Kelly DeRidder on Drug crisis

message so more people are aware. Together, we can look out for one another and help prevent further harm.

tion. For years, John has led with compassion, vision, and unwavering commitment to building a more inclusive and caring Kitchener. Under his leadership, the House of Friendship has become a beacon of hope for thousands, providing shelter, food, addiction treatment, and support to those who need it most. Their work is more than service delivery; it’s about restoring dignity, building community, and creating pathways to a better future. Whether it’s helping someone find stable housing, access mental health supports, or rebuild their life, the House of Friendship is there, day in and day out, with open arms and open hearts. John’s legacy is one of empathy and action. His impact will be felt for generations, and his example will continue to guide us as we work together to build a more just and compassionate society. Thank you, John, and thank you to everyone at the House of Friendship. You remind us what it means to truly care for one another.

hospital. You're very community-focused, and you're right in my community in Kitchener, so I have some community questions for you. What has this drug crisis in Kitchener contributed to the spread in the transmission of AROs in our community?

de rehabilitation progress in parole decisions Bill C-240 is a non-partisan bill that will help Canadians get the help they need while at the same time, go after fentanyl kingpins who destroy our communities.

ad to food insecurity as well. We do know that the homeless population is more at risk for infectious disease. That includes those who are struggling with addiction. In my riding in Kitchener, I was driving by one of our encampments over the summer. Someone had passed in the encampment. I was deeply saddened by their passing, but I was even more saddened by the fact that those cleaning up his area were dressed in full haz-mat. In another story from my riding, a lady lost her son because he injected with water from our Grand River. He got an infectious disease straight from our river when he injected with that water. We've lost 53,000 people to this opioid crisis that we're facing right now. That's more people than we lost in World War II. It just seems that these failed social experiment policies are leading to more deaths in our country. I have two questions: How is this drug crisis today contributing to the infectious disease increase in Canada, and do you have any data on the actual AMR deaths contributing to what we're facing in Canada today?

ng people rebuild their lives, we must invest in accessible, immediate mental health and addiction treatment services. We need more beds, more supports, and a system that responds with urgency when someone says, ‘I’m ready to change.’ That’s the kind of rehabilitation-first approach I want to see us build across this country.

ibe structured rehabilitation programs for individuals whose offences stem from circumstances that can be addressed through skill development, education and recovery as part of a holistic healing process. “Our justice system must do more than punish - it must also heal,” said MP DeRidder. “Bill C-240 empowers courts to prescribe structured rehabilitation measures, including education, skills training, and treatment programs, to be undertaken during custody. These are not soft-on-crime measures; they are smart-on-recovery interventions.” If passed, this legislation will: Allow court-ordered rehabilitation measures for offenders: The bill allows courts to order additional rehabilitative measures during an offender’s custodial sentence, such as participation in educational, training, or treatment programs. Permit stricter penalties for fentanyl traffickers: The bill introduces an aggravating factor in sentencing for individuals convicted of trafficking fentanyl in large quantities, leading to stricter penalties. Include rehabilitation progress in parole decisions: The bill further requires parole boards to consider an offender's progress in completing court-ordered rehabilitation programs when making parole decisions. “Bill C-240 strengthens the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, ensuring that rehabilitation objectives are considered during parole decisions. It amends the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to treat large-scale fentanyl trafficking as an aggravating factor, reflecting the gravity of the harm inflicted on our communities,” DeRidder concluded. “By integrating public health principles into our justice system, we can reduce recidivism, enhance community safety, and break the cycle of harm."

ion. Conservatives will keep fighting to put families and Canadians first.

recovery as part of a holistic healing process. This bill is not about being soft on crime — it’s about being smart on recovery. By integrating public health principles into our justice system, we can reduce recidivism, enhance community safety, and break the cycle of harm. Bill C-240 will also strengthen our response to large-scale fentanyl trafficking, drawing a clear line between those who need support to rebuild their lives and those who profit from destruction.

act. The bill seeks to address one of the most urgent and heartbreaking crises facing Canadian families: the devastating impact of substance addiction. Canadians see the toll: lives are lost; families are shattered; and public safety is eroded. Our justice system must do more than punish. It must also heal. The bill would empower courts to prescribe structured rehabilitation measures, including education, skills training and treatment programs, to be undertaken during custody. These are not soft-on-crime measures. They are smart-on-recovery interventions. The bill would strength the Corrections and Conditional Release Act to ensure that rehabilitation objectives are considered during parole decisions, and it would amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to treat large-scale fentanyl trafficking as an aggravating factor, reflecting the gravity of the harm inflicted in our communities. I look forward to working with all members of the House to restore dignity, health and hope to those caught in the cycle of addiction. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

n the Kitchener area, providing 24-hour care and a dedicated team to help those living with severe and persistent mental health challenges find stability and quality of life. Thresholds supports over 350 people in Kitchener with housing, crisis respite, and individualized programs that promote affordable housing, person-centered supports, and greater independence for those facing mental health challenges. Thank you to Eric Philip (CEO), Rosalind Horne (Manager, Fundraising & Communications), and Jasmine and Kyra (Housing Support Coordinators) for sharing the important work you’re doing to strengthen our community. 💙 Learn more about their work at: thresholdsupports.ca #MentalHealthMatters #SupportiveHousing #CommunityCare #CompassionInAction #StrongerTogether #KitchenerCentre

lenges — they are human ones, and they deserve thoughtful, long-term solutions. As your MP, I’m committed to working toward a full-circle approach that addresses the root causes and supports real recovery: ✅ End taxpayer-funded “safe supply” drug programs that keep people trapped in addiction ✅ Give judges the ability to mandate rehabilitation and mental health treatment, instead of cycling people through jails or shelters ✅ Invest in real recovery, not just rhetoric — with support for detox, mental health services, and long-term healing ✅ Rapidly boost housing supply by cutting red tape and requiring municipalities to build — while ensuring housing supports don’t ignore addiction or community safety We need to move beyond short-term fixes and deliver compassionate, evidence-based solutions that help people rebuild their lives. That means treating addiction and mental illness with the seriousness they deserve — and ensuring our housing and justice systems are part of the solution. #KitchenerCentre #HomelessnessCrisis #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealthSupport #RehabNotRhetoric

ay of Hope offers more than just services — they offer hope, dignity, and a path forward. As someone who is deeply passionate about improving services for those struggling with addiction, I’m especially grateful for the work they do to walk alongside people on some of the hardest journeys — helping them reclaim their lives with strength and support. Thank you to the incredible staff, volunteers, board members, and supporters who make this work possible. Our community is stronger because of you. 💛 I have added links to their website and their annual report. Please check them out. https://rayofhope.net/ https://rayofhope.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Ray-of-Hope-Annual-Report-2025.pdf #RayOfHope #CommunitySupport #KitchenerCentre #HopeInAction #AddictionRecovery #StrongerTogether

s are at the heart of everything I will do in Ottawa. I also want to take a moment to recognize the dedicated volunteers who made this journey possible. Their passion, hard work and unwavering commitment carried me to this moment. I am not standing here alone; each and every one of them is here with me. My husband, Chris, my mom, my closest friends, my dad and my daughter, Abigail, are my strength, my motivation and my greatest supporters. Their love and belief in me have guided me every step of this path, and I am forever grateful. To my predecessor Mike, I say thanks for his service to Kitchener Centre. I will continue to be a strong advocate. Kitchener Centre is more than a place on a map. It is where I was raised; it is where my heart belongs. I attended J F Carmichael, then Queensmount, and went off to Forest Heights, before completing my education at Conestoga, where I earned a diploma in mechanical engineering, specializing in robotics and automation. My career in management has spanned over 18 years, focusing on effective communication, fiscal responsibility and policy creation to improve efficiencies. These are principles I will carry with me into public service. I grew up in a home where money was not plentiful, but resilience and determination were abundant. I was taught the value of hard work, ambition and the belief that, with effort, anything was possible. That was the Canada and the home that I grew up in, a place where dedication and perseverance could lead to home ownership, financial security and a good life in a safe neighbourhood. Today, those dreams feel farther out of reach for many. This reality is one that I will fight to change. I am committed to building a future in which affordability is not an obstacle, jobs provide stability and communities are free from the devastating impacts of addiction and crime. I am here to listen. I am here to act. I am here to make sure that every person in Kitchener Centre has the opportunity to thrive. The rising cost of living has tightened its grip on families, young professionals and seniors alike. I heard the stories at the doors: parents stretching every dollar, young people questioning whether they can afford a home or local businesses trying to stay afloat amid increasing expenses. Affordability is not just a word; it is the difference between stability and struggle, between hope and hardship. During the campaign, I had the opportunity to tour the Waterloo regional food bank. While I was deeply impressed by its efficiency and dedication, I found myself grappling with the unsettling reality, the sheer scale at which such an operation is needed in our community. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of new households accessing food hamper programs for the first time skyrocketed by 210%. In that same period, 29,786 hampers were distributed to families in need, for an increase of 109%. These staggering numbers are a direct consequence of the rising cost of living, which is forcing more and more people to turn to essential support services just to put food on the table. This is not just an economic issue; it is a human one. It is a call to action that demands urgent and meaningful solutions to ensure that no family in Kitchener Centre or beyond has to struggle for their basic needs. We must forge policies that ease this pressure, ensuring less taxation, affordable housing and stability for our communities across Canada. Equally vital is my commitment to job creation. Kitchener Centre has long been a hub of innovation, with a thriving tech industry and entrepreneurial spirit. However, opportunity must be more than a promise. It must be a reality for every worker, every student choosing to stay in the region while entering the workforce and every small business daring to dream. We must invest in key technologies and industries: green technology, the arts and creative sectors, advanced manufacturing, med tech, deep tech, AI and more. We need to implement policies that empower our people and drive investment, ensuring our economy is sustainable and future-proof. Today, our community has an opportunity to forge a new path ahead, and we are well positioned to do so. We must support the initiatives of the leaders of our industries on a federal level to ensure a prosperous future for Kitchener Centre. However, amid these ambitions, I must address the harsh reality that so many of our neighbours face: this drug crisis. It is a crisis that is not just statistical and not economic; it is profoundly human. I have listened to the voices of families who have lost loved ones; frontline business owners and workers grappling with its impact; and communities, especially in our downtown core, caught in the crossfire of addiction and crime. One conversation that deeply resonated with me was with Cynthia, a constituent from Kitchener Centre. Not only has her business suffered because of this crisis, but she also brought to my attention a critical issue: the Alexandrian. It is a residential building in the heart of our downtown, which is not alone. This building is home to many newcomers to Canada and low-income families, including children of all ages. These children deserve to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment, yet they are exposed to the harsh daily realities of downtown life. Criminal activity unfolds right in front of them as they wait for the school bus or play in the nearby park. This is unacceptable. The safety of all of our children must never be an afterthought. It is our responsibility to ensure that they can live, learn and play in communities free from fear. The solution is not stigma; the solution is compassion and treatment. We must expand access to mental health support, strengthen rehabilitation programs and ensure that no one falls through the cracks. I recently had the opportunity to speak with members of our outstanding Waterloo Regional Police Service, who shared with me that in 2024 alone, they responded to over 11,000 incidents in our downtown core. Since January, the WRPS has been actively collaborating with our local BIA on initiatives aimed at addressing these challenges and enhancing community well-being. To further support these efforts, we must take a firm stance on crime and repeal the soft-on-crime provisions in Bill C-5 and Bill C-75. These policies have made it more difficult to hold repeat offenders accountable and have contributed to a revolving door in our justice system. We need to ensure that individuals who repeatedly victimize our communities are kept off our streets and that those responsible for trafficking deadly substances such as fentanyl face the most severe penalties, including life sentences for kingpins. I did not enter public service to offer empty words. I am here to work for the single parent balancing two jobs, for those living under the poverty line, for the young graduate searching for stability, for the entrepreneur building something new and for the countless individuals wanting a second chance. Kitchener Centre is not just my riding; it is my heart, and I vow to work for it with every ounce of my dedication. To my fellow representatives in the House, I say let us move forward with courage and conviction. Let us not simply acknowledge these challenges but solve them. Let us prove through action that public service is more than governance: It is the unwavering pursuit of a better future. Together we can build it.