This is one of the reasons I entered public life: to deliver change.

Leslie Frost was born in Orillia, in Simcoe county, and became Premier in 1949. But back when he was in the military, in 1920, he wrote a letter to his parents, and he was opining on what he should do next with his military career. He said, “There is always the question of duty. A person should take part in some public matters, either civil or military.” Well, I agree with Leslie Frost. Most of us in this Legislature are driven by a sense of duty to the public. I’m honoured to now be working in the Frost building.

I am sure that Downey is well aware that Frost oversaw one of the great expansions in the role of provincial governments in recent history. Under Frost, Ontario substantially increased public investment in the schools, and public transportation. His government introduced public hospital insurance – a precursor to the modern OHIP system of healthcare. He even increased taxes, implementing the provincial sales tax, to fund the new progressive government spending.