Government Accountability

Canadians need and deserve a government that is on their side, a government that works for the people, and not for the profits of corporations and the ultra-wealthy. With the rise of global conflict and authoritarianism, climate-related environmental disasters, and an ever-deepening wealth disparity, Canadians need a government that is focused on making their lives better more than ever.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised that 2015 will be the last election held under the outdated first-past-the-post system. It is past time for Canadians to have a modern proportional representation system and a strong democracy to better ensure that every vote counts. We must also lower the voting age so that young people who will be most impacted by the decisions we make today have their voices heard.

As your representative, I will work every day to amplify the voices of Van East and to hold the government accountable, and to push them to do more for Canadians.

CPAC VIDEO: NDP MPs Speak with Reporters Following Vote on the Federal Budget

“We have decided to put the interests of our country first—to vote against the budget but to help prevent an election,” NDP interim leader Don Davies tells reporters after government’s budget motion narrowly passes in the House of Commons with two NDP MPs abstaining.

Click link to watch the video - https://www.cpac.ca/headline-politics/episode/ndp-mps-comment-after-vote-on-federal-budget--november-17-2025?id=319439af-072b-4573-99f8-1dd509d7a0eb

HANSARD: Will the Prime Minister tell Canadians what programs are being cut and how people in our communities will be impacted?

Canada Press: Federal officials are not sure when immigration levels plan is coming

NDP immigration critic Jenny Kwan said it’s “unacceptable” that the plan could come after the Nov. 1 deadline.

“Communities, newcomers, and settlement agencies are left in limbo, unsure of what impact of the levels plan will have for Canadians and newcomers. This delay shows a lack of transparency and accountability from a government that claims to value immigration but can’t even meet its own deadlines, defined by law,” Kwan said in an emailed statement.

Bernhard said most people receiving permanent residency are already in Canada, usually on either a work or study permit. He said the system needs certainty in order to attract global talent to the workforce.

Click link to read the news story - https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/federal-officials-are-not-sure-when-immigration-levels-plan-is-coming/

Parliament VIDEO: Restoring justice for lost Canadians

🇨🇦 Restoring justice for lost Canadians

In the House of Commons, I spoke on my amendments to Bill C-3 — amendments that would restore the bill to its original form and right a historic wrong.

More than a decade ago, the Conservatives stripped children of Canadian parents born abroad of their right to pass on citizenship to their own children — creating two classes of Canadians, separating families, and even rendering some stateless.

The Ontario Superior Court has since ruled that these laws are unconstitutional. My amendments would make Canada’s citizenship laws charter-compliant, restore equality, and end discrimination against second-generation Canadians born abroad.

No Canadian should ever be treated as lesser because they live, work, or study overseas. Citizenship is a birthright — not a privilege based on geography or politics.

Click link to watch my speech in parliament - https://youtu.be/Zkus6Q-Grn0?si=wb9zVOG_FLoa7x2j

National Post: NDP MP calls for probe into statement banning Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap

In her letter, Kwan, who is not a member of the committee because the federal NDP lacks official party status, said the incident “raises very serious questions about procedural fairness” and a potential misuse of authority.

Kwan said the announcement raises questions about the “discretion” that can be exercised by a minister or parliamentary secretary when it comes to cases involving performing artists, as well as the criteria the immigration department uses to deny entry to Canada, when no criminal record is present.

She wrote that the incident also touches on issues surrounding how such announcements can be made, as well as “the need to ensure that discretionary decisions respect the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Canada’s international obligations, particularly regarding freedom of artistic expression.”

“To that end, I respectfully urge the committee to look into this matter,” Kwan wrote.

“Ministerial accountability includes the role of parliamentary secretary. It is critical that Canadians and the international community are reassured due process is safeguarded, so that public trust in the fairness and integrity of our immigration and cultural exchange policies is (reassured,)” her letter read.

Kwan said looking into the matter would also provide clarity to Canadians who bought tickets to see the band play in Toronto and Vancouver.

Click link to read the news story - https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/ndp-mp-calls-for-probe-into-statement-banning-irish-hip-hop-trio-kneecap

Globe & Mail: Public Safety Minister set to table new version of strong borders bill after slew of criticism

The NDP’s public safety and immigration critic, Jenny Kwan, has also expressed serious concerns about the bill and, at its second reading debate last month, called for it to be withdrawn entirely.

The bill has yet to progress to its committee stage or to the Senate. But as this is a minority government, it will need the support of MPs from other parties to push it through.

Parliamentary papers that indicate future business in the House of Commons show that Mr. Anandasangaree is due to present another strong borders bill within days.

An analysis by the Library of Parliament, reported by The Globe and Mail in August, warned that the government’s proposed strong-borders legislation risked infringing on Canadians’ Charter rights if passed, including the right to be treated equally under the law.

The study by experts at the library, which carries out research for MPs and senators, also noted that Bill C-2 could lead to discriminatory profiling and targeting by law enforcement and that some of its provisions – including a proposal to allow Canada Post to open letters – would jeopardize the privacy of Canadians.

Click link to read the news story - https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-strong-borders-bill-c-2/

National Post: Calls grow for Carney government to explain statement banning Irish hip-hop trio

NDP MP Jenny Kwan, who this week wrote to Metlege Diab seeking answers on the issue, said the fact that Gasparro announced the government ban before the court case against one of the band members had been settled raises more questions about what transpired.

“Canada needs to make sure that such decisions are accountable and that they’re not subject to arbitrary and political weaponization,” she told National Post.

“It’s really important that we actually get clarity on what went on. Is this a sanctioned announcement from the government? Is the band Kneecap actually banned? Were they ever banned?”

Click link to read the news story - https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/calls-grow-for-carney-government-to-explain-statement-banning-irish-hip-hop-trio

HANSARD: Was the Parliamentary Secretary authorized to announce Kneecap ineligible to enter Canada?

Global News: Is Kneecap banned from Canada or not? NDP urges answer in high-profile case

The federal immigration minister is facing increasing pressure to clarify whether the Irish hip-hop group Kneecap is indeed banned from entering Canada, or if the Liberal official who announced the move was approved to make that assertion in a contentious social media post.

In a letter to Immigration Minister Lena Diab on Thursday, NDP MP Jenny Kwan, the party’s immigration critic, urged Diab to say whether the group is indeed banned after the minister and other officials have repeatedly refused to answer questions on the case for almost two weeks.

The band says it has yet to receive any official notice about an entry ban or denial of their electronic visa authorizations.

“Canadians and visitors to Canada deserve to know that they are not subject to arbitrary and politicized weaponization of public policy for political purposes,” Kwan wrote.

“We need to rebuild integrity into the system in this time of misinformation.”

Liberal MP Vince Gasparro, the parliamentary secretary for combating crime, announced on Sept. 19 “on behalf of the Government of Canada” that the band’s members had been deemed ineligible for entry ahead of scheduled concerts this month, based “on the advice of our officials.”

Kwan wants Diab to answer if the officials Gasparro referenced are in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and if she or other IRCC officials authorized Gasparro to speak on their behalf publicly.

The letter also asks if Kneecap were ever formally banned from entering Canada or if they are permitted to enter, and if the Prime Minister’s Office or any other government officials or agencies were involved in approving Gasparro’s announcement.