Hansard - Wednesday, September 14, 2022

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I beg to inform the House that Peter Tabuns, member for the electoral district of Toronto–Danforth, is hereby recognized as the leader of His Majesty’s loyal opposition.

Death of police constables

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I understand the Solicitor General has a point of order.

Hon. Michael S. Kerzner: Mr. Speaker, if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for the House to observe a moment of silence for the victims of Monday’s violence in Mississauga and Milton, which included the death of Toronto police Constable Andrew Hong, and for York Regional Police Constable Travis Gillespie, killed earlier this morning in a collision in Markham.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Solicitor General is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to observe a moment of silence for the victims of Monday’s violence in Mississauga and Milton, which included the death of Toronto police Constable Andrew Hong, and for York Regional Police Constable Travis Gillespie, killed earlier today in a collision in Markham. Agreed? Agreed.

Members will please rise.

The House observed a moment’s silence.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members will please take their seats.

Motions

House sittings

Ms. Andrea Khanjin: I move that, at the conclusion of the afternoon orders of the day, the House stand adjourned until 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, October 25, 2022.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Ms. Khanjin has moved that, at the conclusion of the afternoon orders of the day today, the House stand adjourned until 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, October 25, 2022.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? I heard some noes.

All those in favour of the motion will please say “aye.”

All those opposed will please say “nay.”

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

Interjection: On division.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Carried on division.

Motion agreed to.

Orders of the Day

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I recognize the government House leader.

Hon. Paul Calandra: Mr. Speaker, if you seek it you will find there is unanimous consent that, notwithstanding any standing order or special order of the House, the Deputy Premier be authorized to move, seconded by the Premier and leader of His Majesty’s government, a motion without notice that an humble address be presented to His Majesty the King; and

That 35 minutes be allotted to debate on the motion, with 10 minutes allotted to the Premier and the leader of His Majesty’s government, 10 minutes allotted to the leader of His Majesty’s loyal opposition, five minutes allotted to the leader of the Liberal caucus, five minutes allotted to the leader of the Green Party and five minutes allotted to the member for Haldimand–Norfolk; and

That, at the end of the allotted time, the Speaker shall put the question on the motion without further debate or amendment and that the vote on the motion may not be deferred; and

That, following the vote on the motion, the House shall observe two minutes of silence in honour of Her late Majesty the Queen; and

That, following the moment of silence, the royal anthem shall be played in honour of His Majesty the King.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The government House leader is seeking the unanimous consent of the House that, notwithstanding any standing order or special order of the House, the Deputy Premier be authorized to move, seconded by the Premier and leader of His Majesty’s government, a motion without notice that an humble address be presented to His Majesty the King; and

That, at the end of the allotted time, the Speaker shall put the question on the motion without further debate or amendment and that the vote on the motion may not be deferred; and

That, following the vote on the motion, the House shall observe two minutes of silence in honour of Her late Majesty the Queen; and

That, following the moment of silence, the royal anthem shall be played in honour of His Majesty the King.

Agreed? Agreed.

I’ll next recognize the Deputy Premier.

Hon. Sylvia Jones: I move that an humble address be presented to His Majesty the King in the following words:

“To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty:

“We, Your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, in Parliament assembled, approach Your Majesty with the expression of our deepest and heartfelt sorrow at the demise of Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, Your Majesty’s beloved mother.

“Her late Majesty’s long and glorious life and reign was truly a gift to our world which we scarcely deserved, and Her Majesty’s loss an equally profound tragedy to us all.

“In words we wished to have sent to Her Majesty in life and in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee, Her Majesty’s resolute dedication to public service and her loyal Canadian subjects was vital to the growth of our young nation. It was Her Majesty’s lifelong example of strength, compassion and dignity which has shaped generations of Canadians from all walks of life.

“We as a country, and we as a people, stand today, undoubtedly bettered by Her Majesty’s indelible influence upon us all. For the prodigious sacrifice of her whole life to the service of her peoples, our debt to Her Majesty cannot ever be repaid by our humble thanks; however, we offer it nonetheless.

“We shall not forget that while this is a national loss, it is first Your Majesty’s personal loss of a loving and compassionate mother and a stalwart matriarch.

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“As we wrote to Her late Majesty one year ago, upon the demise of Your Majesty’s father, we shall commit our whole selves to personally sharing the burden of Your Majesty’s profound sorrow and grief. We hope this can be of at least some small consolation.

“At too young of an age Her late Majesty was left with the heavy burden of the crown, a burden which now falls upon yourself. In service of Your Majesty’s fulfillment of this heavy duty, we, your subjects, pledge our unending loyalty, devotion and support for Your Majesty the King.

“At the momentous end of this second great Elizabethan era, our prayers remain with Her late Majesty the Queen, Your Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen Consort, Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the royal family.

“We pray to almighty God for the salvation of the eternal soul of Her late Majesty Elizabeth II and for divine countenance for Your Majesty and the royal family in this time of bereavement. May God bless Your Majesty with wisdom, strength, courage and compassion as our sovereign and King. God save the King.”

And that the said address be engrossed.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Deputy Premier has moved that an humble address be presented to His Majesty the King in the following words:

“To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty:

“We, Your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, in Parliament assembled, approach Your Majesty with the expression of our deepest and heartfelt sorrow at the demise of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Your Majesty’s beloved mother.

“Her late Majesty’s long and glorious life and reign was truly a gift to our world which we scarcely deserved, and Her Majesty’s loss an equally profound tragedy to us all.

In words we wished to have sent to Her Majesty in life and in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee, Her Majesty’s resolute dedication to public service and her loyal Canadian subjects was vital to the growth of our young nation. It was Her Majesty’s lifelong example of strength, compassion, and dignity which has shaped generations of Canadians from all walks of life.

“We shall not forget that while this is a national loss, it is first Your Majesty’s personal loss of a loving and compassionate mother and a stalwart matriarch.

And that the said address be engrossed.

I recognize the Premier.

Hon. Doug Ford: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the remarkable life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on September 8, 2022, and mark the ascent of His Majesty King Charles III as Canada’s new monarch.

Queen Elizabeth served as Queen of Canada and the Commonwealth from 1952 to 2022. For many people, myself included, we have never lived in a world without Queen Elizabeth. And so it is a truly solemn occasion that we now find ourselves saying goodbye to her after so long.

On behalf of all Ontarians, I want to send our deepest condolences to her family, to the people of the United Kingdom and to the millions of people around the world who loved and admired her so much. And while we share their grief at the passing of this historic figure, I want to reflect on what she accomplished in her life and what she meant to the world. Because for her entire 96 years, Queen Elizabeth exemplified what it means to be a servant of the people. Her life was service above self.

During the Second World War, she demonstrated her devotion to duty by enlisting in the military, serving as a mechanic and driver. She never left her country. She never turned her back on her responsibility. Her first and only instinct was service and duty to her country and to her people.

After she ascended to the throne at the age of 25, she would continue to serve for another 70 years. Over those seven decades, which spanned 15 British Prime Ministers, starting with Winston Churchill, the world never stopped changing, but Queen Elizabeth always remained. Through global upheaval, domestic troubles and heartbreaking personal tragedy, Queen Elizabeth II continued to be the constant presence that gave people comfort.

This remained true throughout the recent global pandemic, when the world was brought to a standstill and people were forced to stay apart. As people looked to her for comfort, she was there to reassure us that we will be with our families again, we will be together again. And of course, she was right. Then, during one of the most challenging times in recent memory, as she had been for us countless times before, Queen Elizabeth was a reminder of the greater bonds that unite us, that connect us and bring us together in good times and bad.

And while I know the Queen had affection for the entire Commonwealth, I believe she kept a very special spot in her heart for Canada. In her time as monarch, she made 22 official visits to Canada, each time gaining more admirers and winning more hearts. Like us, Queen Elizabeth loved our country, its diversity and its beauty.

In the days since she passed, we have seen an outpouring of emotion and grief from all corners of the world. This is a testament to what she meant to so many people. Queen Elizabeth’s impact was far-reaching. She supported over 600 charities throughout her reign. She spent countless hours working to improve the lives of people everywhere.

I count myself as one of those people who will miss her dearly.

So while we are saddened by her passing, as each of us feel her loss deeply, let us reflect on the mark she has left and how fortunate we have been to live in the time of Queen Elizabeth II. As King Charles III, our new monarch, said of his own mother, hers was a life well lived.

Today, as we remember the past, we also look to the future, a future in which King Charles III continues his mother’s great legacy—a legacy of dedication, of duty, of service to his people; a legacy imprinted on him throughout a life watching and learning from his mother, our Queen Elizabeth.

Before I close, I want to pay special tribute to the occasion of the Queen’s 21st birthday in 1947. Over the past few days, many of us have remembered the words she used when speaking to the Commonwealth countries. We’ve reflected on the promise she made to her people—a promise that echoed across the world then and still does today: “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.” For Queen Elizabeth, her promise was her purpose: service, duty, dedication to her people. For us, her promise is a calling: a reminder to always give our best to each other.

On behalf of all Ontarians, may God bless the memory of Queen Elizabeth II and may God bless the reign of our monarch, King Charles III. Long live the King.

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The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I recognize the leader of His Majesty’s loyal opposition.

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Speaker, today we’ve gathered to offer our deep and sincere condolences to King Charles III, to the family of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and to all who mourn her. In the United Kingdom, throughout the Commonwealth and the world, people have lost a calm and reassuring symbol of stability and an icon of dignity, resolve and good humour. Her Majesty’s reign lasted more than 70 years. Her unwavering commitment to public service was even longer. As the Premier has noted, during a visit to Cape Town, South Africa, in 1947, then-Princess Elizabeth delivered this pledge on just her 21st birthday: “My whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.”

Her Majesty began her public duties during the Second World War. Like so many Canadians, she joined the war effort. She trained as a driver and a mechanic. Her spirit of service was apparent to the world, a spirit that never wavered during the trials and storms of her 70-year reign. For generations to come, the world will remember Her Majesty for her devotion to her duty and for her unflappable nature in executing those duties, never without thoughtfulness and often with a bit of humour.

She had a unique relationship with Canada, visiting this land more than any other country in the world. On October 8, 1951, she arrived in Canada for the first time as Princess Elizabeth. For 33 days, she travelled across Canada with Prince Philip, visiting 10 provinces and stopping in 60 communities. During her reign, she made 31 trips here. I think we recognize that the Queen held a special place in her heart for this beautiful land that we call home. In fact, on her final visit to Canada in 2010, the Queen was in Halifax when she said, “It is very good to be home.”

Queen Elizabeth II has been a thread that has tied generations together. She was a constant and reassuring presence in times of change. Her portrait hung in this Legislature during the tenure of 11 Premiers. Her reign lasted through 12 Canadian Prime Ministers and 15 British Prime Ministers. Many in this chamber will have been lucky enough to talk to our own parents or grandparents in the last few days to hear how powerful an impression the Queen made on them as we all watched her family grow alongside our own families.

Today, we’re here not only to pay tribute to a monarch, but to grieve a woman. She was a person and a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. A family is grieving the Queen not only as their sovereign, but as a beloved family member. They have lost not just their matriarch, but also a wise elder and a connection to their ancestors. So, to those who call Her Royal Highness mum, granny or auntie, we send our deepest condolences. We hope that they find comfort and solace in each other during this difficult time, as well as from the outpouring of warm memories and fond farewells from people around the globe.

As we say goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II, we welcome her son King Charles III. As with any ascension, a new era has arrived. King Charles has been vocal about his passion for the environment. He has made his interest in organic farming and sustainable development well known. He has written about and spoken on climate change and green energy. Earlier this year, he visited Yellowknife and urged people to open their minds to the wisdom of Indigenous leaders in order to “restore harmony with nature.” The new King is the first that attended a school instead of being educated at home. He is the first to have attended university. He’s been outspoken about his responsibility to the next generations—not only the future generations of his own family, but to all of our families. We’re hopeful that King Charles III is a monarch who will be forward-looking towards a brighter and more sustainable, just and equitable future.

Speaker, on a more personal note, the then Prince of Wales and his wife Camilla visited Toronto about a decade ago, and I think many people in this House had an opportunity to attend at that reception. Far more importantly than my attendance was the attendance of my mother, who grew up in Liverpool. I’ll just say she pulled rank to make sure no one else attended with me that day, because you only got one other invitation. Luckily enough, thanks to some of my colleagues, she actually wound up in the receiving line to shake hands with the then Prince of Wales, and I just think their interchange speaks to the humanity of the prince.

My mother introduced herself, said she was from Liverpool, and his response was, “Well, do you get home very often?” They went on to have a friendly chat—not formal, not stuffy, just simply human, connecting in a very easy and comfortable way. I think that speaks well to the character of this man who would be King.

On behalf of Ontario’s loyal opposition, we welcome King Charles III. May his reign be in good health, may his time as King be marked by peace and progress and may he be guided by goodness and humanity.

I close by saying, on behalf of the loyal opposition, I offer our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Queen Elizabeth II and to all who grieve her. May Her Majesty rest in peace.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I recognize the leader of the Liberal caucus, the member for Ottawa South.

Mr. John Fraser: Last Thursday, Canadians across our great country were shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Her life was devoted to public service to her realms across the world.

Over the course of 70 years on the throne, the Queen was a steadfast and reliable friend of Canada and Canadians from coast to coast to coast. There were 22 official visits and stops in every province, and over the decades, her visits to Canada touched the lives of many Canadians. Our family was just one of them.

In 1951, my late father-in-law Lorne Hooper was part of an advance team for Princess Elizabeth’s royal tour of Canada. Months later, she would become Queen.

In 1992, as part of Canada 125 celebrations, our daughter, Kïrsten, and her friends in central choir in Ottawa sang for Queen Elizabeth.

Her Majesty’s last visit to Canada in 2010 included a stop here, where she and the late Prince Philip were greeted by hundreds of well-wishers here at Queen’s Park, and I think we all remember that. It was on that tour that something special happened.

Months before the tour, my father-in-law, who liked to write letters, wrote a letter to Governor General Michaëlle Jean, explaining his connection to the royal tour, how something had happened at the end so that advance team didn’t get a chance to meet the princess and how my mother-in-law had a lifelong admiration, an incredible devotion to the Queen—I think I would even call it a relationship to someone she had never met—and how my mother-in-law, Yvonne, had lost her closest brother in Dieppe.

Months later, they received a reply inviting them to Rideau Hall. So, of course, they went out—everything new, the hat. My mother-in-law was really quite—as your mother probably was—quite excited. The day came, and they had expected to be amongst the hundreds of people there to greet the Queen, like we had here at Queen’s Park. When they arrived at Rideau Hall, to their surprise, they were placed in the receiving line with the Prime Minister and dignitaries from across Canada.

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For more than 50 years, my mother-in-law, Yvonne, had deeply respected, admired and I would say loved Queen Elizabeth. She understood the Queen’s life of responsibility, service, duty and devotion. It’s something which in recent years I have come to more fully understand myself. It was truly an incredible gift for Yvonne to meet the Queen at almost 90 years of age. Over the span of 70 years, this was only one of the thousands of times where Queen Elizabeth touched the lives of individual Canadians.

Queen Elizabeth lived a life of great faith and centredness—a calm in the eye of many storms. Her Majesty’s record of duty, responsibility, steadfastness and public service is unmatched. And the Queen’s example is not just for those who seek public life, it’s for all of us. And as we transition to the reign of our new sovereign, King Charles III, I know we will continue to reflect on the life that was.

We send our deepest condolences to our new King and his family as they mourn the loss of a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. God save the King.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’ll recognize the leader of the Green Party, the member for Guelph.

Mr. Mike Schreiner: I rise today with a heavy heart to pay tribute and to celebrate a remarkable woman, Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who for 96 years touched the lives of people all around the world—a Queen whose reign lasted longer than my life, the only Queen many of us have ever known—and I would like to offer my sincere condolences.

As we gather here today to remember and to pay tribute to Her Majesty, we inevitably focus on the attribute that made her so beloved by so many around the world. It was her father, King George VI, who once famously said, “The highest of distinction is service to others.” And for the seven decades of her reign, those were the words his daughter the Queen lived by: service to others. Service defined so much of Her Majesty’s life. Yes, duty, dignity, honour, stability, sacrifice, stoicism, humour, resolve and grace are all words that describe Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. But for me, service is what defines her greatness—service to her people, service to her country and the Commonwealth, service to her family.

We in this chamber today know a little something about what that means. As MPPs, we’ve all chosen a life of service to our constituents. To a lesser or greater extent, we live our lives in the public eye. We know the sacrifice that must be made, the impacts on our families, our friends, our daily lives. In short, we know just a little bit, a tiny fraction, of what Her Majesty gave—and gave up—to serve her people, her country and the Commonwealth so faithfully for so many years.

What a remarkable woman—to serve as Queen in such a public role with a sense of purpose and duty while raising four children with her beloved husband, Prince Philip. Parenting is such a gift and such a challenge, especially in the public spotlight under so much scrutiny, and she did it with so much dignity and love in good times and bad.

Who will ever forget the Queen mourning the loss of her beloved Prince Philip alone during the pandemic, while letting the rest of us know that together, in service to each other, we too could get through this pandemic?

I hope her life inspires all of us to renew our commitment to service: that we put service above self as the Queen did. On her 21st birthday in April 1947, as has been noted, she said, “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.” Six years later, in 1953, at her coronation, the Queen promised, “I have in sincerity pledged myself to your service, as so many of you are pledged to mine. Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust.”

Speaker, she earned our trust. And we are grateful for her service. In doing so, Her Majesty provided a sense of stability and calm, reassurance in turbulent times.

While so many in this chamber and around the world mourn her loss, we also need to make space for the mixed emotions that the celebration of her life and the history of the monarch brings up for people, because I believe that is what the late Queen would want us to do. Today I offer my wish to the late Queen’s son the new king, King Charles III, to put his own stamp on the institution of the monarchy while carrying on in the spirit of service that so exemplified his beloved mother: service to healing our relationships with each other and with this place we call home.

Speaker, may Her Majesty rest in peace.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Next I’ll recognize the member for Haldimand–Norfolk.

Ms. Bobbi Ann Brady: It is an honour to stand in this House today to pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I wish to thank the Premier for the opportunity to do so.

As the world mourns the passing of our Queen, we cannot help but be in awe as we reflect and acknowledge the scope of her public service for over 70 years. That 70 years of tireless and dignified service has made her one of the most recognized and famous people in our history.

She was a figure of national pride, continuity and stability, not only at home but around the world. Remarkably, she never faltered, even though she had the tremendous responsibility of also being a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Her Majesty, who grew up being affectionately known as Lilibet, is the only British monarch trained to change a spark plug. She learned to do so when she undertook national service, joining the auxiliary transport corps during the Second World War. Perhaps this is why she generously supported our Canadian Legions and our veterans. The “royal” in Royal Canadian Legion came to be in 1961, after Her Majesty graciously consented to using the title.

Her first overseas tour was to South Africa in 1947 along with her parents. During this tour, Princess Elizabeth celebrated her 21st birthday in Cape Town and delivered what would become one of her most well-known speeches of all times. The princess pledged to devote her life to serving the entire British Commonwealth in her speech. As others have quoted this afternoon: “My whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.” Imagine the weight of such a commitment. Imagine what the world would be if we all chose to serve with such strength and loyalty.

Thankfully the Queen’s life was long—although many of us felt she would never leave us, that somehow she would essentially transcend time. The Queen guided her family, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth through extraordinary social turbulence with her quiet, restrained and stoic demeanour. Despite the challenges, Queen Elizabeth constantly adapted, and it was how she ensured security for the future of the monarchy. That simple and sober message, that wave of her hand, made us all feel at ease and at home.

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As we watched our Queen perform her duties, especially in difficult times, she was the picture of unflappable poise. Watching and listening to our Queen was akin to putting on that favourite sweater on a brisk fall day or hunkering down with a hot cup of cocoa and a thick blanket on a cold winter’s night. It was that same stoic way that could provide comfort to her country and to all of us.

I suppose that comfort came by way of tradition. Tradition, for many of us, means security and belonging. While life moves on and the events of the time change our social fabric, tradition keeps us connected to the past. Her Majesty flawlessly demonstrated how we could move forward, but never lose sight of our identity, our values and our shared memories.

I will miss this comfort, especially that offered through her annual Christmas message. Last Christmas, against the backdrop of another year of the pandemic, she spoke about loss and final partings as she paid tribute to her beloved Philip. It was personal.

In her 1999 message, Queen Elizabeth reflected on the swiftness of change as we approached the new millennium. Seventy-three at the time, she expressed how those her age feared being left behind, and the familiar and the comforting being swept away. In the end, she urged them not to be anxious and to find a way to make sense of the future. Then she quoted the first Prime Minister she had installed, Winston Churchill, who had said, “The further backward you look, the further forward you see.” That message is so relevant today as we look to live without her.

A wordsmith, Her Majesty has left her wisdom behind, a map of sorts on how we continue to find our way. On leadership, the Queen said, “I know of no single formula for success, but over the years I have observed that some attributes of leadership are universal and are often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights, their enthusiasm and their inspiration to work together.”

While we all come to grips with the passing of a lady who impacted our lives in ways we did not realize, in ways that will become apparent in the days ahead, Britain is preparing to usher in a new era in the nation’s fascinating history. Britain, Canada and the rest of the Commonwealth will undoubtedly embrace the King and offer him loyalty and devotion, exactly as Her Majesty would have wished.

I extend my sincere sympathies, thoughts and prayers to the royal family. Our noble Queen will forever be entrenched in our memories and our hearts. God save our King.

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The allotted time for debate on the motion having expired, I will now put the question.

The Deputy Premier, seconded by the Premier, has moved an address of the assembly in respect of the passing of the Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and of the accession of His Majesty King Charles III.

Is the House familiar with the address? Shall the motion carry? Carried and so ordered.

Motion agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I will now ask members to rise to observe two minutes of silence in honour of Her late Majesty the Queen.

The House observed two minutes’ silence.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. Members will remain standing.

Playing of the royal anthem / Écoute de l’hymne royal.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members may take their seats.

Orders of the day?

Hon. Paul Calandra: No further business.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): There being no further business, pursuant to the order of the House dated earlier today, this House stands adjourned until October 25, 2022, at 10:15 a.m.

The House adjourned at 1447.