It was an honour of a lifetime being the voice for Kitchener Centre in Parliament this…

Hi everyone, it's Kelly DeRitter, your Member of Parliament for Kitchener Centre. This fall was a busy session in Parliament. I stood up in the House of Commons for our community, pushing for real solutions on affordability, housing, public safety and the growing court backlogs that are letting serious cases fall through the cracks here in Waterloo Region. I also spoke out against the government's budget, which adds billions to our national debt, failing to make life more affordable. It also cuts supports for mental health and addiction services. In fact, it only mentions addictions once in this budget and is to say that the necessary funding is ending. I was proud to support Bailey's Law, which passed unanimously in the House, strengthening protections for victims of intimate partner violence and hold offenders accountable. To Bailey's family, while nothing can undo your heartbreaking loss, your courage and sharing your story has created change. This bill will save lives. Bailey's life has created change. At the Science and Research Committee, I advocated to the Minister of AI and Digital Innovation for a real, sovereign strategy approach to protect Canadian innovation. I will always stand up for Kitchener, Canada's innovation capital, to ensure innovative research funded by Canadians strengthens Canada's economy, not foreign competitors. And I'm looking forward to next year, when my private member's bill will be tabled for a second reading. This legislation ensures that court connects custody with education, treatment, and meaningful opportunities for change. It's a smart approach to justice, one that keeps communities like Kitchener safer while helping individuals turn their lives around. Thank you for your trust, and I'll keep fighting for Kitchener Centre.