I’d like to thank the member for providing a personal story, for showing their strength and providing a human face to social assistance. I also want to thank the member for their thoughtful discussion of issues that are facing the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, which are completely ignored by this government and their budget.

In their discussion, they mentioned that budgets should have universal participation, and that’s missing from this discussion and this budget. Why is so much detail in this budget left out?

Mr. Speaker, in this, my inaugural speech, I just want to congratulate you on your re-election as Speaker. I hope you serve many, many more years.

I rise today with gratitude toward the people of Kingston and the Islands, who have given me the opportunity to serve as their representative in the Ontario Legislative Assembly, and gratitude towards Ontario and Canada, which have given me peace, safety, education, health and opportunity. These were received gratefully on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee.

J’aimerais également rendre hommage aux députés précédents de la circonscription de Kingston et les Îles : Syl Apps, Keith Norton, Ken Keyes, Gary Wilson, John Gerretsen, Sophie Kiwala et Ian Arthur.

This sense of gratitude motivates how I approach politics. It makes me continually ask: “How I can support and improve this society which nurtured me, and what responsibilities do we have toward each other?” Gratitude makes me believe in this idea of a common good.

Speaker, 50 years ago my Chinese immigrant parents could never have imagined that their son would be elected to the Ontario Legislature or the House of Commons. Even 12 years ago, when I entered politics, many were still surprised. Why? Because I was a scientist, and not many scientists enter politics. My science training has taken me from Atomic Energy of Canada in beautiful Chalk River, Ontario, to working overseas as a financial executive and to heading an eastern Ontario sustainable energy association.

Science gave me a practical tool, the scientific method. The scientific method has worked in so many places and times because it welcomes criticism. When you honestly respond to criticism, your ideas change and grow, and they become stronger. My scientific background also motivates how I approach politics. I believe that a government that welcomes criticism is more honest, and an honest government makes better decisions for a better future.

Scientific humility makes me continually ask, “Could I be wrong? Is there a person with a viewpoint I haven’t heard from? Have I tried to understand experts, but also thought for myself?” I believe that the people we serve through politics would benefit from this approach, adopted by as many as possible.

Today I also rise with pride as part of the Ontario Liberal caucus, and to say that the members of this small but nimble team have a spring in their step, fire in their belly and purpose in their heart. We hear you, Ontario, and we will fight for you. We have experienced parliamentarians as well as community leaders, bringing diverse experiences from outside politics to hold this Conservative government to account for all the people. We will remember that thoughtful spending of taxpayer money can foster economic growth and, at the same time, weave a strong social fabric.

We believe that good government is thoughtful, not knee-jerk partisan; listens to all voices, not just those who pay to play; and makes both bold and plain decisions depending on what the circumstances call for. Good government doesn’t wait for a crisis. Good government doesn’t lead from behind.

Speaker, I know it is a difficult time to govern. There haven’t been so many simultaneous disruptions to society for generations. To the Premier: If you want to be the captain of this ship called Ontario, look ahead, not backwards. This ship doesn’t steer like a canoe. You must steer early to avoid the icebergs. Don’t wait until you have a crisis on your hands.

Let me give some constructive criticism of this government’s plans. Health care is in a crisis. I’m glad the health minister has become very visible in the last few days. In the Kingston area, up to 30,000 people are without a family doctor—30,000 people, three times the provincial average. Province-wide, the shortage of nurses and other workers is causing hospitals to ration care. Stories like double shifts for several days in a row are common, so it’s not surprising that workers are still contemplating quitting or retiring. My forward-looking advice to the Premier is this: Don’t think it can’t get worse. As the captain of the ship, it’s not too late to tack hard. Repeal Bill 124 and don’t try anything like that again.

Meanwhile, long-term care, on its current path, is unsustainable. That’s what the math says. To the Premier: Look ahead to when more baby boomers will be needing elder care. Don’t rely on your current plan of just building more of the same institutional, for-profit, long-term-care facilities. Have a plan for home supports. Have a plan for community-based care. Have a plan for supporting cost-effective ways to increase physical activity and socialization.

When it comes to housing, everyone knows we are neck deep in a crisis, especially in Kingston. House prices may have stalled in their dramatic rise, but rent continues to rise by double digits. The government’s plan to rely on suburban sprawl to satisfy housing demand isn’t sustainable. I welcome and acknowledge that this government has continued to develop the skilled labour force we so sorely need to build housing, but it should also be investing in innovation to bring down costs and speed up delivery. An example connected to this very body: Former Kingston and the Islands MPP Ian Arthur has a new business using 3D printing to build houses. Technology like this could provide more housing, while bringing down the cost of living. This government has tried to deal with the cost of living in the short term by taking from the treasury and giving it preferentially to people with cars. But I urge the Premier to understand that, in the long run, it’s productivity gains which raise income and push down the cost of living.

There’s hardly a family or a person out there who isn’t doing a double or triple take at their grocery bill. Overall inflation has abated slightly, but rent and food inflation are still high. Inflation is at about 9% for groceries. It’s hurting those with the least means first and worst. It’s time to raise ODSP and OW to a decent amount. It’s time to bargain in good faith with those who work on the front lines.

When it comes to affordable child care, I think the Conservatives should apologize to families with young children. With an average cost of child care at $20,000 a year in Toronto, it’s shocking that this government made us the last province to sign on to the federal child care deal. It was slow to give municipalities and operators clear instructions and complete information. And now, because of that delay, the Conservative government has had to push back the opt-in deadline to November. Premier, to not fall behind on making life more affordable for struggling young families, I would say: You’ve got to look ahead, not lead from behind.

And finally, to the Premier: I cannot stress enough, look ahead on energy and the climate crisis. The province was stunned to watch the Conservatives cancel renewable energy projects and allow electric vehicle infrastructure to be dismantled, and then proceed to not invest in storage, conservation or demand management. These were not the forward-looking actions of a leader. They put Ontario two steps behind on the energy and climate crisis, and we’re trying to catch up now.

I know this government has made a partial turn recently, taking advantage of the federal government’s leadership on electric vehicles and low greenhouse gas steel production. But this ship needs to complete the 180 degree turn to address the climate crisis. Ontarians should look out for electricity shortages in the years to come if nothing is done, as well as a potential propane price squeeze this winter.

I remember tangling at the House of Commons with the then federal natural resources minister Joe Oliver, back in the winter of 2013-14. He was caught off guard and could only propose that a study be done. I say to the Premier: Don’t wait until winter to unveil another crisis. Don’t let Ontarians go without a plan for affordable propane this winter. Don’t leave them behind.

Speaker, I’d like to acknowledge that I did not get here on my own. The people of Kingston and the Islands have given me their trust and faith, two things more precious than gold in today’s world. It’s volunteers and supporters like the ones I would like to mention now who show the world what it means to believe in democracy.

I’d like to especially thank Ann and Nicole, who co-managed my campaign and held full-time jobs. Thanks as well to their families: Josh and Lydia; Curtis, Lucas and Hayden.

I want to thank my family: Tara, my wife, who helped to lay the keel of the political ship I sail today. And thanks to my daughters, Ella and Vera-Claire; my parents, James and Marjorie; and aunt Linda and uncle Ta-Fang.

At the risk of leaving somebody out, I want to mention some names of people, some of whom put in hundreds of hours of volunteer time:

—Dianne and Gary; Ben, Teresa and Larry;

—Andy, Leonore and Dianne;

—Bert, who started recycling wood for signs a year before the election with Kevin and David;

—Alastair, Gabriela and Melinda;

—Jill, Nicole and the phone canvassers, especially Gayle and Elizabeth;

—Mike, Brian and the door-knockers, especially those who came out day after day after day in the cold and the rain, like Peter, Josette, Ryan, Kelly, Shivanand, Becky, Ayden, another Aiden, Ibrahim and Queen’s University students;

—Jane and the other volunteers who cooked hundreds of meals;

—Bruce and the 150 volunteers who came out for advance polls and election day;

—Bittu and other members of my riding association; and

—hundreds of donors who put their faith and trust in me.

I’d like to thank all of the volunteers for all parties in Kingston and the Islands, as well as the rest of Ontario. Tens of thousands worked together to volunteer millions of hours because of their faith and trust in their candidates and their parties. They believed in the importance and legitimacy of elections, and in today’s world this simply can’t be overlooked.

Mr. Speaker, today we face an array of challenges that simply haven’t flared up simultaneously in a long time. It will take us all working together, treating each other with respect, to achieve solutions. It will take strong and thoughtful leadership in Ontario to carefully assess the facts and make tough calls. Let’s get to work. Let’s get ahead of these challenges. There’s no time to leave them behind.

Report continues in volume B.