Mona Fortier
Hon. Mona Fortier
Member of Parliament for Ottawa—Vanier
Newsletter
December 19, 2024
A word from your MP 

Dear residents, 

I hope you are doing well and enjoying this holiday season. We’ve had two busy days in the House of Commons, and the Fall Economic Statement was presented on Monday. The statement outlines the government’s plan to support economic growth, invest in Canadians, and build stronger communities.

The 2024 Fall Economic Statement reaffirms this government’s commitment to responsible fiscal management, economic resilience, and social investments. Priorities include reducing everyday costs for Canadians through initiatives such as $10-a-day child care and expanded access to dental care, improving housing affordability, and strengthening workforce success. Investments in clean technologies, critical minerals, and artificial intelligence innovation position Canada as a global leader in sustainability and innovation. The government remains focused on creating good jobs, strengthening productivity, and maintaining Canada’s fiscal advantage, ensuring a strong and inclusive economy for future generations. Several measures have been announced, including the GST-HST holiday for two months, which began on December 14.

The government remains committed to building a more affordable, innovative, and prosperous Canada for all.

For more details, click here!

A truly inspiring moment from the Fall Economic Statement is the announcement that Terry Fox, one of the greatest Canadians of all time, will appear on the new $5 bill. Terry Fox’s extraordinary journey and his fight against cancer continue to inspire Canadians and people around the world.

His courage and determination during his cross-Canada journey, the Marathon of Hope, made him a national hero. His legacy—marked by raising awareness and funds for cancer research—has saved countless lives. His presence on the $5 bill is a lasting tribute to his remarkable contributions and unshakable spirit.

I had the privilege of working with my colleague, MP Pam Damoff, to make this dream a reality. It was very special to make calls to share the good news… and especially to speak with Darrell Fox, Terry’s brother, to share our joy!

Terry Fox embodies the values of resilience, hope, and the power of one individual to make a difference.
 
The House of Commons is on break for the holiday season, and we will return on January 27, 2025, for the next parliamentary session. Until then, I will be in the constituency office and out in the community, while also taking some vacation time to recharge my batteries.

On the community front, several activities have taken place this holiday season. Last weekend, the Ottawa-Vanier community came together on Saturday at the HUB Vanier to support those among us who need it most. Alongside local partners like Chef Ric’s, Money Advisors, and the Vanier BIA, we shared the holiday spirit by distributing clothes, meals, gifts, and more.

A heartfelt thank you to the volunteers, organizers, and partners who made this event possible—your kindness and dedication brought joy and hope to so many. This is what community is all about. Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season!
On that very day, we had a festive evening at CARRÉment allumé at the Carré de la Francophonie de Vanier! ✨ The community came together for a festive evening filled with line dancing, laughter, and holiday cheer. The outdoor line dancing workshop with Francine Levasseur, the decorations, and the hot chocolate made for a magical night!

A big thank you to the Comité de la francophonie for their great work , as well as partners like the Vanier Community Association, Vanier Community Services Centre, and Muséoparc Vanier for making this free family event such a success. It’s events like these that showcase the strength and vibrancy of our local Francophonie.
 
Sunday, at the Ottawa Mission, alongside MP Yasir Naqvi, MPP Lucille Collard and Councillor Laura Dudas we witnessed the incredible impact a united community can have. Thanks to the efforts of volunteers, dedicated staff, and generous donors, many hot meals were served to those in need.
It’s a powerful reminder that we all have a role to play. This season, if you’re able, consider giving a bit of your time, donating non-perishable items, or making a financial contribution to a local organization. Every act, big or small, helps spread the holiday spirit and supports those going through tough times.
 
I would like to thank everyone who joined us on Thursday afternoon at the constituency office for our open house event! It was truly a pleasure for my team and I to meet members of our beautiful community, share Christmas wishes, and discuss the priorities that unite us. Your presence was a source of inspiration and reinforced the bonds that make our neighborhood so special. Thank you for your engagement and warm exchanges. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with health, happiness, and success!

Please note that our constituency office will be closed starting Monday, December 23, and we will return on Monday, January 6. During this time, if there is an emergency, you can send an email or leave a voicemail, and we will check them periodically during this period.

I wish you all happiness and success in your projects and, most importantly, good health in the year ahead. Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and all the best for 2025!

REMINDER - LAST HOURS TO APPLY! Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) 2025 – Employer Application Period

IMPORTANT / PLEASE NOTE: The application period for the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program opened on November 19, 2024, and will close on December 19, 2024, at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). This year, the call for applications will end before the holiday season begins. Don't risk missing the deadline—submit your funding application before December 19, 2024. For more information, please visit the Canada Summer Jobs program website.

Strengthening Border Security and our Immigration System

Minister LeBlanc alongside Ministers Miller and Saks released Canada’s Border Plan – a $1.3 billion investment to bolster security at the border, strengthen the immigration system and contribute to ensuring Canada's future prosperity. 

Detecting and disrupting the fentanyl trade  

  • Support for law enforcement agencies in detecting, intercepting and addressing fentanyl and precursor chemicals by adding AI and imaging tools. 
  • Health Canada will create a new Canadian Drug Profiling Centre + launch a new Chemical Precursor Rick Management Unit. 
  • The Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA) will train and deploy new canine teams to intercept illegal drugs. 

Introducing significant new tools for law enforcement 

  • A new Aerial Intelligence Task Force comprised of helicopters, drones, and mobile surveillance towers. 

Minimizing unnecessary border volumes 

  • Implement changes to end ‘flagpoling’. 
  • Strengthen ability to cancel, change or suspend applications and immigration documents, including visas, when in the public interest. 
  • Collaborating with Global Affairs, impose new costs and restrictions on recalcitrant countries that do not rapidly facilitate the return of their citizens in the event of fraudulent entry or removal order. 

Enhancing operational coordination and increasing information sharing 

  • Working with provinces, territories and local law enforcement, the Government will create three regional hubs that bring federal, provincial and local law enforcement officers together to support and focus enforcement capacity, and intercept organized crime and illegal drugs faster.
Canada’s new ambitious emissions reduction target

Minister Guilbeault fulfilled duties under the Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act by announcing our ambitious and achievable 2035 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target.

Thanks to the efforts of Canadians, we have bent the emissions curve, growing our economy while cutting pollution. Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions are at their lowest levels in 27 years, outside of the pandemic. When we came into office in 2015, Canada’s emissions were set to rise by 9% compared to 2005 levels. Now, together, we are making progress towards our 2030 goal of 40-45% below 2005 levels.

Today we are building on these efforts by setting Canada’s ambitious new target to reduce emissions by 45-50% below 2005 levels by 2035. This marks a significant milestone in Canada’s path to net zero by 2050.

This 2035 target reflects the best science, Indigenous Knowledge, and expert advice, ensuring a path toward a greener, more prosperous future.


National recruitment campaign for parliamentary guides

The Library of Parliament has launched a national campaign to recruit Parliamentary Guides for the summer of 2025.

The Parliamentary Guide Program hires university students from across Canada to offer guided tours of the Parliament Buildings and to welcome visitors to the multimedia attraction, Parliament: The Immersive Experience. This unique opportunity is open to students who are fluent in both official languages and who are enrolled at a Canadian university, at the undergraduate or graduate level, in any program of study.

More information is available on the Parliamentary Guide Program website.  


Celebrating United Nations Decade for People of African Descent

As the first UN International Decade for People of African Descent concludes, we celebrate progress and reaffirm our support for Black communities in Canada.
Since becoming the first OECD country to endorse the Decade, we have invested in:
✅ Recognizing over 40 Black Canadian historic places, events, and figures
✅ Supporting nearly 9,000 Black entrepreneurs through the Black Entrepreneurship Program
✅ Establishing the Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund
✅ Strengthening hundreds of organizations with the SBCCI
✅ Launching the first-ever National Institute for People of African Descent
Let’s keep breaking barriers and building an inclusive future.
In the community 
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233 Montreal Road
Ottawa, Ontario
K1L 6C7

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House of Commons
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