executive director Tyler Callaghan; OPPA president John Cerasuolo—and members of the board and staff: Tim Reparon, Michael Duffy, Lauren Alpern and Karen Peral. Welcome to Queen’s Park. I know my colleague has more to add.

I’d like to continue those introductions and welcome Brad Durst, Cameron Gough, Matt Jotham, Colin Woods, Anne Brennan-Walsh and Jim Mulligan. You’re all invited to their reception tonight.

I would like to recognize Patrick McGilly from the Niagara Region Police Association.

Patrick, I’m looking forward to the meeting later on this afternoon. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’m very privileged to say that there are a number of vulnerable-road-user advocates with us in the chamber today: Mark Fernandez and Bob Murphy from the Toronto Community Bikeways Coalition; Ingrid Buday, Taqrim Syed, Tasnuba Syeda, Syed Abukarem Ahmed, Stewart Wallace and Colleen Worsley. Thank you so much for joining us today for the Moving Ontarians More Safely Act.

I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge John Sewell, who apparently was led out of this building by police officers because he’s standing up for our province.

Thank you, John, for being here.

I’d like to recognize a tremendous and well-loved institution in my riding of Windsor–Tecumseh, the Greater Windsor Concert Band. This past weekend, the band celebrated their silver jubilee. True to form, they celebrated in style with a free community concert at the Serbian Centre of Windsor.

Led by their enigmatic director, Ric Moor, the band brings back to our community the magic of wind-band and concert-band music. From their humble beginnings in 1997, comprised of Ric and 12 musicians he was able to recruit—and hosted at St. Thomas of Villanova high school—the band delivered their first of many Christmas shows that year, and they have kept an incredible holiday spirit alive in our community ever since.

The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t keep the band down. Their YouTube and TikTok channels are going strong, delivering incredible music when it was needed the most to keep our spirits lifted.

And for those among us who just can’t get enough of All I Want for Christmas Is You, rest assured that the Greater Windsor Concert Band has an incredible rendition of this beloved holiday classic.

Thank you to President Diane Hernandez, Vice-President Lori Coulter, Secretary Annette LaRose, Treasurer Matthew Grayson and Directors Karen Barnes, Amanda Hanson, Angela Manser and Laura Zarlenga for sharing your love of music with all of us in Windsor–Tecumseh.

I’d like to introduce Barbara Hall, the former mayor of Toronto, to Queen’s Park today.

It’s an honour to welcome Nishnawbe Aski Nation Deputy Grand Chief Victor Linklater, Wally McKay and Wendy Caruk. Meegwetch.

That concludes our members’ statements for this morning.

I’d like to welcome members of the Hamilton Police Association: Hope Paiva, Jaimi Bannon and Jason Leek. I look forward to meeting you this afternoon.

I’d like to welcome, from the Ottawa Police Association, Barmak Anvari, Brian Samuel, Cameron Entwistle and Matthew Cox. I look forward to meeting them today.

I also want to welcome, from the progressive contractors’ association, a constituent of mine, Matt Hill.

Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’d like to welcome the Invasive Species Centre and partner organizations attending Queen’s Park for their annual advocacy day—Kyle Borrowman, Terry Rees, Andrea Klymko, Bob Lambe, Mark Ryckman, Belinda Junkin. I invite everyone to attend their reception this evening in room 228.

It’s my honour to rise today to recognize our page captain Nicholas Baryliuk from my riding of Eglinton–Lawrence, and to introduce his proud parents, Ruth and Colin Baryliuk, who are joining us in the east lobby. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Today I would like to welcome St. Enva’s school in Mississauga–Lakeshore here—especially Mr. Otto and his grade 5 class, as well as Nina Chiarelli and her son Hank Quinn from grade 5. Thank you for being here.

I know he has been recognized, but I’d still like to recognize Mark Baxter, the president of the police association, and your team members. I look forward to meeting you later today.

I, too, am very pleased to welcome a former member to the chamber: the member for Burlington in the 41st Parliament, Eleanor McMahon. Once again, welcome.

There’s a point of order.

It is now time for oral questions.

Minister of Health.

I’d like to welcome Justin Wheeler from the Cornwall police force that’s here today with the Police Association of Ontario. We all know the hard work that they do.

Thank you, Justin, for everything you do.

Point of order, Speaker. I am seeking unanimous consent that, notwithstanding standing order 45(b)(iv), the time for debate on opposition day motion 2 be allocated as follows: 54 minutes to each of the recognized parties and 12 minutes to the independent members as a group.

The most important thing that we can do to protect our children and protect our hospital capacity is to keep up to date on our vaccinations.

If you qualify for a booster, get that booster. Get that flu shot. Make sure you protect yourself so that you can protect vulnerable people in our society.

We have SickKids nurses who are leaders in childhood and pediatric RSV and flu innovations. They are now offering that expertise to nurses in community hospitals, because they understand that, working together, we will get through this flu season; we will get through this higher rate of RSV. They are doing it because they work together and they are innovating.

It is very unfortunate that the member opposite is suggesting that nothing has been happening, because in fact there have been many positive innovations that have—

Interjections.

In August, Niagara hosted the 2022 Canada Summer Games. It was a massive success. Team Ontario won 198 medals—the most. Almost 4,000 volunteers helped pull this event off—world-class legacy with a facility that will deal with sports medicine, sports for all ages, recreation. It is one of the best around, and it will serve a very large audience around the Niagara region and beyond.

The leadership team is here today—look at that; it’s like they’ve got lights on. It’s an opportunity to introduce them: Chair Doug Hamilton, Wade Stayzer, Elizabeth Grimmond, Eleanor McMahon, Mario D’Uva, Lynn Hamilton, Vittoria Wikston, Mahaylia Datars, Steve Sevor, Justan Steele, Janice Robinson, Aimee Maggiacomo, Isaac Blank.

You guys were unbelievable. The next hosts are going to have a heck of a time matching what you’ve done. Congratulations.