Conservative Party of Canada

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.

129 posts, videos and speeches.

Facebook · April 5, 2026

My thoughts are with this WRPS officer - wishing him a speedy recovery. This is the reality of our drug crisis. My Private Member’s Bill, C-240 is about accountability, real rehabilitation and harsher consequences for large-scale fentanyl traffickers.

Facebook · April 4, 2026

Recovery works best when the goal is clear: getting people drug‑free. Abstinence‑based treatment delivers real recovery, stability, and long‑term hope. My private member’s bill, C‑240, directs the system toward structured rehabilitation and measurable recovery outcomes.

Facebook · April 2, 2026

Keeping people in addiction and calling it compassion is not the answer. My private member’s bill, C-240, puts recovery first, walking alongside people no matter their path. Canadians deserve a system that removes obstacles to healing, not keeps them trapped.

Facebook · March 30, 2026

⚠️ Flood warning for Grand River! ⚠️ Please avoid the area, respect signage, and stay clear of water. Stay safe!

Facebook · March 29, 2026

Another drug trafficking ring taken down by our brave officers doing the hard work to keep our communities safe. Over $1M in drugs, cash & weapons to be shipped overseas. That’s why my Private Member’s Bill, C-240, is needed to deliver real consequences and pathways to recovery.

Facebook · March 29, 2026

I’m proud to support the launch of the Male Allies program here in Kitchener that starts on April 1. This initiative empowers men and boys to be leaders by creating safer, more respectful communities and workplaces.

Facebook · March 25, 2026

I want to be clear: I believe the Waterloo Regional Police Service is one of the greatest police forces in the country and they do incredible work to keep our community safe without the gun buyback program. However, targeting law-abiding firearms owners - those who follow the ru… Read more

les, complete training, and properly register their firearms - is not the solution to rising gun crime. These individuals are not the source of the gun crime in our communities in the first place - so gun crime won't go down. If we are serious about public safety, our focus must be on criminals and illegal firearms coming in accross the U.S. border, not responsible citizens. With the vast majority of crime guns traced back to the United States, resources should be directed toward securing our borders and addressing the root causes of gun violence.

YouTube · March 23, 2026

End The Soft On Crime Policies To Support Our Police Services

When I met with members of the Waterloo Regional Police Service, they shared that more than 11,000 incidents were reported in our downtown in 2024 alone. They are working tirelessly to strengthen public safety but they need the right tools. We must restore accountability in our … Read more

justice system, keep repeat violent offenders off our streets, and ensure that there are serious consequences for those trafficking deadly drugs. Community safety must always come first.

Facebook · March 22, 2026

I toured the new HART Hub by Community Healthcaring Kitchener-Waterloo. It offers a safe, abstinence-based place for people working toward recovery and stable housing. I'm grateful for the dedicated team and inspired by their commitment to helping people rebuild their lives. … Read more

#kitchenercentre #community #rehabilitation

Facebook · March 20, 2026

Encampments are a heartbreaking sign that people are being left behind and enabling addiction in these conditions is not the solution. Real compassion means helping people break the cycle through treatment, detox, and recovery. I will always advocate for abstinence-based, hol… Read more

istic approaches that restore dignity, hope, and a path to a healthy, sober life.

Facebook · March 7, 2026

Deep gratitude to our police partners and the many departments who work together to protect our communities. This coordinated effort has saved lives. But we must go further. Those who traffic fentanyl must be held fully accountable. My PMB, Bill C‑240, designates fentanyl tra… Read more

fficking as an aggravated offense, ensuring tougher penalties for those who profit from a drug that is taking too many lives. #kitchenercentre #community #safety

Facebook · March 6, 2026

The latest data from Ontario’s Office of the Chief Coroner is heartbreaking: drug toxicity has been the leading cause of death for youth aged 15–24 since 2017, nearly double other causes. This is not acceptable. We cannot normalize the loss of an entire generation. We need seri… Read more

ous, evidence-based action that prioritizes prevention, treatment, recovery, and accountability. Our young people deserve hope, safety, and a future. I will continue working with community advocates and families to push for solutions that save lives. You can visit Families for Addiction Recovery "FAR"’s website and see the amazing work they’re doing to advocate for these very solutions. farcanada.org

Facebook · March 6, 2026

In Kitchener Centre, Canada’s innovation capital, companies like Miovision are building world-class, AI-driven traffic technology that makes our intersections safer and more efficient. Yet major projects are defaulting to foreign vendors, even when the right innovations exist r… Read more

ight here in Kitchener. At a time when the U.S. is doubling down on “Buy America,” Canada should be just as intentional. If we want economic resilience, security, and growth, we need to choose Canadian companies, choose Canadian talent, and choose Kitchener Centre.

Facebook · March 5, 2026

When I met with members of the Waterloo Regional Police Service, they shared that more than 11,000 incidents were reported in our downtown in 2024 alone. They are working tirelessly to strengthen public safety but they need the right tools. We must restore accountability in our… Read more

justice system, keep repeat violent offenders off our streets, and ensure that there are serious consequences for those trafficking deadly drugs. Community safety must always come first.

YouTube · March 5, 2026

Why I Got Into Politics & How My Private Member's Bill Tackles Canada’s Drug Crisis

Incredibly grateful to join my local community news station with Carla Fitzsimmons to talk about WHY I got into politics and how I’m using my Private Member’s Bill, Bill C-240, to help turn those values into real action for our community. I am fortunate to have the opportunity t… Read more

o draft, table, and advance my own legislation that reflects the needs of our communities and Canada. The drug crisis is something that not only affects Kitchener Centre, but all 343 ridings across this country. Take a listen as I walk viewers through how my Bill strikes the right balance between getting tough on drug trafficking while ensuring accountability is paired with meaningful rehabilitation in our justice system. How has the drug crises impacted you? Leave a comment or DM me and let me know.

Facebook · March 5, 2026

Incredibly grateful to join my local community news station with Carla Fitzsimmons to talk about WHY I got into politics and how I’m using my Private Member’s Bill, Bill C-240, to help turn those values into real action for our community. I am fortunate to have the opportunity … Read more

to draft, table, and advance my own legislation that reflects the needs of our communities and Canada. The drug crisis is something that not only affects Kitchener Centre, but all 343 ridings across this country. Take a listen as I walk viewers through how my Bill strikes the right balance between getting tough on drug trafficking while ensuring accountability is paired with meaningful rehabilitation in our justice system. How has the drug crises impacted you? Leave a comment or DM me and let me know. #kitchenercentre #community #rehabilitation

Facebook · March 4, 2026

New data from the Waterloo Regional Police Service shows human trafficking cases in our region are now nearly triple the national average. The most common age of girls being trafficked in Canada is just 13 years old. At the same time, the ongoing drug crisis continues to fuel e… Read more

xploitation, violence, and addiction in our communities. A large piece of the puzzle is traffickers preying on the vulnerable, the impact is being felt across Waterloo Region. Law enforcement is working tirelessly to keep our streets safe, but failed federal policies have placed unnecessary strain on the very officers we rely on. We need stronger enforcement after arrest, real consequences for traffickers and drug dealers, and meaningful supports for survivors and those seeking recovery. Our children are not commodities and our community deserves better.

Facebook · March 4, 2026

In my maiden speech, I spoke about the harsh reality of the drug crisis in our community. This crisis is not just economic or statistical, it is deeply human. Families are grieving, businesses are struggling, and children in our downtown deserve to grow up safe and secure. Th… Read more

e answer is not stigma: it is compassion, treatment, and stronger supports for recovery. We must protect our communities and ensure every child can live, learn, and play without fear.

Facebook · March 3, 2026

This past year, we were fortunate enough to connect with Child Witness Centre and tour their downtown Kitchener locations. They provide compassionate, individualized support to children and youth who are victims or witnesses, ensuring they and their families are guided and supp… Read more

orted throughout the court process. We were especially grateful to learn more about Monet, the Region’s first accredited facility dog, who brings comfort and stability to young victims and witnesses. Thank you to the entire team for the vital work you do in our community. https://childwitness.com/

Facebook · March 3, 2026

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I’m grateful for the work being done by House of Friendship and their dedicated staff, who walk alongside people with compassion and provide people with real hope for recovery. From long-term abstinence-based programs to wraparound health supports, they are meeting people where… Read more

they are and helping them rebuild their lives. Addiction is a health issue and recovery must be rooted in treatment, accountability, and a path forward. Organizations like House of Friendship are proof that recovery is possible, and that caring, structured rehabilitation saves lives and strengthens our community.

Facebook · March 2, 2026

I had the chance to appear on Now You Know with Rob Snow to discuss my Private Member’s Bill, Bill C-240, which will be entering into second this Spring. Take a moment to listen as I explain to Rob how our justice system must do more than punish, it must also heal. Holding indi… Read more

viduals accountable for their actions is important but so is helping people break cycles of addiction and reoffending. My Bill has a balanced approach that is tough on drug trafficking while recognizing that accountability must be paired with meaningful rehabilitation.

Facebook · February 28, 2026

Tent encampments and the drug crisis are complex challenges and we can’t solve what we don’t fully understand. That’s why I created this motion, to study the research gaps, data limitations, and innovation opportunities in this space at the Science and Research Committee. By … Read more

hearing from experts, frontline providers, Indigenous leaders, and municipalities, we can strengthen the evidence base and ensure prevention efforts are guided by real data, not assumptions.

YouTube · February 27, 2026

Better Data. Informed Research. Stronger Prevention.

Tent encampments and the drug crisis are complex challenges and we can’t solve what we don’t fully understand. That’s why I created this motion, to study the research gaps, data limitations, and innovation opportunities in this space at the Science and Research Committee. By h… Read more

earing from experts, frontline providers, Indigenous leaders, and municipalities, we can strengthen the evidence base and ensure prevention efforts are guided by real data, not assumptions.

Facebook · February 25, 2026

It was an honour to attend the 28th Annual Pancake Lunch in support of the Child Witness Centre. With more than 360 community members coming together and over $52,000 raised, the impact for local child victims and their families will be meaningful and lasting. The work they do t… Read more

hrough the Child & Youth Advocacy Centre is truly life changing. Thank you to the entire team, volunteers, and community for your dedication to helping young survivors build brighter futures.

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.