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Dear residents,
It’s hard to believe that summer is already coming to an end! As students get ready to return to class after a well-deserved break, the House of Commons is also preparing to resume its work. The session is set to begin on September 15, marking the start of a busy parliamentary period with many important debates and decisions ahead for our country.
In preparation for the upcoming parliamentary session, the Ontario federal Liberal caucus met in Windsor to discuss the economic and political issues that will shape the next session.
I also took the opportunity to visit Countryside Canners, a family-owned business run by Michel Gagnier in Pointe-aux-Roches / Stoney Point, along with my colleagues Viviane Lapointe and Marie-France Lalonde. Thank you to Jean-Paul Gagnier for welcoming us and giving us the chance to learn more about this inspiring business. This visit provided valuable insight into the importance of the agri-food sector in southwestern Ontario.
 
On the weekend of August 16–17, I had the honour of laying a wreath at The Defence of Hong Kong Memorial, alongside Marie-France Lalonde, members of the Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association, and many other participants.
We respectfully remember the 1,975 Canadian soldiers who went to Hong Kong in 1941 to defend the city against the Japanese invasion—the first Canadian troops to see combat during the Second World War.
We pay tribute to the 291 who died in combat, the 500 wounded, and the 267 who passed away in prisoner-of-war camps. Their courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
 
To begin this week, I was at the University of Ottawa, where I announced over $34 million to strengthen French-language health training and services in Ontario.
This funding will:
train more health professionals in French at the University of Ottawa, Collège La Cité, York University, and Collège Boréal;
improve access to healthcare in the language of your choice;
and support better data collection to strengthen planning of services.
As a proud Franco-Ontarian, I know how important it is to ensure our communities can access quality healthcare services while creating opportunities for future health professionals.
To learn more about this announcement, click here.
I am also pleased to announce that the City of Ottawa will receive $66,643,165.32 in 2025–2026 through the Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF).
This funding will allow our city to invest in local infrastructure priorities: roads, water and sewer networks, public transit, as well as community and recreational spaces that strengthen social connections and support residents’ well-being.
At the same time, the federal government is taking concrete action to address the housing crisis with a new initiative: Build Canada Homes. This program aims to support the construction of affordable housing and help developers improve their building practices. Stakeholders are invited to participate in the ongoing consultation to help enhance the program.
Thanks to these initiatives, Ottawa will be able to continue building strong, safe, and inclusive communities.
Wednesday evening, members of Team Fortier attended The Girl With No Hands by Odyssey Theatre at Strathcona Park, right here in #OttawaVanierGloucester
Congratulations to the actors, the crew, and everyone at Odyssey Theatre for this performance and for another exceptional season of Theatre Under the Stars! Across 39 seasons of Theatre Under the Stars, they continue to bring magic, creativity, and thought-provoking stories to our community.
Shows continue until Sunday, August 24, with performances at 8:00 PM each evening and a 2:00 PM matinee on Sunday. Don’t miss it!
The same evening, the Partage Beechwood fundraising dinner took place, organized by the Vanier BIA in partnership with Beechwood Cemetery and the Vanier Community Service Centre, in support of Partage Vanier, our local food bank.
A big thank you to the organizers and all participants for their generosity. Together, they raised 69,000$ to help families in our community. Thank you to the organizers, donors and all those who made this event possible!
From August 18 to 22, we celebrate Public Service Pride Week under the theme:
"Together, We Create Change" 🌈
This week is an opportunity to reflect and take action to advance 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion in workplaces. Let’s continue to make the public service a safe, respectful, and empowering space for everyone.
Many events will take place this weekend — a wonderful chance for the community to come together, celebrate, and support one another.
Hope to see you out there!
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© 2026 Mona Fortier
