My question is for my great colleague in Mississauga, the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery.

On April 6, 2018, Ontarians were heartbroken to hear the news of the devastating bus collision carrying the Humboldt Broncos hockey team. Speaker, 16 of the 29 passengers lost their lives, and the 13 who survived will bear physical and emotional scars for the rest of their lives.

Humboldt Broncos defenceman Logan Boulet succumbed to his injuries the following day, on April 7, and Logan’s parents, Bernadine and Toby Boulet, courageously offered to donate his organs so that six people could live. What an incredibly difficult decision for any parents to have to make. For the Boulet family, their decision represents the difference that can be made through the act of giving.

Speaker, currently in Ontario, there are 1,600 people on the waiting list for an organ transplant.

Can the minister please speak to the significance of this day and the importance of continuing Logan’s legacy of organ donation?

Speaker, I’m proud to be part of a government that works to raise awareness about organ donation and how these efforts can make a difference in saving lives.

As a nurse working on the front lines, I have personally seen how organ donations can restore hope and provide a future.

However, we know that the number of patients who need a life-saving transplant is greater than the number of organs and tissues that are available. While almost 90% of Canadians say they support organ donation, only 32% have registered their intent to donate.

I also wanted to praise the great work of the Trillium Gift of Life Network and their Be a Donor campaign, which is taking place this week.

Can the minister please elaborate on what our government is doing to support organ and tissue donation registration?

Thank you to the amazing member from Mississauga Centre for the question.

While April 7 remains a difficult day for many people and families, it has also become an opportunity that many others have embraced to raise awareness for organ donation, marking this day as Green Shirt Day in honour of the Logan Boulet effect.

Just like Logan and his family, everyone who is comfortable and willing to sign up for donation has the power to save the life of another. And my ministry continues to work tirelessly to ensure that Ontarians have every resource necessary to stay informed and access this service if they choose to do so.

If you want to register to donate, you can do so in person at any ServiceOntario location near you, or go online at serviceontario.ca/beadonor and check whether you have already registered as a donor, or update an existing registration, as long as you are an OHIP-eligible Ontarian age 16 and up.

I’m proud to stand in this House and share that over 4.6 million Ontarians are registered as organ and tissue donors. It is a reminder of the selfless nature that makes us the proud, vibrant and community-oriented province that we are. I’m proud that my ministry has enabled over 1.1 million registrations, checks and updates through the online donor registration service and more than an additional 3.3 million in-person registrations at our ServiceOntario locations. Each and every one of those individuals has the power to perhaps one day save the lives of up to eight people and impact as many as 75 others.

Today, I want to also to remind Ontarians that April is Be a Donor Month. In memory of Logan, the Humboldt Broncos and their families, I hope Ontarians continue to raise awareness and remind others that they, too, can give the gift of a second chance at life.