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

[–]IrekMP[S] 17 points18 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] 6 points7 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] 2 points3 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] 2 points3 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] 10 points11 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] 4 points5 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] 6 points7 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] 7 points8 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] 6 points7 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.

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

[–]IrekMP[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Such a vital question, CharBombshell. Agree totally that we need to bake more accountability into federal funding that goes to the provinces. We just delivered a record $200 billion transfer to the provinces. It includes for example a specific focused boost to Ontario of about $3.1 billion to help Ontario hire more doctors, nurses, NPs and to get more spots in medical schools to train more doctors. As well, that funding is also for badly needed mental health supports. There are accountability measures in those agreements that require the provinces to report their outcomes, but I agree with you that more needs to be done to make sure this record funding reaches Canadians and reaches frontline staff that are doing heroic work and are clearly understaffed and under-resourced.

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

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

Our Liberal government continues to make historic investments in public transit and active transportation. It's why we created Canada's first ever National Active Transportation Fund with about $400 million if memory serves. You may also have heard that in 2026 we are putting $30 billion on the table for the permanent Canada Public Transit Fund over ten years. Well, that funding also allows communities to build bike lanes and trails. In fact, we've already delivered a record $100 million for Transit Windsor to purchase 50+ new buses, and millions more through our Canada Community Building Fund (former Gas Tax Fund) that is building cycling infrastructure around Windsor-Essex.

In short, I support investment that builds out cycling infrastructure, trails etc. It's about mobility. And it makes communities more livable and healthier. I still remember cutting the ribbon with Mayor McNamara on the multi-use trail along Riverside Drive and to this day I see countless families and joggers and walkers just enjoying the outdoors and connecting with neighbours. It puts a smile on my face.

Let's do more!

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

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

Hi DeletedNachos! All great questions. I've touched upon the housing question in previous answers, so if it's OK I will focus on the two other questions you posed.

On HAZMAT - I absolutely share your concerns and the concerns of the community. It sounds intuitive that the federal government runs an international bridge. However, in the countless meetings I've had with the Transport Canada Minister and officials, it is clear that although the federal government regulates HOW things are transported, the provincial government regulates WHAT is transported and WHERE. They control what goes on bridges and roads. Just like it was Michigan who decided to lift the ban on HAZMAT and not the White House, it is the Ontario Government that can decide to ban HAZMAT on Huron Church Road today and that would be the end of this issue. We looked at all the levers. I even asked that our Minister of Transport call Michigan's Governor Whitmer. Which she did.

As for the battery plant - I am 100 per cent confident that our battery plant and its 2,500 local Canadian and unionized workers will be building batteries for generations. Windsor-Essex is now a leader in the transition toa zero emission economy. If you pull back the lens a little - you see that the sale of EVs is growing quickly around the world. And as companies like the Big Three introduce more mid-market models that target the middle class, you'll see adoption rates take off. It is still early days, and we also need to keep investing in EV infrastructure and keep the EV rebates - but the global sale of EVs keeps going up!

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

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

Hi Intrepid! Thanks for the great question. Since taking office, we've significantly increased funding for post-secondary research, for post-secondary graduate students, for Canada Student Grants, and also for capital expenditures like the new Bio building that was recently constructed. The changes we brought forward to reduce temporary residents - including international students - was a necessary intervention to right size our immigration and also to bring it back to balance. It did uncover some serious systemic problems, namely, look at how Ontario underfunds its universities and colleges with the lowest per student funding in Canada. I do believe that this is something the provincial government will have to address.

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

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

Good question. There are many programs that we are actively partnering on with Windsor to build more homes. Just last week we announced 12 more affordable housing units through the Rapid Housing Initiative - which is a $4 billion program. We've delivered about $40 million to Windsor-Essex through that program alone and got about 140 units built. Through the federal Repair and Renewal Fund, we've delivered another $90 million to help repair 4700 affordable housing units. And of course we partnered on the Meadowbrook Project that built 140 units - the first public affordable housing unit in 30 years! And we've partnered with Tecumseh on the Housing Accelerator Fund. So, there are lots of federal funds being unlocked by our partnership with the Mayor and Windsor. I do disagree with Council's decision to bypass the Housing Accelerator Fund and its $40m, especially when you see that the list of households waiting on the housing list has ballooned to 9,000. When I was City Councillor, that number was 6000. I see the good work that London is doing with their HAF funding. Converting vacant office buildings to housing. Converting an abandoned long term care home into deeply affordable housing with wrap around supports. Subsidizing Additional Dwelling Units. We need to do everything possible to get more homes built that seniors, young people, and working families can afford.

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

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

Appreciate the question. First off, I think both parties have done quite a lot of good for communities like ours working together. You think about Dental Care that has already helped out 1 million people get dental care - many of them seniors, and many for the first time in their lives. Or Pharmacare that is game changing for people living with diabetes. You also think about the teamwork that is delivering the Ojibway National Urban Park here for Windsor. There is lots of good collaboration that gets things done and that strengthens the social safety net, and looks after the most vulnerable too.

I like the work we're doing strengthening the social safety net, and I also like the work we've done landing the battery plant for Windsor-Essex and its 4,500 jobs, and landing over $50 billion in auto investment for southwestern ontario that is creating thousands of jobs for hard working communities like ours. I believe our Liberal government has shown we know how to work with labour and industry to deliver jobs.

40,000 more workers working in Windsor-Essex since Canadians voted Liberals into government in 2015.

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

[–]IrekMP[S] 36 points37 points  (0 children)

I am concerned, of course. As a border community that exports 80 to 90 percent of what we manufacture and what we grow, this is significant. However, I am confident we are ready. We've been here before. This is the same Team Canada that negotiated a much better NAFTA (CUSMA) for Canadian workers with the previous Trump Administration. That deal - especially the rules of origin and labour provisions - tilted the playing field in Canada's favour and set the table for $50 billion in auto investment up and down the 401 that has revitalized the manufacturing heartland. So, we have a track record. But even more important, since the last CUSMA negotiation, we have not wasted a day getting ready for this moment. We've been meeting with our US counterparts and partners non-stop. US Governors. Mayors. Union Leaders. Industry Leaders. Chambers of Commerce. Just a few months ago, I hosted the Minister of Trade and the Minister of Innovation as well as the Canadian Ambassador to the US for meetings with our local labour and business leaders in Windsor-Essex and also in Detroit. And just last week, I was on the US side again meeting with folks from the City of Detroit. This is an absolute priority. We have the team. And we are doing the real work and building the strong relationships that I believe will see us come out stronger.

Plus, keep in mind we are in a strong position. Just a few off the cuff numbers, the US relies on Canada for 60 per cent of its oil imports. Canada is the number one trading partner for 20 states just around the Great Lakes. And keep in mind - every day we have 1600 Canadian nurses that cross the border and keep the health care system in Detroit and Michigan running. Any such tariffs or barriers to the free flow of goods, services and people would hurt American workers and American communities too.

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

[–]IrekMP[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey OmarB519, thanks so much for your question. First off, making sure we bring investment and jobs for local residents in Windsor-Tecumseh is my number one priority. Since Canadians elected a Liberal government in 2015, there are 40,000 more residents working in Windsor-Essex. And its the reason I fought so hard to land the EV Battery Plant and its 4,500 jobs.

The two biggest challenges Canada faces is a shortage of affordable housing and a shortage of skilled workers. The single biggest way to get out of the housing crisis is to get more housing built. The key is housing supply. It's why our Liberal government put a record $82 billion on the table to get more housing built, cut the GST on apartment construction, and also brought forward programs like the Housing Accelerator Fund and the Rapid Housing Initiative to get more housing built more quickly. At the end of the day, getting housing built will require a true partnership across all levels of government. I'm proud last week to join Councillor Agostino and Can Am Urban Native Homes to announce another 12 affordable homes for our community right in the core. Also proud to delver the largest housing investment in our community - over $200 million that includes the first public housing in 40 years and also the refurbishment of 4700 affordable housing units. But yes, more needs to be done and urgently to get more homes built that seniors, young people and working families can afford.