Dear Friends,
Parliament resumed its fall sitting on Monday, September 21st, but I want to lead with the horrendous, antisemitic hate crime that occurred in Belleville outside the Sons of Jacob synagogue when a very sick individual attempted to commit a mass murder. I was in immediate touch with our local MP Chris Malette, who met with the leadership of the congregation the next day, to ensure that I expressed my deep solidarity with the Belleville Jewish community and to offer any help I could, including ensuring that we help ensure they obtain Canada Community Security Funding.
I know people of all faiths will join me in expressing my incredibly deep gratitude to police officers Jeff Smith and Michael McCurdy who, no doubt, saved many lives with their heroic actions. I also want to wish officer Smith a speedy recovery. As I told my Liberal caucus on Wednesday, this crime should serve as a wake-up call for everyone as to the urgency for all governments and all Canadians of good will to act against antisemitism, and prioritize this issue. Antisemitism is a threat to our national security, a threat to our democracy, and a threat to our unity as Canadian.
Given the circumstances I am sure all of you would understand why I will lead with information on how we are combatting antisemitism.
Combating Antisemitism and Protecting Communities
National Commitments Progress: I often hear that we need actions, not words. While the fight against antisemitism is by no means finished, and we continue to work with all levels of government to make out communities safer, the Liberal government has made several important, concrete steps to fight antisemitism. I would ask everyone who is interested on what we are doing on antisemitism to read the federal government’s comprehensive progress report we released this week, setting out the concrete actions that we have taken with our partners and the next steps we will be taking to combat antisemitism. The document states clearly that the federal government explicitly recognizes that anti-Zionism is a form of antisemitism. The strategy is grounded in the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism and the Canadian Handbook on its application as foundational educational tools.
Jewish Students Discuss Antisemitism on University Campuses
Meeting of Public Safety Ministers and Attorney Generals: Many of you may remember I have been working for the last 6 months with the Attorney General and Public Safety Minister to convene a provincial and territorial meeting which will, among other things, deal with enforcement of the criminal law to protect the Jewish community and other communities facing hate. We need to get agreement from provinces on proper training for police and prosecutors and enforcement on the new criminal laws that Parliament has passed including the Combatting Hate Act, the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act, and the Protecting Victims Act. All three of these bills give police more tools to protect all communities. This Wednesday, Attorney General Sean Fraser announced in an interview that he was working to convene such a meeting.
The Combatting Hate Act (Bill C-9): Bill C-9 officially received Royal Assent on June 18, 2026, and came into force on July 18, 2026. The Act establishes hate-motivated crime as a standalone offense, creates new offenses for intimidating or obstructing access to places of worship, schools, and community centers, criminalizes the public display of certain terror and hate symbols (such as the Nazi Hakenkreuz, double Sig-Rune, or noose), and codifies a legal definition of “hatred”.
Community Security Infrastructure: Earlier this year, $10 million in emergency funding was allocated to Jewish communities across the country and an additional $75 million was allocated to the Canada Community Security Program (CCSP). This program has funded millions of dollars for enhanced security at Mount Royal institutions.
Other Work in Ottawa this week
Honoring Local Heroes: On Wednesday, I rose in the house to honour two heroes, one Muslim and one Jewish, who lost their lives when a shooter tried to murder people in Montreal this June. Mohamed Lamine Benredouane and Michel Moshe Mizrahi will be sorely missed. May their memories be a blessing.
Committees: I sit on both the Justice and Human Rights Committee and the Public Safety and National Security committee. Both committees did clause by clause review of private members bills this week. The Public Safety Committee unanimously voted in favour of Bill C-221 with a couple of amendments. This was a bill from Conservative MP Mel Arnold to offer greater information to victims of crime and their families. The Justice and Human Rights Committee adopted Bill C-238 with a few amendments. This is a bill from Liberal MP Viviane Lapointe creating a framework for those convicted of drug and human trafficking crimes to pay restitution to organizations that help victims of their crimes.
Question period: In addition to covering Question period for the Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Community Resilience, on a couple of days this week I also covered twice for the Minister of Justice and once for the Minister of Health. This allowed me to answer more questions than usual in question period and gain awareness on additional files, so that I can better fight for the people of Mount Royal on those issues.
Relief at the Pump and Housing Affordability
Bill C-38 (Canadian Fuel Affordability Act): Minister of Finance François-Philippe Champagne introduced Bill C-38 to extend the temporary suspension of the federal fuel excise tax until January 31, 2027, followed by a 50% rate from February 1 through March 31, 2027.
Direct Savings for Canadians: The tax suspension saves drivers 10 cents per liter on gasoline and 4 cents per liter on diesel, directly lowering pump prices for families while reducing operational expenses for truckers, agriculture, food distribution, and construction. This builds on broader relief including the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, income tax cuts for 22 million Canadians, the cancellation of the consumer carbon tax, and GST relief for first-time home buyers.
Canada Rental Protection Fund: Under Build Canada Homes, the government launched the $1.5 billion Canada Rental Protection Fund, deployed via the Canadian Housing Acquisition Fund, to help community housing providers acquire and preserve at-risk rental properties. The initiative has the potential to protect 7,000 affordable rental homes over its first five years as capital is reinvested.
Bill C-39: the Building Canada Strong Act
I strongly support the Building Canada Strong Act. This is an incredibly consequential bill to help Canadian businesses reach more customers across Canada and around the world, accelerate infrastructure projects, and build a stronger Canadian economy that creates good-paying careers and opportunities for all Canadians.
The proposed legislation will:
Build Canada Now: Get projects in Canada built faster by ensuring federal reviews and decisions are completed within one year of a proponent submitting a comprehensive application – while protecting nature and the environment, and in full respect of Indigenous rights.
Keep Canada Moving: Strengthen Canada’s trade corridors and ports to move Canadian goods faster, unlock new markets, and build more resilient supply chains.
Canada Strong for All: Strengthen the labour relations framework, support employers’ and unions’ responsibility to negotiate in good faith, and protect workers’ rights.
The Building Canada Strong Act will allow us to move faster to build, invest, trade, and create high-paying Canadian careers.
Supporting Canadian Industry and Global Alliances
Industrial Tariff Relief: To defend Canadian workers and businesses affected by U.S. tariffs, our government has made available nearly $32.5 billion in support through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI), Strategic Response Fund (SRF), and the Business Development Bank of Canada.
Targeted Counter-Tariffs & Remissions: Canada has matched U.S. tariffs rate-for-rate with targeted counter-tariffs to ensure a level playing field. Simultaneously, a remission framework provides tariff relief for companies importing essential components unavailable domestically, with broad-based coverage across manufacturing, processing, agriculture, and public safety.
Deepening EU Alliance: Prime Minister Carney addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg to propose a deeper, integrated strategic partnership with the European Union. The alliance focuses on critical minerals, defense industries, energy, AI and compute, financial services integration, and expanding opportunities for young people to live, work, and study across borders.
Community Events
Local Engagement: It was a privilege to participate in the TMR Terry Fox Run last week, running the 10K in support of Terry’s legacy of courage, hope, and determination, as well as join the Hindu community to celebrate the Ganesh Festival.
Best
Anthony
