I rise today to recognize the important contributions of WoodGreen Community Services to my constituency of Scarborough Centre. Today in the gallery, we have about 13 members here from the organization, and I want to recognize them for the work they have been doing.

WoodGreen, who serve close to 40,000 people each year, is one of Toronto’s largest social services agencies and is the largest non-municipal affordable housing provider. WoodGreen has over 75 programs and services that tackle the social determinants of health and help vulnerable populations get out of poverty and homelessness and into education, employment and sustainable housing.

These services include helping people to find safe and affordable housing, supporting seniors to live independently, assisting internationally trained professionals entering the Toronto job market, delivering programs for children and youth, and assisting newcomers with settling into Canadian life. They also focus on workforce development and creating opportunities for employment and financial empowerment, which are key components of the social determinants of health.

For example, WoodGreen’s financial empowerment services help thousands of struggling Ontario households stabilize and rebuild their financial health. They offer one-on-one counselling, free tax clinics, budgeting workshops, debt management and other resources to support community members. These financial counselling and support services can create a pathway for different populations, including Ontario Works recipients, to better understand the financial process of transitioning from social assistance to employment.

I want to thank them very much for the work they have done over the years.

Comme plusieurs de mes collègues l’ont fait, j’aimerais débuter par féliciter les élus municipaux de ma circonscription de Glengarry–Prescott–Russell. Certains ont été élus par acclamation; certains ont été réélus et demeurent en poste; et d’autres sont des nouveaux venus. Je tiens à tous les féliciter pour leur dévouement envers nos citoyens, et je leur souhaite un bon succès en politique municipale.

Félicitations aussi à tous ceux qui ont eu le courage de mettre leur candidature lors des dernières élections.

J’aimerais aussi profiter de l’occasion pour remercier mes collègues députés qui m’ont nominé en tant que directeur de l’Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie le 4 octobre dernier. Suite à cette nomination, j’ai obtenu le rôle de chargé de mission Amérique. Ce rôle me permettra de faire la promotion de la langue française auprès des parlementaires de toute l’Amérique.

J’étais à Barcelone au Parlement de la Catalogne la semaine dernière pour participer à la 34^e Assemblée régionale Europe de l’Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie. Accompagné de parlementaires de plusieurs pays d’Europe et du chargé de mission Afrique, nous avons pris part à plusieurs sessions et discussions au sujet de la liberté d’expression et autres—des sujets qui ne semblent pas être une priorité pour nous, les Ontariens, mais qui peuvent être un grand défi pour les citoyens de certains pays.

Avec l’aide de ces partenaires, nous continuerons à faire la promotion de la francophonie auprès des parlementaires à travers le monde. Merci.

As I told members of this chamber yesterday, I have the unique position of being able to see legislation before this House from an independent lens. I can be genuine in my approach, and I have nothing to protect or defend but those interests of my constituents.

I’m a bit cranky with what’s going on here. Who here actually cares about our education workers? Who here actually cares about our students? We have one side of this House who cares about getting even with unions and is, again, threatening the “notwithstanding” clause, and we have another side that encourages political action.

I will give credit to my colleague from Guelph, who, yesterday, encouraged this House to work together, and I was heartened to hear that negotiations had picked up again.

I do find it convenient that there has been all sorts of talk in the past few days about the need to have our students in school. Many of the ministers opposite will know that throughout the pandemic, I was the person coming to them very concerned about the mental health of our young people, and my concerns, at that time, fell on deaf ears.

A word of warning to our education workers: If you decide to walk off the job and the lives of students are severely impacted, you will be blamed, and your union will wear the wrath of Ontario parents. At the same time, the union will have given this government exactly what they wished for. Merry Christmas.

To this government, to CUPE: Stop using some of the province’s lowest-paid workers and stop using our kids as political pawns.

Speaker, it’s time every person in this chamber comes together to tone down the rhetoric, to get the job done. In my maiden speech, I asked members of this House to do politics differently. Today would be a good day to start.

I, too, would like to welcome members of OSSTF who are here today to meet with us all: Karen Littlewood, president; Paul Caccamo, vice-president; Martha Hradowy, vice-president; Hayssam Hulays, executive officer; Malini Leahy, executive officer; Colin Matthew, executive officer; Paul Kossta, our legislative observer; and Richardo Harvey, organizer.

I’d also like to welcome, from AEFO, Anne Lavoie, general manager and secretary-treasurer, and Emile Maheu, executive, government and community relations, to Queen’s Park today.

I’d like to add my welcome to OSSTF members, as well as the contingent from Western University, my alma mater.

I’d also like to welcome a special guest from Don Valley West, TDSB school trustee for ward 11, Rachel Chernos-Lin, who has also brought her daughter and two friends for Take Our Kids to Work Day: Aliyah Sandler, Kinsey Faucher and Pippa Lin. Again, I think they’re still trying to find seats as well, but they’re delighted to be here.

As parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Health, it gives me great pleasure to welcome the Ontario Dental Association in that capacity and, of course, the Scleroderma Society of Ontario, who had their breakfast today at Queen’s Park as well. From the scleroderma society, we have Silvia Petrozza, Suneet Campbell, Mark DiRosa, Jeanne Monteir, Lisa Skinner, Maureen Worron-Sauvé, Jennifer Botelho, Joanne Jones, Wendy Vujacic, Erin Stanhope and John Malcolmson; and also, from my riding, Dr. Deborah Levy. Scleroderma: Hard to say, harder disease.

I’d like to welcome Dr. Don Friedlander from the Ontario Dental Association to the Legislature. He’s from the great riding of Carleton and a good friend of mine. Welcome.

I’d like to welcome U of T students Andrew Yang, George Kong and Ziyan Guan.

I also want to extend a welcome to Patty Coates from the OFL, and all of the members of the OSSTF who are here today.

Today, I’d like to welcome Toby Ley and Shannon Smith from OSSTF/FEESO. Welcome to the chamber of the House today.

I’d like to welcome Graham Hill, who’s my CFO on my campaign, and Anne Liebau, who is one of the best midwives in the province of Ontario, to Queen’s Park today.

We have two special guests here today: my community office manager, Nikki, and her daughter Elisa, who is here for Take Our Kids to Work Day. Welcome to the chamber.

Speaker, I’d like to welcome members of the Ontario Dental Association, particularly Dr. Maneesh Jain from Guelph, who’s here today.

I’d also like to welcome Karen Littlewood and all OSSTF members, especially those from Guelph. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Speaker, today is Take Our Kids to Work Day. I am joined by my daughter, Noor Rasheed, and her friend, Layla Khattab. I’m trying to find where Noor is, and her friend—I don’t know—but welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’d like to welcome an incredible public servant with the Ministry of Long-Term Care, Sarah Sackrule, and her wonderful daughter, Katherine Koetsier, who came to take your daughter to work day today. Again, thank you for coming and visiting us here in the chamber.

Today, I’d like to welcome to our members’ gallery Kory Preston and Caitlin Laskowski from Chicken Farmers of Ontario. Have a great day.

I’d like to welcome to the Legislature today my local representative of the OSSTF, Christian Sell.

I’d like to welcome Karen Littlewood, OSSTF president, and all the fantastic members here. A special shout-out to district 12.

I’d also like to welcome Scleroderma Canada here and thank Dr. Levy for her work, and shout out my amazing LA, Nancy Robb, who’s been running around the building here at Queen’s Park all day today.

I’d like to introduce two great groups of people, the wonderful people from Western University in my riding: Dr. Alan Shepard, Grace Parraga, Florentine Strzelczyk, Keith Gibbons, Peter White, Althea Blackburn-Evans, John Doerksen, Opiyo Oloya, Sophie Helpard and Sara Ridout. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’d like to introduce, from the great riding of Cambridge, Ontario, the parents of page Vanessa Bal: Dr. Sharon Bal; and a former page captain, Julian Bal. Thank you for coming today.