With winter well underway and colder temperatures upon us, I want to take a moment to extend a sincere thank you to the dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain our local outdoor skating rinks. Your time and effort help keep these beloved spaces safe, welcoming, and enjoyable for families throughout the season.

Over the holiday break, I had the pleasure of connecting with many constituents and visiting local businesses, hearing firsthand about your priorities, experiences, and hopes for the year ahead. I’m energized to be back on Parliament Hill and look forward to continuing this work on your behalf.

Join me for Question Period

Now that the House is back in session, a reminder that visitors are welcome to watch live proceedings (including Question Period) in the House of Commons from the public galleries on a first-come first-served basis. Visit my website for details and to reserve seating.

New Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit

On January 26, our government announced a new set of measures aimed at making groceries and other essentials more affordable for Canadians. Central to the plan is the introduction of the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, which increases the current GST credit by 25% over the next five years and includes a one-time 50% top-up this year, bringing significant additional support to more than 12 million Canadians, including families and individuals.

Many Canadians have been feeling the pressure of rising costs for far too long, and our government is focused on delivering support where it’s needed most.

Alto High-Speed Rail

The Alto High-Speed Rail project will be one of Canada’s largest infrastructure investments in decades. Building the first high-speed rail network in Canada will turbocharge our economy, create well-paying jobs, support Canadian businesses and industry while delivering to Canadians the transportation system deserving of a major economy. As announced in December, the first segment of the High-Speed Rail network will run between Ottawa and Montreal.

Alto has begun a comprehensive three-month consultation process. Please visit the Alto website for details on upcoming open houses and virtual consultations.

National Day of Remembrance of the Québec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia

On January 29, 2017, a brutal act of Islamophobia claimed the lives of six worshippers at a Québec City Mosque and wounded 19 others. The National Day of Remembrance of the Québec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia urges all of us to remember and honour the sons, brothers, fathers, husbands, and community members senselessly killed and to actively oppose the myriad ways, both blatant and subtle, that Islamophobia expresses itself in our public and private lives. January 29 serves as a reminder of the work we must do to eradicate Islamophobia, hate and racism in Canada.

Kanata Youth Council Visit to the Kanata Food Cupboard

Just before the holidays, members of my Kanata Youth Council toured the Kanata Food Cupboard and volunteered with day-to-day activities. It was a great opportunity for participants to learn how the food cupboard operates, to help with sorting and organizing, and to reflect on ways to support their community.

The Kanata Food Cupboard is always looking for volunteers. Visit their website to learn how to get involved.

Industry Visits and Highlights

I attended an important conversation in the Kanata North tech park with local businesses on Buy Canada and Ontario’s new Buy Ontario legislation. Thank you to Minister Stephen Crawford and the business leaders who shared concrete feedback on how procurement can better support Canadian and Ontario companies. Getting procurement right matters, and I’m committed to working with businesses and partners to get this right so Canadian companies can grow, compete, and create good local jobs.

It’s been a pleasure speaking at the Ottawa Economic Outlook luncheon. Events like this play a crucial role in fostering informed dialogue, building meaningful connections across sectors, and ensuring our community is well-positioned to grow and thrive in the year ahead.

In Prescott, I met with local business leaders for a productive Roundtable on Buy Canada, procurement reform, and defence opportunities. We had a frank discussion about what’s working, where improvements are needed, and how government can better support businesses - from helping SMEs access federal procurement to strengthening labour standards, freight transportation, and critical supply chains. Our government is committed to being Canada’s best customer by using public procurement to grow Canadian companies, create good jobs, and leverage historic defence investments to strengthen both our economy and national security.

I also met with Calian leadership for two back-to-back meetings at their Kanata office, including a CEO handover discussion with incoming CEO Pat Houston and outgoing CEO Kevin Ford, followed by a tour of Calian’s GNSS facility with Chris Pogue, President of Defence & Space, and Darrell Wellington, VP & GM, GNSS. These conversations highlighted Calian’s important contributions to Canada’s defence and space capabilities, as well as the company’s continued commitment to innovation, investment, and job creation here in Kanata.

I enjoyed attending the Marvell Canada Ottawa Site Grand Opening Ceremony and celebrating this exciting milestone with the team. Marvell’s continued growth and investment in our region reflects the strength of Ottawa’s technology sector and its role in driving innovation.

My colleagues and I toured Nordion and BWXT - two world-class nuclear companies operating under one roof right here in Kanata. From producing medical isotopes that support cancer diagnosis and treatment, to sterilizing millions of medical tools used in hospitals around the world, their products quite literally save lives every day. It’s incredible to see Canadian-made nuclear technology having a global impact, and I was equally thrilled to share this tour with colleagues from across Canada.

Community Events and Visits

I recently had the pleasure of meeting with a group of grade 5 & 6 students from W. Erskine Johnston Public School. It was truly refreshing and enjoyable to spend time with such curious, thoughtful students. Their questions, ideas, and enthusiasm were inspiring, and it was a wonderful reminder of the importance of nurturing the bright minds and future leaders of our community.

Save the date for the upcoming free Family Day Skate on Monday, February 16 at Mlacak Arena (2500 Campeau Drive), which I’m looking forward to co-hosting with MPP Karen McCrimmon and Kanata North Councillor Cathy Curry.

Free Community Tax Clinic

I'm happy to share that my team and I will once again be hosting the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP), where volunteers will assist constituents, free of charge, with simple 2025 Income Tax Returns. Registration will open on my website mid-February.

Important Dates

Canada Child Benefit: February 19 and March 19
Canada Pension Plan: February 25 and March 27
Old Age Security: February 25 and March 27
View all available benefit dates at: JennaSuddsMP.ca/benefits

You can sign up for direct deposit to automatically receive benefits in your bank account. To do so, visit the Canada Revenue Agency website or call 1-800-959-8281.

Other Upcoming Dates

February: Black History Month
February 2: Groundhog Day
February 6: International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
February 11: International Day of Women and Girls in Science
February 12: International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers
February 14: Valentine's Day
February 15: National Flag of Canada Day
February 16: Family Day
February 17: Ramadan begins (sundown)
February 17: Lunar New Year
February 18: Ash Wednesday
February 20: World Day of Social Justice
February 25: Pink Shirt Day

Please Keep in Touch!

In addition to these monthly newsletters, I also provide regular updates about my work in the House of Commons on my website.

Again, please don't hesitate to reach out by email Jenna.Sudds@parl.gc.ca or by phone (613) 592-3469. I'd welcome your input and look forward to continuing to work together.

Newsletter - January 2026

New Grocery Essentials Benefit