Dear friends,

I have been busy in the House of Commons holding this Liberal-NDP government to account, and also busy in Calgary attending events in our communities and throughout the city.

In the House of Commons:

I spoke against a proposed legislation to criminalize speech in support of the fossil fuels industry, I argued against expanding eligibility for Medical Assistance in Dying to those whose sole underlying health condition is mental illness, and debated the Government’s industrial policy of massive corporate subsides for auto manufacturers. See my videos here:

I Could Go to Jail for Saying This!:

STOP the expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying to those with Mental Illness:

Canadian families will each pay $1000 for Stellantis factory build by Foreign Replacement Workers:

My Private Members Bill to axe the automatic annual tax increase on Beer Wine and Spirits:

On April 1st, the NDP Liberal government will raise taxes on beer, wine, and spirits for the 8th year in a row. It will go up automatically without a vote in Parliament because the Liberals gave themselves this power in 2017. My Private Members Bill (C-266) will restore Parliament’s power to set the tax and let elected MPs have the final say on taxes instead of letting the government raise them automatically.  

Conservatives moved a motion at the Finance Committee, to cancel this year’s automatic tax increase on beer wine and spirits. The NDP-Liberals watered down our motion and passed it, to recommend limiting this year’s tax increase to 2%. However, this automatic annual tax increase remains, and the tax will keep going up automatically every year until a future government repeals the automatic escalator.

AXE THE Automatic TAX Increase on Beer, Wine & Spirits:

At the Defence Committee:

I am a member of the Standing Committee on National Defence, and regularly question Canada’s Senior Military Officers, bureaucrats, industry experts, academics, and the Minister of Defence. Liberal Defence Minister Bill Blair still denies that there are homeless Canadian Armed Forces members in Halifax, contrary to evidence provided by the Defence Ombudsman. With access to housing driving people out of the Canadian Armed Forces, the Liberals also tried to blame the Treasury Board for raising rents on our troops. 

Contrary to Minister Bill Blair, Defence Ombudsman says Halifax has homeless Canadian Armed Forces:

Liberal ministers are raising the rent and driving people out of the Canadian Armed Forces:

Every single day this Government continues to break its 2015 election promise to be, "the most open and transparent Government in Canadian history." The committee found that 40% of Access to Information requests are not answered within 30 days as required by law. Minister Bill Blair also denies involvement in fighting the Information Commissioner in court when it's his Department that is refusing her orders. Minister Blair and his Department's abysmal response to Access to Information requests (ATIP), continues to hurt Canadian Armed Forces members. Among other things, it prevents sexual assault complaints from being filed. Members who are medically discharged cannot get the benefits they are entitled to - because they can't get the documents.

Minister Bill Blair admits delaying access to information:

Minister Bill Blair fact-checked over fighting Information Commissioner in Court:

Minister Bill Blair's ABYSMAL response to info requests hurts our Canadian Armed Forces Members:

Most recently, we found the same company that was paid millions of dollars for #arrivescam – GC Strategies, also got contracts from the Department of National Defence (some sole sourced) with no transparency about the work that was done. The President of the Union of National Defence Employees claims there is no oversight on contracts, and no way to know what is causing the ballooning costs.

#Arrivescam GC Strategies also received Defence contracts with no oversight:

Feedback from Calgarians is very important to me and informs the work I do on your behalf in Ottawa. If you would like to share your thoughts with me on national issues, please feel welcome to contact me through my Calgary office.

It remains my honour to represent you at the House of Commons as your Member of Parliament.

Pat Kelly

In the Community

Our Commons Website

If you would like to find out what is happening in the House of Commons or any of its committees, this is a handy online tool. It’s updated in real-time, has links to video feeds and much more. https://www.ourcommons.ca/en

My Inbox

During the past few weeks, correspondence was received about many topics, including the following, in no particular order: 

Community Events

• Citadel: Small Business Trade Show – Mar 16, Kid’s Easter Event – Mar 23 Casino – March 21 - 22
• Kincora: Easter Egg Hunt – Mar 23
• Scenic Acres: Ukrainian Egg Decorating – Mar 16, Senior Speaker Series – Mar 20, Easter Egg Hunt – Mar 23
• Silver Springs: Garden Speaker Series – Mar 27
• Tuscany: Children’s Spring Spectacular – Mar 23