I also rise, as my colleagues have done, to grieve collectively the five folks whom we’ve lost in Sault Ste. Marie and to acknowledge that we have a responsibility in this Legislature to reach out to anybody who, right now, is living in a violent home.

I’m sad to say, Speaker, the Ottawa Police Service has just confirmed there has been a double-digit increase in intimate partner violence charges in our city. Across the river in Gatineau, the increase is up 300 in police officers having to intervene in domestic assaults in violent homes.

Right now, Cornerstone women’s shelter in Ottawa has had to turn away 360 people who have called them for help in accessing their shelter because their shelter is full. Shelter Movers Ottawa has had a double-digit increase in their folks who try to call Shelter Movers Ottawa so that they can move out of a violent home, free of charge for women and their children in low-income circumstances.

So I call upon this government—because I know we all care about it in this place—to send a message imminently out of this Legislature that intimate partner violence has reached epidemic proportions, to agree with the Renfrew county inquest report and to send a signal, through funds that we will allocate to organizations in all of our ridings, that you can leave a violent home, that the province of Ontario is behind you and we believe you have the right to live free of violence.

How can someone be affectionately known as Mad Dog? They’re generally seen as a hard-edged ruffian you’ll want to stay away from. Well, you can if you’re the unmistakably dedicated, focused and truly compassionate Bob Runciman. As many of you would know, Bob, who has been a mentor and a friend to me as long as I’ve been here, had a political career that spanned 45 years, including municipal and provincial elected office as well as the Senate of Canada.

Clearly, Speaker, if you’ve spent 45 years in politics, you’ve got a lot to talk about, and most will do exactly that, but Bob Runciman has gone a step further. He’s penned a book entitled From Mad Dog to Senator, his memoir of that 45-year career, which former Premier Mike Harris has called a “great read.” Well, Speaker, I can echo the sentiments of Premier Harris. And of course, I encourage every member here to get themselves a copy.

I’m also offering a great opportunity to listen to the Honourable Mr. Runciman speak about his book and the making of it at a special reception to be held at the Albany Club on November 14. It will be a great opportunity to hear first-hand the inside story on a number of his unique and special experiences, including the highs and the lows during his remarkable 45-year career. I’ll certainly be there, Speaker, and I encourage every member of the House to join me at 5:45 p.m. for what will be an exciting and revealing evening.

As we embark on November, our thoughts turn to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and to honouring those who served and continue to serve today. But remembrance should be a year-long commitment. I’d like to thank and congratulate some people and groups in my riding of Haldimand–Norfolk who work each and every day to ensure year-long remembrance.

Recently, I attended the 95th anniversary of the Major Walter Barnard Branch 125 Legion in Delhi. It was a fantastic evening, and it was so heartening to see neighbouring Branch 158 Port Dover out in full support.

The Hagersville Chamber of Commerce recently unveiled its veterans banner project. Motorist travelling Highway 6 through Hagersville will be reminded of the local young men who served. Banners have also been raised for OPP Constable Greg Pierzchala and Calgary Police Service Sergeant Andrew Harnett, a native of Hagersville. Down the road, in Jarvis, the banner project, supported by the board of trade, is now in its fifth year.

In September, Veterans Voices of Canada raised 128 flags to honour the 128,000 Canadian military and RCMP members killed and missing in action, from the Boer War to current missions. This was the third year for this ceremony in Wingfield Park in Dunnville.

In the coming days, Legion members and army, navy and air force members and cadets will be outside many stores in our respective communities as part of the poppy campaign. I will be taking part in the campaign once again, and I encourage all members to do so as well.

Today is a historic day for the members of Simcoe county. It is the 100th anniversary of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Alliston’s native son and hero, Sir Frederick Banting.

Dr. Banting was awarded the peace prize in biology for the discovery of insulin. He was the first Canadian to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and was the youngest recipient at the age of 32, a distinction that remains today.

Dr. Banting was raised on a farm on the outskirts of Alliston, in the town of New Tecumseth, and I’m very proud to say that the town has rallied around and maintained the Banting homestead, which has been preserved and restored by the Sir Frederick Banting Legacy Foundation.

Sir Frederick was a true renaissance man: an artist, musician and war hero who enlisted in both the First and Second World Wars and received the Military Cross for heroism under fire as a member of the medical corps. Dr. Banting was an accomplished artist and spent time with the Group of Seven and A.Y. Jackson.

Dr. Banting and his friend Charles Best discovered insulin in 1921 and refined its production to change the lives of thousands, if not millions, of people around the world suffering from diabetes. He sold the patent to the University of Toronto for $1 and ensured that all monies from the production were reinvested to make sure that diabetics around the world and in this country could be saved. Prior to its introduction, diabetes was a death sentence. Sir Frederick Banting has saved the lives of millions around the world and done Canada proud. Happy anniversary, Dr. Banting.

With profound sadness, I rise to acknowledge the tragic deaths of five people, including three children, one as young as six years old, killed by femicide at the hands of a man in Sault Ste. Marie. My deepest condolences go to the family and friends of the victims and to the MPP for Sault Ste. Marie who, I’m certain, is helping his community deal with this profound tragedy.

In 2022 in Ontario, every seven days a woman or child was killed in a femicide. Please, all of us, take a moment to pause and reflect on this horrifying loss. We count femicide because it is intended to mark the tragic loss of each life, to raise a public alarm and to engage everyone in working together toward prevention.

The Premier offered his prayers to the victims, and that is appropriate. However, the Premier has a responsibility to show leadership—to change these tragic outcomes. We must do better. Premier, you can start today by declaring that intimate partner violence is an epidemic in Ontario.

On August 18, 2023, the city of Hamilton declared intimate partner violence as an epidemic, and almost 65 municipalities across Ontario have done the same. Where is the commitment to prevention in Ontario? Premier, please show these survivors that they are not alone.

In Hamilton, the Woman Abuse Working Group is a coalition of more than 20 agencies working to end violence against women and their children. They offer this message:

“We know that it takes a community to end violence. To anyone facing violence, to survivors, please know you are not alone. There are programs and services in place to support you and your family. Please do not hesitate to reach out when you are ready to do so.”

My question is for the Premier. This government has so many backroom deals with their insiders that it’s actually hard to keep track. Just a few years ago, this government was, once again, embroiled in a scandal where they attempted to pass a law to accredit a private, evangelic university; a school known for being Islamophobic, homophobic, transphobic; a school run by a very close friend of the Premier, Charles McVety. At the time, the government claimed the process was all up to code. Now, they’re subject to a lawsuit.

Speaker, does the Premier believe the process of accreditation for this school was free from interference?

It’s always a privilege to rise in this House, and today it’s in celebration of a beloved organization in Windsor–Tecumseh called the Hospice of Windsor Essex County. Hospice delivers compassionate palliative care for our community’s residents. Led by executive director Nancy Brockenshire and her incredible team, Hospice is a pillar of support for our families during their time of grief.

John Fairley is a well-known name in our community, and he has led the Hospice Face to Face fundraising campaign in conjunction with YourTV Windsor for the last 21 years. And 2023, just concluded, was its best year ever, bringing in $125,791. That brings the campaign total to more than $1.5 million in the last 21 years. These funds mean a lot, supporting transportation for patients to their medical appointments and patient wellness programs. What the Face to Face campaign challenges us all to do is to find 10 friends to donate $10. Speaker, it didn’t take long for me to find those 10 friends right here in the Ontario Legislature, who joined me in contributing this year. To them I say thank you so, so much.

With $470,000 in new funding for Hospice over the next two years for nursing, personal support and patient services, and over $450,000 to support three new beds, two in Windsor and one at the Erie Shores site in Leamington, I’m proud of our government’s ongoing commitment to Hospice.

To John Fairley and to Nancy Brokenshire and the entire team at Hospice of Windsor Essex, congratulations on completing a successful campaign this year.

This morning I attended a breakfast with the Catholic Health Association of Ontario, and I had the pleasure of meeting Mieke Ewen of St. Joseph’s Villa in Dundas. Welcome to the House.

Today we are celebrating 100 years of the anniversary of modern Türkiye. I would like to welcome the Turkish delegation who is here today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Türkiye: the consul general of Türkiye, Can Yoldaş, and Ipek Yoldaş; the deputy consul general, Mebsure Taskin; the current and former presidents of the Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations, Sima Acan and Inanc Yildirim; and also my dear friend Dr. Arshi Kizilbash.

I also want to welcome my constituent office staff, Salma Elmanawy and Andrew Tadros, for their first visit to Queen’s Park.

A few quick introductions here: Ron Noble, the CEO of the Catholic Health Association of Ontario, as well as members of the Catholic Health Association are here.

Also here today from my riding of Ottawa South are representatives from Perley Health. There’s Margaret Tansey, the board chair; Akos Hoffer, the CEO; and Katrin Spencer, the director of senior living and community program. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I am pleased to introduce Bayla Saltzman and Jonathan Alter to the House of the Legislature today. Both are students associated with CJPAC and both share an interest in politics. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’d like to welcome Carolyn Fast, a housing advocate from Welland, and Bonnie Fokkens, a Welland city councillor, who are here to advocate for vulnerable persons in supportive living accommodations. Welcome.

I’d also like to welcome the Catholic Health Association of Ontario and specifically Doris Shirriff, a board member at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, as well as Demetrios Kalantzis, who’s a VP at Waypoint. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

It gives me great joy to introduce Ibrahim Meru. He is a constituent from Don Valley East, a champion of our community and an all-around exceptional human being. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I, too, would like to welcome members of the Catholic Health Association of Ontario, with a special shout-out to John Woods, interim president of St. Joe’s health care in Guelph. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’d like to give a warm welcome to today’s page captain: all the way from Kitchener–Conestoga, Michael Milloy.

I’d like to give a proud welcome to Megan Kee, one of the No Demovictions leaders in our community of Toronto–St. Paul’s, and Wanda Barret, also from our local community. Thank you for being here. Thank you for your hard work. Rock on. No demovictions.

I’d like to welcome some members from CJPAC who are with us today: Rabbi Jenn, Bayla and Jonathan. Thank you very much for coming.

Good morning, Speaker. I’d love to welcome and introduce guests in our House today. They are members from No Demovictions Toronto. I’d like to welcome Lindsay Blackwell plus her two children, Enika, who’s just under two years old, and of course Ellex, who is 10 months, still a baby. I’d like to welcome Nathalie Dooh-Tousignant; Corrine Van Kester; Lee Turner; Annette Trevorrow-Gasher; Theresa, or Terry, Mitchell, and Geoffrey Hayworth. Thank you very much, Speaker, for the opportunity.