Today is Halloween, the spookiest day of the year. I want to commend the residents of Brampton North for beautifully and creatively decorating their homes. Decorations may seem small but they go a long way, showing community spirit and adding to the vibrancy of our neighbourhoods. I wish my constituents a happy and safe Halloween.

I would also ask everyone to resist the urge to pull out their Christmas decorations and “deck the halls” tomorrow or the next few days following. I respectfully ask that we wait instead until after November 11, Remembrance Day. Instead, let us all attend services in our communities to honour our heroes and reflect on the many brave souls who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we live in a proud and free country. And out of respect for them, let’s hold off on the Christmas lights.

Speaker, I am fortunate to have been born and raised in Brampton, a city that cherishes our diversity, celebrates our culture and values our freedoms. But these values have come at a cost—a proud military tradition of sacrifice in the pursuit of peace. We see their heroism in moments of free speech and free expression. We feel their sacrifice in our places of democracy, including right here in this legislative chamber.

I invite the residents of Brampton to attend services at Chinguacousy Park or at the Ahmadiyya Mubarak mosque on November 6, and especially the ceremony at the memorial cenotaph on Remembrance Day itself where, together as a community, we will remember.

I would like to welcome Julie Aube. She’s the executive director of Maison McCulloch Hospice in Sudbury. We also have Rick Firth, who is president and CEO of Hospice Palliative Care Ontario, as well as Melissa Horner and Jennifer Mossop, who are both from Hospice Palliative Care Ontario. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Speaker, at the young age of 18, Reese Fallon had a fiery passion for politics and making her community a better place. She radiated positivity and kindness and never failed to light up any room she was in. Reese would have been 22 years old this year and a recent graduate from the McMaster nursing program. She was an active member of the Beaches–East York community and, ultimately, a force to be reckoned with.

Sadly, her life was tragically cut short on July 22, 2018, in the Danforth shooting. While there will never be enough words to describe the profound loss this was, there continues to be an outpouring of love and support to honour Reese in our riding.

This November—next week, actually—the Reese Fallon Laneway will be unveiled. It is located south of Gerrard Street East, just a hop, skip and a jump from Malvern Collegiate Institute, where Reese was a dedicated and engaged student. With over 3,000 signatures obtained for its creation, the laneway is a testament to the impact Reese continues to have in our community and amongst family and loved ones. This laneway will create space for future generations to remember Reese’s legacy. It is a special location that pays homage to a spot where she spent much of her childhood playing with her sisters and friends. It will be a place for people to celebrate, reminisce and feel her presence and comfort.

To her loving family, Claudine, Doug, Quinn, Riley and Sadie, we promise you that we will continue to honour Reese’s legacy in everything we do.

Of the many unique and beautiful features of my riding, Pelee Island maintains a special place in my heart. At 42 square kilometres, Pelee Island is the largest island in Lake Erie and the southernmost populated place in Canada. Pelee Island is a peaceful, nature lover’s paradise and one of the most species-rich biodiverse regions in Canada.

The brilliant sunrises over Pelee Island’s 200-year-old lighthouse and natural beaches have been enjoyed and photographed for generations, while the evening sunsets over the west shore are shared with family and friends at the popular Pelee Island Winery Pavilion. With a tradition of grape growing and winemaking that dates back 170 years, Pelee Island is the birthplace of Canada’s wine industry. Here, Pelee Island Winery sustainably operates and cares for over 700 acres of meticulous farmland in Canada’s warmest wine-growing region, and many of the carefully curated wines have won international awards and continue to be the favourites of connoisseurs around the world.

Accessible by ferry, private boat or plane, the island’s charm, hospitality and tranquility inspired our legendary Margaret Atwood to take up and maintain a residence there.

Although permanent residents number less than 300, seasonal tourism that includes open air music festivals, an annual half marathon, and the famous fall pheasant hunts currently ongoing and dating back to 1932, grow the population to nearly 1,500 during peak times.

This year, Pelee Island made history again by electing its first female mayor, Cathy Miller. Mayor-elect Miller is a seasoned media professional turned innkeeper of the beautiful and historic Wandering Dog Inn. The community and the entire region are fortunate to have such a capable, caring and hard-working community advocate to serve as leader.

If you’re in need of some respite from the city and are seeking fresh lake air and a unique, affordable and family friendly holiday, I encourage you to consider the jewel of Lake Erie, where you can set your watch to island time, explore eco-tourism at its finest by bicycle or golf cart, and enjoy the food, wine and warm hospitality of our special community.

That concludes our members’ statements for this morning.

I’m so glad to be back in the House today. During our time away, I had many opportunities to reach out to my constituents and enjoy the many community events while connecting with the residents of Etobicoke–Lakeshore.

Speaker, there has been plenty of good news to share. The long-awaited construction of not one but two Etobicoke–Lakeshore schools has begun. Thanks to the parents, the faculty and, of course, the Minister of Education for helping to make this happen.

St. Leo Catholic elementary school has broken ground, supported by an investment of $22.7 million, which includes additional funding of $10.3 million. The redevelopment will also include the renovation of the school’s heritage piece, which allows the students to learn what happened in the past. The new school will include 500 student spaces, three new child care rooms and one new EarlyON Child and Family Centre.

Our second school that broke ground is Holy Angels Catholic School. It’s being rebuilt and is supported by a government investment of $22.5 million, and it will include 600 student spaces, five child care rooms and 88 child care spaces.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to fill my schedule with meetings with constituents and going to many community events such as the Long Branch Tree Fest, the 15th anniversary of the conferment of the US Congressional Gold Medal on Tibet’s Dalai Lama—the Building Up training centre.

And this weekend I was at the Mimico market, where I picked up these earrings.

Please make sure to support your local markets this Christmastime and pick up those extra gifts. Support local, and have a great time in your communities.

Mr. Speaker, our government is unyielding in our commitment to keep kids in the classroom. That is the most important thing we can do. Children have faced perhaps some of the most difficulty in modern history. Their mental and physical health, their social and emotional development, and their academic success are at risk.

The union confirmed yesterday that they’re on a path to a strike, effective this Friday, and so yesterday the government reached out to this specific union with the intent of offering a better deal: 10% over four years, maintaining the best pension and benefits and 131 days of sick leave in this country. That is a reasonable offer, because nothing should come in the way of a child’s right to learn.

It has been so difficult for children, and that’s why we’re standing up. We’re making it clear we will do everything possible to keep kids in the classroom.

Our workers do important work in our schools. We value what they do. It’s why we’re offering them an increase every single year over the course of their program. We said to them yesterday, “Work with us. Rescind your commitment to strike on Friday and bargain to get a deal.” They decided that they’re going to proceed with a strike on Friday, imposing further hardship on children who have faced unprecedented difficulty in this province. This government believes children should be in school, and we will stand up to ensure they remain there, without disruption, right to June.

I’d like to give a warm welcome to Téah U-Ming, who will be part of our Parkdale–High Park team at Queen’s Park this term, as part of her OLIP placement.

I want to introduce the full complement of my terrific team today: energetic Ellen Pisani, magnificent Maisie Harrison, notable Noor Samiei, marvelous Marietta Fox, sensational Selena McCuaig, our York University intern—the famous five. I’m looking forward to changing the world with you.

It gives me great pleasure to introduce two individuals from my office. The first is Ben Iheagwara. He’s an outstanding intern with a background in political philosophy, who, I worry, is actually teaching me more than I am teaching him; so I thank you for that.

I’d also like to introduce Hamish Gilleland, a young, bright volunteer in my office, also from my riding, who will be joining me in between his classes at U of T to help advocate for a better Don Valley East.

I’d like to welcome Michau van Speyk from the Ontario Autism Coalition to the gallery today.

Today I’d like to introduce my OLIP intern, Alia Mufti.

I’d like to welcome my executive assistant, Anthony Goncalves. He’s here in the House for the first time today.

I would like to welcome an amazing family from the wonderful riding of Kanata–Carleton, the Kam family. Their son Conner Kam, is the captain of the pages today.

I’d like to welcome the parents of the Toronto–St. Paul’s fabulous page, Sofia Marra. Her mother, Mahira Mohtashami, is here; her dad, Frank Marra; as well as her grandmother Farangis Manoochehri-Kashani. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’d like to acknowledge, in the east members’ gallery, my brother Jim, from Tecumseh, who’s visiting here for the very first time.

My executive assistant, Rachel Haddad, also of Tecumseh, is here in her permanent capacity.

And I want to wish a warm introduction to Sophie Williams, of Peterborough, who has joined our office as part of the Ontario Legislature Internship Programme.

A warm welcome to all of them for visiting here.

That concludes the time we have available for introduction of guests. I’ll remind members that if they can keep their introductions of their guests as brief as possible, that would be helpful. It’s very exciting to have guests in the chamber again, but if we can keep them brief, we’ll get more introductions in.

I’d like to welcome Lucas Fisher. He’s part of the internship program, and he’s from Davisville in Toronto.

I’d like to join the chorus of voices recognizing those from Hospice Palliative Care Ontario. Today we have, from the Niagara region, Pamela Blackwood with McNally House. We also have Annalise Stenekes with Mariposa hospice, Beth Ellis from Haldimand Norfolk hospice, Debbie Kesheshian from Hospice Huronia, Rick Firth with HPCO, Amanda Maragos from Emily’s House and Kerri VanSickle from the Stedman hospice, as well as Jennifer Mossop, the former member for Stoney Creek. Welcome to the Legislature today.