Table of Contents 

• Click here for the highlights.
  • So much FUN@ DoWest Fest & Portugal Day Parade this weekend!
  • Talking housing with Habitat for Humanity
  • Stopping by Davenport mosques for EID prayers
  • Responding to King Charles III’s Speech from the Throne
  • Emergency debate on Alberta wildfires
  • Bill C-2 – Massive border and immigration overhaul
  • My weekly video update on happenings in Ottawa
  • An afternoon of fun at the Carleton Village School Fun Fair
• NEWS AND UPDATES
  • Canada extends support to Ukraine by waiving tariffs on good
  • Creating thousands more job opportunities for youth this summer
  • Cutting trade barriers and advancing nation-building infrastructure with the One Canadian Economy Act
  • Canada reaffirms international collaboration with the European Space Agency
  • Canada Post and postal workers’ union resume talks
  • Air quality warning in Toronto due to wildfire smoke
  • Introducing citizenship by descent legislation for Canadians
  • Donations to help wildfire victims
  • Mourning the passing of the Honourable Marc Garneau

Davenport friends & neighbours,

The 45th Parliament has only been in session for two weeks and we have already introduced a Ways & Means motion, and four pieces of government legislation: Bills C-2, C-3, C-4, and C-5. 

Canada is facing multiple crises, and an existential threat from the United States.  We have to act fast if we want to protect our sovereignty, our economy and our way of life.  We have a plan (Speech from the Throne) and we are working fast to implement it.

The Speech from the Throne was passed this week. This is a major win for the Carney Liberal government, and allows us to move with haste on our next four bills that will change the lives of Canadians (see below). I gave an impassioned speech in the House supporting the Speech from the Throne. 

Bill C-2, the Strong Borders Act, proposes sweeping border, crime  and immigration changes.  Among other things we put in measures to seriously tackle money laundering, ensure more power and resources to border agents to stop guns and drugs coming into Canada, fill gaps in our immigration system that allows too many to take advantage of our system, provide more tools to stop auto-theft, and so much more.  The Minister of Public Safety’s speech is here – best way for you to understand the full picture of the bill.  

Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act, is the legislation that will make the citizenship process as fair and transparent as possible in two ways: 1) remedy the citizenship of anyone who would be a Canadian citizen today if not for the first-generation limit, and 2) extend citizenship by descent beyond the first generation based on a Canadian parent’s substantial connection to Canada. You can watch the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship bring this legislation forward here, and you can read the full bill here.

Bill C-4, Making Life More Affordable for Canadians, is the legislation that will reduce taxes, ELIMINATE the GST for first time homebuyers for homes under $1 million, LOWER the GST for homes between $1 million and $1.5 million with the First-Time Home Buyers’ GST Rebate, and will ensure the permanent removal of the carbon tax from law. This bill when passed will put more money in the pockets of 22 million Canadians, will lower the costs of buying a home and will eliminate a policy that has divided our nation.

Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, is the bill that will eliminate all federal interprovincial trade barriers to people, goods and services; it also sets Canada up to be a trading giant; and a conventional and renewable energy superpower.  Finally, if passed, it will ensure the framework needed to approve nation building projects – that will unite the country, that will ensure better trade with the world, that will create high-paying jobs and that will ensure that Canada becomes the strongest economy in the G7. Note that earlier this week, PM Carney met with provincial and territorial leaders, who all unanimously agreed to the key elements and substance of this bill, in addition to a credential recognition service standard and the importance of a new economic and security partnership with the US.  It was a love-in, apparently!

This is just the beginning.  So please stay tuned for more updates on legislation and how it will impact your lives.  

The unjustified, unacceptable, illogical and illegal trade war that the US has unilaterally started against Canada (and much of the world) intensified this week – with the doubling of the tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50%. We have not yet retaliated, because we want to make a deal with the US President. The Prime Minister is holding private talks with President Trump to negotiate dropping the tariffs.  We will retaliate if we have to, and use all dollars raised from any retaliatory tariffs on workers and companies impacted. We will try to redirect our trade to other nations, and we are looking at all options to support workers including time limited income supports. Our plan is to ensure that as we drop interprovincial trade barriers and build national projects, we use steel, aluminum and other materials from within our own borders.

Wildfires.  These numbers, I am sure, have changed, but earlier this week Canada was facing approximately 180 active wildfires nationally, with 72 classified as out-of-control.  A very cool sounding agency called the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre has arranged for out-of-province domestic and international surge support to firefighting efforts in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Nunavut. The House of Commons held an emergency debate to highlight the Canadian government working with partners at all levels to tackle this issue both now and in the future. Watch my speech here. It is not a barnburner by any stretch of the imagination, but it does explain how things are handled when dealing with so many active and dangerous wildfires.

Happy Portuguese Heritage month! During June, at the national level we honour the contributions of the Portuguese to Canada and celebrate Portuguese culture, heritage, and language. For those who may not know, the constituency of Davenport has the highest concentration of Portuguese Canadians in the country. 

It’s been a true  privilege to witness  the heart and strength of this community firsthand. From small businesses and community centres to music, festivals, and multigenerational households rooted in tradition, the Portuguese spirit of família, hard work, and pride in heritage is woven into the very fabric of our community.

I hope you will join me at the following  festivities: the Portugal Day Parade this Saturday at 10am along St. Clair Avenue West, beginning at Oakwood and St. Clair; and I will also be at DoWest Fest this weekend on Dundas St. West tonight and tomorrow (Jun 7, 8). I hope to see many of you there!

I want to acknowledge that Davenport for Ceasefire has presented me with petitions about reaffirming my commitment to an arms embargo. I know that a number of Davenport residents came by throughout the day on Thursday to express their concern about what is happening in Gaza; to ask our government to continue to take urgent action; to ensure that innocent Palestinians have access to food, water, and medical supplies; and to continue to advocate for the release of all hostages and ensure a lasting peace for both Palestine and Israel. I look forward to meeting with members of the community in the coming days and weeks.

In case you have not seen it, here is the latest joint statement on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, released on May 19 by Prime Minister Carney, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and President Macron of France. The leaders reaffirmed in the joint statement that our countries, including Canada, will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government denies essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response, including targeted sanctions.

Eid Mubarak to all Muslims in the Davenport community; it was a pleasure to say hello to so many friends and families at Masjid El Noor and the Da’wah Centre this morning.  

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

Warm regards,
 

Julie Dzerowicz

Member of Parliament – Davenport