Again to the minister: During the hearings on this bill at committee, we heard about the veterinary legislative oversight acts that are in place in other jurisdictions—BC, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Florida—that all include non-profit veterinary services in their veterinary legislation.

My question to the minister is: Can she assure all of those veterinarians who want to be able to provide non-profit delivery of veterinary services that the regulations under this act will be expanded to enable that in this province?

I was pleased to join the Minister of Health last month for a very important virtual announcement which will positively affect many families in Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston. A new regional pediatric surgical program was launched to address the wait-list for surgeries for children and youth in eastern Ontario—part of this government’s investment of an additional $330 million each year in pediatric health services in our hospitals and community-based health care facilities.

Led by the Kids Come First Health Team, this initiative brings the CHEO day surgery program to two sites: the Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital in my riding of Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston, and the Brockville General Hospital in my neighbour MPP’s riding of Leeds–Grenville–Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.

Funding will go toward equipment and training at the Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital, including pediatric advanced life-support skills as well as general and orthopaedic surgery.

My thanks for the hard work and dedication of Mary Wilson Trider, who just recently retired from her position as CEO of the Mississippi River Health Alliance, which includes the Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital; Nicholas Vlacholias from Brockville General Hospital; and Alex Munter, CEO of CHEO.

Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the government is providing significant financial support to hospitals and communities to improve how they deliver pediatric care, ensuring families in Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston and across the province can access care easier, faster and closer to home.

In 2018, I was riding my bicycle along Bloor Street and a vehicle pulled past me, stopped, and a passenger got out the back door. There just was not time for me to react. I ran into the door. The bicycle was damaged. I was injured. I ended up with a horseshoe-shaped bruise on my thigh. That was one of 132 dooring incidents in the city that year.

I actually got off quite lucky. I’ve since spoken with another gentleman who was also doored. He was pushed under a truck when he got doored, and he’s a quadriplegic. Sometimes dooring incidents even lead to death.

So I’ve been thinking about this, and I’m thinking there’s a technical solution to reduce and potentially eliminate doorings.

Today in the Legislature, we’ve got engineering students from the University of Toronto who have developed a device that goes on side-view mirrors. If a bicycle or another vulnerable pedestrian or a vehicle is coming up the side of a vehicle, it will send out an alarm. It will send out a light, and it will prevent the person from opening the door, so that we can reduce the number of doorings.

Today, I will be introducing a motion in the Legislature to mandate these devices on all ride-share vehicles in the province of Ontario, to be paid for by the ride-share companies three years out. I’m hoping that the government will pass this motion and help us to reduce and potentially eliminate doorings in the province of Ontario.

I’m honoured to share a touching moment from this past Mother’s Day. With four children and seven grandchildren of my own, I deeply understand the joys and challenges of being a mother.

As we celebrated Mother’s Day this past Sunday, I rise today on behalf of the people of Richmond Hill to pay tribute to the remarkable women who enrich our lives in countless ways: our mothers.

I recently attended a heartwarming celebration organized by the Catholic Community Services of York Region. It was a poignant event that celebrated the incredible mothers in our community, emphasizing their resilience and boundless love. Sitting among fellow mothers and their families, I was moved by their stories of sacrifice and unwavering support. It was a reminder of the profound impact mothers have on our families and communities.

Let us reaffirm our commitment to advocate for the well-being of mothers in Ontario. You are appreciated, cherished and celebrated, not just only on Mother’s Day, but every day.

It’s Building Safety Month. Ontario’s building officials play a critical role in tackling the province’s housing supply shortage, while keeping us safe in accordance with the building code.

Since 1976, the Ontario building code has set the minimum standard for new and existing buildings in the province of Ontario. The code impacts our daily lives, from establishing safety standards in our homes to ensuring public spaces are accessible for all, and to establishing innovative approaches as we work to meet our ambitious goal of building 1.5 million homes by 2031.

We cannot unlock Ontario’s housing potential without keeping up with the latest innovations and standards.

That’s why I am proud of our government’s release of the 2024 Ontario building code, the largest building code update since 2012.

The new addition provides opportunities to accelerate the construction of new housing projects, such as the expansion and the use of encapsulated mass-timber construction, while ensuring the buildings in Ontario continue to be among the safest and the most accessible in North America.

I’m proud to be a part of a government that continues to work with municipalities and builders to deliver on our mandates to ensure that all Ontarians have access to safe and secure housing.

It’s a pleasure for me to rise to talk about OSAID, Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to address some of OSAID’s amazing student delegates at the 2024 launch of SAID Day.

OSAID was established in 1987 and is the only student-led anti-impaired driving initiative in Ontario.

Impaired driving used to just refer to drinking and driving; now it includes anything that impairs one’s ability to operate a vehicle safely. Impairment can be caused by alcohol; drugs, both legal and illegal; fatigue; texting while driving; and even things like loud music or loud friends.

Last year, OSAID won the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario’s initiative of the year.

These young people are to be commended for their outstanding leadership and service in their schools and their communities. We know effective educational and awareness programs like OSAID have the power to shift attitudes, change behaviour and lead to safer driving practices.

Thank you to OSAID and to the team of dedicated students, volunteers and directors for continuing to remind us that the decisions made behind the wheel affect not just your own life, but the lives of countless others.

It’s an honour to rise today to say thank you to the Guelph Climate Action Network and the Guelph-Wellington Coalition for Social Justice for organizing a community climate forum on May 4. I was so impressed that over 160 community members came out on a beautiful Saturday afternoon to problem-solve and discuss real actions we can take to address the climate emergency. I left the meeting inspired and energized by the people power in that room.

People talked about how vital local food, public transit, cycling and walking infrastructure, more homes in existing neighborhoods, and waste reduction are to reducing climate pollution. They talked about the need to disconnect their homes from dirty fossil gas and install heat pumps as a way to save money heating and cooling their homes. They made it clear to me that they want Ontario to invest in low-cost wind and solar, not expensive, dirty gas plants, and they don’t want any more four-lane highways in the greenbelt. Most of all, they told me they want a livable, low-carbon future for their children and grandchildren. They want a government that’s going to invest in preparing our communities for the climate emergency that we’re experiencing—the floods, the droughts, the fires.

I want my constituents to know that I hear you, and I will work hard at Queen’s Park to bring forward the solutions you want and that we all need.

I’d like to introduce Tolu Sami and Grace Tongue from the uOttawa Enactus club, who led their team to win the national Enactus Canadian Tire Environmental Sustainability Challenge award. Welcome and congratulations.

I’m very pleased to be able to introduce my constituent and friend, Emilie Coyle, who is the executive director of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies. I’m so happy to see you this morning, Emilie.

Mr. Speaker, we have, from the great town of Kingsville, Mayor Dennis Rogers and CAO John Norton.

Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’d like us all to welcome Emilie Coyle, the executive director of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies; Jennifer Chambers, the executive director of the Empowerment Council; Yusuf Faqiri, the brother of Soleiman Faqiri; Maryam Faqiri, the mother of Soleiman Faqiri—they’ve all been here to support the justice for Soleiman act.

I’m pleased to introduce, here in the gallery today, guests from the St. Thomas Elgin Food Bank: Karen McDade and Sarah Coleman. Welcome to Queen’s Park. We’re delighted to have you as guests today.

Interjections.

I heard a no.

Interjections.

Members will please rise.

The House observed a moment’s silence.

It is now time for oral questions.

Speaker, if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for the House to observe a moment of silence in remembrance of Nobel laureate, master of the contemporary short story and Ontarian, Alice Munro, who was the 13th woman to receive the Nobel Prize in literature, winner of the Governor General’s Literary Award, winner of the Trillium Book Award, winner of the Man Booker International Prize for lifetime achievement, and recipient of many other honours and awards, who sadly passed away on Monday, May 13, 2024, in Port Hope, Ontario.

I’d like to welcome Kim Wilhelm, CEO of the Food Bank of Waterloo Region; Michelle Rickard, marketing and communications manager for the Food Bank of Waterloo Region; and Ashley Quan, senior manager, research and government relations for Feed Ontario.

Thank you for being here. Welcome to your House.

It is PSW Week here in Ontario, and I want to introduce some really cool people from the Ontario Personal Support Workers Association in the House today, including CEO Miranda Ferrier, Ian DaSilva, Nicole Crawford, Becca Stolp Romanowicz, Tonya Haevens and Kaitlyn Cannon.

Thank you for all that you do. You are the backbone of long-term care in Ontario. Welcome to the Legislature.

It’s my pleasure to welcome my constituents Margaret and Richard Hensen from Oakville North–Burlington. They’re the parents of Mark Hensen, who works with our Premier’s office.

I’d like to welcome a good friend and my political assistant from Ottawa who is joining us here in Toronto today: Dave Williams.

I’m very pleased to introduce members from the Ontario Hospital Association. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’m delighted to welcome once again my constituents from Markham–Unionville, Jennifer Ng and Ernest Ng. They are the proud parents of page Victoria Ng. Joining them today is Victoria’s youngest brother, Matthew.

Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I had the great pleasure to visit with Rachael Wilson, CEO of the Ottawa Food Bank, as well as Alex Noreau, who works in comms for the Ottawa Food Bank.

Thank you for coming to your House and for all the good you do.