MPMichaelMa

Excited to announce that our government is building a new community soccer pitch in Markham! This is part of a $2.165 million multi-year investment to build up to 25 pitches across Canada in collaboration with Canadian Tire JumpStart. The government’s investment follows the $755 million that has been allocated in the 2026 Spring Economic Update to Canadian Heritage in the pursuit of strengthening the national sport system. We are committed to making sports more accessible and to helping everyone experience the lifelong benefits of sport.

The canary in the coalmine for Canada in the ongoing global trade shifts has been, and continues to be, our auto sector. The entire Great Lakes region has operated for decades as a unified economic zone, which has now experienced a great division through the raising of tariff walls. With these existential threats to a core pillar of our economy, it is imperative that we take the necessary steps to protect domestic production and local jobs. Our government’s Spring Economic Update celebrates the launch of our Automotive Strategy, which primarily champions automotive investments and the protection of Canadian auto workers; the broader frame of the strategy is to align our national technological focus with the ongoing paradigm shift towards electrification. As the M.P. for Markham-Unionville, this issue resonates with me due to our riding’s longstanding participation in Ontario’s auto ecosystem – hosting world-class companies such as Honda and Tesla. Our government is taking a practical, common-sense approach to the changing world order, and the Auto Strategy is an embodiment of this grounded modus operandi.

Geopolitical disruptions and tariff shocks to the global supply chain have caused prices for everyday essentials to outpace the zone of affordability for everyday Canadians. I stood with Secretary of State Wayne Long when he announced the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) several weeks back – an update to the GST Credit that will be rolled out on June 5th. When implemented: a family of four will receive up to $1,890 this year, and about $1,400 a year for the next four years; and a single person will receive up to $950 this year, and about $700 a year for the next four years. The CGEB is highlighted in our Spring Economic Update as a cornerstone of the government’s measures to prioritize cost of living concerns, amidst a fraying international order, alongside initiatives like the Food Security Fund and the Strategic Response Fund. Stay tuned for another deep dive tomorrow.

Last month, our government released its Spring Economic Update – the next step in our plan to build #CanadaStrong for all. As Canada navigates a fracturing world order, we are focused on shaping what we can control on the domestic front. Part and parcel of building a more resilient economy at home is setting a national agenda around foundational industries and sectors – one such core area of focus is Artificial Intelligence. We have released the 6 pillars of our National AI Strategy, something that I take pride in as a former CIO and as a member of the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology. I am proud to support a government that focuses on solutions, not division. Stay tuned for further deep dives on the Spring Economic Update.

Over the past month, I had the opportunity to partake in two Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day ceremonies. On May 5th, I attended one such ceremony on the Hill; yesterday, I joined all levels of Government at Albert Campbell Square, in Scarborough, to honour the 17th anniversary of the armed conflict’s end. On matters of genocide, silence is convenience – it is because it is uncomfortable that we must speak up. Who could have imagined in 2009, at the very high-water mark of Globalism, that our interconnected world would allow the Tamil Genocide to take place? We gathered to remember the lives lost, the families torn apart, the communities devastated, and those who remain missing to this day. It is our shared responsibility to remember; however, even more than that, it is our shared responsibility to understand what remembrance demands of us. In our remembrance, we are giving dignity to those who were deprived of it. In our remembrance, we are giving language to our grief. In our remembrance, most importantly, we resist forgetting – when forgetting would be so much easier. To the members of the Tamil Canadian community: thank you for allowing me to share in your moment of remembrance.

Happy Victoria Day! What does Canada mean to us? As we gather with friends and loved ones today, let us take the time to reflect on the roots of our enduring political institutions – a shared history and heritage codified into the country we call home. To everyone in Markham-Unionville and across Canada, I wish you and your family a joyful, safe, and memorable Victoria Day.

Yesterday evening, I stood with fellow MPs and the broader Armenian-Canadian community at the 111th commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in Ottawa. Speech after speech, the common refrain was not to forget and that remembrance takes place in numerous forms: from the deeply personal to the defiantly public. The dialogue centred on remembrance as a praxis, given form through collective action as we witnessed last evening. Thank you for this opportunity to stand with you.

I was invigorated by today’s Housing Roundtable, hosted at the Markham Civic Centre – surrounded by peers and Mayor Scarpitti, we articulated a way forward for affordability in the Canadian housing landscape. After presenting an update on Build Canada Homes (BCH), we had numerous expert stakeholders present both progress on their ongoing projects and suggestions about the evolution of BCH’s programs. At the end of the day, BCH is all about getting shovels in the ground so that we can address the Missing Middle in Canadian housing through diverse project offerings. Whether it’s through innovative financing options or through the implementation of modern methods, like pre-fabs, BCH is moving the needle on increasing our number of builds per year in a cost-effective way. Today’s meeting of minds in Markham has given me great confidence in the trajectory ahead.

Across this Easter Triduum, we join Christian communities in Markham-Unionville and across Canada to celebrate a weekend filled with hope, compassion, and renewal. Easter is a time to gather with loved ones, reflect on our blessings, and support those in need. To all those celebrating these joyous festivities, Happy Easter!

At the end of February, I joined many at Aristo Ariyaratnam's VIP Charity Bowling Event to help raise money for homeless veterans in Canada. We gathered at Splitsville Bowl, in Richmond Hill, where it was a night of local businesses supporting local charities. Donations were made to Homes First, the leading shelter organization across the GTA, along with several local food banks. Though I presented some opening remarks, all credit goes to Aristo and his network for truly bringing this community together. The fabric of our community is woven, event by event, with the needle of grassroots organizing just like this. I see in Aristo’s event a microcosm of how civic unity is truly fostered and maintained.

I had a wonderful time visiting Chava Farms in mid-March – a local community farm and charitable organization based in Markham. They provide therapeutic outdoor experiences for people of all abilities and backgrounds. Surrounded by snowfall, I had the opportunity to meet Chava’s wonderful animals and to learn more about the programs and services on offer to our community. Thank you for the invitation – great things are growing in Markham-Unionville!

Had the immense honour of attending the Little Native Hockey League (NHL) Tournament last week alongside distinguished guests. This tournament, which was hosted at Angus Glen Community Centre, brought together thousands of Indigenous youths across Ontario, their families, and our local community to share in a sport that we all love as Canadians. This was the event’s 50th anniversary. Thank you for choosing Markham-Unionville to celebrate this wondrous occasion!

Over the course of Ramadan, I had the privilege of attending various events in Markham-Unionville, and on the Hill, to celebrate Canada’s vibrant Muslim community. Ramadan is a time of reflection, prayer, and giving back. Throughout the past month, Muslims around the world have come together to strengthen their faith, support those in need, and deepen their connections with family and community. Now that Ramadan has passed, I hope that everyone has been able to reflect on the spirit of generosity and unity it inspires. Eid Mubarak and Assalamu Alaikum to all.

Today, during an exchange with a witness at the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology, I asked questions that inadvertently came across as dismissive of the serious issue of forced labour. To be clear, my line of questioning referred to auto manufacturing in Shenzhen, China, and not in Xinjiang. I regret this mistake and apologise to Ms. McCuaig-Johnston and my fellow committee members. I condemn forced labour, in all its forms. Canada has amongst the most rigorous forced-labour import laws in the world, and I am proud to support the government’s work to eradicate forced labour from supply chains and enforce Canada’s import prohibition.

It was a distinct pleasure to join Minister @DavidMcGuinty and fellow caucus members yesterday as we announced Canada’s commitment to vitalize our sovereign launch capabilities. In this shifting world order, Canadians need a Canada-owned launch pad to send satellites into orbit. This is why our government has committed $200 million to making this a reality. Furthermore, I am excited to share that our government is set to release $8.5 million to support @Nord_Space, a company headquartered in Markham-Unionville, strengthening Canada’s space sector and supporting high-paying jobs right here at home.