Madam Speaker, I feel honoured to rise today in the House of Commons to make my first speech as the member of Parliament for Elmwood—Transcona.
No one would have imagined just a few short months ago that I would be here today addressing the House. I grew up in a very community-minded household. My parents were both active volunteers in my community and valuable members of society. I was raised with those values and beliefs, and understand the importance of supporting and giving back to my community.
I have lived my whole life in the great Elmwood—Transcona riding. I had the chance to buy my first house in this community. I raised my son in the neighbourhood I grew up in. I supported and volunteered in local community organizations, and raised funds to support youth programs my son attended. I spent 16 years working for important non-profit organizations that were dedicated to helping people, including the ALS Society of Manitoba, the Kidney Foundation and the Children's Wish Foundation, which is now known as Make-A-Wish. I also worked for a local community centre.
Like many Canadians, I had two jobs to support my family. For the last four years, I worked as the executive director for the local business improvement zone, helping small and medium-sized businesses navigate a global pandemic while supporting and connecting with local social services groups. Social services groups are the backbone of community. They provide services to our neighbours where the government has fallen short. We are talking about local food banks, veterans services, youth programs and so much more.
I recognize that my experience brings a unique perspective in my new role. There are many community members who have dedicated their time and energy to making things happen in my neighbourhood, and I am just one of them. I do, however, understand, with every fibre of my being, the struggles and preoccupations my constituents face every day. I promised them that as the new member of Parliament for Elmwood—Transcona, I will continue to advocate for my community and every member in it.
As for today's topic, the question of privilege, we have been debating this since I arrived over a month ago. Nothing in the government has moved forward, and we are wasting Canadians' time and money. For months, I knocked on doors, I visited community members, and I listened to their concerns. Over and over, the same things came up, including the exasperating cost of groceries. People in my riding have been forced to choose between groceries and their prescriptions. A few short years ago, Canadians could get a full cart of groceries for $100, and now they are lucky if they walk away with two small bags. Families need relief. We need action from the government now.
My local food banks, like many across the country, are seeing a record number of people accessing them. In some cases, these are families who have two incomes, people who have never accessed food banks before. I even know of one woman who just last year donated to the food bank and this year is accessing it. Again, families need relief. We need to see action today.
Constituents spoke a lot about the lack of affordable housing. Every month in Winnipeg, there are fewer affordable places for people to live. The cost of rent goes up, and there is no increase in income. Although I appreciate the government's push for more housing, I wonder what percentage will actually be affordable housing. We do not need more $800,000 homes. In my riding, we need homes that families can afford, and $800,000 homes are not it.
I was fortunate enough, as a single mom, to be able to buy my first home at 24. I was able to provide a home for my son, so he had a place to call his own. Now as my son enters adulthood and has a good trades job, he cannot see that possibility in this economy. We need to stop greedy landlords. We need to ensure builders are required to build more affordable homes in our communities, homes that the next generation can afford to raise their families in.
Rounding out the top three issues is the current state of the health care system in the riding and across the country. Manitobans are currently looking at a backlog of over 40,000 surgeries. We are also known across the country for having the longest wait times in our emergency rooms. What is the government doing to help Canadians access the health care they need and deserve? Manitobans saw the cutting and gutting of our health care system under the previous provincial Conservative government, which cut 3,500 health care workers and closed a very important emergency room in my riding.
Our current NDP government in Manitoba is working extra hard to try to reopen those spaces, hire back those qualified staff and manage the backlog, but we need to remember that the quick cuts to save a buck today will have long-lasting effects on our country. We need to stop filibustering. We need to be making things happen for Canadians.
The reason I agreed to run in the by-election was to continue the amazing work for which the NDP has worked so hard. Voters know that the New Democrats dragged the Liberal government to the table to get things done. We forced it to deliver on valuable things that the families of Elmwood—Transcona need, things like the national dental care program for seniors and children. We saw this time and again, and yet it is a flawed program under the Liberal government.
We also saw free birth control being provided to over nine million Canadians and diabetes medications for over four million Canadians, yet there are still many drugs that the Liberals could add to the pharmacare program to help Canadians. The New Democrats want to see a head-to-toe health care system that can help everyone in every way.
We have seen the creation of a national program to provide meals for children in schools so that they can focus and learn, and to give parents a break, yet the Liberals are still falling short, as many schools in Manitoba, which started months ago, still are not seeing meals being served. We need to invest more. We need to continue to do things like this.
The New Democrats are dedicated to helping improve the lives of Canadian families and the Liberal government is still falling short. We need to do more.
In my community, we know the cost of the Conservatives. Manitoba saw the cost to social services and community groups when they were cut. We saw the cutting and gutting of our health care system. We saw the short-sighted cuts and we saw how it affected us daily. We need to continue to fight for Canadians because they continue to struggle. Our youth continue to struggle. Our seniors continue to struggle. We need to stop with the pathetic slogans and the runaround answers. We need to deliver more for Canadians.
I am also keenly aware that I am following in the heels of a great NDP MP. In every corner of Elmwood—Transcona, Winnipeggers still speak fondly of the late great Bill Blaikie. It is not in my speech, but I am going to tell members that he honoured my dad on April 16, 2008, in the House of Commons after he passed away. I will fondly remember him for that.
Mr. Blaikie was and will continue to be an inspiration to many. His exemplary legacy casts a long shadow on those who follow. I endeavour to work as hard and as effectively as he did.
I would also be remiss if I did not pay tribute to another great Blaikie, my predecessor Daniel Blaikie, who was as worthy a successor as his father. He was a brilliant, articulate and effective member for Elmwood—Transcona. I thank him for his service in this chamber
Taking my place in the chamber is a true honour, an honour I do not take for granted. I would like to thank the volunteers and voters for getting me here. I look forward to many other opportunities where I can bring a voice to my constituents in this chamber.
I conclude my speech with a simple promise. I will always work as hard as I can to advocate on behalf of my constituents, and I thank my colleagues for accommodating me today.
