Mr. Speaker, I rise today for the first time as the member of Parliament for the great riding of Bay of Quinte. I am overwhelmed with gratitude and optimism as I look out at this 45th Parliament and all the new and returning faces I will be working alongside as we build a better Canada.
I want to thank my wife, Sandi, and my daughters, Nicole and Rachelle. I also want to thank the tireless volunteers who helped secure this victory for the Bay of Quinte. I would not be here without them.
I want to recognize that June is the start of Pride Season here in Canada, a time to celebrate the vibrancy and contributions of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities we have in my riding of Bay of Quinte and across Canada. It is also a time to recommit ourselves to the work that still needs to be done to ensure we have true equality and opportunity in our society.
This Sunday, Pride week starts in the Bay of Quinte, with events taking place all over—