There are more than 1.5 million Canadians who trace their origins to Italy, with most living here in Ontario. In fact, their contributions here and across the world stage are so numerous, we have dedicated June as Italian Heritage Month in Ontario.

Speaker, the Italian Canadian community is known and respected for their values and traditions of hard work, ingenuity and dedication to family life in their community. And, of course, Italians have a deep and proud history to draw upon, filling the shelves of libraries around the world. Their ancestors had an empire that spanned Europe and beyond, and their legacy has had a profound impact on all of humanity. Countless great Italian figures have shaped Western philosophy, law, culture, faith, science and so much more. To this very day, Italians continue to be a name on the world stage in science, engineering, sports, cuisine, fashion and much more.

Today in Ontario, there are almost one million Ontarians of Italian descent—Italian immigrants and their children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren who literally built so much of the province with their own hands, minds and hearts. We all owe a debt of gratitude to Italian Ontarians, and it is a real honour to recognize their great culture and identity today with all of you.

Happy Italian Heritage Month.

Last week, I had the privilege of joining several of my colleagues in representing our Ontario provincial government at the Ontario-Quebec Parliamentary Association 28th general assembly in Quebec. The theme of this year’s meeting was artificial intelligence.

Les objectifs de l’association sont de favoriser le développement de la coopération interparlementaire; de promouvoir la compréhension entre les deux Assemblées, en particulier dans les domaines de la législation, de la culture, de l’économie, de la science et de la technologie; et de renforcer notre amitié, la bonne volonté et la compréhension entre les peuples de l’Ontario et du Québec.

The topic of AI was timely, given the cross-partisan agreement moving my private member’s motion on the use of AI in government forward. Additionally, this week we had the second reading of Bill 194, Strengthening Cyber Security and Building Trust in the Public Sector Act, 2024. Artificial intelligence is already being used in many sectors. It was an interesting visit to the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec to see how AI has been incorporated into the art-piece-viewing experience. It was a wonderful experience in Quebec; look forward to next year.

Recently, I was proud to announce that five organizations in Mississauga–Lakeshore have received $310,000 in funding through the Experience Ontario program. That includes $55,000 for monstrARTity for the Bollywood Monster Mashup in July, the largest South Asian festival in Canada; and another $55,000 for the Canadian Community Arts Initiative for their 19th annual Mosaic Festival in August, the largest free South Asian art festival in North America. It includes $125,000 to XL Lifestyle for the Taco Fest in August, the best Mexican festival in the GTA; $55,000 for CreativeHub 1352, formerly known as the Small Arms Society, for the Mississauga Festival of Trees, an annual winter arts and cultural festival in the Small Arms Inspection Building in December; and lastly, $20,000 for Mississauga Italfest.

I also want to invite all members to join us at my own annual Italian Heritage Month event at the Small Arms Inspection Building on June 13 at 6 p.m.

Speaker, I want to thank the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport for these grants, and I want to thank these organizations for all the important work they’re doing to enrich the lives of the people of Mississauga and to build stronger communities and a better Ontario. On behalf of all the members, we appreciate everything you do. Thank you.

Last Thursday, I was delighted to host my sixth annual Eglinton–Lawrence Volunteer Service Awards, my favourite event. Each year, these awards give us all an opportunity to recognize community heroes and allows all the attendees, along with friends and families, to reflect on the profound impact of their dedicated service to others.

This year, 110 people from 20 organizations received an award in recognition of their exemplary volunteer service. These organizations include places of worship, hospitals, not-for-profits, Toronto Police Service and others. Each award recipient is recognized for their individual contribution, but also for their work with an organization, emphasizing the notion that, while volunteering starts at the individual level, we’ll accomplish more by working together.

The recipients’ contributions are truly inspiring. For example, those serving the Italian community in my area through Columbus Centre, Villa Charities, received awards this year. One recipient from Baycrest Seniors Support Program, Susanne Treichel, has volunteered as a friendly caller and listened to the calls of the seniors with empathy and compassion for as long as they needed for over 25 years. Also, a volunteer, Clayton Johnson with the Asbury and West United Church, was recognized for all of his work with property maintenance over several years.

These are an inspiring award. It’s always better to recognize people for giving than for what they get, and I really want to congratulate all the Eglinton–Lawrence 2024 recipients for this year.

Today, I want to recognize eight food bank superheroes from South Crosby Public School in my riding of Leeds–Grenville–Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. These students in Power Up 2, led by their teacher, Mrs. Leanne Huffman, have spent the last year growing and donating produce to two local food banks.

In late October 2023, these eight students in grades 3 and 5 started growing lettuce, and they decided they wanted to donate it to the Elgin Food Bank. In the new year, the Power Up 2 students decided to host staff hot lunches prepared by the students themselves. Also, they sold ice cream sandwiches to their peers. All the proceeds went directly to the Elgin Food Bank.

The students have even been making monthly donations of fresh lettuce grown in their own ZipGrow to the Portland Food Bank, including with each donation an instruction manual on how to grow these plants so that food bank users can grow their own tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and lettuce over the summer months.

Since last January, these eight students have raised a total of $1,012 dollars that have been donated to both the Elgin and the Portland food banks.

I want to do a special thank you to Mrs. Huffman and her students: Sheamus Dance, Paisley Wood, Jacob George, Jacob Gordon, Joseph Riley, Jackie Rightmyer, Oliver Worrall and Johnathan Worrall.

Colleagues, please join me in congratulating these eight food bank superheroes.

I think everyone in here can agree that there should be zero tolerance of children being bullied in a classroom, on their school bus or anywhere in the province of Ontario. I’ve had the opportunity to stand both in opposition and here in government to make my mark as best I could to support children who may be vulnerable to such attacks, whether it was anti-Indigenous, anti-Black racism, for children with special needs, the LGBTQ+ population, Muslim students, Asian students and Indo-Canadian students.

I think that we can all agree that every student deserves a safe place to learn in the province of Ontario and to get to school. But since October 7, some children in this province have been impacted quite negatively, and that’s the Jewish students both in Ottawa, Toronto and elsewhere across the province. Jewish day schools have been shot up and children in our classrooms in different parts of the province have dealt with racism. These Jewish students are beneficiaries, of course, of increased Holocaust remembrance education, but we need to do more.

I want to talk a little bit about Tejaswinhi Srinivas, who had to take to the Ottawa Citizen this week to talk about her five-year-old child who was on the school bus and said this: “Someone on my bus told everyone Jewish” person “to raise their hand. But I knew not to do it, Daddy. They sounded mean.” Can you image that that’s happening in Ontario today?

Every member here has said on occasion, at least once a year, that “never again” is now. “Never again” is now. “Never again” is now. And now is the time for all of us to stand up for zero tolerance of bullying of Jewish students in the province of Ontario.

I rise today with a heavy heart to pay tribute to a remarkable woman, an amazing public servant and a long-time neighbour and friend, Councillor Jaye Robinson, who represented ward 15, Don Valley West, at Toronto city council for almost 14 years. Jaye exemplified spirited leadership and served with distinction in roles such as chair of the Toronto Transit Commission. Prior to being elected, she served as director of events for the city of Toronto, where her spirit for fun and community service shone through as she led efforts to create beloved traditions like Nuit Blanche and Summerlicious.

Jaye’s resilience and commitment to public service were truly inspirational, especially as she courageously battled breast cancer during recent years while continuing to serve our community with the utmost dedication. When she could not be physically present at events, she made sure her presence and support were there virtually or through her amazing staff. She was a great municipal partner to me since I was elected as MPP, and while she was non-partisan, she gave me good advice when I sought her counsel before deciding to run.

We remember Jaye for her profound dedication to public service, her ability to inspire those around her and her fierce and fun spirit. As we honour her legacy, we extend our deepest sympathies to her family: her beloved husband, Billy; her sons, Jake, Sam and Will; mother Shirley; siblings Elizabeth “Brandy,” Robin, Kelly and John; and daughter-in-law Brooke; her colleagues, friends, church family and all who will miss her.

Jaye’s legacy is a lifetime of public service, ongoing, enriching and fun events for the city of Toronto, and community dedication that will continue to inspire all who were privileged to know her.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome to the House members and representatives of the Canadian Franchise Association, led by their vice-chair, Mr. Todd Wylie. Welcome to the House.

Evicted?

It’s my pleasure to welcome to the House Matthew Anderson, assistant chief, Carleton Place Fire Department; Stephen Barkwell, fire chief, Oshawa Fire Services; Paul Boissonneault, fire chief, Oakville Fire Department; Terry Jones, fire chief, Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service; and Mike Matthews, deputy fire chief, Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service. It was a pleasure meeting you this morning. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

It was a pleasure to meet with Jesse Oshell, the deputy fire chief from the city of Greater Sudbury, as well as Harry Baranik, the fire chief for the municipality of Bayham. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with me.

I’d like to welcome my summer intern students here. We have Tarek Abo Atiaa, Magdalene Barack and Miral Reyad. Welcome to Queens’ Park.

I would like to welcome my three interns, Angelina Covino, Elizabeth Becke and Milena Basciano, to Queen’s Park today. Thank you for being here.

I do want to welcome the page captain Westley Tam here from Markham–Stouffville and his family: Alvin, Milan, Blythe and AJ Tam. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I have the honour to introduce a few guests this morning. I would like to welcome to the House Carol Dueck, executive of Mack Schools of Nursing Alumni Association. Also, I have the distinct honour to welcome a good friend, St. Catharines fire chief Dave Upper, and deputy fire chief Andrea DeJong from the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs. I’m looking forward to your meeting. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I’d like to introduce and welcome Steve Jones, acting platoon chief with the Burlington Fire Department. Steve is here as a guest speaker at the Mental Health Commission of Canada Father’s Day reception.

I too would like to welcome members of the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs: Paul Boissonneault, fire chief, Oakville; and Robert Garland, deputy fire chief, Markham.

This morning, with gratitude, I had a meeting with the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs, who are here today. It was fantastic to have Dave Cunliffe, who is the fire chief from the Hamilton Fire Department; Jared Cayley, fire chief, Gravenhurst Fire Department; Simon Worley, who is from the Tecumseh fire department; and Ed Melanson, who is also chief from Saugeen Shores. Thank you so much for your meeting this morning. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

I often say that steelworkers make great leaders. We have steelworker leaders here joining us: Sean Staddon from Sudbury, Roopchand Doon, Lorei De Los Reyes and Scott Weaver. I don’t see Jordan Rego, but if I know Jordan, he’s somewhere in the building. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Good morning, everyone. I would like to give an extra warm welcome to the Ontario fire chiefs, especially Ontario’s best deputy fire chief, my brother Stephen Emo, who’s here from Collingwood. Thank you for all you do.