Sudds: Canada’s warmest winter

It’s finally Spring! With each day we gain more daylight, and I look forward to the warmer weather returning soon.

That being said, we have just seen Canada’s warmest winter on record, which is very concerning.

We need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, and pricing carbon pollution is one of the most effective ways to do so as it creates a financial incentive for people and businesses to pollute less. And our plan is working. We are on track to meet our climate target for the first time in history, and the vast majority of Canadians get more money back than they pay into the system.

As a reminder, if eligible, you can expect to receive your Canada Carbon Rebate payments on the 15th of April, July, October and January 2025.

Ministerial Update

I got to play tea time with two little princesses this month! It was great hearing from parents and ECE’s at Trent University’s Child Care Centre about why they love sending their children there. The answer? It’s affordable, it’s accessible, and they know their children are having fun.

I received similar feedback, not only at other centres in Peterborough, but as I travelled across the country to Kingston, Yellowknife, and Halifax, meeting with children and child care professionals to hear about and experience the wonders of early learning and child care.

At the end of February, I had the opportunity to join Minister Cleveland in Northwest Territories to announce that child care fees across the territory will be reduced to an average of $10/day on April 1st. That will make a significant difference for families, saving up to $9,100 a year, per child. 

And in Alberta, fees were reduced to $15/day, making great progress towards the goal of $10/day by March, 2026. I continue to work with my counterparts across the country to build our Canada-wide early learning and child care system. High-quality, affordable child care isn’t just good for kids, it’s good for parents and good for the economy. 

Bill C-35 Receives Royal Assent

On March 19, Bill C-35, an Act respecting early learning and child care in Canada, received Royal Assent. This means that parents and children for generations to come will benefit from the affordable, accessible, and high-quality system that we are building. 

I want to thank all of the Ministers that have held this file before me, my colleagues, and the child care stakeholders and advocates across Canada who have helped our child care system become what it is today. There’s more work to do, but we have a plan and we’ll continue to build a system that kids and families can rely on now, and into the future.

Community Events and Visits

I got to celebrate one of my favourite events during the month of March: International Women’s Day! This year’s theme, “Invest in women: Accelerate progress”, reminded us that advancing gender equality helps build stronger communities for everyone. Our government is committed to investing in women with supports like the Canada Child Benefit, affordable accessible child care, universal contraception coverage, and the Women Entrepreneurship Fund. These initiatives ensure that women in all stages of life are being supported. Thank you to all the incredible women that I’ve had the privilege to meet throughout my career. With all your hard work, we can continue to create safe and inclusive communities for all.

I also had the pleasure to attend the first ever Chaharshanbe Suri event held in Kanata organized by the Iranian community. It was such a magical evening, full of hope and celebration! Thank you to all the community members who worked hard to make it happen.

Thank you to the team at Centre33 for the warm welcome – an organization dedicated to the needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth located in our community – and congratulations on receiving funding through our government’s 2SLBGTQI+ Action Plan.

Earlier this month, I also got to meet with representatives from the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre’s Chrysalis House, Interval House of Ottawa, and Women’s Shelters Canada to discuss the need for more supports for women fleeing violence. Women’s shelters and services such as transitional housing are vital in providing the safety that women and their children need and deserve.

March 18 Vote: Canada’s Actions to Promote Peace in the Middle East

Like many in our community, I am deeply worried by the continued escalating conflict in the Middle East. On March 18, I was asked to vote on a motion that called on the House of Commons to show support for several important policies relating to the conflict, and I wholeheartedly supported the text of the motion which was reflected by my vote in favour. This vote is a call for peace.

I believe that this is an essential step for Canada in advancing peace in the Middle East and contributes to the establishment of the State of Palestine as part of a negotiated two-state solution. Thank you to all constituents who took the time to share your views and concerns with me.

Budget 2024

Budget 2024 is about building an economy that works for everyone. To help inform decisions on Budget 2024, our government consulted with Canadians on the most pressing challenges of today—such as making life more affordable, building more homes, faster, and creating good jobs for Canadian workers today and for generations to come.

On April 16, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, will present Budget 2024 in the House of Commons. I will be sharing more details as they become available.

Canadian Dental Care Plan Update

Oral health professionals play a vital role in delivering oral health care, and the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) will allow more Canadian residents to benefit from their care while easing financial barriers to accessing such care.

Oral health providers can now confirm their participation in the CDCP to accept direct payment from Sun Life to limit out-of-pocket costs for their CDCP patients. Details are available here.

Free Community Tax Clinic

Thank you to all volunteers who assist constituents of Kanata-Carleton, free of charge, with simple 2023 Income Tax Returns as part of the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP). The tax clinic is well underway, but appointments are still available.

To see if you qualify for the free tax clinic, please visit the Canada Revenue Agency’s website. For further details and to register for the Volunteer Income Tax Clinic, please visit my website.

Congratulations on Becoming Canadians

Kanata-Carleton has four new Canadian Citizens! It was very exciting to congratulate Hiba, Georges, and their two sons on becoming Canadian citizens.

As a reminder, whether you have questions about passport renewal applications, immigration inquiries, tax filing services, pensions, or other federal issues, my team and I are happy to help.

Important Dates

• Canada Child Benefit: April 19 and May 17

• Canada Pension Plan: April 26 and May 29

• Old Age Security: April 26 and May 29

• Veteran Disability Pension: April 29 and May 30

• View all available benefit dates at: JennaSuddsMP.ca/benefits

You can sign up for direct deposit to automatically receive benefits in your bank account. To do so, visit the Canada Revenue Agency website or call 1-800-959-8281.

Other Upcoming Dates

• April: Sikh Heritage Month

• April 1: Easter Monday

• April 2: World Autism Awareness Day

• April 7: World Health Day

• April 9: Eid al-Fitr (sundown)

• April 13: Vaisakhi

• April 14-20: National Volunteer Week

• April 22: Earth Day

• April 22-30: Passover

Please Keep in Touch

In addition to these monthly newsletters, I also provide regular updates about my work in the House of Commons on my website.

Again, please don’t hesitate to reach out by email Jenna.Sudds@parl.gc.ca or by phone (613) 592-3469. I’d welcome your input and look forward to continuing to work together.

Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates!