I consider it both an honour and a privilege to be standing here today representing the people of Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston as their member of provincial Parliament. The encouragement and support I have received through both the nomination and election process has been second to none, and I’m very appreciative.

This inaugural speech allows me the opportunity to introduce myself, to thank my constituents, volunteers and family for their support, and to describe as best I can what has driven me to the decision to enter the world of politics.

First and foremost, I want to thank my wife, Brenda-Leah, for her ongoing support. Not only did she encourage me to run, but she went to work. A retired teacher and principal, she took charge of coordinating the volunteers, and I thought, “Oh, no, the principal is back.” She even had these crazy T-shirts made up with my picture on them during the nomination. It embarrassed my son—a collector’s item, I’m sure.

My mother-in-law, Amanda, at age 86, was a real trooper in the campaign office, along with friends and family and association members.

I want to give a special shout-out to our friends Debbie and Terry Shay, whose enthusiasm and “have fun” attitude was contagious.

I want to mention my sister Anne Marie, who drove from Greely almost every day.

My campaign manager, Shawn Morrison, who some of you know, stuck with me from the beginning, and is still sharing his experience and advice as I bring on new staff and get settled in.

My nephew Chris McGuire has been taking on the financial part of the process.

My wife, Brenda-Leah, and I have raised three children in the Smiths Falls area. Justen, who is now 28, runs his own successful and expanding construction company and has had to pick up all the heavy lifting at our farm where we raise black Angus beef—one of the hardest-working people I know. Thomas is 26 and is a computer engineer graduate, and he works for the federal government. His IT help during the campaign was never-ending. No matter what time we called, he could always solve our IT problems. Amanda, his twin sister, is a singer-songwriter and actress in Nashville, and she never ceases to amaze us. Last Friday morning, I got home and gathered up the mail at the mailbox, and in the local paper there was a beautiful picture of Amanda announcing her new single release called Somebody’s Maybe. She writes songs about love and female empowerment, and we could not be more proud of her. I’d like to mention that you may have seen her performing on The Bachelor last January. All three children supported me with their own special set of skills during the campaign, and we’re very proud of all three of our children.

Full disclosure: I never had political career aspirations. My father would say, “Why don’t you throw your hat in the ring?” And I would say, “No, thanks.” But life is a journey, and that journey has led me here. The time just felt right.

My education played a big part in this decision, but I’m not talking about my formal education in economics and business; I’m referring to my real education, life’s education—primarily my time working in the community health centre model of care at the North Lanark Community Health Centre, now called ConnectWell Community Health.

My previous position as CEO of ConnectWell Community Health was a position I enjoyed, and it gave me great satisfaction over the years. I learned the value of interdisciplinary care—physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, respiratory therapists and many other allied health professionals working together. Health promotion and illness prevention programs and services are a big part of the CHC model. I learned the value of collaboration, working with partner organizations and different levels of government.

With the spirit of collaboration and co-operation, the North Lanark CHC grew from a staff of under 20 to a staff of over 240 employees, with services stretching from the Ottawa River in Renfrew county to the St. Lawrence River in Leeds and Grenville.

I am proud of ConnectWell’s accomplishments and the dedicated people who work there.

That experience also makes me very optimistic for Ontario Health. I served on the collaborative council for the Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Ontario Health Team, and I believe that this model of greater collaboration will result in many system improvements and better health outcomes, and a better experience for our patients and health care providers. Our nurses need this. We all need this.

Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston is very rural. Rural people have extra challenges because of the very nature of being rural. Their work is also very important to us for our food production, lumber supply, and others. “Resilient” and “independent” are two words that I use to describe people from rural Ontario. They deserve our respect and attention in terms of providing services to them. Health equity is an important element of how we develop and invest in our health care system.

I want to tell you a story. One day I was in the health centre reception area. There were a couple of very senior ladies there, who were sisters. I got talking to them. I knew them well; they were regular clients at the health centre. I walked them out to their car. As I was closing the door, I said, “It’s great that you’re still driving and getting out to where you need to go.” One of the sisters smiled at me. She said, “Yes, dear. But, you know, my licence is just good for Lanark.” Resiliency, independence—they got themselves where they needed to go.

Another thing you will hear in Lanark and Frontenac Highlands is the saying, “It takes a tank to get a tank.” I heard this a lot when the gas station at McDonald’s Corners closed. I’ve also heard, recently, appreciation for the elimination of the licence sticker fees and for the gas tax reduction. In rural areas, there are no transportation options. Transportation always comes at the top of the list in community-needs surveys or focus groups.

Broadband is another rural challenge. Connectivity is so important, and I’m happy to report that new investments are making a difference, but we still have more work to do. We are making progress and getting it done.

Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston is a beautiful area, made up of a lot of small towns and villages, hundreds of lakes, and a diverse topography, from rolling farmland to forests to the Canadian Shield.

Throughout Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston, you will find the spirit of communities coming together to celebrate arts, craftsmanship, agriculture and the good food that grows from the fruits of our labour. From the inspiring and boundless imagination unfolding every year at the incredible, world-renowned Puppets Up! festival to the historic agricultural fairs in Maberly and Perth, and the Highland games in Almonte, as a few examples of excellence in our heritage—and welcoming every age to make memories steeped in history and tradition.

In Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston, we have a strong connection to our railways and waterways and the courageous and talented people who forged a path to the future—creating the unparalleled Rideau Canal lock system, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and leaving behind a legacy still celebrated at the site of the eastern Ontario railway museum in Smiths Falls, where youngsters can tuck in with history on an overnight stay in a caboose, and the midsummer CabooseFest held every year in Sharbot Lake.

There are also many recreational opportunities—trails, skiing.

I’ve enjoyed the Rideau Canal my entire life and have taken many trips by boat from Ottawa to Kingston, or a side trip up the Tay River to historic Perth, with its many shops and restaurants.

So if you are planning on attending the International Plowing Match on September 20 to September 24, you may want to travel through Lanark and Frontenac counties and take in some of the sights.

There are many local heroes from my riding.

I need to mention Brooke Henderson. Brooke was born and raised in Smiths Falls and made the Smiths Falls golf course her second home. She has won more major golf tournaments than any other Canadian, including two LPGA events. Along with her sister Brittany, they are real ambassadors for Smiths Falls.

Bailey Andison is another Smiths Falls native, bringing home medals for swimming from the Pan American Games.

There are many others, and as we go back in history, they include R. Tait McKenzie, who was born in Ramsay township and who was known for his contributions to education and the arts.

James Naismith, born in Almonte, invented the great game of basketball.

A local hero, through COVID, was Dr. Paula Stewart, the medical officer of health for the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit. Paula provided great leadership, working with the Ontario Health team and bringing all of the health service providers together, achieving the highest vaccination rates in Ontario.

I would also like to mention that the true value of our community paramedics was realized as they provided many vaccination clinics, including mobile and pop-up. They also visited long-term-care homes and residential homes to vaccinate people who could not get out. Like so many health care professionals, they worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic.

I want to recognize all of you, as members of provincial Parliament. Over the past few months, I have a new appreciation for the work, commitment and responsibility that we’ve all taken on, and that members before us took on.

I would like to acknowledge Doug Wiseman, who served as MPP of our riding from 1971 to 1990. Mr. Wiseman was a friend of my father, Leo Jordan, and he encouraged Dad to enter into politics after 39 years with Ontario Hydro. In my father’s inaugural speech, he said, “I want to say that I am not only proud to represent the riding of Lanark–Renfrew but to follow in the footsteps of the calibre of previous MPPs like Doug Wiseman.” Dad went on to describe the basic principles to which he would serve, including honesty, integrity and accountability. I plan to uphold the same high standards as my father. He also had lots of advice for hydro, but I’ll leave that discussion for our Minister of Energy.

I also wish to acknowledge and thank Senator Bob Runciman, who represented the ridings of Leeds and Leeds–Grenville for 29 years and was then appointed to the Senate of Canada from 2010 to 2017. It was certainly an honour for me to have Senator Runciman attend and speak at the opening of my campaign office. His advice to me: “Make your constituents proud.”

There are many positive and sustainable changes coming to the province. Building our economy, infrastructure and housing are just a few.

My passion is health care, and I consider myself fortunate to be able to work as parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Long-Term Care. This is my opportunity to learn and contribute to improving the experience of our long-term-care residents and their families, making sure that those who need long-term care get long-term care, that those who need home and community care get home and community care, and that people working in health care are in a positive work environment and that it is a career they can enjoy and prosper in.

I thank all of my constituents for honouring me with this opportunity, and I look forward to working collaboratively with all members of this 43rd provincial Parliament.

Further debate?

Madam Speaker, what a beautiful sight to see: a woman in that chair.

I rise today and am honoured to give my inaugural speech in this revered and historic chamber amongst individuals past and present who have contributed to the democracy of our province.

Je suis tellement fière d’être ici parmi les personnes d’hier et d’aujourd’hui qui ont contribué à la démocratie de notre province.

I acknowledge that the land where I live and work is the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, and is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.

I would like to begin with a colossal thank you to Beaches–East York residents for putting their faith in me on June 2, 2022. I am grateful and humbled, in these increasingly divisive and challenging times, where many are skeptical of both politics and politicians. I am absolutely determined to make a difference in the Ontario Legislature, and I will proudly address the issues that matter, day in and day out.

If you have never been to my neck of the woods, I would be more than happy to provide a guided, scenic tour one day. Part of my riding is like a seaside resort: The Beach or Beaches, depending on who you speak to, is a stunning, serene, urban sanctuary with clean, safe, swimmable beaches connected by a long, meandering boardwalk—with dogs matching the number of people. Summer months are filled with countless outdoor festivals—notably, the world-renowned Beaches Jazz Festival—parades and fireworks. Winter Stations attracts people to the area in the colder months and celebrates the dark days of the season with colourful, creative, interactive art installations.

Other lively areas of Beaches–East York include quaint and connected Kingston Road Village—where small businesses are the backbone of the neighbourhood.

Gerrard Street is akin to a grand boulevard, with the streetcar running down the middle of the tree-lined streets, and patios with twinkling lights.

The Danny, also known as the Danforth, is always hopping, especially now, with the ActiveTO cafes, bike lanes and road murals. Europe should be jealous.

Noon and night, Banglatown is alive with bustling pedestrians, shopkeepers, families, laughter, conversations and excitement. The area continues to grow and is truly the commercial, social and cultural hub for the Bengali community.

From the best cinnamon buns in the world at Courage Foods to the falafel sandwiches at Bodega Henriette; from the chai tea at Gharoa Restaurant to the delicious Ethiopian fare at Hirut, served with a backdrop of jazz; and add to that the intoxicating smells, since 1949, coming from Mondelēz, formerly a Peek Frean factory, we have it all.

Madam Speaker, I may be painting a picturesque version of my home riding, but we in Beaches–East York experience the very same issues seen province-wide: an affordability crisis, lack of housing, a hospital—our pride and joy, Michael Garron—that suffers the same shortages and worker fatigue seen in every facility, schools that beg for revitalization, and neighbours who are looking for answers. One of the main reasons I ran to become an MPP is to contribute to solutions. Change brings opportunity.

There is no “I” in “team”—and wow, did I have a terrific campaign team. They never stopped pounding the pavement, rapping the doors and making the calls, and all the while having fun.

Our campaign manager, marvellous Marietta Fox, thought about our campaign with every breath she took. There is nothing Marietta cannot do—write speeches, design graphics, connect with constituents, style campaign offices. In fact, some people asked if our office was a new art gallery. I’m stopping there because I do not want you to steal her for your next election.

Our co-campaign manager, talented Tanveer Shahnawaz, is a bundle of energy in the east end. This smiley guy has an uncanny way of connecting with everyone he meets and is an integral and admired leader in the Bangladeshi community and throughout Beaches–East York. Again, he is not available for you in 2026.

Our coordinator extraordinaire, effervescent Ellen Pisani, is a master juggler, with such key skills as volunteer recruitment, newsletter creation, and database coordination. She has steadfastly stood by me for the long haul since our lively days at Toronto city hall and has never stopped caring for our community. Ellen is also off limits and is already booked for 2026.

My think tank—you know who you are, behind the scenes—was guiding us with sage advice and strong support. They were an absolute asset and gift.

Also, I’m very appreciative of the encouragement from the leaders of both other levels of government in my riding. Our PLA president, Tom McGee, and his right arm, CFO Josh Makuch, were rock-solid in their support, as were our incredible donors.

One of the most exciting elements of our campaign was the amount of youth helping us. Working with them was like a surge of energy.

I want to thank all of my vivacious volunteers. Seeing them show up on cold wintry days in their Team #TripleM toques to knock on doors with their frozen mitts warmed my heart. These super humans added so much value and camaraderie that we were all sad after each canvassing shift ended. Our campaign was filled with carousing, chaos and conviviality.

It was actually the gregarious member for Guelph who first planted the real seed for my foray back into politics, so he is truly to blame for me being here. Growing up in a small town with parents who dragged my three brothers and I out volunteering every chance they could taught me a lot. I saw first-hand the huge benefits of giving back to your community. The more we give, the happier we feel, and that realization followed me my whole life.

When my kids were small, I was rallying neighbours and reinvigorating neighbourhoods. I actually chose to raise my family in Beaches–East York because it reminded me of the small town I grew up in.

After much volunteering, community-building and environmental activism, I ran for Toronto city council in 2010 and won because people were ready for change. I served eight years, as I strongly believe in term limits.

At city hall, I worked across party lines to get things done. I don’t care where the good ideas come from as long as they just come. I worked with many people in this chamber, including the Premier, and I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with everyone here to build a better and dramatically more sustainable Ontario.

I have been referred to as the “accidental politician” on many occasions. My father was mayor of Collingwood when I was growing up—a pretty embarrassing thing when you’re a teenager, to say the least. At that point, I vowed I would never go into politics. Was I ever wrong, thinking politics was boring.

I am proud of my track record at city hall of spearheading the laneway suites game-changing planning policy that helps deal with our housing crisis by allowing people to age in place and add to our rental stock.

TransformTO, the city’s first climate adaptation and mitigation plan was a crusade of mine. I worked hard to get a unanimous vote—a rare feat at council.

This time around, when my family found out I was jumping back into politics, they knew what we were in for. We all know how taxing and tough this wild world can be for our loved ones.

In 2010, when my son, Liam, found out my “McMahon-Can” election signs were going up at homes near his new school, he was mortified. Liam has certainly changed his tune. Recently graduating with a political science degree from McGill University, he’s a strong supporter of my crusades, and he was instrumental in securing votes at the door with his incredible wit, charisma and smarts. He helped me prep for debates, and he advised me to stop saying “schmooze,” advice I did not heed.

For eight years, my daughter, Rebecca, who’s right here in the chamber—hello, Rebecca—witnessed first-hand the struggles I went through dealing with controversial development applications. Could Lick’s hamburger spot turning into a six-storey condo have been a contributing factor to her decision to study urban planning at UBC? Maybe.

This election, Becca listened to Beaches–East Yorkers while phone banking and at the door, and brought out friends with no political experience—and they’ll probably write a screenplay about what they heard at the door.

My husband, Jim—in the chamber as well—is my rock. I would not be able to enter public service without him having my back. He is a behind-the-scenes guy who puts wind in my sails on a daily basis. He actually deserves the Order of Ontario.

When I told my father I wanted to run for office, he tried to talk me out of it. Ron Emo was a town councillor and mayor of Collingwood. He, too, believes in term limits and has found endless ways to give back outside town hall even now, at 85. He has received the Order of Collingwood and the Companion of the Order, and he has a road named after him, which he seriously wants to turn into a toll road, as it is en route to the Collingwood Brewery. Collingwood is a much better town because of my dad. “To thine own self be true” and “Keep your feet on the ground” remain his key messaging to me.

I finally have to be nice and thank my three brothers. I realize that after years of teasing and tormenting each other growing up, they are the reason I have the thickest skin anyone could ever have. They also stepped up to help me run, especially for MPP. My eldest brother, Michael—with our identical, upbeat personalities—actually surprised me when he flew in from Vancouver before e-day. He is such a bundle of positivity and exuberance that he should come with a safety warning. Stephen is a community leader in his own right. He’s exceptionally observant, with a keen eye for details and logistics. And my youngest brother, Timothy, was the one my father was grooming for politics. We sometimes call him Socrates, as he as an uncanny ability to strategize, calm the waters and bring forth rational and reasonable advice. When I was little, I did not think I was lucky to have three brothers, but boy, do I feel like I won the lottery now.

The true role model in my life is my mom, Gloria Emo. Quite frankly, she ran Collingwood and basically every organization—Meals on Wheels; hospice; Katano-shi sister-city association, which inspired me to move to Japan years later; and Kinettes, to spotlight some—all while working tirelessly as a nurse and raising four rambunctious children. Her zest for life was explosive. She was part of my 2010 campaign for city hall, where, despite not knowing anyone in Beaches–East York, she managed to discover every Collingwoodian with a connection to my ward, convincing them to vote for me through her incredible charm. Gloey saw us victorious on election night but, tragically, passed away a few months later of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I miss her every day, but her spirit lives on in my children and in me as I try to emulate her belief in public service. My family sponsored the nursing station in Campbell House hospice in Collingwood in her memory, and I will definitely be crusading for more hospices all across Ontario for the next four years, as we all need a peaceful end-of-life journey.

Fast-forward to 2022: As election night drew to a close, I was met with two emotions: a sense of gratitude and elation for the vote of confidence that was placed in me, but concern about the results.

We as Liberals are a small but mighty team ready to take on what is necessary to make change happen in Ontario and serve the needs of our community. We will stand up for better health care, better education, more affordable housing and strong business recovery, all through an inclusive lens to ensure that no one is left behind.

The one reason I jumped back into politics is because of the climate emergency. Around the world, we are seeing the effects of climate change. This is the crisis of our lifetime. We have one chance to get it right. We can all work together to transition to a resilient province. We can build up the green economy by creating thousands of jobs for Ontarians in renewable energy, retrofits, resilient infrastructure, and that will make us truly open for business. It can be done. Ontario is falling behind, and the key to success for a climate future will be action.

There is much climate despair and anxiety, especially amongst our youth. Our kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews, families and friends are looking to us for direction. They are looking to us to work together to get things done for the greater good.

Change brings opportunity. Life doesn’t get better by chance; it only gets better by change.

Thank you. Arigato gozaimashita. Merci.

Further debate? I recognize the member for Beaches–East York.

First, I would like to thank my two staff who are sitting in the chamber this afternoon: Omar Farhat and Marceau Jovin. They are my LA and EA. You can stand up, if you wish.

Today, Madam Speaker, I’d like to bring my inaugural speech to the floor. It is with pride and humility that I rise today to add my voice to the generation of devoted men and women who also have the occasion to speak for the first time in the great House of the assembly in this, the greatest province in our Confederation.

I must also begin by conveying deep gratitude to the fine people of Scarborough, a wonderful, diverse and dynamic microcosm of Ontario—indeed, of Canada. To you, my constituents who sent me here, I say directly that I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Rest assured that I will continue to work hard on your behalf, exactly as I have done over the last 12 years, as the Toronto District School Board trustee for Scarborough Centre.

My friends, I must also tell you that the significance of this moment is not lost on me. I stand before you as the first African Canadian man elected to the Progressive Conservative caucus. What does that mean, Madam Speaker? Perhaps this is an occasion to draw upon the memory of the late Honourable Lincoln MacCauley Alexander, who served as the first Black man in Canada’s Parliament—and as a result of that, he also served as the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. He said, “It is not your duty to be average. It is your duty to set a higher example for others to follow.” Those are powerful words, like a bright lighthouse beacon lighting the path against a murky grey sky. Those words have guided me today, and those words tell you that, alongside my colleagues in this House, I’m ready to work that much harder. It means I clearly understand the important duty and extraordinary responsibility that falls upon me.

For the residents of Scarborough Centre, it means my sleeves are rolled up and I have already hit the ground running for you. I pledge that I will continue to give my very best to all members of Scarborough and residents.

We are 113,104 residents of a 28.12-square-kilometre riding, extending from the 401 in the north to the Eglinton Avenue boundary in the south; from McCowan Road, Lawrence Avenue, Bellamy Road in the east to the Victoria Park Avenue boundary in the west. Over the last 230 years, we have gone from a collection of small, rural villages and farms to becoming a fully urbanized, diverse, cosmopolitan community. Today we are home to many new Canadians who brought not only rich culture but knowledge and expertise in the areas of technology, medicine, skilled trades, and all the other sectors. Our streets feature Caribbean, Chinese, African and South Asian restaurants and shops, as well as businesses representing other ethnic groups. Our differences enrich us and bring us closer together.

Scarborough is also diverse in business as we have hundreds of different companies across many different industries. This includes the food sector, manufacturing, education, skilled trades, entertainment—and the list goes on—which itself includes cultural festivals and creative hubs.

Let there be no doubt that our best outcomes are generated in an economy where skilled individuals are working productively and being fairly compensated in their area of professional expertise.

Madam Speaker, we are all understandably concerned about the current labour shortage across Ontario. COVID and other dynamics have altered the landscape. Today, businesses of all sizes are struggling to find the skilled women and men they need. In Ontario, there are approximately 380,000 jobs that need to be filled right now. I say to you that Scarborough Centre is ready to be part of the solution. We are open for business. We have the people. We are ready to be partners in enhancing skills and expanding capacity to address the workforce shortages.

Madam Speaker, I have heard it said that leadership is not about running away from problems; leadership is about tackling those problems head-on, and that’s what this government is all about. That is why I am proud of the leadership of Premier Ford and the Progressive Conservative government. Yes, one can say that we have grabbed the proverbial bull by the horns. We are doing this by putting workers and their families first, with game-changing investments in education and training.

For example, our flexible Skills Development Fund supports innovative programs that help workers learn the skills that local employers want.

As well, our brand new Better Jobs Ontario program is offering training to whoever wants to train for in-demand jobs in any community across the province. This means better jobs and bigger paycheques.

As a former school board trustee who knows something about the impact of knowledge-based investments, you will understand my optimism about the path we are on.

This is good news for Scarborough Centre, which is on track to benefit from the government’s commitment to provide housing to the tune of 1.5 million new homes over the next 10 years. Scarborough Centre residents will also benefit from nearly $1.2 billion in support which is being provided through the social services relief fund. This is one of the biggest investments in supportive housing and homeless supports in Ontario’s history.

I would also like to thank our leader, Premier Doug Ford; Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney; and Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma for following through on the Eglinton streetcar extension, which has made its way through to Kennedy. Less gridlock means greater productivity for everyone.

I would add that initiatives like the Golden Mile project help improve transportation by getting people to work while encouraging economic growth.

Thank you again to the Premier, as well as Health Minister Sylvia Jones, for the government’s $1-billion investment in several projects to improve Scarborough’s health care system. This includes the creation of a 450-bed hospital, with an additional $300 million to renovate the existing Birchmount Hospital infrastructure to double its capacity.

To further support our development and growth, Canada Post is set to move further into the heart of Scarborough. They are relocating a new $470-million state-of-the-art facility and expanding the size of their parcel operation. Yes, this will also create many jobs in Scarborough Centre and all over Scarborough.

Malvern Town Centre is transitioning into condos. Large chains are establishing roots in Scarborough. This includes the new Amazon plant and an IKEA, to support the needs of our growing housing market.

I thank the minister of economic development, industry and commerce, Mr. Vic Fedeli, for all the good work being undertaken and the investments in Scarborough.

Let us not forget festivals like the Taste of Lawrence, Toronto Carnival, and the Junior Carnival Parade, which is the largest children’s festival in the province outside of the Santa Claus Parade.

Madam Speaker, let me share a childhood story. I remember my teacher writing on one of my report cards that one day I would be a brilliant politician for some of the things I did—I don’t want to get into them here. At the time the comment was made, I was only nine years of age—perhaps a bit too talkative, a troublemaker, argumentative. But I knew right from wrong. I guess the University of Toronto’s late luminary scholar, David Easton, put it best when he said that politics is simply about who gets what. My friends, that means my political lifespan went over 30 years. I have experienced proud achievements, but as I peer in my rear-view mirror, I think I have landed in the best place to use my skills and ability.

The moment that opened my eyes was when I witnessed an unsettling, unkind situation from an elected member. I thought it was uncalled for. More importantly, right then and there, I understood clearly how important it was for an elected representative to do his or her best to listen to every constituent. Their thoughts matter. So here I am today with you at the Legislative Assembly of the greatest province in our federation.

Today we are seeking solutions. Together we must always strive to be good listeners.

Fellow members, my time as an elected public school trustee for Scarborough Centre was one of the most significant periods in my public service career. It has been a true privilege to advocate for children and represent the needs of all students and parents in the Toronto District School Board. It was my responsibility to ensure that parents had peace of mind as they dropped off their kids and left them in the care of teachers.

Day in and day out, I was honoured to do my best to provide the best possible outcome for these families. However, in my time as a trustee, I understood then, as I do now, that no system is perfect; I understood that while championing the cause for equitable distribution of resources across the system, not just a preferred postal code. Education is fundamental and without limits. Our children should all have access to the same educational tools.

I want to thank Minister Stephen Lecce and his ministry for removing streaming of students into separate applied and academic pathways. Yes, I am pleased to be part of the government making strides to help students pursue their highest potential.

I also want to thank Minister Monte McNaughton for the tremendous work he and the Ministry of Labour are doing to help build and equip a successful workforce. I have closely followed the good work over the years. I am proud to serve as his parliamentary assistant. I look forward to productive collaboration with other government levels to pursue the best results.

Mr. Speaker, we still have a long way to go. That is why these sleeves are rolled up. I am ready to work with everyone in this chamber for a better Ontario. I am proud to be part of this dynamic Progressive Conservative team.

I call upon all members of this House to come together and support the important initiatives we are putting forward to build a stronger and more inclusive, more successful Ontario.

Yes, we are good people, who strive, day in and day out, to do the best we can for our loved ones, for our community and for those who believe in the values that are important to us.

To my family, campaign staff and volunteers: You have travelled the course with me. Regardless of sleepless nights, personal commitments or other pressing matters, today we put Ontario first.

I would like to thank my long-time staff: Ms. Novelette Mitchell, Mr. Ramesh Munngal, Mr. Badawi, Ken Modeste, Adrian Hill, Omar Farhat, David and Elizabeth Ricci, Obaid Noore, Samid Noore, Miss Kadijha, Miss Ruby, Steve G., Garry the sign man, and many scores of young volunteers—not to mention, before I forget, Kareem South and Lydia. I’d like to thank all of the individuals. Once again, I thank them all wholeheartedly. This, too, is our moment.

Madam Speaker, I’d like to thank you and every one of my colleagues in the House. Each of us knows first-hand that campaigns are no easy undertaking. During my own campaign, unfortunately, I lost my brother Percival. Needless to say, that was tough. But I was in and out of the hospital, and I was able to see first-hand that health care in Ontario is working. I also recognize that there is still work to be done. These are especially difficult times. I empathize with fellow Ontarians who have experienced otherwise. Yes, it was a sad time for me and my loved ones. There were hard days pushing back the emotions. But as I knocked on the doors of Scarborough, they were opened with beautiful, welcoming smiles that brought me a level of comfort. It kept me going. With the strength and support of family, colleagues, campaign staff, volunteers and the Scarborough Centre community, I was able to persevere and complete the task at hand.

Madam Speaker, Premier Ford, parliamentarians, colleagues: Scarborough stood with me. Ontario stood with me. That is why I now stand here for them today.

You did your best. We may not have gotten the result we wanted, but you gave your best. That was good enough.

My overarching goal as a parliamentarian is always to do what I can to deliver a better quality of life for Ontarians. I believe that under the leadership of Premier Ford, we can continue to conquer old hurdles. We have done much already, but we will continue working hard to address gaps and bolster opportunity. We will continue pursuing actions to move young people into successful, satisfying careers. My friends, it is my intention to help develop the road map that generates even more opportunity.

Our Premier has said time and time again, “We will get it done.” That is the drumbeat to which I am marching. I ran for office because I believe in my community. I believe in the people who call Scarborough their home.

The recent election delivered an 83-seat majority. The people of Ontario have spoken. Scarborough Centre has spoken. I should tell you that my riding holds the distinction of having voted for the winner in every election since 1971. That is longer than any other provincial riding.

So we have a strong mandate to get it done. For our Progressive Conservative government, that means to continue putting in place the fundamentals of a strong, vibrant and successful province and economy. That means lower taxes and a competitive business environment that attracts investments and creates good jobs. That means a highly skilled workforce prepared for jobs today and tomorrow. That means roads, highways and other infrastructure that help get goods and services to market sooner. And, of course, that means livable and safe communities with good schools, high-quality hospitals and long-term-care homes, as well as convenient transit options. I am under no illusion that this will be an easy road.

In conclusion, I wish to congratulate the members of the 43rd Legislature present here today, both new and returning. I stand firmly behind the oath I swore as a member of this 43rd Parliament of Ontario. We all have been entrusted by the people of Ontario to represent their interests, to improve their quality of life—simply put, to get it done.

The decisions we make here at Queen’s Park are serious and far-reaching and often difficult. But as I continue to follow that powerful beacon and the example of the late Lincoln Alexander, rest assured there will be positive outcomes for the people of Scarborough and Ontario. It is my hope that it will once again include the visible smiles of people who have good homes, access to education, jobs, world-class medical infrastructure, and thriving communities.

Further debate?

Further debate?

Thank you, Speaker. I’d be more than happy, if the member wants to spin a little leather outside, to teach her how to throw a spiral, which I think would come very naturally based on her athletic background.

Before I get going, I’d like to recognize the ministry staff who have shown up to put more pressure on me today, which I really appreciate—a couple are down here. Of course, my constituency staff, the true leaders: Halston Morgan, Tony Lemmy—

Interjection.

Applause.

1 am honoured to rise today in this historic building as a newly elected member of the 43rd Ontario Legislature. With immense pride, I represent the electoral district of Hamilton East–Stoney Creek in Ontario.

On June 2, the constituents of Hamilton East–Stoney Creek chose to send me to represent them here at Queen’s Park. I have pledged to them that I will, to the very best of all my abilities, work hard and represent them honestly. I am proud to be joining Premier Ford’s team as one of the 83 Progressive Conservative members. This team, under Premier Ford, will continue to represent all Ontarians and will ensure that we will once again make Ontario the best province in Canada to live, prosper and be proud to call home.

I will mention “team” in my speech a few times as I’ve been lucky enough, timing-wise, to be a member, throughout my career, of a lot of championship groups and teams, at all levels, as a player, coach and in business, and now as part of this historic team. It’s always great to be part of history.

Speaker, I want to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to the constituents of Hamilton East–Stoney Creek for selecting me to be their voice for the next four years here at Queen’s Park.

Hamilton East–Stoney Creek is a fairly new riding, created in 2007, and I’m happy to suggest that we have changed the flow, if you will, in my riding to more blue now than another colour. Part of that is changing history and the way people think. If I can reference history, the Battle of Stoney Creek, still enacted at Battlefield Park in Stoney Creek, was a turning point in the War of 1812 and prevented Upper Canada from being overrun by the Americans.

Local hero Billy Green, the namesake of Billy Green Elementary School, warned the British forces of an invading US army of about 3,000 troops moving forward; 700 British troops, on their own, launched a surprise attack at night and defeated them. Sounds like the character of the people who live in my riding.

Interjection.

Further debate?

I recognize the member for Hamilton East–Stoney Creek and the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

“Oskie waa waa.”

A little quick, aren’t I?

Interjection.

Our riding is composed of vibrant communities with rich character and unique identities, whether it’s residents who live in the neighbourhoods of Parkview, Riverdale, Red Hill, or former townships that still retain their identity, like Winona and Fruitland, we are united by strength of character and accomplishment.

Lincoln Alexander’s name was brought up a little bit earlier by the member across the aisle, and rightfully so. Lincoln Alexander, a McMaster grad, was a groundbreaking Hamiltonian and instrumental in Ontario’s history. I won’t go into the specifics that have already been covered off, and I won’t pretend that I knew Lincoln well, but I knew him well enough to spend time with him and learn to understand what he was about and who he represented. For decades he was a hero in Hamilton and thought of as one of the true champions, not only in Hamilton, but in Canada. Without question, he was revered—and a man who took the time to write personal notes to people and do things a little bit old school. Lincoln Alexander, along with my father, exemplified the statement that I’m going to read to you, and it’s really quick: “Civility is not a sign of weakness.”

In 2004, my son Jesse was awarded the Lincoln Alexander Community Award for service. We had lunch with him. My son understood before he even got to the lunch the impact that Lincoln would have on him, and after talking to him just the other day, he still remembers the lunch, remembers where we had it, and what we had in the conversation. Some people just make an impact and it lasts forever.

From waterfalls to industry leaders, Hamilton has it all. For decades, Hamilton has been known as a steel city. With our government investing $500 million, we are ensuring industry, as we always have been, with leaders like Dofasco, can continue to bring jobs and economic opportunity to our community while becoming world leaders in producing green steel. People in Hamilton work hard and play hard.

I have to talk about the Winona Peach Festival, which I attended this past weekend. The crowds were unbelievable; the organization was tremendous. If I served one sundae to the people, I must have served 2,000 peach sundaes. Not one complaint, they were happy to be back, and they were happy we were there to support such a huge part of our community. We will continue to after a two-year absence.

Of course, anyone who knows me knows a little bit of my background as it relates to football. What echoes in the halls of many buildings around Hamilton and area, as some will know, is the “Oskie wee wee” chant. Do you dare?

Interjection.

Interjection.

I put you on the spot; it’s okay.

I have to let everyone know on this coming Monday, the Labour Day Classic against the Argos will be played once again. I’ve been involved as a general manager and COO and as a player. It will be quite an event, and I will be there.

As I said, Hamilton has it all. From the agriculture sector, history, beautiful landscapes to an economic powerhouse, it’s a great place to live and it’s a great place to be on an ongoing basis.

I wouldn’t be standing here today without the support of—and I will reference them as “my team” when it came to the campaign. First, I would like to thank my campaign manager Blair Hains, who took me in, the rookie, and helped provide leadership and direction. I was surprised I got along with him so well, given that, on his off time, he’s an umpire in baseball. You know, umpires and officials—you’ve got to wonder.

From the time our campaign officially opened the doors, Blair kept things going, kept us going, and other than the ongoing reminding me what the polls might be saying and me reminding him, “I don’t care about polls. I care about June 2. Don’t talk to me about that. Let us run. We’re dogs. Let us go run”—he just stopped talking to me about polls, and it was great. He did a fantastic job. I owe him a real debt, because he was tremendous—and his family, by the way.

I’d also like to thank a long-time friend Jay Davison. I spent many hours with him on the phone. He’s a great confidant. He’s been involved in the party in many ways. He would actually drive down from Windsor three or four times and be part of my campaigning team going out with me. He was a little slow on the walking part of things, but he did a great job and really exemplified what a friend is all about.

I have got a few more thank yous. I’ll start with Scott Boumeester, chair of fundraising; Ken Audziss, the riding association president—he was tremendous; MP Dan Muys and his team; MPP Sam Oosterhoff and his team; Minister Monte McNaughton and the team he came down with; my core supporters, Gabe DeSantis, Jeff Paikin and Sergio Manchia.

And I have to mention a long-time friend, confidant, golfing partner. I know him as Eagle: Ron Foxcroft, and his sons, Steve, Dave and Ronnie. They were huge supporters. They were there whenever I needed them, no matter what, like all people who have been around this campaign have been to me. It’s been incredible.

Ministers Mulroney and Clark showed up at a fundraiser and helped us hit it out of the park. I mean, honestly, I couldn’t believe the support that we had and what we were able to accomplish as a result of that support.

My canvassers: Sarmad, some gal named Donna, Sara, Langdon, Gord, Brent, Peter, Beth, Barry, Scott, Patrick, Jenn—we were close to over—well, I think we were over 1,000 kilometres in total of what our team covered in walking and canvassing—incredible. The commitment that was made was incredible.

Thank you to my sign team. They were ready to go. They would show up and say, “Got more signs for us?” Jim, Todd, Dennis and William—hundreds and hundreds of signs went out thanks to them.

People on the phone: Marie, Mark and Dirk; and on election day, the drivers: Richard and Gary—simply put, we worked smarter, harder and longer than our competition, and as a result, we planted our flag firmly in the ground of Hamilton East–Stoney Creek.

This is when it gets hard for me, and maybe it will speed me up if I watch the clock. My wife, Donna, who has been a partner, has been through so much with me in our life experiences, professionally, personally. We have two fabulous kids I’ll touch on later. She looked at me when I made the decision and said, “Are you sure?” I said yes, and she said, “Let’s go.” I’m a real lucky guy and even luckier to have two wonderful kids: my son, Jesse, and daughter, Kristin. I’ll touch on them both a little bit later, in a couple of quick anecdotes.

When people think of the name Lumsden, often they think of—well, there’s a town of Lumsden in Scotland that some know of, but more, they automatically think of football, with a little bit of my career and my son’s career. But my family’s history in Hamilton goes back to 1875, when my great-grandfather and his two sons opened Lumsden Brothers wholesale food distributors in Hamilton. The company flourished over generations in Hamilton, relocating as the company grew. It started with deliveries by horse and buggy, believe or not, and then in the 1970s grew to expand to 42,000 square feet of warehouse. My dad was the president. At the same time he was president of the Gerling Global Life Insurance Co., and his brother Bill was the COO. They were involved with the company up until the late 1970s.

My mom, Trudy—Gertrude, but no one ever called her that—met my dad when he was down at Marquette University on a track scholarship back in the day, so I guess running comes naturally to us.

My sister, Martha Christine, was a pistol. She would push the limits. She was smart, and she probably had the same aggressive nature that I did. I wasn’t sure where it came from; my dad, not so much, but I think Mom had a lot to do with that for us, and it was all good—and her two sons, Jeff and Greg, and their families.

Lessons learned from the word “win,” or the letters W-I-N: The one thing that I learned early in my pro career, in about year 3 when I went to Edmonton, was to understand what sudden change or change was all about, and how to prepare for it. It may sound silly, but we would—and they still do, professional athletes, certainly in team sport—watch hundreds and hundreds of hours of video. But did we know how to watch them correctly? I didn’t, until I got to Edmonton.

Hugh Campbell was our leader and head coach. Joe Faragalli was our offensive coordinator. They taught us what to look for, how to predict. When things change in a split second in football, you have to be prepared, and it doesn’t just change one way. It has multiple opportunities in front of you, and if you haven’t studied, if you haven’t prepared, you don’t know how to deal with change.

Then I step back in my career in sport into a high school, Northern Secondary School in Toronto, in grade 10, playing football, playing hockey, running track and doing all the things. Our head coach was Clarke Pulford, and for anyone who has the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs, his younger brother was Bob Pulford, who had a great career with the Leafs back in the day when the Leafs won Stanley Cups.

One day I decided—a buddy said, “Hey, let’s skip practice and go do something.” I can’t remember what we did, but we skipped practice. We showed up the next day, and Coach Pulford grabbed me as I was leaving the locker room to go to practice and said, “Can I talk with you?” I said, “Yes, sir.” He said, “I don’t know why you missed practice yesterday, but you let them down. You didn’t let me down; you let your players down.” It wasn’t about my role on the team. It was about the team environment, the team chemistry and what “team” really means, and how you have to be able to look to your left and to your right and know they have the best interests of your success in mind when you play the game and when you practise. I had tears in my eyes. He didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t touch me. He just said, “I hope you learned your lesson”—and a lesson did I ever learn.

Six years later, at the University of Ottawa, we’re playing the University of Toronto at Varsity Stadium. That was the year we won a national championship, in 1975. We were a pretty good team. We were handing it to the Blues, and the game was over, and a woman came over and said, “Clarke would like to see you—Clarke Pulford.” I said, “Absolutely.” So I went over to the stands, along with a very good friend of mine, Terry West, who went to Northern with me. He said, “Great game. Congratulations. I love coming to the game when my boys are playing.”

What I didn’t know at the time is that as a result of diabetes, he had lost most of his sight, and a year later was going to lose half of his lower leg. When I walked away, I was talking to his wife, and I said, “How does he do it?” She said, “Oh, it’s simple. He hears the crowd, and I tell him, play by play, what’s going on. You’re his boys. He wants to know what’s going on. He supports you. He’s with you no matter what.” Now, think about that: a coach who was that invested in myself and Terry—and other guys, maybe, at the University of Toronto—to show up at games when he can’t even see the plays. Later on in life, not that long ago, that kind of commitment resonated with me to a good friend of mine.

I’ve had some great experiences, and I won’t bore you with all of them.

One of them, most recently—within the last maybe eight or nine years—was when I got a phone call to say, “Would you like to be part of Team Canada?” I said, “What’s Team Canada? Hockey? I got recruited? Finally. I’m going to be in the big time.” They said, “No, no, you knucklehead.” Arlene Dickinson, myself, Brian Burke and some other retired hockey players had been asked to go over and spend Thanksgiving with our troops. I said, “I’m in. I’m absolutely in.”

So we met in Ottawa. They got us to Ottawa. We flew to Ireland first, where the navy was going through their manoeuvres. We had Thanksgiving dinner with them on the ship, and it was fantastic. If you’re over 5 foot 5, you’re in big trouble on one of those battleships, because you’re walking around bent all the time. The bunks aren’t much larger; I don’t know how they do it. But these young people are smart, tough, resilient and committed.

Off in a plane we go to Kuwait, into the USA camp, where Camp Canada was. There we found a very energetic group of servicepeople who just couldn’t wait to play ball hockey with us. They had a ball hockey rink made with a roof on it, and it was only 42 degrees out—Celsius. That’s hot, and the sand is blowing.

Interjection.

You’re nodding, but I don’t think you get it. It’s really hot.

We played an hour-and-a-half game. There was almost a fight, because Tiger Williams was there, and it was all sorts of fun. We had dinner with them. Then the next night we had another dinner with the air force. We flew back and then got briefed by our liaison, and found out what was really going on over there.

I was so impressed by the people, especially—a very quick anecdote—a young woman who had been in the service for a while. They had laid their kits down for us, what they wear when they go out on manoeuvres, and she was telling me what it was all about. I looked at her and I said, “How heavy is this?” She said, “Well, it can be between 85 and 110 pounds.” I said, “You wear that all at once?” She said, “Oh, yes. That’s just what we do.”

“That’s what we do.” Think about that. When you pay attention and try to put yourself in the position of somebody else who is basically respecting our flag and protecting us, even if it’s off our soil—“That’s what we do.” The commitment is staggering. I felt so proud and so thrilled to spend time with them, and I would do it every year if I had the opportunity. Their commitment and smarts—I’ll tell you, we don’t know how lucky we are.

Two other very quick stories, because I’m already over—I apologize, Speaker. One is about my son. Jesse went to McMaster. He’s a world-class athlete—and that’s not me saying it; he proved that, a football player and pro for seven years. He called me up one day and said, “Dad, Bobsleigh Canada called me and asked if I’d like to maybe work out and try out. What do you think?” I said, “Oh, you’re perfect for it. You are the perfect makeup and body for it. Do it.”

So he ended up, just a few months later, in the Olympics in Vancouver, pushing for Pierre Lueders, one of the most decorated pilots in two- and four-man bobsleigh in the world. When I asked him, the first time he went down, I said, “What was it like?” He said, “Dad, it’s like putting a helmet on, getting stuffed in an aluminum garbage can and thrown down a hill going 145 clicks an hour. That’s what it was like.” After, he said, “Let’s go do it again,” so we know what his DNA is like.

And then my daughter, Kristin: smart, an athlete in high school, loved to compete, didn’t follow sport but followed business. She’s very successful. I had a chance to be her teammate on The Amazing Race Canada. Do you really want to find out how you get along with someone? Spend 24 hours a day, every day of the week for the first four and a half weeks, when you’re sequestered at night and you’re competing with your daughter. There was nothing—or very few things—in life that I can tell you I enjoyed more than competing with my daughter, other than wanting to make sure I didn’t let her down. We had so much fun. It was hard, but it was fun. I really got a sense and an understanding of what I saw in my son for all those years. The same drive and character to compete was in my daughter. It was just different, and I had to find out about it. But you find out when you pay attention ...

I’m going to end with bringing you back to when I said “WIN”—the W-I-N. It’s not the word; it’s an acronym. W-I-N: What I Noticed. And if you go through life and pay attention to what other people are doing, and really pay attention and listen to them and respect their opinions and respect who they are, not only are you complimenting them, but you’re doing them a service by allowing them to speak and get what’s on their mind out. And you also learn about somebody.

We could all do a little bit more of W-I-N-ing in our life because everyone deserves that respect.

Applause.

Further debate?

It’s an honour to rise in this place. I believe I’m one of the few members left, and it’s great to save, in my opinion, the best member for last. But it’s an honour to rise here today.

I want to begin by congratulating Speaker Arnott on his recent election to the position—a historic position in our parliamentary tradition. I also want to thank the member for Mississauga–Streetsville for also standing for Speaker of the House. It takes courage to put one’s name forward, and even more courage to put one’s name forward in front of a bunch of politicians. I would like to thank my predecessor, Randy Pettapiece. He represented the riding of Perth–Wellington for a little over a decade. He was actually the last member to win three consecutive elections since the late Hugh Edighoffer—a big feat in our riding of Perth–Wellington.

Perth–Wellington is a relatively new riding. Many members have represented both Perth and Wellington county in this House. I also want to recognize the still-living former members John Wilkinson, Bert Johnson and Karen Haslam. All of these people have represented Perth county in this Legislature at some point during my lifetime. Of course, I have the distinct honour of representing the three northern municipalities of Wellington county in this place, as well. I grew up in Harriston, which is in the town of Minto in Wellington county. The member that represented the town of Minto, Wellington North and Mapleton for many years—and, in fact, became my MPP when I was four months old—is the current honourable member for Wellington–Halton Hills. Life has some full circle, it seems, for both of us.

I had the pleasure of working with Randy Pettapiece from 2018 to January 2020. I learned a lot about what it means to be a good representative. I now also know how truly time-consuming it can be. I want to congratulate him on his retirement, and I hope he and Jane are enjoying their time with their grandchildren.

It’s an honour and a pleasure to serve the people of Perth–Wellington in Queen’s Park. I want to thank you for your trust, and for those who did not vote for me, I will continue to work to earn your trust over the next four years. As I said on the evening of June 2, I accept this position not only with excitement, but also with solemn anticipation of the weight of elected office.

Perth–Wellington is home to many vibrant and growing communities, but the land was cared for by many Indigenous peoples before Wellington or Perth county even existed. The Saugeen Ojibway Nation, Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Chippewa people all resided within what is currently Perth and northern Wellington county.

It’s home to the highest number of chicken farmers in all of Canada. We are also home to over 5,026 grain, oil-seed, dairy, pork, beef, poultry and egg farms. If you can grow it, most likely you can grow it in Perth–Wellington. We’re also home to the Butter Tart Trail, and I encourage all members to take part in that. It’s a very delicious trail. We’re also home to many manufacturing companies across the auto sector, and many different trades and logistics companies are important industries in our area. They employ just under one-quarter of the workforce.

It’s also a hub for the arts, boasting the Stratford Festival, Drayton Entertainment and also the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, among many other cultural organizations that generate and contribute millions of dollars to the local economy. It’s also home, obviously, of Justin Bieber, Corey Conners, Lloyd Robertson, and it’s also home to Letterkenny, which is based on Listowel, Ontario.

Perth–Wellington also has the distinct honour of being the home of Canada’s most patriotic village. The Toronto Star ran a front-page headline during World War II that read, “Arthur Village Gives Sons and Money to Aid the War.” One in seven Arthur residents fought in the Second World War. This village is still just over 1,000 people—one in seven. We owe a great debt of gratitude to this generation.

I would be not be standing in this historic place were it not for my volunteers and my campaign team. I want to thank some of them. Specifically, I want to thank Allyson Cardiff, George Geottler—who many on the government side know—Jacob Shuker, Avery Miller, Matthew Steward, Tate Driscoll, Ron Faulkner, Walter Traschel, Dave Turton, Mayor Bridge, Rose Van Sickle, Irene Blight, Tim Sparks, Bob Archer, Bill Andrus, Jim Hutton, Mike Pacheco, Amanda Brodhagen, David Southam, Ralph Robinson, MP John Nater, Justine Nater, and Ainsley, Bennett and Caroline Nater. I could go on, but I will dispense to keep my remarks brief.

Whether it’s putting up signs, knocking on doors and making phone calls or simply being there to provide advice and guidance, I owe a great deal to these people and many others. If it were not for these volunteers and many other people, I would not have the privilege to stand in this place.

I also want to thank my constituency staff—Patti, Jake and Avery—for helping me serve the people and communities of Perth–Wellington. I was in the office on June 3 taking phone calls, and we opened our doors to the public on Monday, June 13. I committed to being ready on day one during the election, and my staff helped me keep that promise.

I would also be remiss if I did not mention some of my longest supporters: my parents. My dad, Mervyn Rae, was, until recently, a dairy farmer for his entire life. He’s one of the hardest-working people I know. Even though he has now sold the dairy herd, he still gets up before the sun rises to feed his remaining cattle. My mother, Mary Winger Rae, in addition to helping with the farm, is the amateur artist in the family, whether it’s photography, painting or drawing.

My mother and father sacrificed a lot for my sister and I. They always encouraged me and my sister to pursue our passions and goals in life, and I am blessed to have grown up in such a supportive household. Without their love and support, I would not be standing here in this place today.

As I was writing this speech, my thoughts were drawn to those in my family who are no longer with us. Earlier this year, my last living grandparent, Trudy Winger, passed on. None of my grandparents lived to see me take my seat in this House, but I know they are looking down with pride.

Finally, I would like to recognize my partner, Meghan Thomson. She has willingly agreed to support me in this crazy—and it is crazy—lifestyle of elected office.

Applause.

We’re both community-minded individuals and have chosen to sacrifice some of our privacy and time to serve the good people of Perth–Wellington. I can never thank her enough for the love and support she shows me every day.

As some of my colleagues will know in this place, I was fortunate enough to go abroad for my graduate studies and had the privilege of attending the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna in Austria.

Similar to many post-secondary students, I also completed a couple of internships while completing my studies. One such internship was with the Maltese embassy in Vienna. One of my colleagues was an older gentleman who had worked with the embassy for over 20 years. He was a soft-spoken man. He worked with the ambassador on many different multinational files at the United Nations, International Atomic Energy Agency and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

One day, he shared a piece of advice with me from his many years of experience working in international diplomacy. He said: “As an individual you cannot change the world in one sweeping moment, but you can change a small aspect of it in your own way.” These words have stayed with me, and I hope all members take them to heart as I have.

Only 1,968 Ontarians have ever sat in this place. Fewer still have been a minister of the crown, and even fewer have been Premier. However, we can all effect a small amount of change in our ridings and our communities.

One of my favourite quotes is from a former politician, the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. He made this speech before women held elected office, so bear that in mind—but it’s great that obviously women and other genders can hold elected office, now that we’ve progressed. But the quote goes, “It’s not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph”—I really need to organize my sheets—“of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

I encourage all members to dare greatly.

The throne speech and our budget are calls to action for Ontarians to dare greatly and help build Ontario. It was an honour to be here to listen to the Lieutenant Governor enumerate our government’s policies in the coming Legislative session. The throne speech and budget addressed the importance of our health care system and our plan to stay open.

I want to take this chance to thank all my local hospitals, their staff and their boards and CEOs, the family health teams, long-term-care staff and the various other health care providers that work day and night to provide the best care possible. I commend them and their staff for working tirelessly throughout this entire pandemic.

The importance of a well-functioning, quality health care system is not lost on me. That is why I have been in constant contact with my local hospital CEOs, local family health teams, long-term-care homes and other health care providers.

It is clear the importance of a well-functioning, quality health care system is important to this government. That is why we have made important investments in our health care sector.

Starting in the 2021-22 fiscal year, our government started investing $342 million over five years to strengthen our health care workforce through upskilling, retention and recruitment initiatives. We have already added over 10,500 new health care professionals and will continue to work with health care providers to encourage more people to join this honourable profession.

We’ve also committed to investing $4.9 billion to hire more than 27,000 new personal support workers, registered nurses and registered practical nurses by 2025 for our long-term-care facilities. This is to ensure residents receive on average four hours of direct care per day.

In budget 2022, we did commit to expanding the Community Commitment Program for Nurses and the Learn and Stay grant, as we’re calling it, with a $142-million investment. This program allows nurses and graduates to receive a full tuition reimbursement in exchange for committing to a practice in a rural or northern community—a direct benefit to Perth–Wellington.

We are also investing $41 million annually to support the clinical education component in our nursing education program, something my hospital CEOs and boards and nurses have said is important.

Prior to the election, our government passed legislation that prohibits regulatory colleges from requiring Canadian work experience as a qualification for registration in the nursing or personal support programs. It also requires regulatory colleges to certify potential applicants in a timely manner so that internationally trained health care workers can start as soon as possible. So far, well over 760 internationally educated nurses have been deployed through this program. In addition to these changes, the Minister of Health has written to the College of Nurses and the College of Physicians and Surgeons to quickly approve credentials of internationally educated health care workers.

This is not an exhaustive list, and our government has undergone and will continue to be undertaking significant, concrete, important steps supporting our health care sector moving forward.

A healthy and thriving Ontario is one that can attract lucrative investments from businesses across the globe, bringing with them good-paying jobs and added tax revenue. In the automotive sector alone, Ontario has attracted investments of $16 billion, $5 billion of which is for Canada’s first large-scale electric battery plant. Many of these positions will require employees trained in the skilled trades. That’s why our government is making important investments in the skilled trades. In my riding alone, our government has invested over $1.8 million to create a new skilled trades training hub in the community of North Perth.

More recently, I had the pleasure of joining Premier Ford and Minister McNaughton at Dyna-Mig, an auto manufacturing plant in Stratford, to announce $5 million in funding to train 500 people from under-represented groups in our thriving automotive sector. The project will provide participants with the necessary skills for rewarding careers in machine operation, assembly, quality control and logistics.

Investments in training are important, but so are investments in infrastructure to get people to and from work. Our government is investing a historic $86 billion over 10 years to build and expand Ontario’s roads, highways and transit infrastructure across Ontario. This includes expansion of GO train services to London, which shares a line with the city of Stratford and the town of St. Marys in my riding. This will directly benefit my constituents in various ways, including by giving them more transit options. After years of talk by previous governments about expanding GO train service to Stratford, St. Marys and London, our government has got it done, and I was very pleased to see that in our budget we committed to continuing to make track improvements to increase the frequency of trips between my riding and Union Station in Toronto.

As some members will know, prior to being elected to this place, I worked for a non-profit education company, Shad Canada. Shad runs a month-long STEM and entrepreneurship program for grade 10 and 11 students at university campuses across Canada. Coming from an educational background, and as a co-parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Education, I cannot understate the importance of investing in our children and preparing them for the jobs of the 21st century.

We recognize that the past two years of hybrid and virtual learning have been difficult for our children, parents and teachers. That’s why our government launched a $175-million investment to provide tutoring supports to students across Ontario. This has benefited people in my riding of Perth–Wellington as well.

We also know that parents know what’s best for their children. That’s why our government, in its reintroduced budget of 2022, will include an additional $225 million over the next two years to provide direct payments to help their kids catch up. This will help students catch up on lost learning, while reducing the burden on parents and future educators, allowing them to focus on new material.

Our government has modernized the elementary science and technology curriculum, along with the de-streamed grade 9 science course and the new learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills; hands-on experiential learning; the skilled trades and coding. As was alluded to in the throne speech, with close to one in five jobs in the coming years being in the skilled trades, it’s imperative that our children not only appreciate the importance of these jobs, but are prepared to learn the skills they need for these rewarding careers.

As a first-time homeowner, I am keenly aware of the challenges our young people are facing when purchasing their first home. While previous governments have neglected building more homes, our government has made it a priority. In 2020, a year after our housing supply action plan was implemented, Ontario had over 81,000 housing starts, the highest level in a decade, and over 100,000 rental starts, the highest level since 1992. It is critical that our government continues to work with our municipal partners to build more affordable and attainable housing.

Earlier this summer, I had the pleasure of making a Rural Economic Development funding announcement on behalf of our great Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in the city of Stratford. InvestStratford, the economic development corporation of the city, will be using the $80,000 in funding to develop a community tool box to support the development of attainable housing.

Our government is committed to working with our municipal partners to deliver a housing supply action plan every year of the next four years. It’s great to be part of a government that works with our municipal partners, because what works in downtown Toronto will not work in downtown Listowel. I’ve already had some great discussions with my local mayors and councillors about how we can build more attainable and affordable housing. Our government is committed to working with our municipalities to leverage surplus provincial lands and add new incentives to building attainable housing, which will lower the cost for potential buyers and make home ownership a reality for more families.

In conclusion, Ontario requires an ambitious plan and a government that understands and is willing to tackle the province’s most pressing issues. Ontario deserves a caucus that is made up of representatives from every corner of Ontario and who come from many different walks of life. Ontario, now more than ever, needs experienced leadership. Madam Speaker, this government is ready to build Ontario.

I know my colleagues from the NDP and the independent members will not always agree with our policies, but I look forward to working with everyone in this place to build a brighter tomorrow for all Ontarians. Together, let’s build Ontario.

Further debate? The member for Mississauga–Malton.

Debate deemed adjourned.

The House adjourned at 1500.

Madam Speaker, today is the legislative Friday, and it is my pleasure to seek your permission now: I move the adjournment of the House.