Table of Contents 

• Click here for the highlights.
  • Strengthening Canada-Mexico relations
  • Pre-budget consultations with Secretary of State Wayne Long
  • Discussing aid supports with the Canadian Red Cross
  • The biggest street party of the year: BIG on Bloor!
• Important Federal Government Updates
  • U.S. and Canada trade deal by August 1 ‘unlikely.’
  • Carney calls Israel denying humanitarian aid in Gaza ‘violation of international law’.
  • Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand’s update on the humanitarian aid blockade in Gaza.
  • Statement from Minister Olszewski regarding wildfires in Saskatchewan.
  • Protecting the right to a healthy environment and enhancing chemicals management.
  • Investing in services to support economic integration and fill labour market shortages.
  • Prime Minister Carney meets with premiers to remove barriers and advance major projects.
  • Reflecting on one year since the Jasper wildfire.
  • Investing over $14.4 million in youth environmental literacy.
  • Improving access to health services for Francophone minority communities.
  • Joint statement on behalf of 26 partners on the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
  • Minister LeBlanc meets with U.S. Senate Congressional Delegation.
  • 3rd Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting.

Davenport friends & neighbours,

I am finally enjoying the summer, but find it troubling how fast it is going. It’s been amazing to see and meet so many of you at street festivals across the riding and in meetings.

Thanks to everyone who calls and emails me as well; my amazing team does a great job of helping me to respond to as many people as possible and to address all the issues we can – and in a timely way.

There is one issue that is raised that breaks my heart and which I don’t have the answer to; I think it is one that breaks the heart of most Canadians.

Most do not understand why global leaders seem paralyzed and unable to find a way to deal with the increasingly dire humanitarian issue in Gaza.

There can be no doubt that starvation is taking place in Gaza. There can be no doubt that – as our Prime Minister has said, “Israel’s denial of humanitarian aid in Gaza is a violation of international law”. Former Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Olmert has  indicated Netanyahu is committing war crimes in Gaza.

Current leaders, past leaders, top academics, and large global bodies such as the UN are all saying what is happening now – not allowing humanitarian aid to reach innocent Palestinians –  is unacceptable.

And yet, no one has found a solution to get the large trucks of food aid that are waiting at the borders into Gaza.  Global leadership has  become paralyzed.

Where are we at

This morning, we read that the U.S. and Israel have walked away from ceasefire talks. 

This is horrible news.   

Many  believe that Netanyahu does not want a ceasefire or an end to the current conflict  for many reasons, including that he would face an election.

Many also believe that Hamas is prioritizing their continued survival as opposed to finding the best path to protect innocent Palestinians and get humanitarian aid in.  

Who is at the negotiating table for the innocent Palestinians who are not affiliated with Hamas in any way?  I am also wondering: where is Saudi Arabia, and where is Egypt, in these talks and negotiations?

We also read that France has announced it will recognize Palestine as a state in September.

In addition to joining 25 other countries in putting out a strong statement to Israel, Canada’s Foreign Minister has said that while we support a two state solution, we are not ready yet to recognize Palestine as a state – and continues to call for:

• Hostages must be released, and Hamas must lay down their arms.
• The Israeli government must immediately allow the flow of humanitarian aid to reach Palestinian civilians, who are in urgent need. 
• An immediate ceasefire is essential.

There will be a UN conference on ending the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

Our Prime Minister has also said the following:

• Canada condemns the Israeli government’s failure to prevent the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian disaster in Gaza. 
• He also said that Canada calls on all sides to negotiate an immediate ceasefire in good faith, while also urging the release of all Hamas-held hostages and for Israel to respect the territorial integrity of the West Bank and Gaza.
• Reiterated Canada’s support for a two-state solution that guarantees peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians.

Canada has also committed almost $300 million in aid, making Canada the third-largest bilateral donor in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Sadly, much of this aid is unable to reach civilians due to border restrictions.

On an Arms Embargo – our Global Affairs officials continue to confirm that Canada has not sent any “weapons or ammunition” to Israel, and we have also stopped issuing export permits for other Canadian companies to do so as of Jan 8, 2024.

We do have Davenport residents who send me links to online sources saying that Canada continues to send arms to Israel either directly or via the US. We simply are not able to verify that this is true. Each time we get a new source, we send a note to the Library of Parliament, a non-partisan centre, to see if they can validate it – and so far none of these reports can be independently validated or confirmed.

President Netanayu and the US have expressed anger at Canada in the past – read these articles here: 

 Netanyahu accuses Canada, France and Britain of ‘emboldening’ Hamas

U.S. condemns Canada, 4 other nations over Israeli sanctions

Where do we go from here?

I continue to push our political leaders  for stronger Canadian leadership to get humanitarian aid into Gaza. The starvation, the mass suffering of innocent Palestinians (not Hamas) is unconscionable and indefensible. 

26 global leaders coming together is good – and the statement was good – but we need results. We need to see food get into Gaza and to see Palestinians be able to access food without being killed.

Idea: I believe that we need to immediately and urgently assemble a global table of Israeli/Jewish leaders teamed up with global organisational leaders (acceptable to Israel & Palestine) and with Middle East Partners such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and others to find a  solution.   We need to try every idea and solution – we cannot stop. Too many lives have been lost and are at stake.

This is a heartbreaking issue – one that I hope we can find a solution to urgently.

I also want to address the antisemitism that has been reported in our constituency – it is simply unacceptable. When I visited three of the four constituency police stations last week, I raised antisemitism and hate crimes as a top priority. Toronto Police Services agree that a strong response needs to be made, and our federal government is working with police at all levels to combat antisemitism and all hate crimes.

Other things to note this week. 

A trade deal with the USA by Aug 1  is increasingly unlikely – our Prime Minister rightly reminds us that we will not rush into a deal and most certainly not sign one that is not good for Canadians.   PM Carney attended the provincial / territorial meeting that was hosted by Premier Ford this week to give them an update and our game plan to create a more resilient Canadian economy. It’s heartwarming to see that all Canadian P/T leaders are united in our national  plan moving forward.

The provincial / territorial leaders have also indicated that bail reform and immigration reform are needed urgently. Both of these issues are top national priorities for our government.

Fall Federal Budget 2025

Our federal government will be presenting a fall budget – and pre-budget consultations have started.  Typically, I host a meeting to hear your thoughts and produce a formal submission for Davenport. As we have limited time, I would encourage all to submit your thoughts directly here.

This week, I joined Secretary of State Wayne Long to meet with economic and financial leaders to hear their best ideas.  It was a productive meeting with excellent ideas!  I also managed to bring Wayne to Davenport for a meal in Ossington.  We walked around the area after dinner, and he is a huge fan of our great community!

Our federal Minister of Housing Gregor Robertson sent a letter to Mayor Olivia Chow to let her know that the City of Toronto will face reduced funding of federal housing dollars if she does not own up to her part of the Housing Accelerator Agreement. If the City chooses not to invest in sixplexes (a city idea and decision), then they need to come up with an alternate plan to create the number of affordable homes they committed to.

It’s back! The Canada Greener Homes Affordability program will be re-launching later this year. This program will provide low-medium income households (both homeowners and renters) with no-cost energy retrofits such as heat pumps.  As well, if you applied for and are under the Canada Greener Homes Grant program, the deadline to request your grant is December 31, 2025 at 11:59pm.

There are a lot of devastating unacceptable things happening in the world today, and a lot for us to worry about.  

What makes me hopeful is the amazing leaders and residents of our constituency who day in and day out do their part to create a healthy, safe and wonderful community. 

Thank you for caring, thank you for what you do for our neighbourhoods, thank you for taking care of each other.  The only way we are going to get through the challenges that we face is by working and supporting each other. 

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

Warm regards,

Julie Dzerowicz
Member of Parliament – Davenport