I’d like to welcome, from the Canadian Manufacturing Coalition: Robert Cattle, Ryan Levins, Dave Cherniak and Rahul Duggar. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I too would like to welcome all the firefighters here at Queen’s Park today, with a special shout-out to Colin Hunter and Chris Boehmer from the Guelph Professional Fire Fighters Association. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

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.

First, I would like to introduce Ema MacAulay, who is the page captain for the day. She comes from the beautiful riding of Sudbury.

Second, I would like to introduce a good friend of ours, Michael Squarzolo, who is the president of Sudbury Professional Fire Fighters Association, as well as Jeff Wicklander, vice-president from Sudbury. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I too would like to welcome all the firefighters to Queen’s Park today, as well as a good friend, Jim Corcoran, who’s here from Northumberland–Peterborough South.

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.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for making sure I got my squats in today. I’ve been up and down quite a bit. You’re looking after my personal well-being. I love it.

Just want to say hello and welcome to some of my staff here today: John Mark Da Re, Melissa Candalaria and Nathan Cockram. I’d say welcome to Queen’s Park, but you’re here every day, so keep doing a great job at Queen’s Park.

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.

My question is to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. In its response to the government’s proposed repeal of the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve Act, Parks Canada warns, “There is a probable risk of irreversible harm to wildlife, natural ecosystems and agricultural landscapes within Rouge National Urban Park, thereby reducing the viability and functionality of the park’s ecosystems and farmland.”

Parks Canada also says the provincial government has failed to meet obligations under its binding agreement with Parks Canada respecting the Rouge National Urban Park. Why is the minister going so far out of his way to violate so many agreements and break so many promises?

As everyone in this House knows, and as we’ve talked about over and over again, it is this government’s intention to build 1.5 million homes over the next 10 years.

Frankly, the federal government’s opinion on this is somewhat misguided. The park is not attached to the Duffins Rouge. We know that protections will be in place as we go forward, as home builders build these homes that we desperately need. The conservation measures will still be in place; the wetland evaluations will still take place.

There’s an opportunity to solve the problem here. We’re taking that opportunity. We need to take that opportunity. We will take that opportunity.

I want to thank the member for Perth–Wellington for that great question. I’m looking forward to joining you in your riding next week.

Speaker, I think everyone here in the chamber can agree: We all love Ontario parks, and we all love getting outdoors. As a lover of nature, I know first-hand the value of having such an extensive park system in the province of Ontario—in fact, a park system we’re expanding. I reflect fondly on the recent announcement to add Alfred Bog to this incredible system, preserving over 3,000 acres and protecting peat moss, one of the most important sources to sequester carbon.

Ontario parks attracted over 800,000 visitors last year, and this government is making investments. In fact, since 2018 alone, this government has invested over $50 million back into Ontario’s park system. These are ensuring that Ontarians are having the best possible visitor experience. We’re not done there, and I look forward to expanding on the great work in the supplementary.

You know, Speaker, when I became Minister of the Environment, I reflected that a previous government had no online store. There was no way to generate revenue from those parks visitors that demanded and wanted things like hoodies or the popular crest—and I see the member from Oshawa looking; I know she’s a crest lover as well. We wanted those crests, and online, you can now buy them. In fact, what’s exciting is that revenue that we now generate online, 100% of it is going right back into provincial parks. The only answer the Liberals had was to tax people.

Speaker, what’s exciting in the winter months: Arrowhead skating. I know members really enjoy that. In Sandbanks, we’ve invested over $5.6 million in new campgrounds alone, and I know our Minister of Energy is excited with that. We’ve also upgraded staffing facilities and built new ones so that the great employees can continue doing the great work. We’re the number one employee for students in the summer.

So I encourage everyone: Get out to the parks—