Ned Kuruc
Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, Ontario · Conservative · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for sharing her time. Before I get into Bill C-16 , I would like to acknowledge that last weekend the great people of Hamilton East—Stoney Creek commemorated the 213th anniversary of the Battle of Stoney Creek, one of the most important victories in Canadian history.”
“(1820) Chief of Police Bill Fordy, of the Niagara Regional Police Service, said: Community safety is strengthened when we continue to have thoughtful conversations about how our justice system responds to serious and repeat offenders.”
“In addition to reversing the Liberals' weak policies, Bill C-232 would restore a more balanced and common-sense approach to corrections by bringing back the principle of “only the necessary restrictions” that was established by the previous Conservative government through the Safe Streets and Communities Act of 2012.”
“They are reminded that their loved ones will never come home, while the person responsible continues to receive privileges and consideration from the very system that failed them. This is not justice.”
“It is no surprise that under the Liberal government, crime is increasing at alarming rates. Now the Liberals are making the same mistake again. Canadians want to feel safe. Criminals are becoming more aggressive. They are targeting businesses and using intimidation and violence.”
“They felt betrayed by a system that seemed to place the interests of dangerous offenders ahead of the rights, concerns and dignity of the victims and their families. The legislation is about accountability, transparency and ensuring that victims are never treated as an afterthought.”
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“Clearly, if the Liberal government opened its eyes, it would see that Canada is in desperate need of reform for violent firearms offences. How many more innocent bystanders need to be murdered in cold blood for the government to wake up and reverse course? Firearms crime is up 130%. (1920) The statistics speak for themselves, and even though this number has increased for nine consecutive years, the Liberals repealed mandatory prison time for the following: using a firearm or imitation firearm in the commission of an offence, possession of a firearm or weapon knowing its possession is unauthorized, possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition, extortion with a firearm and robbery with a firearm. As I said, the Liberals repealed the mandatory minimum sentences for these crimes.”
“In Hamilton alone, there have been 86 shootings in the last 20 months. On April 17, an international student studying at Mohawk College was shot and killed by a stray bullet while simply waiting for the bus. On July 17, in broad daylight and at the intersection of one of the busiest business districts during a popular street festival in Hamilton, an innocent 26-year-old refugee from Ghana was murdered by a 17-year-old drive-by shooter. On July 29, in my hometown of Stoney Creek, two separate shootings took place just minutes apart, one of which occurred mere steps from one of our local councillors. On August 30, three people were injured after a gunfight broke out in downtown Hamilton. People ran for their lives as 80 shots were fired.”
“They simply view them as a cost of doing business. Conservatives want tougher sentencing measures to ensure that those who mass-produce and traffic fentanyl in mass quantities serve a mandatory life sentence, as murderers do right now. The DEA found that just two milligrams of fentanyl can cause an overdose that leads to death. Producing fentanyl in mass quantities should be treated the same. In June, in my city of Hamilton, police executed a warrant and not only found an illegal handgun, surprise, surprise, but also seized 35 grams of fentanyl. If it had been in its pure, uncut form, that amount could have taken the lives of 17,000 people. Hamiltonians deserve to be protected from those who wish to wreak havoc and take the lives of others. We have had enough. The second issue Bill C-2 does not address is violent firearms offences.”
“The Washington Post reported in December 2023 that fentanyl super labs in Canada are producing mass amounts of the drug. The super labs that police are finding in Canada differ because they are synthesizing the drug, not simply pressing pills, using precursor chemicals sourced primarily from China. In August 2023, the Hamilton Police Service, the OPP, York Regional Police and the Toronto Police Service shut down a number of fentanyl labs in various areas between the GTA and Hamilton. This included two different labs and 25.6 kilograms of fentanyl. When the Liberals passed Bill C-5 , they eliminated mandatory jail time for trafficking, producing, importing and exporting drugs like fentanyl. The current penalties in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act are so weak that organized crime groups are not deterred at all.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk about a few things that the bill fails to address, which are fentanyl sentencing, gun crimes and bail reform. I would like to start by sharing some alarming facts. According to Health Canada's latest figures, there was a total of 49,105 apparent opioid toxicity deaths reported between January 2016 and June 2024. Of all accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths from January to June 2024, 79% involved fentanyl. The percentage has increased by 39% since 2016 when national surveillance began. Fentanyl and its analogs were involved in 33% of opioid-related poisoning emergency department visits from January to June 2024. The percentage of all opioid-related poisoning emergency department visits that involved fentanyl and its analogs has increased by 106% since 2018 when national surveillance began.”
“Mr. Speaker, before I ask my question, I would like to mention the celebration of LiUNA Local 837. They are celebrating 75 years today. I would like to say congratulations to Victoria Mancinelli, Joe Mancinelli, their family patriarch Enrico Mancinelli, may he rest in peace, and all the hard-working members of that union for building much of southern Ontario. My question for my colleague is this. People from my constituency are having a hard time understanding the restriction on cash, because we have a lot of small businesses and a very vibrant Italian community that has a lot of weddings, and couples get a lot of cash during their wedding. I would like to give them the opportunity to have some clarity on that, because people in my riding are very concerned about that, and eastern Europeans as well.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' own May 2025 housing data is in and it is atrocious. The Liberal housing accelerator fund was put in place to accelerate housing. It has done the opposite. For example, the housing accelerator fund gave $93.5 million to Hamilton, but housing starts are down by 50.7%. Why would this so-called new Liberal government continue its old failed programs?”
“Mr. Speaker, the so-called new government can turn over a new leaf by getting the $64 million back. It is very simple. They should get the $64 million back. They need to stop kicking the can around and blaming everybody but themselves. It is simple— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!”
“Mr. Speaker, the bottom line is that $64 million was awarded to two guys in a basement who did not do the work, and today we are here asking for the money back. Government members can kick the can and can blame civil service. I listened for 16 minutes, and the member kicked the can and passed the buck to everybody but excused himself. The taxpayers want their $64 million money back. I am an elected official and my voice is being heard here today on behalf of my citizens. They want their money back.”
“It is simple, Mr. Speaker. On this side of the House, we want to get to the bottom of things. We want this scandal investigated from start to finish, and we are simply asking whether the Liberals will get the $64 million of taxpayer money back.”
“Mr. Speaker, do I have any sense of guilt? Hon. members on that side of the House blame Pierre, blame the convoy and blame the Conservatives. They blame everybody but themselves. If they want to say it is a new government, why not start by getting the $64 million back? That is all we are asking for, to get the $64 million back.”
“It is about Liberal-connected firms and Liberal insiders, while regular Canadians pay the price. It is the same movie over and over, and Canadians are tired of it. This time we are drawing the line. To every hard-working Canadian out there, the nurses pulling overtime, the truck drivers paying high fuel costs and the steelworkers putting in double shifts, I want them to know that someone is finally fighting for their dollar. We are here to say we have seen enough waste, enough favours and enough payouts. Let us get taxpayers' money back. Every member of the House has a choice. They can stand up with Canadians or stand up with consultants; stand up for accountability or stand up for corruption. It is time for action now.”
“We do not tolerate waste, we do not reward failure and we do not let people get rich by ripping off taxpayers. This motion is simple. It gives the government a clear chance to show Canadians that it is serious about cleaning up the mess: no more talk, no more spin, just action. It should recover the money, ban the contractors and stand up for taxpayers. If Hamiltonians cannot skip the bill when they do not get service, neither should Liberal insiders. When someone cuts corners, they do not get a raise; they get the door. When government insiders get caught abusing public trust, they should not get a slap on the wrist; they should be banned for life. Let me remind the House that we have seen this before, with the sponsorship scandal, the WE scandal and the McKinsey contracts. It is always the same.”
“Second, we should ban GC Strategies and its founders from ever getting another federal contract. This includes all of their shell companies, subsidiaries and spinoffs. They cashed in on Canadians; they should not get a second chance. Let me be clear. This is not about politics. It is about trust. It is about fairness. It is about respecting the people who sent us here to represent them. Right now, that trust is broken. We have a government that paid a company to do work it did not do, a company that is now under RCMP investigation and a company that has been exposed by the Auditor General, and the Liberals want to move on like nothing has happened. We will not let that happen, not on our watch, not in this House. I came to Ottawa to represent Hamilton, and in Hamilton we hold people accountable.”
“I promised that I would come to Ottawa to fight to make life more affordable, to put money back in their pockets and to stand up to the insiders and the waste so that families like Alexa's are not left behind. That is who this is about. It is about Alexa. It is about the people doing everything right and getting nothing back. When they see the government hand out $64 million to a company that did not even do the work while they are scraping together dollars for their kids' lunches, it is not just frustrating; it is infuriating. Enough is enough. Today, the Conservatives are demanding two things. First, we should get taxpayers' money back, $64 million, recovered within 100 days. If Hamilton families have to live on a budget, the government should also.”
“Alexa is a single mother of three young boys and works overtime as a public service worker. She is doing everything right, showing up, working hard and raising her family, but she told me how hard it is becoming just to put food on the table. Living paycheque to paycheque, Alexa said she has had to make impossible choices among rent, groceries and gas. The dream of raising her kids in a good neighbourhood and providing a decent life feels more out of reach every passing month. (1555) We talked about the skyrocketing cost of living, and now a decade of Liberal waste and mismanagement has made things worse. That day, I made a promise, and not just to Alexa, but to every family like hers across Hamilton and across the country.”
“Where will the money go? It will not go to building homes and hospitals or to defence spending. It will go into padded contracts for Liberal insiders, padded invoices for middlemen and padded bonuses at CMHC, with millions paid and nothing delivered. Hamilton gets none of that benefit but all of the bill, so when the Liberals tell Canadians to tighten their belts, pay their carbon tax and wait for help, it is an insult. They are not governing; they are cashing in. It is no wonder Canadians are frustrated. They see a government that pushes work and rewards waste. They see a government that lets friends walk away with millions while working people get squeezed. During the election, I met a woman named Alexa while I was out door knocking in Hamilton East—Stoney Creek.”
“They are working overtime and pinching every dollar just trying to stay afloat. Food prices are up, rent is sky high and mortgages are crushing families. Every extra dollar counts. While Hamiltonians are cutting back, the Liberals are writing blank cheques to their buddies. That is not just bad government; it is broken government. It is upside down. This is not an isolated issue, and it is certainly not a paperwork mistake. It is a pattern. The Prime Minister has built a government where insiders get rich and Canadians get left behind. Remember what he said, that he would spend less, but this year's spending bill is 8% bigger than Trudeau's last one. That is over a half a trillion dollars with no budget and no plan. It is just more money for consultants, to the tune of $26 billion. That is $1,400 from every Canadian household.”
“In nearly half the cases, departments paid GC Strategies without checking if the work was done. In over 80% of the contracts, they could not even prove they got a fair deal. In 46% of the contracts, they did not even prove they received the work before paying the bill. If someone tried handing out public money with no receipts, no oversight and no proof of work in Hamilton, they would not just be shown the door; they would be dragged into court facing fraud charges, and the community would be demanding answers. Here in Ottawa, they get a handshake, a renewed contract and another cheque with seven figures on it. It is not just negligence; it is institutionalized corruption. The rules are different for Liberal insiders, and Canadians are paying the price. In my riding of Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, families are doing everything right.”
“Prime Minister Trudeau and his government were warned, not once but repeatedly, by internal reports and concerned civil servants. Public servants testified they had the power to recover the money. Instead, what did they do? They kept signing contracts. They kept the gravy train running for their friends. These are the same civil servants the member on the other side just blamed. This is the same GC strategies that is now under RCMP investigation, a company cloaked in secrecy with deep ties to Liberal insiders. It is the same GC strategies whose founder had his house raided by the police. Still, 31 different government departments handed it over $64 million. What was it for? The Auditor General reviewed a sample of the contracts. What did she find?”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to split my time with the member for St. Albert—Sturgeon River . In Hamilton, when someone is hired, if they do not do a job, they do not get paid. It is that simple. It is how we were raised, with fairness, accountability and respect for honest, hard-working people. If they do the job, they earn their pay. Here in Ottawa, the Liberals paid $64 million to GC Strategies, a two-man company that was run in a basement that did not even do the work. It subcontracted everything, and the Auditor General said that in many cases, there was no proof that any work was done at all, just invoices, excuses and a total lack of accountability. No one would get away with that in Hamilton, not a chance, so why should Liberal insiders?”
“Mr. Speaker, I cannot take that answer to the hard workers of Hamilton. This closure is not just a local story. It is a warning sign to all working Canadians in this country. The Prime Minister promised elbows up with the United States and to collect $20 billion. All we have seen is elbows down. I ask this question of the Prime Minister on behalf of the workers of Hamilton's industrial corridor and Canadians: Is this the end of closures or just the beginning?”
“Mr. Speaker, just days after the minister's promise-filled visit to ArcelorMittal this past weekend in Hamilton, ArcelorMitta has announced the closure of its Long wire mill, resulting in a loss of 153 mortgage-paying jobs in my community. Yesterday, I spoke to a concerned father whose daughter, Amanda, lost her job to the mill closure. Her father stated that the Prime Minister had promised tariff relief on TV. When will Amanda get her tariff relief?”
“Through you, Mr. Chair, I know I am just a rookie here, a simple guy from Hamilton who made it to Parliament, but I was told that we ask the questions and the minister answers them. I want to know if he knows the answer. Again, does he know what the average cost of a home in Hamilton is?”
“Mr. Speaker, I have read Bill C-2 . I am going to address gun crime again. Let us get to the facts here. The guns are here and crimes are being committed. People are getting shot. There were records set in my city. I do not read anything in this bill that would curb that. Will the Liberals repeal Bill C-5 and Bill C-75 ? Catching criminals was never the problem; it is keeping them in jail.”
“Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague for her victory. The province of Manitoba set a record last year, in 2024, for homicides. My own city of Hamilton also set a gun crime record. I would like to ask the member, is she willing to vote yes to repeal Liberal Bill C-5 and Bill C-75 and put the teeth back in our justice system so criminals are afraid to commit crimes?”
“Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague from Oshawa on her win. We all know that in order to get to the House of Commons, we have to knock on a lot of doors, listen to our constituents, form opinions and campaign very hard. I would like to know if she has a story to tell from her door knocking, because every time we knock on a door, every story we hear stays with us and shapes us as young politicians. Could she share a story with us, please?”
“Mr. Speaker, I have good news. Last night, the Conservatives passed a motion calling on the Prime Minister to issue a budget this spring. This is as Trump is threatening to double the tariffs on steel to 50%. That would put Hamilton steel and steelworkers out of business. The Prime Minister promised he would collect $20 billion in tariffs from the United States. There is no $20 billion and there are no tariffs. Will the Prime Minister listen to Parliament, table the budget and show us how he is going to make up that $20 billion?”
“Mr. Speaker, I have news from my riding of Hamilton East—Stoney Creek. Yesterday, a Hamilton city bus was caught in the crossfire of a shooting. This comes just weeks after an innocent young lady tragically lost her life by a stray bullet on Upper James simply by waiting for the bus. Crime is out of control, and this status quo is unacceptable. When will the Prime Minister repeal Liberal Bill C-5 and Bill C-75 so we can bring back safety to the streets of Hamilton and Canada?”
“It is that same mentality that brought my parents to a country that offered freedom and opportunity for them and their future children. My father Ilija Kuruc, who herded sheep as a child in a Serbian village called Strmica, and my late mother lvanka Kuruc, who grew up in a house with a straw roof in a tiny Croatian village called Ledenik, left their humble beginnings for Canada, the land of opportunity. This is where they were able to achieve their dreams and allow me to achieve mine. It is because of Canada and hard work that my family's story was able to go from the village to Parliament in one generation. Pierre Poilievre instilled in me that we are the servants and not the masters. I stand here ready to serve. I love this country. God bless Canada.”
“Canadians are very welcoming, but our health care, housing and job markets are now overflowing because population growth has been too fast. These priorities represent our goals, and Conservatives will fight to deliver them. By the end, the poll aggregators gave Conservatives a 1% chance of winning in Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, but we knew that people wanted change, and that is why I am standing here today. Over the last few weeks, I have been asked what the secret was to winning. My response has always been that it was hard work, but today I have a secret to share with the House. It is the Serbian word inat , which Google defines as a stubborn defiance fuelled by pride and passion. Simply put, my team and I would not take no or not winning as an answer.”
“We want homes where kids can play outside, seniors can walk in safety and our cars do not disappear overnight. We must restore economic independence by unleashing our businesses and our resources. We all want a permanent end to tariffs with the U.S., and we will work with the government to make that happen. We also need to focus on making our own economy more independent and self-reliant. The government must remove the laws, taxes and rules blocking mines, pipelines, LNG plants and hydro dams to reduce our dependence on the U.S. We must bring safety to our streets by locking up dangerous offenders and securing our borders. We will fight to end catch-and-release bail and to push for treatment to combat addiction. We must get immigration under control after a decade of Liberal mismanagement.”
“The reality is that we came back to Parliament with the same ministers, no budget and the Liberals ready to go on summer break just after they prorogued for six months. If the Liberals do not have a plan, they could just keep using our Conservative one. Conservatives are ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work for Canadians. On this side of the House, Conservatives have a plan to make Canada affordable, safe, self-reliant and united. We must get the cost of living down, and we will continue to demand a budget that reveals the true deficit and lowers spending, taxes and inflation. We must unleash our construction sector to get homes built by cutting taxes and red tape for buyers and builders. We must restore the dream of home ownership that the Liberals destroyed.”
“To the people of Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, often referred to as Steeltown, my door will always be open regardless of who they voted for. I am here for them. The Prime Minister recently asked during an interview, how much steel do we use anyway? I am proud to share that Hamilton steel is used far and wide across this great country and around the world. In fact, it is actually used in this building. The girders above us were manufactured right outside my riding by the Walters Group. Hamilton helped build the House of Commons. (1825) After the government's throne speech, I must say I am deeply disappointed. The Liberals campaigned on how Canada was in a crisis and the Prime Minister 's resume would fix it.”
“Their hard work and dedication was unmatched. I am proud to call Hamilton East—Stoney Creek and Winona my home. It is where I was born and raised by two loving parents, who had come to Canada from the former Yugoslavia in 1967, seeking a better life. It is where I was christened at the St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Cathedral on Nash Road, attended Memorial Elementary School and graduated from Orchard Park Secondary School. Today, my wife and I are raising our children in the very same home where I grew up, surrounded by the same community that shaped who I am today. I am proud to have made history as the first member of Parliament of Serbian heritage. It is an honour and a privilege to represent my Serbian community in the House of Commons.”
“To Vince Valleri, Paul Russamano, Vesel Sobot, Nicica Miskovic and Novica Miskovic, I thank them for believing in freedom. To Bob Bratina, the former Liberal MP from Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, I thank him for always putting the people of our community first, especially when he recognized that the Liberal government was wrong. I thank him for his support and his endorsement. To my colleagues from Niagara West and Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North , I thank them for their guidance and for being my political big brothers. I want to thank the Conservative campus clubs from U of T, TMU and Redeemer, as well as all the youth who helped me on this journey. They made all the difference because they had the most to fight for: their future. I give special thanks to Mariuz, Joanna, Juliet and Hanna Kurjanowiz.”
“I would also like to thank my children, Vonn, Ilija and my princess, Ivanna. They were my biggest motivation and inspiration to take on this journey, to do my part to make sure that they and everyone else's children had the same opportunities that generations before them had. Daddy loves them. I would like to thank my first campaign managers and friends, Ken Audziss and Ian Thompson, and my current campaign manager and friend, Jonathan Stathakos, who joined my team in 2021 as a young kid by clicking a Facebook ad. Together, we made history. To Grant MacLean and Jennifer Devolin, their experience is the steady hand we needed during turbulent times. To Connor Fraser, Drashko Zdero, Jora Purwall, Akal Purwall, my brother Rob Kuruc, the core team and the hundreds of volunteers, I thank them for all they have done.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by congratulating all the members in the House on their successful election. It is an honour to rise here today and deliver my first speech in the House as the first Conservative member for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek. An unprecedented 32,000 people in Hamilton East—Stoney Creek believed in me, our Conservative Party and our leader, Pierre Poilievre. I would like to thank all the people of Hamilton East—Stoney Creek for putting their trust in me. It is an honour and a privilege to bring their voice to Ottawa. Most importantly, I would like to thank my wife for simply everything, for standing by my side during every step of this journey and for her never-ending support and belief in me. She has helped shape me into who I am today. I am incredibly thankful for her love and support.”