This week, we recognized Overdose Awareness Day. In 2021, 560 people died from an overdose. That is the highest number of drug poisoning deaths ever recorded in Toronto. Acute drug toxicity is the current number one cause of death for youth in Ontario aged 15 to 24. Ontario has an opioid crisis.

These are the words of Zoë Dodd, a leader in the work to save people’s lives. This is what she says: “The US and Canada have now been in a devastating drug poisoning crisis for a decade. This isn’t happening like this anywhere else in the world. These deaths are preventable. This crisis will end when we truly shift as a society.”

To the workers leading change on this crisis’s front lines, you have been to too many funerals. To the families who have lost people to drug overdose, I am so sorry.

International Overdose Awareness Day is a day for us to remember those whom we’ve lost and to continue to advocate for better solutions.

That means listening to health professionals who see clean and safe supply as a way to stop people dying from toxic street drugs. It means permitting and funding opioid consumption sites like the one in Kensington, so people can safely use; it means increasing funding to mental health treatment and addiction treatment that’s been proven to work; and building more permanent supportive housing.

This is a complicated crisis, and compassion and kindness are needed to address it.

Today, I’d like to speak about returning to school, and I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak.

The achievement and well-being of children and youth are always at the forefront of my mind. I want to take the time today to give a shout-out and thank the organizations in the riding of Scarborough Centre, like Lights Out Basketball Academy, for their efforts and initiatives in getting our young minds prepared for greater success.

Lights Out Basketball Academy is an organization based at Ellesmere Community Centre and led by Coach Ken Wade, Coach Rogel, Coach Jerron and Coach Christian. They not only teach essential basketball skills to our kids, but they work hard in bringing positive differences into their lives.

Recently they have partnered with Adidas Canada to ensure that their players return to school with backpacks. Small gestures like these make such a difference and ensure that kids are going to school ready to learn and looking sharp.

To the students of Scarborough Centre: Even though I am no longer your school board trustee, you can rest assured that I will continue to advocate for you and have your back, to ensure you have the appropriate resources you need to succeed.

Our government has enacted a great plan, supported by historic investments in education, so you can have a safe, normal, enjoyable return to school, with the full range of extracurricular activities and supports you deserve. Best wishes for a happy and healthy return to school in the 2022-23 school year.

Today, September 1, the people of Slovakia are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Slovakian constitution of 1992. For me, as someone who was born in the capital city of Bratislava and traces her paternal routes to this beautiful country, it is a day of pride and celebration.

The signing of the constitution de facto established Slovakia as an independent and sovereign country and was a direct consequence of the events of the peaceful, non-violent and student-led velvet revolution, which took place in Czechoslovakia in 1989 and resulted in the ousting of the communist regime.

Slovakia today is a developed country of 5.4 million, with an advanced, high-income economy, a strong stance on civil liberties, democratic governance, universal health care and free education.

Led by Zuzana Čaputová, the country’s first female president, Slovakia is a member of the EU, NATO, UN and the Council of Europe. Being home to eight UNESCO heritage sites, Slovakia boasts the largest number of castles per capita in the world, situated within its picturesque and mountainous landscapes.

An interesting fact to note, Mr. Speaker: Did you know that many of Ontario’s Jaguar, Land Rover and Kia vehicles are imported from this largest-per-capita car producer, which manufactures over one million passenger vehicles per year?

I am proud to be among the 72,000-strong Slovakian diaspora in Canada, in good company with politician Tim Hudak, sports journalist George Gross and hockey player Natalie Babonyová.

Dear colleagues, please join me in wishing our Slovakian Canadian friends a Šťastný Deň Ústavy Slovenskej republiky.

C’est toujours un honneur de se lever en Chambre pour représenter les bonnes gens de Mushkegowuk–Baie James.

The community of Kashechewan is facing a nursing crisis at their nursing station, which is their only medical facility. It’s their lifeline. They currently have two nurses manning the station, when usually they have nine—and even 12, prior to the pandemic. They are open for emergency-only cases. Basic medical care is not an option—no prenatal services, no regular checkups. Being proactive and preventative for health issues such as complications with diabetes is not an option. They deserve better.

The entire province is facing a nursing shortage, but these communities have even greater challenges, and things need to be addressed. These are fly-in communities with no road access, no access to nearby hospitals or ER departments. There is a surge of COVID that has threatened the community. Funding is heavily needed in these communities in order to hire proper staff, to get specialists and doctors in and out of the communities for clinics and consultations to give them the medical attention they deserve.

Finally, a long-term recruitment and retention plan needs to be developed with the First Nations and Inuit health branch, Indigenous Services Canada and the provincial government to ensure adequate and accessible health care for all northern communities facing these issues.

The opening of the CNE is another indication that our lives are back to normal. I was delighted and honoured to attend the opening of the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada booth at the CNE and meet so many old friends.

The NEPMCC is a forum of more than 800 member publications—print, online, radio and TV—that represent 65 different languages. They reach over seven million Canadians. I would like to congratulate Mr. Thomas Saras for leading the organization to new heights and achievements.

For more than seven decades, ethnic newspapers have been meeting the challenges of assistance, guidance and integration of millions of newcomers who have immigrated to Canada. All of this is done in the spirit of helping them to become better Canadians. Its role has been to introduce immigrants to their new environment as efficiently and as painlessly possible for them, their families and their community in order for them to become full-fledged citizens of our country, so that the newcomers are willing and able to contribute their talents and abilities for the benefit of all Canadians.

They also promote excellence in journalism among their members. They serve as a forum for the study and discussion of barriers faced by ethnic groups. And they gather and disseminate information, which leads to a better understanding and cooperation among the various ethnic groups in Canada and mainstream society. They are an integral part of our society and they deserve our unwavering support and solidarity.

I wish the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada and Mr. Saras many more successes and milestones.

I would like today to talk about Suomi Koti, a non-profit seniors’ residence that has been providing our elders in Thunder Bay–Superior North with exemplary independent living residences for over 30 years.

Suomi Koti is one of the few organizations in Thunder Bay that offers independent living for seniors at not-for-profit rates. It is affordable, beautifully maintained, close to amenities, surrounded by trees, and I would be very happy to live there myself.

Suomi Koti has plans to build an additional 60 apartments, 20 of which will be reserved for low-income seniors, but to do this, they must rely on donations and government funding to create this new and much-needed housing. There is currently a five- to seven-year wait-list to get into this and the two other non-profit homes in the city, so the need is clear.

The board of Suomi Koti has worked with the most respected designers and planners to put together their funding and building plans. Unfortunately, federal and provincial funding levels are no longer what they were when Suomi Koti was first established, and they are struggling to access funding even though this type of housing is clearly needed.

Speaker, I look forward to meeting with representatives from the provincial government to advocate for financial support for Suomi Koti so that they can continue to do what they already do so well: provide first-rate, affordable housing that seniors in Thunder Bay–Superior North need and deserve.

First, I would like to acknowledge the Clerks, who have been so supportive of me as a rookie MPP. They literally reminded me that it’s my turn to speak now.

On this last day of the legislative week, we have the special opportunity to look ahead with anticipation to a long weekend, because this Monday is Labour Day. For some people, this may be an opportunity for rest. For the residents in Don Valley East, it is anything but, because we will be a beehive of community activity.

For example, the residents of Flemingdon’s Sunny Glenway community will be hosting an enormous outdoor community fun fair that will include a barbecue, live music, a magic show and a variety of activities for children.

The Canadian Community Services Organization, supported by the North Toronto Cluster of Churches and East York Town Centre, will hold a back-to-school event in which they deliver somewhere between 500 and 600 backpacks, for free, along with kits of personal protective equipment. Families across the riding will enjoy the warm company of friends and family.

But we mustn’t lose sight of the bigger picture. I invite all of us to remember and celebrate what Labour Day is all about. It is about honouring workers and about all those people who fought for us to secure better rights, higher wages and safer working conditions. We’ve come a long way, but there is still farther to go. In the midst of a pandemic, the people of Ontario still need 10 paid sick days. They mustn’t have their wages capped to 1% by Bill 124, and they need to believe that their workplace is safe.

To everyone in this Legislature, in Don Valley East and across our great province, I wish you a safe, happy, restful and inspiring Labour Day weekend.

I have a number of visitors to introduce today, so please bear with me.

First, I would like to welcome, from Punjab, India, Dr. Gurbir Singh Gill, who’s well known for his contributions and efforts in demonstrating the importance of making health care accessible to all. His dedication and hard work in improving the health care system in Punjab, India, has resulted in him perfecting a groundbreaking technique in cardiology that has already positively impacted the lives of his patients and set a precedent for future generations in the medical field. Dr. Gill has successfully performed—and treated over 21,000 patients without the use of stents. He has been recognized for his contributions and achievements by the health minister of Punjab and has received the international health care award for the year 2022.

I would like to welcome Dr. Gill to the Legislature here today.

It is my pleasure to rise today to announce the triumphant return of fall fairs to the great riding of Kitchener–Conestoga. I want to give a heartfelt welcome back to the Wellesley Township Fall Fair: one night only on Tuesday, September 13—and folks, it’s free admission. Their theme this year is “Reconnecting Communities.” They will be celebrating by raffling off the newly finished community quilt project of 2021.

Next, the New Hamburg Fall Fair; it runs September 15 through 18. The theme this year is “Back to our Roots,” a celebration of our agricultural community. New attractions include the Ultimutts stunt dogs and Reptile Kingdom.

We can’t forget, of course, the Wellesley Apple Butter and Cheese Festival, which returns on September 24, and it is a team effort. The Lions Club sells sausage on a bun, the Optimists sell schnitzel on a bun, the Lutheran churches sell apple dumplings and Mennonite churches sell apple fritters—which I know you’re a big fan of, Speaker.

Last, but not least, Oktoberfest: It’s wunderbar, and it’s back, running from September 23 to October 15. The official keg-tapping will be Friday, October 7. Come raise a stein and polka around the largest Oktoberfest outside of Germany.

All of these fall fairs cannot run without the help of countless volunteers, so thank you to all the volunteers for all their hard work and helping to celebrate our region’s proud history.

Every Premier who has served has always had a great OPP detail, and there’s usually a sergeant who’s in charge of the detail. My sergeant—it’s his birthday today. He has served every Premier, back to Leslie Frost—at least, that’s what I hear; at least, he looks like he has served every Premier, back to Leslie Frost. He told me I was his favourite Premier, but I talked to other Premiers and he said the exact same thing to every single Premier he has served.

Happy birthday, Homi. I wish you all the very best.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome Sharline Wang and Lei Zhang, the parents of our brilliant young page Sophie Zhang of Thornhill.

Mr. Speaker, if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent to allow members to wear gold ribbon lapel pins in recognition of September being Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

That concludes our members’ statements for this morning.

I feel the obligation to remind the members that the members’ statements are 90 seconds in length, not two minutes, and remind them as much as possible to adhere to the time that the standing orders provide. I’m reluctant to interrupt members who are concluding a good statement, but we have to keep in mind the standing orders.

Applause.

I rise once again to share some great news from the amazing riding of Hastings–Lennox and Addington. I want to highlight a wonderful event. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to join with four different branches of the international Lions Club to welcome a group of European Lions members as they ran over 1,000 kilometres across two countries, from Chicago to Montreal, in support of advocacy, awareness and fundraising for the people of Ukraine. Their motto, modified from the international Lions Club’s, is “We Run, We Serve” and, in 2022, “We Serve the Ukraine.”

I want to express my gratitude to the Bath and District Lions Club, the Madoc Lions Club, the Amherstview Lions Club and the Odessa Lions Club for their invitation to join this event and for their support of this amazing effort. Of course, I want to thank the runners themselves for their dedication to service.

The Lions Clubs across this country and around the world provide a fantastic opportunity for local people to come out and serve their communities.

I’m happy to introduce my friends from Germany: Zhou Jing and her husband, Bernd Wohlfart, and her daughter Melanie Rose Wohlfart. Welcome to Queen’s Park, and enjoy your trip in Canada.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to welcome my compatriot and good friend His Excellency Vít Koziak, ambassador of the Slovak Republic, who is here to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Slovakian constitution.

I would like to invite all members to join us for the flag-raising today at noon.

I’d like to welcome Derek Fox from Bearskin Lake First Nation and Melinda Meekis from Deer Lake First Nation. Derek Fox is Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation—and also, his assistant. Meegwetch for coming. Thank you.

I want to welcome Josh Young to Queen’s Park today. Josh has been an intern in our office at the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. He is attending law school in Dundee, Scotland, this month. I wish him all the best and thank him for serving working people in this province.

This question is for the Premier. Students are going back to school next week, to what we all hope is going to be a more normal school year. Experts have been clear that addressing the impacts on their learning and their well-being is going to require serious interventions. But instead of a serious plan backed up with real investment, this government is shifting millions away from schools and into direct, one-time payments, forcing parents to buy their own supports.

Since there have been no further details of this new voucher-style program, will the Premier commit instead to investing that $225 million into our schools where it can do the most good?