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Julie Dzerowicz Member of Parliament
Davenport

Davenport Friends and Neighbours,

What a beautiful day to be back in Davenport!

This week’s newsletter will be longer, as I have been away for ten days between Latvia and Ottawa. 

I missed every drop of the rain that swept through Toronto — but as the old saying goes, April showers bring May flowers. And walking through our neighbourhood today, seeing the patios reopening, the blossoms starting on Bloor St., and our community out and about, it really does feel like spring has arrived. 

Like the Artemis II crew who recently returned home safely, there’s no place quite like Earth — and no feeling quite like coming home. Their journey was one of hope, and it’s a feeling I carried with me upon returning to Davenport.

A New Majority Government

This past Monday, April 13, Canadians in three ridings went to the polls — and our Liberal team won all three byelections. 

I want to welcome our three new colleagues to the House of Commons: Tatiana Auguste in Terrebonne, Dr. Danielle Martin in University-Rosedale (right next door to Davenport), and Doly Begum in Scarborough Southwest. With their victories, Prime Minister Mark Carney and our federal Liberal team now have a majority government with 174 seats.

I want to be clear about how I and my colleagues received this news: with humility and determination. Canadians elected our government last April on two promises — to protect our sovereignty and defend our country, and to protect our economic prosperity, today and tomorrow. 

What I hear at the doors, in the grocery stores, and in community meetings right here in Davenport is that people are looking for leadership and a plan. This is increasingly about substance over partisanship. We accept this renewed confidence with the understanding that we now have both the tools and the responsibility to move faster. We are just getting started — and there is a lot of work to do.

Immediate Relief at the Pump: Federal Fuel Excise Tax Suspended

The very next day after securing a majority, we acted. 

Prime Minister Carney announced that our federal  government is temporarily suspending the federal fuel excise tax on gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuels across Canada. Starting Monday, April 20, 2026, and running until Labour Day (September 7, 2026), the federal excise tax will drop to zero.

  • 10 cents per litre off regular gasoline
  • 4 cents per litre off diesel
  • Also suspended on aviation fuel
  • Estimated over $2.4 billion in total tax relief for Canadians

We designed this with families and workers in mind. It helps Canadians planning a summer road trip or flying to visit loved ones, and it reduces operating costs for truckers and small businesses in food, agriculture, housing, construction, and delivery — which means lower expenses along the whole supply chain. (Full announcement)

Tackling the Cost of Housing — Up to $130,000 in Savings

Affordability is not something we take our eyes off, no matter what else is happening in the world. Building on the elimination of the GST for first-time homebuyers last year, our government and the Province of Ontario are now removing the full 13% HST on new homes valued up to $1 million — saving buyers up to $130,000. For homes between $1 million and $1.85 million, a declining rebate applies. This is estimated to deliver nearly $2.2 billion in tax relief, support 8,000 additional housing starts next year, and create up to 21,000 jobs.

On top of that, the federal and Ontario governments are cost-matching $8.8 billion over 10 years to reduce municipal development charges by up to 50% in municipalities, covering 80% of Ontario’s population — the first partnership under the new Build Communities Strong Fund. Development charges are a major upfront cost that has been slowing housing construction; cutting them will help get shovels in the ground faster, here in Toronto and across the province.

Canada’s Economy: Stronger Than You Might Think

Even as Canadians navigate real affordability pressures and a turbulent global environment, the underlying signals for our economy are encouraging.

The International Monetary Fund projects that Canada will be the second-fastest-growing economy in the G7 this year and next, and the IMF has assessed Canada’s fiscal position as the strongest in the G7. 

We don’t take any of that for granted. Our full plan — for protecting our sovereignty, building a stronger economy, and investing in people and infrastructure — is laid out in Budget 2025: Canada Strong, which enables up to $1 trillion in total investment over the next five years.

In the House: Defending Canadian Democracy (Bill C-25)

This week in Ottawa, I rose in the House to speak in enthusiastic support of Bill C-25, the Strong and Free Elections Act — foundational legislation responding directly to Justice Marie-Josée Hogue’s Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference, and to recommendations from our Chief Electoral Officer and the Commissioner of Canada Elections.

Justice Hogue called information manipulation — misinformation and disinformation — an existential threat to our democracy. Bill C-25 responds by creating new offences for spreading false information about the voting process, criminalizing AI-generated deepfakes of candidates and election officials for the first time, banning anonymous and cryptocurrency contributions, strengthening the Commissioner’s enforcement tools, and establishing a comprehensive privacy regime for federal political parties.

Protecting our democracy should rise above partisanship. I was proud to stand and speak for this bill on behalf of Davenport. The full speech is posted on my YouTube.

Canada–Türkiye Friendship Group

After eight years as Chair of the Canada-Türkiye Parliamentary Friendship Group, I am stepping into an ex-officio role so that a new team can continue to deepen mutual understanding and explore new opportunities between our two countries. It has been a true honour, and I remain fully committed to this important bilateral relationship.

AI in the Workplace: A Conversation with Dell and IBM

I also attended a fascinating discussion this week with Dell and IBM on how they are integrating artificial intelligence into their own workforces — how they’re retraining staff, redesigning roles, and responsibly deploying new tools.

As your MP — and as someone focused on Canada’s productivity and competitiveness — we need to be  part of these conversations. AI is going to reshape the way we work, and Canadian workers and businesses need to be ready.

Launching National Labour Consultations

Today, Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu and Secretary of State for Labour John Zerucelli launched a 30-day consultation with Canada’s labour unions. 

Federally-regulated union leaders from across the country are being invited into targeted virtual and in-person roundtables to provide feedback on a range of labour measures — part of our commitment to address long-standing irritants between workers, unions, and employers.

Strait of Hormuz, Standing with Lebanon, and Hungary

On the international front, Prime Minister Carney joined President Macron of France and Prime Minister Starmer of the United Kingdom on a virtual leaders’ call focused on ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Our Prime Minister also welcomed Hungary’s democratic election results, and saying to the newly elected leader Peter Magyar and the Hungarian people  “We are ready to work with you, and our European allies, to deepen co-operation in trade, defence, and security.”

On Lebanon: Canada continues to stand with the Lebanese people. Building on the more than $37.7 million in humanitarian funding announced in March, Canada is providing aid through UN agencies, the Red Cross, and other partners to help deliver food, clean water, shelter, and medical supplies. 

NATO Parliamentary Assembly — Riga, Latvia

Last week I had the great honour of serving as head of the Canadian delegation at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s Spring Standing Committee meeting in Riga, Latvia. 

Key discussions focused on Ukraine — and the clear need for continued Allied support until Ukraine prevails — and on Arctic security, an increasingly urgent file for the Alliance. With seven of the eight Arctic states now NATO Allies, preserving security in the High North is a direct interest for Canada.

A personal highlight was visiting Camp Ādaži and meeting the Canadian Armed Forces members serving on Operation REASSURANCE. Canada leads NATO’s Multinational Brigade – Latvia (MNB-LVA), a formation of roughly 3,000 personnel from 14 NATO Allies on the Alliance’s Eastern Flank. 

Canada is scaling up to 2,200 persistently deployed troops — our largest overseas military mission, recently renewed by Prime Minister Carney through 2029. I can tell you that Canada’s leadership of the MNB-LVA is deeply respected across the Alliance. Every Canadian I met in uniform is doing extraordinary work, and they are a credit to our country. I have never been prouder.

Come See Us: Davenport Job Fair — April 25

I want to close with something happening right here in our community. Toronto’s job market is competitive right now — recent analysis found over 26,000 open positions across more than 4,000 Toronto employers, but also very high application volumes per role. In other words, the jobs are there, but we need to better connect employers with the great people in our riding who are ready to work.

That’s exactly why our office is hosting a Davenport Job Fair:

Saturday, April 25, 2026 | 1:00 – 5:00 PM St. Mary’s Catholic Academy, 66 Dufferin Avenue (One block west of Dufferin Station, across the street Dufferin Mall)

Attendees can expect opportunities in public service, skilled trades, finance, community services, hospitality, and health. The event is open to all experience levels — youth, newcomers, and those looking to re-enter or transition within the workforce. Employment service organizations will also be on-site to help with resumes, job readiness, and career navigation.

If you’re looking for work, thinking about a change, or know someone who is — please come by, bring a friend, and spread the word.

As always, it is a true honour and pleasure to serve you, Davenport.

All my very best,

Julie Dzerowicz 

Member of Parliament for Davenport 

Chair, Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration 

Chair, Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association 

Chair, Toronto Caucus