Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for South Surrey—White Rock.

I rise today for the first time in this sacred institution with deep humility and gratitude as the newly elected member of Parliament for Eglinton—Lawrence. I thank the people of Eglinton—Lawrence for the profound trust they have placed in me. It is a responsibility I do not take lightly. I pledge to serve with integrity, energy and dedication for every corner of our vibrant, diverse and hard-working riding. From Lawrence Heights to Lawrence Park to Forest Hill North to Neptune Drive to Lytton Park to Dufferin and Lawrence to Yonge and Eglinton, I will ensure that the voices of my constituents are heard and that I fight for them in this esteemed chamber.

None of this would have been possible without the love and support of my wife Nicola Meyer, who I promised when we got married that I would keep life interesting. Well, to my love, promise made, promise kept. With Nicola I have everything; without her I have nothing. I am so proud of my two daughters, Isabella and Alessia. Their daddy loves them very much. I would like to thank Nicola and my daughters for letting me run not only once but twice in a matter of weeks. They stood by me through two campaigns and that means more than words can express.

I want to thank my mom and dad, Filomena and Albert Gasparro, for their love, support and guidance over the years.

I also want to recognize my grandparents, Vince and Donna Gasparro, who originally immigrated from Calabria, Italy, via Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Canada in 1959, and Gregorio and Irma Natale, who immigrated in 1954 and 1956, respectively, also from Calabria, Italy. They came to this country with nothing. They had families to feed and they worked hard. All they wanted was the opportunity to have a better life for themselves, their kids and the future generations they would never meet. The values of grit, hard work and sheer determination were passed on to future generations, but what was also passed on was the desire to preserve and improve on this great country, the country they chose to come to almost 70 years ago.

After an emergency room visit with my daughter Isabella highlighted deficiencies in Ontario’s health care system, I decided the best way to change and improve things was to run in Ontario’s provincial election. Even though we outperformed the Ontario Liberal Party by 19%, we still fell short by 167 votes, but as fate would have it, between Donald Trump threatening annexation and the Prime Minister becoming leader, calls from the community grew loud for me to run just weeks later.

With grit and hard work, hundreds of volunteers came out to work, and to see us win was remarkable. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to my campaign team and all the volunteers who dedicated their time, rain or shine, through freezing cold and scorching heat, over the past four months. We knocked on over 90,000 doors.

To put it in perspective, on election day alone we had over 400 volunteers. We attracted not only Liberals but disaffected Conservatives, Greens and New Democrats who believed in our vision for Eglinton—Lawrence, one that is based on providing representation that is both fiscally responsible and socially progressive. None of our success would have been possible without each and every one of them. The support and dedication from all our volunteers have meant the world to me. It is truly the honour of a lifetime to represent them during these incredibly challenging times.

I began my political journey right here on Parliament Hill working for then prime minister Paul Martin. I learned the value of principled leadership, sound economic management and a government that balances ambition with responsibility. I was proud to serve as a fiscally responsible Liberal then, and I am equally proud to stand here today alongside the Prime Minister's leadership as we renew our focus on building a resilient and dynamic economy to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Canada is being tested by rising protectionism and economic intimidation from our closest partner. President Trump’s threat of punitive tariffs seeks to undermine our unity and strength, but we are not yielding.

We are a proud, independent nation shaped by strong values, resilience and a commitment to a fair, rules-based international order. I am proud that our government is committed to strengthening relationships with partners and allies around the world and that we will stand by the principles of international co-operation. As the world changes around us, Canada must lead with confidence as a strong democratic country and a leader in the free world.

President Trump’s threats have also provided us with a wake-up call. For too long, Canada has failed to harness the full potential of our vast natural resources. We have created barriers that have held us back from building essential infrastructure, clean energy and new housing. Instead of one strong, united Canadian economy, we are operating like 13 separate ones. That needs to change and is changing.

This is why it is with conviction and optimism that I rise today to offer my full support for the Speech from the Throne. The Prime Minister has presented a clear and compelling vision for the future of this country, and I am proud to stand behind his leadership in this House.

I have spent my career financing institutional clean energy projects and infrastructure, and I know the transformative power that bold investment and smart regulation can have on our country. Our government will be taking decisive steps to deliver new investment, remove bureaucratic barriers and build a stronger economy.

We recognize that Canada’s prosperity depends on our ability to harness our natural resources responsibly, to innovate in the face of global competition and to move at the speed of opportunity. Our government will build both clean and conventional energy to make Canada the world’s leading energy superpower.

Our goal is clear. It is to establish Canada as a global energy powerhouse. We will invest in renewable energy, hydrogen, carbon capture and the next generation of clean technologies. At the same time, we will ensure our conventional resources are developed to the highest environmental standards. We will achieve this in close partnership with provinces, territories, indigenous peoples and the private sector. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, we are once again demonstrating that we can lead with conviction and build Canada strong.

Our government is firmly committed to fiscal responsibility by capping spending growth, eliminating waste and boosting productivity, while continuing to support our most vulnerable. The Speech from the Throne makes it clear that we will build a stronger Canada and a more resilient Canadian economy, one that spends wisely so Canadians can invest confidently in their future.

The Prime Minister's agenda emphasizes fiscal responsibility, but as Liberals, we remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the vital and comprehensive social safety net that supports Canadians. Our government will continue the expansion of dental care, will support pharmacare and child care and will make a determined push to invest in skilled trades and clean energy industries, all reflecting our belief in the potential of every Canadian. We will cut taxes for the majority of Canadians, putting $840 per year back in the pockets of people in my riding of Eglinton—Lawrence and Canadians nationwide. Additionally, by eliminating the GST for first-time homebuyers, we will help make home ownership more attainable, delivering savings of up to $50,000.

We will protect our communities' ability to worship freely by introducing security zone legislation to make it a criminal offence to intentionally and willfully obstruct access to any place of worship, school or community centre and a criminal offence to willfully intimidate or threaten those attending services at these locations. My riding is home to a vibrant Jewish community that has faced intimidation at its schools, synagogues, day cares and homes. This legislation is an important step toward protecting not just Jewish Canadians' ability to worship freely, but all religious groups that make up our diverse country. Diversity will always be our strength, and protecting minority groups' ability to worship freely against lawlessness is a basic right guaranteed in our charter.

To truly be the true north strong and free, we must stand united, act with vision and show unwavering resilience. This throne speech marks a decisive step forward, one that will shape the future of the country not just for the next four years but for the next 40.

Vince Gasparro