Facebook · October 31, 2026
Our downtown communities deserve to feel safe. We need real solutions to the drug crisis that connect people with treatment, support recovery, and make our streets safer for everyone.
Your MP at Work
Kelly DeRidder on Safe communities
Safe communities are a big part of Kelly DeRidder's work as Member of Parliament for Kitchener Centre. This page brings together her posts, videos and House of Commons speeches on public safety, support for victims, and recovery from addiction.
Kelly has put her Private Member's Bill, C-240, at the center of this work. The bill supports abstinence-based recovery and rehabilitation for offenders, with the goal of breaking the cycle of addiction and crime. She has also spoken in the House about the Protecting Victims Act and the Offender Rehabilitation Act, and she has backed Bill C-229 and a possible restorative justice centre in Waterloo Region.
Closer to home, Kelly hosted a roundtable with victims advocacy groups and support centres about their experiences with the justice system. She held a Social Media Townhall on keeping kids safe online. She met with the Canadian Police Association during National Police Week. She toured Gigi's House and the Oasis Centre, and she wrote to the Minister of Housing in support of Fire Station 8 and 281 affordable homes. She also celebrated Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region, SASC Waterloo Region and YWCA Cambridge for their work on the SHE Builds program, and she encouraged shoppers to visit Retail Therapy, which supports survivors of domestic violence.
139 posts, videos and speeches.
Facebook · October 29, 2026
I had an impactful conversation with Latasha Wilson about incarceration and rehabilitation. Conversations like these are important as we look at how our justice system can support accountability, recovery, and meaningful pathways forward.
Facebook · October 29, 2026
This week’s womens spotlight recognizes Sara Casselman, Director of the SASC in Waterloo Region for winning the 2026 Legacy of Equity Award by the Women's Nonprofit Network. Congratulations on this well-deserved award and thank you for your dedication in supporting survivors in … Read more
our community.
Facebook · October 29, 2026
One year ago, Eli Wood went missing following a house fire in Kitchener. A year later, his family is still waiting for answers. Our thoughts are with Eli’s loved ones, and we urge anyone with information to come forward. Eli must not be forgotten, and we hope he can be brought… Read more
home.
Facebook · October 26, 2026
Municipal elections matter! Your vote helps shape the future of your community, from housing and roads to public safety and local services. Make your voice heard and get out to vote in Ontario’s municipal election!
Facebook · October 15, 2026
70 overdoses in just 4 days in Waterloo Region. Let that sink in. Behind every number is a human life, a family, and a community in crisis. We need to reverse course. Canadians need a serious approach that prioritizes recovery and rehabilitation, not a system that keeps people … Read more
trapped in addiction.
YouTube · October 15, 2026
UNBELIEVABLE! 70 Overdoses in 4 days!
70 overdoses in just 4 days in Waterloo Region. Let that sink in. Behind every number is a human life, a family, and a community in crisis. We need to reverse course. Canadians need a serious approach that prioritizes recovery and rehabilitation, not a system that keeps people … Read more
trapped in addiction.
Facebook · October 15, 2026
Honoured to attend the Centre for Mutual Wellbeing’s Radiant Ladies Night Fundraising Dinner, supporting important work in housing and addressing gender-based violence. Grateful to everyone working to build safer, stronger communities.
House of Commons · October 7, 2026
House of Commons: Oral Questions — Mental Health and Addictions
Mr. Speaker, if the government is serious about strengthening protections, maybe it should actually do it. Waterloo region had 70 overdoses in four days. This is not just a public health issue. This is a humanitarian crisis. Our Conservative plan will keep communities safe. H… Read more
ow many more lives need to be lost? How many more families torn apart before this government finally reacts? When will this government reverse course, admit that its policies are failures and start focusing on recovery, rehabilitation and treatment?
Facebook · September 24, 2026
Congrats to Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region SASC Waterloo Region YWCA Cambridge Jess Dixon and so many others on their advocacy for SHE Builds. It’s great to see $2 million in provincial funding announced for this new program supporting women and gender-diverse surviv… Read more
ors of gender-based violence in Waterloo Region. Designed with survivors in mind, SHE Builds will help women explore new futures and find work in the skilled trades.
Facebook · September 14, 2026
A great night with MPs Dr. Matt Strauss and Connie Cody MP at our Social Media Townhall. Lots of good questions and chances to hear directly from parents, teachers and families in our community to help kids navigate safety online. Thanks to everyone who came out!
Facebook · September 10, 2026
I was honoured to host a roundtable with MP Khanna to hear directly from victims advocacy groups & support centres about their experiences with the justice system, especially surrounding the Sloka case here in Kitchener. Their voices matter, and we need to keep listening, learni… Read more
ng and working to build a system that puts victims first.
Facebook · September 8, 2026
Healing from addiction isn’t easy. It’s messy, uncomfortable and some days, it just sucks. But recovery is worth fighting for. We need to make sure people have the treatment, support and second chances they need to build a better life.
Facebook · August 28, 2026
Enough is enough. Drug traffickers are fueling the addiction crisis and putting lives at risk in Kitchener and across Canada. We need tougher penalties for those who profit from trafficking and a justice system that puts victims, families and our communities first.
Facebook · August 24, 2026
Thank you to @PierrePoilievre for joining us in Kitchener to talk about real solutions to addiction and homelessness. We need to address the root causes, get people the help they need, and ensure our communities are safe. It’s time for action, not more encampments.
Facebook · August 23, 2026
We have to put victims first. It is not acceptable for a high-risk sex offender to be released, only to be re-arrested less than an hour later. We need a justice system that protects victims, keeps dangerous offenders off the streets, and puts public safety first.
Facebook · August 6, 2026
A big part of addressing homelessness is recovery. Without access to addiction treatment and recovery services, too many people are left trapped in a cycle that keeps them off the path to stability. Real compassion means helping people recover, not just helping them survive.
Facebook · August 3, 2026
Looking for your next thrift find? Visit Retail Therapy at 1668 King St E, Kitchener! Every purchase helps support survivors of domestic violence in our community. Shop local, find something unique, and support a great cause. https://www.facebook.com/share/1DYLT8SrTs/
Facebook · July 25, 2026
Addiction should never be a life sentence. My Private Member’s Bill C-240 supports abstinence-based recovery, giving offenders the opportunity to overcome addiction, restore their lives, and reduce the cycle of crime. Recovery works.
Facebook · July 24, 2026
If you feel like life has knocked you down from addiction, financial hardship, or just trying to make it through another day, just know, hope is real. People can recover. Lives can change. That’s why I believe so strongly in Bill C-240 and the power of abstinence-based recovery
Facebook · July 22, 2026
$6 million a year for Kitchener’s tent city?! Every dollar spent should be focused on getting people the support they need and helping them move toward safer, more stable housing. We need solutions that deliver results, not allow people to stay stuck.
Facebook · July 20, 2026
I've written to the Minister of Housing urging approval of federal funding for Kitchener's Fire Station 8 and affordable housing project. This investment would strengthen emergency services, create 281 affordable homes, and save taxpayers millions by building both together.
Facebook · July 11, 2026
Breaking the cycle of crime means investing in accountability, healing, and rehabilitation. A restorative justice centre in Waterloo Region could help change lives, and the passage of Bill C-229 would be an important step toward making initiatives like this possible.
Facebook · July 6, 2026
Healing starts with hope, community, and people who refuse to give up. It was a privilege to visit the Oasis Centre and see the life-changing work being done to support those rebuilding their lives. Thank you to everyone making a difference every day.
Help Kelly keep working for Kitchener Centre
Kelly's work in Ottawa is backed by volunteers and supporters here at home. A monthly donation of any size keeps the local team going, and political contributions earn a generous federal tax credit.