An Honour To Serve

5 February 2026

Every time I walk up the steps to West Block and enter the House of Commons, I am struck by a profound sense of humility. I am reminded that the title “Member of Parliament” isn’t just a designation or a job—it is a sacred commitment to you.

Being your representative means carrying your stories, your concerns, and your hopes into the heart of our democracy. Over the last 10 months, I have had the opportunity to speak with many of you at community events, and thousands more have reached out via telephone, social media, mail, and email. The message I hear is consistent: you are deeply proud to be Canadian, but you are becoming increasingly worried. In an unstable world, it feels as if more and more hardworking people are being left behind and our values are being tested.

That sense of worry often starts at the kitchen table. One of the most pressing issues I hear about is the skyrocketing cost of living, especially at the grocery store. In December alone, we saw a staggering 6.2% increase in food inflation year-over-year. It is a sobering reality that Canada now grapples with the highest food inflation in the G7. This isn’t just a statistic; it’s a crisis for our seniors on fixed incomes, for young families trying to provide nutritious meals for their children, and for our youth who are looking at the future with growing uncertainty. Ensuring that food is affordable must be your government’s first priority, just as being able to afford food is yours.

But the anxieties of our community don’t end at grocery store checkouts. Public safety must be the bedrock of a free society, yet many feel that foundation is cracking. We have seen no strong action to repeal the current government’s “catch-and-release” bail policies, which have allowed repeat violent offenders to roam our streets rather than remain behind bars. Just a few months ago an innocent man was fatally accosted right here in our community. He lost his life in an unprovoked attack in front of his home. The murderer was a repeat violent offender who should have been incarcerated instead of being allowed to roam freely on our streets.

Part of being a Member of Parliament is also being a legislator. While Conservatives are always willing to work across the aisle to make progress, the bills put forward by Liberals go nowhere near far enough to protect our communities and are often extremely poorly written. We need laws that actually put the rights of victims and law-abiding citizens ahead of the interests of criminals.

Safety, however, isn’t just about physical security; it is about the protection of our fundamental values. This is why many in our community are watching the progression of Bill C-9 with a very critical eye. There are deep-seated concerns that, as currently drafted, this legislation could be used to criminalize the sharing of passages from the Bible, the Quran, the Torah, and other sacred texts. Let me be clear: the state has absolutely no place in the religious texts or teachings of any faith community. Freedom of expression and freedom of religion are fundamental rights enshrined in our Charter, and they must be preserved without compromise. We cannot allow government overreach to infringe upon the private sanctuary of faith.

Our commitment to these fundamental rights cannot stop at our borders. In the past two months, the world witnessed the heinous, violent repression and murder of tens of thousands of peaceful protesters who were simply asking for their basic human rights in Iran. I stand unequivocally with the courageous people of Iran in their fight for freedom. It was an honor to offer my support to the over 20,000 Iranian Canadians who gathered recently in Richmond Hill, and to stand in solemn solidarity with the grieving families during the anniversary of the downing of Flight PS752.

Serving as your Member of Parliament is a tremendous honor and your feedback is at the heart of everything I do. I will always fight for a Canada that is safe, affordable, and free. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to email my office at any time at costas.menegakis@parl.gc.ca. I look forward to hearing from you.