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

I rise today to recognize proud parents Bill and Kathy Papaconstantinou—it’s the first time they are coming here with their daughter, Marissa—and also my executive assistant, Omar Farhat, for being in the chamber this morning.

It’s with great pleasure I announce the presence of the Honourable Orontes Castro, consul general for the Philippines in Toronto, who is just above me to the left, Eusebio Aquintey, Shirley Aquintey, Antonio Insigne, Erlinda Insigne, Lolita Oabel, and my very amazing legislative assistant Sheldon James, constituency assistant Delia Marquez and executive assistant Daniela Tabachnik.

I have a large number of people to welcome here today into the Legislature. I have my entire campaign team here with me today. I want to introduce to the chamber Stephanie Nakitsas, Mosheh Herdsman, Hannia Cheng, Kowrika Suntharalingam, Shirven Rezvany, Amy Lester, Angela Bae, Laura Nguyen, Bruno Marchese, Lorei De Los Reyes, Ashley Da Silva, Lourdes David, Greg Denton, and my partner Jordan Berger. Thank you all so much for all you’ve done—oh, and one last person, my campaign director, who just became a new Canadian citizen this morning, Dave Clark.

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

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’d like to welcome my staff, wherever they may be in this great hall: Grace Camara, Melissa Young, Ana Maria Ruiz and Carol-Ann Breton. Thank you for coming today.

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

‘Twas weeks before new year’s

And all through the home

Was last-minute planning

Booking fun on smartphones

But this family, you see

Planned closer to home

A staycation, they called it

The whole province to roam

“What’s this?” Said the mother

As she googled hotels

“A tax credit for our stay!

“It also covers motels!”

That’s 20% off

Your bed to lay,

Just make sure your trip

is before New Year’s Day.

So don’t spend those bucks

On a pricey air flight

Come up to the Highlands

Spend the day and the night!

Some fun at Sir Sam’s

The local ski club

Then relax with a tottie

In a LEGAL hot tub

There’s bakeries and breweries

With real country charm

Or try something different

Like an alpaca farm

The places! The flavours!

Bring all of your friends

There’s so much to savour

The fun never ends.

Ice skating, ice fishing,

Ice cream or ice wine

So many choices

For such a great time

ON Minden, ON Millbrook

ON Haliburton too, ON Kinmount

ON Woodville, all Ontario too

Now dash away, dash away, dash away all

Enjoy the tax credit WE sent your way,

A little something extra for your holiday.

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

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.

I’d like to introduce Dan Arcari and Julie Sutton-Yardley from my constituency office in Burlington. Thank you for all of your hard work, and welcome to Queen’s Park.

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’d like to introduce members of my constituency office that are here today: Elizabeth Pike, Mandeep Dhaliwal, Harjit Sandila, Sukhjot Pannu and Tanjot Gill.

I’d like to welcome the students and teaching staff of Sprucecourt Public School, located in historic Cabbagetown in Toronto Centre. It also happens to be my very first public school when I arrived in Canada and the place where I learned to speak English.

To my wonderful and hard-working constituency staff, Michael Zwiep and Marietta Linde, who are joining us today: Thank you for being here.

Good morning. It’s good to see everyone here. I’d just like to welcome everyone. As a First Nations person, as the First Peoples of this country, I’d like to welcome you to our traditional territories. Meegwetch.

I would like to welcome members from my constituency office: Anthony Goncalves, Punar Sidhu, Manpreet Kaler and Arsheen Parmar.

As well, I would like to introduce the family of our parliamentary page, Serena Joseph: Surean Joseph, Venetta Joseph, Tarnya Joseph, Travin Joseph, Tharsika Puvenendran, Thalika Camilus and Premila Anjalin Pilavendan. Thank you for being with us today.

Mr. Speaker, as you’ve probably noticed by now, there are over 100 members of the PC caucus staff present today. On behalf of the entire PC caucus, welcome to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.