My question is to the Solicitor General.

The state of violence in our streets and communities is increasing daily. People are concerned, and with more and more stories of random attacks, they have good reason to be. The day-to-day lives of individuals and families are being impacted by criminal activity targeting them and their loved ones.

Everyone in this Legislature needs to take this matter seriously, and we need to work together to support those on the front lines who are responding to these violent attacks.

It’s wrong for the Leader of the Opposition to say that advocating for more front-line police officers is considered out of touch.

What is our government doing to support our front-line officers and people encountering these attacks?

Thank you, Minister, for that response.

As a former front-line uniformed police officer, I’m so proud of the accomplishments achieved by my fellow officers in the line of duty.

Interjections.

Sadly, we’ve lost good women and men while responding to horrific incidents, while serving to protect individuals and families.

It’s disheartening to hear members from the official opposition call for defunding and abolishing police services.

In light of this growing concern about violence in our communities, we need to support the work undertaken by our officers and provide them with the resources they need.

Can the Solicitor General please reiterate his and our government’s support to our dedicated front-line police officers and the work they do?

I want to thank our great member from Chatham-Kent–Leamington for the great work he is doing in his community.

Mr. Speaker, no words are adequate to console the family who recently lost their son Gabriel to senseless violence, and we mourn his passing.

Everyone in this House should agree that violence on transit or anywhere is unacceptable. The level of impunity is sickening. The behaviour lacks basic civility.

That’s why, on this side of the House, we continue to support our men and women in uniform. Due to the work they do, and because of the work they do, they need our support, and not contempt for their profession that we see from ranks in the opposition.

All our provincial colleagues agree that the federal government must introduce bail reform now to reinstate law and order in this country, and we urge Minister Mendicino and Minister Lametti to do it now so we have—

For this government, nothing is more important than our public safety, and we understand that our police services across our province are the front line that keep Ontario safe. We’re fed up with calls from the opposition that we should abolish and defund the police. This is not the policy of our government. What we saw yesterday were more excuses from the opposition in their call to defund and abolish the police.

On this side of the House, we have one message: We have the backs of everyone who keeps us safe, today and every day, and we will do everything we need to do to help keep Ontario safe.