Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my maiden speech, with profound gratitude to my constituents, my family and my colleagues, and with immense pride as the newly elected member of Parliament for Port Moody—Coquitlam, which includes the villages of Anmore, Belcarra and beautiful B.C.'s coastal communities. Our community spans the ancestral and unceded homelands of the Coast Salish peoples, including the Kwikwetlem, Tsleil-Waututh, Musqueam, Squamish, Katzie, Kwantlen, Kyuquot and Stó:lo nations. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to them for caring for these lands since time immemorial.
Like many in the House, I did not get here alone. My path has been paved by the trust and support of my community, the voters who placed their faith in me for the past 14 years, first as their voice in local government and now as their member of Parliament. They believe in progress and the idea that government can and must be a force for good in their lives. It is their collective voices that guide me here today. It is humbling and energizing all at the same time. The responsibility of it is enormous. This role is not about representing a riding on paper, but about effectively giving voice to people's concerns, their ambitions and their faith in what Canada can become.
All along, I have been inspired by my mom. She is 85 now and was a trailblazer as one of Canada's first female OBGYNs. It was lonely for women in the profession in Calgary in the beginning, where she first practised. That is where some of the very hard times in Alberta were back then for women. A woman had to be a victim of rape or claim mental insanity for the right to choose. Today, more than 50% of those in the profession are women. Mom was very active with the status of women and the creation of the “Shocking Pink Paper” of 1988 to ensure that Canada's daughters were safe from harm in the workplace and had equal rights and equal pay. I have big shoes to fill, but I need all members to stand with me in doing this important work.
I also extend my heartfelt thanks to my family: my husband Gaetan, our kids Isabelle, Vincent, Carola, and Charlotte, and my awesome dad, who is an extraordinary mentor. He is retired as a geophysicist, but he still teaches at the Mount Royal University in the sciences.
I offer my sincerest gratitude to my community back home and my phenomenal campaign team and volunteers, for without them I could not be here today.
Port Moody is a jewel of the Lower Mainland, from the mighty Fraser River in the south to the serene Burrard Inlet in the west, through the towering trees of Anmore and Belcarra. Our region is a meeting place, a city of nature, tradition, innovation and cultures from every corner of the world. Our diversity is our strength. Nearly half of Coquitlam's residents are immigrants, people who came from around the world to build a better life. They bring with them talent, drive and compassion. These values show up in our schools, our businesses, our local arts scene and our community, everywhere. It showcases who we are.
We are also a community of care. Non-profit groups like SHARE Family & Community Services work tirelessly to support families in our community. The Port Moody and Coquitlam foundations support our community as well with their needs and ideas. Our first nation partners continue to teach us what stewardship and respect for the land truly mean.
In 2021, when I was on the Port Moody city council, I co-authored a report calling for meaningful engagement with first nations, support for UNDRIP, the implementation of the five truth and reconciliation recommendations that municipalities have within their power, and of course a blanket exercise for council and staff. It is my hope that every Canadian can participate in and experience a blanket exercise so they can truly understand the devastation of colonialism.
I am encouraged by the recent Speech from the Throne, “Building Canada Strong: A bold, ambitious plan for our future”. It outlines a vision that meets this moment. It does not sugarcoat the challenges ahead but reminds us of what Canada can be if we act with purpose and we act together. We are not here to manage decline; we are here to share and build progress.
The throne speech delivered by His Majesty King Charles III speaks of a country that must not settle for getting by, but one that must invest boldly in building up. It calls for Canada to make sure that no one is left behind, where prosperity is shared and where ambition is matched with action. All this is backed up by a plan in the “Canada Strong” vision that was laid out by our Prime Minister, and as a new MP, I believe in it. It diagnoses what is not working and points to what is possible when the government works together.
The “Canada Strong” plan recognizes what Canadians already know, that affordability is the central issue, and it calls for a transformative approach to housing. This would remove the barriers in building and make sure that people have access to clean and secure housing in a way never seen before.
Innovation is not a trade-off, but a growth strategy. Companies like Moment Energy, based right here in Coquitlam, are already leading the way. By repurposing EV batteries, they are proving that sustainability and entrepreneurship go hand in hand.
The King also speaks to small businesses, like the ones in my community, lining St. Johns and Clarke streets in Port Moody, or Austin Avenue and North Road in Coquitlam. They are not just job creators. These people are dreamers, risk-takers and community builders. The “Canada Strong” plan supports them with targeted tax relief and by reducing red tape so that they can do what they want to: grow, hire and innovate. However, none of this is possible without us working together.
Just as importantly, the plan doubles down on Canada's most enduring advantage: its people. This means continuing to invest in universal, affordable child care. It means tackling systemic inequities in health, education and income, and, yes, it means reconciliation, but not with words alone.
The King's lifelong advocacy on sustainability and climate action has emphasized partnerships among governments, businesses and communities for the very reason that nature is our life support system. It sees young activists as the architects of tomorrow.
During COVID, while I was on city council, I met with a group of grade 4 and 5 students in our school district. They called themselves the “super team”, which stands for “single-use plastic elimination reinforcers”. They shared their concerns about animals, fish and birds that were strangled by plastic or malnourished because their stomachs were full of it. They wanted a ban. They came to Port Moody city council and got unanimous support, then they went to the province, and now we have this ban happening federally. Kids from my community led the way and influenced the legislation. This gave us hope. They give me hope.
Like the King's speech, with themes of unity and service in the spirit of “Canada Strong”, the super team story shows how extraordinary people, especially youth, can drive extraordinary change through collaboration and perseverance. Let us continue this good work together.