Conservative Party of Canada

Your MP at Work

September 2026: Kelly Speaks Up and Shows Up for Kitchener Centre

Monthly update · September 2026 · Published October 1, 2026

September was a busy month for Kelly DeRidder, MP for Kitchener Centre. She shared 29 posts and videos and gave 8 speeches in the House of Commons. From town halls to festivals, she spent the month listening to residents and speaking up for the riding.

Affordability, housing and safety

In the House of Commons, Kelly spoke about the cost of fuel. She called a partial gas tax measure a good start. She said it is not enough, and that Conservatives want all federal tax removed from gas and diesel at least until Canada Day 2027. She said the full plan would mean 25¢ per litre in savings at the pump, compared to 11¢.

Kelly also wrote to the Minister's office in support of the Fire Station 8 affordable housing project in Kitchener. She said she will keep advocating for it, because it expands housing options and makes better use of existing public infrastructure.

On community safety, Kelly hosted a roundtable with MP Khanna. They heard from victims advocacy groups and support centres about their experiences with the justice system, including the Sloka case in Kitchener. Kelly also shared a news story about families turning to meal programs like Tiny Home Takeout, which serves hundreds of people a night, and noted that affordability is a serious issue.

“Their voices matter, and we need to keep listening, learning and working to build a system that puts victims first.”

From Kelly’s Facebook post

Innovation, jobs and opportunity

Kelly calls Kitchener Centre Canada's innovation capital. She asked questions about why so many Canadian companies building dual-use technologies are not supplying the federal government. A survey raised in the discussion identified almost 430 such companies. Kelly said the talent and technology are here, and that procurement should focus on Canadian innovation.

She also shared a visit by Angola's Consul General to Communitech and said she is proud to see her work with Angola continue to grow. Closer to home, Kelly joined NIROW's Uncover Your Spark Career Workshop and congratulated the YouthForce 2026 graduates. She also welcomed the $2 million in provincial funding for SHE Builds, a new skilled trades program for women and gender-diverse survivors of gender-based violence in Waterloo Region.

“The talent and technology are here. Now we need to make sure procurement is focused on Canadian innovation.”

From Kelly’s Facebook video

Listening to residents and helping constituents

On Sept. 10, Kelly joined MPs Dr. Matt Strauss and Connie Cody for a town hall on social media legislation at Doon Pioneer Park Community Centre. She heard from parents, teachers and families about helping kids stay safe online.

Kelly also looked back on a summer of meetings with constituents. Her office shared a few of those meetings and thanked everyone who took the time to talk. Her team's casework continues, and anyone needing help with a federal department or service can call the office at 519-746-8867. The office is at 201-130 Weber Street W, Kitchener. Kelly also thanked neighbours for their kind words and hosted an End of Summer BBQ where families chatted with the team.

“Helping people navigate government services and get the answers and support they need is one of the most important parts of this job.”

From Kelly’s Facebook post

Celebrating culture, sport and community

Kelly marked the Arab Festival in Carl Zehr Square, Sikh Community Day 2026, Filipino Canadian Community Day and the Far East Asian Night Market. She thanked the Kitchener BIA for pulling off the night market. She said these events show the many cultures and traditions that make Kitchener Centre a vibrant place to call home.

She also cheered on local sport. Kelly wore orange with the Kitchener Panthers for Orange Jersey Day. She attended the Paddle Palooza Pickleball Festival and highlighted the fourth year of the Canadian Muay Thai Open in Kitchener. She congratulated the Shanley on its grand opening and spoke about the value of the local arts and culture community.

Recognizing local people and organizations

Kelly visited Vision Loss Rehab to learn how they help people with vision loss stay independent and connected. She met Tracy Elop of Camino Wellbeing + Mental Health about their Path to Education program, which helps children stay on track and graduate. She also spent time with the YMCA of Three Rivers to celebrate their summer programs.

Her local spotlights honoured a senior who has scanned and shared pieces of Kitchener's history through the J.M. Schneider Golden Age Club. They also honoured Sandy van Solm, Waterloo's first female Fire Chief.

Want to help shape what comes next? Follow along with Kelly's work, and get in touch with the local team to volunteer or donate.

Featured in this update

House of Commons · September 22, 2026

House of Commons: Government Orders — Canadian Fuel Affordability Act

Our leader advocated for Canadians saying that we need to keep this off the price of gas. That is exactly what is happening now. Finally, I would like to say it is a good start. We are keeping a portion of the gas taxes off for Canadians, but I really want to make it clear that … Read more

it is not enough. Conservatives are calling for the elimination of all federal tax on gas and diesel, at least until Canada Day 2027. We have to control the affordability for Canadians inside our borders and inside this House to make life more affordable for Canadians. We need the government to listen to the Conservatives and put the whole measure in place, not just a piece of it: all federal taxes on gas and diesel until at least Canada Day 2027. The fact is that the Liberals have introduced this piece of the Conservative plan, and I am sure people can see that it is now actually being used as a talking point, which is very telling to me. The talking point is that they have put in measures to save Canadians money, 11¢ at the pump. This tells me we were right all along to say that immediate relief for Canadians is what needs to get done. Absolutely, it is 11¢, but if they took this measure the whole way, it would be 25¢ per litre of savings at the pump for Canadians moving forward. What I would like the current government to do is actually adopt our entire plan, and it could use that talking point in the future to say that it has saved 25¢ per litre for Canadians. At the end of the day, what we are doing here is saving money and making life more affordable for Canadians who desperately need it. Of course, we will be supporting this. It is the Conservative plan. Absolutely, we will be supporting this. Our Conservative Party is now asking for the current government to eliminate all federal taxes on gas and diesel until at least Canada Day 2027 to save Canadians 25¢ per litre, not just 11¢ per litre. Over the summer, we have worked tirelessly for Canadians. In our role as the opposition, we have continued to work and advocate over the summer for what we can do inside our borders to help with the pressures and get the relief that Canadians need moving forward. We have listened to their stories at the dinner table. We have met with Canadians. We have had the hard conversations over the summer, about having to choose between heating their home or putting food in their refrigerator. Some people are on the verge of losing their jobs because they cannot even afford to put gas in their tank to get to work. It is this snowball effect that we are seeing happen. Through this parliamentary session we will continue to work for Canadians, to advocate for Canadians, to reduce the cost of living and to get us through what Canadians are facing now. We will keep putting pressure on the government, because we are listening. I want all Canadians, including residents of Kitchener Centre, to know that this political landscape that we are in today is not their fault. They are working hard, and raising a family or maybe they are on their own and cannot afford the essentials of life. This is what is not okay in Canada today. This is what we can actually control inside Canada today. We want to create a Canada again where Canadians can put food on their table, get to work, have a full gas tank and a full wallet, and still save for their future. There are youth out there who are thinking they are never going to be able get a home. That is not the Canada that we deserve. That is not the Canada we should live in. We will continue advocating and putting pressure on the current government to get us back into the place we used to be. The current Prime Minister stood in the House yesterday and told Canadians that the tariff war, the Iranian war and the Ukrainian war are what is driving up the cost of living for Canadians. I think that what we need to do, concentrating on the government, is focus on what we can control inside our borders. We need to focus on the reliefs and measures that we can put in place. Canadians do not want to hear about exponential crises that are the cause for the fact that they cannot put food on the table. They want to hear there are measures being put in place to help them live a life they are used to living inside our Canadian borders. I do not think John from Kitchener, who is now buying prepared meals for himself and his wife because he has to work two jobs just to stay afloat and does not have time to cook for his family anymore, wants to hear about what is happening in Ukraine or Iran. John wants to hear about tax relief, about removing the fuel standards tax, so that our grocery and gas prices come down. These are the measures that John wants to hear about. Paul in Kitchener says that he is being taxed too much, cannot afford to live anymore and does not know what he is going to do for his future. I am speaking to John and Paul directly right now. Conservatives understand. We are working, applying pressure and making sure that the government puts measures in place to help them with their everyday lives, with what they are saying at their kitchen tables and making sure their voices are heard in Ottawa so we can bring down the cost of living and inflationary spending and move toward a more affordable future for Canadians. We found more solutions than Bill C-38. We found solutions that are calling on the government to adopt all of these measures moving forward. Number one I have already said a couple of times today, which is to eliminate all federal tax on gas and diesel until at least Canada Day 2027 so we can reduce the price at the pumps by 25¢, not 11¢. It will affect our groceries and people will feel it immediately at the pump. We want the government to permanently scrap the fuel regulations and industrial carbon tax so those taxes never come back on Canadians. My colleagues fought for 10 years. I did not as I am honoured to be here for my first term, but my colleagues fought for 10 years saying this carbon tax was detrimental. We won that debate, but the Liberals need to take it the full way. They need to remove the industrial carbon tax and the fuel standards tax for Canadians as well, more than a 1% cut for the lowest tax bracket. I want to mention that over the summer, the Conservative team found $150 billion in savings. There is a weird misconception that Conservatives want to save money by cutting services or social programs. That is absolutely not true. This $150 billion in savings is inflationary spending on consultants, projects that are not being built but where money is being spent and fake asylum claims. The list goes on and on. What I am saying to Canadians today is Conservatives are here for them. We have presented our solutions to the current government. We are listening to Canadians. Moving forward, we will push the government and work for it to create a more affordable life for people here in Canada.

Facebook · September 18, 2026

I’ve written to the Minister’s office in support of Fire Station 8’s affordable housing project in Kitchener. We need to support projects that strengthen our community, expand housing options and make better use of existing public infrastructure. I’ll continue advocating for thi… Read more

s project.

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 25, 2026

When more families are turning to meal programs just to put food on the table, we know affordability is a serious issue. A Conservative government will take action to make life more affordable, lower costs, and ensure Canadians can get ahead.

Facebook · September 15, 2026

Kitchener Centre is Canada’s innovation capital. Right here in Kitchener, companies are building dual-use technologies for civilian and defence applications, while others are already providing innovative products and services to the federal government. The talent and technology… Read more

are here. Now we need to make sure procurement is focused on Canadian innovation.

Facebook · September 29, 2026

Stronger international relationships mean new opportunities for Canada’s Innovation Capital, Kitchener Centre. Proud to see our work with Angola continue to grow.

Facebook · September 14, 2026

A great afternoon with NIROW at their Uncover Your Spark Career Workshop. It was inspiring to see people building confidence, exploring their strengths and thinking about what comes next. Creating opportunities for people to find their path and reach their goals matters.

Facebook · September 17, 2026

Congratulations to the YouthForce 2026 graduates! It was inspiring to celebrate the hard work, growth and accomplishments of this year’s graduates. Wishing each of you the very best as you take your next steps and continue building your future.

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 4, 2026

Reminder! Join Kelly DeRidder, Connie Cody MP, and Dr. Matt Strauss on Sept. 10 from 6–8 PM at Doon Pioneer Park Community Centre for a town hall on social media legislation. We want to hear your questions, concerns and ideas. Hope to see you there!

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 12, 2026

It’s been a busy summer meeting with constituents, hearing your concerns and talking about the issues that matter most to our community. Thank you to everyone who took the time to meet with us. Here’s a look at just a few of our meetings from this summer!

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.