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There was a time I was homeless in Victoria Park and trapped in addiction, wondering if…

Facebook · June 1, 2026

There was a time I was homeless in Victoria Park and trapped in addiction, wondering if my life would ever look different. I know what it feels like to believe there’s no way out, and my PMB, C-240 is about helping others find one.

What Kelly says in this video

Automatic transcript; it may contain small errors.

Recover people climb a mountain, but at the very beginning of recovery all you can see is that mountain in front of you. It feels impossible, it feels endless, and it feels lonely. But if you take one day at a time, one step at a time, you will reach the top, and that is where your life truly begins. There's a big beautiful, happy, healed life on the other side of addiction. And if you've ever seen a view from the top of a mountain, you know this. Your world opens up, your possibilities expand, your future becomes something you can finally imagine. Madam Speaker, I was an addict sleeping in Victoria Park in Kitchener, Ontario. I slept in the streets and at the women's shelter on Frederick Street, Mary's place, and now I'm a Member of Parliament representing that very same area. Madam Speaker, the very same area and community I was homeless, I now represent as a Member of Parliament. So if someone hears this, who's struggling or feels trapped at the base of that mountain, I want you to know this. Take that step, start your healing journey, and give yourself the life you deserve. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

View on Facebook Advocacy for Kitchener Centre in the House of Commons Drug crisis Housing Safe communities Victoria Park

More of Kelly's work

House of Commons · June 1, 2026

House of Commons: Private Members' Business — Offender Rehabilitation Act

Mr. Speaker, I would like to start today with great big huge thanks to all of my colleagues who wanted to speak to and debate Bill C-240 today. I thank my colleagues who are part of the Conservative caucus and also colleagues across the floor, so much, for speaking to this bill t… Read more

oday. I thank the Bloc Québécois members as well, so very much, for speaking to this bill and showing their support for it. I think the most important thing that we need to do at this point in time is reverse course in Canada. We need to start focusing on recovery and rehabilitation because people can and do recover. There is an encampment in Kitchener where we are quite literally killing people with kindness right now. In this encampment, five people have died from overdose, and it is time now that all levels of government came together and jointly worked together to fix this crisis in Canada. It is time to reverse course. Bill C-240 is the first step, introducing rehabilitation into incarceration. At least when someone has to be accountable for their actions, they would have a path forward when they are serving their time, to change their life, break cycles and turn their life around. We need to do this in Canada before incarceration, as well, so I am standing here today to thank members for their support in the House for Bill C-240 but also to declare that this is a pivotal moment in Canada. It is time now to concentrate on recovery and rehabilitation because on the other side of recovery is a happy, beautiful, healed and healthy life. Every single person who is struggling with addiction deserves that life, and it is time we helped them get there.

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Facebook · June 1, 2026

My Private Members Bill, Bill C-240 passed the House of Commons at second reading unanimously. Thank you to all MPs for supporting this important piece of legislation.

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House of Commons · June 1, 2026

House of Commons

I'm going to start with Mr. Donais. Thank you for coming and sharing your story. From one person to another who slept on the streets, the more we talk about it, the more we'll make change in this country. I'm grateful for your courage and for your desire for a solution to what … Read more

we're seeing here in this country. One thing I think we haven't focused on yet today is how addiction surrounds homelessness and how it's a piece of the puzzle of what we're seeing in this country today. There is an encampment in Kitchener, where it was just ruled that the encampment is going to stay because housing needs to be provided, which you said is stifling progress. I agree with you, sir. Our office went and talked to 22 of those residents in that encampment, and of those 22, only one wasn't using. I think a piece of that is recovery services for addiction and focusing on your big, beautiful life on the other side of addiction. Can you just speak to how that transitional piece will help with focusing on stabilization and recovery for people trapped in addiction?

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