COVER STORY

As Parliament returns, I thought I would sit down with our MP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore to hear what is on his mind as he takes his seat in the Chamber.

What are the priorities for you this session in Parliament?

It is going to be a busy time in Ottawa. We are in the midst of crafting the budget and the Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland is doing a great job at juggling all the priorities.

Our Speech from the Throne outlined the priorities and they include a plan that will finish the fight against COVID-19, take strong climate action, make life more affordable, walk the shared path of reconciliation, put home ownership back in reach and create jobs. I am encouraged by the statistics that show our job market has bounced back and in fact surpassed our original goals.

As for me personally, my roles in Ottawa have changed a bit. I am now Chair of the full Ontario Caucus and in January, the Prime Minister appointed me to the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, which is a great honour. The Committee uses a non-partisan approach to review national security and intelligence activities carried out across government to ensure that the legislative, regulatory, policy, administrative, and financial framework for national security and intelligence is sound. This includes activities undertaken by the Canada Border Services Agency, the Communications Security Establishment, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces, Global Affairs Canada, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, among many others.

My most important role, of course, is to serve the people of Etobicoke-Lakeshore.

How have you been reaching out to your constituents during the pandemic?

That is a great question because I was thinking about how much more difficult Continued on page 26

the pandemic would have been without technology. Thanks to online fireside chats on all kinds of topics, I have been able to reach more constituents at one time than ever before. While these online platforms are not the same as doing things in-person, they have been invaluable tools to keep us connected.

Thanks to local media such as yourself, that job has also been easier.

Even as we come out of the pandemic, I will continue online discussions because they are an effective tool.

Do you have any upcoming online events?

I will be having our mental health event online again this year as well as a chat with the Etobicoke Historical Society, which I am excited about. My calendar this year (which was late in getting out this year sadly for a number of reasons) is finally out and it is chockfull of historical information on our incredible community thanks to the Society’s incredible work.

Speaking of history, as we mark the 26 th anniversary of Black History Month, we honour and recognize the legacy of Black Canadians, both past and present, and reflect on the many contributions they have made to our country. I think of the Hon. Jean Augustine and other trailblazers of the past, and Black History Month allows us to acknowledge the stories and dreams of diverse Black Canadian communities across the country. That’s why this year’s theme is February and Forever: Celebrating Black History today and every day.

I will be hosting an online event for Black History Month as well as International Women’s Day Breakfast, which will stay online for another year. Stay tuned for those events.

As we enter mid-winter – and hopefully the winter chill will ease, we are entering a phase of partial opening, with the hope that life will slowly resume to a new normal.

As we all adapt and move forward, I encourage everyone to support our local businesses to help them on their path to economic recovery.

Stay safe.

JAMES MALONEY

Member of Parliament Etobicoke-Lakeshore james.maloney@parl.gc.ca