It is with a heavy heart that I rise today in this House to pay tribute to David Murphy of Cornwall. Our community is mourning with the news on Sunday of his passing at the age of 50 from lung cancer. He was a non-smoker.

Speaker, 90 seconds will not begin to even explain the impact David had in our region. He was a great community leader, a coach to many youth, a fundraiser for too many causes to name, a friend, and a former municipal councillor. David was a proud lifelong Cornwall resident who dedicated his life to its betterment. David’s involvement and leadership in countless fundraising initiatives, not-for-profit organizations and local service clubs is the definition of a true community leader.

After making public that he had lung cancer, David started Team Murphy, with the mission of raising funds to help others with the costs of travel to Ottawa for treatment. In a short time, he raised tens of thousands of dollars for others—such a selfless endeavour during the ultimate fight for his life.

In the last month, David has been inducted into the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame, as well as being awarded the Cornwall and Area Chamber of Commerce president’s award, the Children’s Treatment Centre of Cornwall president’s award, and a Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medallion.

David will be missed by our entire community. We extend our sincere condolences to his daughter and favourite human, Julia, and his friends and family.

On the weekend, I had the opportunity to attend Celebrate Life with Lights, an event organized by Navneet Sharma—a cancer survivor and the founder of the Cancer Warrior Canada Foundation—for their fifth Annual Cancer Awareness and Fundraiser Gala.

Cancer Warrior Canada Foundation is a group of inspired individuals who create awareness about breast cancer, early diagnosis and treatment options. They not only work hard to raise money for research, but they also help to support patients, survivors and their families as they go through this journey.

Every year, thousands of women are diagnosed with breast cancer—our mothers, our grandmothers, our sisters and friends. A diagnosis can be devastating, not only physically, but emotionally and financially.

I want to commend all the great work Navneet Sharma and the amazing team at Cancer Warrior Canada Foundation are doing, and for their dedication in raising awareness about breast cancer, early diagnosis and treatment options. Events like this help fight and address the stigma that breast cancer has. They’re the true community heroes.

Every year, on October 28, Greeks all over the world celebrate Oxi Day—No Day. It is the day the Greek people and Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas rejected the ultimatum made by Benito Mussolini in the 1940s, hence refusing to be subjugated to the tyranny of fascism, and defending their freedom and democracy.

Oxi Day has a special place in modern Greek history. In addition to being the cradle of democracy—it is the destiny of the Greek people through the ages to be the vanguard of the ideas and the principles ancient Greeks gave to humanity. That legacy has continued for the last 5,000 years and has left its indisputable impact on our way of life.

I had the honour of participating in the gala dinner on October 29 and the October 30 parade on Danforth Avenue.

I would like to congratulate the Greek community centre of Toronto, the participating GTHA Greek organizations, thousands of volunteers and the audience for keeping the memory and flame of Oxi alive and passing it to the next generation.

We make our living by what we do, and we make a life by what we give.

Recently, I was touched by the words of Order of Canada recipient Dr. Lucky Lakshmanan: “Life is the art of giving.”

While many people have more than they need, some don’t even have enough to fulfill their need.

I’m always inspired by the volunteer-based organizations and programs, such as Fueling Healthy Minds, that believe in giving and uplifting the community. In the region of Peel, more than 20% of children come to school with empty stomachs. In 2020, when schools were closed because of COVID-19, lots of these students who were using the school breakfast program were left with need. In direct response, my wife, Aruna Anand, led a 100% volunteer-based breakfast program and served over 225,000 nutritious meals, with the support of Sai Dham Food Bank, the YMCA of GTA, school staff, and many selfless volunteers. Every Friday, through Fueling Healthy Minds, I witnessed the art of giving being the most important ingredient to make our community a better place to live for everyone.

I urge all Canadians, and, as a first-immigration immigrant, especially new Canadians who are working hard to gain a sense of belongingness, to indulge in giving back to the community. Give time, give love, give respect, and give your resources. Together, let’s all participate in the art of giving.

I rise today to address the Conservatives’ proposed updates to the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System. Their changes encourage skipping over what you don’t know when it comes to developing wetlands.

In my science and business career, the following idea has served me well: If you’re unsure about something, go ask people who know more than you do.

Just look at some of what the Conservatives are doing in their headlong rush to develop land. “If there is uncertainty about wetland delineation, evaluators are encouraged to consult with MNR”—this is deleted; in other words, in typical Conservative government fashion, “Don’t check with the scientists. They may know something you don’t like.”

“If an evaluator is uncertain how to proceed with or interpret any component of this evaluation system they should contact the appropriate MNR district office”—this is cut; in other words, “If you’re not sure, don’t bother checking with the MNR biologist or ecologist and all the expertise they have access to.”

To add insult to injury, there is this: “A wetland that has already been evaluated may be re-evaluated,” which means now that the MNR scientists are out of the way, somebody can go back, hire another evaluator and try to open up a wetland for development.

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are afraid of any informed balance between environmental protection and economic development.

On August 19, 1942, there were nine young men from Richmond Hill who landed at the Blue Beach, Dieppe, France, as part of Operation Jubilee. Eight of them did not return alive. It was the biggest single-day loss for Richmond Hill. The heroes who sacrificed their lives in exchange for our freedom were Private George Charles Adams, Private Thomas Millar Armstrong, Private William John Findlay, Lance Corporal Joseph Albert Glover, Private Ernest Albert Goode, Private Charles Hill, Private Roy Alexander Walker, and Private Russell Thomas Wice. Private Adams’s older brother, Sergeant William John Adams, was also involved in the raid. He was captured and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner. However, upon returning to Canada, he continued to serve with the York Regional Police.

We should remember and pay respect to them not only on Remembrance Day but every day. We should also remember their family members who sacrificed along with them.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of my union, USW Local 6500.

I often credit the training support and opportunities I had as a steelworker with my success as a parliamentarian. In fact, during my inaugural speech in 2018, I said, “This world is thirsty for leadership, and my union gave me the training and opportunities to become a leader. They celebrated with me when I was successful and they supported me when I was struggling. I would not be here today if it weren’t for the Steelworkers. I wouldn’t be in this House, in this chair or in the position I have with my family.”

As well, I often say that Steelworkers make great leaders. That’s not only a reflection of Local 6500’s ongoing commitment to the community, but of the fact that my local, Local 6500, has produced three district 6 directors, a Canadian national director, and an international president.

Closer to home, Local 6500 has always taken a leadership role. Our union members sit on boards, and they help raise funds for local charities. We develop excellent stewards and committee members, and effective occupational safety, health and environment reps.

Because of Local 6500, Sudbury no longer looks like a moonscape. Our members perform safety investigations and coroner’s inquests. We negotiate fair contracts and represent our members at grievances and arbitrations. The list goes on and on—from children’s Christmas parties to mental health and addictions, to retiree support with WSIB.

For the past 60 years, USW Local 6500 has been a shining example of the iconic phrase, “The union makes us strong.”

Happy anniversary to Local 6500.

I’d like to welcome to the House this morning two very distinguished groups. From Thunder Bay in northern Ontario, with the Ontario Native Women’s Association: Coralee McGuire-Cyrette, executive director; Cheryl Bagnall, director of community services; and Andre Morriseau, communications manager. And from Lazio, some people who are here doing documentary work on Ontario and on Toronto: Iolanda Russo and Mikaela Tatangelo. Welcome to our House.

I want to welcome Ontario Trillium Foundation board member and Parry Sound–Muskoka business owner and great friend Andy Blenkarn to Queen’s Park. Welcome, and thank you for the work you do.

I’d like to welcome members who are here today from the Ontario Native Women’s Association in Thunder Bay. I know the minister has already introduced them, but I just want to acknowledge Coralee, Cheryl and Andre. They’re doing fantastic work on important issues in Thunder Bay.

I thank you for what you’re doing.

I’m happy and very proud to rise today to acknowledge some esteemed guests who’ve joined our House for Trans Awareness Week and also to support the gender-affirming health care advisory act: Stefanie Pest from the riding of Essex; Heath Salazar and Kristie Kennedy from Toronto–St. Paul’s; Lisa Delcol from University–Rosedale; Monika Gontarska from Scarborough–Guildwood; and Anne Creighton from Toronto–Danforth.

I also want to also acknowledge three members of my esteemed team who are here from Toronto Centre: Vharshaa Punithechelvan, Tara Bijan and Doga Koroglu. Two of them are interns from TMU University, and one of them is from the Toronto Centre riding association.

Welcome, Catherine.

I have the honour to welcome the consul general of Morocco in Toronto, His Excellency Mr. Rachid Zein, as well as Ms. Leila Fateh and Mr. Abdellah Messaoudi from the Moroccan Association of Toronto.

The independence day of Morocco was celebrated this week, and there will be a flag-raising at 3. You are all welcome.

Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’m happy to introduce my dream team of staff, who I have taken time to select, to form a strong team to support me. I’m happy to introduce Amanda McFarlane, executive assistant and office manager from our constituency office; Jason Leung, a legislative assistant working with me at Queen’s Park; Nicole Wang, community relations officer, working at the constituency office; and Tarun Saroya, executive assistant for my position as parliamentary assistant to the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

To the Premier: We all know the Premier will use the long wait times, the overcrowding, the emergency room closures to justify bringing in US-style health care to Ontario. He’ll say we need to innovate, just like Mike Harris did when he privatized our home care system. The private home care providers were going to do things better, faster, cheaper. Remember that, Speaker? Well, today, we all know that none of that happened.

Why is this government so determined to dismantle our publicly funded, publicly delivered health care system?

That concludes our members’ statements for this morning.

It is now clear that the Premier has decided to ignore his medical officer of health and his advice to address the health care crisis faced by our children. That decision is clear to anyone who has seen him every day since the public health officials in this province urged adults to wear masks indoors to protect children.

Without saying a thing, the Premier has told parents that they’re on their own and they can only hope that the overstretched doctors, nurses and health care workers can protect their children as we go through this hospital crisis.

When did the Premier decide that the children of Ontario were expendable?

Will the Premier finally speak up and tell us how he can possibly defend this mismanagement?

As we’ve said many times, the difficult and complex fall that was predicted has materialized, and we have three viral threats. It’s changing with every wave. Initially, we had personal protective equipment, adult ICUs and adult ward beds that needed attention; now it is pediatric ICUs—and, frankly, it is not because of COVID, but because of RSV and influenza. That is why we planned for that. We’ve said this many times. We made investments in the NICU units. We made investments in pediatric hospitals. And we expanded our health human resources and beds, across the board, in hospitals.

As Dr. Simpson noted, it’s not unusual for 14- and 16-year-old patients to be looked after in adult ICU beds. That is commonly done. That is what is happening now.

We’re making sure that we have the resources for our children and that they get the best care possible, and we know our health care workers will deliver it.

As Dr. Simpson also noted, “What is important to emphasize is that all pediatric patients will be seen when they come to a hospital. If they require admission, then we will look after them.”

Like Dr. Simpson said, I have great faith and confidence in our health care providers across the province. They are expertly trained to support all of our health care needs and will do whatever it takes to make sure our children get the care that they need.

What I can confirm to the member opposite is that under our Progressive Conservative government we have hired nearly 7,000 additional education workers, supporting our kids within our schools—and not only have we hired more, but we pledged to continue funding 1,800 additional education workers and 800 teachers, who will support our kids within our schools, as part of our program before the union.

Mr. Speaker, we fulfilled our end of the bargain—we said we would repeal Bill 28, and that was the biggest barrier to getting a deal, and then 48 hours after us doing so in good faith, they announced a strike notice. We said we would increase pay—335 million more dollars this week compared to last week, a material improvement for every worker, especially for the lowest-paid—and they’ve still rejected the offer. We have now moved to a flat rate, a demand of the union—not to differentiate wages for lower and higher incomes—and we still don’t have a deal.

It is abundantly clear what the fault line is preventing the union from accepting a deal; it is a desire for higher wages.

Our kids should be in school on Monday.

This is what’s becoming a casual invocation of a strike notice every few weeks in this province—every few years. That’s not acceptable.

The NDP wants to normalize strikes because they were standing with the union when kids were out of school. They should be standing up for parents.

Stand with this government. Let’s get a deal. Let’s keep kids in class.

Interjections.

We have significantly increased the pay—$335 million more in a week. We provided a flat rate. We are maintaining the best benefits and pensions and sick leave—and even still, the never-ending, moving yardstick and goalpost of CUPE.

Accept the deal before us, and make sure kids in this province stay in school every single day.

I just have to say, I thought the opposition was trying to ask questions about what is going on in hospitals today, not some fantasy that they think might be happening in the future.

Let’s just talk about what’s happening in our health care system and what has happened in the past.

In the 2012 Auditor General’s report on health human resources, it was revealed that northern Ontario had a shortage of 200 physicians or 40,000 hours of care, and yet little was done. Who held the balance of power at that time? I think that was these guys, the opposition, the NDP.

The former Premier admitted that she was freezing hospital spending for years, and in 2015 she eliminated 50 medical residency positions from Ontario. They defended that decision, when 800,000 Ontarians were without a family doctor, by saying, “We are scaling back to make better use of our health care dollars.” This reduction came in the same year when 250 nurses were being laid off. You supported them every step of the way.

We’re fixing the system—