It is my distinct pleasure to welcome the former MP for Waterloo, my mentor, Walter McLean, and his son, Ian McLean, who is the president of the chamber of commerce. Welcome to Queen’s Park today.

Applause.

In addition, two wonderful firefighters from Waterloo: Brett Gibson and Adam Overgaard. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Christmas is the season where we can pause and reflect on all the good from the past year that will provide us with hope for the coming year. As I pause and reflect, I’d like to share some things that I hope will be found in the stockings of some of my friends:

—for J. Murray Jones, the now-retired mayor of my home community and longest-serving warden of Peterborough county, a gift card from the classic car mechanic so Ruby will run smoothly enough this summer that he and Anne can enjoy some long drives throughout God’s country;

—for Mayor Carolyn Amyotte, a very simple request, photo radar;

—for Mayor Jim Martin, a very large excavator to dig a big hole, big enough for 128 beds on Smith Drive;

—for Mayor Senis, a round table filled with friends who enjoy the southern part of Lakefield;

—for Mayor Terry Lambshead, a season void of LDD moths so all of us can enjoy hikes throughout some of Ontario’s most beautiful foliage;

—for Mayor Heather Watson, the long-awaited high-speed broadband to be completed on time, eliminating the last dial-up in our township;

—for Mayor Leal, 11 paddles to be shared with his council so they can move the canoe smoothly through the Otonabee River, even when they hit the rapids; and finally

—for Chief Keith Knott, a return to good health so that all of Peterborough county can enjoy the wisdom and experience that he has brought to Curve Lake for so long.

From my family to yours, however you celebrate, Merry Christmas.

I’d like to welcome Ayrton Potter and the Kingston Professional Firefighters Association to the Ontario Legislature today.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to welcome to the Ontario Legislature the Ottawa Professional Fire Fighters’ Association. I look forward to meeting with Doug McLennan, David André and Malcolm Todd later today.

It’s an honour to rise in the House to speak to my motion tabled earlier today that would require Ontario schools to include mental health literacy in the curriculum as a requirement for graduation.

Since 2019, I’ve been advocating to have mental health education included in the public school curriculum, working closely alongside Minister Lecce. I’m incredibly grateful for his assistance in making this happen. This is a topic that is close to my heart, and we have an opportunity to do right by our children and future generations.

Mental health issues start early, and young people aged 15 to 24 are more likely to experience mental illness or substance-use disorders than any other age group. COVID-19 has impacted all students, with many facing new vulnerabilities.

The introduction of mandatory mental health education delivered directly and intentionally to Ontario students complements our government’s unprecedented investments in student mental health supports. Developing literacy is what schools do best, and mental health literacy can be taught, just like any other subject, including math, English or physical health education.

Mental health education empowers students with the knowledge, skills and tools they need to navigate their mental health before getting to crisis, reducing health care costs and the strain on our health care system and saving lives.

I rise to introduce Craig Thompson, president and executive producer of Ballinran Entertainment, who is here for film day in Ontario, Speaker.

It gives me great pleasure to introduce Chris Slota from St. Catharines, vice-president of Local 485, and Ryan Madill, St. Catharines president and—may I say—he ran against me in the last provincial election. But we’ve been good friends since then, right, Ryan?

Also, I’ve got one more. I’ve got Leona McAusland from Orillia, and I look forward to meeting with you later on this afternoon. Thank you for coming.

I would like to welcome all Cambridge firefighters here today, who I’ll be meeting with at 1 o’clock, and I’d also like to welcome John Holman here today.

I too want to welcome Sharon Navarro and Brian Weatherhead, and Hedy Navarro and Roy Navarro, who are the parents—they’re not here, but still, they’re on the Hansard now—and the grandparents of page captain Max. Where are you, Max? There you are. They’re proud parents. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I want to welcome John Maclachlan, James Wenger and Tori Goulart, who I’ll be meeting this afternoon from the Toronto firefighters’ association.

I’d like to welcome, from the Sarnia professional firefighters today, Matt Madere.

I’d like to recognize the wonderful regional councillor from St. Catharines, Sal Sorrento. Welcome to the Legislature.

I would like to welcome, from my riding, Pete Dyson, Nathan Langille, Brad Whittle and Cory Devereaux, who are here today on behalf of the Oshawa Professional Firefighters Association Local 465. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’d like to welcome the members of the Thunder Bay firefighters’ association to Queen’s Park today. I look forward to meeting with you this afternoon, and thank you to all the firefighters for the tremendous work you do in our province.

I’d like to give a warm welcome to Wayne Currie and Kris Matton of the Windsor Professional Firefighters Association today.

I’d like give a warm welcome to Lauren Jervis, the VP external of the Postdoctoral Association of Western University, as well as Craig Thompson, the president and executive producer at Ballinran Entertainment and the founder of the Southwestern Ontario Film Alliance. He’s here with FilmOntario. I welcome all members to visit them at 5 p.m. today in the dining room.

I’d also like to welcome the London Professional Fire Fighters Association and thank them for their great work at LIFE*SPIN’s Lights and Sirens Toy Drive. I hope that all members can visit them at 5 p.m. in room 230.

Page Max Weatherhead is a page captain today and his parents, Sharon Navarro and Brian Weatherhead, are in the audience today. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Also Mike Tucker, Bob Brandon and John Hanlan from the Whitby Professional Firefighters: Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I just wanted to say, to the Toronto Professional Firefighters, thank you very much for your work. You run in when most of us would run out. Thank you for your work.

I have a few people to welcome here today. I would like welcome the McLean family, obviously up in the Speaker’s gallery.

More importantly, though, my staff are here today from Queen’s Park and also from the riding. We have Michael Pew, Kasia Kaminska, Jesse Bowman, Emily Vanderkolff and Scott McNab. Thank you so much for all of that you do.