June 3rd Newsletter

Dear Neighbours,

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As June begins, we enter the busiest time of the year on Parliament Hill as we work round the clock to finalize our legislation before this current session ends. This week, we have introduced legislation to freeze the buying, selling, and ownership transfer of handguns in Canada. I am optimistic that this legislation will lead to safer communities free from gun violence.

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Before returning to Ottawa, I attended the Muslims of Queen’s Common’s Eid al-Fitr 2022 celebration on May 29th. It was a great chance to spend time with Xxxxxx’s Muslim Community, and I want to thank the Muslims of Queen’s Common for the invitation. It is always

a joy to meet my constituents and learn about the community builders that make Xxxxxx a wonderful place to live and work.

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On Tuesday, I attended Muslim Welfare Canada’s Project Ramadan event on Parliament Hill. It was nice to see so many familiar faces from Xxxxxx and the GTA in Ottawa to showcase the fantastic work that Muslim Welfare Canada does in our community and beyond. They are a

non-profit organization that provides services to Canadian families needing extra support. With my background in social innovation and as the chair of the Social Innovation Caucus, I am keenly aware of the positive impact non-profit organizations have on our community. I am

always amazed by Muslim Welfare Canada’s work.

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Project Ramadan is a program that provides food baskets for needy families in Xxxxxx and across the country. Each year, they prepare and provide thousands of food baskets to those in need, and I am proud that they were able to showcase their work to my colleagues on The Hill. I

want to thank Muslim Welfare Canada for making the trip to Ottawa and for all the crucial work to make Xxxxxx and Canada a better place.

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Wednesday, the Prime Minister and Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, raised the Pride Flag on Parliament Hill to celebrate the beginning of Pride Season. We heard bi-partisan speeches by the Prime Minister, Minister Ien, Melissa Lantsman (CPC), Randall Garrison (NDP), Elizabeth May (Green), and Adrienne Larouche (Bloc Quebecois), who all reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to creating an equal and inclusive society for all people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

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Our Liberal Government is committed to defending LGBTQ2 rights and is working to make Canada a more inclusive place for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. This year, we have banned conversion therapy, invested $100 million in Budget 2022 to create the

first-ever federal LGBTQ2 Action Plan, and updated the Canadian Human Rights Act to make gender identity or expression a prohibited ground for discrimination. On top of our work, Health Canada approved Canadian Blood Services’ ban on blood donations from men who have sex with men. These changes are steps in the right direction, and we look forward to taking even more steps in the future to reach a more equitable society for LGBTQ2 people in Canada.

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We have come a long way in expanding and protecting LGBTQ2 rights in Canada, but there is still much more to do. This government and I are dedicated to making Canada the world leader in LGBTQ2 inclusivity.

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As part of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, we examined the expansion of the Parliamentary Precinct and possible jurisdictional changes to Wellington Street. On Tuesday, we listened to Ottawa City Councilor Catherine Mckenney and Gatineau Mayor France Belisle, who discussed the so-called Freedom Convoy’s impact on their communities and the institutional challenges. On Thursday, we heard from former Ottawa Police Chiefs Peter Slowly and Sen. Vern White. They discussed the challenges to law enforcement and the national security risks posed by the Freedom Convoy. We are committed to making the Parliamentary Precinct safer and ensuring it remains a place that allows Canadians of all stripes to gather.

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As a member of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, we continued our study on the environmental contribution of agriculture. We listened to representatives from the Beef Council Research Council, the Canola Council of Canada, and Perennia Food and Agriculture Inc. Farmers are on the frontlines of the fight against climate change. It is vital to learn from industry leaders and government stakeholders who will help guide government policies that

will lead to sustainable agriculture practices. We also reviewed the latest draft version of the committee’s agriculture and agri-food supply chain report. The solutions we find in this committee will help shape the Government’s approach to agriculture issues.

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These weeks in Ottawa will be crucial for us to advance our agenda and continue to work to make your lives more affordable. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my constituency office should you have any federal manner that you may need our help with. My team and I look

forward to helping you with any issue you may need.

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Warmest Regards,

Xxxx Xxxxxxxx

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Handgun Freeze

On Monday, our Government introduced new gun legislation that will work to keep dangerous firearms off our streets and keep our communities safe. We will implement a national freeze that will prevent individuals from bringing handguns into Canada and prevent them from buying, selling and transferring the ownership of handguns to other people. This new legislation will also take licences away from people involved in domestic violence or criminal harassment, require people who are a danger to themselves to surrender their firearms and take licences away from individuals involved in domestic violence or criminal harassment cases. The legislation will also increase penalties for firearms offences and provide law enforcement with more resources to investigate gun crime.

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I welcome this legislation as it will allow us to keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of criminals and keep our streets safe. This new legislation will work alongside our Government’s previous legislation banning 1,500 military-style assault weapons and the Building Safer

Communities Fund, which will help municipalities and indigenous communities deal with the root causes of gun violence.

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Like many of you, I was shocked by the recent tragedies in Buffalo, New York and Uvalde, Texas. However, tragedies like the Quebec Mosque Shooting and the 2020 Nova Scotia shooting demonstrate that Canada is not immune to this kind of violence. This new legislation will take a

proactive approach to prevent these future tragedies and ensure Canadian communities can live in safe communities free from gun violence.

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Learn more about the Handgun Freeze here

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Ukrainian Financial Assistance

As Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion arrive in Canada, our Government is working to ensure they have the resources they need to make the transition to life in Canada easier. To this end, we unveiled new financial assistance to Ukrainians who have recently settled in Canada. They can now apply for a new benefit to see them receive a one-time payment of $3,000 per adult and $1,500 per child. These benefits will help resettled Ukrainians meet basic needs such as

transportation and housing to make their transition easier.

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Applications must be made through the Government of Canada’s online portal, and applicants will receive payment through direct deposit within five days of their applications. Applicants must have a bank account with a Canadian financial institution to receive payment. The applicant’s name must match the name on the adult temporary resident status card, and we encourage all new arrivals to obtain a Canadian Social Insurance Number.

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Ukrainians with valid work permits, study permits, temporary resident permits, or visitor records are eligible to receive this one-time payment. We continue to offer settlement services like language training, orientation to life in Canada, and help with job searches.

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The resilience of the Ukrainians during this awful invasion has been an inspiration to Canadians everywhere. Canada has always been and will continue to be a safe haven and refuge for all Ukrainians in need. We will continue to support Ukraine’s war effort in Europe and shelter

Ukrainians in need.

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Learn more about our Ukrainian Financial Assistance program here

Financial Assistance Portal

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Disability Benefit

This week, we re-tabled the Canada Disability Benefit that will help financially support personswith disabilities and reduce poverty rates. Canadians with disabilities are much more likely to live in poverty than non-disabled Canadians, and we need to find ways to eliminate this societal gap.

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Persons with disabilities often face barriers to employment that cause them to lose income and benefits that they may have been entitled to them previously. Although we have protected the rights of people with disabilities under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and are committed to improving economic and social inclusion through the Accessible Canada Act, gaps still exist. We believe that this legislation will help close those gaps and reduce poverty rates for people living with disabilities. I am confident that this legislation will allow persons with disabilities to live dignified lives free from poverty.

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Decriminalization of Some Ilicit Drugs in BC

On Tuesday, the Minister of Minister of Mental Health and Addictions announced that British Columbia will be granted a three-year exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to decriminalize possession of small amounts of hard drugs for personal use. We hope that this will encourage people struggling with addictions to come forward and seek the help they need to save their lives and prevent overdoses. This will allow people to carry up to 2.5 grams

of illicit substances without penalty in British Columbia.

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Unfortunately, rates of opioid addiction and overdoses have been rising over the past few years and have been worsened by the isolation caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Opioid Crisis has ravaged communities and has torn families apart. We hope that by decriminalizing the possessions of small amounts of hard drugs, we can save lives and help those struggling with addictions get clean.

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Our government is taking a science-based approach to combat addictions. We understand that the opioid crisis is a public health issue that must be solved with empathy and compassion rather than a criminal matter. We hope that this new direction will help remove the stigma surrounding addictions and get help to those who need it most.

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Learn more about our decriminalization plan here

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Siksika Land Claim Settlement

Thursday, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations announced a historic land claim settlement of $1.3 billion made with the Sisika Nation in Southern Alberta. This settlement acknowledges that the Canadian Government broke the promise made in the Blackfoot Treaty (Treaty 7) and took half of the Siksika Nations’ land. Our hope is that this will help improve the lives of people in Siksika Nation by encouraging investment that will improve their communities’ social and economic outlook.

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This settlement is proof that this government is committed to reconciliation and will take proactive steps to right the wrongs of the past. We are guided by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendations, and we will continue to do the work to bring the truth to light. Last year’s discoveries of unmarked graves at the sites of former residential schools show us that we have important work to allow for healing to happen. This settlement is just one of

many steps this Government will take.

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We are continuing to lift boil water advisories in indigenous communities across the country, and we await Pope Francis’ visit to Canada, where he will offer an apology for the Catholic Churches’ role in Canada’s residential school system. This is an important moment for us as we continue to address the lasting impacts of colonialism on Canada’s indigenous peoples.

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Read the Prime Ministers remarks here

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Pride Flags

June is Pride Month. Over the month, we will celebrate the contributions and impacts made by LGBTQ2 communities across the country. It is an opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made to expand and protect LGBTQ2 rights in Canada, commemorating the work done by activists, and acknowledge the work that still needs to be done.

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Our constituency office will be offering Pride posters for people in Xxxxxx who would like to celebrate Pride Season with us. If you would like to request a poster, please send an email to xxxx.xxxxxxxx@parl.gc.cawith your name and address, and we will send one to you. I look forward to continuing to work hard to make Canada a more equitable and inclusive place.

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Canada Day

With Canada Day quickly approaching, I am offering Canada Day signs for those who are interested. If you would like a lawn sign, head to my website at https://xxxxxxxxxxxxx.ca/canada-day-signs/ and signup with your name and address. I hope you have a wonderful Canada Day.