It is always an honour to stand in this proud Legislature, and today it is my honour to stand to share on behalf of Ontario New Democrats and to pay tribute to Julia Munro.

I am pleased to acknowledge Julia’s family and friends today on behalf of the Legislature. Julia is survived by her husband of 54 years, John; her daughter, Genevieve, and her son-in-law, Andrew Hay; and her sister, Cynthia Puente. I know that Julia’s cherished friends, family and special animal family will be watching today.

When we pay tribute to former MPPs, it is a chance to remember them, to recognize their work and celebrate their lasting impact. It is my honour to share a few words on behalf of the official opposition.

Julia Ann Louise Campbell started her journey on June 30, 1942, in Hamilton, Ontario, and was raised in Toronto. Her passion for animals began at age 14 when she started competing show dogs, something that would last a lifetime.

Julia taught high school history for 24 years and loved it, and her students remember the impact that she had had on them. One of her former students, Tyler Stewart, shared this tribute: “Mrs. Munro was one of my favourite teachers ever. She always seemed to respect my intellect and encourage deeper examinations of the topics she covered in history class. Great teachers are so essential to developing minds, and Julia was one of the greatest.”

Another former student, Kerry Wilson, shared: Julia was “the best teacher I ever had. My mental image of Julia Munro won’t be standing in the provincial Legislature, but sitting on a student desk and challenging us to think critically about the material being studied.”

Julia loved teaching and history—and her dogs. On her honeymoon with John, they visited a kennel with really great show dogs and very surprised kennel owners, but as Julia has told folks, “Love me, love my dog.” Julia and John and daughter Genevieve lived on a hobby farm in Sutton with sheep, chickens, turkeys, pigs, cows, horses and ponies to keep them company in the country. Julia also loved gardening and herbs. and her passion was always purebred dogs: English pointers, borzois, and standard poodles.

Julia was also committed to democracy and public engagement. She first ran for office in 1995 and remarked that she was tired of sitting around the kitchen table complaining about politics and decided to get involved. She was elected to the Harris government of 82 MPPs and was one of only 11 women. During her career, Munro served as parliamentary assistant to the Premier, Deputy Speaker and as a legislative committee chair. She served in government and opposition and held a number of critic portfolios. Julia Munro served six terms as the PC MPP for the Durham–York, then the York North and finally the York–Simcoe ridings. She was the longest-serving female politician in Ontario’s Legislature after nearly 22 years of service.

Julia introduced six pieces of private members’ legislation, and, as an animal lover, she was proud to bring forward a bill to fight puppy and kitten mills and to levy significant fines on animal abusers.

Another signature piece of legislation was Julia’s Magna Carta Day Act, 2015. In her own words, “As parliamentarians we have a duty to uphold the traditional values that Magna Carta laid out 800 years ago. Although the Magna Carta placed specific limits on the power of the monarch, we must remember that, although elected by the citizens, we, as lawmakers, are also not above the law. When members of the government forget this—that all laws apply to us as well—voters become disengaged, skeptical, cynical and, indeed, apathetic.”

Julia explained, “The bill is one sentence long. It costs no money. It won’t affect anyone’s agenda. But democracy demands attention and I’m as passionate about this as the day I walked in here.”

Julia’s commitment to service and democracy never wavered during her 22 years in this House. As she shared with many of us in this House not too long ago:

“I’m pleased to say that I can walk in here 21 years later and still feel that tremendous aura of what this building represents.”

“I have never lost my enthusiasm for public service; however, in any career, there comes a time to retire.”

“Nobody can do this job alone. I am forever grateful to my family, staff, volunteers and constituents for their faith and trust in me over the years.”

Julia worked to ensure future generations grow up in the kind of society we value. She said, “You have to know what it is you are voting for and we, as people who recognize the value of the democratic system, need to be better and more prepared to extend that understanding, to realize what is anathema to democracy, and to remind everyone that what we have is unique and precious....

“The people who sent you are the most important thing to remember. There are always difficult decisions in government. You can name your top 10, but it’s the people you represent and what matters most to them that should always be first and foremost.”

And for Julia, that was always true.

Julia Munro passed away on June 12, 2019.

Many of us in this House were here when Julia’s Magna Carta Day Act was brought forward by former colleagues and was finally made law during the last session of this Legislature, and now every June 15 is recognized as Magna Carta Day in Ontario, which Julia had hoped would serve to remind us every year in this Legislature “that we are the keepers of democracy, that our actions do have consequences and that our words have weight.”

Julia’s daughter, Genevieve, remembered that, “She had a great impact on many lives—as a teacher, as a dog enthusiast, and later as a politician. One of the lessons I learned from my mother was to be true to myself.”

Another lesson that Julia Munro wanted all of us to learn was written on the frame around her licence plate. It said, “Democracy: Don’t waste it.” I know we will do our best to bear that in mind as we begin a new session of the Legislature. Julia once described this political system as “a wild garden that needs tending.” During her time here, and in service to her community, Julia Munro planted and nurtured many seeds that she is remembered for: seeds of kindness, warmth, grace and an unyielding commitment to democratic ideals.

Speaker, that we should all be so remembered.

Thank you to Julia’s loved ones for sharing her with this province, and thank you, Julia, for so many dedicated years of service.

Applause.

I just want to start off by stating that I’ll be sharing my time with the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Long-Term Care, the member for Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston.

I’m going to be very quick, Madam Speaker. What I want to do is thank the Minister of Long-Term Care and the hard-working parliamentary assistant for all of their hard work on behalf of the residents of Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill for looking at ways to constantly improve the quality of lives of Ontarians. That is a huge undertaking when you look at the state of our health care system that was left behind by the previous government. From day one, you have seen the Minister of Health and the Minister of Long-Term Care, under the leadership of Premier Ford, look at ways of improving our health care system and our long-term-care homes.

On behalf of the residents of Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill, thank you to the Minister of Long-Term Care and thank you to the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Long-Term Care, and I’ll turn the floor over to him, please.