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 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.

The member is quite correct; the Premier and the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Infrastructure did undertake a quite historic agreement with the city of Ottawa. We’re working very closely with the city of Ottawa to make sure that our priorities align. Obviously, there are priorities with respect to infrastructure in that area and public safety. That is something that the Premier made a focus on.

I’m meeting with the mayor next week, and we will further discuss some of the priorities for the city of Ottawa.

Ultimately, we want to make sure that the city of Ottawa continues to grow and prosper, and that it continues to have the best infrastructure that it possibly can.

We have been told that after years of neglect by the previous Liberal government, the investments in hospitals that we’re making, the investments in roads that we’re making and the investments that we’re going to be making with respect to public safety will all help ensure that Ottawa is prosperous going forward. We need the federal government to help out, as well, but—fingers crossed—they’re not always there for us when we need them.

I want to say clearly that, under the leadership of Premier Ford, public safety matters all over Ontario, including in Ottawa.

I want to give a special mention to a great chief in the Ottawa Police Service, Chief Eric Stubbs. I speak with Chief Stubbs on a regular basis, and he’s excited with the government’s announcement of helping to work with the city of Ottawa and put in extra resources that will help him combat the crime in the ByWard Market district, where acts of criminality are deterring tourism.

That’s why, throughout Ontario and in Ottawa, our government will work with police services, with municipalities, to make public safety not only a focus but a priority.