Jenna Sudds

Mr. Speaker, it is an absolute honour to be back in the House representing the amazing people of Kanata, Stittsville, Carp and Bells Corners. This summer was filled with moments that highlighted the absolute best in our community, from the Bells Corners Summer Bash to celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Kanata Seniors Council to visiting residents on Canada Day at Tweedsmuir on the Park to the groundbreaking of the new Hindu temple to visiting with families at the Kanata multicultural festival. The warmth and strength of our community inspire everything I do. I return to Parliament this week focused and energized by our government's work to build a strong and resilient Canada. I thank my amazing community for a wonderful summer. I am ready to bring their voices back to Parliament Hill and keep working hard alongside our government to build a stronger Canada for all.

Mr. Speaker, graduation season is under way, and right now, students across Kanata, Carp, Bells Corners and Stittsville are crossing stages, celebrating one of the biggest milestones in their lives. The class of 2026 has earned this. Years of hard work, perseverance, late nights and the friendships they built along the way have all led to this moment. Whether they are heading to university or college, learning a skilled trade or doing something entirely new, the path forward is theirs to shape. The future is full of possibilities, and I have no doubt that each one of them will make a meaningful contribution to their community and their country. I also want to thank the families, teachers, mentors and school staff whose support has helped make this achievement possible. Congratulations, class of 2026. Be proud of all that you have accomplished. The future is bright, and I look forward to all they will accomplish.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present petition e-6893, signed by over 3,100 Canadians, calling on the House to designate May as Buddhist heritage month. Buddhism is a growing faith in Canada. Over 300,000 Canadians practice Buddhism, with communities in every province and territory. Buddhist Canadians make real contributions to our country every day, through mindfulness programs in schools and hospitals, through interfaith dialogue and through supporting vulnerable people in our communities. Each May, Buddhists around the world celebrate Vesak, marking the birth, enlightenment and passing of Gautama Buddha. It is the holiest observance for 500 million people worldwide. Designating May as a natural and meaningful choice moving forward, Buddhist heritage month would complement Asian Heritage Month, Black History Month and Women's History Month, reflecting who we are as a country. Canada is built on inclusion, religious freedom and multiculturalism. This petition asks us to live by those values.

Mr. Speaker, this week Canada staked its claim in the global photonics and semiconductor race. Our government announced the spinoff of the Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre, North America's only end-to-end pure-play compound semiconductor facility, which is built on a legacy stretching from Bell Northern Research and Nortel to the globally competitive companies thriving in Canada today. Now it has what it needs to reach its full potential, attracting private investment and growing innovative Canadian SMEs and fabrication capacity right here in Canada to meet the soaring global demand in AI, quantum and advanced defence systems. It will remain what it has always been, a proudly sovereign Canadian asset. I am grateful to the Kanata North Business Association, the National Research Council and every industry champion who helped make this vision possible. Canada has the talent and the companies. Now it is our place to take the lead.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw attention to the fact that there is no government in history that has done more to support families across this country. Whether that is introducing $10-a-day, affordable, high-quality child care for almost a million families in this country or introducing the national school food program, we have been there for families and we will continue to be.

Mr. Speaker, I recently had the opportunity to attend the Quantum Days conference, where researchers, entrepreneurs and industry leaders from across Canada came together to showcase the very best of Canadian innovation. Canada is a global leader in quantum research, and that leadership matters. Quantum technologies will shape the future of secure communications, advanced computing, sensing and materials. They are critical to our economic growth, our defence industrial strategy and the protection of our national security. By investing in Canadian talent, supporting homegrown companies and strengthening partnerships between academia, industry and government, we are ensuring that Canada develops and retains the capabilities needed to protect our data, secure our infrastructure and remain competitive. Canada's quantum future is bright, and we will continue working to ensure that it is built here at home.

Mr. Speaker, our government has a plan to build Canada strong. We have a plan to create good jobs across the country and to attract investment across this country. We are building industrial capacity, building affordable homes and investing in our future. We have also introduced a new buy Canadian policy, so that we are our own best customer. That is how we build Canada strong.

Mr. Speaker, Canada Post is proud to work with many trucking companies across this country, and in doing so, the CEO of Canada Post has assured us, there is no engagement with the Driver Inc. model. All contracted suppliers are provided with clear expectations, a code of conduct to abide by and consequences for non-compliance. As a government, we expect Canada Post to abide by these standards.

Mr. Speaker, Canada Post is proud to work with many trucking companies across the country. In doing so, the CEO of Canada Post has assured us that there is no engagement with the Driver Inc. model. All contracted suppliers are provided with clear expectations, a code of conduct to abide by and consequences for non-compliance. As a government, we expect Canada Post to abide by these standards.

Mr. Speaker, Canada Post is proud to work with many trucking companies across the country. In doing so, the CEO of Canada Post has ensured us, it has no engagement with the Driver Inc. model. All contracted suppliers are provided with clear expectations, a code of conduct to abide by and consequences for non-compliance. We, as a government, expect Canada Post to abide by these standards.

Madam Speaker, February is Preventative Health Awareness Month, a reminder that the best health care often starts long before someone visits the hospital. Preventative care saves lives. Whether it is routine screenings, mental health supports, physical activity or eating well, early action helps us stay healthier longer. This week, I attended an event in Kanata to help kick off Preventative Health Awareness Month. Originally started by Margaret Wallis-Duffy, this initiative has grown into a national movement. In my community, I see first-hand how preventative health initiatives, from seniors fitness classes like those led by Susan Kunstadt to community resource centres, help people remain active and connected. This month, I encourage Canadians to take one small step: book that appointment, choose one healthy habit to start, and make prevention part of their plan.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary courage of the Iranian people, who continue to stand for their dignity, their freedoms and their fundamental right to determine their own future. The Iranian regime's brutal use of violence, arbitrary detention and intimidation against peaceful protesters must end. In Canada, many Iranian Canadians are watching these events unfold and are heartbroken, worried for loved ones, grieving for those lost and longing for a future free from fear. Canada's position is unequivocal. We condemn the Iranian regime's ongoing abuses and are in close coordination with our international partners to hold those responsible to account. The people of Iran and Iranian communities here in Canada are not alone. Canada stands with them. We hear their voices, and we will not look away.

Mr. Speaker, through the Canada summer jobs program, young people in my community are gaining valuable work experience, developing new skills and earning an income while contributing to our community. Last summer, our government committed more than $1.3 million to youth in my community. This funding helped create over 320 amazing student jobs. These opportunities are helping young people grow through hands-on work with organizations such as the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre, the YMCA, STEM Camp, the Diefenbunker and the Kanata Food Cupboard. These opportunities not only build confidence and skills, but also strengthen the community organizations that serve residents every day. Applications for the 2026 season are now open until December 11. I encourage organizations and small businesses to take part and give a young person a chance to learn and to contribute.

Mr. Speaker, budget 2025 is about meeting the moment and building Canada strong. It is a plan rooted in confidence: confidence in our people, in our innovators and in Canada's ability to lead through change. At a time when the world is shifting, with new trade barriers, global uncertainty and the race to harness technologies such as artificial intelligence, Canada is acting with purpose. This budget invests to protect our sovereignty, supercharge our productivity and empower Canadians to get ahead. It is about spending less to invest more in housing Canadians can afford, in building the infrastructure of the next generation, in clean energy and in creating the high-value jobs of tomorrow. For the communities I represent, Kanata, Carp, Bells Corners and Stittsville, this means accelerating innovation in semiconductors, photonics and AI, and supporting our skilled trades and small businesses, ensuring that the opportunities of the economy are built right here at home. At the heart of the budget are families and the youth of my community. With budget 2025, we are cutting taxes for the middle class, saving the average two-income family about $840 a year. We have cancelled the consumer carbon price, lowering gas prices by about 18¢ a litre. We are making the national school food program permanent, helping 400,000 kids get a healthy meal at school and saving families up to $800 a year. We are continuing to invest in child care, saving families in my community over $10,000 a year per child. We are also launching automatic federal benefits so up to 5.5 million low-income Canadians will get the supports they deserve without extra paperwork. For young people, the budget is a game-changer. We are creating 175,000 job placements to help young Canadians gain the skills and experience they need to succeed in high-growth industries of tomorrow, such as technology, clean energy and digital innovation. These opportunities will ensure that the next generation of Canadians has the tools it needs to help shape the future. For the communities I represent in Kanata, Carp, Bells Corners and Stittsville, that means more opportunities for young people and more money staying in families' pockets. Whether it is fuelling the car for hockey practice, paying the mortgage or putting healthy meals on the table, the budget makes life more affordable, more predictable and more fair for Canadian families. Budget 2025 is about building Canada's future economy, one powered by innovation, research and the incredible talent we have in Kanata, Carp, Bells Corners and Stittsville. The budget invests to supercharge productivity and innovation, introducing the new productivity superdeduction to help companies invest in new technologies and to strengthen the SR&ED tax incentive that fuels R and D. The budget also makes major commitments in artificial intelligence, semiconductors and photonics, including supporting the Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre right here in Ottawa, ensuring that we have sovereign semiconductor fabrication capability, world-class research, and manufacturing that stays in Canada. These investments mean more high-paying jobs, stronger small businesses and new opportunities for our talented engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs. In Kanata North, Canada's largest technology park, the budget builds on our strengths, helping local innovators compete globally while creating the careers of tomorrow right here at home. Strong communities are the foundation of a strong Canada, and budget 2025 delivers with the new build community strong fund. This landmark $51-billion investment over 10 years would help municipalities build the infrastructure that Canadians rely on every day. For Kanata, Carp, Bells Corners and Stittsville, this means upgrades to local roads and transit connections, expanded recreation and community facilities, and stronger flood and stormwater protection for our growing community. This is about giving local leaders the tools to shape their future, building healthy, connected and resilient communities where families can thrive and where every investment helps make our community and our country Canada strong. Affordable housing is one of the greatest challenges we face, and budget 2025 takes bold action to address it. Through Build Canada Homes, we are launching the most ambitious housing plan in a generation by investing $25 billion to double the pace of construction, cut red tape and attract private investment. We are also eliminating the GST on new homes under $1 million for first-time homebuyers and training the next generation of Canadian builders through expanded programs for the skilled trades. In Kanata, Carp, Bells Corners and Stittsville, these measures mean more attainable homes for young families, more work for local builders and tradespeople, and more vibrant, complete communities. Whether it is for a first home, a rental or a place to age, this budget is about restoring the Canadian dream of a house that is affordable, available and built right here at home. Budget 2025 delivers a generational investment in Canada's security, and that means generational opportunities for Ottawa's defence and technology industries. With a historic $30-billion investment over five years to rebuild, rearm and reinvest in the Canadian Armed Forces, our budget would ensure that Canada meets NATO's 2% target this year, five years ahead of schedule, while strengthening our domestic defence industrial base. We are creating a new defence investment agency and launching the defence industrial strategy that puts Canadian companies first. That means growing local supply chains, expanding production capacity and supporting made-in-Canada innovations, from advanced sensors to cybersecurity, AI-enabled systems and secure communications. For my communities of Kanata, Carp, Bells Corners and Stittsville, where defence innovation is part of our DNA, this will mean new contracts, new jobs and new partnerships for companies developing the technologies to keep Canadians safe. From the engineers designing next-generation command systems to the skilled trades supporting our bases and equipment, Ottawa is ready to lead. It is not just an investment in defence; it is also an investment in our people, our technology and our place in the world. Budget 2025 is about leading with confidence and with discipline. It is a plan that balances ambition with responsibility, because Canadians expect their government to be a careful steward of their hard-earned tax dollars. This budget introduces a new approach: spending less to invest more. We are slowing the growth of government operations, cutting red tape and focusing every dollar on priorities that grow our economy, such as housing, innovation and clean energy. We are maintaining Canada's lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7. We are also introducing a capital budgeting framework to clearly separate day-to-day spending from long-term investments that build our country's strengths. Budget 2025 is more than a fiscal plan; it is a nation-building blueprint for a stronger, more confident Canada. It is about protecting what we value, building where we need and empowering every Canadian to help shape our future. In Kanata, Carp, Bells Corners and Stittsville, we see what that future looks like: innovators pushing the boundaries of technology, families working hard to build a life, and communities coming together to create opportunity. This budget invests in them: in affordable homes, good jobs, clean energy and the next generation of Canadian ingenuity.

Mr. Speaker, I consider myself quite lucky in the role I am in and in being able to represent over 700 companies in Canada's largest technology park. Budget 2025 puts forward major opportunities for businesses across this country. Whether that is the productivity superdeduction, enabling companies to write off their investments and increase their productivity in the short term; investments in AI and the AI compute fund, creating sovereign digital cloud across this country; or enhancements to the SR&ED credit, these are tangible ways that our government is moving forward to make this country more competitive and increase productivity within our companies.

Mr. Speaker, it is wonderful to hear the connection made between fisheries and technology, because we know that by enabling and leveraging technologies, we are able to increase productivity. That extends across so many sectors across our country. A case in point is the productivity superdeduction, an opportunity for companies and fishers to invest in their businesses and get the equipment they need to be able to be more productive. This is a tangible way that our government is demonstrating our commitment to them and their future.

Madam Speaker, this feels a little disconnected. Just last session, we saw the opposition vote against a national school food program, but there is good news. They have a chance to do what is right, correct their error of the past and vote to support our budget in just a few days' time to make that program permanent. Will they do that, or will they vote for a Christmas election that nobody wants?

Mr. Speaker, today, an amazing company called Solink, an AI-first, Canadian scale-up and global leader in AI-powered video and data intelligence, celebrated the opening of its newly expanded headquarters, joined by the Minister of Artificial Intelligence in celebrating this milestone. I first met the Solink team back in 2015, when it was a team of just 20. Today, Solink has grown into a leading technology company, with over 400 employees supporting more than 35,000 locations across 60 countries. Its cutting-edge platform helps businesses harness video and sensor data, while connecting artificial intelligence to the physical world and maintaining the highest standards of privacy. Solink is a true Kanata and Canadian success story, staying proudly connected to its local roots. I send my congratulations to Solink.

Mr. Speaker, today, I am excited to announce the launch of Canada's first all-season, medium-speed autonomous shuttle right here in Ottawa in my riding of Kanata in Canada's largest technology park. Operating along a 4.5-kilometre route with eight stops, the shuttle connects employees, students and visitors throughout the park. It reduces emissions, improves accessibility and supports a more connected and inclusive community. The shuttle is equipped with advanced sensors, artificial intelligence and safety systems, allowing it to operate safely in all seasons and showcasing Canadian innovation in action. This launch today positions Ottawa as a global leader in smart mobility and moves us closer to a future of cleaner, smarter and more sustainable transportation. I congratulate all involved for making this happen.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise today to present a petition on behalf of the residents of Kanata. This petition, to date, has over 1,000 signatures from individuals who have expressed concerns about the situation in Iran and are seeking government support for family members who are already lawfully in Canada. They share that the current situation has created severe consequences for families: years of waiting and uncertainty, an inability to plan for the future and being separated from loved ones. This results in emotional distress and financial hardship for families here that are trying to build stable lives in Canada. The petitioners also share that many have been invited by the Canadian government to apply for permanent residency, but their applications have been prolonged by federal security screening. Their petition seeks to resolve these lengthy delays by issuing timely temporary resident work and study permits to immediate family members of Iranian nationals who are lawfully here in Canada. I am happy to table this petition today to ensure that their voices are heard.