It is unfortunate that I have to bring this petition forward, and I want to thank—

I would like to thank the thousands of people who have signed this petition created by OPSEU that discusses the public health labs that are scheduled to close. We have six public health labs across the province, in Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, Hamilton, Peterborough, Kingston, and Orillia. These labs collect specific water tests and other important natures for sensitive medical tests that are needed in our community each day—like I said, the water tests, and testing for infectious diseases in our local hospitals and long-term-care facilities. People are calling to stop the closures in the six municipalities that I spoke of and to invest in true public health measures to ensure that Ontarians are kept safe.

I wholeheartedly support this petition. I will affix my name to it and give it to page Archibald to bring to the Clerk.

We know that people who are living on social services, Ontario Works, ODSP in this province are living in legislated poverty. A person on Ontario Works makes $733 a month; a person on ODSP is $1,338 a month—well below the poverty line.

We know that during COVID, the CERB program was $2,000 per month, which was the reasonable rate for a person to live off of. And yet, the Ontario Works rates have had zero increase, and a small increase to ODSP—again, still below the poverty line.

So folks here are asking that the Legislative Assembly double social assistance rates for Ontario Works and ODSP.

I fully support this petition. I will affix my name to it and—