MPMichaelMa

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.