Mississauga Arts Council Awards  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.

Multiple Sclerosis  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.

Terrorism  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.

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination  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.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  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.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  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.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, Canada is a democracy that not many around the world can enjoy, and I can attest to that. It is very important for women to be a part of the electoral process, and our Prime Minister has led us in a very positive direction by including 50% women in our cabinet. I see that our great opposition leader has done the same with her shadow cabinet.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, it is very concerning to hear stories from our constituents about how hard it is to make a living now. I really think the government's mandate will help people who are working hard to become part of the middle class, by investing in items like social infrastructure and developing programs to assist in ways other than providing tax breaks.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, yes, our child benefit program would help people like Kemal, who I really got to know over the past year. As a 14-year-old child with younger siblings, living in today's age, I think he would be one of the 315,000 children that would be raised out of poverty with our new child benefit.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the member for Oakville today. I would first like to thank the people of Mississauga—Erin Mills for entrusting me with their voice, so that I may raise their concerns and advocate for their rights and needs. I want to heavily thank the people who really came out in hundreds to support the campaign for my first election for Mississauga—Erin Mills.