En cette Semaine nationale de l’action bénévole, nous nous rassemblons pour reconnaître et célébrer l’importance de chaque bénévole de partout à travers la province.

Pas plus tôt qu’hier, j’ai eu la chance de participer à un brunch pour les bénévoles organisé par la municipalité d’Alfred-Plantagenet et, aussi, la chance de féliciter ces nombreux bénévoles. C’est toujours impressionnant de rencontrer ces gens formidables qui contribuent tellement à nos communautés.

La fin de semaine dernière avait aussi lieu un souper reconnaissance bénévoles dans le petit village de St-Albert dans la municipalité de La Nation. C’est tellement enrichissant de pouvoir jaser avec plusieurs de ces bénévoles et d’en apprendre plus au sujet de ce qu’ils font et de leurs organisations.

Une chose que je peux vous dire, monsieur le Président, même si je représente des petits villages, des petites communautés, nos bénévoles ont les plus grands coeurs et ils et elles contribuent incroyablement à nos communautés.

En terminant, je réitère l’importance du bénévolat, qui est une excellente façon de se faire des amis, d’apprendre plein de choses, sans compter que ça nous fournit un sens d’accomplissement incroyable.

Félicitations à tous les bénévoles de la circonscription de Glengarry–Prescott–Russell pour votre excellent travail.

I, along with many of my colleagues, joined the Ontario Nurses’ Association information pickets that were held across Ontario. In Hamilton, it was a very lively turnout—lots of energy, lots of community support, folks honking.

These 3,000 nurses, personal support workers and other health care professionals who work in long-term-care homes will begin bargaining this week. Their demands are reasonable: They’re looking for safe staffing ratios so they can provide the quality of care our vulnerable residents need, and they want wages on par with their hospital counterparts.

ONA provincial president Erin Ariss said, “We are fighting for care, not profit, advocating for the vulnerable residents of Ontario’s corporate-owned long-term-care homes.... Our residents deserve to receive quality care, yet what we see is wealthy corporations making record profits on the backs of our residents and those who care for them. It’s not right, and it’s not safe”—I agree.

ONA members who I spoke with on Friday continue to face pushback from the profit-driven corporations that run many of these homes that they work for. What they said they see are companies prioritizing their bottom line over the well-being of residents.

I, along with my colleagues, stand in solidarity with these front-line workers. I urge the government to start listening to the voices of nurses. Their fight is our fight: to ensure quality, not-for-profit care for our seniors and all vulnerable residents in Ontario.

I want to introduce an accomplished developmental service worker, Desiree Da Costa, who is with us today. Desiree penned All About Me and Cerebral Palsy. She’s written a beautiful book that inspires kids in our schools. We are so grateful for you. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome students and teachers from Westdale Secondary School in my riding of Hamilton. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’d like to recognize a group of people here from the sand and gravel association: Ryan Wall, Walker Aggregates and Walker Construction; Carol Siemiginowski, Lafarge Canada Inc.; Sarah Nicoll-Lawler, Walker Aggregates and Walker Construction; Scott Boyle, Miller Paving Ltd.; Gerry McGuire, Izumi Aquaculture; and Robert Mantha, Walker Aggregates. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

It’s my pleasure to welcome, from the Ontario Stone, Sand and Gravel Association, John MacLellan, who is from Rankin Construction in the great riding of Waterloo. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I have a few constituents here today. I have Kevin Vallier, CEO of Farm Fresh Ontario, and Melinda McArthur, the vice-chair of Farm Fresh Ontario. I also have John MacLellan, who is a councillor from the township of Wainfleet and is here today with the Ontario Sand, Stone and Gravel Association.

I’d like to welcome Michael McSweeney, the executive director of the Ontario Stone, Sand and Gravel Association. They will be hosting meetings throughout the day and, of course, will be having their reception in the evening.

As you know, aggregate plays a big role in building infrastructure, so I welcome all of the members to the House today.

Good morning, Speaker. This question is for the Premier. After the previous Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing resigned in the midst of a scandal and, of course, this ongoing RCMP criminal investigation, there was a real opportunity for a new minister to actually take the housing crisis seriously. But last week’s bill was weak, it was unambitious, and it lacked the vision that we need to actually get housing built. Among other shortcomings, the bill doesn’t legalize fourplexes and as-of-right, which means they’re going to remain illegal in many, many parts of this province.

A single detached home is out of reach for about 80% of Ontarians, but a fourplex apartment could be an affordable option. So why is the Premier ruling this out?

I would like to introduce two of my guests here today: Dr. Jodi Cooley and Michael Whitehouse from SNOLAB up in Sudbury. Thanks for being here today.

Like others, I want to introduce members of Ontario Stone, Sand and Gravel Association this morning: Michael McSweeney, Rob Pierce from R.W. Tomlinson, Neal DeRuyter from MHBC planning, Pat Madden from Austin Powder Company, Mohammed Mousa from Dufferin Aggregates and Julie Harrington from OSSGA. Thank you, and welcome to Queen’s Park.

If there are no objections, I’d like to continue with the introduction of visitors.

That concludes our introduction of visitors for this morning.

From my riding of Cambridge, I’d like to also introduce some people from the Ontario Stone, Sand and Gravel Association—and to not screw up their last names, I’m not going to say them: Sharon, David, John, Mal, Frank and Jim. Welcome to your House.

I want to note the contributions of today’s page captain, Shivanshee Patel, who is from my riding and a student Doon Public School. Thank you so much for everything you’re doing.

Speaker, it’s the first time I’ve been first to introduce my visitors.

I have a special visitor here this morning, Speaker. I’ve actually got His Worship Captain Sam Billich’s accomplishments right here. If I read it all out, I’d have five House duties a week, because it would take too long. So I just want to say he’s a decorated veteran, having served for 28 years in both the British and Canadian armies, established three nursing scholarships in his mother’s name. And, of course, he travels with great company: Order of Ontario recipient Rosemary Sadlier, who is here with him. The captain is also the recipient of the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation for his involvement in the creation of the veterans’ memorial which sits here on the grounds of the Legislature.

We are humbled to have you. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

My guest isn’t here today, but yesterday I had the privilege of going to a birthday party in Fort Erie at Garrison Place with the staff. We were there to honour Burd Sisler, who is a Canadian war veteran who belongs to Legion Branch 71. His family, his friends and the staff were celebrating his 109th birthday yesterday. Talking to him yesterday, he said he’s looking forward to celebrating his 110th next April 14.

I just wanted to raise that in the House today for Burd.

It’s not often that I get to do this, but I would like to welcome page Ryder Harris’s grandfather, my father and the 22nd Premier of Ontario, Premier Mike Harris, to the Legislature today.

I’ve got some sad news to share with the House today. I ask the House to join me in honouring the life of Whitney McWilliam—a dedicated public servant and, most importantly, beloved daughter, sister, friend and new mother to son Fynn—who tragically lost her life to cancer last week.

Whitney was the long-time executive assistant to Jeff Yurek, the former member for Elgin–Middlesex–London. She later served in the Ministries of Natural Resources and Forestry; Transportation; and Environment, Conservation and Parks before becoming a program adviser at the Ontario Provincial Police headquarters.

She was a wonderful person. Her love for her family, for her community, for our province was evident in everything she did, and her memory will live on in the many lives that she’s touched with her incredible kindness and her grace.

On behalf of the House, my sincere condolences to Whitney’s family and friends at this devastating time. Rest in peace.

To reply, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Members will take their seats. Order. Order.

Restart the clock. The minister still has some time.

Interjection.

Start the clock. Final supplementary.