Thrilled to serve as Parliamentary Secretary for Crown-Indigenous Relations
Happy New Year, Centennial!
I would like to begin by thanking the members of our community who took it upon themselves to make the holiday season in Scarborough–Rouge Park extra special!
From our public health-care and emergency services workers who dutifully gave up their Christmas morning and New Year’s Eve to ensure the safety of our community, to our local leaders who organized holiday craft and bake sales to help spread some holiday cheer, your efforts are truly appreciated by all.
Parliamentary Secretary
This December, I was thrilled to have been asked by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to serve as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations. The wrongs that have been committed by Canada against Indigenous peoples over the course of our history can only be corrected with the recognition and implementation of policies based on self-determination.
I recognize the historical responsibility that I have as a first generation settler to this land towards Indigenous peoples, and I commit to working tirelessly to advance Indigenous rights, including the full implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
As Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism, I had an opportunity to work closely with Indigenous communities across Canada to bring forward Bill C-91, an Act Respecting Indigenous Languages. This legislation sought to address Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action 13, 14 and 15, and was an important step along the road to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Canada.
Following the leadership of Justin Trudeau, the Government of Canada will continue moving forward on a Nation to Nation, Inuit to Crown, and Government to Government relationship with Indigenous Peoples as we work together to implement each of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action. I look forward to working together with Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Indigenous Peoples across Canada in this new role.
New Year’s Levee
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to invite all residents from the Centennial community to join my team and me on Sunday, January 26 at our Constituency Office (3-3600 Ellesmere Road) from 2-4 p.m. for our New Year’s Levee Celebration.
New Year’s Levees are a time-honoured Canadian tradition, offering us an opportunity to meet our neighbours, reflect on the successes of the past year, and discuss our shared visions for Scarborough–Rouge Park in the weeks, months and years ahead.
For those of you who would like to connect with my team, I encourage you to contact my office at 416-283-1414 or Gary.Anand@parl.gc.ca. We are always happy to hear your ideas, assist you with various federal services or answer any questions you may have.