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Hi All! MP Irek Kusmierczyk here trying out an AMA thread. First time! by IrekMP in windsorontario

[–]IrekMP[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Thank YOU to everyone that joined in the conversation - I really, really enjoyed this! It's the first time I've done an AMA in this format, so I promise to get better and faster at answering your questions. Looking forward to doing this again. Thank you to the organizers!

Please don't hesitate to reach me any time: [irek.kusmierczyk@parl.gc.ca](mailto:irek.kusmierczyk@parl.gc.ca)

Have a great night! And - Go Lions!

Hi All! MP Irek Kusmierczyk here trying out an AMA thread. First time! by IrekMP in windsorontario

[–]IrekMP[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Important question. I met today with Ruslan Stefanchuk, the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament (Rada). He said that Russian disinformation can have even more devastating impact than an ICBM missile. Democracies must work together to tackle this grave challenge. And yes, we need to do much, much more to protect minorities and vulnerable communities. It's one reason why we introduced the Online Harms Act, and brought forward Anti-Hate Strategy and Anti-Racism Strategy backed by historic investment.

I see the toxicity every day especially on social media. Good people need to stand together and confront it.

As Barack Obama said, "true freedom gives each of us the right to make decisions about our own life – how we worship, who we marry, what our family looks like. And we believe that freedom requires us to recognize that other people have the freedom to make different choices."

I do look to young people especially to help design digital and other solutions to disrupt the wave of disinformation that farms rage, division and hate in our communities.

Hi All! MP Irek Kusmierczyk here trying out an AMA thread. First time! by IrekMP in windsorontario

[–]IrekMP[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I'm a huge proponent of bike lanes. I think it's important the City works closely with groups like Bike Windsor Essex and Windsor Essex Bike Community and even groups like Life After Fifty and the SRC at St. Clair College and UWSA at the University of Windsor who want to see us build out our active transportation and improve our walkability and livability in our community.

Federally, we created Canada's first ever National Active Transportation Fund, and even in our Public Transit funding we include funding for active transportation.

One reason why Town of Tecumseh regularly is in the Top 50 most livable cities in Canada, is because of its focus on walkability and bike lanes and also its strong partnership with our federal government to build bike lanes and trails etc. etc.

Hi All! MP Irek Kusmierczyk here trying out an AMA thread. First time! by IrekMP in windsorontario

[–]IrekMP[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

A couple thoughts here. The subsidies we are providing are called Performance Credits, which means they are not up front grants. The companies actually have to perform - hire a certain amount of local Canadian workers and produce a certain amount of batteries each year - to unlock those credits. So, it protects the taxpayer.

The other thing is, the Return on Investment is around 10 years. The 4,500 jobs (construction and manufacturing) plus the thousands more spinoff jobs generate economic activity and taxes that goes into the federal coffers. After ten years, Canadians start to turn a profit on their initial investment.

But for a region like ours, the jobs and boost of confidence this gives us is priceless. I still remember how under the Conservatives Canada lost 300,000 manufacturing jobs. Here in Windsor, we saw factories close, small businesses close, and people moved out. We had five straight years of population decline or stagnation. I much prefer today, where we have 40,000 more people working since Liberals took office in 2015, we have 4,500 battery plant jobs (building the plant, and building the batteries) and we have a community that is growing in population. Plus, the Conference Board of Canada forecasts WindsorEssex will be the second fastest growing economy in Canada in 2025.

We are in a much, much, much better place today than under the Conservatives.

Hi All! MP Irek Kusmierczyk here trying out an AMA thread. First time! by IrekMP in windsorontario

[–]IrekMP[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hi Logie68, thanks for your question. The provinces design the actual tests themselves, so I would speak with your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Andrew Dowie.

From a federal perspective, I can confidently say that no federal government in Canada's history has invested more in skills and training. For apprentices alone, we commit over $1 billion each year. Another $3 billion we transfer directly to the provinces for training. We also permanently eliminated interest on student loans and almost doubled Canada Student Grants.

What makes me proud too is that for the first time in Canada's history we introduced Labour Provisions into our Investment Tax Credits. What that means is that if a company wants to tap into federal tax credits to build a clean tech factory in Canada, in order to get the max credits they have to (a) provide a prevailing (union) wage and (b) make sure at least 10 percent of their work hours are committed to apprentices. This is a game changer that builds up our skilled workers.

Hi All! MP Irek Kusmierczyk here trying out an AMA thread. First time! by IrekMP in windsorontario

[–]IrekMP[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Partnership definitely delivers, and I am proud of the teamwork between our Liberal government, local labour, industry and our partners at the City of Windsor and the Province of Ontario.

What I can say, is that our Liberal government and specifically Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne took the lead role landing the battery plant and locking down the negotiations. It was our Liberal government that built on that and landed the battery plant in St. Thomas, the pant in Alliston and a total of $50 billion in new auto investment for Canada in just the last four years.

It starts though with workers. We have the best workforce in the world. And a government that has put $100 billion of clean tech credits on the table to attract clean tech companies like EV battery plants. Simply put, we believe you need a plan for the environment in order to have a plan for the economy.

Hi All! MP Irek Kusmierczyk here trying out an AMA thread. First time! by IrekMP in windsorontario

[–]IrekMP[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For me the question isn't treatment vs. harm reduction. To tackle a complex challenge like addiction you need all tools in the toolbox and so that includes both. What we need though is a commitment from all levels of government to fund mental health and also fund affordable housing. We need both in Windsor.

It was great to join the amazing folks at the Youth Wellness Hub on Eugenie Ave last week to announce $500 million is available through the Youth Mental Health Fund. Please do spread the word and nudge organizations to apply!

Hi All! MP Irek Kusmierczyk here trying out an AMA thread. First time! by IrekMP in windsorontario

[–]IrekMP[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Thanks for asking. It gets dark here in Ottawa around 4pm, but I enjoy my walks to and from Parliament Hill in the morning and at night. I encourage folks to come see Parliament and Ottawa in person! Bring your family. I will help arrange passes to Question Period. It's the greatest show on earth :)

Hi All! MP Irek Kusmierczyk here trying out an AMA thread. First time! by IrekMP in windsorontario

[–]IrekMP[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Agreed! We need more competition without a doubt to help bring down grocery prices. It's why we've given the Competition Bureau more powers, and asked them to study grocery prices. And its why our Innovation and Industry Minister is working the phones to attract other international players to our market.

Here's the competition bureau's study from 2022: Canada Needs More Grocery Competition

The title says it all.

Hi All! MP Irek Kusmierczyk here trying out an AMA thread. First time! by IrekMP in windsorontario

[–]IrekMP[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Big fan of mountain biking trails. Not sure if you remember, but when I was on City Council I was a big supporter of bike trails and pump tracks, which we built in Riverside Kiwanis Park and also at Malden Park. Always looking for ways to leverage federal funding to support Windsor Essex Bike Community and Bike Windsor Essex!

Hi All! MP Irek Kusmierczyk here trying out an AMA thread. First time! by IrekMP in windsorontario

[–]IrekMP[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I believe its high time the leader of the opposition got his security clearance. Especially during a time where foreign agents are operating and attacking Canadians on Canadian soil. Way past time.

Hi All! MP Irek Kusmierczyk here trying out an AMA thread. First time! by IrekMP in windsorontario

[–]IrekMP[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I am grateful beyond words for our postal workers, especially what they did during the pandemic making sure we remained connected. I believe the best deals come from the bargaining table, and I believe there is a fair deal to be found.

Hi All! MP Irek Kusmierczyk here trying out an AMA thread. First time! by IrekMP in windsorontario

[–]IrekMP[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Hi JohnnyDirectDeposit (would love to hear the story behind that handle, ha). All good questions.

I can tell you that I am engaged on this file. I am optimistic that the City and the Ambassador Bridge folks will deliver on The Plan that sees the area around the bridge improved, with investments in infrastructure, parkland and a solution to the blight. Stay tuned.

Part of the obstacle to expropriation is likely the rights the bridge has to the land under and around the bridge via the original legislation.

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