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.