May 4th, 2017 — “Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise before this House as the newest member of Parliament for the dynamic and diverse riding of Markham—Thornhill. I wish to thank John McCallum for his great service over many years to that community.    

For 30 days in March, I met with thousands of families who shared their ambitions and their goals with me. We spoke about finding good, well-paying jobs, saving for our children's education, saving for our retirement, and ensuring we have the resources to care for our aging family members. I am committed to fiercely serving the residents of Markham—Thornhill and delivering on my promise to bring their ambitions and ideas to Ottawa.   

 I thank those who have put their trust in me to represent them, and the members of this House who have so warmly welcomed me.”

In my first statement as your Member of Parliament in the House of Commons in 2017 —  I made the commitment before parliament to work on tackling the issues that are most important to Markham—Thornhill. Four years later, my passion for and dedication to our community has only grown and strengthened.  

Markham—Thornhill is home to over 100,000 with an area of 42 km², making it one of the largest communities in the City of Markham and York Region. It is bordered by Bayview Avenue to the West, Steeles Avenue to the South, Highway 407 to the North, and the Rouge River to the East.

Markham—Thornhill is one of the most diverse ridings in Canada. It has one of the largest populations of visible minorities across the country, including incredible Tamil, Chinese, and South Asian communities. Markham-Thornhill is a testament to the vibrancy and strength that comes from sharing and celebrating different cultures, histories, and traditions.

Markham is also considered one of Canada's top tech hubs thanks to our innovative and creative businesses, entrepreneurs, and local leaders who are creating jobs, solving problems, and creating a more sustainable future for us all.