Mr. Speaker, I rise today to respond to the Speech from the Throne delivered by His Majesty King Charles III. Before I begin, I would like to extend my appreciation to the residents of Brampton South for once again placing their trust in me to represent them in the 45th Parliament. This continued trust gives me the honour of being their voice in the chamber, standing up for their priorities and working to make our community stronger, safer and more inclusive for everyone.
I also want to extend heartfelt thanks to my family, staff, volunteers and residents for their continued support. As we begin this new parliamentary session, we are setting a course for a bold and forward-looking Canada, one that reflects the hopes and aspirations of Canadians across the country.
At the doors in Brampton South, I heard directly from our community members on priorities that matter to them the most. More than that, people told me they want to see real solutions, not slogans, action that meets the moment and sets us on the best path forward. That is exactly what the throne speech delivers: a clear, ambitious agenda to tackle the challenges head-on and build a more secure, more affordable and more prosperous future for generations to come, where Canadians can afford a home, find a good-paying job and feel safe in their neighbourhood.
First, our Liberal government is delivering a middle-class tax cut. Residents in Brampton South work hard every day to support their family, and they deserve to keep more of their hard-earned money. That is why one of the first actions of the current government is to deliver meaningful tax relief for the middle class. Starting July 1, we plan to reduce the lowest personal income tax rate from 15% to 14%. This tax cut will benefit nearly 22 million Canadians and save two-income families up to $840 a year by 2026. For families in Brampton South, that is money that can go toward groceries, kids' activities or saving for the future.
Over the next five years, this tax cut will return more than $27 billion to Canadians, dollars that remain in our communities and support local economies like ours in Brampton South. Our message is clear: We are cutting taxes and delivering changes so all Canadians can get ahead.
Second, our government will continue to invest in health care and affordability measures. The government is building on progress that is already making life more affordable for families in Brampton South, like $10-a-day child care, the national school food program and the Canadian dental care plan. Thanks to our $10-a-day child care program, parents in Ontario are saving over $10,000 per year per child.
In Brampton, we are seeing new child care spaces opening. For example, there is the SimplySmart Child Care Centre and Montessori school. I have spoken with parents first-hand, especially mothers, who are now able to return to work or take on more hours, knowing their children are in safe, affordable care. This is more than good social policy; it is also smart economic policy. It gives our children the best possible start and supports parents as they build their career.
We are also making progress with the national school food program, an ambitious step in strengthening our social safety net. With over $1 million in federal funding over five years, the program will provide nutritious meals to more than 400,000 students in Ontario alone, helping our students focus, learn and thrive.
Through the Canadian dental care plan, we are delivering real savings, up to $750 a year on essential dental care. This historic program has already helped over 3.6 million Canadians, including 1.8 million who have received care to date. Now all uninsured eligible Canadians can apply, with the goal of reaching up to nine million Canadians.
These are not just numbers; they are life-changing supports. I have spoken with single mothers in Brampton South who are now able to work full-time thanks to access to affordable child care. I have heard from seniors who can finally get the dental care they need without the burden of high costs. These are the people we are fighting for, and we will keep working every day to deliver for them.
Third, our Liberal government remains committed to building more homes for Canadians. In Brampton, housing demand has increased. That is why I welcome our government's ambitious plan to double the rate of homebuilding in Canada and support a new wave of affordable housing construction. We are launching the new “build Canada homes” initiative to unlock new projects for prefabricated housing and to make it easier for builders to get shovels in the ground. By cutting development charges and offering significant financing to non-profit and affordable housing providers, we are addressing the root causes of unaffordability.
This work is already happening in Brampton. Through the housing accelerator fund, the federal government is investing $114 million to fast-track the construction of more than 3,150 new homes in the city of Brampton. This funding is helping Brampton officials cut red tape, speed up zoning changes and support higher-density development near transit and essential services.
We are also taking action to make home ownership more affordable for first-time buyers by eliminating the GST on new homes valued up to $1 million, saving them up to $50,000, and reducing the GST on homes priced between $1 million and $1.5 million. These are concrete steps that are making a difference right now so more families in Brampton South can find an affordable place to call home.
Fourth, our Liberal government will continue to make our communities safer and more inclusive for everyone. Safety is a top priority for our communities, and when it comes to keeping our streets and neighbourhoods safe, all levels of government must work together. That is why the Liberal government is taking concrete action with respect to supporting local municipalities, law enforcement and the Province of Ontario to combat and prevent organized crime and auto theft, and to keep assault-style weapons off the street.
In the Region of Peel, theft of motor vehicles has declined significantly, with a 16% drop in 2024 and a further 45% decline in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. These are not just statistics; the numbers represent real change that our partners can bring with the support of the federal government. That is why we are investing in stronger bail enforcement and tougher laws to keep repeat violent offenders off our streets, 1,000 new RCMP officers to strengthen law enforcement capacity across Canada, federal funding and intelligence coordination to disrupt organized auto theft rings, and technologies like drones, scanners and K-9 units to intercept stolen vehicles and illicit goods.
Our message is clear: We are committed to ensuring that our communities are safe, and our investments are working. Together, with local, provincial and federal collaboration, we are making our streets safer for everyone.
Fifth, our Liberal government will build one Canadian economy and safeguard Canadian values and sovereignty. We are living in a time of deep uncertainty around the world. In recent months, we have heard alarming rhetoric from south of the border, but let us be clear: Canada is not for sale, and the true north is indeed strong and free. As outlined in the Speech from the Throne, our government is responding with confidence, conviction and vision.
Our Liberal government will continue to diversify our trading partners. Canada has 15 free trade agreements cover 61% of the world's GDP and open markets to 1.5 billion consumers worldwide. Most important, we are building one Canadian economy, removing internal trade barriers, strengthening supply chains and empowering our industries with the local tools required to lead and compete in a rapidly changing world. We will create one Canadian economy, not 13 Canadian economies. This will lower prices up to 50%, increase productivity up to 7% and add $2 billion to the economy.
Together, we are building a Canada that is united, resilient and ready to lead, not just today but for generations to come.