Madam Speaker, it is with deep humility, great hope and unwavering dedication that I rise today as the voice of the residents of Mississauga East—Cooksville. I wish to begin by offering my sincere congratulations to you, Madam Speaker; it is great to see you in the chair again.
I congratulate all members in the House on their election and re-election. Each of us brings a distinct voice and unique experiences here. While we may sit on different sides of the aisle, we are united by a shared commitment to serve the people who entrusted us to be here and to do all we can to make their lives that much better.
Above all, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to the people of Mississauga East—Cooksville for placing their trust in me to be their representative here in the House. I thank them for opening their doors, sharing their stories and touching me deeply. It is their ideas, their concerns, their dreams for a better future that shape everything I do in this chamber.
I thank my family, my loving wife Christina and our twin boys Sebastien and Alexander, for their unconditional support and love. I thank the volunteers who gave their time, energy and hearts to our campaign. They made this possible, and this moment belongs to them as much as it does to me. I am thankful to my office team for providing the constituents of Mississauga East—Cooksville with great care, respect and service that is second to none.
The world we live in today feels more uncertain than ever. It is fast-moving, more fragile and at times deeply unsettling. Families are feeling the weight of rising prices, struggling to keep up with the cost of living, while at the same time worrying about the safety of their neighbourhoods and the stability of our country. From unpredictable global conflicts and inflationary pressures to U.S. tariffs and threats on our national security, these challenges are not abstract. They are real. They touch the lives of everyday Canadians.
In moments like this, people need to know their leaders are listening, that we understand their fears, that we are working every day to protect their future. With every challenge comes an opportunity, an opportunity to lead with clarity, to act with compassion, to build a future where no one is left behind. Mississauga East—Cooksville, like many communities across Canada, is feeling the weight of these challenges.
A safe Canada is a strong Canada, and that strength starts with ensuring that those who would do harm are stopped in their tracks. From cracking down on organized crime and money laundering to protecting our borders and modernizing our law enforcement tools, we are defending the integrity of our communities and our economy alike, because national security and economic security go hand in hand. When Canadians feel safe, businesses thrive, investments grow and opportunity flourishes. That is why our plan to build a more prosperous Canada begins with a clear-eyed commitment to the safety and security of our communities.
Earlier this week we had the opportunity to witness a moment that reminded me why I believe so deeply in our great country. This week in Saskatchewan, the Prime Minister and premiers from across Canada came together to focus on building and protecting our nation together. They gathered not just to talk but to act, to move forward on nation-building projects that will use the best of what Canada has to offer.
From the steel forged in Hamilton to clean energy solutions from Alberta and advanced manufacturing right in my community of Mississauga East—Cooksville, Ontario, this is a plan that harnesses our full potential as a country. It is about connecting regions, strengthening our economy and creating good jobs in every province and territory. It is about making sure that when Canada builds, we build together.
Even as this important work took place, Saskatchewan was battling devastating wildfires. Families were displaced, communities were under threat, and what we saw was solidarity among our country. We saw our first responders there to help, putting themselves on the line, protecting the lives and livelihoods of so many.
What I saw in Saskatchewan was the very best of our federation: leaders setting aside differences to serve Canadians, a commitment to co-operation that transcends partisanship and a belief that a stronger Canada is not built in isolation but by bringing people and provinces together. When we look out for one another, when we invest in each other, when we build not just for today but for generations to come, Canada is at its strongest.
We will eliminate internal trade barriers that stifle innovation and cost our economy billions each year. In doing so, we will create one strong Canadian economy from 13, driving prosperity in every corner of this great nation.
For this economic prosperity to take root, people must not only feel safe in their local communities, but also feel confident that their country is secure from external threats. Local safety encourages investment, job creation and community development, while national security protects our borders, critical infrastructure and trade routes. When both internal and external threats are effectively addressed, it creates a stable environment where businesses can thrive and families can plan for the future.
In this way, safety and security at home and across our borders are essential pillars of a strong and resilient economy. Security begins at home, and today, Canadians are feeling a growing unease. In our neighbourhoods, families are increasingly concerned about rising crime, particularly auto thefts, home invasions, drug trafficking and repeat violent offences.
In Mississauga East—Cooksville and across the country, we have heard these concerns loud and clear. This is not just about numbers in a report; it is about really investing in our communities and making sure we can provide peace of mind to our citizens.
That is why our new government is taking bold, concrete action to strengthen community safety from every angle.
We will hire 1,000 additional RCMP officers and 1,000 additional Canada Border Services Agency officers. We are going to reform the Criminal Code to make it more difficult for repeat violent offenders to be released on bail, ensuring that dangerous individuals are not returned to our streets prematurely.
At our ports and borders, we are expanding the tools available to the Canada Border Services Agency to intercept illegal goods before they reach our communities, especially the deadly flow of fentanyl precursors and the increasing number of stolen vehicles linked to crime and smuggling rings.
We are going further. Through the strong borders act, we are targeting transnational crime and money laundering, modernizing our immigration system to prevent fraud, and empowering our Coast Guard to protect Canadian sovereignty and disrupt criminal activity at sea.
Before I speak about the importance of safety and security, I must first speak from the heart about something that shook me and those around me to the core: the arson attack on my constituency office. This was not just an attack on a building; it was an attack on the very spirit of democracy, on the belief that we settle our differences through dialogue, not violence and destruction.
I want to sincerely thank our first responders for their quick and courageous actions. I am also deeply grateful to the people of Mississauga East—Cooksville, who reached out with compassion, stood in solidarity and reminded me of the strength and kindness that define our community.
I want to thank my staff, who experienced this trauma first-hand, for their unwavering commitment to public service, their grace and their strength, even in the face of this senseless and malicious act.
Safety and security in our communities and for our country are paramount. Let us be clear: Safety is not a partisan issue. Safety is about ensuring that all of us are able to live safe and secure at home, in the workplace, on the streets and in our democratic institutions. We are all stronger for it. We are Canada strong.
