Dominique O'Rourke
Guelph, Ontario · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, first, I just want to celebrate the Guelph & District Multicultural Festival, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this weekend. I congratulate Anu Saxena, their chair, and also Cinthuja Leon, who is their executive director. It was another amazing weekend.”
“Mr. Speaker, the previous question was about what the rush is in terms of passing this legislation. I want to ask my hon. colleague this: When you are out in the community, the amazing Spadina—Harbourfront, are you hearing from people that this is a housing crisis and an emergency, and that they want us to move quickly during construction…”
“Mr. Speaker, let us honour the life and legacy of James Ross Hurley, the founding director of the parliamentary internship programme. Created in 1969 by Wellington MP Alf Hales, the program flourished under James Hurley's leadership as a unique, non-partisan opportunity for university graduates to experience parliamentary democracy.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canada has one of the strongest democracies in the world, but we can never take that for granted. We need to protect the independence of our judiciary. We need a strong parliamentary system, and we need strong journalism. Obviously we can never take our democracy for granted. We need to strengthen those institutions.”
“(1410) [ English ] James Hurley devoted his life to public service as a Privy Council Office constitutional adviser to six prime ministers, a beloved mentor and a professor of political science at the University of Ottawa. In March 2025, he left us.”
“Since its launch, Build Canada Homes has moved quickly to get housing projects off the ground. The Government of Canada has identified public lands that can be converted into housing. We have partnered with local governments to cut red tape and fast-track approvals.”
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“Sometimes people we talk to during the campaign think we are not going to remember those conversations, but I am thinking right now of a single mom who talked to me in her driveway. She was wearing a hoodie embroidered with the name of a local food processor. She was terrified she might lose her job because of these senseless tariffs. During a different round table discussion, another woman told me that people in her cultural community are worried not only that they could lose their jobs, but if that did happen, they are scared they would not be able to meet their financial commitments to family members they have sponsored through our immigration system. Already, the threat of tariffs has slowed employment and expansion.”
“In February, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce identified Guelph as the sixth most vulnerable city overall, with the fourth-highest exports to the U.S. per capita. Over the course of this conversation in this chamber, members opposite have been implying that the Trump tariff threat was somehow conjured to scare voters during the election, unnecessarily, but it is a very real threat to the people in my community and all across Canada. Protecting jobs, supporting workers and building the strongest economy in the G7 is the single most important thing this new government can do to help the 16,500 people in Guelph who work directly in manufacturing. That is one in five homes directly employed in advanced manufacturing and thousands more who work in related fields.”
“Last Tuesday, His Majesty King Charles III read these words: “While the world faces unprecedented challenges, generating uncertainties across the continents with regards to peace and stability, economics, and climate change, your communities have the skills and determination to bring a wealth of solutions.” I know that Guelph residents and businesses have the skills and determination to face these unprecedented challenges and to seize this opportunity, to think big and to act bigger, as we embark on the largest transformation of our economy since the Second World War. We are facing unprecedented challenges. The Conference Board of Canada identified Guelph as the most vulnerable city in Canada to tariffs.”
“Just as the Speech from the Throne began with a land acknowledgement, and an ongoing commitment to reconciliation, I want to acknowledge that Guelph has served as traditional lands for many peoples over time, specifically the Attiwonderonk and the Haudenosaunee. The land is held as the treaty lands and territory with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation under the Between the Lakes Purchase Treaty No. 3, and it is home to many first nations, Inuit and Métis people today. Guelph is also known as the Royal City. When it was founded by John Galt in 1827, he named it in honour of the British royal family, who were descended from the House of Welf, also known as the Guelfs. It is fitting that my first speech as the new MP for Guelph, the Royal City, be an enthusiastic endorsement of and response to the Speech from the Throne.”
“I want to thank my husband Mike and my kids Rebecca, the historian, and Elise, the environmentalist, who have been my number one supporters. I want to leave Canada and this planet better for them and for their children. [ Translation ] It is up to us to leave behind a prosperous and equitable country and a healthier planet. [ English ] My thanks to the residents of Guelph, who believed in me to be their voice in Ottawa, and to every person who took the time to speak with me at the door or in their driveway, especially those who do not agree with me, because we have to regain our ability to have conversations grounded in respect and civility. We have to regain our ability to find common ground for the greater good.”
“Mr. Speaker, congratulations on your new role. [ English ] I will be sharing my time with the member for Egmont . It is with tremendous humility and gratitude that I rise to speak for the very first time in this chamber, thanks to the confidence afforded to me by the wonderful people of the city of Guelph. I first want to thank all my volunteers, especially Guelph's own, the legendary Pat Sorbara, who served as my campaign chair and co-manager with the very talented Sean Mitchell. More than 240 people of all ages and backgrounds volunteered for the campaign and were literally with me every step of the way. There is only one name on the ballot, but there are hundreds of people behind that person. I think all members of the House will agree that a vibrant democracy is a beautiful thing, and it is worth protecting.”