Table of Contents
- Davenport MP Report: Working Hard for You
- Important News & Federal Announcements
- Federal Supports Available to You!
Hello Davenport Friends and Neighbours –
I am currently in Copenhagen serving as Head of the Canadian delegation at the 69th Annual Session of NATO Parliamentarians. We are discussing Ukraine (what next; how to get to peace); increasing defence and security of NATO countries; succession of Sweden and a number of topics threatening global security including food insecurity. Last year, I was selected to be a Special Rapporteur to do a paper on food insecurity which I will be presenting in Copenhagen within the next couple of days. I will relay more about our discussions after the session is over and share a link to the report.
It’s been a nice break to head abroad as it’s been a very difficult two weeks in the House of Commons.
We have a new Speaker – Greg Fergus is the first Black-Canadian to ever hold the role and he serves as the Member of Parliament for Hull-Aylmer.xI am delighted he has been elected. He will be an inspiration for Black Canadians across the country; and a reminder for all Canadians that no matter your background, religion, culture –in Canada if you work hard and take advantage of the opportunities before you, you can achieve your potential.
The former speaker, Anthony Rota, resigned after taking full responsibility for acknowledging during President Zelenskyy’s visit a Ukrainian World War II veteran, who was a part of the Waffen SS Galicia Division – a volunteer unit that was under the command of the Nazis. Read my statement here on this matter.
Prime Minister Trudeau apologized on behalf of all parliamentarians: “This was a mistake that has deeply embarrassed Parliament and Canada. All of us who were in this House on Friday regret deeply having stood and clapped even though we did so unaware of the context”
“It was a horrendous violation of the memory of the millions of people who died in the Holocaust…” and “deeply, deeply painful” to Jewish people, Poles, Roma, the LGBT community, and other racialized people in particular — some of the groups that were targeted by the Nazi regime in the Second World War.” Read his full statement here.
Back in Toronto, I was happy to participate in the many activities taking place in the riding and events important to Davenport residents.
It was great to march down Yonge St. with members of our Hispanic & Latin American community to kick-off the Latin American Heritage Month. It was also a pleasure to mark the third annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with Health Minister Mark Holland at the Annual Pow Wow organised by Native Child and Family Services held at Dufferin Grove Park – an amazing celebration of First Nations culture. It was wonderful to see so many community members out. I also want to give a shout out to all the community organisers of the Antler-Lappin path event – for their leadership in advocating that Metrolinx fulfills all the promises around the Davenport Overpass. The community has to be better off and benefit from regional transit going through our neighbourhoods. There is lots more to share in my MP report below.
As well, we have updated the list of federal funding available for residents and organizations in Davenport to include a link to the Call for Proposals for the Substance Use and Addictions Program – an important new initiative to support the mental health of our community. In addition, the list displays the newly launched Pan-Canadian Stream of funding from the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP), which supports innovative multi-year projects for social inclusion of our seniors. This information is now up-to-date on my website.
Finally, this weekend is Thanksgiving – a time to give thanks for all that we are privileged to have in our country. On behalf of my team and myself, I wish you all a safe, healthy, and happy Thanksgiving with friends and family.
As always, it is a true privilege to serve you, Davenport.
My best regards,
Julie Dzerowicz
Member of Parliament, Davenport