Iqra Khalid

[Employment, October 20th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, over the summer in my beautiful riding of Mississauga—Erin Mills, I had the opportunity to meet with many youth organizations to discuss the challenges that they face with respect to employment.

Could the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour please update the House on the activities she has carried out to break down job barriers and help youth get employment, and what steps have occurred to create an expert panel on youth employment?

[Mississauga—Erin Mills, September 19th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I spent this summer being amazed and astonished by how versatile, diverse, inclusive, and engaged the residents of Mississauga—Erin Mills are.

Over the summer, together, we talked about important national issues such as immigration, electoral reform, climate change, and opening our arms to refugees. Together, over 2,000 residents of our beautiful riding came together and celebrated our community at our first annual barbecue.

The inclusiveness of Mississaugans is reflected yet again as they gather today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at in Canada. Congratulations.

I stand up today to recognize the remarkable people of Mississauga—Erin Mills, and with renewed energy, I vow to do my part to bring effective representation for all of them to this place.

[Ramadan, June 6th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, today is the first day of Ramadan, the most auspicious month in the Islamic calendar. Over the next month, millions of Muslims will fast from sunrise to sunset without a morsel of food or a sip of water. Fasting is one of the main pillars of Islam and it gives those who observe the fast a stronger sense of patience and a look into the lives of those less fortunate.

I want to wish every Canadian a Ramadan Mubarak. I hope this holy month brings each of us closer to our families and friends. Every evening as we gather for Iftar, which is the meal to break the fast for the day, and we break bread together, we strengthen the ties and relationships in our communities. Across Canada and in my riding of Mississauga—Erin Mills, we begin our fast and welcome the joyous celebrations this month will bring.

In other news, I am hungry. Ramadan Mubarak.

[Status of Women, May 20th, 2016]

Madam Speaker, women represent close to half of the workforce in Canada. However, a gender-wage gap still exists. Could the Minister of Status of Women tell the House how this government is working toward reducing this gap and helping women to reach their full potential?

[Mississauga Arts Council Awards, May 20th, 2016]

Madam Speaker, I present to the House today a great achievement for my city.

Yesterday, Mississauga celebrated the arts and local artists through the Mississauga Arts Council's 22nd annual MARTY Awards. Artists were awarded for visual, literary, media, and performance arts.

The Mississauga Arts Council began in 1994 as a small arts festival and has expanded this honorarium to a prestigious celebration in the community. Art is the heart and soul of any community, and Mississauga is full of heart and soul. I congratulate MAC for being that driving force and for its achievements.

I would also like to give my personal congratulations to the recipients of last night's MARTY Awards, including my constituents, selfie man Randy Persaud and watercolour queen Fatima Fasih.

I also thank Mayor Crombie and her husband, Brian, for their undying devotion to the arts community. I am proud to have such an organization in my city.

[Multiple Sclerosis, May 4th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, it is our job as public servants to support citizens of our great country when they are faced with a disease as unpredictable as multiple sclerosis.

People like Denis from Trois-Rivières, Quebec, with progressive MS, states:

I’ve never received a promotion. Everyone around me was moving up the ladder, and I wasn’t. My coworkers were asking, ‘What about Denis?’ I’ve never even taken more than a week off work for my illness. There was a time when I met with one of my supervisors to discuss the issue, and he told me I should feel lucky to have a job at all...It was total discrimination.

I am inspired by Denis' story, and others like him, to advocate for simplified and flexible job and income support systems, which will ensure that those affected by MS will get the help they need and increased investments into research that helps accelerate the development of effective therapies for progressive MS.

As my dear friend Imran says, “The one of us who finds the strength to get up first, must help the other.”

[Terrorism, April 15th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, on the snowy day of April 2, residents of Mississauga—Erin Mills gathered to stand united against terrorism. They voiced their sympathy for victims of terror attacks in Lahore, Peshawar, Paris, Brussels, Ankara, Baghdad, Jakarta, and the list, sadly, goes on. Together we condemned acts of terror and vowed to always speak out against these horrendous crimes.

Allow me to thank Reverend B and Imam Salimi for their prayers and some of my amazing constituents who made this vigil happen. Thanks to Dar, Faisal, Farina, Irfan, Yasir, Saima, Brittany, Hifza, Abdullatif, and the hon. member for Mississauga—Lakeshore.

Terrorism has no religion, knows no faith, and understands no conviction. When innocent children are slaughtered, they are not Muslim, Christian, or Jewish. They are not black or white. They are children of humanity. Terrorism does not know that either. I vow today to stand and do my part in eradicating terrorism.

Today is cruel; tomorrow may be even more cruel; but the day after tomorrow will be beautiful.

[International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, March 21st, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, today, on International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, let us remember that our skin colour may reflect the many shades of humanity, but our hearts all beat the same.

I am a young brown Muslim woman. My family is an immigrant family. I have faced the challenges, pain, and anger that racism can lead to.

I came to Canada in 1998 and struggled in this foreign land. Canadians opened their arms, and soon our house became our home, the neighbourhood our community, and this land our nation.

Today I stand as the member for Mississauga—Erin Mills and I am proud.

Canadians embrace diversity. In the words of our Prime Minister, we are “strong not in spite of our differences but because of them”.

We have come a long way but still have a long way to go. Let us strive to combat racism in all its forms and keep Canada the land of equal opportunity the world knows it to be.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, January 25th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent the people of Mississauga—Erin Mills in the House today. In my riding and across the country, Canadians have shown their willingness to help those who suffer and find themselves displaced from their homes and their countries. People have responded more than positively to the government's commitment to take in Syrian refugees.

Can the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship update the House on the number of Syrian refugees who have arrived on Canadian soil?

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, December 8th, 2015]

Madam Speaker, the government really does support supply management.

I will add a little personal story as well. My family owns a grocery store where we sell farmers' products like Ontario spring lamb, etc., so at a local level, we really are working with our farmers to help promote business.