Mental health matters, and it is my honour to recognize a member of our community in Durham region who is making an immeasurable difference in the lives and futures of young people across this country.

Mike Shoreman was living an active life as an athlete, coach and paddleboard instructor, with plans and a bright and unfolding future. He was struck suddenly in 2018, however, with a rare neurological condition called Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which left him with permanent nerve damage on his right side. Struggling, and with the heavy prognosis of never being able to paddleboard again, he had to relearn the basics of walking and functioning. Imagine the news, the shock and the depth of emotional challenge that comes with a life change like that.

Mike’s mental health was dealt a very heavy blow, and yet, because of the support he had and the ultimate personal power that wasn’t ready to give up, Mike began his climb back onto his paddleboard and, slowly, his climb out of despair and into hope. He worked hard to get back on the paddleboard and regain his footing. He went from relearning to remarkable.

Mike undertook the challenge of paddling across all five Great Lakes, and with his remarkable, inspiring support team, they did it: Mike Shoreman became the first person with a disability to cross all five Great Lakes.

On World Mental Health Day at Ontario Shores, I joined Mike and community members for the screening of his feature-length film When Hope Breaks Through. Sharing the journey was about sharing the pain and the hope with youth who might also be struggling with mental health and also struggling to stay afloat.

Mike has been raising money and working tirelessly to bring awareness to the need for systems of support for youth mental health. Mike Shoreman is awesome, and I hope that everyone will watch and share When Hope Breaks Through. Thank you, Mike.

I’d like to say a few words of congratulations to an important organization in Ottawa South, Perley Health, formerly known as Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre.

Perley Health is a unique long-term-care and independent-living home that is home to more than 600 seniors and veterans. They’re a leading advocate for improving the well-being and quality of care for the senior population through education, clinical innovation and research. With over 800 employees and 400 volunteers, they work hard every day to improve the lives of the seniors they serve. Through the Centre of Excellence in Frailty-Informed Care, they provide a space for future caregivers to learn through hands-on experiences.

Today, I’d like to highlight their wonderful achievement of completing their $10-million campaign, Answering the Call. It is their largest fundraising campaign ever, and it aims to foster innovation and excellence in Ottawa and across Canada. On November 20, they will be honouring those who have answered the call to highlight their important contributions to improving the everyday lives of the seniors and veterans at Perley Health and, indeed, in Ontario and across Canada.

To everyone at Perley Health: Thank you for caring for the people we care for most.

I am seeking unanimous consent to wear this blue ribbon in support of Special Constable Hannah Demik, a 34-year-old woman who died suddenly one year ago today. Hannah was the youngest-ever member of Hamilton Police Service to be promoted to the position of supervisor.

I just want to remind everybody that Hospice Palliative Care Ontario will be in rooms 228 and 230. They are coming into the chamber. As well, the traditional-Chinese-medicine group will be in room 228 at 5 o’clock; the hospice is at noon. Please come and say hello.

Up in the Speaker’s gallery, we have two of my constituency staff, Sally Carson and Andrea Dodsworth. In the members’ gallery, we have Halle Kunjah, C.J. Carson, Jonah Mamers and Leif Wilson. And today, we have 42 Trent University political science students here. I won’t name them all, but Dr. Devin Penner is the professor.

I just want to welcome to the House Michael Mesure, who’s the executive director of FLAP Canada; Brendan Samuels, who’s the research coordinator of FLAP Canada; and earlier today, we had Dr. Robert Phillips, who’s also known as Elder Bob. They were speaking about bird-safe windows. They’re going to be having a rally in front of Queen’s Park at 12:30. All members are welcome to come out and join us.

I am honoured to welcome two of my constituents who are in the Members’ Gallery, Derrick Rutherford and Julio Rodriguez from Valentini Hair Design. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I want to join the associate minister in welcoming the Ontario Public Transit Association to Queen’s Park—in particular, Matthew Wolstenholme, who’s here from OC Transpo. Thank you, Matthew, for your service.

Today, I would like to welcome all the representatives from the Ontario Public Transit Association to Queen’s Park.

I just wanted to recognize my friend Adina Isenberg who is here. She’s a breast cancer advocate.

I’d like to welcome a number of guests from the Association of Power Producers of Ontario: the wily veteran David Butters, Grant Berry, David Timm, Stephen Somerville, Lynn Wizniak, Pat Dalzell, Charles Conrad, Safouh Soufi and Nick Best. They have a reception this evening in room 230 between 5 and 7. I encourage all members to attend. Welcome, everyone.

I’d like to welcome Caroline Lidstone-Jones, who is the CEO, and Allie Kinnaird, the director of policy from the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council. Meegwetch for coming.

I’d like to introduce a good friend of mine Salman Sima to the Ontario Legislature today.

I also would like to make a quick point of order.

Halfway through our peaceful rally, which we had a permit for, we were told by police that we had to wrap it up because there was a counter-protest of 4,000 people coming our way and they couldn’t guarantee our safety. So I just wanted to stress how—

The member for Carleton is asking to do a point of order.

I recognize the member for Carleton.

Speaker, we have been doing that, really, since the beginning. Since 2018, we’ve brought in a number of measures to improve housing supply across the province of Ontario. At the same time, we set out almost immediately to eliminate red tape—useless red tape—across the province of Ontario. We brought in additional measures to help support our small, medium and large job creators, and the impact of that has been significant, Speaker.

Look, we’ve seen the creation of 700,000 jobs because of the policies that we have brought in place. That is 700,000 people who have the dignity of a job today that didn’t when we took office. We’re seeing $28 billion worth of investments in our economy. We have over 300,000 jobs that need to be filled. Our housing starts are at their highest level in over 30 years. Our purpose-built rental starts are at their highest level in over 30 years. We’re on the right track, Mr. Speaker, and we’re going to continue that progress for the people of the province of Ontario.

Monsieur le Président, ça me fait grand plaisir d’accueillir la famille de notre capitaine des pages, Danté, de la merveilleuse circonscription de Davenport : sa mère, Nyllia Cocito Zanabria; son père, Francis Cronier-Thériault; et sa grand-mère Claire Cronier. Bienvenue dans votre Assemblée législative.

Speaker, the people of this province are concerned about being able to pay their bills or find a family doctor. To the Premier: When will this government clean up this mess of their own creation so they can start to help people who are struggling right now?

To the Premier: Is he concerned about what the greenbelt documents will reveal to the RCMP special prosecutor?

Final supplementary?

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Speaker, through you to the Premier: Last year, I asked the former Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing about a minister’s zoning order issued in Oro-Medonte for a medical innovation park. The innovation park was never built. Instead, the owners attempted to sell the land, unchanged, for about 10 times what they paid for it before getting the MZO. The former minister said he would revoke the order, but he never did.

Why is the Premier allowing this speculator to keep the profits from an MZO for a medical innovation park that was never built?

This Premier has said they have: “The most ethical, most transparent and most accountable caucus” he’s ever seen. Well, that was before a damning Auditor General’s report that highlighted a pattern of preferential treatment and deleted emails, that was before a minister broke ethics laws twice—and let’s not forget the fact that this government is currently under an RCMP criminal investigation for its dirty deals.

Speaker, my question is for the Premier: Would the Premier like to take the opportunity to correct the record?

Interjections.

Speaker, this question is for the Premier. The NDP has found that the Premier has issued as many fast-track minister’s zoning orders benefiting just the guests alone at the Ford family wedding reception as the previous government issued during its entire 15 years in power—18 MZOs.

Speaker, my question is for the Premier: Why is the Premier’s government handing out MZOs to his friends like party favours?

To the Premier: Did Mr. Rehmatullah get these MZOs because he is the Premier’s friend?

To the Premier: Did the government give preferential treatment to the Cortellucci family, Mr. Nigro or any of the other guests at the reception?