Mr. Speaker, first of all, I’d like to thank you and your team for hosting the Remarkable Assembly women’s breakfast this morning. I’m happy that I had the opportunity to meet so many remarkable women who have joined us here in the Legislature. Welcome to the Ontario Legislature, formally.

Secondly, I’d also like to welcome the Ontario social service workers’ representatives: Dr. Deepy Sur, Kaelen Boyd and Justin Dela Pena. Happy social worker service week.

It’s my pleasure to welcome this morning, from the riding of Ottawa West–Nepean, Maria Choque, who is here to participate in the Remarkable Assembly women’s forum. I hope Maria and all the remarkable women here today have a wonderful day at the Legislature.

I’d like to welcome, from Haldimand–Norfolk, Leah Bauer and Sarah Dolina, here to participate in the Remarkable Assembly women’s forum. Have a great day. I’ll see you at noon.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome, from Hamilton West–Ancaster—Dundas, Starus Chan, who is participating in the Remarkable Assembly women’s forum. Welcome to your House and thank you so much for all the work you do.

Good morning, everyone. I just want to welcome all the women participating in the remarkable women’s assembly today. It’s great to have women in the House, in this chamber. This is your House. You belong here, as do all women.

Good morning, everyone. I’d like to extend a very special welcome to all the participants of the Remarkable Assembly women’s forum, including Reena Shaw Muthallay from Toronto Centre. It is wonderful to see you here today.

I have a few more introductions. I’d also like to welcome Floyd Ruskin, who is doing remarkable work in saving the Ontario Science Centre. We would also like to extend a special welcome to David Anderson, of the Moss Park Coalition as well as from the Toronto Community Benefits Network, who has been here this morning to support the community of Mount Dennis.

I also would like to welcome the remarkable women who took part in the Remarkable Assembly women’s forum today at Queen’s Park. Thank you for your work and for your leadership. May you one day fill these seats, because goodness knows we need more women.

I’d also like to thank Charlie the Chaplin. I was at the Ontario Prayer Breakfast this morning. It was an incredible opportunity to really be in a non-partisan space and to celebrate one another and to give great gratitude to one another. Thank you, Charlie the Chaplin, for your support.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontario is expecting to continue to see rapid population growth and investments, the province needs additional reliable, affordable, and clean energy that businesses can rely on. To meet growing electricity demand this decade, Ontario is expanding generation capacity, conducting Canada’s largest clean energy storage procurement, and expanding energy efficiency programs; and

“Whereas new electricity transmission infrastructure is needed to meet growing electricity demand in the province. Last year, Ontario acted to ensure the efficient and timely development of five new electricity transmission infrastructure projects in southwestern Ontario, with additional new projects proposed in the coming years including three new transmission lines in northeastern Ontario to power forecast electricity growth, including the conversion from coal to electric arc furnaces at Algoma Steel as well as from growth in the mining sector; and one new transmission line to power growth in the Ottawa region and across eastern Ontario; and

“Whereas Ontario has launched the largest clean energy storage procurement in Canada’s history. The procurement, which is contracting 2,500 megawatts of clean energy storage, will increase the efficiency of Ontario’s clean electricity grid; and

“Whereas energy storage will support the operation of Ontario’s clean electricity grid by drawing and storing electricity off-peak when power demand is low and generation typically comes from non-emitting sources as well as returning the power to the system at times of higher electricity demand; and

“Whereas with the increasing demand for energy, the province is leveraging the Ontario nuclear sector’s experience and expertise in this safe, reliable, and clean energy source to develop the” new generation and the “next generation of nuclear power; and

“Whereas expanding Ontario’s SMR program enhances Ontario’s position as a global leader in new nuclear technologies, creating new export opportunities that will drive economic growth;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“To urge all members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario continue to create reliable, affordable clean energy while meeting the demands of a growing population.”

I fully support this petition and I will send it through Sarah.