In His Majesty’s name, Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor assents to these bills.

Au nom de Sa Majesté, Son Honneur la lieutenante-gouverneure sanctionne ces projets de loi.

I’ve told you before that whenever I walk into this special place, I’m absolutely in awe and very humbled by what it is that we get to do together in the interests of the people of this province. This has been a remarkable journey. It has been the position of a lifetime, and for that I’m grateful. In fact, the word I was thinking about as I walked in this morning was actually one of gratitude.

This is an amazing province. It’s a province with such a proud history. It’s a province that is so full of promise and possibility. The future is so very bright. And I can say that because I’ve been so well received in hundreds and thousands of places around this province. I’ve had conversations, as you suggest, Mr. Speaker, with people who have told me their ambitions, their aspirations for themselves and their families, and they’ve also shared their stories of pain and agony and grief that we’ve all gone through together in the last few years.

But I can also point confidently to the promise of this province because I see the work that all of you do every day. It is a career. It’s a calling that is a daily event in your lives, and the effort you make is noticed. I see at times your creativity, your courage, your compassion and your overall desire to shape this place, this province we live in—to shape it in a way that is going to be better for your constituents and their families.

For me, it has been the privilege of a lifetime. It has been such a great opportunity to represent Their Majesties; to try to provide tradition, continuity, stability under trying times—but, for me, to be able to be a small part in encouraging Ontario to be the very best that it can be, to be a society that is caring and resilient, to be a society that is committed more than ever to the safeguarding of democracy, reconciliation and also sustainability.

Mr. Premier and all members of this House, thank you so much for the respect that you’ve always shown me and the office which I hold. I know that you will continue that with my successor.

So one last time, Mr. Speaker, may I wish each and every one of you continued good health and so much happiness and fulfillment. Be kind to one another. Thank you. Merci. Meegwetch.

Applause.

Applause.

Her Honour was then pleased to retire.

Your Honour, when we gathered in May to mark the coronation of King Charles III, I remarked that you have the very same commitment to public service as the late Queen you served. It is tireless, it is genuine, and it is total. And the parallels don’t end there. Like the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, yours has been the longest tenure of service by a Lieutenant Governor in the history of Ontario.

Over the years, you have focused on building resilience and sustainability through inclusive prosperity, environmental stewardship and social cohesion, as well as safeguarding democracy. But the promotion of these values is not only the focus of your mandate as Lieutenant Governor; these are themes you have advanced throughout your life.

In the introduction to the Speaking of Democracy exhibit, you wrote that “an enduring and healthy democracy means getting involved,” and, Your Honour, your involvement has been a shining example for all of us. Since your installation in 2014, you have attended literally thousands of events in all 124 provincial ridings, making over 100 official visits to municipalities and over 25 visits to First Nations communities.

One such community event that you attended took place in Wellington–Halton Hills on a Sunday afternoon last September. As you may recall, you had been invited to Wellington Place by the Fergus Legion to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. But, sadly, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had passed away just a few days earlier. Notwithstanding your own feelings of loss, you kept your commitment, and your gracious presence and comforting manner turned the event into a celebration of Her late Majesty’s life.

Ma’am, your message was uplifting and inspiring, exactly what we needed to hear that day and, when you finished speaking, sadness had been turned to joy. You made the effort to visit every table and to chat with every person there. This was just one day in your life as vice regal, but you have done this everywhere you have gone for more than eight years.

You engage with Ontarians at community events, round tables, award ceremonies—and even online, since COVID changed the way we work, meet and share—continually encouraging people to listen to each other and to engage in meaningful dialogue. Our Parliament and our province are better because of Your Honour’s dedicated, selfless and passionate service.

Thank you, God bless you, and God save the King.

Applause.

The House recessed from 1210 to 1300.

Report deemed adopted.

Madame Collard moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr32, An Act to revive Allied Contractors (Kitchener) Limited.

First reading agreed to.