Thank you, Madam Speaker, and thank you to the deputy House leader for allowing me to speak and able to express my condolences to the innocent people who died and the innocent families. That pain can never be felt.

Adi Vidal-Kaploun, 33; Alexandre Look—celebrated his 33rd birthday—was among those killed. Alexandre Look, who lived in Montreal, died as a hero. His dad said in a Facebook post on Monday, “My understanding was that he found refuge with 30 other people in a bomb shelter without a door and barricaded the entrance with his body.”

Madam Speaker, when we hear these stories, I remember what Martin Luther King Jr. said: “Love begets love.” It means when we treat others with love, that love will bounce back to us in one way or the other—and the same goes for respect. If you want others to respect us, our views, our opinions and our beliefs, we must learn also to respect others. That is why, Madam Speaker, we are debating this motion.

One of our colleagues—and I have to say it’s very unfortunate that we’re debating a motion to talk about one of our colleagues who got elected the way we all got elected, chosen by the people but, because of her views, we have to stand here and defend this place of responsibility.

It is very unfortunate, Madam Speaker, when again what Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Violence begets violence. Hate begets hate; toughness begets a greater toughness.” It is all a descending spiral and the end is destruction—for everybody. Along the way of life, someone must have enough sense and morality to cut off the chain of hate.

If you really look at natural process, Madam Speaker, even God or, if you don’t believe in God, the supernatural power that has created us, has only given the power to give birth, to give life, not to take life. It is important that I reiterate that anti-Semitism and the glorification of terrorism are not to be tolerated.

At the same time, as I was listening to the member from Oakville, he talked equally about Islamophobia or any blaming of innocent Palestinians for the murder, torture and kidnapping of Jews as also unacceptable.

When we talk about our residents belonging on both sides and both sides when they belong, they have pain. For example, Fozia from my riding said, “I pray for the peace and safety of all Jewish people....” Then D. Scott McNie said, “Nothing but an immediate ... de-escalation can hope to prevent this war becoming a horrible global conflict ... with no winners.”

Madam Speaker, do you know what hurts me the most? I was born in India; I was raised in India. We came to Canada for a good life. We saw the problems; we saw the pain. We saw the dark side; we saw the dark times. What I saw this morning in the chamber when my colleague from Burlington talked about how she felt scared when she saw some of the students’ union chanting—when an Ontarian is talking against an Ontarian, when a Canadian is talking against a Canadian, that’s a slippery slope.

We know we live in a wonderful country. We know we are welcoming people from across the world to come here to live a better life. So it is absolutely important for the leaders of Ontario to understand and know the value of spreading love, not hate. That is why I want to reach out to the member from Hamilton Centre. I want to ask her to come and stand up in this House and tell the world that if she believes in helping the innocent residents, come here. Start up, stand up and begin a peace movement. Stand up and apologize for the hate comments.

As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

With a heavy heart, I have to share that when I support this motion I’m not going to be very happy that I voted in favour of the motion. I would be happier if she comes here and apologizes to the House and to the people of Ontario. I must say that she should make a fresh start by replacing the existing statement she gave with a statement on peace and unity. That would be a new beginning and a new, good, amazing, strong and wonderful Ontario. That is what I believe we want as Ontarians: a great, strong Ontario.

Report continues in volume B.