Saturday 13 December 2025
The Power of Community in Challenging Times
Yasir Naqvi, MP Ottawa Centre
I have never been prouder to serve as the MP for Ottawa Centre. Even in uncertain times, I am reminded of the strength of our community. I see it in the organizations that lift others up, and in the kindness I witness when meeting with constituents. These every day moments show me that hope is something we build together by showing up for one another.
The hope you inspire in me is something I want to offer back to you. I know that many people in our community are feeling anxious. The world is changing quickly, and it is understandable to feel uneasy when some of that change is happening so close to our borders.
In moments like this, having a clear plan for the future matters. Budget 2025 is part of that plan. It focuses on building a Canada where our children and grandchildren have a real chance at owning a home and where our economy is less vulnerable to shifts beyond our southern border. And we are already starting to see early signs of progress.
Canada’s GDP grew by 2.6% in the third quarter of 2025, more than offsetting the decline from the previous quarter. This result was well above the market expectation of 0.5%. Overall, the economy has performed about $30 billion better than what Budget 2025 had projected for this point in the year.
This is encouraging news, even though I know many people in Ottawa Centre are still feeling the pressure of a challenging economy. That is why the federal government is not stopping here. We will continue working for a community where everyone can afford to live and truly feel that they belong. There is still more work to do, but these early signs show that we are moving in the right direction.
The foundation for a strong future already exists here at home. Canada’s new government is focused on building greater stability and creating more opportunities for Canadians. A key part of our plan is the belief that Canada should be its own best customer. This means using more Canadian steel, aluminum, lumber, and other homegrown materials, products, and technologies to build a stronger country. Our new Buy Canadian Policy will help make this a reality by ensuring that up to $70 billion in public investment supports Canadian-made products and services, strengthening our supply chains and fostering Canadian innovation.
The Buy Canadian Policy will guide the Major Projects Office as it moves forward with key energy, trade, and transportation projects, such as the new high-speed train closer to home. It will also apply to Build Canada Homes and the Build Communities Strong Fund, helping to speed up housing construction and improve community infrastructure across the country. Across all of these initiatives, we are putting Canadian materials first, such as steel, aluminum, critical minerals, and softwood lumber, while supporting the people and businesses that produce them. These investments through the Buy Canadian Policy will create good jobs and help build a stronger, more resilient Canada for everyone.
The Buy Canadian Policy will also guide our Defence Industrial Strategy, strengthening Canada’s defence sector and supporting homegrown suppliers. Budget 2025 provides $79.9 million over five years for the Small and Medium Business Procurement Program, helping smaller enterprises access federal contracts. Generational investments in the Canadian Armed Forces, along with reformed defence procurement, will ensure our military has the tools it needs while prioritizing Canadian-made equipment. This approach supports domestic industries and creates high-paying jobs here at home.
The Buy Canadian Policy and the spirit of supporting one another give me hope for our country. It reminds me of the strength I see in our community every day and how much we can achieve when we come together to lift each other up. Whether it is workers affected by tariffs, people seeking employment, or those building the homes and infrastructure our communities need, Canadians are supporting one another.
As we begin a new year, I remain proud to represent the people of Ottawa Centre and grateful for the trust you place in me. By continuing to support one another and build on the progress already underway, I am confident we can create a stronger, more hopeful future for everyone. Happy New Year!
Yasir Naqvi
MP, Ottawa Centre
Député, Ottawa-Centre
Short version 576 words
I have never been prouder to serve as the MP for Ottawa Centre. Even in uncertain times, I am reminded of the strength of our community—through the organizations that lift others up and the kindness I witness when meeting with constituents. These everyday moments show that hope is something we build together by showing up for one another.
The hope you inspire in me is something I want to offer back. I know many people in our community are feeling anxious as the world changes quickly, especially when some of that change is happening close to our borders. In moments like this, having a clear plan for the future matters. Budget 2025 is part of that plan. It focuses on building a Canada where our children and grandchildren have a real chance at owning a home and where our economy is less vulnerable to shifts beyond our southern border. Already, we are seeing early signs of progress.
Canada’s GDP grew by 2.6% in the third quarter of 2025, more than offsetting the previous quarter’s decline and far exceeding the market expectation of 0.5%. Overall, the economy has performed about $30 billion better than Budget 2025 had projected at this point in the year. This is encouraging news, even though many in Ottawa Centre still feel the pressures of a challenging economy. That is why the federal government will continue working toward a community where everyone can afford to live and truly feel that they belong. There is more work to do, but these early signs show we are moving in the right direction.
Canada’s new government is focused on building greater stability and creating more opportunities for Canadians. A key part of our plan is the belief that Canada should be its own best customer—using more Canadian steel, aluminum, lumber, and other homegrown materials, products, and technologies. Our new Buy Canadian Policy will help make this a reality by ensuring that up to $70 billion in public investment supports Canadian-made products and services, strengthening supply chains and fostering innovation.
The Buy Canadian Policy will guide the Major Projects Office as it advances key energy, trade, and transportation initiatives, including the new high-speed train. It will also apply to Build Canada Homes and the Build Communities Strong Fund, helping accelerate housing construction and improve community infrastructure. Across these initiatives, we are putting Canadian materials first—steel, aluminum, critical minerals, and softwood lumber—while supporting the people and businesses that produce them. These investments will create good jobs and help build a stronger, more resilient Canada.
The Buy Canadian Policy will also shape our Defence Industrial Strategy, strengthening Canada’s defence sector and supporting homegrown suppliers. Budget 2025 provides $79.9 million over five years for the Small and Medium Business Procurement Program, helping smaller enterprises access federal contracts. Generational investments in the Canadian Armed Forces, along with reformed defence procurement, will ensure our military has the tools it needs while prioritizing Canadian-made equipment.
The spirit of supporting one another gives me hope for our country. It reminds me of the strength I see in our community every day and how much we can achieve when we come together. As we begin a new year, I remain proud to represent the people of Ottawa Centre and grateful for your trust. By continuing to support one another and build on the progress underway, I am confident we can create a stronger, more hopeful future for everyone. Happy New Year!