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Julie Dzerowicz Member of Parliament
Davenport

Table of Contents 

  1. MP Letter
  2. MP Report
  3. Government Announcements and Updates
  4. Funding and Opportunities

Table of Contents:

  1. MP Letter
  2. MP Report
  3. Government Announcements and Updates
  4. Funding and Opportunities

Dear Davenport friends and neighbours, / Chers amis et voisins de Davenport,

I cannot believe how fast time has gone. It’s already the end of February and while I am happy spring is closer, I cannot believe we are on the cusp of March.  

It was a privilege to travel last week to Europe to work with other NATO parliamentarians on security and defence issues (including the spread of  misinformation) but on coming back, I headed straight to Ottawa for a very busy and news-filled week and now am completely exhausted!  

So, this week’s email update is more a listing of information than a conversation I usually like to have with all of you at the end of the week. But it is good stuff…so I encourage you to have a read! 😀

Announcement: $871,262 for WomanACT – Combating Gender-Based Violence

This morning, I was honoured to announce $871,262 in federal funding for the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto (WomanACT) to support their pilot for the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) – a coordinated, multi-agency response model that has already led to fewer women being repeated victims of intimate partner violence. Canada cannot be strong if we do not have the full participation of women. This funding is part of a broader $223.4 million federal commitment over five years to end gender-based violence. Thank you to Abrigo Centre and Sistering for being there, and a shout-out to Redwood and Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter for their tireless work.

China Suspends Some Agricultural Tariffs

We have an excellent update on our trade relationship with China. 

China is suspending its 100% tariffs on Canadian canola meal and peas, and halting 25% tariffs on lobster and crab, effective March 1. This follows PM Carney’s visit to Beijing and will improve market access for roughly $2.6 billion in Canadian agricultural goods.

From this update, I want you to take away this: Canada is NOT sacrificing its democratic values and security in any way, shape, or form. Everyday, we see more and more news on our changing relationship with the United States. It is an unprecedented time, and we need to make smarter choices. This update from China is a big win for our agricultural sector, and this is a recognition of our country is able to continue protecting our sovereignty, while at the same time moving forward economically.  

$1.55B for Indigenous Children – Jordan’s Principle

Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty announced $1.55 billion in renewed funding through 2027 for Jordan’s Principle, which ensures First Nations children receive timely access to health, social, and educational services without jurisdictional delays.

Budget Implementation Act Passes in the House

Bill C-15, the Budget Implementation Act, passed a confidence vote this week. This legislation enacts key measures from the November 2025 federal budget – investments in housing, infrastructure, defence, tax relief, and economic diversification. The Conservatives supported the bill after negotiating amendments at committee. It now moves to the Senate.

AI Safety: Government Confronts OpenAI After Tumbler Ridge

Following the horrific Tumbler Ridge, B.C. mass shooting that killed eight people, it was revealed that OpenAI had banned the shooter’s ChatGPT account months earlier for violent content – but never informed police. Heartbreaking.

AI Minister Evan Solomon summoned OpenAI to Ottawa and expressed disappointment that the company offered no concrete new safety proposals. The government has made clear all options are on the table, including new legislation, to protect Canadians. An online harms bill and broader AI strategy are in the works. 

National Conversation on Men and Boys’ Health

Research shows that men face urgent challenges: suicide rates three times higher than women, twice as likely to die from preventable causes, and 65% wait over six days before seeing a doctor. The government has now launched a national conversation to develop Canada’s first Men and Boys’ Health Strategy. Improved men’s health could save $12.4 billion annually. Please, I urge you to submit your experiences at Canada.ca/Healthy-Men from March 2 to June 1. This is how we’ll be able to get your input on issues so that we can then make solutions that work for YOU.

This is an underdiscussed issue in our community, and I plan to host a  roundtable on it in Davenport.

No More Loopholes Bill (C-233): Vote on March 9

Bill C-233 would close a gap in Canada’s arms export rules by requiring military goods exported to the U.S. to go through the same permitting and human rights assessments that apply to all other countries. I will share my decision next week. Thank you to Davenport residents who have spoken to me about their views.

NATO Parliamentary Meetings & Combating Disinformation

As Chair of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association, I proudly led a delegation of 12 to the Joint Meetings of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Brussels. Our theme: action and implementation. At the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague, all allies committed 5% of GDP on defence and security – 2026 is the year to deliver. Canada was well received as a respected voice at the session. Afterwards, I travelled to Paris and London to meet senior leaders about best practices to combat the increasing flood of disinformation and foreign interference locally and globally.

4th Anniversary of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

Please be careful about disinformation on social media, especially from foreign actors. February 24 marked four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Canada announced $2 billion in military assistance for Ukraine. For those who take issue with this support of Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty: this does NOT mean less spending on Canadians. The highest-funded federal program is for seniors. Plus, the new Groceries and Essentials benefit will nearly double your GST credit this June (from $543 to $945 for singles; up to $1,890 for families of four). And 15 Davenport organizations just received over $100,000 in seniors programming funding!

Conservative Motion on Asylum Seeker Health Care – Defeated

The Conservatives moved to drastically restrict health-care benefits for asylum seekers, claiming they receive better care than Canadians. The motion was defeated 198–134. 

Let’s correct the misinformation:

  • The Conservative narrative was divisive and misleading: the Interim Federal Health Program is federally funded, entirely separate from provincial health budgets, and its supplementary coverage is comparable to provincial social assistance. 
  • The real cost driver is a backlog of 300,000 claims (not the benefits!). Since PM Carney took office, asylum claims are down a third and the government is actively stabilizing the system.

Travel Advisories: Mexico & Cuba

To all those who have family in Mexico and Cuba, here are some simple ways to monitor the situation through a good, reliable resource. 

Mexico: Exercise a high degree of caution; the security situation in several states remains volatile with armed clashes and roadblocks.

Travel Advisory: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/mexico

Cuba: Final Canadian airline flights have departed, bringing home 27,900+ travellers; avoid all non-essential travel. Canada has pledged $8M in humanitarian aid.

Travel Advisory: travel.gc.ca/destinations/cuba

Tax Season Has Begun!

Can you believe tax season has begun already?! 2025 has flown by. 

There are many resources available to make this year’s tax filing as easy as possible. If you’re confused on how to start, I suggest taking a look to see if you qualify for free tax clinic services by clicking below:

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/community-volunteer-income-tax-program.html

The deadline to file is April 30 (technically). You can still file afterwards, but just know that the benefits you receive will arrive later! 

Button Title: Everything you need to know for the 2026 tax-filing season

Button Link: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/news/newsroom/tax-tips/tax-tips-2026/what-you-need-for-2026-tax-filing-season.html

Have a wonderful weekend, Davenport! As always, it’s a true pleasure and honour to serve you.

Julie Dzerowicz

Member of Parliament for Davenport | Chair,

Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration

Chair, Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association |

Chair, Toronto Caucus