Every year, my family and I join the people of Oxford in celebrating the festive season. We can’t help but feel the excitement and the cheer. Recently, I got to see that glee as I joined my constituents in the Santa Claus parades in Ingersoll, Tillsonburg and Woodstock. I saw thousands of smiling families getting into the Christmas spirit.

This is also a time to spend with family and friends. Even though it’s cold outside, the joy of eating good food and sitting around the fireplace with the people we love warms our hearts and homes.

Perhaps most importantly, the Christmas season is also a time to help those who are less fortunate. Oxford has always been a community that helps those in need, and it’s during Christmas where it really shows. Not everyone has a family to celebrate with or a place to call home, so the people of Oxford are stepping up to provide shelters and emergency housing. There are local food banks and free hot meals for those who cannot afford to put a Christmas meal on their table, and there are toy drives for parents who can’t afford to purchase gifts for their children.

Madam Speaker, I wish a merry Christmas and a happy new year to everyone in Oxford and all of Ontario.

Today, it gives me the distinct pleasure to rise in the House and to welcome to Queen’s Park two-time Paralympian and Canadian record holder Marissa Papaconstantinou, along with her parents, Bill and Kathy, and boyfriend, Justyn.

Marissa was born and raised in the riding of Scarborough Centre and trained at Scarborough’s Phoenix track club. She was born without a right foot but, at the age of 12, she fell in love with track after being fitted for her first running prosthetic blade at the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, for whom she is currently a proud ambassador.

Marissa represented our country at numerous international competitions, including the 2016 summer Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro at the tender age of 16. Despite tough losses and injuries earlier in her career, her resilience, focus and hard work helped her qualify for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, where she won a bronze medal in the women’s T64 100-metre race with a personal best and Canadian record of 13.07 seconds. In addition, she also set the Canadian record with a 27.08 second run in the 200-metre event.

Marissa, I am very proud of what you have accomplished thus far. I’m eager and hopeful to look into the future of all the great things you still have to come. Thank you very much for being here, and I look forward to meeting you at the end of—

Applause.

I want to acknowledge the challenges and hardships my constituents in Don Valley East have endured over the past year. Health care has become more difficult than ever before, with fewer family doctors, longer wait times, and cancelled surgeries. The growing spectre of privatization, which has made it more difficult to seek medical attention via virtual care, is the first of many examples of how this government hasn’t delivered for my constituents or for patients. Virtual care must be equitable and accessible, but as designed, it reveals the government’s profiteering agenda.

Make no mistake about it: Privatization is like a drop of poison in a well, and it contaminates the entire water supply.

Another problem: Our environment and greenbelt are under attack by Bill 23. We all need housing, but it needs to be safe and sustainable. It mustn’t raise taxes for the benefit of developers. Bill 23 will lead to the same kind of uncontrolled, runaway development that is being proposed in my riding along Wynford Drive—13 high-rise condos in that tiny space, and no community input? My constituents must be consulted and amendments made, and runaway legislation like Bill 23 must be fixed.

But there are things to look forward to. On December 13, Ismailis around the world will celebrate the birthday of their spiritual leader and one of the world’s foremost champions of pluralism and community service, His Highness the Aga Khan. To the Ismaili community and His Highness, I wish to say happy birthday and Salgirah Khushiali Mubarak.

To the constituents of Don Valley East and the people of Ontario, I wish to share my very best wishes, from my family to yours, for happy holidays, a merry Christmas and a joyous new year.

To the members of Ontario’s Jewish community, I wish you a happy and healthy Hanukkah, and I join you in celebrating the miracle of Jewish resilience in the face of oppression. Eat some latkes for me.

I rise today on the Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women to bring attention to the serial murders of four First Nations women in Winnipeg. Last week, the Winnipeg Police Service announced charges against an alleged serial killer for the murders of Morgan Harris; Marcedes Myran; and another loved one—we don’t know her name—who has been given the name Buffalo Woman; and earlier, Rebecca Contois.

I stand in solidarity with the families in Manitoba who are grieving the loss of their loved ones and with those who continue to search for their relatives, the many missing women and girls across Ontario, across Canada. Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people have the fundamental right to life and the right to be safe. Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people are not safe in their everyday lives.

We know that the persistent and the deliberate human rights violations and abuses are the root cause behind these staggering rates of violence against Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people. And we must address the hate, the genocide that continues to put the safety of Indigenous women at risk.

Morgan, Mercedes, Rebecca, Buffalo Woman—remember their names.

Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending the 25th anniversary of the twinning of the city of Vaughan with the sister city of Baguio, Philippines, hosted by the Filipino-Canadian Association of Vaughan, also known as FCAV, in my riding of Thornhill. This event was an important milestone for the Filipino community and FCAV, who have been promoting the objectives of the friendship agreement between Vaughan and Baguio City, strengthening the cultural, social, educational and economic opportunities between the two cities since 1997.

Baguio City, known as the summer capital of the Philippines, is a major hub for education, with there being eight universities and colleges.

To honour the twinning celebration, the Philippine delegation arrived in Vaughan, led by Vice-Mayor Faustino Olowan and Councillor Fred Bagbagen, and officially accompanied by Orontes Castro, consul general of the Republic of Philippines in Toronto. The representatives for FCAV and Baguio City attended at Niagara University, also located in our riding, to sign a letter of intent to increase higher education, co-operation and commemoration of the 25th anniversary.

Erlinda Insigne, who is the president of FCAV, has been a resident of Thornhill for over 35 years and someone who has been instrumental in keeping this relationship strong between the two cities. I am proud to have such a diverse riding with individuals such as Erlinda, along with the Honourable Orontes Castro, constantly looking to help others strive, and we look forward to honouring Erlinda next year when she celebrates 30 years as president with FCAV.

Mr. Speaker, on one of the last days of the Legislature before the break, I wish to extend everyone a very warm-hearted holidays. Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, or Maligayang Pasko.

I would like to take this time to talk about the generosity and compassion of the Chicken Farmers of Ontario in their efforts to feed people who are less fortunate.

Last week, I had a conversation with Murray Opsteen, the chair of the Chicken Farmers of Ontario. We talked about their CFO Cares program and its ongoing partnerships to tackle hunger in our communities. Murray also happens to be a chicken farmer in my riding of Flamborough–Glanbrook.

CFO Cares supports various not-for-profit initiatives and organizations that provide food relief to people who need it. It includes organizations such as Feed Ontario and the United Way. The CFO assists farmers who want to donate fresh chicken to food banks within their communities. To date, nearly 600 chicken farmers have participated, with donations of 300 chickens each.

Anyone familiar with food banks, either by volunteering or donating, knows that protein, especially meat protein, is one of the most sought-after items. CFO’s annual donation target is to provide over a million fresh chicken meals.

These donations from our chicken farmers epitomize what it means to be good citizens. These farmers are making a huge contribution to feeding people who are facing financial challenges, and for that, I want to say thank you.

Thank you.

It is my pleasure to introduce for the very first time to Queen’s Park my constituency staff: Shelly Cameron and Brooke Campbell. Welcome.

It is a great pleasure to introduce three members of my constituency staff from the great riding of Durham. From our Bowmanville office, we have Patricia Martinolich, Suzanne Prescott and Doug Ellis.

Joining us today from my constituency office is Destiny Stewart. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’d like to welcome my constituency staff here today: Saroj Gandhi and Upasna Kumar.

I’d like to introduce our placement student Kaela Tenn. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’d also like to take the opportunity to welcome to Queen’s Park my constituency staff: Idan Yacobovitch, Kevin Carter and John Mace.

It’s my real pleasure to welcome and introduce my staff who are here for the first time at Queen’s Park: Nada Radi, from my constit office; and David Nightingale, who’s been working with me as my legislative assistant for the last few months. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I would like to introduce a couple of visitors I have here from my constit staff, Jacqueline Bayley and Hannah Jones, as well as a friend of mine, Cameron Field. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I beg to inform the House that pursuant to standing order 9(g), the Clerk has received written notice from the government House leader indicating that a temporary change in the weekly meeting schedule of the House is required and, therefore, the afternoon routine on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, shall commence at 1 p.m.

I’d like to introduce my constituency staff, the mother of C.J. Carson, Sally; and the mother of Madeline Chatten, Julie.

Well, thank you. I think that was meant for the Treasury Board minister, but I’ll take it, Speaker.

I want to introduce Josie, Teresa, Daniil, Andy and Riley, who are here from my King–Vaughan office. Welcome to Queen’s Park. Thank you for all that you do.

I want to take the opportunity to welcome my executive assistant from Thunder Bay, Patricia Maxwell. She’s served with me for 17 years in my role as a mayor. Welcome, Pat.