It was a pleasure to join everyone at the Kanata Santa Claus Parade this past Saturday. I can’t wait for all our other communities to join in the fun. Constance Bay on Saturday the 2nd, and the villages of Carp and Fitzroy Harbour on Saturday the 9th. I want to thank all of the volunteers that make these parades happen.

This time of year is a special opportunity for us to come together to celebrate the spirit of generosity and to appreciate the blessings we have, as a community. Whatever tradition you celebrate, may this season bring you love, joy, reflection and time with your loved ones.

In Kanata–Carleton, our loving communities are our strength. As we gather with friends and families, let us also remember those who may be facing challenges and extend a hand of kindness and support. I would encourage everyone to give to their local food bank. May the festive lights brighten your homes, and the laughter of loved ones warm your heart.

As your representative in the Ontario provincial Parliament, I am grateful for the privilege to serve the people of Kanata–Carleton. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a very happy holiday season. May love, joy, and peace be the gifts we give each other. Lord knows the world could use more of that.

I must admit, it’s a little surprising hearing that question from that member from Kanata-Carleton, who, in this House in the last few weeks, has said the carbon tax is good for consumers.

The carbon tax puts the cost of everything up—everything: getting to the Legislature, driving your kids to soccer, food, businesses, public transportation.

This is a government that has been committed to working on affordability since we took office in 2018. I don’t even know where to start with all the programs we’ve put in place and the cost reductions we’ve done. Let me remind the member of just a few of those things that we’ve done—and I’ll certainly talk to more of them in the supplementary.

We put through the LIFT tax credit, which was the largest low-income tax credit in the history of Canada, helping those individuals in the lowest-income tax brackets reduce their taxes.

I’ll have more to say in the supplementary.

The member opposite mentioned ODSP. Just last year, we brought through legislation which moved it up by 5%, and then indexed it to inflation, to 6.5%. That’s the largest increase in ODSP’s history. Did the member opposite and the team over there support us on that legislation? No, they did not.

But that’s not all. We’ve done a lot for affordability. We increased the minimum wage this year—the largest-ever increase in recent history—to $16.55 per hour. We’ve also brought about and extended the tuition tax credit for university students. We put through a 10% cut in tuition a few years ago, and we’ve extended that freeze for four years, putting tuition among the lowest and the most affordable, in the province of Ontario.

I hope the members opposite will join us, get some sense and support the fall economic statement.